Cars

Magnificent Seven make COTY shortlist

 Peugeot's striking new 308 might be painted green, but it isn't as eco-friendly on the move as Kia's stunning EV6 electric car. Both are on the seven-car shortlist for the Car of the Year 2022 award, with the Peugeot the only internal combustion-engined contender.
 Peugeot's striking new 308 might be painted green, but it isn't as eco-friendly on the move as Kia's stunning EV6 electric car. Both are on the seven-car shortlist for the Car of the Year 2022 award, with the Peugeot the only internal combustion-eng  Peugeot's striking new 308 might be painted green, but it isn't as eco-friendly on the move as Kia's stunning EV6 electric car. Both are on the seven-car shortlist for the Car of the Year 2022 award, with the Peugeot the only internal combustion-engined contender.

IN a further sign of the motor industry's dramatic and rapid shift to electric vehicles, six of the seven cars shortlisted for the 2022 European Car of the Year title are powered by batteries, writes William Scholes.

The only finalist which can be fed with petrol or diesel is Peugeot's swish new 308 family car - though naturally it can be had as a plug-in hybrid.

The final seven have been chosen from a starting list of 38 contenders by motoring journalists from across Europe.

Cupra's Born, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the stunning Korean duo of Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, Renault's Megane E-Tech and Skoda's Enyaq are the electric cars to get the nod.

The Cupra and the Skoda are closely related, though are still different takes on the Volkswagen Group's electric car platform that can also be found under the Volkswagen ID3 and ID4 and the Audi Q4 e-tron. The Cupra is pitched as a sporty hatch, while the Skoda is a family-friendly SUV.

The Kia and Hyundai are also siblings, with electric architecture that is a step ahead of comparable European rivals.

Ford has drawn criticism from some for applying the fabled Mustang nameplate to its Mach-E electric crossover-meets-SUV; still, the car has won strong reviews, including for how well it drives.

The Renault Megane E-Tech is a new electric version of its family car; one wonders if Peugeot will come to regret not offering its new 308 with an electric version...

The overall winner is due to be announced on February 28.