each vehicle against six key criteria: Motor Trend also only considers cars with base MSRPs less than $100,000 in order to avoid expensive luxury and super cars dominating the competition. Vehicles are subjected a battery of tests: standard car tests such as skid-pad ratings, acceleration and quarter-mile times, and evaluations of the interiors are combined with a track run conducted by Sports Car Club of America-licensed testers and taking the cars out on normal roads to test their drivability under normal conditions, and fuel economy. Trucks and SUVs add towing capacity and speed, plus an off-road course, to the normal regimen. Car of the Year Winners Note that in 1970 and between 1976-2000, the Car of the Year award was split into two categories, domestic and import. Import Car of the Year Winners Introduced in 1970 for one year and then brought back in 1976 due to differences between imports and American cars. The award was discontinued after the 1999 model year when the difference between what was a domestic and an import had started to become problematic. Truck of the Year Winners SUV of the Year Winners "SUV of the Year" was split from "Truck of the Year" in 1999. Car of the Year (China)Motor Trend magazine's China-market cousin, Auto Club-Motor Trend'', also issues a "Car of the Year" award for that market. Car of the Year 2011: BMW Brilliance 5 Series (long wheelbase) 2010: Shanghai-GM Buick Regal 2009: GAC-Honda Accord 2008: FAW-Volkswagen Magotan(Passat B6) 2007: GAC-Toyota Camry 2006: FAW-Toyota Crown 2005: Changan-Ford Mondeo 2004: FAW-Mazda 6 2003: Shanghai Volkswagen Polo SUV of the Year Winners 2011: FAW-Volkswagen Audi Q5 2010: GAC Toyota Highlander 2009: Dongfeng Nissan X-Trail 2008: Guangqi Honda CRV 2007: Countermanded 2006: Shanghai GM SRX 2005: Guangqi Honda CRV 2004: Changfeng Automobile Liebao Feiteng See also List of motor vehicle awards References Motor vehicle awards