CarBuyer Car of the Year 2012

Editor in Chief, Steve Fowler presenting Hyundai with the Car of the Year award at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Welcome to the CarBuyer Car of the Year Awards 2012. Over the past 12 months, our team of expert testers has rated every new car to hit the UK based on the factors that you tell us really matter. Our reviews focus on running costs, safety, economy, performance and owner satisfaction, as well as reliability and comfort.

Now we’ve run the rule over all of them to name the best cars in 15 buyer-focused categories. Whether you want a fuel-sipping city car or a luxurious saloon, our awards are an essential guide to what’s hot and what’s not. As well as naming our class champions, we also commend the best of the rest in each sector, so if you don’t like our number one, you’re sure to find a suitable alternative.

After deciding on our 15 class winners, we turned our attentions to a pair of new awards for 2012. Our Best Green Car prize goes to the car that we think provides the best answer to the eco-car question, and our inaugural Buyer’s Award recognises the best aftersales initiative on the market.

Finally we had the difficult job of choosing our Car of the Year, and this year’s overall champion combines practicality, value and economy in a confidence-inspiring package. It was the unanimous choice of our judges, and we think you’ll agree it’s a worthy winner.