The Hyundai i10 takes Scottish Car Of The Year award.

New compact model is also one of 15 category winners

Hyundai’s i10 small car has won the big trophy at the 2014 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

It may be one of the smallest contenders in the awards presented by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW), but the Hyundai i10 scored the biggest hit with the expert panel of judges to lift the coveted winner’s quaich at the renowned event at the Fairmont St Andrews. It is also the first car to lift the all-new Scottish Car of the Year trophy, designed and supplied by the Bridge of Weir Leather Company.

Hyundai fought off tough competition to win the Small Car category, which then saw the i10 beat winners from the other tightly contested categories. The category winners come from the following sectors: Small, Family, MPV, Executive, Estate, Crossover, SUV/4x4, Sports, Coupe, Drop-Top, Hot Hatch, Design and Innovation, Electric, Diesel and Used Car.

The evening was a double celebration for BMW, which collected trophies for the 220d in the Diesel category, while the brilliant i3 won in Electric Car.

Demonstrating the breadth of talent among the new cars considered by the judges, no other manufacturer won more than one award. British car makers were represented in fine style by the Jaguar F-TYPE that won the Coupe title, while the stunning McLaren 650S outpaced its rivals to win the Sports award.

Mazda lifted the cup for the Family category with its Mazda3, while the SEAT Leon ST impressed the judging panel with its space and practicality to be voted Estate winner. Citroën’s versatile and attractive Grand C4 Picasso earned the MPV winner’s award, while the Suzuki S-Cross was another car with the right mix of talents to beat all-comers in the Crossover category.

Jeep proved its mix of off-road and on-road abilities was more than enough for the Scottish conditions to win the SUV and 4x4 category. Another all-wheel-drive car to impress was the Volkswagen Golf R, crowned best Hot Hatch.

It may be winter in Scotland, but that didn’t stop the Audi A3 Cabriolet from winning the judges’ hearts to lift the Drop Top title. In the Executive sector, Lexus saw off strong challenges from a number of rivals for its IS to come out on top.

There are two other categories for Scottish Car of the Year which are not eligible for the overall winner’s title. They are the Design and Innovation award and the newly created Used Car award.

Picking up the Design and Innovation award, a category sponsored by the organisers of next year’s Concours of Elegance event in Edinburgh, is the new Jaguar XE. The vehicle was praised for its appearance, extensive use of aluminium and all-new low emissions engines.

The inaugural winner of the ASMW’s Scottish Used Car of the Year award is the Ford Focus, which in its original guise was named as the recipient of the very first Scottish Car of the Year title in 1998. As a used car the current version offers buyers on any budget a superbly practical family car with low running costs and plenty of driving fun.

Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: “Looking at the list of nominees and category winners, it’s clear it would take something special to win overall and the Hyundai i10 has everything. Great value, practical, affordable to own and hugely enjoyable to drive, it’s the perfect small car. Hyundai can feel justifiably proud of themselves to have won Scottish Car of the Year.

“All of the other category winners can also give themselves a well-earned pat on the back as the judges are a tough bunch to please. Whether it’s a supercar or used car, the ASMW members are always looking for the car that best suits the needs of its owner.’

Receiving the award for Hyundai, Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, added: “i10 has gone from strength to strength in 2014, impressing previous generation owners whilst simultaneously attracting new customers in the 11 months it has been on sale. I would like to thank the Scottish Group of Motoring Writers for recognising i10 as the overall Scottish Car of the Year – it is a privilege to accept this award for the first time in the history of Hyundai Motor UK. It’s a testament to the brand’s progress in the last five years and a huge boost at the end of a remarkable year.”

The SCOTY Hall of Fame

1998: Ford Focus

1999: Jaguar S-Type

2000: Audi A2

2001: Jaguar X-Type

2002: Mazda6

2003: Volvo XC90

2004: Peugeot 407

2005: BMW 3 Series

2006: Jaguar XK

2007: Ford Mondeo

2008: Ford Fiesta

2009: Land Rover Discovery 4

2010: Kia Sportage

2011: Range Rover Evoque

2012: Dacia Duster

2013: Volkswagen Golf

2014: Hyundai i10