· Prestigious award voted for by AM readers
· Winner needed quality, performance and appeal
· It was a close run fight with a narrow 10% margin but the HR-V triumphed
Honda’s popular new SUV, the HR-V, has picked up the prestigious New Car of the Year award at the AM Awards last night.
With the winner of the New Car of the Year decided by AM’s dealer audience by online voting throughout January, the award requires the winner to have exceptional quality, impressive driving performance and be designed for maximum appeal.
First unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 2014, the HR-V is Honda’s entry into Europe’s fast-growing small SUV segment. On sale from last summer, the HR-V uses centre fuel tank location to maximise cabin roominess and has a unique exterior design which echoes that of a coupé, with sharp, dynamic lines that link the sleek upper body with the stable and planted lower body.
Stephen Briers, Editor in Chief at AM magazine, commented: “It was an important launch for the brand in 2015 and took Honda back into a rapidly growing market segment. Now AM readers have voted The HR-V a winner, thanks to its coupe-like looks, impressive practicality, efficient engines and keen pricing. Although supply is constrained, this car will do wonders for its dealers and is attracting new customers out of other brands.”
Philip Crossman, Managing Director of Honda UK, added: “This is a fantastic accolade for the new HR-V to pick up and just shows how popular the car is proving with both dealers and customers alike. Sixteen years after the original HR-V launched and our return to the crossover segment, which we pioneered with the first generation HR-V, has been massively successful with overwhelming demand across our retail network.”
