New York - The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which narrowly lost out to the Porsche Macan in this year's Wesbank SAGMJ South African Car of the Year competition, has won the World Car of the Year award.
Mercedes-Benz also took top honours in the World Luxury Car and Performance Car categories with the S-Class Coupé and AMG GT respectively, while the Citroën C4 scooped the design award and the BMW i8 was deemed the best 'green' car.
On why the C-Class took overall honours, the World Car Awards statement explained it like this: "Taking its design and technological cues from the S-Class, the C-Class employs an all-new aluminium/steel hybrid platform and updated rear-drive powertrains that delivers levels of refinement, luxury, safety, ride and handling that challenge best-in-class."
The finalists for the competition are selected by and voted on by 75 'top-level' motoring journalists from around the globe and the ballots are tabulated by KPMG.
2015 CATEGORY WINNERS
2014: Audi A3
2013: Volkswagen Golf
2012: Volkswagen Up
2011: Nissan Leaf
2010: Volkswagen Polo
2009: Volkswagen Golf
2008: Mazda2
2007: Lexus LS460
2006: BMW 3 Series
2005: Audi A6