Motoring enthusiasts across the country hang onto your hats, a Volvo has won Australia's most prestigious motoring award.
The Volvo XC60 SUV has on Thursday been named the Wheels magazine Car of the Year for 2018, beating out the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Skoda Kodiaq
It's the first time the Swedish brand has won the award, which has been running since 1963.
Wheels editor Alex Inwood said judges considered the XC60 head and shoulders above its rivals.
"The XC60 not only caught the eye with great styling, it consistently delivered throughout our rigorous testing program, ultimately out-pointing all-comers to be a most worthy winner," Mr Inwood said.
"It's a terrific family SUV that is, at once, stylish, good value and fun to drive."
Despite previously being derided as boring, Mr Inwood said Volvo had been making great cars for many years.
But he said the XC60 took the company to a "whole new level".
"It might be time for a lot of people to finally park their prejudice, and mouldy punchlines, to get with the program," he said.
"Times have certainly changed."
The Wheels award judges cars against strict criteria, taking into account function, technology, efficiency, safety and value.
In other awards announced on Wednesday, Motor magazine named the Honda Civic Type R as the Performance Car of the Year , 4X4 Australia magazine named the Land Rover Discovery SD4 the four-wheel-drive of 2018 and the Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupe picked up the WhichCar Style Award.
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