11 November 2022

Volkswagen's ID. Buzz takes the double at Irish Car and Van awards

Joe Rayfus, Chairman of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI); Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland; Kim Kilduff, Marketing Director Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland; and Alan Bateson, Brand Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland.

The winner of the Irish Car of the Year 2023 is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which also won the Irish Van of the Year 2023, writes Brian Byrne. The awards are presented by the Motoring Media Association of Ireland in association with Continental Tyres Ireland and were presented at a lunch function in the Westin Hotel in Dublin.

The votes for the awards, as well as category wins, were carried out by some 32 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists and the awards event attended by representatives of Ireland’s leading car brands, importers and distributors.

The double win by the all electric ID. Buzz model and its van version, the ID. Buzz Cargo represents a first in the history of the awards. It is the third time that an electric vehicle has taken the award as Kia EVs also won the 2022 and 2020 Irish Car of the Year titles with the all electric EV6 and e-Soul respectively. Chairman of the MMAI, Joe Rayfus, said the result really does confirm the onward march in Ireland towards an electric motoring future. "Just look at our field of runners for this year’s awards — more than half of the contenders were available as either partial or full electric vehicles”. 

Tom Dennigan of awards sponsor Continental Tyres expressed his delight to be back with these awards for 2023, following their disruption over two years by Covid. "The MMAI jurors provide a great service to Irish motorists in providing a really helpful insight into the broad range of increasingly sophisticated car models that are launched here each year," he said.

The Irish Car of the year category winners were:

Irish Small Car of the Year: Fiat 500e

Irish Compact Car of the Year: Opel Astra

Irish Compact Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Irish Compact Crossover / SUV of the Year: Kia Niro

Irish Medium Crossover / SUV of the Year: Kia Sportage

Irish Large Crossover / SUV of the Year: Citroen C5X

Irish MPV of the Year: Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Irish Luxury Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz EQS

Irish Large Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz EQE

Irish Performance Car of the Year: BMW i4 M50 

Rally champion Rosemary Smith was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and Aidan Doyle, PR Manager at Kia Ireland, was given a Service to the Industry award.

Kia Ireland team Cathal Kealey, Aidan Doyle, and MD Ronan Flood, with awards respectively for the Niro, Service to Industry, and Sportage.

The Mercedes-Benz team Ashley Hall, Carol Davis, Fiona Fennell, and Don Hall, with awards for the C-Class, EQE and EQS.

Don Hall with Rosemary Smith, who was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Gowan Group with their awards for the Citroen C5 X, Opel Astra, Fiat 500e, and winning the Table Quiz at the event.