The Toyota Yaris has been named 2021 European Car of the Year, beating six other finalists for the overall prize.
It succeeds 2020’s winner, the Peugeot 208.
Car of the Year has been presented since 1964 and this year’s shortlist contained a diverse mix of contenders, from the electric Fiat 500, to the practical Skoda Octavia, to the reborn Land Rover Defender.
National pride factored in the votes of some countries. France favoured the Toyota Yaris, which is built there, while Italy favoured the Fiat 500.
Surprisingly, it was a draw in Germany, with the pure electric Volkswagen ID.3 and Fiat 500 tied on points.
Spain voted overwhelmingly for the Cupra Formentor, with the six jurors giving 43 points – the next-best was the Citroen C4 on 26 points.
British journalists voted overwhelmingly for the Land Rover Defender.
It is the second time the Toyota Yaris has been named European Car of the Year: it last won the award in 2000.
Motoring Research has already praised the new Toyota Yaris, declaring the model ‘genuinely able to fight head-to-head with the sector leaders’.
It is one of our best superminis to buy in 2021 – and the new high-performance Toyota GR Yaris has subsequently become one of our best hot hatches in 2021, too.
Results: 2021 European Car of the Year
1: Toyota Yaris – 266 points
2: Fiat 500: 240 points
3: Cupra Formentor: 239 points
4: Volkswagen ID.3: 224 points
5: Skoda Octavia: 199 points
6: Land Rover Defender: 164 points
7: Citroen C4: 143 points
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