Mazda CX-5 Named Japan's Car of The Year, Subaru BR-Z Wins "Special Award"

It is Mazda's second victory in the last ten years, the 2005 MX-5 claiming the same trophy, and the fourth time the Hiroshima company has won.

The award is decided by 60 local "automotive experts and journalists," and open to any passenger car released in Japan from November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012 that has sold more than 500 units. Each judge gets 25 votes, his or her top vote getting 10 points, the rest of the points being spread among the judge's choice for the next best four cars.

The second-place getters were the Toyobaru twins with 318 votes, the surprise being they didn't beat or get any closer to the crossover. The Subaru BRZ did claw some mojo back, earning the Special Award given to cars that have made "an exceptional impact." The BMW 3 Series was third overall and won the Import Car of the Year award with plenty of room between it and the second place Range Rover Evoque.

The full list of winners.

FINAL RESULTS

• Mazda CX-5 363 votes
• Toyota GT 86/Subaru BRZ 318
• BMW 3-Series 282
• Range Rover Evoque 218
• VW Up! 152
• Suzuki Wagon R 68
• Citroen DS5 51
• Alfa Romeo Giulietta 29
• Nissan Note 10
• Honda N-Box 9