MG4 EV named 2023 DrivingElectric Car of the Year

●       The MG4 has been named 2023 Car of the Year by leading electric and hybrid car website, DrivingElectric

●       The MG brand takes home four awards in total, including Readers' Favourite Electric Car

●       Full details exclusively on DrivingElectric.com now

The brand-new MG4 EV has been named the 2023 DrivingElectric Car of the Year. It also scooped Best Value Electric Car, as well as the Readers' Favourite Electric Car in a poll run by the leading electric and hybrid car website.

DrivingElectric's judges called the MG4 "outstandingly capable", with editor Richard Ingram saying the bargain hatchback combined "range, practicality and loads of kit into a sharp-looking, fun-to-drive package - all at an unbeatable price".

Guy Pigounakis, Commercial Director at MG Motor UK, said: "We're thrilled that DrivingElectric has selected our new MG4 as its overall Car of the Year, also recognising it as the EV which offers customers the best value for money. We're committed to making zero-emissions motoring attainable for as many people as possible, with cars that are true to MG's ‘Get More' philosophy." 

One of the biggest upsets of the 2023 DrivingElectric Awards came in the Best Urban Electric Car category, where newcomer Ora swept in with its quirky Funky Cat supermini - ending the Fiat 500's two-year reign at the top. Ingram called the Funky Cat a "fantastic small EV".

Elsewhere, the Skoda Enyaq iV retained its position as DrivingElectric's favourite Electric Family Car, while the website presented two used electric car awards for the first time. The Nissan Leaf was crowned Best Used Small Electric Car, with the Tesla Model S taking top prize in the Best Used Large Electric Car category. 

The Mercedes EQE won Best Long-Distance Electric Car thanks to its big range and fast charging, while the BMW i7 also impressed the DrivingElectric panel, winning the coveted Best Luxury Electric Car award. BMW triumphed in the Electric Company Car category as well, with its excellent i4.

DrivingElectric also took the time to look at how the performance car segment is transitioning to electric power, covering two categories in this year's awards. The supercar-slaying Kia EV6 GT was the undisputed Best Electric Performance Car champion, and the Cupra Born won Best Electric Hot Hatchback.

A trio of electric van categories actually saw seven vehicles take home silverware; the Best Small Electric Van award was given to the Citroen e-Berlingo, Fiat e-Doblo, Peugeot e-Partner, Toyota Proace City Electric and Vauxhall Combo Electric - all of which share a substantial amount of hardware underneath. The achingly cool Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo was DrivingElectric's Best Medium Electric Van, while the Ford E-Transit topped the vote for the website's Best Large Electric Van.

But DrivingElectric understands that not everyone is ready to make the switch to electric just yet, and as such, placed great importance on a series of hybrid and plug-in hybrid award categories. Kia reigned supreme here, with the new Niro and new Sportage topping the tables for Best Hybrid Family Car and Best Plug-in Hybrid Family Car respectively. The previous-generation Niro won Best Used Hybrid Car as well.

Elsewhere, Mercedes romped home with Best Plug-in Hybrid Company Car for the latest C 300e, as well as Best Used Plug-in Hybrid Car for the Mercedes E-Class. Both prove that with regular charging, owners can drastically reduce their bills, while keeping an eye on their carbon footprint.

But that wasn't all for the Stuttgart-based brand, with Mercedes also winning the highly prized Innovation Award for its impressively efficient Vision EQXX study - proving that light weight and strong aerodynamics can work wonders for real-world range. The latest Renault Megane E-Tech won DrivingElectric's Technology Award for its intuitive, easy-to-use Google-powered infotainment system, too, with editor Ingram calling it "quite simply one of the best systems" he'd ever tested.

As is tradition, DrivingElectric asked its audience to vote for their favourite electric cars, too - both present and future. MG narrowly missed out on a clean sweep, taking two of the three gongs on offer; the MG4 won Readers' Favourite Electric Car, while the forthcoming MG Cyberster sports car walked home with the Readers' Most Anticipated Electric Car - suggesting the site's readership is as enamoured with the brand's models as DrivingElectric's judges. Polestar snatched the Readers' Favourite Electric Car Maker award.

The final categories in the 2023 DrivingElectric Awards celebrate the very best in charging and technology. For the second year in a row, Shell Recharge was crowned Best Universal Charging Network. Hypervolt took Best Home Charger, while Bonnet was awarded Best Electric-Car App, with Ingram saying "every electric car driver should have the Bonnet app installed on their smartphone."

DrivingElectric.com continues to be the leading voice when it comes to choosing and owning an electric or hybrid car, with helpful and easy-to-understand news, reviews, videos and advice. You can see the full list of 2023 DrivingElectric Award winners at www.drivingelectric.com/2023-awards now.

DrivingElectric Car of the Year 2023 winners

For more information or comment, please contact Richard Ingram, Editor, DrivingElectric Richard_ingram@autovia.co.uk

ENDS