The first-ever Carzone Car Awards were held in Dublin at the famous Mansion House yesterday, 26 June, 2026. It's the inaugural awards, and the CompleteCar team was part of the action, as we were the judges for the 'Experts' Choice' awards.
Was it a gala night?
It certainly was, with broadcaster Baz Ashmawy hosting the event in wry form, and the great and the good of Ireland's motoring industry gathered in their finest rig-outs, on what turned out to be the hottest night of the year. Maybe it should have been a pool party…
Who were the winners of the 2026 Carzone Car Awards?
The first set of awards announced was the ones judged by us, the CompleteCar team, and the winners in each category were:
Best Small SUV: Hyundai Inster
Best Small Car: Renault 5
Best Compact Family Car: Peugeot 308
Best Mid-Sized SUV: BMW iX3
Best Large Family Car: Kia PV5 Passenger
Best Executive Car: Polestar 4
Best Performance Car: Porsche 911
What were the other set of Carzone Car Awards?
The second set of prizes announced was the Drivers' Choice Awards, which are voted on by you, the great Irish car-buying public. Carzone polled 3,000 users of its website to pick the winners, and each category winner took home a trophy…
Most Loved Car: Volkswagen Golf
Most Loved New EV: BYD Sealion 7
Best Overall Ownership Experience: Volvo
Best New Car Ownership Experience: BYD
Owners' Choice Award: Skoda
Most Recommended Car Brand: Tesla
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Shane O'Donoghue, editor and he who must be obeyed of CompleteCar.ie, and of course, Expert Judge for the Carzone Car Awards, said: "We're delighted to be part of the inaugural Carzone Car Awards and to work with such a great brand on a daily basis throughout the year. While we can stand over the Experts' Choice winners with pride, the Carzone Car Awards is made truly unique by the input from Irish motorists and the site's search data. Car buyers are lucky to have such professional awards to help guide them through future purchases.”
Ailish Connolly, Group Brand Director at Carzone, said, "Tonight's winners show just how rich and varied the Irish car market has become. From clever compact city cars and practical family SUVs to performance icons and trailblazing EVs, these awards shine a light on the models and brands that are really connecting with Irish drivers. What makes this programme special is that it balances expert insight with the real experiences of thousands of motorists, so every winner has earned its place both on paper and on the road. It has been fantastic to bring the industry together under one roof and celebrate the cars people in Ireland genuinely love to drive.”
Will the Carzone Car Awards be back again next year?
Absolutely! Carzone has promised that the Car Awards will return in 2027: "creating an annual benchmark for manufacturers and brands seeking to understand what truly resonates with Irish buyers.”
Maybe we can just wear shorts and t-shirts next time, though, eh?