The 2021 Drive Car of the Year Awards is our biggest yet! In its 15th year, we tested over 80 vehicles across 25 categories making this the most relevant Award to new car buyers. Our team of judges have tested the absolute best of what’s next and what represents the biggest step forward for you, the Australian car buyer.
2021 Drive Car of the Year Passenger Car Awards
Hatchbacks, sedans and wagons are popular choices amongst the Australian car buyer, thanks largely to their styling, driver comfort and practicality. Here, we’ve rounded up the best cars for urban drivers focusing on technology, efficiency, running costs and space.
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best City Car 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Small Luxury Car 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Small Car 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best People Mover 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Medium Luxury Car 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Medium To Large Car 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Large Luxury Car 2021
2021 Drive Car of the Year SUV Awards
Australia's love affair with the SUV is showing no sign of slowing. This growth in popularity has seen an influx of new SUVs enter the market, ranging from large eight-seater SUVs down to small, city focussed models, there's an SUV type for everyone.
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Upper Large SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Upper Large Luxury SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Medium SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Light SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Large SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Off-Road SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Sports Performance SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Small Luxury SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Large Luxury SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Medium Luxury SUV 2021
DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
Best Small SUV 2021
2021 Drive Car of the Year Light Commercial Awards
No other vehicle segment has undergone such a radical change as commercial vehicles. Once the home of rough and basic vans and utes, this segment is now loaded with technology, refinement, safety and appeal, and is even dipping its toes into performance.
2021 Drive Car of the Year Best Electric Vehicle Awards
Australians are fast embracing electric technology and are increasingly being spoilt for choice with new models on offer. The biggest shift we’ve seen in this category is in affordability making this sustainable technology more accessible for you, the buyer.
2021 Drive Car of the Year Sports Car Awards
This award is guaranteed to get your heart racing. While we love the chance to put these vehicles through their paces, they need to perform as convincingly off the track as they do on. These cars don’t necessarily need to break the bank either, the discerning motoring purist can get a lot of pop for their money in this competitive performance category.
2021 Drive Car of the Year Speciality Awards
People buy cars for many different reasons, not just by style and shape. the 2021 Drive Car of the Year range of specialty awards acknowledge these different drivers of choice.
Our Judges
Our expert judging panel is made up of Australia's most experienced motoring journalists. The judging panel have road-tested hundreds of new cars in 2021, combing through them, crawling under them and assessing their performance on roads and racetrack.
Drive Car of the Year Past Winners
As Drive turns 25, we're also celebrating 15 years of bringing you Drive Car of the Year Awards. Take a trip down memory lane with us as we look at the previous winners of this prestigious award.
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