The ‘Car of the Year’ award has been awarded to Peugeot for the 5th time, this year for the 3008 and we have gone back in time to compare this year’s winner to those of 2005-2010 to see how times have changed.
Past ‘Car of the Year’ winners
2005: Toyota Prius
The Prius looks great and with 110hp, performance is lively. Fitted with an Atkinson-cycle engine and the electric motor, fuel economy is a big bonus with this car.
2006: Renault Clio
Setting a new benchmark for its category, Renault have found a perfect balance of quality, safety, comfort and space in the cabin.
2007: Ford S-Max
A sporty winner by Ford, the S-Max is a spacious minivan that seats seven. It puts the fun back into family driving whilst offering high safety standards and a quiet drive.
2008: Fiat 500
Retro charm is abundant with the Fiat 500 and as you would expect from a popular modern hatch, functionality and space are not lacking.
2009: Opel/Vauxhall Insignia
High quality for a low price, the Insignia is also packed full of equipment and handy features. This sports tourer wagon is comfortable with an efficient engine and its visual quality is clear to see.
2010: Volkswagen Polo
It’s a pleasant surprise to find that a Polo can easily accommodate four adults and there is even ample cargo space in this small hatchback. The cabin quality is second to none and the whole car feels very refined.
This year’s winning car
2017: Peugeot 3008
Easily one of the best crossovers, the 3008 really seems to have everything covered and for a reasonable price too. Front wheel drive with manual and automatic gearbox options, the styling is fairly sporty and it feels responsive thanks to a smaller steering wheel.
After comparing current and previous winners, it seems there has been a shift towards small SUVs now, whereas the focus was more on hatchbacks and saloons a few years ago. The list of candidates for 2018 will be revealed at the end of September and it will be interesting to discover what the judges pick this time around.
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