The 2018 What Car? Awards have been and gone ─ and so has the hangover. Here are all the four-wheelers that were shortlisted, the category winners and, of course, the consumer publication’s overall car of the year.
What Car? celebrated 40 years of its annual awards bash, which was setup to celebrate some of the best cars on sale in the UK. And give journalists yet another excuse to drink free booze and eat free food, obviously.
The 2018 What Car? Awards took place at the swanky Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane, where 22 accolades were handed out including the ‘True MPG award’, which gives a pat on the back to cars that actually get close (or even surpass) the manufacturer’s claimed MPG figures.
Adding to the usual city car, family SUV and hot hatchback categories was one for electric cars and another for overall safety.
Rounding off the evening (just before the drunken dancing) was the car of the year award, which What Car? magazine started handing out in 1978. The first ever winner was the Renault 20.
Find out all the winners as well as the cars that made it to the shortlist and their respective price brackets by casting your eyes over the following words.
2018 What Car? Awards: City car
Less than £9,500 – Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ2
£9,500 – £11,000 – Skoda Citigo 1.0 60 SE 5dr
More than £11,000 – Kia Picanto 1.25 ‘3’
Winner: Kia Picanto 1.25 4
2018 What Car? Awards: Small car
Less than £12,000 – Dacia Sandero 0.9 TCe Ambiance
£12,000 – £20,000 – Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95 FR
More than £20,000 – Mini 5-Door Hatchback 1.5T Cooper Chili Media XL
Winner: SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95 FR
2018 What Car? Awards: Family car
Less than £18,000 – Seat Leon 1.2 TSI SE Dynamic Technology
£18,000-£22,000 – Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 150 SE L
More than £22,000 – Audi A3 Sportback 1.5 TFSI 150 Sport
Winner: Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 150 SE L
2018 What Car? Awards: Small SUV
Less than £16,000 – Suzuki Vitara 1.6 SZ4
£16,000 – £20,000 – Seat Arona 1.0 TSI 95 SE Technology
More than £20,000 – Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI 150
Winner: Seat Arona 1.0 TSI 95 SE Technology
2018 What Car? Awards: Family SUV
Less than £20,000 – Seat Ateca 1.0 TSI Ecomotive 115 S
£20,000 – £30,000 – Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI 150 SE L
More than £30,000 – Volvo XC40 D4 R Design
Winner: Volvo XC40 D4 R Design
2018 What Car? Awards: Large SUV
Less than £27,000 – Peugeot 5008 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure
£27,000-£35,000 – Mazda CX-5 2.2 Skyactiv-D 2WD Sport Nav
More than £35,000 – Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro Sport
Winner: Peugeot 5008 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure
2018 What Car? Awards: Luxury SUV
Less than £60,000 – Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 272 quattro S Line
£60,000-£100,000 – Land Rover Discovery Td6 HSE Luxury
More than £100,000 – Bentley Bentayga V8 diesel
Winner: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 272 S Line
2018 What Car? Awards: MPV
Less than £20,000 – Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 1.4 140 Turbo Design
£20,000 – £27,000 – Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 115 SE
More than £27,000 – Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi 150 Zetec
Winner: Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 115 SE
2018 What Car? Awards: Estate car
Less than £18,000 – Skoda Fabia Estate 1.0 TSI 95 SE
£18,000 – £25,000 – Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology
More than £25,000 – BMW 5 Series Touring 520d SE
Winner: Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology
2018 What Car? Awards: Hot hatch
Less than £20,000 – Ford Fiesta 1.0T Ecoboost 140 St-line 3dr
£20,000 – £30,000 – Hyundai i30 N
More than £30,000 – Honda Civic Type R GT
Winner: Honda Civic Type R GT
2018 What Car? Awards: Convertible
Less than £25,000 – Mazda MX-5 2.0 SE-L Nav
£25,000 – £35,000 – Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.5 TFSI Sport
More than £35,000 – Audi A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI 190 Sport
Winner: Mazda MX-5 2.0 SE-L Nav
2018 What Car? Awards: Coupe
Less than £30,000 – Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Sport
£30,000 – £50,000 – Audi A5 Coupé 3.0 TDI quattro Sport
More than £50,000 – Aston Martin DB11 V8
Winner: Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Sport
2018 What Car? Awards: Sports and performance car
Less than £50,000 – Porsche Cayman 2.0 litre
£50,000 – £100,000 – Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
More than £100,000 – McLaren 540C
Winner: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
2018 What Car? Awards: Electric car
Less than £20,000 – Renault Zoe Q90 Z.E. 40 Dynamique Nav
£20,000 – £40,000 – Nissan Leaf N-Connecta
More than £40,000 – Tesla Model S 75D
Winner: Nissan Leaf N-Connecta
2018 What Car? Awards: Hybrid car
Less than £25,000 – Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Premium
£25,000 – £35,000 – Volkswagen Passat GTE Advance
More than £35,000 – Audi Q7 E-tron
Winner: Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Premium
2018 What Car? Awards: Executive car
Less than £25,000 – Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology
£25,000 – £35,000 – Audi A4 2.0 TDI 190 Ultra Sport S Tronic
More than £35,000 – Kia Stinger GT-S
Winner: Audi A4 2.0 TDI 190 Ultra Sport S Tronic
2018 What Car? Awards: Luxury car
Less than £50,000 – BMW 5 Series 520d SE
£50,000 – £100,000 – Audi A8 50 TDI Long Wheelbase
More than £100,000 – Rolls-Royce Ghost EWB
Winner: BMW 5 Series 520d SE
2018 What Car? Awards: True MPG Award
Commended: Mazda CX-5 2.2 Skyactiv-D 2WD
Commended: Toyota Yaris Hybrid
Winner: Suzuki Ignis
2018 What Car? Awards: Reader Award
Commended: Citroen C5 Aircross
Commended: Audi E-Tron
Winner: Jaguar I-Pace
2018 What Car? Awards: Safety Award
Commended: Subaru XV
Commended: Volkswagen T-Roc
Winner: Volvo XC60
2018 What Car? Awards: Technology Award
Commended: Mercedes-Benz S500
Commended: Nissan Leaf two-way charging
Winner: Tesla
What Car? of the year: Volvo XC40
Taking home the overall prize was the Volvo XC40, the XC60 and XC90‘s smallest, more wallet-friendly SUV sibling. What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said of the decision:
“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. However, our independent True MPG tests prove that this latest engine emits less NOx than plenty of petrols, while offering the low CO2 that made diesels so popular in the first place.
“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.
“The fact is the Volvo XC40 is a stunning achievement and proves to car buyers everywhere that diesels are definitely not dead.”
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