What Car 2021 Awards - SERE Award Winners

It’s the start of a New Year and what better way to kick it off than with a number of SERE vehicles being recognized at The What Car? 2021 Awards.

The winners have just been announced and we’re proud to say that our franchises Mitsubishi, SEAT and SsangYong cars have all received awards. 

The What Car? Awards have been in operation since 1978. Hailed as the Oscars of the British Auto Industry, it is usually a glitz & glam event held at London’s swanky Grosvenor Hotel in Park Lane. However, (for reasons I’m sure we’re all fed up of hearing about!), this year the 44^th annual awards were held online, with awards dished out over the course of a week.

What is so special about the What Car? Awards?

The What Car? Car of the Year Awards are the most influential in the car industry, meaning that they are the biggest accolade a car can get. This is thanks to What Cars? trusted, expert and independent opinion in car reviewing. So you know you are getting an award winning vehicle, without any bias.

Which cars at SERE won?

Mitsubishi L200 4Life Double Cab – 2021 Best Pick-Up for Value

Read the winning Mitsubishi L200 4Life Double Cab review from What Car? below:

“Brilliantly utilitarian, it has a switchable four-wheel drive system and low-range gearbox for smug unstoppability, as well as a durable interior, a 1045kg payload and a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg. You even get a five-year, 62,500-mile warranty, and the 2.3-litre diesel engine is one of the more efficient in this class.

On top of all that, the L200 is great value. Our pick of the range, the 4Life, has air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, USB charging and 16in alloy wheels, yet it’s one of the most affordable pick-ups around”.

Click here to have a further look at our Mitsubishi L200 or book a virtual walk through with our sales team

The SEAT Leon 1.5 TSI 130PS FR – 2021 Family Car of the Year

Read the winning SEAT Leon 1.5 TSI 130PS FR review from What Car? below:

“Against such talented family hatchback rivals as the BMW 1 Series, Ford Focus and Skoda Scala, a car has to be really quite special to come out on top. And the latest Seat Leon is just that.

For starters, it gets the basics right by offering a big boot and even more room for rear seat passengers than the Skoda Octavia. In addition, it’s very well priced, while the punchy turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine that we recommend won’t pinch too much of your cash at the pumps.

Don’t go thinking that the Leon feels even remotely hairshirt, though. It’s every bit as smart as the more expensive Volkswagen Golf inside, while its infotainment system is more user-friendly and it comes laden with standard equipment.

The Leon is terrific to drive, too, with lively handling that makes every journey enjoyable, yet without the uncomfortable ride that you might reasonably expect as a trade-off.

All of this adds up to an incredible all-rounder – one that excels as a family car and serves up a very welcome slice of fun at the same time, all while costing less than you’d think. No wonder it’s our winner.”

The SEAT Leon also placed 3^rd in the What Car? Awards Safety Category.

To achieve an award, What Car? look for 5* Euro NCAP ratings and high ratings across all 4 categories; adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable road user and safety assist, as well as standard-fit crash avoidance and driver assistance systems.

Jim Holder, What Car? editor, said:

“As a family car, the Leon gets the basics right by offering a big boot and loads of space for passengers. But it also serves up a very welcome slice of fun, feels classy inside and costs less to buy and run than you’d think. It's a fantastic all-rounder.” 

Click here to have a further look at the SEAT Leon 1.5 TSI 130PS FR or to book a virtual walk through with our sales team at our SERE SEAT Showroom in Lisburn

The SsangYong Musso Rhino LWB – 2021 Best Pick-Up for Payload

Read the winning SsangYong Musso Rhino LWB review from What Car? below:

“It earns its place primarily because it’s the best there is at doing what pick-ups are ultimately designed for: hauling stuff about. Not only will it take a 1.1-tonne payload in its 1.6m-long load bed, which is easily wide enough for a Euro pallet, but it’ll also tow 3500kg simultaneously. That’s the best total payload capacity going.

The Musso is good to drive and live with, too. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is one of the most refined on offer in a pick-up, and there’s a smart interior with tactile materials. A seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty is the best in class, too.

In this guise, the Musso is no longer the best choice if you’re simply looking to save money, but it’s a brilliant buy if you’re after a practical workhorse.”.

What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford said this about SsangYong’s well deserved win;

“The Musso Rhino is the best pick-up there is at doing what pick-ups are ultimately designed for: hauling stuff about. However, it’s also good to drive and live with, because its 2.2-litre diesel engine is impressively refined, and there’s a smart interior with tactile materials. You even get a best-in-class seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty.”

We’re proud to be the only SsangYong dealer in Northern Ireland, Click here to have a further look at the SsangYong Musso Rhino LWB or to book a virtual walk through with our sales team

To have a virtual walkthrough of any of these award winning vehicles, book an appointment via our Live Chat, via the Contact Us button or call us on 02890 205100 and one of our sales team will be happy to help.