The Car of the Year Japan Award (), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in the car buying market in Japan in the twelve months beginning 1 November.
The award has been presented since 1980. The supervisory board is made up primarily of Japanese automotive journalists. The award is not associated with the more recent RJC Car of the Year, which has been issued by the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists’ Conference since 1992.
The current recipient of the award for 2024 to 2025 is the Honda Freed.
The first non-Japanese car to win the award was the Volkswagen Golf in 2013, followed by the Volvo XC60 in 2017 and the Volvo XC40 in 2018. The highest-placed car from the United States was the Jeep Cherokee, which was eliminated in the final round in 2014 and was placed eighth.
Recipients
+ Car of the Year Japan Year Winner Special Award 1980–1981 Mazda Familia 1981–1982 Toyota Soarer 1982–1983 Mazda Capella/Ford Telstar 1983–1984 Honda Civic/Ballade 1984–1985 Toyota MR2 1985–1986 Honda Accord/Vigor 1986–1987 Nissan Pulsar/EXA/Langley/Liberta Villa 1987–1988 Mitsubishi Galant 1988–1989 Nissan Silvia 1989–1990 Toyota Celsior 1990–1991 Mitsubishi Diamante Toyota Estima 1991–1992 Honda Civic Mitsubishi Pajero 1992–1993 Nissan March Isuzu Bighorn 1993–1994 Honda Accord Toyota Supra 1994–1995 Mitsubishi FTO Honda Odyssey 1995–1996 Honda Civic Nissan Terrano 1996–1997 Mitsubishi Galant/Legnum Mazda Demio 1997–1998 Toyota Prius Isuzu VehiCROSS 1998–1999 Toyota Altezza Honda Z 1999–2000 Toyota Vitz/Platz/Fun Cargo Honda S2000 2000–2001 Honda Civic/Stream Subaru Impreza 2001–2002 Honda Fit Toyota Estima Hybrid 2002–2003 Honda Accord Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun)BMW 7 Series (Most Advanced Technology) 2003–2004 Subaru Legacy Mazda RX-8 (Most Fun)Nissan Teana (Best Value)Jaguar XJ (Most Advanced Technology) 2004–2005 Honda Legend BMW 1 Series (Most Fun)Mazda Verisa (Best Value)Honda Legend (Most Advanced Technology) 2005–2006 Mazda Roadster Suzuki Swift (Most Fun)Honda Civic/Civic Hybrid (Most Advanced Technology) 2006–2007 Lexus LS460 Audi TT (Most Fun)Mitsubishi i (Most Advanced Technology)Honda Stream (Best Value) 2007–2008 Honda Fit Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (Most Fun)Volkswagen Golf (Most Advanced Technology)Daihatsu Mira (Best Value) 2008–2009 Toyota iQ Nissan GT-R (Most Advanced Technology)Subaru Exiga (Most Fun)Honda Freed (Best Value) 2009–2010 Toyota Prius Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Most Advanced Technology)Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun)Subaru Legacy (Best Value)Honda Fit (Best Third Decade Car) 2010–2011 Honda CR-Z Peugeot RCZ 2011–2012 Nissan Leaf Mazda Demio 2012–2013 Mazda CX-5 Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ 2013–2014 Volkswagen Golf Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (Innovation)Mazda Atenza (Emotional)Suzuki Spacia/Mazda Flair Wagon (Small Mobility)Daihatsu Move Front Lift (Special Award) 2014–2015 Mazda Demio BMW i3 (Innovation)Honda N-WGN (Small Mobility)Toyota’s approach to fuel cell vehicles (Special Award) 2015–2016 Mazda Roadster Tesla Model S (Innovation)Suzuki Alto/Alto Lapin (Small Mobility)Yanase (Special Award)Toyota Mirai (Special Award) 2016–2017 Subaru Impreza Nissan Serena (Innovation)BMW M2 (Emotional)Daihatsu Move Canbus (Small Mobility)Honda NSX (Special Award) 2017–2018 Volvo XC60 Toyota Prius PHV (Innovation)Lexus LC (Emotional)Honda N-Box (Small Mobility)Toyota (Special Award)Takuma Sato (Special Award) 2018–2019 Volvo XC40 Honda Clarity PHEV (Innovation)BMW X2 (Emotional)Daihatsu Mira Tocot (Small Mobility)Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award)Honda N-Van (Special Award) 2019–2020 Toyota RAV4 Nissan Skyline (Innovation)Jeep Wrangler (Emotional)Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK X/eK Wagon (Small Mobility) 2020–2021 Subaru Levorg Mazda MX-30 (Design)Audi e-tron Sportback (Technology)BMW Alpina B3 (Performance)Nissan Roox and Mitsubishi eK X Space/eK Space (K Car) 2021–2022 Nissan Note BMW 4 Series (Design)Mitsubishi Outlander (Technology)Chevrolet Corvette (Performance)Honda N-One (K Car)Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award)Honda (Special Award)2022–2023Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EVBMW iX (Design)Nissan X-Trail (Technology)Honda Civic e:HEV/Type R (Performance)Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV (K Car)2023–2024Toyota PriusMitsubishi Delica Mini (Design)Nissan Serena (Technology)Japan Mobility Show (Special Award)2024–2025Honda FreedMitsubishi Triton (Design)Honda CR-V e:FCEV (Technology)Mazda e-Skyactiv R-EV (Special Award)2025–2026Subaru ForesterVolkswagen ID. Buzz (Design)Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (Technology)Porsche Experience Center Tokyo (Special Award)
+ Japan Import Car of the Year Year Winner 1994–1995 Mercedes-Benz C200 1995–1996 MG F 1996–1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK 1997–1998 Renault Mégane Scénic 1998–1999 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 1999–2000 Rover 75 2000–2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2001–2002 Alfa Romeo 147 2002–2003 None 2003–2004 None 2004–2005 Volkswagen Golf 2005–2006 BMW 3 Series 2006–2007 Citroën C6 2007–2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2008–2009 Citroën C5 2009–2010 Volkswagen Golf 2010–2011 Volkswagen Polo 2011–2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2012–2013 BMW 3 Series 2013–2014 None 2014–2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2015–2016 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer/Gran Tourer2016–2017 Audi A42017–2018 None2018–2019 None2019–2020 BMW 3 Series 2020–2021 Peugeot 208/e-208 2021–2022 Volkswagen Golf2022–2023Hyundai Ioniq 52023–2024BMW X12024–2025Mini Cooper2025–2026Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Most wins by manufacturer (Japanese car) Total wins Manufacturer 12 Honda 9 Toyota 6 Mazda 6 Nissan 5 Mitsubishi4 Subaru2 Volvo1Lexus1 Volkswagen1Hyundai
Most wins by manufacturer (Import car) +Total winsManufacturer7Mercedes-Benz6Volkswagen5BMW2Citroen2Volvo1MG F1Renault1Rover1Alfa Romeo1Audi1Peugeot1Hyundai1Mini
See also List of motor vehicle awards
References
External links Official Website