BMW Group UK enters autumn in a strong position, having collected a variety of industry accolades at recent awards. Four of which were collected at the What Car? Electric Car Awards 2025, where the BMW i7 retained its Best Electric Luxury Car title for the third consecutive year. Similar success followed at the annual Towcar of the Year Awards with three category wins, including a double for the recently updated BMW iX. Meanwhile, MINI further strengthens its model lineup with the introduction of the new MINI Countryman E Monochrome, offering a sleek design and an enhanced standard specification.

BMW Group collects four awards at the What Car? Electric Car Awards 2025.
BMW Group recently secured four category wins at the What Car? Electric Awards, which each year celebrate the best electric vehicles (EVs) currently available for the UK market. Considering innovation, performance and sustainability, the awards help consumers identify the best EVs across a range of categories.

The BMW i7 was named Best Electric Luxury Car for the third consecutive year, as BMW continues to “set the standard” for electric luxury cars, said What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford. “The i7 and iX are both so good that they’ve earned our maximum five-star rating.” Continuing its status as class-leader, the flagship saloon was praised by judges for its “incredible comfort”, “beautiful” finish, unique technology – such as the “fabulous 8K cinema screen” – and its “uncanny ability to shut out unwanted noise.”

Also celebrated by the publication was the BMW 330e, which claimed the title for Best Used Hybrid Executive Car. Commenting on the win, Huntingford praised its “low running costs”, “driver appeal”, and “plush interior”. Meanwhile, the BMW 530e secured the Best Used Hybrid Estate award, offering “space, quality and efficiency that’s unmatched”. The final trophy of the night was presented to the MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4, which topped the Best Used Hybrid Small SUV category, thanks to its impressive reliability – scoring 99.7 per cent in the recent What Car? Reliability Survey – and class-leading refinement.

BMW iX and BMW X3 commended at the annual Towcar of the Year Awards.
Continuing its winning streak, BMW celebrated success at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards – an annual celebration of the best cars currently available for consumers with towing needs. To qualify, all manufacturers must take part in a rigorous testing process across four days at Millbrook Proving Ground. Participating models are scored on practicality, innovation and overall driving experience, in addition to their all-important towing capacity.

The recently revised BMW iX secured two awards, leading both the Caravan Weight over 2,000kg and Electric Towcar categories. On presenting the accolades, judges named the iX “one of its star performers”, and paid tribute to the adaptive air suspension’s ability to “keep everything stable, composed and level when hitched, while regenerative braking helped control descents.”

An additional title was presented to the BMW X3 M50 xDrive, after topping the Caravan Weight 1700-1800kg category. Judges commended the M Performance model’s towing capabilities, stating, “The [BMW] X3 undeniably has a quality feel, especially when towing: it’s stable, secure and delivers immense confidence when braking.” The panel were equally impressed by its driving dynamics; “it’s a really fun car to drive that offers class-leading acceleration performance,” they continued.

Introducing the new MINI Countryman E Monochrome.
MINI is pleased to introduce the new MINI Countryman E Monochrome. The largest member of the MINI family is the third model to receive the Monochrome treatment, following the launch of the MINI Cooper Electric Monochrome and the MINI Aceman Monochrome in July.

Like its siblings, the special edition is offered in a fixed specification, where customers can select from Midnight Black or Nanuq White exterior paint finishes and benefit from an increased level of standard equipment, including MINI Navigation with Head-Up Display, wireless charging and LED headlights. Black 18-inch Asteroid Spoke alloy wheels are also standard, alongside a body-coloured roof for a seamless finish.

Inside, an Anthracite headliner is accompanied by a model-exclusive interior pattern, where the new multitone fabric spreads across the front and rear seats, finished with white and yellow stitching.

The MINI Countryman E Monochrome is equipped with a 64.6 kWh battery, enabling 10–80-per-cent charging in 29 minutes when using a 130 kW DC charger. The model is priced at £32,595 OTR, with initial customer deliveries commencing in January 2026.

For more information about the MINI Monochrome lineup, visit mini.co.uk.

Ends


The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

www.bmwgroup.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup

X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup


For further information please contact:

Sam Buckingham
Press Officer, MINI
Tel: 07815 362 262
Samuel.Buckingham@mini.co.uk

Tom Evans
Senior Press Officer, BMW
Tel: 07815 371 705
Email: Tom.Evans@bmw.co.uk

James Morrison
Head of Product Communications
Tel: 07815 372 646
Email: James.Morrison@bmw.co.uk

Christina Burnham-Hepe
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 07815 371 206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk

BMW Group UK has made a strong start to the new year, picking up four coveted category wins at the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2025. BMW collected three headline awards – with the BMW M3 Touring, BMW 4 Series and BMW X7 continuing to lead their respective classes – and a further six subcategory wins. Meanwhile, MINI was named Most Reliable Manufacturer.

The BMW M3 Touring retains its Performance Car of the Year title for the second consecutive year. Commenting on the win, Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? said, “The M3 Touring is one of those cars that's built to handle every scenario you can throw at it – and it does so with devastating effectiveness. Relatively compact exterior dimensions allow it to dance through corners, while its twin-turbo straight-six engine hits all the right notes. Yet the M3 Touring is just as capable of playing the practical and classy family car when circumstances demand."

The BMW 4 Series celebrated its win as What Car? Coupé/Convertible of the Year, continuing its impressive streak in the convertible category, where it has been named ‘Best Convertible’ for five consecutive years. The second-generation 4 Series received an array of updates last year, including a refreshed exterior design, striking new headlights and a redesigned cockpit. On presenting the award, Huntingford said, "While many convertibles feel vague and ponderous compared with their coupé sisters, the 4 Series is great to drive whether you go for the hard-top or the soft-top. The 4 Series is also a full four-seater, with enough space in the back for a couple of six-footers. And its interior combines high-quality materials with a class-leading infotainment system”.

The BMW X7 garnered BMW’s third category win of the evening after being crowned Luxury Car of the Year. The latest variant of the BMW X7 was introduced in 2022, and  has since been widely recognised for its premium feel, exceptional level of standard equipment and spaciousness – with room for up to seven passengers thanks to three rows of seats. What Car? judges praised the model, stating, “The BMW X7 is the rolling embodiment of the sort of houses you see on TV's Grand Designs: spacious, striking and beautifully constructed. What's more, the optional Ultimate Pack makes the interior of this luxury SUV even more cosseting, and brings upgraded air suspension that delivers a more stable and luxurious ride than any rival can offer."

The MINI brand was also recognised on the night as What Car?’s Most Reliable Manufacturer. Highlighting the dependability of MINI’s product range, Huntingford commented, "MINI had the lowest fault rate of any brand featured in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. What's more, on the rare occasions things did go wrong, all of the cars remained driveable and almost half of issues were resolved in a day or less. MINI even showed that going electric is no barrier to producing dependable models, with the MINI Electric achieving a hugely impressive 98.4% reliability score”.

Alongside the above overall category wins, a further six BMW models were recognised for their excellence within sub-categories.

Three vehicles within BMW’s fully electric portfolio were commended. The first was the BMW i7, which topped the Best Electric Luxury Car category, adding a further win to the flagship’s growing list of accolades. Meanwhile, the BMW iX won the Family SUV Best Interior award – a testament to its meticulously crafted and comfortable cabin. The BMW i5 also stood out for its interior, winning the Best Executive Car Interior for a second consecutive year.

In addition, the recently revised BMW 330e which now offers up to 63 miles (WLTP, combined) of all-electric range was recognised as the Best Plug-in Hybrid to Drive. The BMW M240i Coupe won Best Performance Car for Value, with judges commending the model’s comprehensive offering at its price point. Finally, the BMW 1 Series won the award for Best Family Car Interior, continuing its success in this category from the previous year. Launched last year, the fourth-generation BMW 1 Series boasts a premium and versatile cabin with class-leading interior technology.

To learn more about these award-winning brands, please visit https://bmw.co.uk/ or https://mini.co.uk/.


Ends


The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

www.bmwgroup.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup
X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup

For further information please contact:

Sam Buckingham
Press Officer, MINI
Tel: 07815 362 262
Samuel.Buckingham@mini.co.uk

Tom Evans
Senior Press Officer, BMW
Tel: 07815 371 705
Email: Tom.Evans@bmw.co.uk

Helen Wilson
MINI Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 372 480
Email: Helen.Wilson@mini.co.uk

Chris Overall
BMW Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 370 990
Email: Chris.Overall@bmw.co.uk

Christina Burnham-Hepe
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 07815 371 206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk

• BMW Group UK collects four award wins at the What Car? Electric Car Awards 2023
• BMW 330e, i7 and i8 lead their respective categories
• MINI Countryman PHEV reclaims Best Hybrid Small SUV title

BMW Group UK was once again successful at this year’s What Car? Electric Car Awards, taking home four prized category wins across the Group’s electrified model portfolio.

The BMW 330e, i7 and i8 each secured the win in their respective class. Whilst once again the MINI Countryman PHEV won at the awards, topping the Best Hybrid Small SUV category.

For a second year in a row the BMW 330e, powered by the combination of a 2.0 litre petrol engine and an electric motor producing 292hp, took home the illustrious ‘Best Used Hybrid Executive Car’ award. Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car? said, "If you buy used, the 330e costs less than key rivals. Yet it's more entertaining than any of them to drive, thanks to sharp, well-balanced handling. It's a comfortable car, too (particularly if you buy an example equipped with the M Sport Pro Pack), and all versions come with an infotainment system that's wonderfully intuitive."

With What Car? believing "BMW's flagship saloon is undoubtedly one of the most complete cars on sale today” the BMW i7 has added ‘Best Electric Luxury Car’ to its growing tally of awards. Offering a cutting-edge digital experience with the BMW Theatre Screen and BMW Interaction Bar, the BMW i7 combines striking style with a luxurious interior to lead its segment. What Car? states “It combines superb ride comfort and effortless performance with a long range and fast charging. What's more, it's hugely spacious and available with a rear entertainment system that offers audio and visuals worthy of the best cinemas."

Launched in 2012, the BMW i8 was a trailblazer in the performance car segment and continues to impress over 10 years on, collecting the ‘Best Used Hybrid Performance Car’ at the 2023 What Car? Electric Car Awards. Steve Huntingford said, "It may have been discontinued, but the BMW i8 still looks like the future. And in many ways it feels like it, too, with its lightweight construction boosting performance, agility and efficiency. Our advice would be to buy one while you can, because we think prices are only going to go up."

Finally, the MINI Countryman PHEV reclaimed its title as ‘Best Hybrid Small SUV’, with What Car? judges applauding its “smart interior design” and class-leading build quality. Huntingford summarises, “The Countryman takes the style of the traditional Mini hatchback and applies it to a much more practical, family-friendly package,” with a pure electric range that is “easily long enough for the school run.”

ENDS

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

• BMW wins more category awards than any other brand at the 44^th annual What Car? Awards
• 3 Series, 4 Series Coupé, 4 Series Convertible, 5 Series and X5 xDrive45e lead their respective categories
• Eight ‘Best Buy’ recommendations for BMW and a win for MINI

BMW is celebrating a triumphant start to 2022 after winning more awards than any other manufacturer at the 44^th annual What Car? Awards, with five coveted category wins across the brand’s model portfolio.

The BMW 3 Series, 4 Series Coupé, 4 Series Convertible, 5 Series and X5 xDrive45e were all recognised as best in their respective class, with BMW also winning a further eight ‘Best Buy’ awards. MINI snapped up the award for ‘Best Small Car Interior’.

BMW 330e and BMW 530e retained their awards from 2021, taking home the highly contested ‘Executive Car of the Year’ and ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ awards respectively.

Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car? commented “The 330e represents the brilliant BMW 3 Series at its very best, because it offers a long enough electric range to cover a typical daily commute, while keeping running costs low for private and company car drivers alike. It's well thought out inside, too, with an infotainment system that's better than those of rivals, and plenty of space for your family. Add in the fact that the 330e retains the fun handling we've come to expect from the 3 Series, and you've got a truly special car”.

The BMW 4 Series Coupé added another award to its collection as it was named ‘Coupé of the Year’, taking its total to nine UK industry awards since it was launched in October 2020. Huntingford praised the model’s silhouette, suspension and driving pleasure, noting “The 4 Series Coupé has the bulletproof underpinnings of the 3 Series, but with a sexier silhouette, a stiffer structure, retuned suspension and a wider rear.  In other words, what you lose in practicality, you gain (big time) in aesthetic appeal and driving pleasure. It trounces rivals in bends with the standard suspension, and even more so with the M Sport adaptive set-up”.

The 4 Series Convertible was named ‘Convertible of the Year’, with judges praising both the spacious interior and dynamic yet efficient petrol engine, stating “refinement is excellent in the new 4 Series Convertible, whether you have the roof up or down. Plus, that roof is lighter than before, which contributes to this latest 4 Series drop-top being even better to drive than its predecessor. The punchy and pleasantly frugal petrol engine in our favourite version is another strength. And the interior is both spacious enough for four and smartly finished”.

The BMW X5 xDrive45e impressed the What Car? team with its “remarkable efficiency and long electric range”. It won ‘Luxury SUV of the Year’ with judges adding: “the BMW X5 xDrive45e is hard to beat as an overall package because it's smooth, classy and luxurious.”

The honours continued for BMW, with the brand securing Best Buy wins across an impressive eight categories, including Best Family Car Interior (BMW 1 Series), Best Luxury SUV for Big Families (BMW X7), Best Estate Car to Drive (BMW 3 Series Touring) and Best Estate Car Interior (BMW 5 Series Touring).

Numerous electrified BMW models were also successful with BMW i4 named the Best Large Electric Car Interior, BMW iX winning Best Electric SUV for Long Distances and BMW iX3 securing Best Electric SUV to Drive. Finally, the BMW X5 xDrive45e also took home Best Plug-in Hybrid for Long Distances.

                                                                   Ends


The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2021, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and more than 194,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a workforce of 120,726 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.


www.bmwgroup.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

For further information please contact:

Helen Wilson
Senior Press Officer
Tel: 07815 372 480
Email: Helen.Wilson@bmw.co.uk

Chris Overall
BMW Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 370 990
Email: Chris.Overall@bmw.co.uk

Emma Begley
General Manager, Communications
Tel: 07815 371 062
Email: Emma.Begley@bmw.co.uk

Graham Biggs
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 07815 376 867
Email: Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk