Volvo’s new compact family XC40 4×4 has been crowned the best brand new car you can buy – despite being a diesel.
The Swedish diesel-powered Volvo XC40 D4 R Design took the top Car of the Year honour in the 2018 awards run by leading motoring magazine What Car?
Judges said they had ignored the ‘anti-diesel hysteria’ to give the Swedish 4X4 the top accolade and ‘to prove that diesels are definitely not dead.’
Volvo’s new small family 4×4, the XC40, was named Car of the Year by What Car? – and the winner was a diesel model
The XC40 also took top slot in its category by being named Family Sports Utility Vehicle of the Year.
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: ‘We were very aware that some people would still consider the XC40 a controversial choice due to the fact the best engine in the range is a diesel.
‘But our judging panel refused to be swayed by the anti-diesel hysteria coming from politicians and some of the mainstream press and instead made their decision based purely on the merits of the cars.’
‘Our belief is that for many car buyers diesel remains the right economic and environmental choice – and for those that it doesn’t suit, a petrol or electrified alternative is available.’
Other off-roaders scored well elsewhere as Seat’s Arona, took the Small SUV of the Year while the Peugeot 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year, and Volvo’s XC60 – bigger brother to the top ranked XC40 – won the Safety Award.
It was a hat-trick for Audi which scooped three awards with the A4 named best executive car, the TT named best coupé and the Q7 named Luxury SUV of the Year.
Skoda took double honours with its Octavia 1.5 TSI 150 SE L judged best family car and the Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology names best estate.
Jaguar’s first electric car, the I-Pace, won the readers’ vote for the most exciting new car due to be launched in 2018.
The Swindon- built Honda Civic Type R GT was named hot hatch of the year
The Swindon- built Honda Civic Type R GT was named hot hatch of the year while the Sunderland-built Nissan Leaf N-Connecta was named best electric car.
Suzuki’s Ignis – the most efficient car the title has ever tested by What Car? with an average of 59.6mpg in real-world driving conditions – won the inaugural True MPG Award introduced this year.
The motoring magazine and website has also launched a new What Fuel? widget on its website to help consumers work out if a diesel car is the right choice for their lifestyle.
Sales of diesel cars fell by nearly a third (31 per cent) in December – and by nearly a fifth (17.1 per cent) during 2017, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced earlier this month.
Leading automotive expert Professor David Bailey says a ‘perfect storm’ of problems is forecast to slash its share of UK market from a high of around half (50 per cent) to just one in seven (15 per cent) by 2025.
He has called for ministers to introduce a proper Government-backed scrappage scheme as an incentive to get diesel drivers to switch to electric.
The Peugeot 5008 is one of the cars reclaiming the French manufacturer’s reputation and was named Large SUV of the Year
What Car? is not buying the case for drumming out diesel.
Mr Huntingford said: ‘The fact is the Volvo XC40 is a stunning achievement and proves to car buyers everywhere that diesels are definitely not dead.’
What Car? pointed out that its own independent True MPG tests prove that the XC40’s latest diesel engine emits less nitrous oxide, or NOx, than many petrol versions.
It does that ‘while offering the low CO2 that made diesels so popular in the first place’ by lowering levels of the gas blamed by environmentalists for global warming and man-made climate change.
But the Volvo XC40, read our review here, had won the overall crown on its own all-round merits, stressed Mr Huntingford: ‘The SUV segment is incredibly competitive, so it’s testament to the brilliance of the XC40 that it stands out. With its mix of comfort and quality, safety and style, it excels in all the areas that are important to buyers.’
Volvo is the 19th car manufacturer to win an overall What Car? Car of the Year Award since the awards began in 1978.
This year’s What Car? 40th anniversary awards ceremony was held in association with Warranty Direct tonight at London’s Grosvenor Hotel.
Jon Wakefield, managing director of Volvo Car UK, said winning the overall Car of the Year Award was ‘fantastic’ for his firm here in the ULK and globally: ’We are immensely proud of the XC40, and for the experts at What Car? to award it their ultimate accolade is the perfect start to what will be a hugely significant year for Volvo.
‘The XC40 perfectly showcases the bold new direction Volvo is taking, and brings our class-leading connectivity, semi-autonomous drive technology and innovative storage solutions to the premium family SUV market.’
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio may be a four door saloon but it is seriously fast and eclipsed other contenders in the best sports and performance car category
In other categories, Kia’s Picanto 1.25 ‘3’ was best city car, the SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95 FR best small car, the enduring Mazda MX-5 2.0 SE-L Nav was best convertible, the Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 115 SE was best MPV Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio best sports and performance car, Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Premium best hybrid, and BMW 5 Series 520d SE best luxury car.
Entrepreneur Elon Musk’s pioneering electric Tesla was handed the Technology Award for ‘blazing a trail in the automotive industry’ with its ‘forward-thinking, innovative mind-set’
Simon Ackers, chief executive of Warranty Direct which supports the event said: ’The What Car? Awards is one of the most celebrated events in the motoring calendar. They recognise the outstanding achievements of individual car manufacturers, creating invaluable insight and expert advice for consumers across the country.’
SAVE MONEY ON MOTORING
