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New Car Awards 2021: the winners

These are the best cars on sale today, the winners of the 2021 Auto Express New Car Awards...

Following a trying 2020 for us all, 2021 has been an opportunity to return to normality. It’s also a year for the motor industry to bounce back; following the decimation of sales during the pandemic, the recovery has been rapid. 

New-car registrations were up 42.5 per cent on last year’s numbers to the end of May, no doubt boosted by so many exciting new car releases. From sensible electric cars to wild sports cars, we’ve tested the lot – but we’ve also re-evaluated our categories to reflect the changes within the industry, not least the onset of electrification.

The 2021 New Car Awards categories reflect today’s car market and the kinds of cars that you are buying. We’re recognising the top models in the traditional market sectors from city car through to luxury car and then on through coupes and convertibles to hot hatches and performance cars.

There are six SUV awards as a result of that sector’s continuing expansion and growth in popularity while we’re also presenting three company car awards to reflect the diversity of automotive options now open to fleets and business users. There are also four awards for electric and hybrid vehicles, possibly the defining story of the car market in recent times. More and more consumers are considering cars with plugs and, as always, Auto Express is on hand to help you find the best model to spend your cash on.

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The standard of the new cars on sale today really is remarkable and so is the pace of change as the world’s car manufacturers rise to the challenges facing the industry. Across all of our New Car Award winners, excellence in design, technology and engineering is a given and that’s what’s propelled them to the head of such a competitive field.

Click the links below to find out all about the 2021 New Car Awards winners...

Special edition of Auto Express

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

Auto Express Issue 1,685

You can buy individual issues of Auto Express or subscribe for even bigger discounts on the magazine cover price. You can currently Subscribe and get 6 issues for just £1 or download our digital edition direct to your desktop, phone or tablet.

Stay right up to date with the latest from the world of cars in 2021 and beyond, follow Auto Express on social media...

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Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2021: Renault Zoe
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Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2021: Renault Zoe

The Renault Zoe is the 2021 Auto Express Affordable Electric Car of the Year, with the Fiat 500 and MG 5 commended
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City Car of the Year 2021: Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is the 2021 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen up! commended
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Large Premium SUV of the Year 2021: BMW X5
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Large Premium SUV of the Year 2021: BMW X5

The BMW X5 is the 2021 Auto Express Premium SUV of the Year, with the Land Rover Discovery and Porsche Cayenne commended
Pick-up of the Year 2021: Ford Ranger
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Pick-up of the Year 2021: Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger is the 2021 Auto Express Pick-up of the Year, with the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max commended
Premium Hybrid Car of the Year 2021: Mercedes E-Class
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Premium Hybrid Car of the Year 2021: Mercedes E-Class

The Mercedes E-Class is the 2021 Auto Express Premium Hybrid Car of the Year with the Jaguar F-Pace P400e and Mercedes A 250 e commended
Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2021: Toyota Yaris
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Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2021: Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is the 2021 Auto Express Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, with the Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Octavia iV commended
Performance Car of the Year 2021: Toyota GR Yaris
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Performance Car of the Year 2021: Toyota GR Yaris

The Toyota GR Yaris is the 2021 Auto Express Performance Car of the Year, with the Ferrari Roma and Porsche 911 commended
Convertible of the Year 2021: MINI Convertible
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Convertible of the Year 2021: MINI Convertible

The MINI Convertible is the 2021 Auto Express Convertible of the Year, with the Audi A5 Cabriolet and Mazda MX-5 commended
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Coupe of the Year 2021: Alpine A110
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Coupe of the Year 2021: Alpine A110

The Alpine A110 is the 2021 Auto Express Coupe of the Year, with the BMW 4 Series and Porsche 718 Cayman commended
Hot Hatch of the Year 2021: Hyundai i20 N
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Hot Hatch of the Year 2021: Hyundai i20 N

The Hyundai i20 N is the 2021 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Honda Civic Type R and Cupra Leon commended
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Luxury Car of the Year 2021: Bentley Flying Spur
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Luxury Car of the Year 2021: Bentley Flying Spur

The Bentley Flying Spur is the 2021 Auto Express Luxury Car of the Year, with the Mercedes S-Class and Rolls-Royce Ghost commended
Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year 2021: Land Rover Defender
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Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year 2021: Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is the Auto Express 2021 Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year with the BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace commended
Small Premium SUV of the Year 2021: Mercedes GLA
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Small Premium SUV of the Year 2021: Mercedes GLA

The Mercedes GLA is the Auto Express 2021 Small Premium SUV of the Year with the Range Rover Evoque and Cupra Formentor commended
Mid-size SUV of the Year 2021: Hyundai Tucson
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Mid-size SUV of the Year 2021: Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson is the Auto Express 2021 Mid-size SUV of the Year with the Skoda Enyaq iV and the Nissan Qashqai commended
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Small SUV of the Year 2021: Renault Captur
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Small SUV of the Year 2021: Renault Captur

The Renault Captur is the 2021 Auto Express Small SUV of the Year, with the Ford Puma and Kia Niro/e-Niro commended
Large Company Car of the Year 2021: Mercedes E-Class
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Large Company Car of the Year 2021: Mercedes E-Class

The Mercedes E-Class is the 2021 Auto Express Large Company Car of the Year, with the BMW X5 and Porsche Taycan commended
Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5
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Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the 2021 Auto Express Mid-size Company Car of the Year, with the BMW 3 Series and Tesla Model 3 commended
Small Company Car of the Year 2021: Volkswagen ID.3
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Small Company Car of the Year 2021: Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen ID.3 is the 2021 Auto Express Small Company Car of the Year, with the Mercedes A 250 e and Renault Captur PHEV commended
Supermini of the Year 2021: Renault Clio
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Supermini of the Year 2021: Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is the 2021 Auto Express Supermini of the Year, with the Dacia Sandero and Vauxhall Corsa commended
Family Car of the Year 2021: Skoda Octavia
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Family Car of the Year 2021: Skoda Octavia

The Skoda Octavia is the 2021 Auto Express Family Car of the Year, with the Volkswagen ID.3 and Toyota Corolla commended
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Estate Car of the Year 2021: Skoda Octavia Estate
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Estate Car of the Year 2021: Skoda Octavia Estate

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Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5
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Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5

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