WHAT CAR AWARDS - Volvo, unsurprisingly takes the Safety Award with the new XC90 Sports Utility Vehicle.

• Volvo XC90 wins Safety Award at the What Car? Awards 2016
• Seven-seat SUV praised for its world-first crash-prevention aids
• Automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection is standard on every XC90

The Volvo XC90 has won What Car?’s Safety Award at a prestigious ceremony held at the Grosvenor House hotel, Park Lane, London on Wednesday 13^th January 2016.

The XC90 beat competition from Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz to claim the coveted award, and was praised for its world-first safety features, such as Run-off Road Protection, which automatically tightens the seatbelts and has energy-absorbing front seats to help prevent spinal injuries.

Another world first is automatic emergency braking at a junction, which will apply the brakes to stop or help prevent an accident if you inadvertently turn into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

This is on top of the other standard safety technologies, such as City Safety, which can help to avoid or mitigate collisions with pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles day or night, and the driver alert and lane-departure warning systems.

Jim Holder, What Car? Editorial Director, said: “The Volvo XC90 is far from the cheapest car on the Safety Award shortlist, but it is by far the best. Indeed, the Swedish SUV is the safest car ever tested by Euro NCAP, and it includes several cutting-edge features that even the organisation itself doesn’t currently have ratings for. It is, quite simply, the safest car on sale today and a thoroughly deserving winner of this award.”

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, added: “This award is yet more proof that Volvo is at the forefront of automotive safety – in fact, it is our vision that no-one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020. The XC90’s innovative IntelliSafe safety features are designed to keep you, your family and other road users safe from harm – and the fact that this technology is fitted as standard to every XC90 means that you don’t have to pay a penny extra to get the safest car on the road.”

WHAT CAR AWARDS - The car everyone is waiting for, me too, is the recipient of this award....

• Tens of thousands of What Car? readers cast their vote for most eagerly-anticipated car of 2016
• From the shortlist of ten vehicles, the Alfa Romeo Giulia secured 30 percent of the total vote, 20 percent more than the runner-up vehicle
• The Alfa Romeo Giulia sports an all-new, rear-wheel drive platform with an emphasis on light weight, perfect weight distribution and handing agility
• The FIAT 124 Spider was also shortlisted, even though the car wasn’t even unveiled to the public when voting began

The all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia has won the prestigious What Car? Reader Award for the most eagerly-anticipated new car of 2016.

Built on an all-new, rear-wheel drive platform with an emphasis on light weight, perfect weight distribution and handing agility, the new Alfa Romeo Giulia will be powered by a range of advanced engines - including a Ferrari-inspired 2.9-litre turbo-charged V6 producing 510hp in the top Quadrifoglio version.

Combine these attributes with unmistakably muscular Italian styling and it’s no wonder that the new Alfa Romeo Giulia secured 30 percent of the overall votes, 20 percent more than the runner up vehicle.

Ten vehicles were shortlisted for the award, including the FIAT 124 Spider (which had not even been unveiled when the voting opened), and tens of thousands of What Car? Readers cast their votes for their most eagerly-anticipated new car of 2016 but it was the Alfa Romeo Giulia that opened up an early and unassailable lead, earning its first major UK award well in advance of its official launch later in the year.

Commenting on the win, What Car? Editor, Jim Holder said, “You either have the X factor, or you haven’t – and Alfa Romeo has it in spades. New Alfas have always had the power to intrigue and seduce in equal measure – the extrovert styling combining with the firm’s heritage to give the brand a unique appeal – and the new Giulia has already got readers wanting more. Being picked as the most exciting launch of 2016 by What Car?’s readers is very positive news indeed.”

Damien Dally, Country Manager Alfa Romeo UK, noted, “This is a very significant award for the Alfa Romeo Giulia to win because it demonstrates that this important new car has what it takes to succeed. The designers and engineers have poured over every detail of the new Giulia to ensure we deliver a class-leading car worthy of this iconic marque and I’m very confident that when those readers see the Alfa Romeo Giulia in showrooms and drive it for the first time it will not just meet their expectations, it will exceed them. We are very grateful to the readers of What Car? for choosing the new Alfa Romeo Giulia as their most eagerly-anticipated new car of 2016.”

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Citroen takes a best buy at this years awards ceremony with the C3 Picasso.

The family-friendly practicality and low running costs of the Citroën C3 Picasso PureTech 110 manual Edition was recognised at the 2016 What Car? Car of the Year Awards earlier this evening, when it was named ‘MPV Best Buy for less than £16,000’.

Speaking on behalf of the What Car? judging panel, Haymarket Automotive’s Editorial Director, Jim Holder, commented; “The C3 Picasso might be small, but it’s an eminently practical car. 

You sit quite high up, the visibility is excellent all-round, the boot is big and square-shaped, and the interior feels airy and spacious; the rear seats are split 60/40 and slide forwards and backwards for added interior versatility.” Jim continued; “[The] doors open wide and have broad apertures, so access is great if you’ve got child seats to reach in for.”

In addition to the C3 Picasso’s design and versatility, the judges were impressed with the choice of engines. They singled out the 1.2 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol as their top choice. 

Jim Holder concluded; “It does a fine job in the C3 Picasso, delivering nippy responses around town, and coping well on the motorway. It achieved nearly 50mpg in our real-world economy tests, too. Ultimately, the C3 Picasso may be all the MPV smaller families could ever need.”

Chris Cheetham, Citroën’s Marketing Director in the UK, said; “It is always an honour to receive such prestigious recognition for one of our cars, but it is especially gratifying when that award recognises the car for exactly what it was designed to be. 

The C3 Picasso is made with family life and family journeys in mind, so to win this accolade and hear those comments from the expert judges is very pleasing indeed.”

The Citroën C3 Picasso PureTech 110 manual Edition is available from just £15,805 MRRP OTR.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - SEAT takes the best buy award for the LEON SC for the third time.

• SEAT Leon SC triumphs as Best Buy Coupé (less than £25,000) at What Car? Awards 2016
• Winning version, SEAT Leon SC FR 1.4 EcoTSI 150 PS praised as a “cracking buy” for its handling, performance, practicality and value

SEAT is kicking off 2016 in cava style, having picked up yet another highly coveted trophy at the annual What Car? Awards. At a suitably glitzy ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel tonight, SEAT’s sleek three-door Leon fought off fierce competition from two rivals to land the Best Buy Coupé (less than £25,000) category for the third time on the bounce.

Wider and shorter than its five-door brother, the Leon SC (Sports Coupé) combines the head-turning looks and agile nature of a coupé, with the practicality of a hatchback. The winning version, Leon SC FR, is available from only £20,225 and comes comprehensively equipped, with 17-inch ‘Dynamic’ alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, exclusive FR sport styling inside and out, plus Technology Pack included (which comprises Navigation System with 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, DAB digital radio, full LED lights). The svelte three-door bodystyle of SEAT’s best-selling model is available with either a precise six-speed manual gearbox or slick-shifting seven-speed DSG auto, and comes with a choice of seven diesel and petrol engines, including the even more potent CUPRA 290.

Commenting on the Leon SC’s third consecutive victory, Haymarket’s Editorial Director, Jim Holder, said, “Is it a coupé or is it a three-door hatch? We think the Leon SC just qualifies as the former and there’s no question it’s a cracking buy. For a fraction more than £20,000 you’re getting a car that’s as fun to drive as many hot hatches and which is remarkably well equipped. The SC’s hatch roots make it practical; two adults will fit in the back seats easily enough and the boot is just as big as a five-door Leon’s. We’ve chosen the 148bhp 1.4 TSI petrol version, partly because it has enough performance to entertain (0-62mph takes less than eight seconds) but also because its CO₂ emissions are a diesel-rivalling 114g/km. This efficiency is partly thanks to the engine’s clever trick of being able to shut down half of its cylinders when cruising to save fuel.

He continued, “The Leon SC had to fend off the similarly slinky Volkswagen Scirocco and the more focused Toyota GT-86. It did so easily, winning this price point for a third year on the trot.”

Speaking at the awards bash, SEAT UK’s Director, Richard Harrison, added, “After winning the same category for the last two years, we were quietly confident about our chances this time around. But to win it yet again, especially against such tough opposition, is testament to the Leon SC’s enticing, all-round qualities. It’s got real substance backing up its eye-catching style, with performance, quality and value-for-money in spades.”

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Mazda takes best Convertible and a best Buy for its Large SUV, CX-5.

• The all-new Mazda MX-5 takes Best Convertible title at 2016 What Car? Awards.
• 2.0-litre SE-L Nav Mazda MX-5 named the 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 all-new Mazda MX-5 has added to its growing trophy collection by taking the prestigious Best Convertible title at the 2016 What Car? Awards. 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.

The lightest MX-5 since the iconic original, the all-new 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 all-new MX-5’s ultra-efficient petrol engines and lightweight chassis ensure new levels of performance and economy. 

Agility and driver engagement is taken to a new level, while at the same time the latest MX-5 meets ever-increasing safety requirements and delivers substantially improved refinement.

With perfect 50:50 weight distribution and more technology than ever before, the all-new MX-5 has firmly re-established Mazda’s dominance of the affordable sports car sector. Commenting on its victory, the What Car? Test team said, “In terms of fun per pound, this little roadster has the market cornered. 

Sure, there are faster hot hatches with more power, but they don’t deliver the fresh-air frolics and sweetly balanced rear-wheel-drive handling of the Mazda. Everything about it feels ideally suited to the UK, from grip levels to the high-revving engine and diminutive proportions.”  

Having already been named Japan Car of the Year 2015/16 and 2015 Auto Express Roadster of the Year, the all-new Mazda MX-5 has also been shortlisted for European Car of the Year. Collecting the What Car? Award, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson said, “We’re delighted with both the customer and media response to the all-new MX-5. 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.”

Adding, “With its lightweight design, sleek cabin and beautifully engineered mechanicals the all-new MX-5 has already cemented its place in the hearts of driving enthusiasts and we’re thrilled that What Car? has honoured our new roadster at their awards.”

Across the range the all-new Mazda MX-5 features alloy wheels, LED headlights, a leather steering wheel, plus a lightweight and sleek fabric hood.  SE-L models add LED daytime running lights, climate control air-conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth^®and cruise control, plus Mazda’s MZD-Connect connectivity and infotainment system with 7-inch Colour touch-screen display and Multimedia Commander.

SE-L models with the 2.0-litre 160ps engine are distinguished by 17-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black door mirrors, and benefit from a strut tower bar and limited slip differential. Step up to Sport trim and both the 1.5 and 2.0-litre cars feature rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, smart keyless entry, Premium Bose^®Surround-Sound and heated leather seats. 

With the 1.5-litre engine, Sport trim MX-5’s come with 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black door mirrors. Sport models with the 2.0-litre 160ps engine benefit from a dynamic set-up that includes Sports suspension featuring Bilstein dampers, a limited slip differential and strut tower bar, while visually, they are marked out by their 17-inch Bright alloy wheels and body coloured mirrors.

Versions of the all-new Mazda MX-5 fitted with Mazda’s integrated navigation system come with three-years of free European map updates, while the range topping 2.0-litre Sport Nav is available with the optional £350 Safety Pack, which includes High Beam Control and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Having benefitted from a substantial range of updates in 2015, the Mazda CX-5 was also honoured at the What Car? Awards. Taking top honours in the Best Buy for less than £25,000 Large SUV class, What Car? Commented that, “the Mazda CX-5 retains its crown at the cheaper end of the large SUV class, helped in part by the revisions applied last year. Mazda has revised the suspension, refreshed the styling and improved the interior, infotainment and noise suppression.  It remains spacious inside and usefully practical, and the ride is more forgiving. In short, it’s a superb car made better.”

WHAT CAR AWARDS - And the main award, The Car Of The Year goes to the..........

Latest Audi compact executive not only tops the billing in its category along with the new TT Coupé but is also voted overall Car of the Year

• Audi A4 Saloon is named What Car? Car of the Year 2016
• 3.0 TDI 218PS model also takes home the award for best compact executive car
• ‘Best Buy’ awards in the ‘£25,000 - £35,000’ and the ‘More than £35,000’ categories also go to the Audi A4 Saloon
• Win for TT Coupé takes total number of What Car? Coupé category awards across the generations to eight
• Multitude of Best Buy class wins also achieved by a broad cross section of the Audi range

The compact executive saloon which has played a pivotal role in the success story of Audi across five generations has been richly rewarded with one of the automotive industry’s most highly prized awards: the all-new Audi A4 Saloon is What Car? Magazine’s Car of the Year for 2016. 

The compelling newcomer took the top honour, along with the Best Compact Executive Car category award, at the magazine’s annual presentation event, staged last night in London. The latest TT also notched up its second award in the Coupé category, and in the process took the total number of category trophies bestowed by What Car? on the three generations of the much loved Audi sports car to eight.

In the What Car? awards issue the magazine’s road test team praises the advances made by the all-new mid-size saloon, and singles out the mid-range 218PS V6 TDI model with its six-cylinder sophistication and remarkable frugality as the version which secures the top honour.

In its awards citations for the A4 the road test team points to the new ground that has been broken by the latest A4 as a key contributor to its win, writing: “Audi deserves congratulations for the new A4. It brings new standards of refinement, interior quality and technology to the compact executive class.”

Manners like an A8

The team goes on to applaud the benefits the new A4 reaps from a multitude of cutting edge aerodynamic, aeroacoustic and operating efficiency measures which are brought into especially sharp relief in the V6 versions: “With fuel economy and CO₂ emissions barely any worse than those of smaller-engined models, the A4 3.0 TDI 218 is the most impressive car we’ve tried of late. 

It’s only fractionally less efficient than the 2.0 TDI 190 model (officially and in the real world), and delivers the sort of creamy performance and whisper-quiet driving manners that would shame some luxury limos. Put simply, it feels more like a baby A8 than a 3 Series rival.”

The impressive showing for Audi, which began with a total of 14 category nominations, also includes an award that has become something of a tradition – the Coupé class accolade for the latest TT. 

This is the newcomer’s second from What Car?, but collectively the three generations of the acclaimed sports car have been honoured by the magazine a total of eight times, underscoring the enduring appeal of this Vorsprung durch Technik brand hallmark.

The What Car? team succinctly pinpointed the reasons for the TT’s evergreen appeal by writing: “Yes, there are plenty of other sleek-looking offerings in this class, but all of them demand some form of compromise from you – either in the way they drive, how easy they are to live with or how much they’ll cost you to buy and run. In contrast, the TT is not just the best coupé on the market, it’s one of the best cars you can buy, full stop.”

Commenting on this important recognition for the scope of the advances made by the all-new A4, Director of Audi UK Andre Konsbruck said: “ 

The compact executive class is arguably still the hub of the market in terms of the sheer pace and scale of progress, so for the A4 to be ranked most highly in this environment is gratifying enough in itself; for it then to be elevated above every other car the What Car? team tested last year is a truly momentous achievement of which we are all extremely proud.”

He went on to acknowledge the What Car? editorial team’s unerring support of the TT: “For a title such as What Car? that is so inherently trusted and respected in its judgement to be so firmly and consistently behind one of our cornerstone models is an incredible endorsement that is highly valued by Audi UK,” he said. 

“The TT has won an outright category or price point award, and mainly the former, for the past ten years and that’s a run of success to which only a very select few models can lay claim.”

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki makes it five in a row for the Super Swift, with a best buy award.

• Best buy hot hatch for less than £15,000 for the fifth consecutive year

Suzuki celebrated some great news at the 2016 What Car? Magazine awards last night as the Swift Sport has been awarded a ‘Best Buy’ accolade for the fifth year in a row. 

The performance flagship of the Swift range was comprehensively judged by the editorial team against strong competition in its sector, and the final vote resulted in the three door model yet again receiving the ‘Best Buy Hot Hatch for less than £15,000’.

First introduced in January 2012 and with a high standard specification that includes satellite navigation, DAB radio, USB connection and auto air conditioning, Swift Sport still remains considerably cheaper than £15,000 at just £13,999 for three door and £14,499 for the five door model.

Swift Sport is available in a choice of four standard metallic paint finishes and is also equipped with seven airbags, cruise control, High Intensity Discharge headlamps, rear privacy glass and 17-inch alloy wheels. In addition to satellite navigation and DAB radio, the Sport also has voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity and music streaming compatible with ipod/ iphone.

Jim Holder, What Car? Editor comments: “The Swift Sport is the epitome of the ‘junior’ hot hatch, and has had an enduring spot among our winners for many years. Ignore the relatively low 134bhp power output, because it’s actually the high-revving, grippy nature of this energetic little car that is its greatest achievement. This, after all, is a car that you can wring 100 per cent from on plenty of British roads and in all sorts of depressing weather, and just have masses of fun without fearing for your life or your bank balance.

"It’s full of unintimidating hilarity, and that’s the biggest thing you want in a hot hatch at this level. Not only that, but it’s also one of the cheapest of its kind to insure, has respectable real-world fuel economy, and is widely available with low monthly finance payments, so is ideally suited to younger drivers who want something with a bit of pizzazz. Maybe the interior is more durable than classy, and long-legged occupants might not be all that sold on the rear leg room, but frankly you’ll forget all of that as soon as you sling it through the first corner.”

The engine’s high output is combined with excellent fuel economy of 44.1mpg on the EC Combined Cycle; CO₂ emissions are 147g/km and a bespoke exhaust system yields a sporty note and the Sport is fitted with a six speed manual transmission as standard.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki takes best buy awards for the Vitara and Swift.

Suzuki celebrated good news at the 2016 What Car? Magazine awards for the second time last night as the Vitara has also been awarded a ‘Best Buy at less than £15,000’ accolade along with the Swift Sport model.  In the Small SUV class and priced at £13,999, the Vitara 1.6-litre SZ4 was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and announced as the best overall model in its price bracket.

Jim Holder, Editorial Director of What Car? comments: “In SZ4 trim the Vitara doesn’t just sneak into this price category; it’s more than £1000 beneath it. Even then it comes complete with niceties such as climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and a DAB radio.

“The 1.6 litre engine might not have a turbocharger but is smooth and more than capable in the Vitara. It’s also economical; our True MPG testers managed to get within 3.9mpg of the official figure. The Vitara drives well, too; the suspension is firm enough to resist roll without ever becoming uncomfortable and the controls inspire plenty of confidence. The five-speed gearbox is enjoyable to use, too. Practicality is a real strong point inside, with plenty of leg room front and back.”

Commenting further, Jim Holder added: “Cargo space is impressive in its size and also accessibility; the boot opening is wide with a low loading lip. The interior is also solidly put together, with piano black trim to add a little class. To top it all, there are also plenty of customisation options. It really is a complete package for very little outlay.”

Standard equipment for all models is comprehensive and also includes seven airbags, alloy wheels and front and rear electric windows. Suzuki’s latest ALLGRIP four wheel drive technology is available as an option on SZ5 models and is standard equipment on the recently introduced S model.

The new Vitara S provides a more sporting and dynamic character to the Vitara line up and is the first Suzuki to utilise its new BOOSTERJET technology. The engine is a 140PS 1.4-litre Direct Injection turbocharged unit (DITC), it has compact dimensions and offers 220Nm of torque available from just 1,500rpm through to 4,000rpm.  CO₂  emissions are 127g/km and just one gramme higher for the optional six speed automatic transmission.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Porsche Boxster wins again, and again, and again and yes, its four years running.

Benchmark roadster wins top honour for fourth year in a row

The Porsche Boxster has been named ‘Best Sports Car’ at the annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards held in London last night.

Since its launch in 2012, the current generation of the mid-engined two-seater has built on the model’s reputation as the benchmark roadster and this latest recognition is a further endorsement of this status. Indeed, this is the fourth year running that the Boxster has triumphed at this prestigious event.

The magazine’s judging panel commented; “…super-sharp handling and wonderfully precise steering is a near-perfect recipe for having fun on British roads. 

The Boxster is a car that’ll make you want to get up early and seek out a quiet country road, simply for the thrill of driving. It is also incredibly easy to live with and it’s not going to break the bank either when you come to fill it up – in our real-world fuel economy tests it even bettered its official figure.”

The judge’s verdict was emphatic; “The Boxster offers the right blend of price, performance and panache for drivers everywhere.”

In addition to the Boxster scooping the overall Sports Car Award, the new Porsche 911 Carrera also placed first in the £50,000 - £100,000 category.

The road testers at What Car? observed that the 911 Carrera “remains the benchmark by which every other car in the class is instinctively measured – and rightly so.”

For over 50 years, the Porsche 911 has been acclaimed as one of the world’s definitive sports coupes. With such an illustrious track record, the introduction of a new model is always highly anticipated: and the latest generation unveiled last September at the Frankfurt Motor Show is no exception.