Australia's Best Cars awards are judges by the combined motoring clubs of Australia - the RACQ, NRMA, RACV, RACT, RAA, RAC and the AA of NT - and are promoted to their 6.3 million members throughout Australia.

The judges said: "Mitsubishi finally has a winning hand after years of spruiking tired models.

"On-road it has plenty to offer. The 380 is the smoothest, quietest Australian-made car. It also features beaut bump absorption and dutiful damping."

"The radically revamped 3.8 litre V6 pulls strongly while changes from the five-speed sequential transmission are clean and timely.

"The 380 is a front-wheel-drive car with a sporty bent. Its grip and stability are highly attuned, steering is precise and mid-corner bumps rarely corrupt cornering."

"Inside, and despite a swoopy rear roofline, there's ample room for three adults to occupy the rear seat. Seating in both rows is comfortable and supportive."

"Mitsubishi's vault in value includes a mighty warranty while its maintenance, repair and insurance outlays are low."

When accepting the award in Melbourne, Mitsubishi's President and CEO, Robert McEniry, said that the 380 had set new build quality standards for Australian-manufactured cars.

"Tom Phillips and his team have every right to be proud of the car they have put into the market place." Mr McEniry said.

"The 380 has arguably the most space efficient interior, more than adequate power tempered with class-leading fuel economy, sporty and agile handling, and levels of refinement and quality previously only found in expensive imported cars."

"The team that worked especially hard to bring this car to market, including the factory floor workers at our Adelaide assembly plant, have every reason to feel especially proud today that their efforts have been recognised with this prestigious award."

"The motoring clubs' opinions are highly respected amongst their membership, and I know that the real world road exercises they put the cars through during their judging is particularly exacting. Therefore, any car that receives a Best Cars award has really earned its stripes, and Australian motorists can be confident that an award winner is ideally designed to carry out its intended purpose, and is genuinely suited to Australian conditions." Mr McEniry concluded.

The Australia's Best Cars award comes hot on the heels of NRMA Insurance's theft ratings announcement that placed the Mitsubishi 380 as the most secure locally manufactured family car, and the Society of Automotive Engineer's Award for Excellence for the 380's engine.