I'd rather take brilliance in some areas and poor performance in others. Overall mediocrity is bland, even if a car does nothing badly and most things fairly well.
I'm not saying that the Peugeot 3008 isn't a worthy car, it does not disappoint but it doesn't sparkle either.
As for maker of the year, I have no idea to be honest. I'm out of touch with most current model releases. For innovation I have admired Renault for years but the build quality and subsequent reliability both have always been stumbling blocks for me and many others besides.
Let the French innovate and then let the Germans or the Japanese build it properly. Yet for interior kitsch I still think classic British is the way.
Maker of the year for me? -- -- I'll vote for Jaguar I think with it's simply brilliant XF. In fairness, I haven't driven BMW's and MB's current alternatives.
Nothing else really floats my boat. I like Peugeot's 607 but it's a million years old now. Ford doesn't do a Scorpio/Granada model now, the Mondeo, good as it is, doesn't quite do the job for the two market segments it addresses (and everso nearly convinces).
Vauxhall - not a fan, which is not to say that there are not some good ones.
Another unlikely contender is Volvo - the S80 is a much berated yet superbly conceived car. Again, yesterday's car.
I really don't like the current fad for 'lifestyle' cars, 'crossover' cars etc etc.