Double win for Skoda at prestigious What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2015

Skoda received gongs for Car of the Year and Best Family Car at this year's What Car? awards
Triumph: the Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI 105 SE won Best Family Car

It’s the question motoring writers dread: “We’re thinking of getting a new car and just wondered if you could tell us what to buy.” It’s not easy to answer as you must first analyse the buyer’s needs. Do they have kids? Do they mostly run around town or use it for far-flung holidays? Is it for prestige, or practicality? Does their local authority peg residents’ parking charges to engine size? How important is depreciation... and so on.

Fortunately, most would-be buyers already know what they want and just need reassurance. It all becomes a little easier at this time of year as What Car? names its Car of the Year and awards prizes to vehicles in 16 categories, so there’s something for everyone.

The big one went to the Skoda Fabia, and deservedly so, after also scooping the Awards’ Small Car gong, and 15 years after winning Car of the Year for the first time in 2000. To do so, the Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE beat 25 other vehicles that made the shortlist.

What Car?’s judges praised the Fabia’s turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine, which combines punchy and flexible performance with impressive efficiency credentials.

It beat its main rivals in the small car class — the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo — for both space and practicality, while the technology that comes as standard on the Fabia includes what judges called a “brilliant” 6.5-inch touch-screen and a Mirrorlink system that can sync with phones to provide sat-nav.

“We’ve driven and evaluated all of its rivals and, whichever way you cut it, the Fabia is the most rounded small car on sale in the UK today,” declared What Car? editor Jim Holder.

Another key winner was Land Rover’s Discovery Sport. It won the inaugural What Car? Car of the Year Safety Award, presented in conjunction with Thatcham Research, the UK’s only Euro NCAP crash test centre. And those other category winners, to help guide your buying plans for 2015? Best City Car is the Hyundai i10 1.2 Premium, praised for its high levels of practicality, smooth engine and “stunning value” at under £11,000.

Best Family Car went to another Skoda, the Octavia 1.2 TSI 105 SE, praised for its practicality, superb quality and low running costs. Best Electric Car is the plug-in hybrid Audi A3 e-tron thanks to its versatility and low company car tax. The best Coupé was also an Audi; the great-looking TT 2.0 TFSI Sport, praised by judges for being great to drive and for its high-quality cabin.

Best Estate Car is the Ford Mondeo Estate 1.6 TDCi 120 Econetic Zetec, thanks to its refined engine, smooth ride, value for money and low CO2 emissions. Best MPV? The impressive Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 e-HDi 115 Exclusive, praised for the way it seats seven in comfort. Best Hot Hatch is the Ford Fiesta ST-2, thanks to being “brilliant” to drive, with real world economy, while Best Convertible is Audi’s A3 Cabriolet 1.4 TFSI 150 Sport, for its refinement, handling and space.

Best Small SUV is the stylish Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 110 N-tec 2WD — praised for its blend of kit, efficiency and refinement, while the best Large SUV is the handsome Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE, ranked for being an “indomitable off-roader” as well as offering “cossetting family transport”.

Best Executive Car went to the BMW 520d SE automatic for being a “joy to drive and live with”, while Best Sports Car is the Porsche Boxster 2.7 for being “rambunctious fun”. Best Luxury Car is the Mercedes-Benz S350 CDI Bluetec L SE Line, praised for its “astounding level of quality”. The Reader Award went to the Honda HR-V, which goes on sale in late spring. All you need to do now is decide which one’s for you. More at whatcar.com/awards.

Follow David Williams on Twitter at @djrwilliams

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