Jon Wakefield, managing director at Volvo Car UK (right), with John Challen, director of UK Car of the Year Awards
Overall honour follows win in Best Medium Crossover category
Volvo triumphs over Skoda in ‘clash of the crossovers’
XC60 praised for its refinement, build quality and driving dynamics
UK Car of the Year Awards now into their fifth year
Volvo’s XC60 has been crowned the overall winner at the UK Car of the Year Awards 2018, which are supported by Cox Automotive – whose UK brands include Manheim and Motors.co.uk. After scooping Best Medium Crossover when the category winners were announced in January, the Volvo went up against another 12 triumphant new cars to fight it out for the top honour. It is the first time that Volvo has won the overall prize at the awards and the company has gone one better than 2016, when the XC90 was runner-up.
“The XC60 being crowned UK Car of the Year 2018 is very well deserved, at a time when crossovers are becoming increasingly popular. Having come close in 2016 with the XC90, it’s fantastic to see Volvo now claim the top spot with it’s smaller – but every bit as impressive – stablemate,” commented John Challen, director of the UK Car of the Year Awards. Fellow director, Alisdair Suttie, furthered: “The XC60 is everything you ever thought a Scandinavian SUV should be – and more. Magnificent quality, comfort and space.”
Commenting on the Swedish manufacturer’s success in the UK Car of the Year Awards, Jon Wakefield, managing director at Volvo Car UK, said: “Winning both the overall UK Car of the Year and Best Medium Crossover awards is a fantastic achievement for Volvo. The awards reflect the desirability and sophistication of the XC60 and the elegant Scandinavian design, cutting-edge technology and luxurious equipment levels have proved a big hit with customers.”
Praise for the XC60 was not short in supply from the 27 UK Car of the Year Awards judges. Paul Hudson from The Telegraph said: “The XC60 is all the car you’ll ever need. It’s hard to look beyond its all-round abilities.” Northern Ireland’s Ian Lynas described the car as “a superb vehicle in its class – one with all the qualities we have now come to expect from Volvo”.
AM Magazine’s Tom Sharpe commented: “Immediately the class act of the already very accomplished Volvo line-up, the new XC60 is the most stylish creation to date from the Swedish brand.” Tristan Young, editorial director, Auto Retail Network stated: “Not only is the XC60 clearly the best in its sector, it’s also all-round brilliant. It’s comfy, refined, has lovely clean styling inside and out and is good value against its rivals.”
In the most closely-contested overall category in UK Car of the Year Awards history, the XC60 triumphed over the Skoda Kodiaq by a single point, with BMW’s 5 Series finishing in third place.
Philip Nothard, head of external relations, at Cox Automotive said: “We are proud to support the UK Car of the Year Awards, judged by 27 of Britain’s most-read motoring journalists who use their expertise to pick out the top performer in 13 vehicle categories. They provide a highly credible verdict for consumers on the best cars on sale in the UK today.”
Launched in 2014, the UK Car of the Year Awards are judged by 27 of Britain’s leading motoring journalists. Each judge uses their expertise to pick out the top performer in 13 vehicle categories, before deciding the overall winner from their favourites in each class. This year, judges were given the opportunity to sample all 13 category winners at the now-established UK Car of the Year Awards driving day – this year hosted by Studio 434 in Potters Bar.
The UK Car of the Year Awards 2018 winners
Best Supermini – SEAT Ibiza
Best Small Hatch – Volkswagen Golf
Best Family – Peugeot 3008
Best Executive – BMW 5 Series
Best Luxury – Rolls-Royce Phantom
Best Estate – BMW 5 Series
Best Small Crossover – Citroën C3 Aircross
Best Medium Crossover – Volvo XC60
Best Large Crossover – Skoda Kodiaq
Best Coupe – Lexus LC
Best Cabriolet – Mazda MX-5 RF
Best Hot Hatch – Hyundai i30 N
Best Performance – Kia Stinger