TOP FOUR: The finalists

THEY'VE EMERGED AS THE DOMINANT FOURSOME AT THE PROVING GROUND; NOW FORMENTOR, EVEREST, X-TRAIL AND MODELY HIT THE ROAD FOR THEIR FINAL SHOT AT THE PODIUM

- DYLAN CAMPBELL, JOHN LAW, ALEX INWOOD

4TH Tesla Model Y

FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE NIGGLES OF FRUSTRATION BROUGHT IT HERE, BUT HELD IT FROM THE PODIUM

WHAT A TERRIBLE day to have eyes," chuntered editor Enright as he returned to the Car of the Year judges' shark tank. He was referring to the beluga-like, navy blue Tesla Model Y sitting all alone on the like a giant egg laid by some enormous prehistoric bird.

Luckily for the Model Y - currently Australia's favourite electric vehicle - Car of the Year isn't a motoring Miss, or Mister, Universe contest. Styling is for the market to judge.

Instead, the much-hyped Model Y was an instant invite having come effectively runner-up in our recent EV megatest (pipped only by the Kia EV6, our reigning COTY champ). Sharing about 75 percent of its parts with the Model 3 sedan, the Model Y is six centimetres longer, seven wider and 18cm higher. Intended to fill a smaller and more affordable niche below the larger (and older) Model X, the Model Y is built in Germany and the USA. Except for Australian ones - they're made in China.

Two variants are currently offered - a $68,900 Rear-Wheel Drive and a $102,000, traffic-light-stalking dual-motor Performance. Fronting up COTY was a sole Rear-Wheel Drive in the $1500 optional Deep Blue Metallic, with also optional $2400, 20-inch wheels in a light-sucking satin black. The Rear-Wheel Drive claims 455km of WLTP range and 0-100km/h potential in 6.9 seconds (verified by us). There's a Long Range version offered overseas, but it's not destined for Australia yet.