New Nissan Qashqai takes Irish media award

The Nissan Qashqai has scooped the inaugural Car of the Year award from Ireland's Association of Professional Motoring Press. The awards, handed out at a gala evening at the Powerscourt Hotel, in Wicklow, were said to be the most rigorously judged ever. The awards also covered every major motoring category, in an attempt to recognise the best of all motoring segments.

While the Qashqai took the overall honours, and also won APMP Mid Size SUV Of The Year, other winners included Audi, which took home awards in two categories - the A3 saloon picking up Family Car Of The Year and the A8 taking Luxury Car Of The Year. Large Family Car Of The Year went to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. BMW's 2 Series scored Coupe/Cabriolet Of The Year, the Citroen C4 Cactus took Small SUV Of The Year and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plugin-hybird won Large SUV Of The Year. The Outlander also scooped the Innovation award for its petrol/electric plugin drivetrain.