Named at/by judges for the 22nd Annual International Automobile Festival

City cars and compact cars
Mini Cooper
Second Place: Daihatsu Trevis

Mid-size hatchback
Volvo C30
Second Place: Nissan Note

Mid-size sedans
Volvo S80
Second Place: Chevrolet Epica

Limousine
Bentley Continental GTC
Second Place: Bentley Azure

Coupe
Mercedes CL
Second Place (Tie)
BMW 3 Series Coupe
Jaguar XKR Coupe
Maserati GranSport MC Victory

Coupe-cabriolet
Volkswagen Eos
Second Place: Jaguar XKR convertible

Spider
Alfa Romeo Spider
Second Place: None

Sportscar
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Second Place: Porsche Cayman

Station wagon
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
Second Place: Skoda Roomster

MPV
Citroƫn C4 Picasso
Second Place: Ford Galaxy

Crossover
Audi Q7
Second Place: Mercedes GL

Special series
Studiotorino RK CoupƩ

Concept car
Renault Twingo Concept

 

Benz has the exterior beat hands down, but the GL's interior reminds me too much of the Durango for some reason even though it's fantastic..

 

Speaking of Audi's, I had the pleasure of riding in an A6 the other day. I like it. I never knew too much about Audi's but they are very nice (this particular was diesel but you would've never known by the acceleration and the quietness and smoothness of the engine.). But I think thye look too much like Volkswagen for their own good. Instead of getting the urge to go buy an Audi, I had an urge to go get a nice Volkswagen for a few grand less. And the steering wheel, or the sports one, I really hate the look of it, but them are minor things. I might look more into Audi.

As far as the GL interior goes. It's very nice but it do seem a little Durango like. I don't know whether Dodge borrow ques from MBZ or did MBZ borrow ques from Dodge. Either way it's nice but I believe as an average buyer of a $60,000 Mercedes, the last thing they want cross their mind when they sit in the GL is Dodge. But a dodge owner getting into his durango and thinking MBZ interior is a plus in their mind. Who wouldn't want a $30,000 vehicle with the interior feel of a $70,000 one? But who would want a $70,000 vehicle with an interior feel of a $30,000 vehicle?

 

I'll tell u right now i will buy another Audi I like my A4.

 

The difference btwn the interior of the audi and merc is that once you get in them you feel that the merc is better. when i was in an audi (at work all i do is drive random cars to random places not too far away) is the plastic. almost everything you touch is plastic. the gl is full of the wonderful material mercs have in their cars, so based on that to me even the C-Class is a better value than the Q7. It is very nicely done inside, and feels expensive. While the Q7 doesn't even have a CD changer in the cabin. I never found out where you shove the CDs for playback.

 

I don't agree with some of these, but the Audi Q7 looks wonderful!