Victory for voltage as electric dominates Auto Trader New Car Awards 2024

Yesterday the Tesla Model Y was crowned Auto Trader’s New Car of the Year 2024, according to a consumer vote featuring the real-world opinions of more than 200,000 car owners at the eighth annual Auto Trader New Car Awards. The huge number of consumer votes not only makes the Awards a genuine and accurate reflection of car owner sentiments, but it also marks the largest automotive vote of its kind.

With climate concerns high on the world stage and in the public’s consciousness, electric vehicles (EV) dominated the Awards once again in 2024, with an EV taking the top spot for the fifth consecutive year.  In fact, this year 11 electric models won one of the 23 different award categories, the highest number since the inaugural Auto Trader New Car Awards in 2017. Given the growing popularity of electric, this year marks the second year Auto Trader has awarded the Best Home Charger, which was won by Easee.

In addition to the Tesla Model Y taking this year’s most prestigious Award, other notable electric wins include the Best Car for Families category (Kia EV6), as well as Best Car for City Drivers (MINI Electric), Most fun to drive (CUPRA Born), the Best Car for Dog Owners (Kia EV6), and Best Value Electric Car (BYD Atto 3).

The Auto Trader New Car Awards are different from other car awards as the majority of winners aren’t decided on by the opinions of motoring journalists or ‘industry insiders’, but by the people whose opinion matters most to automotive brands: car owners. This year, over 200,000 UK car owners completed an online survey sharing exactly what they think of their car, with their thoughts and opinions (obtained from real-world experience) determining the winners of 20 of this year’s 23 award categories, with the exception being The Erin Baker Award, The Rory Reid Award, and the Sustainability Initiative Award.

Electric models were also crowned the winners of the much-coveted Erin Baker Award which is chosen personally by Auto Trader’s Editorial Director. Her stand-out new car this year was the Renault Scenic E-Tech. Even Rory Reid, Auto Trader’s YouTube Director, and more traditionally into old-fashioned V8s, couldn’t resist the allure of voltage this year. For the Rory Reid Award category, he chose the Hyundai IONIQ 5N.

The winners for the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2024 are: 

1. New Car of the Year – Tesla Model Y *electric vehicle
2. Best Car for Families – Kia EV6 *electric vehicle
3. Best Car for City Drivers – MINI Electric *electric vehicle
4. Best Value New Car – Dacia Sandero Stepway
5. Best Car for Long Distances – Nissan ARIYA *electric vehicle
6. Most Fun to Drive – CUPRA Born *electric vehicle
7. Best Car for New Drivers – Audi A1
8. Best Car for Dog Owners – Kia EV6 *electric vehicle
9. Best 7-Seater Car – Volvo XC90
10. Best Car for Towing – Land Rover Range Rover Sport
11. Most Loved Car – Porsche Macan
12. Best Hybrid – Lexus NX 350h
13. Best Value Electric Car – BYD Atto 3 *electric vehicle
14. Best Premium Electric Car – Audi e-tron GT *electric vehicle
15. Best Luxury Car – Land Rover Range Rover
16. Most Loved Brand – Alfa Romeo 
17. Most Reliable Brand – Lexus
18. Car brand with the best tech – Tesla *electric vehicle
19. Best Value Brand – Dacia
20. The Erin Baker Award – Renault Scenic E-Tech *electric vehicle
21. The Rory Reid Award – Hyundai IONIQ 5N *electric vehicle
22. Sustainability Initiative Award – Bentley
23. Best Home Charger – Easee

Erin Baker, Auto Trader’s Editorial Director, said: “Since our last New Car Awards there’s been a huge amount of change in the new car market. Supply returned at pace, the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars was delayed until 2035, new regulatory targets came into effect, and sales grew consecutively, albeit fuelled primarily by fleet and leasing. These last 12 months have also seen a dazzling array of impressive new models released from established and well-known brands, as well as from less familiar new entrants to the market. With so much choice, finding the right car to match your needs isn’t easy, which is where our Awards can really help. With over 200,000 owners telling us exactly how they feel about their new car, it’s the most accurate insight into genuine ‘real-world’ owning experiences, not just how it feels to drive.

“Although there remain challenges to the mass adoption of electric vehicles, many of which stem from the spreading of unhelpful misinformation, their growing influence and appeal continues to surge. And as our Award’s survey concludes, for those that make the switch, there’s no turning back.”

Within the survey, car owners who have bought, driven and lived with their cars were asked to rate them according to a range of lifestyle factors. This methodology ensures that these awards are a true reflection of what UK consumers think of their car and what they want from it. People were asked to rate their cars across 16 different criteria, from reliability and performance to appearance and running costs. They were also asked about their overall satisfaction with their car and how likely they would be to recommend it to others. Independent analysts then used this data to determine the finalists for 21 of the categories – the full list of which can be found below. 

A full list of winners can also be found here: www.autotrader.co.uk/new-car-awards