Leaf Plus and Kona EV are AJAC’s eco-friendly choices for 2020

The Nissan Leaf Plus was named 2020 Canadian Green Car of the Year and the Hyundai Kona EV 2020 Canadian Green Utility Vehicle of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

This announcement was originally scheduled to take place at the Vancouver International Auto Show, which was cancelled. Instead due to the limitations imposed by COVID-19, it took place on Facebook Live on March 26 in a video shot in the home kitchen of Stephanie Wallcraft, AJAC President.

Popular choices

The Nissan Leaf Plus’s victory marks a repeat win for the nameplate, which was also named 2019 Canadian Green Car of the Year. This year it was competing against the Nissan Altima and the Volvo V60 Polestar.

As for the Kona EV, its popularity demonstrates a new trend amongst affordable EV buyers who favour models with high autonomy, like this small Hyundai’s 415 kilometre range. The Hyundai Nexo and Jaguar I-Pace were the two other contenders of the Kona’s award.

Award created in 2013

AJAC awarded its first Canadian Green Car Award in 2013. That year, the Ford Fusion hybrid won the title.

Other nominees of the 2013 award included the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, Chevrolet Volt, Ford Edge EcoBoost, Ford Focus Electric, Mazda CX-5, Mazda6, Mercedes-Benz B 250 Turbo, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive.

Text: Luc Gagné
Photos: AJAC, Hyundai and Nissan