Audi A3 Sportback Wins What Car? Used Car Of The Year Award

October 2, 2019 by Audi

Audi A3 Sportback (2013 – present) awarded What Car? Used Car of the Year Award, beating a host of rivals for the coveted title

•It was one of a string of victories this year for Audi, which also won the Used Coupé of the Year Award for the TT, and the Used Convertible of the Year Award for the A3 Cabriolet

•Kia, Volkswagen and Volvo among the other manufacturers winning in multiple categories

•Two new categories this year include accolades for Used Electric Car of the Year and Used Hybrid Car of the Year to reflect the growing market for these vehicles

•The 2020 Used Car of the Year Awards also included winners in a variety of price points, to better reflect the variety of used cars available for different budgets

•Awards held in association with GAP insurance and warranty provider ALA

•To find out more about our winners, visit https://www.whatcar.com/used-car-awards/

The Audi A3 Sportback has been named Britain's best used buy, winning the coveted What Car? Used Car of the Year Award for 2020.

The current generation of Audi A3 Sportback was first launched in 2013, and took home the What Car? Car of the Year Award in the same year. It beat a host of leading models for this year's overall Used Car of the Year title, including the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Galaxy and Kia Sportage.

What Car? judges praised the Audi A3 Sportback for its stylish and spacious interior, and its top-notch infotainment system. Combined with a strong line-up of efficient petrol and diesel engines, and an excellent reliability record, the A3 Sportback won the Used Family Car of the Year Award first, and then trumped all of the other category winners for the overall title.

The 2020 What Car? Used Car of the Year Awards also proved successful for Kia, which came top in two categories, with the Sportage (2016 – present) winning Used Small SUV of the Year and the Sorento (2015 – present) Used Large SUV of the Year. Volkswagen also scored two victories, first with the Up (2012 – present) in the Used City Car of the Year category, and second with the Passat (2015 – present) in the Used Estate Car category.

To reflect the growing used market for electric and hybrid vehicles, What Car? introduced two new categories to this year's awards: the Used Hybrid Car of the Year and the Used Electric Car of the Year. The Volvo XC90 T8 (2015 – present) took the former crown and the Renault Zoe (2013 – present) the latter.

Mark Pearson, used cars editor at What Car?, said: 'We're delighted to give the Renault Zoe our Used Electric Car of the Year award this year. It's a car that's always impressed us for its practicality and ease of use and, with plenty of used examples available for temptingly low prices, it truly brings zero emissions motoring within reach of the majority of buyers. Later models have ramped up the real-world range, too, making the Zoe an even better everyday proposition.'

The 17 What Car? Used Car of the Year categories were divided into price points to better reflect the range of cars available on the used car market. The final decision on winners was taken by a panel of experts who considered all-round ability, value and the availability of desirable versions. In addition, DS was named the winner of the Used Car Scheme Award, for its outstanding 24-month warranty on cars up to four years old, which eclipsed rival offerings.

What Car? Used Car of the Year Winners 2020

Used City Car of the Year

Winner: Volkswagen Up 2012 – present (less than £8000)

Price point winners: Kia Picanto 2017 – present (less than £10,000)

Suzuki Celerio 2015 – 2019 (less than £5000)

Used Small Car of the Year

Winner: Skoda Fabia 2015 – present (less than £6000)

Price point winners: Volkswagen Polo 2017 – present (less than £14,000)

Seat Ibiza 2017 – present (less than £10,000)

Used Family Car of the Year

Winner: Audi A3 2013 – present (less than £18,000)

Price point winners: Skoda Octavia 2013 – present (less than £14,000)

Seat Leon 2013 – present (less than £10,000)

Used Executive Car of the Year

Winner: Skoda Superb 2015 – present (less than £14,000)

Price point winners: Audi A4 2015 -–present (less than £18,000)

Volkswagen Arteon 2017 – present (less than £25,000)

Used Luxury Car of the Year

Winner: Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2014 – present (less than £35,000)

Price point winners: Porsche Panamera 2016 – present (less than £65,000)

BMW 5 Series 2017 – present (less than £25,000)

Used Small SUV of the Year

Winner: Kia Sportage 2016 – present (less than £15,000)

Price point winners: Volkswagen Tiguan 2016 – present (less than £20,000), Renault

Captur 2013 – present (less than £10,000)

Used Large SUV of the Year

Winner: Kia Sorento 2015 – present (less than £17,000)

Price point winners: Audi Q5 2017 – present (less than £30,000)

Land Rover Discovery Sport 2014 – present (less than £25,000)

Used Luxury SUV of the Year

Winner: Volvo XC90 2015 – present (less than £30,000)

Price point winners: Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2014 – present (less than £50,000)

Audi Q7 2015 – present (less than £40,000)

Used MPV of the Year

Winner: Ford Galaxy 2015 – present (less than £20,000)

Price point winners: Volkswagen Touran 2015 – present (less than £15,000)

Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 2014 – present (less than £10,000)

Used Estate Car of the Year

Winner: Volkswagen Passat 2015 – present (less than £17,000)

Price point winners: BMW 5 Series 2017 – present (less than £27,000)

Seat Leon ST 2013 – present (less than £12,000)

Used Hot Hatch of the Year

Winner: Ford Fiesta ST 2013 – 2017 (less than £15,000)

Price point winners: Renault Megane RS 280 CUP 2018 – present (less than £25,000)

BMW M140i 2016 – present (less than £20,000)

Used Coupé of the Year

Winner: Audi TT 2015 – present (less than £15,000)

Price point winners: Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2016 – present (less than £30,000)

Audi A5 2016 – present (less than £22,000)

Used Convertible of the Year

Winner: Audi A3 Cabriolet 2014 –- present (less than £15,000)

Price point winners: Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2017 – present (less than £30,000)

BMW 4 Series 2013 – present (less than £22,000)

Used Sports Car of the Year

Winner: Porsche Cayman (981) 2013 – 2016 (less than £35,000)

Price point winners: Mazda MX-5 2015 – present (less than £20,000)

Audi R8 2015 – present (less than £85,000)

Used Performance Car of the Year

Winner: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2016 – present (less than £45,000)

Price point winners: Jaguar XE S 2015 – present (less than £25,000)

Mercedes-Benz E63 Estate 2017 – present (less than £85,000)

Used Hybrid Car of the Year

Winner: Volvo XC90 T8 2015 – present (less than £40,000)

Price point winners: Hyundai Ioniq 2017 – present (less than £16,000)

BMW 330e 2012 – 2019 (less than £24,000)

Used Electric Car of the Year

Winner: Renault Zoe 2013 – present (less than £15,000)

Price point winners: Volkswagen e-Golf 2014 – present (less than £25,000)

Jaguar I-Pace 2018 – present (less than £65,000)

Used Approved car scheme

Winner: DS Certified

Special mention: Kia Approved Used, Skoda Approved Used

Used Car of the Year 2020: Audi A3 2013 – present

Pearson added: 'Picking just one car from such a large and competitive field was a major feat, with so many excellent rivals offering great value for money. In the end, though, the Audi A3 Sportback won because it combines all the qualities we were looking for in its particular class, while still offering outstanding value for money at its age and price point.

'What Car? has always rated the A3 Sportback highly; it's won our new Family Car of the Year Award multiple times and even took our coveted overall Car of the Year gong when it was launched in 2013. And although this model is now nearing the end of its production cycle we think it's just as impressive today as it was back then.

'It's great to drive, for starters, and it comes with a classy interior that few rivals can get close to. It rides and handles superbly, too, and it's wonderfully refined and comfortable to spend time in – its interior is both spacious and well equipped. It's also far more desirable than any family hatchback has a right to be, and it comes with a class-leading infotainment system. Finally, you get a great range of engines to choose from, whether you're after an economical diesel or a punchy petrol. It's a fantastic car as well as a terrific used buy, and a thoroughly deserving winner.'

Photo credit: Audi
posted on conceptcarz.com