Twelve up for New Zealand car of the year

The Volkswagen Scirocco is in the running for New Zealand's car of the year. Photo / Supplied

Twelve cars have made the final cut for the New Zealand car of the year.

They will be judged by more than 30 members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers' Guild covering print, internet and broadcast media nationwide.

Guild president, John Oxley, says solely all-new models are eligible, and only if they've been driven by a majority of voting members, "not just a select few."

"We stress that our members vote just on cars they have road tested in their home environment in NewZealand, in conditions they are used to driving everyday."

Oxley says the award's strengths are that voting members have experienced these cars in the conditions in which their buyers will drive them, and that the size of the voting panel means a wide range of buyer demographic is covered.

The shortlist - selected by a Guild committee from all new models launched in NZ in the 12 months prior to November 1 - includes the Alfa Romeo MiTo, the Audi Q5, BMW 7 Series, Ford Fiesta, Kia Soul, Mercedes E-class, Mazda3, Nissan Qashqai, Subaru Legacy/Outback, Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco and Volvo XC60.

Oxley says the winner will be judged for its design, safety, performance and technology.

But what allows affordable cars to compete on a level playing field with top-price vehicles is the fact members also judge how well each fulfils the task for which it has been designed, its value for money, and whether - and by how much - it raises the bar in its class.

The winner will be announced in early January.