Honda Civic hybrid takes Car of the Year award

 

The first Car of the Year (COTY) awards appeared in Europe, the continent where the car was invented almost 150 years ago. Most of these awards honored car makers with their stylish creations and engineering marvels.

In Malaysia, however, where cars are expensive and the market is a maze of locally-assembled and imported models, the longest running Car of The Year awards began in 2002 with the main objective of providing a guide to car buyers.

This year’s Overall Car of the Year award went to the Honda Civic e:HEV RS, a hybrid mid-size passenger car with a driveline that is one of the most modern in the world and in the realms of popular affordability.

It exploits the electric motor’s ability to spin up to 30,000rpm with instant strong torque thereby replacing the gearbox that combustion cars need to move anywhere at a decent pace.

A point to note in the voting of the e:HEV Civic is that the judges recognise that while battery electric cars are the flavour of the day, they also recognise that a hybrid is a practical step in the transition towards zero emission cars.

This hybrid car impressed the judges with its performance, the long duration of the air-conditioning solely by the traction battery and the superior fuel efficiency/low carbon footprint.

The Automotive Person of the Year was awarded to engineer Ahmad Hadri Haris in recognition of his key role in driving many national electric mobility initiatives such as pioneering ChargEV to provide nationwide public EV chargers, and popularising EV through many industry partnership programmes.

As the former CEO of Malaysian Green Technology Corporation, Hadri was the key driver to bring Tesla Model S officially into Malaysia in 2015.

With a total of 121 new cars launched throughout the year, these vehicles were divided into 13 different categories and subcategories based on their price range.

Endorsed by the Malaysia Automotive Robotics IoT Institute, the Malaysia COTY event highlights the progression of energy transition as the domestic automotive industry responds to government policy.

One significant indication of this transition was the substantial increase in the number of electrified cars, ranging from battery electric cars to hybrids.

In fact, this year’s assembly of new cars introduced 42 electrified car models, compared to less than five models in 2019.

Furthermore, to acknowledge the achievements in the electric vehicle ecosystem, the panel of judges presented a new award.

This award recognised Gentari Sdn Bhd as the best charge point operator for creating a large network of charging stations by including two charge point operators and providing an option for EV users to use only one app.

As the judges started the work of categorising the 121 new car models launched, the depth and sophistication of the Malaysian car market became clear.

Unlike the dominance of pick-up trucks in Thailand and mini MPVs in Indonesia, Malaysia’s car market segmentation is almost equally divided into four main categories of about 30 cars each: sedan and hatchbacks, crossovers, EVs; SUVs; hybrids. The remaining categories were minor: pick-up trucks (10) and multi-purpose vehicles (7).

Nevertheless, it was surprising to witness an electric vehicle, the BMW iX1 xDrive30 M-Sport EV, winning the People’s Choice of Car in the premium segment. It indicates a growing interest and acceptance of electrification among consumers.

The Malaysia COTY awards were initiated in 2002 by a group of automotive journalists. Over the years, it has evolved and expanded, now involving 10 auto journalists, a lawyer, and a doctor as part of the judging panel. This growth showcases the increasing relevance and significance of the awards in recognising outstanding vehicles in the Malaysian market.

The 2023 Malaysia COTY awards showcased the growing prominence of electrified vehicles and the shift in consumer preferences towards crossovers and SUVs.

With an increased emphasis on sustainability and advanced technology, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS hybrid rightfully claimed the title of Overall Car of the Year 2023, reflecting its outstanding performance and contribution to the automotive industry.

Go to www.malaysiacaroftheyear.com for all the winners of the 19th edition of the Malaysia Car of the Year. - FMT

Yamin Vong, chairman of the 2023 Malaysia Car of the Year Awards, is one of the founders of the event.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.