Britain’s biggest motoring magazine has handed out its annual awards, with Land Rover, SEAT, Skoda Mercedes and Audi among the winners.
Auto Express has named the best new models of the past 12 months at its prestigious annual New Car Awards – and the big winner was the Range Rover Evoque, which was crowned Auto Express Car of the Year 2011.
The British-designed and manufactured Evoque goes on sale in Ireland next month.
The entry-level (but still well specced) Range Rover Evoque 4wd Pure TD4 5 door will cost €40,975 (VRT Band C), with prices going up to €66,920 for the top-of-the-range Range Rover Evoque 2.0 SI4 Prestige Coupe (petrol – VRT Band F).
The ceremony celebrated the top buys in 18 classes of the new car market, as chosen by Auto Express’s expert panel. Key criteria included fuel efficiency, driver appeal, practicality and reliability. From the 18 class winners, one stood out overall. The judges felt that the Evoque – chosen as the Best Compact SUV – was the most impressive new car of the past 12 months.
They felt that not only is the Evoque stunning to look at and great to drive, it deserved special recognition for being the cleanest, most efficient Range Rover ever.
Other winners on the night included the SEAT Alhambra, which won Best MPV, the Audi A6, which was named Best Executive Car, and the Skoda Superb, which won the Best Family Car and Best Estate Car awards.
Auto Express handed out seven special awards, including its first-ever Green Award, in recognition of a manufacturer’s environmentally friendly efforts. This went to Volkswagen’s BlueMotion model range.
The SEAT Alhambra’s latest award is only the last in a long line over the last twelve months for the 7-seater which retails in Ireland from €38,130 and falls into Tax Band C.
In the UK the Alhambra has been awarded Best MPV by UK Diesel Car, Fleet World, Carbuyer.co.uk and What Car?
Further afield it has been named Best MPV by El Economista newspaper in Spain, Best Imported MPV by Germany’s Auto Zeitung magazine and 2011 Best Imported MPV by German motor trade magazine Auto Motor und Sport. The Alhambra has also been named MPV of the Year in Portugal by the ‘Car of the Year – Crystal Steering Wheel Trophy’ panel members.
The Mercedes S-Class, meanwhile, won its six consecutive title for Best Luxury Car. The S-Class has won that particular gong every year since its 2006 launch.
According to Graham Hope, Acting Editor of Auto Express: “The Range Rover Evoque truly looks set to define a desirable new sector of the market on its own.
“This talented machine brings a much loved premium brand within reach of a wider audience than ever before, and marks a brave departure from its maker’s traditional strengths.”
Full list of winners:
- Best City Car – Hyundai i10
- Best Supermini – Ford Fiesta
- Best Premium Supermini – Audi A1
- Best Supermini-MPV – Hyundai ix20
- Best Compact Family Car – Volkswagen Golf
- Best Crossover – Skoda Yeti
- Best Family Car – Skoda Superb
- Best Compact Executive Car – BMW 3 Series
- Best Executive Car – Audi A6
- Best Luxury Car – Mercedes S-Class
- Best Compact SUV – Range Rover Evoque
- Best Large SUV – Land Rover Discovery 4
- Best Estate – Skoda Superb Estate
- Best MPV – SEAT Alhambra
- Best Hot Hatch – Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Best Coupe – Peugeot RCZ
- Best Convertible – BMW 3 Series Convertible
- Best Roadster – Mazda MX-5
- Green Award – Volkswagen BlueMotion
- Performance Car of the Year – Ferrari 458 Italia
- Design Award – Saab PhoeniX
- Driver Power Award – Skoda
- Special Award – Ford Focus, Driver Assistance Pack
- Auto Express Hall of Fame – Nick Reilly, President, GM Europe
- Car of the Year – Range Rover Evoque
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