25 of the best European Car of the Year winners

The cream of the crop

In 1964, the all-new Rover 2000 became the very first European Car of the Year.

Its award was based on criteria still employed by the jury of acclaimed motoring journalists from across the UK and Europe that judges today’s contest.

Uniquely, each past victor has been chosen irrespective of its class or category: it’s simply been the most complete all-round car.

So here, in chronological order, we’ve taken five of the best winners from each of the contest’s 20th-century decades, plus five more from this century, to give us 25 of the most influential cars made in the past 60 years.

And if you’d like a more in-depth look at some of the cars featured here – including opinions from three ex-ECotY luminaries – then check out the February 2024 issue of Classic & Sports Car, on sale now.

1. 1964 Rover 2000

The Rover 2000 (P6) was the perfect inaugural winner of European Car of the Year, embodying the high levels of automotive excellence sought in the new contest.

David Bache’s design also blended just the right measure of modernity, without offending traditional Rover buyers.

But underpinning the Rover was an advanced chassis with de Dion rear suspension and all-round disc brakes that imbued the 2000 with real dynamic flair.

No surprise, then, that it relegated the advanced Mercedes-Benz 600 and innovative Hillman Imp into second and third spots respectively.

2. 1965 Austin 1800

Taking a leaf out of the Mini’s engineering book, with its transversely mounted 1.8-litre engine driving the front wheels, the Austin 1800 – aka ‘Landcrab’ – romped to ECotY victory in 1965 with 78 points, ahead of the Autobianchi Primula and Ford Mustang.

The judges liked its spacious cabin and generous 480-litre boot, for what was a relatively compact 4.2m-long car.

And while it was no hot rod, powered by Austin’s humble overhead-valve engine and mated to either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic gearbox, its fully independent Hydrolastic suspension was a genuine innovation.

3. 1966 Renault 16

The Renault 16, along with the Austin 1800, gave an early hint of how the industry was starting to embrace hatchback bodies and front-wheel drive, in this case with a distinctly French twist in terms of ride and handling.

With all-round independent torsion-bar suspension, the R16 rode supremely, so much so that it beat both the new Rolls-Royce Shadow and Oldsmobile Toronado also on the podium, albeit with comedic levels of body roll when pressing on.

But it was the R16’s practicality, with its large rear hatch and multi-configurable rear seat, that really won over the judges.

4. 1968 NSU Ro80

Few genuinely futuristic cars have won the European Car of the Year, but the NSU Ro80 was arguably the first to do so, wowing judges with its twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine, producing similar power to a four-cylinder unit twice its size, plus its trick semi-automatic gearbox.

The Ro80’s sleek body was also particularly aerodynamic, and underpinned by an advanced front-drive chassis with all-independent suspension, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and all-wheel disc brakes, inboard at the front to reduce unsprung weight.

Alas, early reliability problems plagued the Wankel engine, unfairly tarnishing the model’s image.

5. 1969 Peugeot 504

Perhaps not the most technically advanced ECotY winner but, nonetheless, the Peugeot 504’s attractive Pininfarina lines and fine ride quality from fully independent suspension contributed to its top score, relegating the BMW 2500 and Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina into second and third places respectively.

You could say its victory was prescient, too, with the rear-wheel-drive 504’s reputation for ruggedness keeping it in production until 1983, spawning a vast estate, and attractive cabriolet and coupé, along the way.

6. 1970 Fiat 128

The parting shot of Fiat’s legendary designer, Dante Giacosa, the 128 is often acknowledged to be the template for the modern front-wheel-drive car.

While none of its technology was groundbreaking, the 128 was the first to combine features like a transversely mounted overhead-cam engine in line with its gearbox, front disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering and unequal-length driveshafts to quell unwanted torque-steer.

And perhaps thanks to its endearingly boxy shape, the 128 was superbly packaged, too, with 80% of its footprint devoted to occupants and their luggage.

That the Fiat was also a hoot to drive was the icing on this Turinese cake.

7. 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SE

Luxury cars have been rare in the European Car of the Year’s long history, but with its forward-thinking approach to safety, Mercedes-Benz garnered enough support from judges to make its 116-series 450SE a winner in 1974, ahead of the talented Fiat X1/9 and Honda Civic.

With its reinforced body panels, front and rear crumple zones, as well as its padded dashboard, the 450SE was a great place in which to have a crash.

It also rode and handled commendably well for a large car, thanks to an all-round independently sprung chassis and hydropneumatic suspension.

Judges would not have been immune to its V8 performance, either, nor its 130mph top-speed capability.

8. 1975 Citroën CX

Former European Car of the Year judge Ray Hutton believes that if ECotY had existed in 1955, the Citroën CX’s predecessor, the ID/DS, would have won, making this the second big car from the marque to take top honours (with a third to come…).

Judges admired the CX’s highly aerodynamic shape, enhanced further by its evolved hydropneumatic suspension, which not only gifted the car a remarkable blend of pillowy ride and decent body control, but also allowed it to sit lower at speed.

Pipping the all-new Volkswagen Golf to the top spot must have been the icing on the cake for Citroën, too.

9. 1977 Rover 3500 SD1

Thirteen years after its predecessor took the first ECotY win, the Rover 3500 (SD1) grabbed the top spot in 1977.

In some ways, a less sophisticated car than the outgoing P6 – its live axle replacing the de Dion rear-end, for example – David Bache and Spen King’s design won over the judges with its rakish lines and decent practicality, thanks to a rear hatchback.

While the SD1 became available with smaller six- and four-cylinder engines, it was the 3500 model, with its ex-Buick V8 that won the day.

10. 1978 Porsche 928

The only sports car to ever win European Car of the Year, the Porsche 928 was conceived as a replacement for the more idiosyncratic 911 – though only one of them now exists, and it isn’t the 928. 

Still, it did allow Porsche to take the GT fight to BMW and Mercedes-Benz at the time, and thanks to its (relatively) efficient 4.5-litre V8 engine, advanced safety features and sleek, ultra-modern 2+2 body design – including those memorable fold-flat headlights – the 928 won over the judging panel, despite its perceived exoticism.

11. 1980 Lancia Delta

Launched at the 1979 Frankfurt motor show, the Delta was to be Lancia’s premium small car, positioned above market rivals such as the new Vauxhall/Opel Astra, which ran the Delta a close second in that year’s contest.

As part of the Fiat group, Lancia employed the then-current Strada/Ritmo platform for the Delta, which in itself was derived from the earlier 128.

Even the Strada’s oversquare, overhead-cam engine was used in 1.3- and 1.5-litre forms, albeit with modifications made to inlet and exhaust systems to extract slightly more power.

Now better known in its HF Turbo and Integrale guises, the stock Delta is something of a rarity these days.

12. 1983 Audi 100

Vorsprung durch Technik – remember Audi’s ’80s TV ads? It translates as ‘Advantage through Technology’, and for Ingolstadt’s third-generation 100 model, the slogan was genuinely apt.

This was a large, executive saloon weighing just 1100kg (2425lb), and achieving a class-leading drag-coefficient figure of 0.30Cd, helped by a roof shorn of gutters and window glass that fitted flush to the big Audi’s sleek, rounded body.

Completing the virtuous circle was a range of 1.8- to 2.2-litre four- and five-cylinder petrol engines, plus two turbodiesels, confounding the notion that big cars required big cubes.

13. 1984 Fiat Uno

Taking victory with the Uno in 1984 must have been so much sweeter for Fiat, given the high standard of competition in the supermini class, including the Peugeot 205, which was runner-up that year.

Designed by Giugiaro at Italdesign, and replacing the aged 127, the Fiat Uno’s upright stance provided a roomy cabin, which scored highly with judges.

Innovative ergonomics, such as switchgear positioned in pods either side of the steering wheel, also found favour.

With engines ranging from the 127’s old 0.9-litre overhead-valve unit to a zesty 1.3-litre overhead-cam motor, the Uno’s model names – from ‘45’ to ‘75’ – denoted their metric power outputs.

14. 1987 Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega

It wasn’t until Vauxhall’s second-generation Carlton (or Opel’s Omega in Europe) appeared in 1987 that ECotY judges awarded it top honours.

Based on the Senator’s rear-wheel-drive platform, the new car’s smoothed-over shape achieved an impressive Cd figure of 0.28, while offering a salubrious cabin and generous boot space.

GM’s Family 2 1.8- and 2-litre four-cylinder engines were the Carlton’s mainstream staples, with 2.6- and 3-litre straight-six units adding a frisson of excitement further up the range. 

And while it never factored in ECotY’s judging, it was this model on which the 176mph Vauxhall Lotus Carlton was based.

15. 1988 Peugeot 405

The Peugeot 405’s 1988 ECotY victory was the contest’s most decisive in its then-14-year history, with 54 out of 57 judges awarding it maximum points.

And it was obvious why. The 405’s sharply drawn Pininfarina lines made those of the Citroën AX and Honda Prelude that joined it on the podium look dowdy by comparison.

Then factor in a nicely balanced front-wheel-drive chassis (for which Peugeot was becoming renowned), and a raft of punchy and efficient petrol and diesel/turbodiesel engines, and the 405 added a welcome dose of panache to the family saloon class.

16. 1990 Citroën XM

One of very few models that took ECotY honours in successive generations, the technically eccentric Citroën XM’s sharp Giugiaro lines juxtaposed with those of its curvaceous CX predecessor.

Visually notable for its 13-window glasshouse, making for an airy and light cabin, the XM’s wedgy front end with its small headlights improved aerodynamics, allowing use of smaller-capacity petrol and diesel engines to achieve still-respectable performance.

Like the CX, the XM continued to ride on hydropneumatic suspension, but this time rebranded ‘Hydractive’ and incorporating a series of computer sensors that adapted ride and body control according to how the car was being driven.

17. 1992 Volkswagen Golf

It was third time lucky for Volkswagen in 1992, when the Golf Mk3 clinched Car of the Year, after coming third in 1984 (Mk2) and runner-up in 1975 (Mk1).

Judges praised the Golf’s ‘maturity’ and build quality, as well as recognising two new notable engines in its line-up: a direct-injection turbodiesel, plus a 2.8-litre narrow-angle V6 for the range-topping VR6.

Also joining the Golf Mk3 range was an all-new Cabriolet model.

18. 1994 Ford Mondeo

The Mondeo was a watershed model for Ford, and it took the European Car of the Year gong with 290 points, 26 ahead of the Citroën Xantia and 98 clear of the third-place Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Replacing the long-serving Sierra, judges praised the new Ford for its reasonable pricing, good roadholding, and efficient 1.6-, 1.8- and 2-litre Zetec engines.

Available as a hatch, saloon and estate, the Mondeo was a global product, jointly developed by Ford’s teams in Europe and the US.

19. 1998 Alfa Romeo 156

The 156 was the first Alfa Romeo to take overall ECotY honours, bolstering the company’s late-’90s turnaround after many years in the doldrums.

It was easy to see why, too. Alfa’s in-house designer Walter de Silva devised a coupé-like roofline for the five-seat saloon, tricking the eye with concealed rear doorhandles.

He also paid homage to Alfa’s traditional front-end look, enhanced by a distinctive offset numberplate.

A polished front double-wishbone chassis combined with a range of sparkling petrol engines at launch, from a 1.6-litre to a 24-valve 2.5-litre V6.

20. 1999 Ford Focus

Few cars in our list underwent a transformation after their predecessors as much as Ford’s Focus did, when it followed on from the by-then unloved and underperforming Escort. 

Fresh, modern and easy on the eye, the Focus’s ‘New Edge’ design cut a swathe through a class populated by vanilla-styled competition, while also being well-packaged and ergonomically brilliant.

And then there was its chassis: while rivals skimped with torsion-beam rear ends, Ford’s ‘Control Blade’ multi-link arrangement set the class standard, bringing fine dynamics to the masses.

21. 2004 Fiat Panda

Perhaps not quite as radical as the 1981 original, Fiat’s 2004 version of the Panda found favour with ECotY’s judges thanks to its winning combination of a small footprint, spacious cabin and ultra-frugal 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine, at a time when oil-burners were starting to become in vogue.

Based around the Fiat Mini platform, also shared with Ford’s second-series Ka and Fiat’s future 500, the Panda was an instant sales success, spawning sporting and four-wheel-drive derivatives.

22. 2005 Toyota Prius

Toyota’s first-generation Prius had become the world’s first mass-produced electrified car when it launched in 1997.

And in its second iteration, it also became ECotY’s first hybrid-powered car to take overall victory in the contest.

Now a five-door hatchback, instead of a four-door saloon, the new Prius’s clever Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) altered the balance between its dual power sources, with electric playing a bigger part in overall performance. 

That meant the Prius was more economical at 65.7mpg, but also quicker, with 0-60mph taking a respectable 10.9 secs.

23. 2006 Renault Clio

This was the first repeat win for an ECotY car, the original Renault Clio having taken the trophy in 1991. It also marked Renault’s sixth victory in the contest, its last being the Mégane Scénic in 1997.

It was a close call, though, with the runner-up Volkswagen Passat a mere five points shy of the Clio. One judge also remarked that, at 4.45m long, the Clio had almost outgrown the small-car class.

Either way, ECotY’s panel praised the Clio for its quality, comfort, space and safety, with another judge remarking that it set a new class-benchmark.

24. 2012 Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Bolt

Winning European Car of the Year with 330 points – 49 points clear of the second-place Volkswagen Up! – the Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Bolt twins claimed to offer the perfect solution to electric-vehicle ownership, without the issue of ‘range anxiety’.

Known as an extended-range electric vehicle, or E-REV, parent General Motors had developed a complex powertrain which blended a battery and electric motor with a 1.4-litre petrol engine, enabling the Ampera/Bolt to run on combustion power when the supply from its battery was depleted – normally, after around 37 miles.

However, clever though the tech was, it found too few early adopters to make for a sustainable business case in the UK and Europe.

25. 2019 Jaguar I-Pace

In 2019, the I-Pace was not only the first Jaguar to be awarded the European Car of the Year gong, but it was also the most powerful car to have won the accolade.

Judges praised the I-Pace for its credible driving range, ability to fast-charge and fine chassis dynamics, though as the only current car in our set, many of its rivals have now caught up, making the Jaguar BEV not quite as competitive as it once was.

All the same, with 396bhp and 512lb ft torque, and a 0-60mph time of 4.5 secs, the Jaguar I-Pace is still a genuine contender in its class.