Some of the most popular new vehicles on the road have been commended at the Car of the Year awards, with Skoda driving away with the biggest win of the day.
The Skoda Elroq has been crowned Car of the Year 2025 at the 21st annual Auto Express New Car Awards, making it the fifth year in a row where an electric vehicle has won the top prize.
The Elroq, which was also crowned Mid-size SUV of the Year, was described as "outstanding" and "exemplifying progress" seen across the electric vehicle sector.
Drivers can get their hands on an Elroq Edition for just £34,460, with it coming equipped with an impressive 355 miles of battery range, alongside cheaper SE and SE L models.
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The Skoda Elroq was crowned 2025 Car of the Year
SKODA
Paul Barker, editor at Auto Express, said the mid-size SUV was the "sweet spot" for many motorists with suitable range, value and space.
He described the Elroq as a "worthy flagship" for the Czech brand, with quality shining throughout the simple yet impactful car.
Skoda also picked up the Large SUV of the Year award with the Kodiaq, which has been presented with the gong for the last two years. The Octavia was named as Family Car of the Year, and the Superb retained its title of Estate Car of the Year.
Commenting on the brand's success at the awards, Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda, said: "Winning Car of the Year means a lot to all of us at Skoda.
Renault has several electric vehicles in its UK lineup, including the new 5 E-Tech
RENAULT"I'm grateful for this recognition of the hard work, creativity, and care that goes into building a car we’re truly proud of.
"We set out to create a car that people would love to drive on their daily explorations. To see it connect with drivers and experts alike is incredibly rewarding."
Other worthy winners from the evening included the Tesla Model 3, which was named Mid-size Company Car of the Year for the third year in a row.
Renault's new generation of electric vehicles also picked up awards, with the 4 model being awarded the Small SUV of the Year, while the 5 was crowned Affordable EV of the Year.
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Kia said the Picanto model won City Car of the Year thanks to its 'everyday appeal'
KIA
The Honda Civic Type R and MG3 Hybrid+ both retained their titles as Hot Hatch of the Year and Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, respectively.
Barker noted that it had been a tumultuous year for the automotive industry, making it even more impressive that one model stood out from the rest.
He added: "From the tightening of the EV mandate and ongoing questions around charging infrastructure, to the introduction of luxury car taxes for EVs and the global uncertainty created by Trump's tariffs, 2025 has delivered its fair share of challenges.
"And yet, despite all that, the standard of new cars coming to market continues to rise. In fact, the breadth and quality of choice for British motorists has arguably never been stronger – across every fuel type, size, and price point."
The MG3 Hybrid+ retained its title as Affordable Hybrid of the Year
MG
2025 Auto Express New Car Award winners
City Car of the Year - Kia Picanto
Supermini of the Year - Fiat Grande Panda
Family Car of the Year - Skoda Octavia
Estate Car of the Year - Skoda Superb
Small Company Car of the Year - Kia EV3
Mid-size Company Car of the Year - Tesla Model 3
Large Company Car of the Year - Audi A6 e-tron
Small SUV of the Year - Renault 4
Mid-size SUV of the Year - Skoda Elroq
Large SUV of the Year - Skoda Kodiaq
Small Premium SUV of the Year - Volvo EX30
Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year - BMW X3
Large Premium SUV of the Year -BMW iX
Luxury Car of the Year - Bentley Flying Spur
Hot Hatch of the Year - Honda Civic Type R
Coupé of the Year - BMW 2 Series
Convertible of the Year - Mazda MX-5
Performance Car of the Year - McLaren Artura
Affordable Electric Car of the Year - Renault 5
Premium Electric Car of the Year - BMW iX
Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year - MG3 Hybrid+
Premium Hybrid Car of the Year - BMW 530e
Pick-up of the Year - Ford Ranger
Electric Van of the Year - Renault Master E-Tech
Small Van of the Year (shared between identical Stellantis products) - Citroen Berlingo
Small Van of the Year - Vauxhall Combo Cargo
Small Van of the Year - Peugeot Partner
Small Van of the Year - Fiat Doblo
Mid-size Van of the Year - Ford Transit Custom
Large Van of the Year - Renault Master
Driver Power car - Mercedes-Benz GLE
Driver Power manufacturer - Subaru
Car of the Year - Skoda Elroq
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