The new Peugeot 3008 SUV was crowned Irish Car of the Year 2018, in association with Continental Tyres, at a gala event in The Gibson Hotel, Dublin.

Attended by leading figures in the Irish Motor Industry and motoring journalists and warded the Irish Compact SUV of the Year 2018 category winner, the 3008 SUV then beat off stiff competition from eight other category winners, to take the overall title crown. Launched in March in Ireland, demand for the multi-award winning Peugeot 3008 SUV has soared to place it as the best-selling Peugeot car model in 2017. The Irish Car of the Year 2018 accolade is the 34th international award bestowed upon the 3008 SUV.

Des Cannon, Managing Director of Gowan Distributors, Peugeot Importers in Ireland said: “When we first saw and drove the new 3008 SUV, we knew it was a very special car. We are simply over the moon with the Irish Car of the Year 2018 title. Huge thanks to the Irish Car of the Year voters for their dedication to the awards and to Continental Tyres for their support.”

Irish Car of The Year Committee member, Michael Sheridan, said: “What an achievement for the Peugeot 3008 to come out on top from a field of some 60 new models launched this year on the Irish market.”

Irish Car of The Year Committee member, David Walshe, said: “It was a very tight competition this year with many, many fine vehicles in the running for the Irish Car of the Year accolade, congratulations to a worthy winner.”

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres said: “The choices of the Irish Car of the Year jury are a great help in informing Irish consumers as to the bewildering array of high tech vehicles that are launched in Ireland each year. Continental is delighted to be associated with the Irish Car of the Year awards.”

The category winners:

Kia Picanto - Irish City Car of the Year 2018
Nissan Micra - Irish Small Car of the Year 2018
Honda Civic - Irish Compact Car of the Year 2018
Alfa Romeo Giulia - Irish Medium Car of the Year 2018
BMW 5 Series - Irish Executive / Premium Car of the Year 2018
Peugeot 3008 - Irish Compact Crossover of the Year 2018
Skoda Kodiaq - Irish Large Crossover of the Year 2018
Toyota Prius PHEV - Irish Green / Efficient Car of the Year 2018
Alfa Romeo Giulia QF - Irish Performance / Sports Car of the Year 2018

New for this year’s awards programme, the Irish Car of the Year Committee introduced an award designed to recognise outstanding innovation, the Irish Car of the Year Innovation award. The Irish Car of the Year Committee explained that the aim of the award is to highlight the many innovative technologies and systems that car makers are integrating in new models. Many of these innovations are helping to improve road safety and are making cars more intelligent as the dawn of autonomous driving comes ever closer.  The winner of the inaugural Irish Car of the Year Innovation Award for 2018 is the Honda Civic Sensing Suite of Safety Features.

Apart from the Innovation category award winner, the nine other category winners were all in the running for the top honour with the judging panel of some 30 journalists electing the Peugeot 3008 by a very tight margin.