TOKYO: The Nissan Note e-POWER Series is Japan Car of the Year 2021.
According to the COTY steering committee, reasons for the Note e-Power’s win stemmed from the car’s award-winning hybrid powertrain, excellent fuel economy and handling, keen pricing and stylish design.
The new Note e-Power range with its unique 1.2-litre series hybrid powertrain, is currently on sale in Japan but the carmaker has plans to launch the e-Power drivetrain in European and US markets in the near future.
In the first of two voting procedures, the award’s 60 jurors selected the 10 Best vehicles of the year in late November from over 30 contenders.
After attending a 10 Best drive day at Sodegaura Forest Raceway near Tokyo, jurors voted a second time to select the year’s best car as well as the winners of four special awards.
When counting was completed at an online award ceremony on Dec 10, the Note e-Power series was pronounced Japan Car of the Year with 335 votes, beating the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ pair with 264 votes and the Honda Vezel (HR-V) with 227 votes.
Polling 168 votes in 5th place, the highest for a foreign brand, the Volkswagen Golf 8 was named the Import Car of the Year 2021-2022.
