UK Automotive of the 12 months Awards 2026 Winners – FortiGate

The UK Automotive of the 12 months Awards 2026 winners have landed, and one factor is difficult to overlook: electrification is now not the “attention-grabbing new nook” of the market. It’s the foremost stage. 5 of the eight class winners are outright electrical, and the remaining three have battery-electric variations obtainable too.

For those who work within the motor commerce promoting vehicles, it’s tempting to deal with awards as pure advertising and marketing gas. Nonetheless, for on a regular basis drivers awards will also be a helpful shorthand for what’s their greatest buy choices are. Moreover, for underwriters forecasting future motor insurance coverage prices, awards spotlight adjustments in automobile design: with extra tech, which means dearer elements, and a better selection in how vehicles get repaired after a declare.

The class winners at a look

Right here’s the total winners record as printed throughout the motoring press:

• Small Automotive: Renault 5 (with almost two-thirds of the 33-strong judging panel backing it)
• Household Automotive: Let’s EV4
• Small Crossover: Citroen C3 and e-C3 Aircross
• Medium Crossover: Škoda Elroq (from a 19-car class)
• Giant Crossover: Hyundai IONIQ 9 (second 12 months working for Hyundai on this class)
• Government Automotive: Audi A6
• Property Automotive: Audi A6 Avant
• Efficiency Automotive: Alpine A290

The general UK Automotive of the 12 months is because of be introduced on 26 February 2026chosen from these class winners.

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Why EV-heavy award lists matter for insurance coverage

As a motor dealer, being conscious of some insurance-related themes could be helpful, in case your clients are taking a look at any of those winners, particularly the EVs. Afterall, excessive insurance coverage prices may current a block to a possible sale.

Awards don’t set insurance coverage costs. Actual-world claims do. However award-winning vehicles typically turn into well-liked vehicles, and recognition can affect theft curiosity, restore demand, elements provide strain, and the way rapidly restore networks construct expertise with new fashions.

1) Repairs are getting extra sophisticated, regardless of the gas kind

Trendy vehicles are filled with sensors, cameras, radar, and electronics. The ABI has identified that growing car sophistication makes repairs extra intricate and time-consuming, which feeds into claims prices.
That applies to a brand new Audi A6 as a lot because it does to a shiny new electrical crossover.

2) EV batteries change the “restore vs write-off” maths

One of many huge EV speaking factors is what occurs after an affect that includes the battery space. The ABI has advised a UK Parliamentary committee that BEV batteries are a major proportion of auto worth, and that restricted restore options and diagnostics can push up prices.
Thatcham Analysis has additionally warned that if the trade can’t restore broken batteries cost-effectively, EV insurance coverage strain is prone to proceed.

3) Insurance coverage teams are based mostly on danger components you may’t eyeball on a check drive

Within the UK, Thatcham’s Group Ranking considers issues like restore technique, the associated fee and time to restore, the car’s value, and efficiency components.
So two vehicles that look related (and even share a platform) can land in fairly completely different teams relying on trims, elements prices, safety features, or restore method.

Sensible ideas earlier than you begin shouting about winners in advertisements

For those who’re a motor dealer, it’s value being cautious about implying an award-winning mannequin will probably be “low-cost to insure”. You hardly ever know that for the person buyer, and it relies on way over the badge.

A smart guidelines, amongst different potential concerns, for any of your clients who could be contemplating shopping for one in all these winners is:

• Get insurance coverage quotes early, ideally earlier than you decide to a selected trim and wheel dimension.
• Take into account how repairs are dealt with for EVs (sure manufacturers might require their very own storage community for use which might trigger delays or drive up claims prices and in flip premiums)
• Take into account safety and the place the car is saved in a single day.
• Be solely trustworthy and open, for instance, disclose precisely meant utilization, annual mileage, modifications, storage, possession, drivers and their driving data and so forth. Many components have an effect on underwriting and failure to reveal can lead to claims being declined in addition to insurance policies cancelled or voided.

That is basic data, not recommendation. If you need assist evaluating cowl, an FCA-regulated dealer can speak by choices based mostly in your circumstances.

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