Peugeot picked up yet another major award for its 3008 crossover last week, in the shape of the 2018 Irish Car of the Year Award in association with Continental Tyres.
The Irish national award follows a number of other high-profile accolades including the What Car? Car of the Year, the CarBuyer Car of the Year and of course the European Car of the Year award. Peugeot’s new crossover got the nod from the ICOTY Committee, who described the 3008 as a worthy winner in a highly competitive field.
“What an achievement for the Peugeot 3008 to come out on top from a field of some 60 new models launched this year on the Irish market,” said the jury. The 3008 also won the Irish Compact Crossover of the Year category.
“Informing Irish consumers”
60 new cars launched in a single calendar year says much about the market. It also underlines the huge task facing the ICOTY Committee. The jury members each test every eligible car individually at least once.
They do a fantastic job, not only endorsing the best vehicles but bringing valuable information about vehicle technology and safety to the attention of the car-buying public.
Peugeot was not the only winner on the night, of course. There were a total of 11 category awards up for grabs, with the honours being shared as follows:
- Kia Picanto – Irish City Car of the Year 2018
- Nissan Micra – Irish Small Car of the Year 2018
- Honda Civic – Irish Compact Car of the Year 2018
- Alfa Romeo Giulia – Irish Medium Car of the Year 2018
- BMW 5 Series – Irish Executive / Premium Car of the Year 2018
- Peugeot 3008 – Irish Compact Crossover of the Year 2018
- Skoda Kodiaq – Irish Large Crossover of the Year 2018
- Toyota Prius PHEV – Irish Green / Efficient Car of the Year 2018
- Alfa Romeo Giulia QF – Irish Performance / Sports Car of the Year 2018
- The inaugural Innovation Award, meanwhile, went to the Honda Civic for its Sensing Suite of Safety Features.
The 2018 awards took place at the plush Gibson Hotel in Dublin, with hundreds of automotive industry players on hand to salute the cream of this year’s crop. Among the guests was Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres, sponsor of the awards, who said how delighted his company was to be associated with the program.
“The choices of the Irish Car of the Year jury are a great help in informing Irish consumers as to the bewildering array of high-tech vehicles that are launched in Ireland each year,” said Tom.
That array is likely to get even more bewildering in 2018, as more manufacturers launch more new products onto the market – and as the industry moves ever closer to an autonomous driving future.
We’ll keep you posted on all the contenders as they hit the market, so keep coming back for more updates.