Irish Car of the Year

The Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year award was established in 1978 based on similar Car of the Year awards. It is organised and judged by the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), comprising journalists across the country. The award was initially sponsored by Semperit and more recently by Semperit's owners, Continental Tyres.

Irish Car of the Year
Sponsored by	Continental Tyres
Country	Ireland
First awarded	1978 (1978)
Last awarded	2024 (2024)
Winner	Hyundai Ioniq 6
Website	www.caroftheyear.ie

The awards have eleven categories: Irish Car of the Year (overall winner), Compact Car, Medium Car, Large Car, Compact SUV, Medium SUV, Large SUV, Green/Efficient Car, Performance/Luxury Car, Hot Hatchback, and, since 2019, MPV.^[1]

Ford has won the competition eight times, with the Ford Mondeo winning the overall title the most times for an individual model. The winner for 2023 was the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.^[2] The awards ceremony is usually held each November in Dublin, with the awards presented for the following year. The awards ceremony for 2023 was held at the Westin Dublin Hotel.^[3]

Current rules

Cars are assessed by a jury of 34 of the most experienced motoring journalists in Ireland. Each jury member road tests every car individually on the following criteria:^[4]

• use of new technology/new ideas
• safety factors
• equipment level, fuel economy, practicality
• environmental impact (emissions, recyclability)
• use of space, comfort, ventilation and layout
• build quality, fit and finishing
• ride, dynamic qualities, road holding, steering, manoeuvrability
• engine, ease of driving, braking
• price, warranty, dealer network, after sales service
• driver/user feedback

Results

The first winner of the award was the Volkswagen Golf Diesel, which debuted four years after the regular Volkswagen Golf.

The Ford Mondeo is the only model to have won the title three times, in 1994, 2008 and 2016.^[5] It was beaten into second place in 2001 by the Renault Laguna.^[6]

The 2023 winner was the Volkswagen ID. Buzz with the van version, the ID. Buzz Cargo, winning the Irish Van of the Year title.^[7][8]

Year	Irish Car of the Year Winner
1978	Volkswagen Golf (Diesel)
1979	Volkswagen Derby
1980	Fiat Ritmo
1981	Datsun Stanza
1982	Ford Escort
1983	Ford Sierra
1984	Fiat Uno
1985	Opel Kadett
1986	Ford Granada
1987	Fiat Croma
1988	Toyota Corolla
1989	Fiat Tipo
1990	Renault 19
1991	Fiat Tempra
1992	Opel Astra
1993	Toyota Carina E
1994	Ford Mondeo
1995	Opel Omega
1996	Volkswagen Polo
1997	Peugeot 406
1998	Citroën Xsara
1999	Ford Focus
2000	Toyota Yaris
2001	Opel Corsa
2002	Renault Laguna[9]
2003	Mazda6[10]
2004	Toyota Avensis[11]
2005	Ford Focus[12]
2006	Suzuki Swift[13]
2007	Honda Civic[14]
2008	Ford Mondeo[15]
2009	Citroën C5[16]
2010	Peugeot 3008[17]
2011	Nissan Juke[18]
2012	Kia Rio[19]
2013	BMW 3 Series (F30) [20]
2014	Citroën C4 Picasso[21]
2015	Nissan Qashqai[22]
2016	Ford Mondeo[23]
2017	Mercedes-Benz E-Class[24]
2018	Peugeot 3008[25]
2019	Volvo XC40[26]
2020	Kia e-Soul[27]
2021	not held
2022	Kia EV6[28]
2023	Volkswagen ID. Buzz[29]

By manufacturer

Brand	Award no.	Models
Ford	8	Escort (1982)	Sierra (1983)	Granada (1986)	Mondeo (1994)	Focus (1999)	Focus (2005)	Mondeo (2008)	Mondeo (2016)
Fiat	5	Ritmo (1980)	Uno (1984)	Croma (1987)	Tipo (1989)	Tempra (1991)
Opel	4	Kadett (1985)	Astra (1992)	Omega (1995)	Corsa (2001)
Toyota	4	Corolla (1988)	Carina (1993)	Yaris (2000)	Avensis (2004)
Volkswagen	4	Golf (1978)	Derby (1979)	Polo (1996)	ID. Buzz (2023)
Citroën	3	Xsara (1998)	C5 (2009)	C4 Picasso (2014)
Peugeot	3	406 (1997)	3008 (2010)	3008 (2018)
Kia	3	Rio (2012)	e-Soul (2020)	EV6 (2022)
Nissan	2	Juke (2011)	Qashqai (2015)
Renault	2	19 (1990)	Laguna (2002)
BMW	1	F30 (2013)
Datsun	1	Stanza (1981)
Honda	1	Civic (2007)
Mazda	1	6 (2003)
Mercedes	1	E-Class (2017)
Suzuki	1	Swift (2006)
Volvo	1	XC40 (2019)

See also

• Car of the Year
• List of motor vehicle awards

References

1. "Winners 2020". Irish Car of the Year. November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
2. Byrne, Donal (13 November 2022). "Volkswagen's ID Buzz named Irish Car of the Year". www.rte.ie. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
3. Jarlath (12 November 2022). "Volkswagen makes history as ID. Buzz named Irish Car & Van of the Year 2023". Fleet Transport. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
4. "Judging". Car of the Year. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
5. "Ford Mondeo is Ireland's Car of the Year 2016". farmersjournal.ie. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
6. "Peugeot snub hard to fathom". independent.ie. 25 November 2001. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
7. Byrne, Donal (13 November 2022). "Volkswagen's ID Buzz named Irish Car of the Year". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
8. Jarlath (12 November 2022). "Volkswagen makes history as ID. Buzz named Irish Car & Van of the Year 2023". Fleet Transport. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
9. "Renault Laguna takes Semperit Irish Car of the Year crown". eforecourt. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
10. "Mazda6 Irish Car of the Year". eforecourt. 27 November 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
11. "Toyota Avensis takes Semperit Irish Car of the Year crown". eforecourt. 15 January 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
12. "Focus wins Semperit's Irish title". irishtimes.com. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
13. "SUZUKI SWIFT TAKES IRISH CAR OF THE YEAR CROWN". Suzuki. 25 November 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
14. "European Civic Wins Semperit Car of the Year (Ireland)". vtec.net. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
15. "New Ford Mondeo takes Semperit Irish Car of the Year crown". autotrade.ie. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
16. "Citroen C5 takes Semperit Irish Car of the Year Crown". advertiser.ie. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
17. "Peugeot 3008 Irish Car of the Year". caradvice.com. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
18. "NISSAN JUKE WINS IRISH CAR OF THE YEAR TITLE FOR 2011". joe.ie. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
19. "KIA RIO WINS CONTINENTAL IRISH CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD". joe.ie. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
20. "BMW 3 Series named Irish Car of the Year". atthelights.com. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
21. "Citroën C4 Picasso Irish Car of the Year 2014". atthelights.com. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
22. "Nissan scores top prize at 2015 Continental Irish Car of the Year awards". cullencommunications.ie. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
23. "Continental Irish Car Of The Year 2016 Winners!". changinglanes.ie. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
24. "Winners 2017". Car of the Year. November 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
25. "Winners 2018". Car of the Year. November 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
26. "Winners 2019". Car of the Year. November 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
27. "Winners 2020". Car of the Year. November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
28. "Kia EV6 wins Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year". autobiz.ie. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
29. Byrne, Donal (13 November 2022). "Volkswagen's ID Buzz named Irish Car of the Year". Retrieved 14 November 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• Irish Car of the Year Website
• Irish Motoring Writers Association