Autocar Awards 2023: The best cars you can buy today

Held at the Silverstone race circuit, the event was attended by many industry leading lights, and was complete with some of the cars that won the awards. Join us in exploring the best cars on sale today in the UK - and some of the people who made them, too:

This impressive electric saloon packs an aerodynamic drive, ultra-fast charging and a range of up to 382 miles. Those 2% BIK rates are attractive, too

There could only be one winner - the Honda Civic Type R! Back for a new generation, the Type R offers the ideal blend of excellent driving dynamics, rapid pace and rolling refinement. A brilliant, brilliant car. 

Today, a modern SUV needs practicality, refinement and a dose of dynamism, and this year, the pacey Range Rover Sport was a cut above the rest. We think it's the best SUV you can buy today.

You'd be forgiven for creating an endless list of options when asked for your Best Dream Car. But in 2023, we felt the BMW M3 Touring was the ultimate choice, and one of the most versatile models money can buy. Congratulations, BMW.

What's your favourite electric car of 2023? Ours is the MG 4, which prioritises driver engagement above all else. With 281 miles of range and rapid charging, the MG 4 is an excellent package - particularly for the price.

Next up is Best Small Car, which this year goes the stylish Jeep Avenger, which, at just 4.08 metres long, finds a truly unique place in the market. A range of 250 miles is respectable, as is its price tag of £36,500...

For Best Large Car, one model stood out from the crowd. The Volkswagen T7 Multivan is an intensely practical vehicle with a cavernous interior, complete with high quality materials.

Not all cars are fit for the whole family, but we deemed the Dacia Jogger the ultimate choice in a crowded class. With seven seats, up to 1807 litres of cargo space and a price tag of £18,295, the Jogger is our Best Family Car.

There could only be one winner for our Best Budget Car award. The brilliant Dacia Sandero starts from £13,795, and we don't think there's another new car on sale today that does more for such little outlay. Congratulations, Dacia.

Our next award is for Best Manufacturer. Over the past few years, our winner has been through a rapid transformation to become one of the country's best-selling brands, making a huge statement with some exciting model launches.

That's why our winner is... Kia! Fuelled by a wave of new products, such as the brand-new Niro and Sportage, as well continuing to impress with the likes of the Sorento, EV6 (pictured), and Ceed, it really is at the head of its field.

What's the best car you can buy today to drive on British roads? This prize goes to the Porsche 911 GT3, a car raw in feel but more hardcore of temperament than any of its forebears. If you’ve got the stomach for it, it's a car of absolutely epic highs...

Our Future Classic gong, awarded in partnership with our friends at Beaulieu, goes to the throughly excellent Toyota GR86. Now highly sought after, this superb sports car recieved a near-perfect score from our testers thanks to its dynamism, price and fun factor. 

Autocar's Five-Star Car road test award is reserved for the best of the best, and we've had just two winners this year. The first, the Porsce Cayman GT4 RS, combines sheer presence, rawness, drama and pace for an overall sumptuous drive.

Our second winner is the supremely impressive Ferrari 296 GTB, a fabulous electrified entry into the prancing horse's range. Despite gaining EV ability, it loses nothing of its near-perfect drivability, setting the benchmark in the segment.

Outstanding UK leader: Lisa Brankin (pictured)

Lisa Brankin is MD of Ford UK - a true motoring enthusiast with a career-long passion for the brand.

Outstanding UK leader: Darren Edwards

Our second UK Leader is Darren Edwards, who has risen to the very top of Britain's largest and most premier car dealer group. Last year, he oversaw £6.8 billion in revenue from Sytner's 150 franchises.

Design hero: Matt Weaver

Did you know two of Britain’s most popular cars were designed in the UK? Both the Qashqai and Juke were penned by no other than Nissan's Matt Weaver - the winner of our Design Hero award for 2023.

Our Mundy Award for Engineering goes to Tim Woolmer, the founder of Yasa Motors, and whose cutting-edge electric motor tech is making waves across the automotive industry.

Motorsport hero: Adrian Newey

This year's Motorsport Hero award goes to the highest-achieving Formula 1 technical director in history. Newey has won a staggering 23 world championships, including 12 with seven different drivers.

Innovation award: Anthony Bamford

Anthony Bamford is chairman of JCB. While EVs are stealing the zero-emission limelight, but Bamford is on a mission to prove that hydrogen has a place as a clean fuel for the future.

Currently a test driver for Bugatti, 62-year-old Andy Wallace held the production car world record with the McLaren F1 for over 11 years. In 2019, Wallace set a new record of 300mph in a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.

Editor's award: Paul Philpott

Paul has transformed the Kia's role from background extra to major player, and the momentum is still building. On Philpott’s watch, Kia has moved past 100,000 annual sales in the UK.

Sturmey award: Denis le Vot

This year's winner is Denis Le Vot, who is bucking industry trends as CEO of Dacia to focus on value-for-money essentials.

Named after Sir Alec Issigonis, inventor of the Mini, this trophy recognises extraordinary achievements by those at the top as they steer the motoring industry... 

This year's award goes to none other than the Duke of Richmond, who has spearheaded Goodwood's world-beating motorsport events. He drives three of the planet’s greatest-ever annual car gatherings: the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Members Meeting and Revival. 

Now, his events attract as many as 500,000 people a year from across the globe. Goodwood is now the mecca for car enthusiasts of all persuasions, loved and supported as much in Europe and the US as on home turf. Congratulations to the Duke of Richmond - the winner of the 2023 Issigonis Trophy. We hope Goodwood continues to thrive for many years to come.