
The 2020 Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year awards programme has been launched with 48 cars eligible to win.
A gala event will be held in The Westin Hotel, Dublin, on Thursday November 7th, with a number of category winners revealed as well as the overall winner, Irish Car of the Year 2020.
The aim of the Irish Car of the Year awards is to highlight for consumers the best new cars that have launched in Ireland in the previous 12 months.
The jury for Irish Car of the Year is made up of 34 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, from across online, broadcast and print media, including this writer.
On October 21st and 22nd, jurors will have the opportunity to drive eligible cars again before voting begins. The event will take place at Mondello Park.
The full list of eligible cars for the Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year 2020 awards is as follows:
Audi A1 | Kia e-Soul | Range Rover Evoque |
Audi E-Tron | Kia e-Niro | Renault Clio |
Audi Q3 | Kia XCeed | Renault Megane RS Trophy |
Audi Q8 | Kia ProCeed | SEAT Tarraco |
Audi RS5 | Lexus UX | Skoda Scala |
Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV | Lexus ES | Ford Ranger Raptor |
BMW 3 Series | Mazda 3 | Skoda Kodiaq RS |
BMW 8 Series | Mercedes Benz B-Class | Tesla Model3 |
BMW X5 | Mercedes Benz GLC | Toyota Corolla |
BMW X7 | Mercedes Benz GLE | Toyota Camry |
BMW Z4 | Mercedes Benz EQC | Toyota RAV4 |
Citroen C5 Aircross | Mercedes Benz CLA | Toyota Supra |
Citroen Berlingo Multispace | Mercedes Benz A35 AMG | Volkswagen T-Cross |
Cupra Ateca | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | Volvo S60 |
DS7 | Opel Combo Life | |
Ford Focus ST | Peugeot 508 | |
Hyundai Kona Electric | Peugeot Rifter |
A dedicated Irish Car of the Year website that contains background on the awards and further details on eligible cars is available at www.caroftheyear.ie.

Speaking at the launch of the 2020 awards programme, Tom Dennigan, Continental Tyres, said:
“This year, we have another bumper crop of new cars eligible for the Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year title. Indeed, the awards website is a great resource for Irish consumers and those interested in buying a new car. The site has all of the detail on the range of new cars that have been launched in Ireland this year as well as useful video pieces on past winners’.
The website will also feature details of the vehicles that have been successful in the 2020 programme following the awards event on November 7th.
The Volvo XC40 is the current Irish Car of the Year.