The brilliant CUPRA Born is ‘Britain’s Best Electric Car’, according to the Autocar Awards 2024.
The battery-powered hot hatch was praised for being an ‘affordable, usable, multi-talented and genuinely appealing’ EV, fending off challengers from Tesla, Volvo, MG and Jeep to claim the top prize.
We loved it when we tested, too, and you can watch our video review.
Meanwhile there was also a significant win for the Renault Clio, which took home the silverware for ‘Best Small Car’ while being the ‘standout car in the segment’.
Describing the CUPRA Born’s attributes, Autocar wrote: “It beat cheaper cars, roomier cars, more powerful cars, those with longer ranges, and those with more established premium-brand appeal. It had a little bit of everything: enough practicality and rationality to satisfy your head that it might be a sound decision, but enough dynamism and star quality to reach those other parts as well.”
The Renault Clio (above), meanwhile, is ‘the most fun supermini to drive’, combining agile handling with an absorbent and stable ride.
Autocar added: “No matter what it was put up against, the latest Clio would compete admirably on style, value, driving and more. It has been a supermini staple for decades, but with the latest iteration, Renault has gone to great lengths to drive up the perceived quality, refinement and composure to what we might call big-car levels.”
The bonkers, off-road Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato was crowned ‘Britain’s Best Driver’s Car’ while the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (above) is ‘Britain's Best Performance Car’.
In an awards dominated by electric vehicles, the Kia EV9 (Best Large Car) and Volkswagen ID.7 (Best Saloon) both took home gongs.
But the traditional combustion engine was also represented admirably by the V8 Ford Mustang (below), which grabbed the ‘Best Dream Car’ prize.
Autocar commented: “The new car has primary and secondary ride quality that’s easily comparable to that of more expensive German rivals, the suspension isolating you from lumps and bumps with a reassuring, rubbery solidity. And that’s exactly why we like this Ford so much. Its breadth of abilities are more impressive than they have ever been, and nowhere else will you find the same amount of car for the money.”
Here’s the list in full:
- Best Dream Car: Ford Mustang
- Best Electric Car: Cupra Born
- Best Small Car: Renault Clio
- Best Large Car: Kia EV9
- Best Saloon: VW ID.7
- Best Hybrid: BMW 5 Series
- Best Performance Car: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
- Best Manufacturer: Toyota
- Issigonis Trophy: Luca de Meo, Renault Group
- Sturmey Award: Marek Reichman, Aston Martin
- Editor’s Award: Martin Brundle
- Mundy Award for Engineering: David Moss, Nissan
- Design Hero: Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen
- Outstanding Leader: Stefanie Wurst, Mini
- Innovation: Catesby Tunnel
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news
- New Bugatti Tourbillon is a 1,800 hp plug-in hybrid!
- Aggressive drivers a ‘serious problem’ for female motorists
- Reinvented Citroen C3 Aircross - the full reveal!
- New BMW X3 M50 is your sporty new family SUV
- Electric RS e-tron GT Performance is most powerful Audi ever
Where To Next?
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
