Volkswagen enjoyed a standout evening at the 2026 What Car? Awards, with three of its models recognised across key segments. The all-new T-Roc was named Best Small SUV, the ID.7 Tourer retained its title as Best Electric Estate for a second consecutive year, and the ID. Buzz claimed Best Seven-Seat MPV. Together, the awards underline the breadth of Volkswagen’s current line-up, spanning conventional combustion, hybrid-ready platforms and fully electric mobility.
Volkswagen T-Roc crowned Best Small SUV
Fresh to the UK market and available to order for barely two weeks, the second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc has already secured one of the most competitive awards in the industry. Judges at What Car? praised the compact SUV for delivering meaningful improvements over its predecessor, particularly in interior quality and overall refinement, while staying true to the relaxed driving character that made the original such a success.
Offered in Life, Style and R-Line trims and priced from £31,620 on-the-road, the new T-Roc builds on familiar strengths with a more expressive exterior design, bolder colour options and a noticeably more premium cabin. Volkswagen has focused heavily on perceived quality, with improved materials, tighter assembly and upgraded digital interfaces helping the T-Roc move further upmarket without losing its everyday usability.
Crucially, the platform also brings increased passenger and luggage space, alongside a broader suite of driver assistance systems previously reserved for larger models. Looking ahead, Volkswagen has confirmed that the T-Roc will also gain a completely new full hybrid powertrain, reflecting the brand’s multi-pathway approach to electrification.
Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, highlighted the balance the new model strikes. He noted that the interior feels “much classier than its predecessor”, while the car continues to deliver the low noise levels and plush ride that define its driving experience. In his view, those qualities now set a new benchmark for the small SUV class.
The award also reinforces the T-Roc’s importance to Volkswagen globally. Since its debut in 2017, more than two million units have been sold worldwide, making it the brand’s most successful SUV after the Tiguan.
ID.7 Tourer repeats success as Best Electric Estate
Volkswagen’s momentum continued with the ID.7 Tourer, which once again took home the Best Electric Estate title. Despite a surge of new competitors entering the electric estate market over the past year, What Car? judges concluded that the ID.7 Tourer still offers the most convincing all-round package.
As Volkswagen’s first fully electric estate car, the ID.7 Tourer was designed to combine long-distance capability with the practicality traditionally associated with the body style. With an official WLTP range of up to 422 miles, it remains one of the longest-range electric cars in its segment, helped by an exceptionally low drag coefficient of just 0.25. That aerodynamic efficiency translates directly into reduced energy consumption at motorway speeds.
Practicality is equally central to the ID.7 Tourer’s appeal. With all five seats in place, it offers up to 605 litres of luggage space, expanding to 1,714 litres when the rear seats are folded. The resulting load area stretches to almost two metres in length, making it a genuine alternative to large combustion-engined estates for families and business users alike.
Huntingford praised the car’s ability to combine space, comfort and refinement, noting that its boot capacity outclasses most rivals and that longer journeys are made easier by its quiet, compliant ride. The fact that the ID.7 Tourer has retained its title for a second year speaks to how well it has held up against intensifying competition in the electric market.
ID. Buzz named Best Seven-Seat MPV
Rounding off the evening, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles celebrated the ID. Buzz being named Best Seven-Seat MPV. While its retro-inspired design often draws the headlines, What Car? judges focused on its underlying strengths as a family vehicle, particularly its blend of space, comfort and usability.
The ID. Buzz offers the interior room and flexibility expected of a full-size MPV, yet delivers car-like manoeuvrability and a refined driving experience more akin to a premium SUV. Powered by an 86 kWh battery, it offers an all-electric range of up to 292 miles (WLTP combined), making it suitable for both daily duties and longer trips.
According to Huntingford, the ID. Buzz stands out not just for its size and practicality, but also for the level of comfort and refinement it provides. While style is not part of the formal judging criteria, he acknowledged that the Buzz’s distinctive design contributes to strong resale values and competitive finance options, adding another layer of appeal for buyers.
A strong statement across segments
Taken together, Volkswagen’s triple success at the 2026 What Car? Awards reflects a product strategy that caters to a wide range of needs and powertrain preferences. From the newly launched T-Roc redefining expectations in the small SUV segment, to the ID.7 Tourer demonstrating how electric estates can excel on range and practicality, and the ID. Buzz reimagining the MPV for the electric age, the brand has delivered compelling offerings across the board.
For UK buyers, the awards serve as a clear endorsement from one of the industry’s most influential voices, reinforcing Volkswagen’s position as a manufacturer capable of blending everyday usability, comfort and forward-looking technology in equal measure.
