Auto Express UK Names Top Cars of the Year

Auto Express has named the best new models of the past 12 months at its prestigious annual New Car Awards – and the big winner was the Range Rover Evoque, which was crowned Auto Express Car of the Year 2011.

The glittering ceremony celebrated the top buys in 18 classes of the new car market, as chosen by Auto Express’s expert panel. Key criteria included fuel efficiency, driver appeal, practicality and reliability. From the 18 class winners, one stood out overall. The judges felt that the British-built Evoque – chosen as the Best Compact SUV – was the most impressive new car of the past 12 months.

Other winners on the night included the Hyundai i10, which was named Best City Car, and the Skoda Superb, which won the Best Family Car and Best Estate Car awards. In addition to honouring the 18 class champions, Auto Express handed out seven special awards, including its first-ever Green Award, in recognition of a manufacturer’s environmentally friendly efforts. This went to Volkswagen’s BlueMotion model range.

Graham Hope, Acting Editor of Auto Express, said: “The Range Rover Evoque truly looks set to define a desirable new sector of the market on its own. This talented machine brings a much loved premium brand within reach of a wider audience than ever before, and marks a brave departure from its maker’s traditional strengths. It’s great to see that this year’s winner was designed, engineered and built in Britain.”

Not only is the Evoque stunning to look at and great to drive, it’s the cleanest, most efficient Range Rover ever.


Full list of winners:

Best City Car – Hyundai i10
Best Supermini – Ford Fiesta
Best Premium Supermini – Audi A1
Best Supermini-MPV – Hyundai ix20
Best Compact Family Car – Volkswagen Golf
Best Crossover – Skoda Yeti
Best Family Car – Skoda Superb
Best Compact Executive Car – BMW 3 Series
Best Executive Car – Audi A6
Best Luxury Car – Mercedes S-Class
Best Compact SUV – Range Rover Evoque
Best Large SUV – Land Rover Discovery 4
Best Estate – Skoda Superb Estate
Best MPV – SEAT Alhambra
Best Hot Hatch – Volkswagen Golf GTI
Best Coupe – Peugeot RCZ
Best Convertible – BMW 3 Series Convertible
Best Roadster – Mazda MX-5
Green Award – Volkswagen BlueMotion
Performance Car of the Year – Ferrari 458 Italia
Design Award – Saab PhoeniX
Driver Power Award – Skoda
Special Award – Ford Focus, Driver Assistance Pack
Auto Express Hall of Fame – Nick Reilly, President, GM Europe
Car of the Year – Range Rover Evoque

Credits: wilswong