In fall 2021, we launched the first-ever Motor1.com Star Awards program, handing out material to the best cars, trucks and SUVs in eight distinct categories. After a year of consideration, a slew of feedback from readers and colleagues, and driving time in hundreds of new vehicles, we’ve refined our test formula and refueled for 2022 with our featured sponsor, E-tires. Range EV.
Throughout the year, Motor1.com and Inside electric vehicles editors rate just about every vehicle newly introduced to the market. But the work does not stop at the end of the journey. When the cars are parked in the garage, we pull out the spreadsheets.
To approximate apples-to-apples comparisons as closely as possible, our scoring system divides the universe of vehicles into some 144 micro-segments, scored on some 60 individually weighted measurement points, examining everything from design and safety, performance and comfort. . The net result is our star rating, a score from 1 to 10 that helps you sort out the cars to consider and the cars to avoid.
The Star Awards pick up where the Star Ratings leave off. Our set of considerations starts with vehicles that are either completely new or significantly overhauled within the last year. From there, we invite the cars with the highest marks to join us for Test Week in the heart of the California desert.
Throughout the year we’ve let data take the lead in our scoring system, but the focus of the test week is to compare vehicles head-to-head – on the road, on the track or in the dirt. as applicable – to see which competitor in each segment stands out with compelling value, incredible technology and impressive real-world behavior. (There will also be spreadsheets here, but they’re much less exciting to get into.)
For 2022, we have streamlined our categories but deepened the scope of vehicles in each. We’ll be handing out accolades for Best in Electric, Performance, Luxury, Truck, SUV and Value. And, of course, we’ll be vying for the coveted Editors’ Choice Award for the second year in a row.
Better yet, this year we want to take you with us. Each day we’ll be streaming live from the Star Awards headquarters, recap of the day and teasing which vehicles may come one step closer to victory. There will probably be some hard-earned cocktails too, if the lawyers let us. Plan to have fun via YouTube, Facebook and/or Twitterwhere we will answer your questions live.
Go back to Motor1.com for upcoming updates announcing our preliminary lists of nominated vehicles, dates and times to participate in the test week, and the grand finale where we bring you the ultimate Motor1.com Star Award winners.
