Skip advert
Advertisement

‘The Hyundai Ioniq 5 makes electric cars easier to accept and enjoy’

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler reveals five things that we’ve learnt from our 2021 New Car Awards

Opinion - Hyundai Ioniq 5

As the car industry – and, just as importantly, car buyers and owners – continue to go through more change and face more challenges than we could ever have imagined, how we judge our annual Awards has also been overhauled. It’s happened with one thing in mind: what the people who will live with (and hopefully love) our winners want and need from their cars.

Advertisement - Article continues below

So what have we learnt this year? Firstly, the EV has come of age. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 will travel the best part of 300 miles on a charge, then be ‘refuelled’ from 10 to 80 per cent ‘full’ in just 18 minutes. Whether we like the idea of electric cars or not (and plenty still don’t), cars like the Ioniq 5 make them easier to accept and enjoy.

Secondly, car design is in a great place with plenty of originality, flair and clever features that all combine to make new cars more appealing than ever.

Then there’s the shift from the traditional body shapes (bye, bye Mondeo from next year) to SUVs and now towards crossovers. It’s what customers want – and who are we, or the industry, to argue with that?

Plus, make a car that appeals to drivers and you’ll still reap the benefits – in sales and at our Awards. Witness the incredible Toyota GR Yaris, Hyundai i20 N, Alpine A110 and even Bentley’s Flying Spur – all will make you smile.

Finally, the company car is still very much a thing – especially with the tax incentives on offer if you choose one that’s a full EV or a hybrid. The same applies in the increasingly important van world, where we’ve added an Electric Van Award for this year.

One final point: the car industry is nothing without the people within it. And this year we welcome two greats into the Auto Express Hall of Fame. Adrian Hallmark, Bentley CEO, topped our annual Brit List recently, so joins the hallowed hall. As does the late Richard Parry-Jones, a man whose influence can be seen in many of our Award winners and whom we all sorely miss.

Click here to read our review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5

Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
16 Jun 2025
New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Peugeot E-208 GTi - reveal front

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power

Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds
News
13 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Kia Sportage at £255 per month can’t be anything but popular
Kia Sportage - side panning

Car Deal of the Day: Kia Sportage at £255 per month can’t be anything but popular

The Kia Sportage has earned its popularity over the years and deals like our Car Deal of the Day for June 14 won’t do it any harm at all.
News
14 Jun 2025