Award-winning motor dealership prepares to receive award-winning car

Auto Express' reigning Garage of the Year is preparing to welcome the magazine's Car of the Year to its Swindon showroom.

Hyundai's all-electric Ioniq 5 has been named Car of the Year at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2021 – and is heading to Pebley Beach – holder of Auto Express' Garage of the Year title. 
 
Besides being crowned the best car overall, the Ioniq 5 also won the awards for Mid-Size Company Car, Premium Electric Car, and Best Design.
 
Two other Hyundai models won categories, with the Hyundai Tucson being named Best Mid-Size SUV and the sporty Hyundai i20N carrying off the Hot Hatchback trophy.
 
Every car on sale in the UK is eligible for the annual Auto Express New Car Awards, which were first held in 1993. 
 
The awards are judged by Auto Express’ highly experienced panel of road testers, chaired by the editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler.
 
“When we first saw the Concept 45 that previewed the Ioniq 5, we knew the production car would be something special,” commented Steve.
 
“The Ioniq 5 delivers on styling, quality, driver appeal and quality. Hyundai has already proven to be a technology leader in the Electric Vehicle space, and the Ioniq 5 takes it one step further. It’s a brilliant car.”
 
The futuristic-looking Hyundai Ioniq 5 is based upon Hyundai’s breakthrough Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which delivers faster charging, increased driving range, superior handling and more interior space.
 
In addition to revolutionising sustainable mobility, the Ioniq 5 offers an interior that provides a whole new in-car experience – redefining living space and moving space. Environmentally friendly materials, such as eco-processed leather and recycled yarn, are used extensively in the Ioniq 5.
 
Starting from £36,995 and offered with a range of electric powertrains and two- and four-wheel drive configurations, the Ioniq 5 is able to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes, accelerate from 0-62mph in as little as 5.2 seconds and travel up to 298 miles on a single charge.
 
The first batch of Ioniq 5s have arrived in the UK, having completed their sea journey from Hyundai's car plant in Korea - 12,000 nautical miles away. 
 
Dominic Threlfall, managing director of Pebley Beach, said: “For the Ioniq 5 to be named Car of the Year alongside three other category wins shows just how far Hyundai has come on its pioneering sustainable mobility journey. 
 
"The Ioniq 5 really is a world-beating car – and we can't wait for our customers to be able to take a look."