Green Apple awards give best Supermini to the Skoda Citigo, I thought it was a citycar ?

• ŠKODA Citigo named Best Supermini in the annual Green Apple Awards
• Fourth year in succession that ŠKODA has been honoured
• Judges praise the Citigo’s quality, practicality and low running costs
• Citigo CO₂ emissions from 95g/km

ŠKODA has enjoyed a fruitful time at 2014 Green Apple Awards with the Citigo collecting the award for Best Supermini. The frugal, low-emissions Czech city car pipped rivals to clinch the title in the majestic surroundings of the House of Commons in London.

The Green Apple awards are run by the Green Organisation, an independent non-profit body that rewards environmental best practice. Judging was performed by members of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers, who singled out the Citigo for its quality, economy and value.

One Green Apple Awards judge said: “The ŠKODA Citigo offers a great drive, is thoroughly practical and has low fuel consumption.” Another added: “The Citigo is the perfect demonstration of how a car can be economical, inexpensive, beautifully built and a pleasure to drive."

Low running costs and minimal emissions have been at the core of the Citigo’s appeal since its launch in 2012. Offered with a choice of two highly economical engines, CO₂ outputs start at just 95g/km, while fuel economy of 68.9mpg is possible on the combined cycle. Prices for the Citigo range start from just £8,210.

The Citigo’s award marks the fourth year in a row that ŠKODA has triumphed at the Green Apple Awards. The judging panel awarded top marks to the Yeti in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and has consistently praised ŠKODA’s passion for building affordable, low emissions cars. 

Commenting on the Citigo’s latest award, Alasdair Stewart, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK, said: “We’re delighted to accept this award for the Citigo. Low running costs and reduced emissions are key factors in the development of all ŠKODA products, and this award for the Citigo recognises the advances we’re making in both areas.”

The Green Apple Award is the latest in a long line of prestigious titles won by the Citigo. In 2012 it was awarded Car of the Year by Auto Express, along with the 2012 What Car? Green Award and the 2013 Driver Power Best Small Car title.

Range Rover Evoque honoured with a Green Organisation 2013 Green Apple award as the “greenest small SUV”

• Award, judged by members of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers, goes beyond official environmental statistics to look at real-world green performance, owner appeal and driving quality
• Second Green Apple win for Evoque following its debut success in 2012
• Award presented to Land Rover at the Houses of Parliament

The Range Rover Evoque has been named as the pick of the motoring crop in terms of day-to-day performance, winning a second successive Green Apple Award. Presented by the Green Organisation at a ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament, London, the award for “greenest vehicle” is judged by members of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers.

Evoque came out on top in the category for smaller SUVs and 4x4s, maintaining its advantage in the opinions of the professional journalist members of MGMW.

Ian Donaldson, group chairman, said: “Our members were asked for a third year to vote for their Green Apple Award winners, using the experience we have with the vehicles and the technology that lies behind them. However, we didn’t ask members simply to list the most fuel efficient cars as measured by official statistics. We wanted our nominations to reflect the real world that hard-pressed motorists must live in, and we wanted our winning cars to be good on the road, too.”

Members once again gave high praise to the Evoque, with remarks including “stunning looks, really easy to drive around town” and “it remains a car that turns every drive into an event, even going to the shops”.

A third judge commented: “Good to know that a car can both look great in town and still tackle the rough stuff if it has to. The Evoque is still the car that does both best in its class.”

The Green Organisation, based in Northamptonshire, is an independent, non-political and not-for-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world. Its annual awards, launched in 1994, reflect environmental achievements and advances in all sectors and walks of life.

Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK commented: “We are delighted with this second success in the Green Apple Awards, which we believe reflects the enduring qualities we have put at the heart of the Range Rover Evoque. Combining strong residual values and highly competitive cost of ownership, with ground-breaking contemporary styling and engineering makes it rewarding and practical for everyday driving, and a genuine Land Rover thanks to its excellent all-terrain abilities.

“In terms of its environmental profile, it demonstrates how our class-leading application of lightweight materials and construction techniques is delivering significant gains in fuel and emissions efficiency, without diminishing the fundamental strengths that are synonymous with the Land Rover brand.”

Renault's ZOE presented with award at the Houses of Parliament.

Renault’s “brilliantly green” electric supermini ZOE proved she also has bite after being declared the new eco champion in awards presented at the Houses of Parliament today.

Naming ZOE the overall Green Apple Awards winner, in conjunction with The Green Organisation, which recognises and promotes environmental best practice around the globe, members of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers voted using the experience they have with vehicles and knowledge of the technology that lies behind them. The French brand’s star plug-in electric model also carried off the prize for small family cars.

One of the judges said multi-award winning ZOE "could be the car that makes people consider electric cars as a viable option” and that it’s “the most mainstream electric car yet”.

He added, "Quite apart from being brilliantly green, it could also be the car that starts making our city centres and shopping centre car parks zero emissions and environmentally friendly. Arguably, it is the most real-world option presented to buyers to make a decision on whether electric motoring is for them. For this, it’s doubly significant, and why it’s my overall winner.”

A fellow judge said, "ZOE is a wonderful mix of a smart looking small family car and the sort of technology that wins friends the first time it's driven. It made me smile and the overall running costs are likely to keep that grin on owners' faces for years."

Another added, "It's a simply brilliant new entrant in the search for zero emissions motoring and fully deserves to stand at the top of the podium at the Houses of Parliament."

Renault’s best-selling Z.E. model is rapidly becoming a darling of the auto industry awards circuit, having already picked up several trophies only five months since it hit UK showrooms. The electric supermini was crowned top electric car at the Scottish Car of the Year awards last month, named the most environmentally friendly fleet car at the well-established BusinessCar ‘Techies’, and drove away with the technology award at the Fleet World Honours.

Ian Donaldson, Midland Group chairman, said: "We did not ask members simply to list the most fuel efficient cars as measured by the official statistics demanded by law, and easily accessed by anyone looking to buy a new car.

"We all know from experience that these figures can be misleading, sometimes to an enormous degree. We wanted our nominations to reflect the real world that hard-pressed motorists must live in, far away from the theoretical figures of the rolling road laboratory."

The flagship vehicle of the French brand’s four-strong 100 per cent electric vehicle range is stylish, affordable and practical – perfect for commuting, supermarket and school runs, and for households who simply want to downsize their carbon footprint, as well as their running costs.

With an official NEDC range of 130 miles, the longest of any mass-market EV, and with a real-world range on a full charge of around 92 miles in temperate conditions or 64 in cold weather, ZOE is the first affordable car for everyday use to have been designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. Well-equipped in every trim level, plus a free domestic 32 amp (7kW) ZE ready Single Wall-box, it’s priced deliberately to lure buyers out of conventionally-engined superminis, with an on-the-road price tag comparable to many diesel superminis. Prices start from £13,995 (after the UK Plug-In Car Grant), with battery hire from £70 per month.