Motorist Car of the Year 2023 winners!

Congratulations to the 20 winning cars in their respective categories which won our hearts and earned the most accolades in the Motorist 2023 Car of the Year campaign.

These 20 cars have crossed the COTY finish line at 12 Tai Seng Link (Motorist's office) and collected their checkered flags as category winners in Motorist Car Of The Year 2023. 

These winning machines impressed us (the Motorist team, plus the people who voted in our COTY online campaign) the most amongst all the contenders this year and stood out as the best in the business and pleasure of motoring. 

It is not easy for today's cars to be even better than the rest competing in the same segments. Year after year, new cars keep getting better, new technologies and fresh trends gain or lose traction in the market, while car manufacturers/distributors/dealers continue doing their level best to sell their products and services to car buyers who are spoilt for choice, well informed, and pretty fussy.

May this list of Motorist Car of the Year 2023 category winners help you to differentiate the great cars from the good ones and choose the best car that your money can buy.

Motorist Car of the Year 2023 is fuelled by Esso, turbocharged by Tokyo Century, and powered by Yokohama.

Motorist Hatchback of the Year 2023 - BYD Dolphin

The winning attributes of the BYD Dolphin include unique looks, well-integrated infotainment and instrumentation, plenty of usable cabin space despite the car's small footprint, equipment level, and relative affordability.

Motorist Saloon of the Year 2023 - Skoda Octavia Style 1.0

The winning attributes of the Skoda Octavia Style 1.0 include a refined drive, excellent fuel efficiency, comprehensive equipment, all-round practicality, and wallet-friendly pricing. 

Motorist Premium Saloon of the Year 2023 - Peugeot 408 GT 1.2 Fastback

The winning attributes of the Peugeot 408 GT 1.2 Fastback include stunning good looks, competent driving dynamics, a stylish and highly practical cabin, semi-bucket front seats with massage function, responsive infotainment, a posh backseat, and a lively powertrain.  

Motorist Performance Car of the Year 2023 - BMW M3 Competition Touring

The winning attributes of the BMW M3 Competition Touring include an ideal blend of savage performance and wagon practicality, plenty of carbon fibre, supportive M seats, sharp steering, torque and power everywhere, and seemingly endless grip.

Motorist Performance Coupe/Cabriolet of the Year 2023 - Porsche 911 Carrera (992)

The winning attributes of the Porsche 911 Carrera (992) include an iconic design that endures, active aerodynamics, a sleek cockpit with spot-on driving position, crisp infotainment, a potent twin-turbo 3-litre flat-six engine, and an intoxicating driving experience.

Motorist SUV of the Year 2023 - BYD ATTO 3 100kW

The winning attributes of the BYD ATTO 3 100kW include greater cost-effectiveness compared to its 130kW twin, sufficient space for five adults, and a logical user interface.  

Motorist Compact SUV of the Year 2023 - Volkswagen T-Cross

The winning attributes of the Volkswagen T-Cross include a rugged design, comfortable cabin room, excellent build quality, an entertaining drive, and impressive efficiency. 

Motorist Performance Luxury SUV of the Year 2023 - Audi SQ8

The winning attributes of the Audi SQ8 include an imposing yet cohesive exterior, excellent fit and finish, intuitive controls, rich leather upholstery, a living room-like rear cabin, cavernous cargo space, and a monstrous bi-turbo V8 motor with quattro all-wheel drive. 

Motorist Compact Performance SUV of the Year 2023 - Skoda Kodiaq RS

The winning attributes of the Skoda Kodiaq RS include aggressive styling, well-specced tyres, a sporty yet sensible cabin, plush leather seats across three rows, a great sound system, and spritely handling.

Motorist Premium SUV of the Year 2023 - Land Rover Defender 110

The winning attributes of the Land Rover Defender 110 include a go-everywhere aesthetic, interesting design elements throughout, a fully functional interior, a lightning-quick infotainment system, plush yet rugged seats, plenty of durable cargo space, gobs of torque, and great fun off-road.

Motorist Hybrid-Electric Premium SUV of the Year 2023 - Nissan X-Trail e-Power

The winning attributes of the Nissan X-Trail e-Power include a posh exterior, a pleasant three-row interior, soft-touch materials, generous headroom and legroom, a fantastic infotainment screen, compliant suspension, overall agility, and 2-litre performance with 1.5-litre economy. 

Motorist MPV of the Year 2023 - Honda Freed

The winning attributes of the Honda Freed include a configurable seven-seater cabin, ample room for heads and shoulders, large-aperture sliding doors, excellent manoeuvrability, and a comfort-oriented suspension. 

Motorist Premium MPV of the Year 2023 - Maxus MIFA 9

The winning attributes of the Maxus MIFA 9 include a premium exterior design, a luxurious cabin, great visibility for everybody on board, good overall quality, comfortable sitting positions with no shortage of headroom, second-row captain's chairs, smooth torque from the electric motor, and value for money. 

Motorist Electric Car of the Year 2023 - BYD Seal

The winning attributes of the BYD Seal include proper driving dynamics, good battery technology, addictive acceleration, solid chassis engineering, and a well-designed interior with panoramic moonroof.

Motorist Electric SUV of the Year 2023 - MG ZS EV

The winning attributes of the MG ZS EV include an effective facelift, updated touchscreen infotainment, a spacious backseat, instantaneous electric torque, a comfortable suspension, well-mannered handling, quietness on the move, a practical boot, and high specifications.

Motorist Electric Premium SUV of the Year 2023 - Hyundai Ioniq 5 Prestige 58kWh

The winning attributes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Prestige 58kWh include a futuristic cyberpunk hatchback design, abundant cabin space, eco-friendly interior materials, a tactile mix of digital and analog switchgear, superb connectivity, a roomy boot, a vehicle-to-load feature, smoothness on the go, future-proof charging, and dedicated apps.  

Motorist Electric Performance Saloon of the Year 2023 - Porsche Taycan

The winning attributes of the Porsche Taycan include a sporty yet practical form factor, a luxurious cabin, maximised interior space, cosseting seats, excellent outward visibility, quintessentially Porsche steering, and superior driving performance.

Motorist Electric Compact Executive Saloon of the Year 2023 - Mercedes-EQ EQE350+

The winning attributes of the Mercedes-EQ EQE350+ AMG Line include an exceedingly aerodynamic silhouette, dazzling 3D tail-lights, electrically-operated door handles, a stunning cabin with great sense of space, a classy dashboard, fancy infotainment features with good connectivity, truly plush seats, Airmatic air suspension, silent gliding, well-weighted steering, and a tight turning circle.  

Motorist Electric Hatchback of the Year 2023 - MG4 EV

The winning attributes of the MG4 EV include a good-looking exterior with harmonious visual elements, a minimalist cabin, seamless control of drive functions, good interior space, rear-drive fun with solid grip, great manoeuvrability in tight spaces, and a driving range of up to 450 kilometres.

Motorist Commercial Vehicle of the Year 2023 - Ford Ranger

The winning attributes of the Ford Ranger include dominating truck looks, day-to-day usabiity, truck toughness, car-like gadgets for the pickup driver, surprisingly easy driveability, SUV levels of refinement, and a convincing combination of work-truck utility and passenger-car comfort.   

Download the Motorist App now. Designed by drivers for drivers, this all-in-one app lets you receive the latest traffic updates, gives you access to live traffic cameras, and helps you manage LTA and vehicle matters.

Did you know we have a Motorist Telegram Channel? Created exclusively for drivers and car owners in Singapore, you can get instant info about our latest promotions, articles, tips & hacks, or simply chat with the Motorist Team and fellow drivers.