Awards for UK’s best used cars

The Seat Ateca has been crowned Used Car of the Year at the 2021 What Car? Used Car Awards.

It also took victory in the Used Family SUV category at the awards held in association with heycar, the online used car marketplace.

Since its launch in 2016, Seat’s popular SUV has been a regular winner (both as a new and used buy) at awards events held by consumer champion What Car?, and this year it beat a host of leading models to the overall Used Car of the Year title, including the Audi A4, Skoda Octavia and Volvo XC60.

What Car? judges praised the Ateca for its spacious and well-equipped interior, class-leading handling, large boot and great value. It was also commended for its strong line-up of efficient petrol and diesel engines, and excellent reliability record.

BMW, Hyundai and Skoda joined Seat in winning two categories each. BMW won Used Estate Car of the Year with the 5 Series Touring and Used Hot Hatch of the Year with the M140. Hyundai picked up the Used Value Car award for the i10 and Used Hybrid of the Year for the Ioniq, while Skoda scored victories in Used Small Car of the Year for the Fabia and Used Family Car of the Year for the Octavia.

The 18 What Car? Used Car of the Year categories were divided into price points to reflect the range of cars available on the used car market. A panel of experts, who considered all-round ability, reliability, value and the availability of desirable versions, then chose the winners.

What Car? Used Car of the Year 2021 winners

Used Car of the Year 2021
Seat Ateca 2016 – present

Used Value Car of the Year
Winner: Hyundai i10 2014-2019 (less than £6000)
Price point winners: Kia Picanto 2017 – present (less than £8000)
Suzuki Celerio 2015 – 2019 (less than £4000)

Used Small Car of the Year
Winner: Skoda Fabia 2015 – present (less than £8000)
Price point winners: Volkswagen Polo 2018 – present (less than £12,000)
Ford Fiesta 2008 – 2017 (less than £5000)

Used Family Car of the Year
Winner: Skoda Octavia 2013 – 2020 (less than £15,000)
Price point winners: Vauxhall Astra 2015 – present (less than £8000)
Seat Leon 2013 – 2020 (less than £12,000)

Used Executive Car of the Year
Winner: Audi A4 2015 -– present (less than £14,000)
Price point winners: Skoda Superb 2016 – present (less than £18,000)
BMW 3 Series 2019 – present (less than £25,000)

Used Luxury Car of the Year
Winner: Audi A8 2017 – present (less than £40,000)
Price point winners: BMW 5 Series 2017 – present (less than £30,000)
Volvo S90 2016 – present (less than £20,000)

Used Small SUV of the Year
Winner: Seat Arona 2018 – present (less than £12,000)
Price point winners: Audi Q2 2016 – present (less than £16,000)
RenaultCaptur 2013 – 2019 (less than £8000)

Used Family SUV of the Year
Winner: Seat Ateca 2016 – present (less than £13,000)
Price point winners: Skoda Karoq 2017 – present (less than £18,000)
Volkswagen Tiguan 2016 – present (less than £20,000)

Used Large SUV of the Year
Winner: Volvo XC60 2017 – present (less than £25,000)
Price point winners: Skoda Kodiaq 2016 – present (less than £19,000)
Audi Q5 2018 – present (less than £30,000)

Used Luxury SUV of the Year
Winner: Audi Q7 2015 – present (less than £35,000)
Price point winners: Volvo XC90 2015 – present (less than £25,000)
BMW X5 2018 –present (less than £45,000)

Used MPV of the Year
Winner: Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer 2018 – present (less than £15,000
Price point winners: Ford Galaxy 2015 – present (less than £20,000)
Citroën C4 Picasso 2014 – 2018 (less than £10,000)

Used Estate Car of the Year
Winner: BMW 5 Series 2017 – present (less than £25,000)
Price point winners: Volkswagen Passat 2015 – present (less than £15,000)
Skoda Octavia 2013–2020(less than £10,000)

Used Hot Hatch of the Year
Winner: BMW M140i 2016 – 2019 (less than £18,000)
Price point winners: Ford Fiesta ST 2013 – 2017 (less than £12,000)
Honda Civic Type R 2017 – present (less than £25,000)

Used Coupé of the Year
Winner: Audi TT 2015 – present (less than £15,000)
Price point winners: BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 2014 – present (less than £22,000) Jaguar F-Type 2014 – present (less than £35,000)

Used Convertible of the Year
Winner: Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2017 – present (less than £30,000)
Price point winners: BMW 2 Series 2014 – present (less than £15,000)
BMW 4 Series 2013 – present (less than £22,000)

Used Sports Car of the Year
Winner: Porsche Cayman (981) 2013 – 2016 (less than £35,000)
Price point winners: Mazda MX-5 2015 – present (less than £20,000)
BMW i8 2013 – 2020 (less than £50,000)

Used Performance Car of the Year
Winner: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2016 – present (less than £45,000)
Price point winners: Mercedes C43 AMG 2016 – present (less than £25,000)
Mercedes-AMG E63 2017 – present (less than £70,000)

Used Hybrid Car of the Year
Winner: Hyundai Ioniq 2017 – present (less than £15,000)
Price point winners: Volvo XC90 T8 2015 – present (less than £40,000)
BMW 530e 2017 – present (less than £25,000)

Used Electric Car of the Year
Winner: Nissan Leaf 2018 – present (less than £25,000)
Price point winners: Nissan Leaf 2011 – 2018 (less than £13,000)
Jaguar I-Pace 2018 – present (less than £55,000)

Used Approved car scheme
Winner: DS Certified
Special mention: Kia Approved Used, BMW/Mini Approved Used