Motoring marvels praised at What Car? awards

Motoring marvels praised at What Car? awards

The best vehicles currently available on the market were given a variety of awards last night, at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

Widely regarding as the motoring equivalent of the Oscars, the ceremony in London welcomed the very best in vehicle designers, developers and distributors in attendance, with all eagerly waiting to discover if any of their models were to drive away with a gong.

The big winner of the night was Nissan, whose Qashqai was given the title of Car of the Year 2014.

However, there were also a number of other victors from a variety of different segments and price-ranges.

Citroen was just one of the brands that took home a title, with the Grand C4 Picasso given the award for MPV of the Year.

Judges noted the car for its space, efficiency and stylish interior, while editor-in-chief of the publication praised its "relaxed driving manners" and general smooth drive.

The manufacturer was also recognised with honours in two other categories, with the C3 Picasso VTi 95 VTR+ awarded the MPV Best Buy less than £16,000 title, while the DS3 120 DStyle picked up the accolade of Open-Top Best Buy less than £25,000.

Dacia continued with the positives that the brand picked up in 2013, with its Sandero 1.2 Ambiance given the gong for Best Small Car under £12,000 - with the recommended price almost half this maximum total.

It was praised for its practicality and space as well as its low, low price tag, with judges saying bargain hunters should "look no further" than the highly affordable supermini.

Elsewhere, the Suzuki Swift Sport claimed the award for Best Buy Hot Hatch for less than £15,000 at the ceremony, marking the third consecutive year the manufacturer has triumphed in the Best Buy category.

Mr Hallett said the car is a "far from average" hot hatch, thanks to the superior body control and grip on offer.

The car is able to deliver 44.1 mpg and emissions of just 147g/km, making it an economical model as well as a top performer.

Volkswagen Golf Estate took home the title of Best Estate Car from the magazine, in no small part because of its excellent ride quality and all-round refinement. The practical estate was also praised for its low running costs and high residual value.

Specifically, it was the mid-level 1.6-litre TDi SE that was given the plaudit, with the car featuring 16-inch alloy wheels, a Driver Alert system and Pre-Crash preventive occupant protection.

Hyundai was also triumphant on the night, heading up to the stage to collect the Best City Car title for the i10- beating off competition from the Skoda Citigo.

According to Mr Haslett: "The original i10 has always been a favourite of ours and our readers for its no-nonsense, value-for-money offering. However, Hyundai has now done the unthinkable with the New Generation i10 and knocked a more established brand off the city car perch."

The i10 is Hyundai's best-selling model, and with recognition from What Car? its popularity is sure to grow further.

Posted by Craig Salter