Well respected motoring magazine Auto Express recently announced their 2014 New Car Awards winners, with our very own retailed motors receiving plenty of plaudits!
Best Crossover 2014
Collecting the “Best Crossover 2014” award was the Nissan Qashqai, the car that started the crossover revolution back in 2006. Taking into account the low running costs and practical interior, blended with its rugged looks, it’s no surprise that the refined 2nd generation model stole the show in 2014. There was also special mention for the Citroen C4 Cactus, with its bold design and very attractive price setting up the model for future awards and continued success.

Best People Carrier
The Citroen C4 Grand Picasso picked up the best MPV award, successfully combining both attractive aesthetics and function to beat the competition and alter perceptions of what a people carrier can offer. The flexible 7 seat layout can be folded flat like a van, providing an incredible 2181 litres of carrying capacity that corresponds well with the spacious seating in both the front and back (when the seats are back in passenger position). The frugal diesel engine provides up to 61 mpg, so you get plenty of bang for your buck and cover the miles.

Best Large SUV 2014
The Hyundai Santa Fe was always fated to pick up this award for the 2nd year consecutively, considered by many experts as being the best value for money when looking for a large SUV in the current market. Bolstering the Korean manufacturer’s already respected reputation as a serious player in the mainstream market, the Santa Fe blends both versatility and good looks. With all SUV models, space and economy are the two primary metrics which all models are benchmarked against in 2014. The Santa Fe scores highly with both, providing a huge luggage capacity (585 litres / 1680 with seats down) and a competitive 46mpg.

Best Safety Award 2014
Nissan picked up further plaudits for their Safety Shield in addition to scooping the best Crossover Award, winning the Best Safety Award for 2014 in the technologies début year. Centred on complete hazard prevention and management, the Safety Shield looks to prevent collisions through environment monitoring. From Note to Juke, the entire range comes equipped with this award winning technology.