Automotive writers from across Canada gather annually in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario for the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's (AJAC) Test Fest.  AJAC's Test Fest is a week filled with testing 57 new vehicles in 11 different categories to determine the finalists for the AJAC Car of the Year awards.

How it works is very simple.  After the writers test these vehicles under identical road or/and track courses there will be one winner chosen from each category.  Those winning vehicles will be announced on Friday, October 28th and will be eligible to win Canadian Car or Utility of the Year – announced in February at the 2012 Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS) hosted in Toronto.

Writers are grouped in teams and they need to rate each vehicle in their segment under 21 separate evaluation parameters including: acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics, maneuverability, even off-road capability, where applicable. Each parameter is electronically rated using a 0-10 scale through a secret ballot.

Those ballots are tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG and the results are only found out during the opening ceremonies of the CIAS.

Below is a list of the 2011 model entrants in each category and we will announce the winners for you on the 28th of October:

Small Car under $21,000

Chevrolet Sonic Sedan
Fiat 500
Honda Civic Sedan
Hyundai Accent
Kia Rio5
Nissan Versa Sedan
Scion iQ

Small Car over $21,000

Ford Focus
Hyundai Elantra
Subaru Impreza
Volkswagen Beetle

Family Car under $30,000

Chevrolet Orlando
Chrysler 200
Kia Optima
Mazda5
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen Passat TDI

Family Car over $30,000

Chevrolet Volt
Dodge Charger
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Kia Optima Hybrid
Mini Countryman
Toyota Prius V

Luxury Car

Acura TL
Buick LaCrosse eAssist
Chrysler 300C
Infiniti M55h
Lexus CT200h
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C350 4Matic Sedan

Sports/Performance Car under $50,000

Buick Regal GS
Dodge Charger SRT8
Honda Civic Si Coupe
Hyundai Veloster
Kia Optima SX
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe
Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Sports/Performance Car over $50,000

BMW 1 Series M Coupe
Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Chrysler 300C SRT8
Hyundai Genesis R-Spec
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Porsche Cayman R

Prestige Car over $75,000

BMW 6 Series Cabriolet
Jaguar XKR-S
Mercedes-Benz S-Class 350 BlueTEC 4Matic

SUV/CUV under $35,000

Dodge Journey
Jeep Compass
Jeep Wrangler

CUV/SUV $35,000-$60,000

BMW X1
Dodge Durango
Ford Explorer
Range Rover Evoque
Volkswagen Touareg TDI

SUV/CUV over $60,000

BMW X3
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Mercedes-Benz M-Class