German luxury carmaker Audi redefines “award-winning” with a host of awards it amassed throughout the year 2017, namely:
Audi brand and company
Quality is the Audi brand’s core competence and in 2017, it achieved overall victory in various categories. In the premium manufacturer category of the Automotive Innovations Award, Audi was declared the most innovative brand. The “brand with four rings” has also been voted the best European car brand for the sixth time in a row in the Reliability Survey of Consumer Reports, while in Brand Trust Resilience Index, Audi was awarded first place among automobile brands in Germany.
The index covers the resilience and future viability of automobile brands in the country. In the Annual Multimedia Award, Audi was granted Gold for the “Tool” Audi Design Manual – From monologue to dialogue. On the other hand, Automotive News Europe has honored Alejandro Vukotich, Head of Automated Driving Development at Audi, with the “Eurostar 2017.” The automotive trade magazine recognized the 46-year-old for the Audi AI traffic jam pilot.
Audi models have also received a 5-star rating in the Australasian NCAP crash test; the coveted award in the 2 to 2.5-liter category for its 2.5 TFSI engine; and “Dynamics Team of the Year” Award. Experts acknowledge the good handling, the dynamic suspension systems and the precise steering which feature in many Audi models.
Additionally, Audi has been granted the “Infotainment System of the Year” title by Business Insider for the Audi MMI and the Audi virtual cockpit available in many Audi models. Audi’s Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 loudspeakers, 705 watts and acoustic adaptation to background noise won in the Connectivity Award of auto motor und sport and Chip computer magazine. For the “Golden Classic Car” awards, Audi won first prize in the “sedan” category with the Ro 80 model of its former brand NSU.
Audi also enjoys a superb reputation among German workers, revealed by the Best Employer 2017 study from FOCUS Business, Statista Institut of Hamburg and the kununu social network. For new graduates, Audi is the place to be for many young German university graduates, revealed by consultants Universum and trendence.
Audi Q5 and Audi A4
The Audi models that took home the most number of recognitions are the Audi Q5 and Audi A4, claiming seven awards each. The Audi Q5 was selected the Best SUV in the DEKRA Used Car Report, a study based on the results of around 15 million general inspections. Readers of Europe’s biggest all-wheel drive vehicle magazine have also voted the Audi Q5 as the overall winner in the “All-terrain vehicle and SUV from EUR 30,000 to 50,000” category. It also took the top honors in the “35,000 to 40,000 euros” of The Family Car of the Year 2017 study from the magazines AUTOStraßenverkehr and Leben & erziehen. The Audi Q5 also won the 2017 “Golden Steering Wheel” in the “Large SUV” category of the German automotive trade magazine Auto Bild.
Audi sedans and SUV
Premium Audi sedans bagged various awards from leading publications and industry groups. The Audi A1 took first place in the subcompact category in the reader survey by auto motor und sport magazine where readers of the popular automotive publication selected their favorites from 378 models. The Audi A3 took the first prize in the Compact Category for the Best Cars 2017 of reader survey by auto motor und sport and Guter Rat and SUPERillu magazines.
The Audi A3 impressed in all sustainable engineering, high safety standards, good value for money, and its alternative drive concepts. The A3 was also crowned first place in the Small Premium Cars category of the JD Power APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) Study.
In the Auto Bild endurance test, the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron with CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) drive scored the top grade of 1+. This test is designed to cover 100,000 kilometers. In 2017’s DEKRA Used Car Report, the Audi A6 defended the Best of All Classes title and took the top spot in the “Upper Medium Class/Upper Class” category. It was also awarded winner in the “All-wheel Drive Crossover” category of the Auto Bild Allrad reader poll.
The Audi A6 Avant has topped the “luxury class” category in the “Executive Station Wagon 2017” competition, wherein more than 1,200 readers of Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung and handwerk magazin submitted their votes.
Meanwhile, the Audi A7 is first place in the “Midsize Premium Cars” category of the J.D. Power APEAL Study. Another notable achievement was the Audi A8 winning the “Best Production Sedan” of the first “LUXURY AWARD 2018” of the German edition of ROBB REPORT magazine. The Audi AI traffic jam pilot in the new A8 was also given the Innovation prize in the Connectivity Award.
The German luxury carmaker’s urban model Audi Q2, known for its confident appeal and independent character, won awards in the design industry. The Audi Q2 was honored with the gold in the German Design Award competition, claiming victory in the Excellent Product Design – Transportation category; and the Red Dot: Best of the Best prize in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017 for its superior design quality and trendsetting design. The compact crossover also won the hearts of German women as emerged number one in Germany’s Biggest Ladies Choice.
In the sport auto AWARD 2017, Audi took top honors in three classes. The premium brand won with the Audi S1 in the “subcompact production cars,” was victorious with the Audi RS3 Sportback in the “compact production cars” category, and prevailed with the Audi RS 6 Avant performance in the “production sedans/station wagons over 100,000 euros.” Audi also landed on the winner’s podium in the selection of the “motorsport: best GT3 class customer sport program” – with the Audi R8 LMS.
Meanwhile, Car and Driver honored the Audi RS 3 Sedan with the “10Best Car of the Year” award at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The experts praised the car’s outstanding performance and powerful design combined with its high functionality.
More international awards
Audi has also gained multiple recognitions from around the world in 2017. In UK’s What Car? Awards 2017, Audi took home more awards than any other brand. The Audi TT was named Coupé of the Year for the third consecutive time. First prize went to the Audi Q7 as the Luxury SUV of the Year and the Audi A4 was judged Executive Car of the Year. The Audi A3 Sportback took the honors as Best Family Car.
In Switzerland, Audi received top honors in the ratings for good workmanship and advanced technology in the Best Brands survey of the Swiss magazine Auto Illustrierte. Audi also received honors in South Africa as it bagged the Business Class Car of the Year in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards from WesBank, one of South Africa’s biggest providers of credit for car financing.
In Mexico, the Automovil Panamericano Magazine singled out the “Best Cars 2017.” The Audi A1 took first place in the “Subcompacts” category; the award for the “Best Compact Sedan” went to the Audi A3 Sedan for the second year. The Audi A4 scooped the award for “Best Midsize Premium Car” while also taking the overall victory as “Best Car of the Year.” The Audi Q7 won the “Master Test” in the large premium SUV category.
In Singapore, the Audi RS 3 Sportback took top honors in the Best Hot Hatch category in the ST-Torque Awards by Torque magazine and The Strait Times, while Stuff Singapore has selected the Audi A4 as Car of the Year.
In the Middle East, Audi received nine awards. The Audi S8 was honored as Luxury Saloon Car of the Year by Wheels Magazine Middle East. The Audi R8 won in the “Best Super Sport Car” category at the OKAZ PR Arabia National Auto Awards. In Abu Dhabi, the Audi R8 took two prizes in the Middle East Car of the Year Awards as Overall Car of the Year and Supercar of the Year. At the same event, awards also went to Audi models A4, TTS and S8 in their respective categories.
In Germany, readers of AUTO ZEITUNG have selected the world’s best cars. For 2017, two coveted trophies go to the Audi Q2 and the Audi Q7. The premium brand also took first place in the “Best design worldwide” category.