The Renault 20 TS was the first to win What Car’s? COTY in 1978. The Renault nameplate has won a total of three COTY awards so far, but Volkswagen is the most successful brand in the publication’s history, walking away with the COTY award six times as of 2020. Two more major German luxury carmakers, Audi and BMW, are tied with three wins each.
The first-ever electric car to win What Car? Car of the Year was the Kia e-Niro First Edition in 2019. On the other hand, the Ford Puma was the first mild-hybrid vehicle to win COTY in 2020. The first SUV to win the What Car? COTY award was the first-generation Land Rover Freelander 1.8i in 1998.
