A night at the What Car? awards...

Car of the Year – Volkswagen ID Buzz
 
The prize of the night, the Car of the Year, the Volkswagen ID Buzz! Not only is it the car of the year, but the ID Buzz was also awarded best large electric vehicle.

It’s retro appearance takes inspiration from the campervans of the ‘60s and ‘70s and takes the crown for ‘combining the practicality of an MPV, with the comfort and desirability of a luxury SUV’.
 
WhatCar? editor Steve Huntingford described the ID.Buzz as “Great to drive, wonderful to be in, has more space than most families could ever ask for, and substantially undercuts many SUC rivals on a monthly finance deal.”
 
WhatCar?’s experts say the Volkswagen ID Buzz has plenty of consumer appeal, due to it’s all electric range of 260 miles as well as boasting a charge time of less than half an hour.
Although, it may not appeal to everyone. With prices starting from £57,000, the electric campervan will stretch most budgets.
 
This is not the first time an electric vehicle has won the prestigious award; previous winners have included 2022’s Kia EV6 and 2019’s Kia E-Niro.

Best family SUV – Kia Sportage
 
Last year’s Car Of the Year winners, Kia, took home the prize for best Family SUV for their Sportage. The Kia Sportage, is described by WhatCar? as striking an “ideal balance between agility and comfort” and offers a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and petrol version (although WhatCar? experts recommend the petrol version for it’s better value).

Best for reliability - Lexus
 
For the sixth consecutive year in a row, the luxury Toyota-owned brand, Lexus, won this year’s reliability award.  In the words of WhatCar?, it’s essentially because their cars rarely go wrong.  The Lexus CT family hatchback was crowned the most durable model, with a reliability rating of 99.3%, closely followed by the Lexus UX family SUV, which scored an excellent 99.0% rating.

Best plug-in hybrid – Lexus NX
 
Lexus received their second award of the night, as their Lexus NX won best plug-in hybrid. With a range of 43 miles, the brand’s first plug-in hybrid offers much lower petrol costs (if plugged in regularly!)

Small SUV: Volkswagen T-Roc

Considered better value than ever before, the new T-Roc impresses in its entry-level trim and engine choice. The interior feels high quality and it comes with all the features you’ll need. There’s plenty of room for rear passengers and all round practicality is its strong suit. 

Executive car: Tesla Model 3 RWD

Offering a great company car solution, Model 3 owners will only pay benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax at a rate of 2%. Range sits at over 300 miles so it’s suitable for most journeys and of course, having a Tesla, means you can access Tesla’s Supercharger network. 

Small electric car: MG4 EV SE

The MG4 is up to £10,000 cheaper than close EV competitors. Its low price tag doesn’t mean there’s compromises elsewhere though, it’s got plenty of tech, over 200 miles of range and good practicality. 

Coupé: BMW 4 Series 420i M Sport (M Sport Pro Package)

Taking the award for the third year in a row, the 4 Series Coupe is popular for its fun driving experience and good practicality if you need to carry a couple of passengers. BMW’s infotainment system is easy to use and far less distracting than a touchscreen. 

Convertible: BMW 4 Series Convertible 420i M Sport (M Sport Pro Package)

Something of a bargain compared to close rivals, the 4 Series comes with heated leather seats and three zone climate control. In the back there’s a good amount of head space with the roof up and in 4 Series style, it’s great fun to drive. 

Reader Award: Kia EV9

Voted the top of a 14 car shortlist, the EV9 is the most eagerly anticipated new car to land this year. Closely related to the Car of the Year winner last year: the Kia EV6, the bigger EV9 sibling is set to be even more practical and quick to charge. 

Technology Award: BMW i7

BMW’s 31-inch theatre screen in 8K ultra-high definition is probably better quality than most of our TVs at home so you can see the appeal for passengers to make the most of streaming services in the back of an i7. Alternatively it can be used for work with a HDMI connector for your laptop. 

Safety Award: Tesla Model Y 

The Tesla Model Y is the best performing vehicle in EuroNCAP safety testing with a score of 364 out of a possible 400. Active and passive safety measures mean safety for adult occupants is rated at 98%. The Model Y is also a strong seller in this country so safer vehicles equal safer roads.