COTY WINNER OPEL INSIGNIA:The votes are in and Opel's Insignia has won the coveted car of the year title. Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor, reviews the voting and explains his own votes
OPEL'S NEW Insignia took the laurels in this year's car of the year competition, but only just. The coveted Car of the Year title went to the recently launched family car which took the prize by just one point from Ford's new Fiesta.
The Opel scored 321 points to the Fiesta's 320. Third place went to the VW Golf with 223 points, followed by the Citroën C5 with 198. These were followed by the Alfa Romeo MiTo on 148 points, the Skoda Superb on 144 points and the Renault Megane on 121.
The competition, which featured 39 new models introduced this year, takes votes from 59 motoring journalists representing 23 European countries. This writer is the sole Irish jury member. This year 20 jury members gave the Insignia top points, while 19 opted for the Fiesta.
In the final vote, each jury member has 25 points to allocate between seven finalists, and must also provide a statement of justification for the vote, which is published at the time of the award presentation.
The award is a welcome piece of good news for Opel in the midst of serious financial turmoil for its parent company General Motors. The US car giant is seeking financial support from the US government, and last week its Opel division requested similar help from the German authorities.
As the Irish member of the jury here are the votes of Michael McAleer, motoring editor:
FORD FIESTA - 8 points
When it comes to downsizing on the back of tighter budgets, the Fiesta is an ideal small car - stylish and spacious.
It's also a significant improvement on the outgoing model, and its fit and finish push it to the forefront of the small car market.
The new Fiesta is more spacious than its predecessor, so it's closer to the requirements of a small family, but it's the sleek new design that impresses, now smart enough to appeal to the more image-conscious motorist.
The tendency to make small Fords mobile boxes has thankfully been binned. This car proves you can be big and stylish in the small car class.
The small engines are all strong runners, even if the 1.6-litre petrol is rather limp. On the road it handles with a cheeky enthusiasm that we expect from Ford, which has earned great respect for chassis developments that make its cars fun to drive. The Fiesta manages to be both small and frugal - with its ECOnetic version.
Its key trait, however, is that it doesn't force owners to make significant sacrifices in terms of space, style or comfort in the small car market. It sets a benchmark in terms of interior trim in its class and is fun to drive.
OPEL INSIGNIA - 6 points
This is the long-awaited replacement for the Vectra, and it's a revolution in terms of Opel's offering in the family car segment.
In terms of powertrains, the best buy would seem to be the 2.0-litre CDTi diesel engine, available with either 130bhp or 160bhp. Both of these diesels register CO2 emissions of 157g/km compared with 179g/km.
On the road it's incredibly adept. Opel has clearly worked hard on its new adaptive chassis that offers a choice of comfort, normal or sports settings. While some of these systems currently on the market end up offering the worst of all worlds, the Insignia's system really does the trick.
It's the only car in its class to rival the dominance of Ford's chassis in the Mondeo in terms of handling and ability.
Some points have been garnered simply because of its looks. Vanity prevails. Any time we tested the car, heads turned. People actually took photos of the car in car parks. How many times has that happened with an Opel?
Inside, the finish and design are better than what's on offer from rivals, with great little touches and attention to detail. It's certainly among the best in class.
SKODA SUPERB - 5 points
The new Superb may not win many prizes for its exterior design at the rear, but it's a motoring Tardis inside. You could hide a family of four in the boot - with its hatchback/saloon trick - and it has more rear legroom than a Mercedes S-Class. It can also accommodate three child seats across the back, making it more practical than many five-seat people carriers. Consider also its competitive pricing and you can see why this car is a strong contender.
The 2.0-litre diesel is a strong performer, putting out 168bhp, while keeping its emissions down to 153g/km. The new Superb could be more involving in terms of handling characteristics and the ride quality is not class leading. It's a real contender in the family market though, particularly given its value offering in the current economic climate and its overall package is hard to beat.
CITROËN C5 -3 points
While all eyes may be on the newly-arrived Insignia, there is no denying the C5 has its own head-turning appeal. It's also a lot sharper to drive than so many detractors of the brand make out.
Newcomers will be greatly surprised by the car's handling ability, at least compared to preconceived beliefs.
The adoption of a regular metallic suspension offers a decent ride without giving too much away in terms of comfort.
The latest hydractive suspension system lives up to the firm's reputation for comfort and makes it a fine mile-muncher, ideal for the long haul, if not quite on badly surfaced rural roads.
In terms of its limitations, it still sacrifices precise handling for ride quality and comfort, while the central console is still too cluttered and there's an excessive number of switches, rollers and buttons on the steering wheel.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF - 2 points
Any new version of the Golf was almost assured of a place in the final shakedown, such is its importance within the motoring curriculum. This is the sixth version of the Golf, and probably the least evolved. In many ways there has been too much carried over from the previous generation.
That means it's as good - but not really any better - to drive as the outgoing model. For buyers that means it's just as comfortable, well-balanced, and well-built.
It just hasn't moved on far enough to warrant more points.
RENAULT MEGANE - 1 point
If points are earned for improvement, then the Megane has to score.
While it loses some of its distinctive design at the rear, in terms of handling, ride and overall finish, the new car is a big step up from the outgoing version.
We've long been a fan of Renault's 1.5-litre diesel engine and its combination of power and low emissions makes it a real contender in the increasing number of countries where tax is determined by emissions.
In terms of driving appeal, the new Megane is surprisingly sharp. Where the previous model was more "point and click" motoring, this car has far more response. It's not able to beat the Golf in this regard, but it's much better than before.