Honest John to host their annual awards ceremony to award the best of the best.

• Final 70 contenders announced for Honest John Awards 2017, but which ones will get to wear the hat?
• Shortlist based on the cars that are most-popular with HonestJohn.co.uk's two million readers
• Lab-inspired ceremony to take place in London, with winners announced on 18 May 

There was chemistry, there was friction and there were some quite strong reactions, but the team at www.HonestJohn.co.uk has finally crunched the numbers to uncover the shortlist for the forthcoming Honest John Awards 2017, which will be handed out in London on 18 May.

This year, the team has applied its tried and tested formulae to determine which models are the best options for consumers, based on their popularity with HonestJohn.co.uk‘s two million readers. There are now 70 names in the melting pot, but which ones will be victorious?

THE MOTORING WORLD BLOG CHOICES

As the site’s consumer-led approach to testing, experimenting and concocting their shortlists has been a truly scientific affair, this year’s awards will include a special behind-the-scenes glimpse of the HJ Labs.

Here – in alphabetical order - are the contenders for each category – but which have the probability of winning an award?

City Car

Fiat 500

Hyundai i10

Skoda Citigo

Suzuki Ignis

Volkswagen Up

Small Hatchback

Ford Fiesta

Honda Jazz

Skoda Fabia

Suzuki Baleno

Toyota Yaris

Small Family Car

Audi A3 Sportback

Citroen C4 Cactus

Ford Focus

Mazda 3

Volkswagen Golf

Large Family Car

DS 5

Ford Mondeo

Mazda 6

Skoda Superb

Volkswagen Passat

Compact Premium

Audi A4

BMW 3 Series

Jaguar XE

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Large Premium

Audi A6

BMW 5 Series

Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar XF

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

MPV

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso

Ford B-MAX

Ford C-MAX

Volkswagen Golf SV

Small Crossover

Dacia Duster

Honda HR-V

Mazda CX-3

Peugeot 2008

Renault Captur

Crossover

Hyundai Tucson

Kia Sportage

Nissan Qashqai

SEAT Ateca

Suzuki Vitara

SUV

BMW X5

Ford Edge

Kia Sorento

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Volvo XC90

Performance Car

Audi RS3

Ford Focus RS

Honda Civic Type R

Porsche 718 Boxster

Toyota GT86

Volkswagen Golf R

Convertible

Fiat 124 Spider

Ford Mustang

Mazda MX-5

Mercedes-Benz SLC

Mitsuoka Roadster

Luxury Car

Audi A7 Sportback

Audi A8

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Tesla Model S

Estate

BMW 3-Series Touring

Honda Civic Tourer

Skoda Octavia Estate

SEAT Leon ST

Volvo V90

On the evening of the awards, HonestJohn.co.uk will also announce its overall Car of the Year 2017, as well as special awards for Highly Rated Car and its Real MPG champion, which is arguably the most scientific award of the lot.

Keep an eye out for the outcome, with the results going live here at 10.00pm on Thursday 18 May. 

USA SALES APRIL - INFINITI - A small growth in April keeps the brand running at a year to date high.

	2017	2016	% Change
April Sales	10,797	10,432	3.5
Total Sales	54,358	43,092	26.1

INFINITI today reported sales of 10,797 vehicles in the U.S. during April, an increase of 3.5 percent for the month and an increase of 26 percent for the year. 

The QX80 premium full-size SUV had its best April, with an increase of 28 percent. The QX70 performance crossover had an increase of 39 percent with 506 vehicles delivered. Overall, INFINITI crossovers and sport utility vehicle sales increased 15 percent for the month.

Sales of the all-new Q60 sports coupe increased to 744 vehicles and the saviour of the brand for the month was the QX30, which, at 1,208 helped to keep the declines to a minimum, however, the brand managed to keep about level with the same month a year earlier, and year to date is still significantly higher by 26%

	Apr	Apr	Monthly	CYTD	CYTD	CYTD
	2017	2016	% chg	2017	2016	% chg
INFINITI Total	10,797	10,432	3.5	54,358	43,092	26.1
Q40	0	4	-100.0	0	52	-100.0
Q50	2,559	3,670	-30.3	13,009	15,538	-16.3
Q60	744	94	691.5	4,115	503	718.1
Q70	443	547	-19.0	2,405	2,110	14.0
QX30	1,208	0	---	7,740	0	---
QX50	1,197	1,401	-14.6	5,515	5,303	4.0
QX60	2,804	3,311	-15.3	11,472	12,318	-6.9
QX70	506	364	39.0	3,411	2,173	57.0
QX80	1,336	1,041	28.3	6,691	5,095	31.3
Car	3,746	4,315	-13.2	19,529	18,203	7.3
CUV/SUV	7,051	6,117	15.3	34,829	24,889	39.9

USA SALES MARCH - SUBARU - All bar one models show an increase making an 11.3% growth for the month.

• Record March - monthly sales increase 11.3 percent over March 2016
• 64 consecutive months of yearly month-over-month growth
• Best March ever for Outback, Forester and WRX/WRX STI
• 37 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Outbacks sold
• 44 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Foresters sold

Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 54,871 vehicle sales for March 2017, an 11.3 percent increase over March 2016, and the best March in the history of the company. The automaker also reported year-to-date sales of 144,250 vehicles, a 9 percent gain over the same period in 2016.

March marked the 37th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Outback, Forester and WRX/WRX STI sales were notably strong as each model achieved its best March ever. Impreza sales for March 2017 increased 47.4 percent over the same month in 2016.

“We are pleased with our start to 2017,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We have a busy year ahead of us with the launch of the all-new 2018 Crosstrek this summer and the 3-row SUV debuting later in the year. We are confident of setting another record in 2017 for Subaru in the U.S.”

“We are appreciative our retailers could deliver a best-ever March not only for Outback and Forester, but for the WRX/WRX STI as well,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales for Subaru of America. “Also, the all-new Impreza continues to impress and we expect it will continue to build on its positive momentum.”

Earlier in March, the 2017 Outback was named “Best Wagon” in the “2017 Best Cars for Families” list by U.S. News & World Report. Winners have the best combination of positive reviews from professional car critics, safety ratings, space, and available tech features. In addition, the 2017 Impreza was one of 12 vehicles to earn the Autotrader “2017 Must Test Drive Award.” Autotrader's editorial experts choose the winners of the annual Must Test Drive Awards based on a diverse set of criteria.

 

Carline	Mar-17	Mar-16	% Chg	Mar-17	Mar-16	% Chg
	MTD	MTD	MTD	YTD	YTD	YTD
Forester	15,803	14,284	10.6%	41,476	38,427	7.9%
Impreza	7,653	5,193	47.4%	18,584	14,007	32.7%
WRX/STI	3,050	2,737	11.4%	7,690	7,453	3.2%
Legacy	4,897	5,551	-11.8%	12,703	14,478	-12.3%
Outback	15,909	14,122	12.7%	42,572	37,271	14.2%
BRZ	439	425	3.3%	987	1,211	-18.5%
Crosstrek	7,120	6,973	2.1%	20,238	19,550	3.5%
TOTAL	54,871	49,285	11.3%	144,250	132,397	9.0%