This category is one of three awards that’s given to a manufacturer rather than an individual model. It recognises the importance to buyers of certain common features, things like sat-nav, smartphone integration and air-conditioning, and it also identifies which manufacturer does these particular features the best. Kia and Skoda both made the shortlist, but were consigned to runner-up status by the eventual winner, Nissan.

Like most of our awards, this category was decided by feedback collated from a survey of more than 40,000 car owners, all of whom rated their car in 16 key areas. That means an Auto Trader New Car Award is a real stamp of approval from people that live with the car day-in, day-out, and it makes each winner a true consumer champion.

Here are just a few of the comments owners made about the features in their Nissan…

Commenting on Nissan’s win in this category, Auto Trader’s Road Test Editor, Ivan Aistrop, said: “Whether it’s your stereo or your sat-nav, your air-con or your Isofix, certain features are super-important to a lot of new car buyers. And hats off to Nissan on being voted the winner of this award. It shows that not only are all the essential bits and pieces provided on the firm’s cars, but these features are also proving effective and easy to use for owners.”

There’s a lot more to like about Nissan products than just their features, too, and you can read all about them in our various expert reviews.

The thing about technology, though, is that it’s always moving forward, and that means Nissan can’t rest on its laurels if it wants to retain its crown in 2019. It must keep innovating and developing if it’s going to stay on top. Could another manufacturer pip Nissan to the honours next year?

If you like your tech and you’re looking for a new car, you can start configuring your brand new Nissan on Auto Trader right now.