Professional Driver Car of the Year 2021


Sponsored by Aston Lark


Luxury SUV of the Year
Shortlist
Audi e-tron
BMW X5
Lexus UX300e
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Mercedes-Benz GLE PHEV
SUVs make great electric and hybrid cars as there’s plenty of room under the floor to stash the battery pack. And our shortlist includes both full electric and PHEV models. In the end, it was a battery-electric car that triumphed. With an outstanding combination of space, quality and performance, our Luxury SUV of the year is the Audi e-tron.

MPV of the Year
Shortlist
BMW 225xe
Ford S-Max Hybrid
Ford Tourneo Custom PHEV
Mercedes-Benz EQV
Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life
The seven-seater market has changed over the years, and van-based people-movers are now the standard. This year’s MPV of the Year has been a genuine game-changer for chauffeurs looking to offer an electric option. With a class-leading combination of high build quality and cavernous interior space, the winner is the Mercedes-Benz EQV.

Estate car of the Year
Shortlist
BMW 330e Touring
BMW 530e Touring
Mercedes-Benz E300de
MG5 Electric
Skoda Octavia iV
Volkswagen Passat GTE
Volvo V90 T6
For many operators, an estate gives more versatility than a saloon – especially if you’ve got to carry passengers with luggage. The Estate Car of the Year category was a closely fought contest, where plug-in hybrids are still the main option. Our winner is the Volvo V90 T6, offering great looks and class-leading loadspace.

Executive car of the Year
BMW 330e
BMW 530e
Mercedes-Benz E300de
Polestar 2
Tesla Model 3
Volvo S90 T6
The Executive Car is the lifeblood of the chauffeur sector – and this is a very competitive sector. Over the years BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Volvo have all taken the honours. But this year we had a very different outcome. You have to go electric to avoid the London congestion charge, and the car the judges all agreed was the best in this class was the Tesla Model 3.

Private Hire car of the Year
Citroen e-C4
Ford Musang Mach-e
Kia e-Niro
Kia Soul EV
MG5 Electric
Nissan Leaf
Skoda Enyaq iV
Skoda Octavia iV
Skoda Superb iV
Toyota Mirai FCEV
Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen Passat GTE
What’s the best car for private hire use? This was the most intensely-fought battleground, with the new generation of electric cars going head-to-head with more traditional plug-in hybrid versions of familiar saloons. But you can’t stop the march of progress. And it was an electric car that triumphed. With more than 250 miles of range, plenty of interior space and class-leading manufacturer support, our Private Hire Car of the Year is already becoming the default option for some operators. It’s the Kia e-Niro.

Chauffeur car of the Year
Shortlist
Audi A8L PHEV
BMW 745Le
Mercedes-Benz S350L
Porsche Taycan
Porsche Panamera PHEV
Chauffeurs are still waiting for truly effective electric cars, so plug-in hybrids are still the only real option for now. This is always a close contest, but this year we had a clear winner. Spacious, good-looking and incredibly smooth, the Chauffeur Car of the Year is the BMW 745Le plug-in hybrid.

Professional Driver Car of the Year, 2021
Shortlist
Audi e-tron
BMW 745Le
Kia e-Niro
Mercedes-Benz EQV
Tesla Model 3
Volvo V90 T6
Our overall Professional Driver Car of the Year is chosen from the six category winners. A solid selection indeed, and with a number of new models winning their classes, it proved to be a difficult choice for the overall winner, with several cars making a strong case.
Ultimately, our Car of the Year was the clear winner in its category. It’s been a game-changer for the market, and – it’s fully electric, with an electric range in real world use of more than 250 miles.
Offering exceptional versatility as anything from an events shuttle to an aircrew transporter to a mobile boardroom. It offers high levels of comfort, massive luggage space and that crucial prestige brand. The Professional Driver Car of the Year, 2021, is the Mercedes-Benz EQV.