WHAT CAR AWARDS - Skoda cleans up at this years event with three outright wins and six pricepoint victories.

• Best Small Car, Best Family Car and Best Estate car awards all go to ŠKODA
• Fabia and Octavia triumph for second and third year respectively
• New Superb named Best Estate Car 2016, its first What Car? Award
• Six price point victories - including awards for Citigo, Fabia Estate and Superb

ŠKODA has triumphed once again at the 2016 What Car? Awards thanks to three separate category wins and six price point victories, all of which ensures this is the most comprehensive haul enjoyed by the Czech manufacturer to date.

ŠKODA is no stranger to What Car? silverware, with the Fabia being crowned overall Car of the Year 2015. This year the Fabia underlined its remarkable value, design and quality by retaining its Small Car title.

What Car? judges nominated the 1.2-litre 90PS SE model as its pick of the range, with What Car? Editorial director Jim Holder commenting: “The Fabia is a car that won’t leave those downsizing wanting; it’s well built, spacious, refined and is offered with a wide range of modern features and safety equipment. For the money, no other small car is as capable.”

Proving ŠKODA’s incredible longevity, the Octavia saw off some of the toughest competition in the business to scoop the 2016 Family Car title for the third time in a row. Despite the arrival of new contenders in this key category, the What Car? judges had no hesitation in choosing the Octavia, praising its practicality and high equipment levels.

Jim Holder said: “Interior space is exceptional, and includes a boot that’s easily big enough to cope with most people’s requirements. Factor in the excellent value the Octavia represents and that’s two very important boxes ticked for buyers.”

Completing ŠKODA’s hat-trick of category wins, the all-new Superb took top honours in the Estate car category. Selecting the 2.0 TDI SE Business as its favourite model, the What Car? panel found the new Superb’s combination of design, practicality and innovation impossible to resist.

“Raw capacity is no problem at all for the ŠKODA Superb Estate, which has one of the largest cabins available,” said Jim Holder. “Five adults will have no trouble getting comfortable for a long journey, and the boot is so big that none of them will have to pack light. It also gets neat touches such as a removable torch in the boot and Velcro dividers to stop stuff rolling around when you’re on the move. It really does feel like they’ve thought of everything that makes a great estate car.”

ŠKODA also performed exceptionally well in the What Car? price point categories – awards designed to highlight the best choices for buyers in a fixed price range. Once again, ŠKODA trounced the competition with six price point champions - more than any other manufacturer.

The Citigo (1.0 60PS SE 5dr) was named Best City Car in the under £10,000 price bracket, while the Fabia Estate (1.2 TSI SE) took victory in the under £18,000 price bracket in the Estate car category. The Fabia Hatch (1.2 TSI 90 SE) was also named Best Small Car in the £12,000-£15,000 bracket.

Further up the price and size scale, the Octavia Hatch (1.2 TSI 110 SE) was selected as the Best Family Car in the £16,000-£19,000 bracket, the Superb Hatch (2.0 TDI 150 SE Business) took top honours in the Compact Executive Car sector (under £25,000) while the Superb Estate (2.0 TSI 150 SE Business) completed ŠKODA’s haul with victory in the £18,000-£25,000 price bracket. 

Commenting on ŠKODA’s exceptional performance, UK Brand Director Duncan Movassaghi said: “This has been a remarkable night for ŠKODA, and I’m delighted that our cars – from the smallest to the largest – have been recognised by What Car? These awards mean a great deal to everyone at ŠKODA, and we’re thrilled to add them to our ever-expanding collection of industry accolades.”

ŠKODA at the 2016 What Car? Awards summary

CATEGORY WINS

2016 SMALL CAR OF THE YEAR: Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE

2016 FAMILY CAR: Octavia 1.2 TSI 110 SE

2016 ESTATE CAR: Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Business

PRICE POINTS

CITY CAR (less than £10,000) Citigo 1.0 60 SE 5dr

SMALL CAR (£12,000-£15,000) Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE

FAMILY CAR (£16,000-£19,000) Octavia 1.2 TSI 110 SE

ESTATE (less than £18,000) Fabia Estate 1.2 TSI SE

ESTATE (£18,000-£25,000) Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Business

COMPACT EXECUTIVE CAR (less than £25,000) Superb Hatch 2.0 TDI 150 SE Business