Hat-trick Heroes
Škoda has continued its remarkable winning streak at the Auto Express New Car Awards by taking no fewer than three coveted category wins. The Superb, Elroq and Kodiaq were recognised as the very best in their respective sectors, with the Kodiaq recording its seventh win in nine years.
Leading the charge was the Elroq, which was named Mid-size SUV of the Year for the second year in a row. Having scooped the overall Car of the Year title in 2025, the Elroq proved its staying power, seeing off a raft of new arrivals to retain its category crown. The Auto Express judging panel praised the Elroq’s exceptional all-round ability and value for money, with Deputy Editor Richard Ingram commenting: “Despite the seemingly endless procession of mid-size SUV newcomers arriving on the market, the Skoda Elroq continues to rule the roost. It’s a brilliantly practical car for its size with a fine driving experience and an air of quality that exceeds the expectations laid down by its low pricing. The Skoda Elroq is our mid-size SUV of the year once again.”
Another Škoda SUV taking top honours was the Kodiaq, which took its fifth title in a row - setting an Auto Express Awards record in the process. Having locked out the Large SUV category for seven of the last nine years, the seven-seat all-rounder blew away the competition again with a comfortable win. As in previous years, the Kodiaq’s practicality, price and quality were deemed unbeatable by the judging panel. Explaining why the Kodiaq notched up its fifth back-to-back win, Richard Ingram said: “The large SUV sector is hugely competitive with pretty much every mainstream manufacturer having an offering. That’s what makes the Skoda Kodiaq’s dominance so impressive, it has the widest mix of powertrains, trims and seating arrangements, drives well, has a quality interior and comes with a sensible price tag.”
Running closely behind the Kodiaq in terms of Auto Express silverware, the Superb took its sixth Estate Car of the Year title, confirming its status as the most complete load lugger in the business. Taking top honours for the third year in a row, the fourth-generation model – which celebrates its 25th year of production in 2026 – was recognised for its usability, vast load area and intelligent attention to detail. “It’s another richly deserved best estate car win for the Skoda Superb Estate.” Explained Richard Ingram. “It combines the traditional practicality benefits of an estate car thanks to its huge 690-litre boot, with the Skoda brand’s common-sense ‘Simply Clever’ features to deliver yet another highly convincing victory, even in the face of newer rivals.”
Completing another dominant performance for Škoda was the Octavia, which was Highly Commended in the Family Car of the Year category. In its comprehensive review of Škoda’s best-seller, Auto Express said: “The Skoda Octavia has long been regarded as one of the more practical cars in its class, and the latest iteration is still extremely roomy. Factor in the gigantic boot, and few other models at this price point can compete with the space this Skoda offers.”