• Five awards in total were presented to Volkswagen products
  • ID.3 named ‘Small Electric Car of the Year’ and also given ‘Safety Award’
  • Arteon, T-Roc and Touran also took home silverware


The Volkswagen ID.3 has taken a further two trophies home after success this week at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2021. This brings the tally of trophies the model has received so far in the UK to nine. What Car? named the ID.3 its ‘Small Electric Car of the Year’ and also presented it with the publication’s ‘Safety Award’. The Touran has been named ‘MPV of the Year’ while the Arteon and T-Roc were given best-buy accolades.


As the ID. family prepares to grow with the imminent arrival of the ID.4, the ID.3 continues to enjoy high-praise among the UK’s media. The ID.3 Pro Performance Life was chosen by What Car? as its 2021 ‘Small Electric Car of the Year’. Commenting on the win, Steve Huntingford, Editor, said: “Thanks to rear-wheel drive, accurate steering and fine body control, the ID.3 is an electric car that's genuinely fun to drive. What's more, its practicality is up with the roomiest family hatchbacks, predicted resale values are superb and it’ll be cheap to run for both company car drivers and private buyers. Throw in strong performance and a long range, and it's a brilliant choice.”

The ID.3 was also given the ‘Safety Award’. Speaking about this achievement Huntingford added: “Given that the ID.3 is the first of a whole range of pure electric vehicles being introduced by Volkswagen, the fact that the experts at Euro NCAP were so impressed with it bodes very well for future road safety. Not only did it gain the highest overall score of all the cars tested under 2020’s new, stricter crash test regime, but its technology to prevent accidents in the first place was rated highest.”

In the MPV category it was the Touran that took the honours, being named ‘MPV of the Year’. Huntingford described the model as: “…an incredibly practical choice, with space for adults in all three rows and Isofix fittings on all five rear seats. Yet despite this, it feels much like a normal hatchback from behind the wheel, thanks to tidy handling, a supple ride and relatively compact exterior dimensions. Add in a smart interior and a user-friendly infotainment system, and it's one of the best family cars out there in any class.”

Two other models were also recognised at the awards. First was the T-Roc, named as the ‘Best Small SUV for Comfort’, while the recently updated Arteon was hailed the ‘Best Coupé for Practicality’.

With these latest two accolades the ID.3 is now the receiver of nine UK industry awards. In addition, it has been named as a finalist for the prestigious 2021 European Car of the Year. The full list of UK titles awarded to the ID.3 so far is as follows:


  • 2020 carwow Car of the Year awards – Most Wanted
  • GQ Car Awards 2020 – Best Family Car
  • 2021 Carbuyer Best Car Awards 2021 – Best Family Electric Car
  • TopGear.com Awards 2020 – Game Changer of the Year
  • DrivingElectric 2021 Awards – Best Electric Family Car
  • 2021 carwow Car of the Year awards – Best Family Electric Car
  • WhichEV Awards 2020 – Best Newcomer EV
  • What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2021 – Small Electric Car of the Year
  • What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2021 – Safety Award


Commenting on the recent awards success Andrew Savvas, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: “Back in September when the first ID.3s arrived at UK ports I was really fired up by the fact that it is our first carbon-neutral car, as well as being an all-round, pioneering electric vehicle. Now, just four months later, the ID.3 has nine industry awards to its name.

“To see the car called out as a game-changer and best in class by independent media experts adds further motivation for us to keep pushing for change, and paving the way for customers to switch to emission-free mobility.

“It is particularly rewarding to be recognised by What Car? with its Safety Award. Not only is the ID.3 designed and built to help minimise environmental impact, but it’s also proven to protect what matters most: our customers and their families.”