WHAT CAR AWARDS - Mazda does the double with the MX-5 and CX-5 SUV.

• The Mazda MX-5 takes the Best Convertible title at 2017 What Car? Awards.
• 2.0-litre SE-L Nav Mazda MX-5 named Best Convertible Buy for under £25,000.
• Mazda CX-5 2.2 SKYACTIV-D 150 SE-L Nav wins Best Large SUV Buy for under £25,000

The Mazda MX-5 has started 2017 in winning form by taking the Best Convertible title at the annual What Car? Awards. In a year that will see the launch of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF, the MX-5 convertible has won this prestigious accolade from Britain’s leading monthly car review magazine for the second year in succession.

The latest generation of Mazda’s iconic roadster was also named as the Best Convertible buy for under £25,000 at the annual awards ceremony. 

Commenting on its victory, What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford said,” despite facing new competition from the mechanically similar Fiat 124 Spider, the Mazda MX-5 has triumphed again. 

We love its rev-happy and punchy 2.0-litre engine, its simple mechanical roof and its temptingly low price. Even better, the MX-5’s ride and handling proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that less is more. Its lightweight chassis construction makes for a driving experience that’s guaranteed to brighten your day, and with surprisingly good fuel economy, this is a fun car that’s both cheap to buy and run.”   

The lightest MX-5 since the iconic original, the Mazda MX-5 is shorter, lower and wider than the Mk3 it replaced. With the smallest overhangs and lowest centre of gravity yet, its dynamic proportions and Mazda’s KODO: Soul of Motion styling reflects its focus on driving pleasure in an unmistakably contemporary and dynamic way. Featuring Mazda’s award-winning SKYACTIV technology, the MX-5’s ultra-efficient petrol engines and lightweight chassis ensure that agility and driver engagement is taken to a new level. With perfect 50:50 weight distribution and more technology than ever before, the MX-5 convertible has firmly re-established Mazda’s dominance of the affordable sports car sector.

Collecting the What Car? Award, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson said, “We’re delighted that What Car? has once again recognised the MX-5 convertible. This car is our brand icon and it embodies all that is great about our products. Its fun to drive character has strengthened the bond between Mazda and its customers for 25 years, and today it’s the ultimate example of how our SKYACTIV technology and KODO design philosophy help us deliver stylish, spirited and great to drive cars that have the love of driving at the heart of their appeal.”

Adding, “The latest MX-5 has already cemented its place in the hearts of driving enthusiasts and with the launch in March of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF we are about to add another chapter to the success story of this amazing car.”

Ahead of the debut of the all-new Mazda CX-5 later this year, the current Mazda CX-5 has once again demonstrated its enduring appeal with both buyers and the media by taking top honours in What Car’s Best Buy for less than £25,000 Large SUV category. 

What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford commented that, “the Mazda CX-5 retains its crown because what you get here for your hard-earned cash is impressive.  We’re not just talking about the generous standard equipment though, there’s space and practicality, too. With a decent-sized boot and useful 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, the CX-5 can deal with all that family life can throw at it. The Mazda CX-5 is also one of the best handling large SUVs, while its lively engine impresses with enough performance to haul you along fully loaded. Finally, relatively cheap finance deals and competitive running costs keep it affordable.”

With 2017 What Car? awards for two of Mazda’s most successful vehicles to start the year, 2017 promises to be an exciting one for both these models as we await the launch of both the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF and the all-new Mazda CX-5.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Skoda takes three and another three price point wins, not bad going !

• Kodiaq, Fabia Hatchback and Superb Estate all take category titles
• All-new Kodiaq wins Best Large SUV for 2017
• Fabia takes Small Car title for the third consecutive year
• Superb wins back-to-back Estate car honours
• Price Point wins for Citigo, Fabia Estate and Superb
• Judges praise value for money, design and practicality

ŠKODA has kicked off 2017 with another remarkable haul of titles at the annual What Car? Awards. The all-new Kodiaq, Fabia Hatchback and Superb Estate all won their categories at the ceremony widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the automotive world.

As in previous years, the event was attended by some of the biggest names in the industry. And, once again, it was ŠKODA that provided the biggest cheers of the night. The all-new Kodiaq headlined ŠKODA’s triple crown of awards, driving off with the coveted Best Large SUV 2017.

Commenting on the award, Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor, said: “We had high expectations for the Czech brand’s first large SUV, and the Kodiaq doesn’t disappoint. 

Our favourite model costs a little more than £28,000, and for that you get seven seats, four-wheel drive, a punchy 148bhp diesel engine and generous equipment levels. It’s simply a brilliant large SUV.”

Not to be outdone by the newest member of the ŠKODA family, the Fabia Hatchback continued its remarkable run of awards by clinching Best Small Car 2017. Crowned overall Car of the Year in 2015, the Fabia has retained its Best Small Car title for three years in a row – confirming it as one of the most complete superminis on the market.

“Over the past 12 months, we’ve seen plenty of new small cars come and go, but the Fabia still sits at the top of the pile.” said Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor. “The Fabia not only feels agile and easy to drive in town, but is also more comfortable and refined at motorway speeds than many larger cars.Its solidly built interior and impressive array of safety kit just set it further apart from rivals. Throw in its interior features and outstanding practicality, and it’s a clear winner.”

Completing ŠKODA’s collection of 2017 titles was the Superb Estate, which took top honours in the Estate Car category. Like the Fabia, the Superb retained its crown – comfortably seeing off stiff competition.

Explaining the judge’s decision, Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor said: “ŠKODA really has taken a lead in this class; the Superb retains the crown it won last year, and the Fabia isn’t far behind it. Practicality, performance, space, comfort and affordability are king here, and no car mixes all these things as phenomenally well as the Superb.”

ŠKODA was also awarded three price point wins on the night, with the Citigo winning best City Car for £8,000-£10,000, Fabia Estate named best Estate Car for less than £18,000 and the Superb gaining an award for best Executive Car for under £25,000.

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Volvo takes the Best Large SUV for teh second year running with the outstanding XC90.

• Repeat victory for Volvo’s highly acclaimed seven-seat SUV
• Praised for its style, quality, efficiency, space – and, of course, safety
• Available with diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, priced from £46,850
• Innovative T8 Twin Engine sits in 7% Benefit-in-Kind company car tax band

The Volvo XC90 has been named ‘Best Large SUV’ at the Auto Express New Car Awards – for the second year in a row. The XC90 beat new competition from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz to claim the award, which was presented at a prestigious ceremony held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, on Tuesday 5^th July 2016.

Commenting on the award, Auto Express’s editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, said: “Last year’s Auto Express Car of the Year wins its category once again, in spite of strong competition. The Volvo XC90 is a fantastic SUV with its combination of style, quality, space and efficiency. It has all the safety kit you’d expect from a Volvo, but also a level of kit that you might not – it’s a seriously advanced car, which keeps it on top of the class.”

The XC90 set a new standard for Volvo cars. Not only was it the first car to use Volvo’s all-new SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, it heralded a new design direction for the company and set new benchmarks in the class for connectivity, safety and efficiency.

The SPA platform is designed to offer the highest levels of technological sophistication and safety, while being developed from the outset for electrification means that the petrol-electric T8 Twin Engine version retains all the seven-seat versatility and practicality of the petrol and diesel versions, despite also housing the hybrid powertrain’s batteries and electric motor.

Every XC90 is luxuriously equipped as standard, including a nine-inch touch screen control system that provides access to the internet and a range of cloud-based apps, two-zone climate control with Volvo’s ground-breaking CleanZone air-filtration system, LED headlights and a tailgate that you can open simply by waving your foot beneath the bumper.

The amount of safety equipment is equally impressive. As standard, every XC90 comes with Pilot Assist – Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive technology, which takes care of the steering, accelerator and brake inputs to keep the car in its lane up to 80 mph – and fully automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection.

Jon Wakefield, Acting Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “To be awarded the Best Large SUV title at the Auto Express New Car Awards is a huge achievement – but to win it for the second year running is a testament to the XC90’s continuing excellence. The XC90 is a hugely important car for Volvo, both in terms of what it shows we are capable of and where the company is headed, and for the car to win this prestigious award again demonstrates just how exceptional the first of the new generation of Volvo models really is.”

FLEET WORLD HONOURS - Range Rover takes best SUV in the 2015 awards ceremony.

• Range Rover Sport named Best SUV in 2015 Fleet World Honours
• Over 85 awards for Range Rover Sport since 2013 launch
• Critical acclaim for handling, refinement and driver engagement

Launched in 2013, the Range Rover Sport has amassed over 85 awards globally including its recent accolade for Best Large SUV in the 2015 What Car? Awards, proving it’s still the benchmark in its class.

The Range Rover Sport was awarded ‘Best SUV’ in the 2015 Fleet World Honours today demonstrating its prowess in a hotly contested category.

Fleet World Editor, Steve Moody said: “The Sport feels a cut above the rest of the SUV segment, taking the luxury of the full-size Range Rover and condensing it. Generously equipped, widespread use of aluminium means it’s also better to drive and more fuel efficient than ever, without compromising off-road ability. The excellent 169g/km diesel-hybrid is a unique, and versatile, option in the segment.”

Accepting the award, Jon Wackett, Fleet & Business Sales General Manager for Jaguar Land Rover, commented: "We are delighted to see that the Range Rover Sport continues to impress the critics two years after launch. These two awards show that Jaguar Land Rover has one of the most capable and diverse vehicle line-ups in the industry – one that consists of desirable vehicles that appeal to the head as well as the heart.”

Land Rover recently added the Range Rover Sport Hybrid to its line-up. The sophisticated hybrid powertrain enhances performance and efficiency with an extra 170Nm of torque from its electric motors contributing to 700Nm of torque. The Range Rover Sport Hybrid delivers 44.1mpg on a combined cycle, achieving 60mph from standing in 6.4 seconds.