BMW I3 Hatchback 5DR Auto from First Vehicle Leasing
If you’re looking to drive a new car under a contract hire or car leasing agreement then you could do a lot worse than choose an award winning model. Now, the inaugural UK Car of the Year Awards has identified a range of leading cars in eleven categories.
The awards, voted for by 27 of the country’s most respected motoring journalists, are designed to help you choose the next car you buy or lease. Keep reading to find out which cars scooped the prizes…
New BMW wins the UK Car of the Year 2014
The very first UK Car of the Year Awards recognised eleven cars in individual categories as well as handing over the top prize to the best overall model. They are voted for by 27 of the most respected motoring journalists in the UK and each is an expert in their field to ensure you get the best advice possible, whichever type of car you are considering buying.
The inaugural winner of the UK Car of the Year was the new BMW i3 which triumphed in the Best Supermini category before going on to win the overall prize. Almost half of the judging panel chose the i3, ahead of rivals including the Range Rover Sport, Audi A3, Citroen C4 Grand Picasso and the Porsche Cayman.
“Alternative vehicles have made a big impression on UK car buyers in recent years, and the i3 takes things to the next level,” said John Challen, Managing Director of UK Car of the Year Awards. “It might be a new direction for BMW, but the i3 successfully retains the driving characteristics from BMW’s more established models.”
Praise also came from BBC Top Gear‘s Tom Ford, who commented: “i3 moves the game on for urban and inter-urban transport. It is clever, exciting, useful and desirable.”
Tim Pollard, from MSN, said that i3 “shows that small cars can be at the cutting edge of technology – and that EVs can be desirable,” while the Press Association’s Matt Joy believes that the new BMW “makes the fundamental leap for the electric car, namely that it is desirable for reasons other than its eco credentials.”
Uwe Dreher, BMW UK Marketing Director, commented on the win: “For the BMW i3 to be voted as the first-ever UK Car of the Year is real testament to the years of research and development that have gone into making BMW’s first electric production car.
“The BMW i3 has pushed the boundaries in every way from sustainable production, to its unique construction and revolutionary ownership proposition. The judging panel clearly recognised this and we are delighted to be given such an independent accolade.”
The rest of the UK Car of the Year 2014 winners
The runner-up to the BMW i3 for the UK Car of the Year 2014 prize was the Ford Fiesta ST, which won the Best Performance Car category. Joint third place went to the Skoda Octavia Estate and Jaguar F-type, which topped the Best Estate and Best Open Top Car categories respectively.
If you’re looking for a leading car to lease or drive under a contract hire agreement, here’s the full list of UK Car of the Year Awards 2014 winners:
- Best Supermini – BMW i3
- Best Small Hatch – Audi A3
- Best Family Car – Skoda Octavia
- Best Executive Car – BMW 5 Series
- Best Luxury Car – Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Best Estate Car – Skoda Octavia Estate
- Best MPV – Citroën C4 Grand Picasso
- Best 4×4 – Range Rover Sport
- Best Coupé – Porsche Cayman
- Best Open Top Car – Jaguar F-type
- Best Performance Car – Ford Fiesta ST