# Irish Car of the Year

The Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year award was established in 1978 based on similar Car of the Year awards. It is organised and judged by the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), comprising journalists across the country. The award was initially sponsored by Semperit and more recently by Semperit's owners, Continental Tyres.
The awards have eleven categories: Irish Car of the Year (overall winner), Compact Car, Medium Car, Large Car, Compact SUV, Medium SUV, Large SUV, Green/Efficient Car, Performance/Luxury Car, Hot Hatchback, and, since 2019, MPV.
Ford has won the competition eight times, with the Ford Mondeo winning the overall title the most times for an individual model. The winner for 2023 was the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. The awards ceremony is usually held each November in Dublin, with the awards presented for the following year. The awards ceremony for 2023 was held at the Westin Dublin Hotel.

## Current rules

Cars are assessed by a jury of 34 of the most experienced motoring journalists in Ireland. Each jury member road tests every car individually on the following criteria:
* use of new technology/new ideas
* safety factors
* equipment level, fuel economy, practicality
* environmental impact (emissions, recyclability)
* use of space, comfort, ventilation and layout
* build quality, fit and finishing
* ride, dynamic qualities, road holding, steering, manoeuvrability
* engine, ease of driving, braking
* price, warranty, dealer network, after sales service
* driver/user feedback

## Results

The first winner of the award was the Volkswagen Golf Diesel, which debuted four years after the regular Volkswagen Golf.
The Ford Mondeo is the only model to have won the title three times, in 1994, 2008 and 2016. It was beaten into second place in 2001 by the Renault Laguna.
The 2023 winner was the Volkswagen ID. Buzz with the van version, the ID. Buzz Cargo, winning the Irish Van of the Year title.
| Year | Irish Car of the Year Winner |
| 1978 | Volkswagen Golf (Diesel) |
| 1979 | Volkswagen Derby |
| 1980 | Fiat Ritmo |
| 1981 | Datsun Stanza |
| 1982 | Ford Escort |
| 1983 | Ford Sierra |
| 1984 | Fiat Uno |
| 1985 | Opel Kadett |
| 1986 | Ford Granada |
| 1987 | Fiat Croma |
| 1988 | Toyota Corolla |
| 1989 | Fiat Tipo |
| 1990 | Renault 19 |
| 1991 | Fiat Tempra |
| 1992 | Opel Astra |
| 1993 | Toyota Carina E |
| 1994 | Ford Mondeo |
| 1995 | Opel Omega |
| 1996 | Volkswagen Polo |
| 1997 | Peugeot 406 |
| 1998 | Citroën Xsara |
| 1999 | Ford Focus |
| 2000 | Toyota Yaris |
| 2001 | Opel Corsa |
| 2002 | Renault Laguna |
| 2003 | Mazda6 |
| 2004 | Toyota Avensis |
| 2005 | Ford Focus |
| 2006 | Suzuki Swift |
| 2007 | Honda Civic |
| 2008 | Ford Mondeo |
| 2009 | Citroën C5 |
| 2010 | Peugeot 3008 |
| 2011 | Nissan Juke |
| 2012 | Kia Rio |
| 2013 | BMW 3 Series (F30) |
| 2014 | Citroën C4 Picasso |
| 2015 | Nissan Qashqai |
| 2016 | Ford Mondeo |
| 2017 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class |
| 2018 | Peugeot 3008 |
| 2019 | Volvo XC40 |
| 2020 | Kia e-Soul |
| 2021 | not held |
| 2022 | Kia EV6 |
| 2023 | Volkswagen ID. Buzz |

### By manufacturer

| Brand | Award no. | Models | Models | Models | Models | Models | Models | Models | Models |
| Ford | 8 | Escort (1982) | Sierra (1983) | Granada (1986) | Mondeo (1994) | Focus (1999) | Focus (2005) | Mondeo (2008) | Mondeo (2016) |
| Fiat | 5 | Ritmo (1980) | Uno (1984) | Croma (1987) | Tipo (1989) | Tempra (1991) |
| Opel | 4 | Kadett (1985) | Astra (1992) | Omega (1995) | Corsa (2001) |
| Toyota | 4 | Corolla (1988) | Carina (1993) | Yaris (2000) | Avensis (2004) |
| Volkswagen | 4 | Golf (1978) | Derby (1979) | Polo (1996) | ID. Buzz (2023) |
| Citroën | 3 | Xsara (1998) | C5 (2009) | C4 Picasso (2014) |
| Peugeot | 3 | 406 (1997) | 3008 (2010) | 3008 (2018) |
| Kia | 3 | Rio (2012) | e-Soul (2020) | EV6 (2022) |
| Nissan | 2 | Juke (2011) | Qashqai (2015) |
| Renault | 2 | 19 (1990) | Laguna (2002) |
| BMW | 1 | F30 (2013) |
| Datsun | 1 | Stanza (1981) |
| Honda | 1 | Civic (2007) |
| Mazda | 1 | 6 (2003) |
| Mercedes | 1 | E-Class (2017) |
| Suzuki | 1 | Swift (2006) |
| Volvo | 1 | XC40 (2019) |