The Autocar long-term test awards 2018

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Every vehicle in the Autocar long-term fleet is subject to an extended spell in our personal garages, to give us, and you, an understanding of what they're like to live with beyond the test drive. 

Each performs well in some areas, and not so well in others, which makes for a diverse catalogue of entries into our 2018 long-term test awards. Whether it be as a load-lugging, do-it-all utility vehicle, or as an eyecatching B-road blaster, every car we've had in our car park this year stands a chance at success.

So, without further ado, let's congratulate the winners. 

The ‘We Didn’t See That Coming’ Award 

For the car that surprised us the most (in any way)

Winner: Kia Stinger

Highly commended: Hyundai i30 N, Volvo XC40

This award’s title should not be taken literally. Fairly obviously, nobody would ever fail to spot our big, bold and very yellow Stinger coming. No, this prize is all about the cars that surprised us for what they are, and in this case it was Kia’s ability to produce a large executive saloon that can genuinely rival the premium German brands. 

“It’s a lazily playful hot saloon that’s still a revelation every time you slide into the chunky driver’s seat,” said road tester Ricky Lane, while Tom Morgan said it was “the first Kia I’ve ever wanted to own”. Clearly, he’s never tried the Soul. Possibly. 

That said, road tester Simon Davis handed the Kia the prize because of the colour it came in. “I was expecting red or grey, certainly not that gawdy shade of yellow,” he said. 

While the Volvo XC40 was as polished as we’ve come to expect from the firm’s recent products, it gained attention on this category because, as Andrew Frankel noted, the firm has “done the hitherto impossible and created a genuinely desirable compact SUV”.

Kia Stinger long-term updates

The ‘I’d Buy It’ Award 

For the car we’d spend our own cash on

Winner: Volkswagen Golf GTI

Highly commended: Hyundai i30 N, Toyota Land Cruiser

This is perhaps the most prestigious award here, especially given how difficult it can be to part journalists from their cash. And the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a deserving, if not entirely surprising, winner. 

The key to the Golf GTI’s appeal is that it does everything well, mixing the best bits of a hot hatch with the usability of a daily driver, delivered with typical VW sheen and polish. 

Mark Tisshaw had the pleasure of running the Golf and said: “I’d always answer ‘Golf R’ when asked what car I’d buy given the choice. Then I spent nine months in the GTI and found it more usable. It’s also pleasingly old-school in the way its engine encourages you to rev it.” 

Rachel Burgess described the Golf GTI as “the real deal”, adding that “it’s comfortable and usable every day but brilliant when you want to push it”. 

The i30 N took second place, winning admirers for its sheer driving verve. Tom Morgan said: “I know the Golf GTI is the more sensible option, but the Hyundai is just that bit more exotic. It’s like ordering a curry: you know the tikka massala will fill you up, but sometimes you want a madras that’s going to make you sweat.” 

Erm, quite. 

Meanwhile, Mitch ‘Prepper’ McCabe championed the Toyota Land Cruiser: “I’m really scared Trump is going to press the red button tomorrow. The Land Cruiser would survive the nuclear apocalypse and still get me to the last McDonald’s drive-through on earth.”

Volkswagen Golf GTI long-term updates

The ‘Every Car Should Have One’ Award 

For the best, most innovative or most useful design feature or option

Winner: The volume knob

Highly commended: Skoda, Volvo

This category always attracts the most diverse range of responses so, as judge, I just went ahead and gave the prize to the explanation that impressed me the most – and, yes, the humble volume knob won. Why? Turns out we miss it when it’s gone. 

Editor Mark Tisshaw: “The Golf GTI was so good to live with that it made the absence of a volume control knob more annoying than it would have been otherwise. A glossy touchscreen too far.” 

Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ solutions aren’t new or particularly high-tech, but far from being marketing gimmicks, they actually work, as Dan Prosser found with the parking ticket clip on his Octavia’s windscreen. “It’s simple and it’s clever,” he said. “It’s simply clever.” 

Meanwhile, in a concession to the latest technology and a touch of common sense, we awarded third place to the XC40’s excellent 360deg parking camera system.

Skoda Octavia vRS long-term updates

The ‘Bring on Route 66’ Award 

For the best car to take on a long road trip

Winner: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Highly commended: BMW 740LD, BMW M5

That the luxuriously comfortable and well-honed S-Class should win this award is little surprise. If you’re going to take a long journey, you want to do it in style. “You simply can’t beat an S-Class for a very long drive,” said Dan Prosser.