iBestTravel’s Performance Vehicle of the Year Competition

This was always the plan. In adapting our long-running Best Driver’s Car program into Performance Vehicle of the Year, we chose the word “vehicle” very deliberately. Performance isn’t limited to coupes, sedans, or even SUVs, nor is it restricted to the pavement. Now, with a new venue and expanded parameters, we’ve finally realized the dream of a high-performance vehicle competition that doesn’t discriminate.

Adapting to Market Changes

We hold these truths to be self-evident: coupes and sedans are in decline, SUVs and trucks are on the rise, and factory-built high-performance off-road vehicles are the hot new segment of the market. To ignore these trends would be a missed opportunity.

The Meaning of Performance

“Performance” has always been a somewhat nebulous concept in the automotive world, but we consider it synonymous with speed. Regardless of where you’re driving, whether on a racetrack or a rugged desert trail, high horsepower, specialized suspension, and robust brakes are essential.

Inclusive Evaluation Criteria

Semantics aside, it’s about time competitions like ours catered to all types of factory-built and warrantied performance vehicles, not just those traditionally recognized as sports cars or supercars. Reworking our evaluation program to include these vehicles was a challenge.

Testing Diverse Vehicles

Including sporty road-going SUVs was straightforward; however, integrating off-road trucks and SUVs into our testing regime proved more complicated. To be eligible, these vehicles had to be either all-new or substantially updated, as per our Of The Year competitions’ criteria. Moreover, if we were doing this, we committed to doing it right, which meant that off-road vehicles needed to fully test their off-road capabilities.

2024 PVOTY: Winner and Finalists

Winner: BMW M2 | Finalists: 2024 Finalists | Contenders: 2024 Contenders

Real-World Testing Conditions

Finding a suitable location for our tests that included both a high-speed off-road course and proximity to a paved racetrack was difficult. Ultimately, we secured Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, California, which offered the perfect combination of both terrains.

Chuckwalla’s specially designed dirt course for high-speed off-road vehicles allowed us to ensure the safety and performance of all contenders, including luxury models like the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato.

Evaluating Performance

To ensure each vehicle’s capabilities were accurately assessed, we began our testing process on the paved track, followed by off-road evaluations. The combination of paved and dirt track sections gave us a comprehensive understanding of how each vehicle performs in varied conditions.

Additionally, our adjustments this year also included starting at the track instead of the street to focus on genuine performance capabilities, filtering out those that merely impress on city roads.

Comprehensive Judging Criteria

We continued refining our six criteria for evaluation: Advancement in Design, Driver Confidence and Engagement, Efficiency, Engineering Excellence, Performance of Intended Function, and Value. This comprehensive framework allows us to recognize high-performance vehicles beyond mere statistics.

The process to narrow down our 21 contenders to seven finalists involved extensive discussions and comparisons based on our established criteria, rather than direct competition among the vehicles.

Real-World Evaluation Routes

Before selecting the winner, our finalists underwent testing in diverse real-world conditions, encompassing interstates, rural highways, city environments, and mountainous roads. This comprehensive driving experience helped us evaluate each vehicle’s adaptability and performance under varying circumstances.

This year’s testing route traversed nearly 350 miles, offering challenges such as temperature fluctuations and elevation changes, ensuring only the most capable vehicles would rise to the top.

Final Thoughts

After numerous hours evaluating these vehicles, we confidently present the results of our rigorous and thorough competition. The Performance Vehicle of the Year showcases the best in performance across styles, powertrains, and purposes, catering to all automotive enthusiasts.

We look forward to continuing this tradition, delivering more comprehensive evaluations, and perhaps expanding our budget for even better testing opportunities in the future.