NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. – Eleven 2013 vehicles are up for the top honours of being the country’s car of the year or utility vehicle of the year after 80 Canadian automotive journalists spent four days at Niagara-on-the-Lake putting 180 new vehicles through their tests.

At the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s annual TestFest, in which the country’s automotive journalists put new vehicles through their paces, 11 2013 vehicles were determined the “best new” in distinct categories.

The AJAC journalists completed nearly 2,000 road-tests, comparing vehicles on the same roads and conditions.
 
“Once again, a wide array of Canada’s most experienced and respected automotive journalists have wrung out the full slate of new vehicles offered to Canadian consumers”, Richard Russell, chair of the 2013 Canadian Car of the Year Awards said in a statement.

The 2013 Canadian Car of the Year and the 2013 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year will be announced on Feb. 14, 2013, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

Based on the audited results of all that testing the “Best New” vehicles in the 11 categories tested are:

CITY CAR:  Ford Focus EV
 
BEST NEW SMALL CAR (under $21K): Mazda3 Skyactiv Sedan
 
BEST NEW SMALL CAR (over $21K): Hyundai Elantra GT
 
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (under $30K): Honda Accord Sedan
 
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (over $30K): Ford Fusion Hybrid
 
BEST NEW LUXURY CAR: Cadillac ATS
 
BEST NEW PRESTIGE AND PERFORMANCE CAR (over $75K): Porsche 911 Carrera S
 
BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR (under $50K):  Ford Focus ST
 
BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR (over $50K):  Porsche Boxster
 
BEST NEW SUV/CUV (under $35K): Ford Escape 1.6 L EcoBoost
 
BEST NEW SUV/CUV ($35K-$60K): Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T