2022 What Car? Car of the Year Awards: The Contenders
What Car? has unveiled the long list of models in contention for its highly anticipated Car of the Year Awards 2022, held in association with MotorEasy.
The event, from Britain’s leading consumer champion and car buying platform, will see the best cars in 21 categories named. A What Car? Award is one of the most sought-after accolades in the automotive industry.
The list of 83 cars on the long list is made up of new or updated models from the past 12 months, plus defending champions from the 2021 event.
To be eligible for a What Car? Award, a car has to have been tested back to back with its rivals, both on UK roads and at What Car?’s dedicated test track.
The winner of each category will be in the frame for the overall Car of the Year Award, which has been won by a diverse range of vehicles in recent years. Past winners include the BMW 5 Series saloon, the Kia e-Niro electric car and the Ford Puma small SUV.
Highlighting the growing demand for electric cars in the UK, the 2022 awards mark the introduction of an electric SUV category. It joins the existing small electric car and large electric car categories.
In this story, we’ll tell you more about each of the cars in contention.
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SMALL CAR: Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is the small car to beat in terms of practicality, but it also impresses with its long list of standard equipment, great all-round visibility and low running costs.
List price from £19,910
Target Price from £19,008
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Seat Ibiza
The current iteration of the Seat Ibiza offers tidy handling and a roomy interior at an exceptionally low price.
List price from £17,165
Target Price from £15,992
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Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia impresses with its massive boot, capacious interior and comfortable ride – and all for much less money than rivals.
List price from £15,305
Target Price from £14,980
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Volkswagen Polo
With a fresh face for 2021, the Volkswagen Polo is one of the most refined cars in its class thanks to its composed ride and classy, hushed interior.
List price from £18,825
Target Price from £17,632
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FAMILY CAR: Audi A3
Thanks to sporty, confidence-inspiring handling, a great driving position and an upmarket interior, the Audi A3 is a fantastic all-rounder. The plug-in hybrid version is incredibly punchy and still fairly agile, despite the additional weight of its batteries.
List price from £25,010
Target Price from £24,166
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Cupra Born
The all-electric Cupra Born offers a range of up to 335 miles between charges when equipped with its largest 77kWh battery, as well as precise handling, good acceleration, and ample practicality.
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DS 4
With its impressively sculpted interior, intuitive touchscreen infotainment system and exceptionally smooth automatic gearbox, the DS 4 is a persuasive alternative to the usual German suspects at the premium end of the family car spectrum.
List price from £25,350
Target Price from £25,350
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Peugeot 308
A comfortable interior, low running costs and involving handling are compelling reasons to buy a 308, but the unconventional i-Cockpit design places you in a driving position that won’t suit everyone.
List price from £21,585
Target Price from £21,585
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Renault Megane E-Tech
The Renault Megane E-Tech arrives in the UK next autumn, offering a range of up to 292 miles between charges, enjoyable handling and a smart interior.
List price from £30,000 (est)
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Seat Leon
Our defending champion in the family car class is a brilliant all-rounder. The Leon offers plenty of passenger room, lots of kit as standard and fantastic handling, all for less money than like-for-like rivals.
List price from £21,410
Target Price from £19,828
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HOT HATCH: Audi RS3
It’s not cheap, but the Audi RS3 comes with a 394bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine which offers stratospheric acceleration and a unique soundtrack. What’s more, it maintains the ride comfort, practicality and interior quality of the A3 it’s based on.
List price from £53,830
Target Price from £53,830
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BMW 128ti
Seemingly made for British B-roads, the 128ti feels wonderfully involving, with a good balance between playfulness and raw grip through corners. It also feels faster in a straight line than its on-paper statistics might suggest.
List price from £34,550
Target Price from £33,557
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Ford Fiesta ST
The previous-generation Fiesta ST took home multiple Hot Hatch titles at previous What Car? Awards. The current model is in with a chance of keeping them coming thanks to its giggle-inducing handling, hearty engine and good value for money.
List price from £22,480
Target price from £22,480
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Hyundai i20N
The Hyundai i20N is more sensible than its aggressive looks might suggest, with handling which makes it especially easy to drive, as well as a good reliability record and a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
List price from £24,995
Target Price from £24,281
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Mercedes A45 AMG
The winner of last year’s Best Hot Hatch for Big Spenders Award offers savage straight-line performance, glue-like grip through the bends and a visually-striking interior.
List price from £57,885
Target Price from £57,885
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Volkswagen Golf R
The Golf R avoids feeling sterile through corners like some four-wheel drive hot hatches do. It has a pronounced shove from the rear end to push you into tighter curves, and brutal acceleration to drag you out of them thanks to its 316bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine.
List price from £40,900
Target Price from £39,327
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SMALL SUV: Ford Puma
Our defending champion for two years on the trot, can the Puma take yet another win in the Small SUV category? Bolstering its case is a massive, cleverly-designed boot, fun road manners and brilliant engines that balance remarkable performance with good fuel economy.
List price from £23,145
Target Price from £21,886
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Hyundai Kona Electric
In 64kWh specification, the Kona Electric offers rapid acceleration and a real-world range of around 260 miles – further than many rivals. There’s also a lesser 39kWh version capable of a competitive 158-mile range in the real world, which also qualifies for a £2500 electric car grant. Whichever version you choose, every Kona Electric is generously equipped.
List price from £30,450 (excl. Gov’t grant)
Target Price from £30,152 (excl. Gov’t grant)
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Seat Arona
Despite being cheaper than many of its rivals, the Seat Arona offers plenty of interior space, enjoyable handling and a good level of equipment.
List price from £20,040
Target Price from £19,295
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Toyota Yaris Cross
Efficiency is the name of the game with the Yaris Cross, which comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and hybrid system as standard. They work in tandem to offer an official fuel economy of up to 65mpg.
List price from £22,515
Target Price from £22,515
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Vauxhall Mokka
Much like a popular fast-food chain, you can have it your way with the Vauxhall Mokka. It offers plenty of customisation, as well as a good level of standard equipment and impressive refinement at motorway speeds.
List price from £21,835
Target Price from £21,051
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FAMILY SUV: Dacia Duster
It’s not the best through corners and many rivals offer better safety kit, but the Dacia Duster is unparalleled in its thriftiness compared with other family SUVs. It offers a massive boot and nifty cost-saving measures such as the ability to run on cheaper liquified petroleum gas (LPG) as well as petrol if you choose the Bi-Fuel engine option.
List price from £14,295
Target Price from £14,295
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Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is absolutely massive inside, accommodating people of all shapes and sizes with ease, while also coming generously equipped in all trim levels. It’s well built, and hybrid versions are worthy alternatives to diesel-powered rivals.
List price from £28,760
Target Price from £27,382
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Kia Sportage
The all-new Kia Sportage hasn’t only had a dramatic redesign on the surface – it’s also been made larger to improve interior and boot space. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid options have been added to the range too, which should boost performance and fuel economy.
List price from £26,745
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Nissan Qashqai
Offering a smart, well put-together interior, a superb driving position and heaps of safety equipment, the Nissan Qashqai is a compelling option in the family SUV class.
List price from £24,555
Target Price from £24,555
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Skoda Karoq
The Skoda Karoq is one of our favourite family SUVs, largely because of its immense practicality. It’s been given a facelift for 2022 with new styling, updated technology and the option of sustainably-sourced materials inside.
List price from £24,000 (est)
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Volvo XC40
A former overall What Car? Car of the Year winner and our reigning Family SUV of the Year, the Volvo XC40 offers a plush, well-built interior, a comfortable ride and an exceptional safety rating.
List price from £26,355
Target Price from £26,355
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LARGE SUV: Audi Q4 e-tron
The all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron offers a comfortable ride, a plush and spacious interior, and a range of up to 316 miles. It also costs less than premium rivals.
List price from £42,540
Target Price from £42,540
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Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 is a comfortable and classy large SUV. With swift plug-in hybrid options, fantastic suppression of wind and road noise, and a high-quality interior, it nails all the small details.
List price from £45,445
Target Price from £43,015
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Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe is closely related to the Kia Sorento, which means it’s similarly good to drive and very well equipped.
List price from £40,685
Target Price from £38,638
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Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento is our reigning Large SUV of the Year because of its immense practicality, smooth hybrid engines, comfortable ride and well-built interior. Is it still the best in the class for 2022, or have rivals caught up?
List price from £39,710
Target Price from £38,460
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Lexus NX
Lexus’s first plug-in hybrid, the NX 450h+, offers an impressive 43-mile electric-only range between charges. It also has a smart interior and the car maker’s stellar reliability record to strengthen its case.
List price from £38,300
Target Price from £37,554
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Skoda Enyaq iV
One of our favourite electric cars and a great large SUV, the Skoda Enyaq offers colossal practicality, a cosseting ride and a decent level of standard equipment. It also qualifies for a £2500 government grant towards its purchase price in our recommended ’60’ specification.
List price from £34,850 (excl. Gov’t grant)
Target Price from £34,850 (excl. Gov’t grant)
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Skoda Kodiaq
The largest option in Skoda’s SUV line-up, the Kodiaq is a great all-rounder, offering a good level of practicality, a plush interior and decent handling.
List price from £29,140
Target Price from £27,004
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Toyota RAV4
You can’t buy a RAV4 plug-in hybrid with seven seats, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a look if fuel economy is your top priority: it managed an overall 49mpg in our True MPG test. It also offers a massive boot, lots of standard equipment and is backed by Toyota’s excellent reliability record.
List price from £31,120
Target Price from £29,612
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EXECUTIVE CAR: BMW 3 Series
Our reigning Executive Car of the Year fulfils the demands of its class exceptionally well, with its high-quality interior and great road manners. Plug-in hybrid models have exceptionally low running costs.
List price from £33,250
Target Price from £31,162
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Citroën C5X
The new Citroën C5X is set to be the brand’s most luxurious offering, featuring adaptive suspension and a high-tech interior. The plug-in hybrid version will offer up to 31 miles of electric-only range.
List price from £35,000 (est)
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Hyundai Ioniq 5
An electric alternative to conventional executive cars, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 offers an incredibly spacious interior and impressive straight-line performance, as well as a range of up to 300 miles between charges.
List price from £36,995
Target Price from £36,995
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Mercedes C-Class
An abundance of technology and an impressively smooth ride wins the C-Class many fans. The availability of a benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax-reducing plug-in hybrid version makes it a convincing option for company car drivers, too.
List price from £38,785
Target Price from £38,218
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Polestar 2
With an official range of up to 335 miles, stonking performance and a plush-but-minimalist interior, the Polestar 2 is a viable alternative to traditional high-end executive cars. It also makes an attractive choice for company car drivers, with its extremely low BIK tax rates.
List price from £39,900
Target Price from £39,900
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PLUG-IN HYBRID: Audi A3 TFSIe
This plug-in hybrid version of the Audi A3 offers additional punch and an official electric-only range of up to 40 miles, yet it doesn’t trade away the agility and practicality of the standard version.
List price from £34,765
Target Price from £33,573
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Audi Q3 Sportback TFSIe
With an official electric-only range of up to 31 miles, the plug-in hybrid Q3 Sportback offers a hushed drive around town and low running costs.
List price from £42,290
Target Price from £42,290
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Audi Q5 TFSIe
In addition to the standard Q5’s impressive interior and overall refinement, plug-in hybrid versions add electric motors that add to the serenity. They can get you up to the national speed limit without the petrol engine kicking in and have an official electric-only range of up to 37 miles.
List price from £52,465
Target Price from £49,619
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Audi Q5 Sportback TFSIe
The Q5 Sportback’s rakish roofline means it’s capable of driving an additional mile on electric power alone compared with the standard Q5 plug-in hybrid.
List price from £54,200
Target Price from £54,200
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Hyundai Tucson
With four-wheel drive and an official electric-only range of up to 38 miles, the Tucson plug-in hybrid is a worthy addition to the range. It’s well-built, exceptionally practical and comes with plenty of equipment.
List price from £39,330
Target Price from £37,395
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Lexus NX
With an impressive electric-only range of 43 official miles and a surprisingly smooth ride (on the F-Sport version’s 20in wheels), the NX is a good entry in the plug-in hybrid class.
List price from £38,300
Target Price from £37,554
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Peugeot 308
The 308 plug-in hybrid offers up to 37 official miles of electric-only range and the choice of 178bhp or 217bhp (which both make it feel nippy). It also handles and rides well despite the extra weight of the batteries.
List price from £33,000
Target Price from £33,000
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Peugeot 308 SW
The 308 SW plug-in has all the pros of the standard 308, but in a bigger package which doesn’t compromise on boot space.
List price from £34,200
Target Price from £34,200
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Skoda Octavia iV Estate
Our previous Plug-in Hybrid of the Year winner is one of the cheapest options in the class, with very low company car tax rates. Offering a serene drive in electric-only mode, a soft ride and a massive boot, it’s a tempting all-rounder.
List price from £32,780
Target Price from £32,629
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SMALL ELECTRIC: Cupra Born
Based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.3, the Cupra Born takes all the ID.3’s good traits (including exceptional handling and practicality), and adds a plusher interior and better infotainment.
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Peugeot e-208
A more subtle take on an electric car, the Peugeot e-208 looks just like the fossil-fuelled versions, but is powered by a 134bhp electric motor which can officially drive up to 217 miles on a single charge. It’s a fine all-rounder, with a classy interior, good ride comfort and an extensive list of standard equipment.
List price from £29,725
Target Price from £28,929
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Renault Megane E-Tech
With an official range of up to 292 miles between charges, fun handling and a spacious interior for passengers to stretch out in, the Megane E-Tech is set to challenge the best in the small electric car class.
List price from £30,000 (est)
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Volkswagen ID.3
The defending champion of the small electric car class, the Volkswagen ID.3 is a fantastic all-rounder with its fun driving dynamics, spacious interior and good electric range.
List price from £30,505
Target price from £29,909
Next: The rest of the What Car? Car of the Year Awards contenders >>
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