AN ELECTRIC NISSAN TAKES CAR OF THE YEAR
I FIRST saw the prototype at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2019.
Now, as the first of more than 2,000 UK pre-orders are about to be delivered to customers in August and September, Nissan’s new all-electric Ariya SUV has been named car of the year in the motor industry’s ‘Oscars’.
The zero-emissions model scooped the top prize in the prestigious Auto Express Car of the Year awards, also taking best mid-sized company car.
British engineers at Nissan’s European team in Cranfield, Beds, played a significant role developing the Ariya, resulting in what judges described as ‘a comfortable ride and superb refinement with impressive agility for a big car’. Priced from £43,845 and with a range of 329 miles, charging in just 30 minutes, the Ariya is Nissan’s second mass-market EV following its pioneering Leaf.
Among other honours, the MG ZS EV was named affordable electric car of the year, the new all-electric Fiat 500 scooped the best city car trophy and the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric was named best company car.
Ford achieved a hat-trick of honours, with its Ranger named best pick-up, the E-Transit named best van, and its European boss Stuart Rowley named the most powerful Briton in the automotive industry ‘Brit List’.
Britain’s new Range Rover won in the best luxury car category, and Land Rover’s Defender was named best large premium SUV. The Oxford-built Mini took the award for best convertible.
Best family car was the Dacia Jogger, while the Skoda Octavia was estate car of the year.