Skoda celebrates with four awards at the recently announced DieselCar Top 50 cars

• ŠKODA models scoop four category titles in the 2017 DieselCar Top 50
• Kodiaq named Best Large SUV, while Superb named Best Large Car and Best Large Estate 
• Recently facelifted Octavia also awarded Best Medium Estate title
• Judges praise ŠKODA’s value, practicality and high quality

ŠKODA has emerged with one of its biggest haul of industry accolades in DieselCar Magazine’s annual Top 50 awards. The respected automotive title named the Kodiaq, Superb and Octavia as the best in their respective categories in its 2017 list of the best diesel cars currently on sale.

The highest placed model in the DieselCar Top 50 was the Kodiaq, which finished fifth overall and took the Best Large SUV title. Commenting on the Kodiaq’s award, DieselCar editor and publisher Ian Robertson said: “The Kodiaq is mighty close to being the perfect car. 

This five- and seven-seater is practical, comfortable and tough enough to revel in family life. That’s the basics covered, but get behind the wheel and you’ll also find the best interior in any ŠKODA so far, and a surprisingly rewarding driving experience. 

To top it all off, the Kodiaq offers great value for money, and ŠKODA owners rate the brand highly for customer satisfaction.”

The Superb also wowed the judging panel with its value, practicality and quality – finishing in eighth overall and easily winning both the Best Large Car and Best Large Estate titles. 

“The Superb has long been known for the incredible interior space it offers, but you can now add true desirability to its list of attributes,” said Ian Robertson. “With a sharp design both inside and out, the Superb is winning fans both in hatchback and estate guises. 

Buyers are bowled over by its value for money, impressive engines and lengthy specification list, along with the accomplished way the Superb drives. New SportLine editions add an extra dose of visual drama and desirability.”

The recently facelifted Octavia completed ŠKODA’s haul of titles, finishing in 14th overall and taking the Best Medium Estate honour. 

The judging panel praised the new model’s high equipment levels and the broad range of models available. 

Ian Robertson added: “The Octavia Estate has a boot bigger than most models from the next class up. It’s good to drive and the hot vRS model offers all the performance most of us will ever need.”

Rounding off an exceptional performance by the brand, the Yeti also made the Top 50 list - finishing in 33rd overall. The judging panel highlighted the SUV’s agile driving experience, practicality and robust residual values.

This latest round of honours adds to an impressive list of industry titles already won by ŠKODA models in 2017. These include three 2017 WhatCar? Awards, a Fleet World Award for the Superb and DieselCar Used Car title, also for the Superb.

Kia cee’d range beats tough competition to win Best Used Car Award.

• Kia cee’d range beats tough competition to win Best Used Car Award
• cee’d impresses with excellent value for money, equipment and safety
• Class-leading warranty helps the cee’d range to the top spot

The Kia cee’d has again beaten tough competition to be announced as Carbuyer’s ‘Best Used Car’ in their annual awards. The cee’d range impressed the judges with its excellent value for money secondhand, practicality, standard levels of equipment, build quality and reliability, all bolstered by the brand’s industry leading seven year warranty.

A strong contributing factor to the cee’d range’s victory in this competitive category was the warranty extension available on all cee’ds and the entire Kia range. When purchasing a Kia vehicle up to 18 months old from the Kia Approved Used network, the company tops up the warranty period to its original amount of seven years, effectively allowing over eight years of worry-free motoring.

The cee’d range, which won the same used car award in 2015, is a car designed for Europe, built in Europe and only sold in Europe. 

It is now in its second generation having been introduced in 2006 and includes three family friendly body types, starting from a sleek three-door version scaling up to a larger Sportswagon, set apart by the popular five-door version. 

Offering a choice of attractive bodystyles, efficient engines and industry standard safety equipment, the cee’d range is a clear choice for many customers in the used and new car market.

Editor of Carbuyer, Stuart Milne commented on the win. “The Kia cee’d is a great-value new car, but it’s harder to buy a nearly new car of better quality on the used market. It’s practical, well built, spacious and efficient and represents superb value secondhand. 

And you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’ll still be protected by the balance of Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty.”

Paul Philpott, CEO and President of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. gave his feelings: “The Kia cee’d is an integral and important part of Kia in the UK, and indeed across Europe. It answers the needs of many people, delivering great value for money, safety, high levels of equipment and striking looks. 

This win is testament to how good a proposition our cee’d range is to customers. This win will also mean a great deal to all the dealers in our national network, who all work incredibly hard to exceed our customers’ needs, whether that be with new or used vehicles.”

Last year the Kia cee’d received an update which gave the range a competitive edge. With world-class new powertrains, a sporty new GT-Line trim level and major additions to electronic driver aids and connected car systems, the new version of Kia’s European mid-sized hatchback continues to impress and build on the strengths which has already attracted more than a million buyers.

The Peugeot 3008 takes a trio of awards including the overall title as car of the year.

• Carbuyer awards the all-new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV its top accolade: ‘Car of the Year 2017’
• This is the first UK award for the Peugeot 3008 SUV - which goes on sale in December
• All models of the 3008 SUV feature the latest PEUGEOT i-Cockpit^® with digital instrumentation

The all-new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV has been announced as the Carbuyer ‘Car of the Year 2017’, also winning the highly sought after ‘Best SUV 2017’ and ‘Best Medium SUV’ categories too.

The eagerly awaited all-new 3008 SUV is an important development in the SUV C segment market and arrives at a time when customers are more than ever expecting differentiation and new experiences. 

Equipped with its revolutionary, latest generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit^®, elegant styling, and high-tech equipment, the 3008 SUV aims to establish itself immediately as a key player and this Carbuyer award clearly recognises the competitive features over its competitors.

Carbuyer.co.uk is the online site for trusted reviews, owner opinions and expert advice on all motoring matters. It has recently launched a reference print magazine highlighting the best cars currently on sale.

Stuart Milne, Editor at Carbuyer, commented: “Forget everything you thought you knew about the previous 3008, because PEUGEOT has rung the changes. First off, the 3008 is now a fully-fledged SUV rather than the crossover of old. 

It’s handsome from the outside, but inside is where the game has really moved on. The dashboard is beautifully designed and features extensive use of fabric on the dashboard and door panels to lend a chic feeling. 

The clever i-Cockpit^® dashboard is a 12.3-inch screen that displays your speed, navigation, phone and audio information and is fitted as standard to every 3008 SUV in the range.

“The 3008 SUV is ahead of the pack when it comes to more pragmatic matters, too. It has a big boot and plenty of interior space. 

There’s a wide range of efficient petrol and diesel engines, and the availability of PEUGEOT’s ‘Grip Control’ system means the front-wheel-drive car can offer the grip of a four-wheel drive when needed. 

In an SUV market dominated by some exceptionally able cars, it takes something special to be the best. And that’s why we’ve named the PEUGEOT 3008 SUV Carbuyer’s ‘Car of the Year for 2017’.

David Peel, Managing Director at PEUGEOT UK, commented “This is fantastic news. The all-new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV has so many appealing features and for it to receive this Carbuyer ‘Car of the Year 2017’ accolade, ahead of its arrival in the UK is perfect. 

It sets the tone that we have a winner on our hands and I have no doubt our customers are going to love driving it too.”

The Best Car features on Carbuyer.co.uk and the awards that underpin them have been ranked by Carbuyer’s team of motoring experts. 

Its team has dozens of years of experience and have tested thousands of cars. Reviews are constantly updated to reflect the ever-changing automotive landscape, with more than 500 cars tested a year. 

Carbuyer reviews are written with the real buyer in mind, taking into account how easy each car is to live with and how it compares with its closest competitors. Carbuyer is one of the most respected car review websites in the UK.

The Mitsubishi L200 pick up truck is named Best Pickup at the Carbuyer Awards 2017

• Mitsubishi L200 is named Best Pickup at the Carbuyer Awards 2017
• Judges praise L200 for its rugged ability and strong 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel
• Car-like driving dynamics and off-road ability also commended by Carbuyer judges
• Mitsubishi L200 available in single, club and double cab bodystyles price from £17,999.00 (CV List Price)

The Mitsubishi L200 has secured another major award, this time for Best Pickup at the 2017 Carbuyer Awards at the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema, The Brunswick, London.  

The panel of judges for the 2017 Carbuyer Awards were particularly impressed with the latest Mitsubishi L200, saying it is ‘better than ever’ thanks to its combination of  impressive off-road capabilities with car-like on-road dynamics, while also offering competitive pricing and high standard specification.

Stuart Milne, Editor of Carbuyer commented: “The Mitsubishi L200 name has been with us for more than 30 years and the latest model is better than ever. It delivers on its promise of rugged ability with some neat detailing and an impressive amount of equipment, while it packs a strong 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that allows you to tow over three tonnes. It’s also the most car-like pickup to drive on-road and extremely capable off-road. Despite all this, it can return more than 40mpg. Combine that with competitive pricing and a number of desirable high-spec models and it’s clear why the L200 is our best pickup.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK, commented, “Tough and rugged vehicles like the L200 and Shogun are what the Mitsubishi name has been built on over the past 100 years and our engineers continually strive to ensure our 4X4 vehicles remain the benchmark in their segments. We’re delighted that Carbuyer has recognised the qualities that have made the Mitsubishi L200 a critical and commercial success.”

The latest generation Mitsubishi L200 went on sale in July 2015 and has claimed numerous accolades since launch. Priced from £17,999.00 (CV List Price), the Mitsubishi L200 is available in single, club and double cab body styles and has a payload of up to 1,045kg and a towing capacity of up to 3.1 tonnes (braked). The fifth generation Mitsubishi L200 is currently available with zero percent finance.

The Best Car features on Carbuyer.co.uk and the awards that underpin them have been ranked by Carbuyer’s team of motoring experts, which collectively have dozens of years of experience and have tested thousands of cars between them.

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.”