Hyundai wins at Aus Best Car Awards 2012

Awards also went to Hyundai's i30 hatch in the Small Car Under $35K segment, and the iMax in the People Mover category.

According to the judges, the recently-released Santa Fe took "a convincing and deserved victory" in the competitive SUV Over $40,000 category. The win was attributed to the new model's suite of comfort and convenience features usually reserved for prestige brands.

The Santa Fe Elite's maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating was also a factor, with the new model also receiving high scores across pricing, running and repair costs, and warranty categories.

"The R-Series diesel is easily the pick of the engines," the judging panel said. "It makes acceleration from standstill smooth, effortless, and efficient. And off road, that muscular torque helps the Santa Fe maintain good progress."

The ABC Awards, presented by the Australian Automobile Association on behalf of Australia's Motoring Clubs, is the nation's most comprehensive and independent consumer focused vehicle testing and award program.

The 2012 testing process saw over 300 vehicles across 15 categories complete the exhaustive evaluation and assessment process focused on three main criteria: 'Value for Money', 'Design and Function' and 'On the Road Performance'.

Winner in the Best SUV under $40,000 category was Kia's Sportage SLi AWD petrol model.