If you aren’t sure what new car to buy next, then the Auto Express New Car Awards are a good place to start. This year’s winner, the Nissan Leaf, is a tremendous all-rounder with excellent real-world range, enough practicality for most families, a high-quality cabin and a very keen price tag.
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Having a broad range of attributes is key to securing the coveted Auto Express Car of the Year title, and our previous winners are also a great way to draw up a shortlist if you want to buy used.
We’ve gone over the past decade or so to see what three-car garage we could fill with previous Cars of the Year. This selection covers pretty much every automotive need, from a characterful hot hatch to a concept-like EV and a premium family SUV.
MINI Cooper S – £6,999
When we named the third-generation MINI Car of the Year back in 2014, we said, “It’s a small car that’s big on talent.” We also commented on how much we loved the way it drives, the quality, the efficiency and the big-car tech, plus the fact it was built in Britain.
As a used buy, the MINI remains super-appealing whether you go for the three or five-door hatch or the convertible – and here we’ve opted for the Cooper S hot hatch, which you can get for a shade under £7,000. From its title-winning year, this 2014 model comes with a sensible 77,000 miles on the clock and it’s lavishly equipped with a sunroof, heated front seats and all the sporty styling additions that come courtesy of it being the Cooper S.
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