Auto Express New Car Awards 2016: the shortlist

The shortlist for the 2016 Auto Express New Car Awards has been announced. The awards ceremony, which will be held on 5th July, will celebrate the best of the best in terms of new cars currently on sale in the UK.

The shortlisted cars are battling it out over 21 categories, that cover the whole of today's new car market including everything from the best city cars to the best SUVs, the best supercars and the best green cars.

From the five contenders in each category, three will be commended on the night of the awards and one of those three will be named as the individual award winner. Each of the category winning cars will then go forward in the competition with one set to be crowned Auto Express Car of the Year 2016. 

Previous Car of the Year winners have included the Volvo XC90 in 2015 and the MINI hatchback in 2014 but which model will take the prize in 2016? 

Along with these car category awards, other accolades up for grabs at the New Car Awards ceremony include our annual Design Award, Car Advertising Campaign Award and Driver Power Award. The winners will be revealed at the event and we'll also be announcing them live right here on the Auto Express website.

Scroll down to see the shortlist of cars that will be battling it out for one of our prestigious Auto Express New Car Awards in 2016... 

Best city car

22

• Hyundai i10
• Renault Twingo
• Skoda Citigo
• Toyota Aygo
• Vauxhall Viva

Best supermini

22

• Ford Fiesta
• Mazda 2
• Skoda Fabia
• Suzuki Baleno
• Volkswagen Polo

Best premium small car

22

• Audi A1
• DS 3
• Fiat 500
• MINI
• Vauxhall Adam

Best compact family car

22

• • Mazda 3
• • MINI Clubman
• • SEAT Leon
• • Skoda Octavia
• • Vauxhall Astra

Best crossover

22

• Citroen C4 Cactus
• Hyundai Tucson
• Nissan Qashqai
• Renault Kadjar
• SEAT Ateca

Best family car

22

• Kia Optima
• Mazda 6
• Skoda Superb
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Passat

Best estate car

22

• Honda Civic Tourer
• Peugeot 308 SW
• SEAT Leon ST
• Skoda Superb Estate
• Volkswagen Passat Estate

Best compact executive car

22

• Audi A4
• BMW 3 Series
• Jaguar XE
• Lexus IS
• Mercedes C-Class

Best executive car

22

• Audi A6
• Mercedes E-Class
• Jaguar XF
• Tesla Model S
• Volvo S90

Best luxury car

22

• Bentley Mulsanne
• BMW 7 Series
• Mercedes S-Class
• Range Rover
• Rolls-Royce Ghost

Best hot hatch

22

• Ford Focus RS
• Ford Fiesta ST
• Honda Civic Type R
• Peugeot 308 GTi
• SEAT Leon Cupra 290

Best convertible

22

• Audi A3 Cabriolet
• BMW 2 Series Convertible
• Ford Mustang Convertible
• MINI Convertible
• Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Best MPV

22

• Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
• Ford S-MAX
• Kia Carens
• SEAT Alhambra
• Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

Best compact SUV

22

• Dacia Duster
• Jaguar F-Pace
• Land Rover Discovery Sport
• Mercedes GLC
• Mitsubishi Outlander

Best large SUV

22

• Audi Q7
• Kia Sorento
• Lexus RX
• Range Rover Sport
• Volvo XC90

Best coupe

22

• Audi TT
• Ford Mustang
• Jaguar F-Type Coupe
• Lexus RC
• Porsche 911

Best roadster

22

• Audi TT Roadster
• Jaguar F-Type
• Mazda MX-5
• Mercedes SLC
• Porsche 718 Boxster

Best pick-up

22

• • Ford Ranger
• • Mitsubishi L200
• • Nissan NP300 Navara
• • Toyota Hilux
• • Volkswagen Amarok

Performance car of the year

22

• • Audi R8
• • BMW M2
• • Ferrari 488 GTB
• • McLaren 570S
• • Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Green award

22

• • BMW i3
• • Kia Niro
• • Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
• • Nissan Leaf
• • Toyota Prius

Van of the year

22

• Fiat Doblo Cargo
• Ford Transit
• Ford Transit Custom
• Volkswagen Caddy
• Volkswagen Transporter

The winners of the Auto Express New Car Awards will be announced on July 5th 2016. Tell us your favourites in the comments section below...