MIAS 2013: Mitsubishi Mirage named Car of the Year, Mazda BT-50 is Truck of the Year

The Mitsubishi Mirage has a lot of factors going for it: Japanese badge and engineering, and Chinese price level. Now it has one more: the title of Car of the Year Philippines. Meanwhile, Mazda takes top honors for its BT-50 as Truck of the Year.

Here’s more from the Car Awards Group, the journalist group responsible for the annual award: At a grand event on the first day of the 2013 Manila International Auto Show, the Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) has revealed the 2012-2013 Car of the Year – Philippines: the Mitsubishi Mirage.

The culmination of a year’s testing, preparations and deliberations by the Car Awards Group, Inc, the 2012-2013 COTY-P season saw a field of 81 new cars, crossovers, SUVs, trucks, sportscars and vans that competed in 19 different categories, as well as the coveted title of Car Of The Year – Philippines.

“The 2012-2013 Car Of The Year Philippines season was a tough one,” said Ferman Lao, CAGI President. “It wasn’t just in terms of the sheer number of cars that had to be tested, but the continually increasing improvements, value and competitiveness each new model brought to their respective classes.”

The Mitsubishi Mirage GLS MT was given top honors after scoring highly in the subjective testing done at Eton Centris in Quezon City as well as in the instrumented and track tests conducted at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga by CAGI’s team of technical experts.

New for the 2012-2013 is the title of Truck Of The Year Philippines. The winner of the new title category was determined by a number of factors more specific to pick ups such as approach, departure, breakover angles and other aspects that matter in a pickup truck. After the testing was completed and tabulated, the Mazda BT50 4X4 AT took the win, besting out all the vehicles in the class.

“Congratulations to Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp and Berjaya Auto Philippines, Inc. for bagging the top titles in this year’s awards season, and congratulations to the 19 winners in their respective categories, they are this year’s best cars that you can buy.” said Lao. “Thank you to all who have supported and took part in this year’s awards season, and here’s to the next one!”

The 2012 – 2013 Car Of The Year Philippines awards is presented by the Manila International Auto Show and is supported by the Clark International Speedway, Caltex with Techron, Eton Centris Walk, Standard Insurance, BOSCH, RCBC Savings & Auto Loans, Victoria Court, Dole Juice Drinks, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts & Coffee, MG Madrid & Co., Winner Graphics, Automobile Association Philippines and SpeedLab.

The Car Awards Group, Inc, an organization composed of motoring journalists from the country’s premiere print, broadcast and online publications , and is supported by media partners Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, The Manila Bulletin, The Daily Tribune, BusinessMirror, The Manila Times, Malaya Business Insight, Sunshine Television, AutoReview, StoplightTV, AutoIndustriya.com, Kotse.com, Interaksyon.com, Top Gear Philippines, AQ Magazine, Speed Magazine, Manila Standard Today, Jam 88.3, C! Magazine, Wave 89.1, Gadgets Magazine, Motioncars.com, Motorcycle Magazine, World News, Sprocket.ph and PowerWheels Magazine.

The 2012-2013 CAR OF THE YEAR-PHILIPPINES AWARDS ROSTER

2012-2013 Car Of The Year-Philippines Mitsubishi Mirage

2012-2013 Truck Of The Year-Philippines Mazda BT50 4×4

CATEGORY WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARDS

BASIC SUBCOMPACT CAR Mitsubishi Mirage GLS MT
SUBCOMPACT CAR Hyundai Accent Hatch CRDi
COMPACT CAR Ford Focus Titanium (Sedan)
MIDSIZE CAR Toyota Camry 2.5V
PREMIUM MIDSIZE CAR Volvo S60 D3
RWD SPORTS CAR Hyundai Genesis 2.0T w/ Brembo Brakes
FWD SPORTS CAR MINI Coupe Cooper S
COMPACT CROSSOVER 2WD Mazda CX5
COMPACT CROSSOVER AWD Honda CR-V 2.4 EX AWD
MIDSIZE CROSSOVER Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD
LARGE CROSSOVER Ford Explorer FWD 2.0T
LUXURY COMPACT CROSSOVER Range Rover Evoque
SUV Mitsubishi Montero Sport 3.0 V6 GLS
PREMIUM SUV Jeep Grand Cherokee
COMPACT VAN and MPV Toyota Avanza 1.3E
VAN and MPV Peugeot 5008
LUXURY VAN and MPV Honda Odyssey
PICK-UP 4×2 Ford Ranger 2.2 MT
PICK-UP 4×4 Mazda BT50 4×4 AT

CLARK INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS AWARD Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc.
SPEEDLAB TUNER’S AWARD Toyota 86
BOSCH TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT AWARD Foton Thunder
AAP ROAD SAFETY AWARD Ford Focus with Active City Stop
ETON CENTRIS URBAN WARRIOR AWARD Subaru XV
STANDARD INSURANCE AWARD Chevrolet Trailblazer
CALTEX WITH TECHRON GREEN AWARD Toyota Prius C
RCBC SAVINGS & AUTO LOANS BEST VALUE FOR MONEY AWARD Kia Rio 1.2 LX