The "best car" season is upon us, a time when journalist organisations, magazines, Web sites and other media glorify themselves and the automakers with Car of the Year trophies, a tradition begun by Motor Trend decades ago and now copied all over the world. Europe's long-standing Car of the Year award was recently followed by North America's automobile journalists but both these groups assume the auto writers have actually driven each of the competing vehicles.

In Canada they do things differently. Members of AJAC (automobile journalists association) gather at a racetrack in Southern Ontario for four days of driving on the track and on nearby roads. All eligible cars are supplied by the manufacturers. Using a complex point system, the journalist's votes are tallied and awards are announced in various classes a few weeks later, with overall Car and Truck of the Year trophies to follow at the Canadian International Auto Show in mid-February.

This year's class awards, 10 in all, were dominated by three manufacturers. Hyundai's Sonata won for Best Family Car Under $25,000, its Azera for Best Family Car Over $25,000. (Those are Canadian prices, by the way.) BMW took the Luxury/Prestige Car and Sports Sedan trophies, the Honda Civic was chosen Best New Economy Car and Honda's Civic Si Best New Sports Car. Wait! Best new sports car a Honda Civic? Did anyone drive the Solstice or new Miata? Well, AJAC has some strange rules about eligibility based on date of model announcement, so perhaps that explains it.

Call me old-fashioned but in my view a sports car is a two-seater made for the sole purpose of having fun. The Civic Si, great little coupe though it may be, just doesn't qualify. Agree?