What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2023 Highlights
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It's that time of the year again when What Car?, one of Britain's leading automobile publications, reveals its favourite new cars in each segment and crowns its overall Car of the Year winner.
The results of this year's awards have been announced and in this article, we'll take a look at the highlights.
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Small Cars, Medium Cars, Large Cars, SUVs, Pick-Ups
Car of the Year: Volkswagen ID Buzz
What Car?'s Car of the Year for 2023 is the Volkswagen ID Buzz. Volkswagen tapped into the nostalgic and retro styling of its iconic Type 2 camper to produce a refined electric MPV.
With the Kia EV6 winning in 2022, It's the second year in a row that a fully electric vehicle has won the top award.
What Car? said the car stood out for 'combining the practicality of an MPV with the comfort and desirability of a luxury SUV, while undercutting rivals such as the BMW iX3, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-Benz EQC'.
Small Car of the Year: Honda Jazz 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SR
Despite looking small, the Honda Jazz has one of the most spacious interiors in its class. Designed like a mini-MPV, the Jazz makes use of clever interior spacing to give passengers as much room as possible.
Small Electric Car of the Year: MG 4 SE
The fully electric MG 4 manages a very capable and competitive range all whilst significantly undercutting popular rivals on price. If you're looking for a good value EV in 2023 then the MG 4 could be the car for you.
Hot Hatch of the Year: Hyundai i20 N 1.6 T-GDi
The Hyundai i20 provides lots of driving enjoyment at a low price. Its 201bhp turbocharged engine helps the i20 go from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds.
Family Car of the Year: Honda Civic 2.0 e:HEV Sport
Honda's eleventh-generation Civic family hatch embraces full-Hybrid tech, providing drivers with excellent fuel economy. The Honda Civic is slightly larger than its direct rivals and is the perfect all-around package for families.
Coupe of the Year: BMW 4 Series Coupe 420i M Sport (Pro Pack)
BMW’s 4 Series Coupe wins yet again in What Car?'s coupe category. The 4 Series Coupe is very fun to drive, especially when weaving down winding roads with its supreme cornering control.
Convertible of the Year: BMW 4 Series 420 M Sport (Pro Pack)
The BMW 4 Series claims its second award, this time in its convertible guise. It offers more practicality than other convertibles in its segment, providing an exciting driving experience.
Executive Car of the Year: Tesla Model 3 RWD
Tesla's fully electric Model 3 is the ultimate executive car and is no ordinary 4-door saloon. Being an EV means that the Model 3 has far more space than its petrol rivals whilst also recording rapid acceleration times.
Estate Car of the Year: Skoda Superb Estate
The Skoda Superb Estate is Superb by name and Superb by nature. Its carrying capacity is unrivalled and has excellent passenger space to match.
Seven-Seater of the Year: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GTDi Hybrid 4WD Premium
The seven-seat Santa Fe comes with refined hybrid power, heated seats and a 10.3-inch infotainment screen. It has a responsive drive even with lots of passengers and luggage on board.
Large Electric Car of the Year: Volkswagen ID Buzz Style
As the overall Car of the Year winner, the Volkswagen ID Buzz also takes the award for the best large electric car. The retro EV shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID 4 and Audi Q4 e-tron.
Plug-in Hybrid of the Year: Lexus NX 450h+ Premium Pack
Despite being the Japanese brand's first plug-in hybrid, the Lexus NX has proven to be an extremely effective model with a very competitive 43-mile range. The NX offers a smooth ride and has a cabin with an upmarket feel.
Small SUV of the Year: Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI 110 Life
The Volkswagen T-Roc is a cost-effective compact SUV that ticks all the boxes. Its stylish exterior and improved interior make it one of the best in its division.
Electric SUV of the Year: Genesis GV60 RWD Premium
Genesis wins in the best electric SUV category with its first attempt. The South Korean brand has managed to establish itself in European markets with its innovative GV60 which offers quality inside and out.
Luxury Car of the Year: Land Rover Range Rover Sport P440e Dynamic SE
The new Range Rover Sport is a worthy winner for best luxury car as it comes packed full of features to enhance the driving experience. 20-way adjustable heated seats, luxury materials and an air suspension will help passengers relax on long journeys.
Family SUV of the Year: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 3
The Kia Sportage is a very well-rounded SUV for families and offers good value within its segment. A large boot and a comfortable interior with lots of legroom make it an SUV you can't ignore.
Sports SUV of the Year: Ford Puma ST 1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack
The lightweight Ford Puma ST is a nimble SUV that's a lot of fun to drive. A firm suspension makes turning corners a breeze and gives drivers a level of control that you can't achieve with other SUVs in its bracket.
Pick-up of the Year: Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is an unstoppable pick-up with brilliant off-road capabilities. Toyota's robust pick-up can manage similar payloads to its rivals whilst managing to undercut them on price.
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