BMW’s i3 electric supermini has been named the very first UK Car of the Year.

BusinessCar editor Paul Barker was one of a 27-strong panel of automotive journalist experts that chose the car, which beat models including the Porsche Cayman, Range Rover Sport, Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, Audi A3 and BMW 5-series, and also took the newly established award’s best supermini category.

The Ford Fiesta ST, which secured the best performance car prize, was runner up, with the Skoda Octavia estate (best estate) and Jaguar F-type (best open-top car) in joint-third place.

There were 11 categories for these awards, which were designed to test cars in British driving conditions. 

“Alternative vehicles have made a big impression on UK buyers in recent years, and the i3 takes things to the next level,” said John Challen, MD of UK Car of the Year Awards, and editor of ukcoty.co.uk, presenting the award to BMW marketing director Uwe Dreyer.

“It might be a new direction for BMW, but the i3 retains the driving characteristics from BMW’s more established models.”