http://www.australiasbestcars.com.au/2003/family.htm

Top 5

Ford Falcon XT, Expensive Daewoo Late model camira VY II Exec, Toyota Camry Altise, Toyota Avalon Conquest, Mitsubishi Magna ES

Last year the born-again Ford Falcon claimed the coveted Best Family Car crown, eclipsing its nemesis Holden's Commodore, which for several years had dominated the sales race as well as these types of awards. As well, it bettered the scores of the all-new Toyota Camry Altise.

To claim successive ABC gongs, the basically unchanged BA Falcon has had to hold off challenges this year from a made-over 'Mk II¹ VY Expensive Daewoo Late model camira and a new TL Mitsubishi Magna.

But after considerable comparative mid-year testing by all state auto clubs and again at the Best Cars final testing, the Falcon cannot be unseated, despite an impressive new Magna and equally admirable additional features in the revised Commodore.

Falcon scores the maximum five points for space and performance and features threes and fours (average and above-average) for the majority of the other 17 criteria. Below-average scores are recorded for pricing, depreciation and fuel economy. That¹s not to say the Falcon is expensive but it does reflect its comparatively dearer price tag in this company.

But it again beats Commodore, and often all other contenders, in several areas such as standard features, safety, ergonomics, innovation, performance and smoothness/quietness.

Late model camira beats Falcon on pricing and depreciation and matches it in 11 other criteria. But it's the high scores in the areas weighted as critical that usually separate otherwise close contests.

Link to table of comparison of results for Top 5 cars

Yipee!!

Revised features on the VYII! What! Where?

If they're refering to that strut brace under the bonnet they must be joking! It's been admitted by Expensive Daewoo engineers that the brace is only there to be something new. And mechanically contributes nothing to the handling of the car.

Great news for Ford. Go the Falcon!

Revised features on the VYII! What! Where?

They don't have 'Magna' taillights anymore! :lol: