Celebrating the Best Cars of 2017: Auto Express Awards

The Auto Express Awards have been a highlight for car enthusiasts, and the results from 2017 showcased the best of the best across numerous categories. From compact family cars to luxury SUVs, this comprehensive round-up will walk you through the commendable winners and their outstanding attributes.

Car of the Year 2017: Land Rover Discovery

Taking the top honor, the Land Rover Discovery emerged as the Car of the Year 2017 after considerable deliberation by our expert judging panel. Known for its unparalleled off-road capabilities, spacious interior, and premium features, the Discovery sets a high bar for all SUVs in its class.

City Car of the Year 2017: Volkswagen Up!

The Volkswagen Up! clinched the City Car of the Year title, standing out for its compact design and excellent maneuverability in urban settings. It offers an efficient engine and a surprisingly spacious interior for a city car, making it a top choice for urban dwellers.

Supermini of the Year 2017: SEAT Ibiza

For the Supermini of the Year, the SEAT Ibiza takes the crown, praised for its stylish design, robust performance, and practical features. Competitors like the Citroen C3 and Skoda Fabia were also acknowledged for their merits, but the Ibiza ultimately shone the brightest.

Compact Family Car of the Year 2017: Volkswagen Golf

As the Compact Family Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Golf continues to impress, delivering an engaging driving experience along with comfort and safety. The Golf beat out formidable rivals like the Skoda Octavia and Vauxhall Astra, proving its place in family traditions.

Family Car of the Year 2017: Skoda Superb

In the family category, the Skoda Superb is celebrated as the Family Car of the Year. Renowned for its tremendous space, value, and practicality, the Superb was closely followed by the Toyota Prius and Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, which also earned commendations.

Estate Car of the Year 2017: Skoda Octavia Estate

The Skoda Octavia Estate claimed the title of Estate Car of the Year. With its spacious boot and solid performance, it serves as an ideal car for families needing extra room. The BMW 5 Series Touring and Skoda Superb Estate were also recognized for their exceptional qualities in this highly contested category.

MPV of the Year 2017: Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

Citroen's Grand C4 Picasso was named the MPV of the Year, appreciated for its versatility and family-friendly features. Following it closely were the Renault Grand Scenic and SEAT Alhambra, both of which provided strong competition.

Small SUV of the Year 2017: Citroen C4 Cactus

In a segment rapidly gaining popularity, the Citroen C4 Cactus was awarded the title of Small SUV of the Year. Its unique design and economical performance stand out among competitors such as the Dacia Duster and Peugeot 2008.

Mid-Size SUV of the Year 2017: Peugeot 3008

Earning accolades as the Mid-Size SUV of the Year, the Peugeot 3008 impressed judges with its stylish design and comfort, surpassing popular models like the Mazda CX-5 and SEAT Ateca.

Large SUV of the Year 2017: Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq took home the Large SUV of the Year honor, recognized for its family-friendly space, driving dynamics, and overall value. It successfully outperformed competitors such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

Premium SUV of the Year 2017: Volvo XC60

In the realm of luxury, the Volvo XC60 was awarded the Premium SUV of the Year. Its sleek design, safety features, and superior comfort set it apart from the Jaguar F-Pace and Mercedes GLC.

Large Premium SUV of the Year 2017: Land Rover Discovery

Once again, the Land Rover Discovery proved its mettle, bagging the title of Large Premium SUV of the Year, fending off competition from the Tesla Model X and Volvo XC90. Its blend of luxury and performance is hard to beat in this segment.

Pick-up of the Year 2017: Mitsubishi L200

Mitsubishi L200 earned the title of Pick-up of the Year, recognized for its rugged construction and versatility, with accolades also for the Fiat Fullback and Nissan Navara.

Hot Hatch of the Year 2017: Honda Civic Type R

In the spirited category of hot hatches, the Honda Civic Type R soared to victory, praised for its thrilling performance. Rivals like the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf GTI were acknowledged but did not quite match the Civic's exhilaration.

Convertible of the Year 2017: Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet

Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet won the Convertible of the Year award thanks to its balance of luxury and driving pleasure, beating out competitors like the Audi A3 Cabriolet and MINI Convertible.

Coupe of the Year 2017: Audi A5 Coupe

The Audi A5 Coupe claimed the Coupe of the Year award with its stylish looks, premium features, and performance, besting other contenders such as the Audi TT and Porsche 718 Cayman.

Roadster of the Year 2017: Mazda MX-5 RF

The iconic Mazda MX-5 RF won the Roadster of the Year title, impressing with its lightweight design and outstanding agility, beating out the Fiat 124 Spider and Porsche 718 Boxster.

Performance Car of the Year 2017: Porsche 911 GT3

The ultimate thrill on wheels, the Porsche 911 GT3, was recognized as the Performance Car of the Year, edging out competitors like the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren 720S.

Compact Executive Car of the Year 2017: Jaguar XE

The Jaguar XE secured the title of Compact Executive Car of the Year, highlighted for its driving dynamics and design, with commendations received by the Alfa Romeo Giulia and BMW 3 Series.

Executive Car of the Year 2017: BMW 5 Series

Winning the prestigious Executive Car of the Year award, the BMW 5 Series impressed judges with its technology and luxury, narrowly edging ahead of rivals like the Mercedes E-Class and Tesla Model S.

Luxury Car of the Year 2017: Mercedes S-Class

The pinnacle of luxury, the Mercedes S-Class, took home the Luxury Car of the Year title, showcasing unparalleled comfort, performance, and technology, although it faced stiff competition from the Bentley Mulsanne and Porsche Panamera.

Van of the Year 2017: Volkswagen Crafter

The Volkswagen Crafter triumphed as the Van of the Year, prized for its practicality and performance, with the Ford Transit and Peugeot Expert coming in as worthy contenders.

Electric Car of the Year 2017: BMW i3

The innovative BMW i3 won the award for Electric Car of the Year, celebrated for its environmentally friendly design and modern technology, with the Renault ZOE and Tesla Model S also honored.

Special Awards

BMW - 2017 Tech Award winner

BMW bagged the 2017 Technology Award for its extensive range of electric and hybrid vehicles, showcasing cutting-edge innovation in semi-autonomous systems.

Car Advertising Campaign of the Year 2017: Skoda

Skoda’s visionary **