We are in what people call ‘the awards season’. Oscars for acting, Brits for music, the Turner Prize for… well, just about anything as long as someone thinks it’s art. It’s the same for cars. Respected buying guide What Car? recently awarded its top honour to the Peugeot 3008, a blend of people carrier and SUV that’s decent enough and very versatile, though not the prettiest vehicle ever made.
Other magazines will soon be dishing out their annual gongs. The latest award is the rather pompous sounding World Car of the Year. Voted for by 59 journalists from around the globe including the UK, they’ve decided the best of the recent releases is the new VW Polo. It’s a perfectly good car – well engineered, refined and very impressive on the road – but blimey it’s dull. I appreciate it’s a matter of personal taste, but to me this car has no distinguishing features or character, inside or out. Talk about conservative!
So what would I have chosen in its place? If we’re rewarding innovation – game-changing vehicles that move the industry on – for me there’s only one winner. The Toyota iQ is everything the Smart ForTwo city car isn’t, and proves tiny runabouts can be outstanding in their own right. It’s not cheap for it’s size, but it has the wow factor in spades.
Breakdown Cover from 
