The Toyota Wigo, which currently dominates the mini sedan market, was proclaimed the Automobile of the Year (AOY) – Standard Category’ at the recently concluded 2018-2019 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards (AFPCA).
The diminutive Wigo scores of 3,316.2 and out-pointed the Mitsubishi Montero Sport at 2,863 points. The Toyota Wigo, also landed the Sedan of the Year title for its third Model of the Year (MOY) crown, after having previously won last year and in 2015.
Meanwhile, in the Premium/Luxury classification, the Lexus NX300 compact SUV/crossover registered the highest score with 837.2 points, which gave it a reed-thin 3.6 point winning margin over its midsize stablemate, the Lexus RX350. The NX300 also bagged its first Model of the Year award by topping the SUV/Crossover of the Year category.
The Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards (AFPCA), which organized by Sunshine Television and Marketing Services Inc. (STV) since 2005, is an annual public poll that aims to determine the country’s most popular automobile brands and models. It features a unique scoring system that attributes 80-percent value to public votes from the July 1 – September 30 via on-line poll and 20-percent to unit sales.
Official sales volume data for the AFPCA was furnished by STRADCOM Corporation with the official sanction of the Land Transportation Office (LTO). The data covered only “Completely built” and “New imported” units that were put in for new registration with the LTO from January-September 2018. So-called grey market and used vehicles were excluded. The AFPCA scoring methodology yields Model of the Year awardees in 5 Standard and 4 Premium/Luxury classifications and the Automobile of the Year in separate Standard and Premium/Luxury categories from over 180 models in the 2018 AFPCA Official Entry List.
In the race for the other four Standard Model of the Year awards, the Ford Mustang registered its first-ever victory in the Sports Car category, even as the Nissan Urvan went back-to-back in the Van/MPV class.
The 2018 Pickup of the Year award went to the Nissan Navara, its 4th such award after also having won it previously in 2008, 2010, and 2011. Of note is the 2018 SUV/Crossover of the Year title by the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, which also won MOY honors in 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2017. Now a 5-time winner, the Montero Sport becomes the newest entry in the elite Auto Focus Model of the Year Hall of Fame.
For the other 3 Premium/Luxury Model of the Year awards, the Audi R8 V10 made its debut as a Sports Car of the Year victor. And in the Van/MPV classification, the Honda Odyssey notched up its 3rd straight win. The stand-out in the Premium/Luxury MOY batch this year is the Lexus IS350, which bagged the Sedan of the Year crown, its 5th consecutive MOY title, which also elevates it to the AFPCA MOY Hall of Fame.
The AFMCA aim is to further recognize the automobile industry’s continuing efforts to provide car owners and motorists with the best on-board features, styling, performance and overall value. A select group of recognized motoring media professionals and practitioners comprised the AFMCA Voters’ Panel.