Liz Dobson: High specs, low cost add up to a winner

Picking the top vehicle of the year isn't as simple a task as you'd think - especially with 40-plus vehicles launches this year in New Zealand.

That meant that the Driven team had on average two cars a week to drive as we're given all the engine, transmission, shape and specification variants to test.

Looking at just one example of a week in my car diary in May this year, I was testing the Kia Optima, the Lexus CT hybrid and Mercedes-Benz's GLA diesel.

Over a four-day period last month I had the Mini five-door hatch, the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta parked on my driveway.

But there was one vehicle that was launched in February that impressed Driven's judging panel from the start - and it has gone on to win our Car of the Year.

I was lucky enough to test the prototype of the vehicle late last year when it was in New Zealand to be calibrated for our conditions.

Getting into the car then, I looked at the high specs in the moderately priced car and thought, "wow, this is going to be a winner".

And if the Driven team thought this year was busy, then 2015 looks to be jam-packed with new vehicles - including the last Ford Falcon, Mazda's halo MX-5 and Toyota's all-new Hilux ute.

• The Driven team wishes you all a safe Christmas and New Year, and reminds you about the changes in speed tolerance (or lack of tolerance) and the drink driving limits.
See you in 2015 with our first issue on Saturday January 10, or keep a track of us on facebook.com/DrivenNZ.