Kia takes a couple of spots in this years DieselCar Top 50 with the NIRO, cee'd and Sportage all taking awards.

• All-new Kia Niro tops the hybrid category in the joint Diesel Car and Eco Car 2017 awards
• Sportage claims third position out of the top 50 highly rated vehicles available in the UK
• cee’d is rated at number 40
• Kia models impressed judges with their practicality, style, economy and value for money 

Kia has received yet more recognition and won a tightly contested award in this years’ Diesel Car and Eco Car Awards, with the all-new Kia Niro hybrid crossover winning best hybrid vehicle and the Kia cee’d and Sportage models coming well within the top 50 cars available in the UK, concluded by the panel of judges of Diesel Car and Eco Car.

The all-new Niro was launched in August 2016 and presents customers with the high efficiency and low running costs of a petrol-electric car with the style, practicality and desirability of a compact crossover. The judges awarded the model with an overall place of 38 and were impressed by the vehicle’s efficiency and customer-friendly styling and practicality.

Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car and Eco Car commented, “Some hybrids have often come under fire for being awkwardly styled, but not so the Kia Niro, which embraces the booming crossover trend, but still offers wallet-friendly running costs. 

Looking just as stylish as the Sportage SUV, the Niro can return over 70mpg and offer all the space a family should need. It might be high-tech, but its comprehensive seven-year warranty will reassure owners that this family-sized Kia is built to last.”

Last years’ car of the year for Diesel Car, the Kia Sportage, came in at a very respectable number three overall in the 2017 awards. The vehicle has created huge success for the Kia brand in the UK in the past year and a half, with 2016 sales exceeding 40,000 alone.

“Last year’s winner can hold its head high, smashing sales targets for Kia and still being one of the best medium SUVs money can buy. The latest Sportage is the biggest yet, with plenty of space for five people and their luggage. 

On the road, the 1.7- and 2.0-litre diesel engines are refined, easy to drive and free from body roll in the corners, making it a relaxing place for passengers. That awesome seven-year warranty and an impressive list of standard kit makes the Sportage an even more compelling buy.” Said Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car and Eco Car.

Finally, it was the cee’d which also received highly positive recognition from the judges, the model which is now five years old in its current version, came well into the top 50 taking the 40 spot. It impressed judges with its sharp and handsome looks, generous equipment levels, good road manners, economy and that it’s managed to stay competitive even in 2017.

This award win and recognition for Kia in the UK comes at a very successful time for the brand and further bolsters that success. Every month of 2017 has been a new sales record for the business and with an increasing product line upcoming later this year, Kia’s new and existing customers are going to be well catered for.

The Peugeot 3008 takes the main Car of the year title at the DieselCar Top 50 awards.

• ‘Car of the Year’ 2017 awarded to PEUGEOT’s dynamic new SUV
• All-New PEUGEOT 3008 SUV also awarded ‘Best Medium SUV’ by Diesel Car
• UK awards follow the 2017 ‘European Car of the Year’ recognition and add to growing honours

The celebrations that have surrounded the arrival of the All-New PEUGEOT 3008 SUV continued at this year’s Diesel Car Top 50 Awards, with two major honours bestowed upon the ground-breaking new model.

The All-New PEUGEOT 3008 SUV was acclaimed as the overall ‘Car of the Year’ in the Diesel Car Top 50, with a second award being earned in its class as the ‘Best Medium SUV’.

On behalf of the judging panel at Diesel Car, Editor Ian Robertson commented: “PEUGEOT has transformed the 3008 into a fully-fledged SUV and created a real winner in the process… its engines are refined and economical, while its suspension is ideally set up to smooth out British roads. It’s a winner in every respect and we are proud to declare it number one in this year’s Top 50 awards.”

PEUGEOT UK Managing Director, David Peel, added: “PEUGEOT has long been synonymous with diesel engines that set the bar for efficiency and sophistication. The 3008 SUV remains true to this reputation with a range of powertrains that offer the blend of performance, economy and driving enjoyment that today’s motorist demands.

“The car’s many other refinements – notably its class-leading interior quality and technology - combine to make it a highly competitive package. The acclaim that has been bestowed upon the All-New 3008 SUV is a fantastic achievement in what is a new segment for us, and we are genuinely thrilled to receive this recognition from the industry experts.”

The All-New PEUGEOT 3008 SUV can be configured and ordered online from start to finish using PEUGEOT’s Order Online facility.

The 2007-2012 model year Honda CR-V picks up another award, this one from DieselCar magazine.

Honda’s reputation for reliability, quality and value for money has seen the brand’s CR-V crossover named Used 4x4 of the Year by leading motoring magazine Diesel Car.

The spacious and superbly equipped compact SUV took the title after a panel of expert judges weighed up the best buys in the secondhand car market as part of the title’s annual Used Car Awards.

Examples of the CR-V built between 2007 and 2012 stood out, beating a raft of much newer competitors and premium brand alternatives to the accolade.

The judges were impressed by the CR-V’s all-round ability, appeal and equipment levels, as well as its value on the used car market and bulletproof record for dependability.

Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car, which celebrates its 30^th anniversary next year, said: “The Honda CR-V may be older than many of the cars in this year’s honours list but this is a reflection on how highly we rate it.  It’s incredibly practical and spacious and a real second-hand bargain.”

He added: “Good secondhand 4x4s rarely come cheap, but the Honda CR-V is a steal when you consider the vast amount of kit and the sheer amount of space on offer.”

Phil Webb, Head of Cars at Honda UK said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award as the ownership experience of our used car customers is incredibly important to us.”

Hundreds of Honda Approved Used Cars are available through the brand’s nationwide network of dealers and can be searched at www.usedcars.honda.co.uk

Buying a quality assured Honda through the brand’s official used car scheme offers additional peace of mind and a range of added benefits including complimentary five-day drive away insurance.

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - Skoda takes "Best Estate Car" Award for the second year running with the Octavia.

• Octavia Estate picks up ‘Best Estate car’ award from Diesel Car magazine for the second year running
• Stylish load-lugger wins praise for breadth of range and spaciousness
• Great-value Octavia Estate beats competition from the premium sector 

The Octavia Estate has won the ‘Best Estate Car’ award from respected magazine Diesel Car in its annual awards. The hard-working Octavia Estate won praise not just for its load-carrying ability, but also passenger space, low emissions and ŠKODA’s high levels of customer satisfaction. 

The latest Octavia Estate has been a favourite of reviewers and customers alike since it was launched in 2013. Built on a state-of-the-art platform, it features a blend of cutting edge technology and the Simply Clever features for which ŠKODA is renowned, along with low running costs and a great driving experience. 

Ian Robertson, Editor of Diesel Car, was full of praise for the ŠKODA Octavia Estate. He said: “Mid-sized estate cars don’t come any roomier than the ŠKODA Octavia, so it’s no wonder that this load lugging version outsells the hatchback edition, and sales volumes continue on an upward curve.

There truly is an Octavia for everyone, including a four-wheel drive drivetrain, DSG twin-clutch automatic transmissions and versions that emit just 85g/km of CO₂, while recording an astonishing official economy figure of 88.3mpg. 

“Family cars don’t come any better packaged than this, with generous space for passengers and cargo alike. It’s a quality machine, too, with stylish looks, both inside and out, and customer satisfaction levels that rival car makers are intensely jealous of.” 

“The Octavia Estate is at the heart of the ŠKODA brand, with a version for everyone, from the frugal Greenline III to the speedy vRS to the rugged Scout. Thousands of new owners are finding out for themselves every year and we’re delighted to be recognised by Diesel Car,” said Chris Horrell, Product Marketing Manager, ŠKODA UK. 

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - Volvo takes the best 4x4 category 2015 with the All-New XC90

• Volvo XC90 takes Best 4x4 title in 2015 Diesel Car Magazine awards
• Judges praise car’s design, technology, engineering, refinement and driving dynamics
• Priced from £45,750, all-new XC90 arrives at UK dealers from next month

Swedish style, cutting-edge technology and class-leading refinement have seen the all-new Volvo XC90 beat its rivals to a prestigious UK award. Diesel Car Magazine has named the XC90 as Best 4x4 category winner in its 2015 Car of the Year awards.

Judges praised the Volvo’s engineering, driving dynamics, interior quality, powertrains and design, saying it was “perhaps the most significant new car in the company’s 88-year history.”

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “The XC90 is a true landmark for Volvo – indeed it represents the dawn of a new era for our brand in this country, so I’m absolutely delighted to receive this award.

“It’s a car we’re really proud of, and which has generated a lot of interest – and over 1,000 customer orders – even before it has officially arrived at UK dealers. It’s a great start to an exciting future for Volvo in the UK.”

Priced from £45,750, the all-new Volvo XC90 is available to order now and is built around a new Volvo designed and built platform and engine architecture that will underpin all next generation Volvo models.

It is available with a 225hp, four-cylinder D5 AWD diesel engine with CO₂ emissions from just 149g/km, returning up to 49.6mpg combined cycle fuel economy. Also available is a 320hp petrol engine option, plus a T8 Twin Engine variant that combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for 49g/km CO₂ emissions and hybrid levels of fuel economy.

Announcing the award win, Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car Magazine, said: “The first all-new car to be launched by Volvo using a totally fresh architecture, it’s obvious that no expense has been spared in search of excellence, with the introduction of all-new 2.0-litre powertrains, a fresh scalable platform, the very latest technology, together with a heavy dose of Swedish style for good measure".

“Elevated quality levels, class-leading refinement and economy, and a behind the wheel experience that is driver focussed, all contrive to create a vehicle that is at the pinnacle of the 4x4 class.”

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - Mercedes S-Class takes the Best Executive award 2015.

• Mercedes-Benz S-Class wins ‘Best Executive Car’ at 2015 Diesel Car, Car of the Year Awards
• The Awards were judged by a panel of well-respected writers from across the industry
• The S-Class remains the number one luxury car in the UK

Mercedes-Benz S-Class awarded ‘Best Executive Car’ in the 2015 Diesel Car Awards. The Award was judged by a panel of well-respected writers who tested more than 200 new vehicles over the past 12 months – voting on each one across ten different categories.

In announcing the Award, Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car Magazine, commented: “In this class of car, its attributes are often judged from the back seat, but in doing so, you’ll be missing out enormously, as it’s a fine car to pilot yourself, as well as being chauffeured around in.

You’ll not find a more luxurious cabin, with exemplary attention to detail, beautiful design and a superb choice of the finest quality materials. If you’re the kind of person that has to have everything, look no further – luxurious saloons really don’t get any better than this.”

Four-, six-, eight- and 12-cylinder engines complete the line-up, three of which are Hybrids – available in two trim choices (SE Line and AMG Line) – as well as two mighty AMG models that combine comfort with immense performance. 

The range has also recently expanded to include the new Mercedes-Maybach and Mercedes-Maybach Pullman – bringing new levels of driver and passenger comfort to the market.

The car can be personalised through 13 different paint options and seven different trim options. A host of interior options are also available – including the Rear Seat Reclining package Package (£1,500) enabling the rear seat to recline up to 43.5 degrees, and the Rear Seat Comfort package (£3,500) which adds rear active multi-contour seats with massage function, a Burmester surround sound system and a rear seat entertainment system.

The S-Class – priced from £66,910 OTR – returns up to 100.9 mpg with CO₂ emissions from 65 g/km.  In the UK, the S-Class remains the number one luxury car in its market segment with over 2,700 vehicles registered in 2014 and over 1,050 vehicles registered so far this year.

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - C4 Cactus takes Best Crossover and COTY, other awards made too.

The New C4 Cactus has been named as DieselCar Magazine’s ‘Car of the Year’ 2015. The award recognises the many bold & distinctive attributes of the Citroën brand’s latest model, which won the overall prize as well as being named as this year’s ‘Best Crossover’. 

The latest-generation Citroën Grand C4 Picasso retained the ‘Best MPV’ title, having won it for the first time last year.

The New Citroën C4 Cactus has added two top DieselCar Magazine honours to its impressive list of UK industry awards received since its launch in September last year. Previous honours include ‘Small Hatchback of the Year’ in the UK Car of the Year Awards and the highly sought-after title of BBC TopGear Magazine ‘Hatchback of the Year’.

Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of DieselCar Magazine, commented that the New C4 Cactus represents “Citroën doing what it does best – a funky, urban-friendly vehicle that is taking the sector by storm”, adding that “clever touches like the roof mounted airbag, protective airbumps and chest-like dashboard cubby box show that the firm’s engineers are keen to innovate. 

Keen pricing, frugal engines and some of the most comfortable seats in the business mark this C4 Cactus out as one of the most distinctive newcomers of the year.”

Ian Robertson added; “I am really proud to be able to announce that the Citroën C4 Cactus wins the title of DieselCar Magazine’s Car of the Year 2015. It’s the perfect car for the times. It’s affordable, practical and incredibly comfortable, all wrapped up with a striking design that can be highly personalised.”

In addition, the highly acclaimed Citroën Grand C4 Picasso was named as DieselCar Magazine’s ‘Best MPV’ for the second year running. The judges praised its combination of style, comfort and affordability, adding that “there’s a lengthy list of hi-tech equipment and safety functions to keep even the most ardent gadget geek happy.”

Alongside the three wins for the New C4 Cactus and the Grand C4 Picasso, the DieselCar Magazine Car of the Year Awards judges also highly commended C3 Picasso in the ‘Compact MPV’ category.

The newly independent DS brand also received a highly commended for DS 3 in the ‘Premium Small Car’ category.

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - Jaguar XE wins Best Large Car award, its first UK prize.

• The new Jaguar XE picks up its first UK award
• Diesel Car judges praise beautiful looks, competitive pricing and thrilling driving experience
• Arrives in retailers next month priced from £26,990

The Jaguar XE has been named Best Large Car in the 2015 Diesel Car Magazine Awards, beating tough competition from the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Ford Mondeo. The judges praised the XE’s competitive pricing, beautiful looks, classy cabin, low CO₂ emissions and its sporty driving dynamics.

Diesel Car Editor Ian Robertson said: “With a thrilling driving experience that enthusiasts yearn for and class-leading emissions, Jaguar has taken on the Germans and beaten them at their own game!”

The Jaguar XE is the only car in its class to feature a lightweight aluminium-intensive monocoque which, combined with Jaguar Land Rover’s efficient new Ingenium diesel engines, helps it to deliver fuel economy as high as 75mpg and emissions as low as 99g/km CO₂.