Best Car Launched in the Last Year: Skoda Kodiaq

This award is different to most of our other ones in that it’s decided by our team of experts rather than by car buyers. Having driven and assessed pretty much every new model over the last few years, nobody is better placed for the job than our team.
Last year’s winner was the Skoda Kodiaq, not just because it achieved the highest overall Expert Review rating of 4.5 (read the review here), but also because it’s a simply brilliant family car. It offers buyers those all-important stylish SUV looks, a very grown-up driving experience and a high-class cabin with seven-seat practicality. Perhaps the biggest thing, though, is that its price significantly undercuts pretty much all its direct rivals. That said, that was then, and this is now, and there have been some cracking new cars released in the last 12 months that are in with a very big shot of winning the 2018 award. Cars like the Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon have managed to combine style, performance and practicality, while the Audi A8 boasts ground-breaking self-driving technology that’s so advanced, it’s not even legal yet. And if it’s SUVs that tickle your fancy, there have been literally dozens of new offerings that could easily challenge for top honours. However, while you, the car buyer, can’t influence this particular award, there are plenty of others you can. Have your say on the outcome of our 2018 New Car Awards by completing the survey and letting us know what you think of your car. Be sure to watch out for the results on 24 May.