It’s coming home. Škoda wins back Estate Car of the Year title as brand triumphs at 2026 What Car? Awards

• Superb Estate wins back Estate Car of the Year title it won for eight consecutive years
• Kodiaq confirmed as What Car? Tow Car of the Year
• Scala, Elroq and Kodiaq awarded Best Value titles
• Judges praise Škoda models for practicality, value for money and customer choice

Milton Keynes, 22 January 2026 – Škoda has secured another impressive raft of category wins and coveted Best Buy awards at the annual What Car? Awards. The Superb claimed back its Estate Car of the Year title after a two-year hiatus, while the Scala, Elroq and Kodiaq were all recognised for their unbeatable qualities and value for money.

Having won the Estate Car of the Year title for an unprecedented eight years in a row (from 2016-2023), the Superb Estate recaptured its title, comprehensively outscoring its competitors for value, practicality and wide range of drivetrain options. Returning the Superb Estate to its top (and rightful) position, the What Car? judging panel praised its remarkable use of space and family-friendly features.

Commenting on the Superb’s performance, What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford said: “There can be few families whose needs the Škoda Superb Estate wouldn’t satisfy. It’s absolutely immense inside, both for passengers and luggage. Yet it doesn’t feel overly big from behind the wheel, because it combines tidy handling with a comfortable ride – particularly if you specify the optional adaptive suspension.”

The Kodiaq was also confirmed as What Car? Tow Car of the Year, having seen off tough competition across seven weight categories in testing late last year. The Czech SUV proved unbeatable, winning the 1,700-1,999kg category and and taking the overall title. Commenting on the Kodiaq’s title, Steve Huntingford said: “Make a list of the qualities you look for in a tow car. The chances are the Škoda Kodiaq possesses most or all of them. It’s very stable at the legal limit. However hard our drivers pushed it at the test track, they never had a nervous moment. Every one of this year’s category winners is a great car, but the Kodiaq surpasses them all. No other winner can claim a more complete range of talents than the brilliant Kodiaq.”

In addition to its two category wins, Škoda was also awarded three What Car? Best Buy awards. Designed to highlight the best cars in specific, practical categories, Best Buy awards focus on real-world buying priorities. The Scala, Elroq and Kodiaq were all named Best Value options within their categories, with the Scala named Best Value Family Car, the Elroq taking the Best Value Electric SUV title and the Kodiaq securing the Best Value Seven Seat SUV honour.

A full database of media assets relating to all Škoda models, including images, video b-roll and technical information, is available to download at www.skodamedia.com.

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Škoda Auto 

• is successfully steering through the new decade with the Next Level – Škoda Strategy 2030.
• aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 with an attractive line-up in the entry-level segments and additional e-models.
• is emerging as the leading European brand in important growth markets such as India or North Africa.
• currently offers its customers eleven passenger-car series: the Fabia, Scala, Octavia and Superb as well as the Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq, Enyaq, Enyaq Coupé, Slavia and Kushaq.
• delivered over 731,000 vehicles to customers around the world in 2022.
• has been a member of the Volkswagen Group for 30 years. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world.
• independently manufactures and develops not only vehicles but also components such as MEB battery systems, engines and transmissions in association with the Group.
• operates at three sites in the Czech Republic; has additional production capacity in China, Slovakia and India primarily through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine with a local partner.
• employs over 40,000 people globally and is active in over 100 markets.

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