Japan’s 2024 car of the year announced

The 2024 Japan Car of the Year title goes to the Honda Freed, marking Honda’s first win in 14 years. This minivan stood out for its practicality, comfort, and engaging driving experience. Its part-electric e: HEV powertrain also received high praise from the jury.

Designed to accommodate up to seven passengers, the Freed is built on the Honda Fit platform. It’s larger than Japan’s compact kei cars, making it ideal for families.

The Freed scored 220 points from 59 jurors, outpacing the Mazda CX-80 (196 points) and Mini Cooper (third place).

While the Freed claimed the top honor, the Mini Cooper won Foreign Car of the Year for its advanced technology, safety, and versatile powertrains.

Other winners included Mitsubishi’s Triton, which received the Design Award for its bold styling. The Honda CR-V e:FCEV earned the Technology Award for its innovations in hydrogen fuel cell technology. Mazda received a Special Award for its e-Skyactiv R-EV rotary engine.

This year marked the 45th anniversary of the Japan Car of the Year awards, judged by 59 experts from 41 automotive and lifestyle publications. The event highlighted diverse automotive excellence, from compact minivans to cutting-edge electric vehicles.

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