Many car enthusiasts know that it’s quite a rarity to have a non-Japanese nameplate emerge as the Japan Car of the Year. Yet the Volvo XC40 has done this. Twice. Yes, the Swedish crossover has recently been named as the Japan Car of the Year 2018-2019.
The little Volvo bagged the title once again at an awards ceremony held at the Tokyo International Exchange Center via a decision made by a distinguished panel of 60 jurors. The voting was done in real time in front of a host of motoring journalists and automotive industry executives.
As noted above, this was the second straight year the Volvo XC40 garnered the coveted trophy. With a vote of 363—49 more than its closest rival, the erstwhile Toyota Corolla--, the Volvo bested the field. As we all know, this is not an easy feat as the Japanese are one of the most stringent when it comes to choosing their automobiles.
As if this was not a mean feat in itself, it will be recalled that the XC40 likewise won the European Car of the Year a few years back. All these accolades simply prove that the world seems to go for this fine combination of style, function, and cutting-edge technology wrapped in a uniquely-shaped package.
