News

New Car Awards 2022: the winners

The winners of the 2022 Auto Express New Car Awards are the very best cars on sale in the UK today...

Just as the motor industry thought it had weathered the Covid-19 storm, the sector has faced yet more turbulence due to chip shortages and, more recently, the war in Ukraine. But tough times bring innovation, and car makers have adapted; the 12 months since our last New Car Awards have seen some great new products arrive, from affordable family transport to advanced EVs, tech-filled SUVs and impressive performance machinery.

So the challenges that brands are facing don’t seem to have impacted the quality of the cars on offer. The market is undergoing huge change, but combustion-engined models still play a huge part in our awards despite more and more EVs featuring. Electric cars are developing at such a pace, delivering impressive ability, while petrol power has plenty of life left in it yet. 

It’s incredible to see the development in just one year, and our 2022 awards show exactly how far things have progressed.

Our awards categories are designed to mirror the UK car market and the kind of cars that you are buying. The aim is to help you pinpoint the cars that our exhaustive testing has led us to identify as the best in their respective classes. To put it simply, if you’re buying a new car today, we think these are the best cars of each type to choose.

This means that we have a mix of brand new models and long standing favourites among the 2022 award winners, as we do every year. The Renault Clio has been our Supermini of the Year for three consecutive years while the Mercedes GLA has also made it the hat-trick this year. The Ford Ranger has held the pick-up truck crown for four years and the MINI Convertible has now been our Convertible of the Year for half a decade.

Then there are new cars, and vans, that have gone straight in at number one in 2022. The outstanding Nissan Ariya, Dacia’s Jogger, the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, Ford’s E-Transit, these are ground-breaking new models that set the standards rival brands will now have to beat.

From comfort, quality and technology to performance and handling, the standard in the new car market as a whole has never been higher. Cars just keep getting better and that can only be good news for consumers. We hope you enjoy our New Car Awards coverage and that our selections can help you in the search for your next car. 

This year we’re delighted to announce that the New Car Awards are brought to you in association with Hankook tyres, with the electric car and van categories in association with Osprey Charging.

New Car Awards 2022: the winners

Special edition of Auto Express

Auto Express Issue 1,736

For the full experience, make sure you pick up a copy of our special 2022 New Car Awards collectors' edition of the Auto Express magazine, which is available in shops now.

You can buy individual issues of Auto Express or subscribe for even bigger discounts on the print magazine cover price. You can currently subscribe or download individual issues of our digital edition direct to your desktop, phone or tablet as well.

Stay right up to date with the latest from the world of cars in 2022 and beyond, follow Auto Express on social media...

Recommended

City Car of the Year 2022: Fiat 500
Fiat 500 - New Car Awards 2022
Awards

City Car of the Year 2022: Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is the 2022 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X commended
6 Jul 2022
Supermini of the Year 2022: Renault Clio
Renault Clio - New Car Awards 2022
Awards

Supermini of the Year 2022: Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is the 2022 Auto Express Supermini of the Year, with the Skoda Fabia and Vauxhall Corsa commended
6 Jul 2022
Family Car of the Year 2022: Dacia Jogger
Dacia Jogger - New Car Awards 2022
Awards

Family Car of the Year 2022: Dacia Jogger

The Dacia Jogger is the 2022 Auto Express Family Car of the Year, with the Cupra Born and Skoda Octavia commended
6 Jul 2022
Estate Car of the Year 2022: Skoda Octavia Estate
Skoda Octavia Estate - New Car Awards 2022
Awards

Estate Car of the Year 2022: Skoda Octavia Estate

The Skoda Octavia Estate is the 2022 Auto Express Estate Car of the Year, with the BMW 3 Series Touring and MG 5 EV commended
6 Jul 2022

More on New Car Awards 2022

City Car of the Year 2022: Fiat 500
Fiat 500 - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

City Car of the Year 2022: Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is the 2022 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X commended
Supermini of the Year 2022: Renault Clio
Renault Clio - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Supermini of the Year 2022: Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is the 2022 Auto Express Supermini of the Year, with the Skoda Fabia and Vauxhall Corsa commended
Family Car of the Year 2022: Dacia Jogger
Dacia Jogger - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Family Car of the Year 2022: Dacia Jogger

The Dacia Jogger is the 2022 Auto Express Family Car of the Year, with the Cupra Born and Skoda Octavia commended
Estate Car of the Year 2022: Skoda Octavia Estate
Skoda Octavia Estate - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Estate Car of the Year 2022: Skoda Octavia Estate

The Skoda Octavia Estate is the 2022 Auto Express Estate Car of the Year, with the BMW 3 Series Touring and MG 5 EV commended
Small Premium SUV of the Year 2022: Mercedes GLA
Mercedes GLA - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Small Premium SUV of the Year 2022: Mercedes GLA

The Mercedes GLA is the Auto Express 2022 Small Premium SUV of the Year with the Cupra Formentor and Range Rover Evoque commended
Large Company Car of the Year 2022: BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Large Company Car of the Year 2022: BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series is the 2022 Auto Express Large Company Car of the Year, with the BMW X5 and Porsche Taycan commended
Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year 2022: Lexus NX
Lexus NX - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year 2022: Lexus NX

The Lexus NX is the Auto Express 2022 Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year with the BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace commended
Small SUV of the Year 2022: Kia Niro
Kia Niro - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Small SUV of the Year 2022: Kia Niro

The Kia Niro is the 2022 Auto Express Small SUV of the Year, with the Renault Captur and Toyota Yaris Cross commended
Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2022: Nissan Ariya
Nissan Ariya - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2022: Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya is the 2022 Auto Express Mid-size Company Car of the Year, with the BMW i4 and Mercedes C 300 e commended
Large SUV of the Year 2022: Skoda Kodiaq
Skoda Kodiaq - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Large SUV of the Year 2022: Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq is the Auto Express 2022 Large SUV of the Year with the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento commended
Small Company Car of the Year 2022: Renault Megane E-Tech Electric
Renault Megane E-Tech Electric - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Small Company Car of the Year 2022: Renault Megane E-Tech Electric

The Renault Megane E-Tech Electric is the 2022 Auto Express Small Company Car of the Year, with the Cupra Born and Mercedes A 250 e commended
Large Premium SUV of the Year 2022: Land Rover Defender
Land Rover Defender - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Large Premium SUV of the Year 2022: Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is the 2022 Auto Express Large Premium SUV of the Year, with the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne commended
Mid-size SUV of the Year 2022: Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai Tucson - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Mid-size SUV of the Year 2022: Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson is the Auto Express 2022 Mid-size SUV of the Year with the Kia Sportage and Skoda Enyaq iV commended
Premium Hybrid Car of the Year 2022: Mercedes C 300 e
Mercedes C 300 e - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Premium Hybrid Car of the Year 2022: Mercedes C 300 e

The Mercedes C 300 e is the 2022 Auto Express Premium Hybrid Car of the Year with the BMW 530e and Lexus NX commended
Convertible of the Year 2022: MINI Convertible
MINI Convertible - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Convertible of the Year 2022: MINI Convertible

The MINI Convertible is the 2022 Auto Express Convertible of the Year, with the Audi A5 Cabriolet and Mazda MX-5 commended
Luxury Car of the Year 2022: Range Rover
Range Rover - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Luxury Car of the Year 2022: Range Rover

The Range Rover is the 2022 Auto Express Luxury Car of the Year, with the Bentley Flying Spur and BMW iX commended
Premium Electric Car of the Year 2022: BMW i4
BMW i4 - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Premium Electric Car of the Year 2022: BMW i4

The BMW i4 is the 2022 Auto Express Premium Electric Car of the Year, with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model 3 commended
Hot Hatch of the Year 2022: Hyundai i20 N
Hyundai i20 N - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Hot Hatch of the Year 2022: Hyundai i20 N

The Hyundai i20 N is the 2022 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Ford Fiesta ST and Mercedes-AMG A 45 commended
Coupe of the Year 2022: BMW 2 Series
BMW 2 Series - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Coupe of the Year 2022: BMW 2 Series

The BMW 2 Series is the 2022 Auto Express Coupe of the Year, with the Alpine A110 and Porsche 718 Cayman commended
Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2022: Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2022: Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is the 2022 Auto Express Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, with the Kia Niro and Skoda Octavia iV commended
Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2022: MG ZS EV
MG ZS EV - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2022: MG ZS EV

The MG ZS EV is the 2022 Auto Express Affordable Electric Car of the Year, with the Fiat 500 and Kia Niro EV commended
Performance Car of the Year 2022: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS - New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Performance Car of the Year 2022: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the 2022 Auto Express Performance Car of the Year, with the Ferrari 296 GTB and Toyota GR Yaris commended
Auto Express Hall of Fame Inductees
New Car Awards 2022
Awards
6 Jul 2022

Auto Express Hall of Fame Inductees

Paddy Hopkirk MBE and Stuart Rowley have been inducted into the Auto Express Hall of Fame