Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo named Irish Van of the Year
At an awards ceremony last Friday night at the Westin Hotel in Dublin, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo was named as the 2023 Irish Van of the Year in association with Continental Tyres.
Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), the grouping that brings together some 32 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, hosted the awards event attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers and distributors.
The awards are voted on by the members of the MMAI who individually assess each new car model that is launched in Ireland each year.
As well as the Van of the Year title, Volkswagen also bagged the Irish Car of the Year 2023 award for the ID. Buzz passenger model at the same ceremony, a first in the history of the awards.
It is the third time that an electric vehicle has taken the award as Kia EVs also won the 2022 and 2020 Irish Car of the Year titles with the all electric EV6 and e-Soul, respectively.
Tom Dennigan of awards sponsor, Continental Tyres said: “After the Covid disruption that impacted on the Irish Car of Year awards over the past couple of years, we are delighted to be back with these awards for 2023.
“The MMAI jurors provide a great service to Irish motorists in providing a really helpful insight into the broad range of increasingly sophisticated car models that are launched here each year.
“No doubt, the Irish Car and Irish Van of the Year titles will be a huge boost to the popularity of the ID. Buzz in the new vehicle market in January and throughout 2023.”
Chairman of the MMAI, Joe Rayfus added: “The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a really worthy winner of the Irish Car of the Year title, it is a truly stand-out vehicle.
“As the third electric vehicle to win the title, it really does confirm the onward march in Ireland towards an electric motoring future.
“Just look at our field of runners for this year’s awards, more than half of the contenders are available as either partial or full electric vehicles.”
The all-electric ID. Buzz uses the same 77kWh battery as the Volkswagen ID.4 and delivers a 420km range from a single charge.
The Irish Car of the year category winners:
Irish Small Car of the Year: Fiat 500e
Irish Compact Car of the Year: Opel Astra
Irish Compact Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Irish Compact Crossover / SUV of the Year: Kia Niro
Irish Medium Crossover / SUV of the Year: Kia Sportage
Irish Large Crossover / SUV of the Year: Citroen C5X
Irish MPV of the Year: Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Irish Luxury Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz EQS
Irish Large Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz EQE
Irish Performance Car of the Year: BMW i4 M50
