The list of entrants for the 2022 Irish Car of the Year have been revealed and half of all eligible contenders are EVs or available in an all electric version. There has been a major upheaval in the last year particularly, with almost all newly launched cars being electrified in some way. The EV age has arrived it seems.
Last year’s competition couldn’t go ahead because of Covid and even this year, the competition has moved from its traditional November date to February. As a result of the cancellation of the competition last year, cars launched in 2020 weren’t considered for a Car of the Year award and they will not be considered in the current batch of 2021 cars.
According to Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee, Anthony Conlon: “It is an important service that myself and the other motoring journalists who vote on the awards provide to the Irish car buying public – we help to make sense of the mind-boggling array of cars that are launched here each year, highlighting the best models in each category that are best suited to the needs of Irish drivers. And even though the pandemic has caused some disruption and delay in the production of some models, there has still been an impressive crop of cars for us to judge as part of the 2022 awards programme”.
Cathal Doyle, Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee, added: “With half of the contenders for this year’s Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year awards available as full electric vehicles, the extent to which the worldwide motor industry is reinventing itself is clear. That said, there are still many exciting new petrol and diesel models being launched as well as an ever increasing choice of hybrid options, ensuring there is a vehicle on sale to meet the needs of every Irish customer.”
Tom Dennigan of awards sponsor, Continental Tyres, said: “We are delighted to be back with the awards programme for 2022. Two years ago in 2020 when we last named an Irish Car of the Year winner, it was the Kia e-Soul, the first time that an electric car has won the title. Two years ago, the e-Soul was very much in the minority among the eligible cars as only a small number were electric. Now, in spite of the pandemic, just look how the picture has changed with half of the entrants being available as full electric vehicles – there can be no more stark indication of the revolution that is occurring in motoring today”.
In all, 35 cars are eligible for this year’s Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year awards. The overall winner and category winners will be announced on February 11.
Irish Car of the Year 2022 contenders
Compact Car
Dacia Sandero
Honda-e
Hyundai i20
Medium Car
Citroën C4
Cupra Leon
DS 3
MG5
Volkswagen Caddy Passenger
Small Crossover/SUV
Hyundai Bayon
Mazda MX30
Mercedes-Benz EQA
MG ZS
Opel Mokka
Toyota Yaris Cross
Medium Crossover/SUV
Cupra Formentor
Hyundai Tucson
Nissan Qashqai
Renault Arkana
Subaru Outback
Large Car
Audi Q4 e-tron
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Kia EV6
Škoda Enyaq
Toyota Highlander
Volkswagen ID.4
Luxury Car
Audi e-tron GT
BMW iX
Mercedes-Benz EQV
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Performance Car
BMW M3/4
Ford Puma ST
Peugeot 508 PSE
Toyota Yaris GR
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
