Mead is the latest juror to be added to the Women’s World Car of the Year jury
Women’s World Car of the Year reinforces its role in the USA thanks a new renowned jury member, Sue Mead. With her appointment, WWCOTY, the only car awards group in the world comprised exclusively by women motoring journalists, has a jury of 53 female motoring journalists from 40 countries across all five continents.
Mead’s automotive career began as a freelance evaluator for Four Wheeler Magazine in 1988, on the first team that included women as testers. Today, she travels the globe test-driving cars and trucks, and working as a photojournalist/feature writer for dozens of publications; she specializes in 4WD and adventure. Mead has been an auto editor and 4WD editor for CNN/fn and authored three automotive books- Monster Trucks and Tractors; Off Road Racing, Legends and Adventures; and Rock Crawling. She has been to more than 70 countries; driven enough off-road and 4WD race miles to have circumnavigated the globe twice and won the Open Production class at the 2011 Dakar. She is an inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
“It is an honor to be one of the WWCOTY jurors representing the U.S. As a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) jury, the Texas Automotive Press Association (TAWA) and the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA), I am very experienced at evaluating vehicles. After 33 years in the field, I have likely driven more than 3,000 vehicles of every shape, size and mission in the market. And, while I love off-road racing and backcountry adventure, I like thinking about everyday vehicles for everyday drivers. I am fortunate to drive a new vehicle each week, and to attend press/ testing events for the latest all-new models. My granddaughter, Evie, and I drive the new vehicles I get at my home and we talk about what we like. She brings fresh eyes and insights to my job and creates more excitement, as she represents a new and upcoming generation. The last vehicle I personally owned 24 years ago was a 1951 Willys A truck!”
“More people own cars than houses in the U.S. The most popular segments are trucks and SUVs but many buyers are performance enthusiasts, too. Now, with hybrid vehicles already well-established, electric vehicles are coming on strong in every class in the market, as well as in off-road racing.”