Seven nominations have been made for Car of the Year in 2022. They are dominated by high-end electric vehicles.

Six models are up for consideration: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Only one vehicle is in contention for this award – The all-new Peugeot 308

It is strikingly different from the nominees for the 2021 award, where there were 38 applicants. 

Car of the Year goes electric: Six in seven models up for the 2022 gong are battery-powered vehicles (pictured). The Peugeot 308 (inset) is the only non-EV nominated for next year's award

Electric Car of The Year: 6 out 7 models that are up for 2022’s gong will be powered by battery (pictured). Inset: The Peugeot 308 is the only non-EV nominee for this year’s award.

A year ago it was only the Volkswagen ID.3 and Fiat 500 EVs that were among the shortlist for Car of the Year, which was eventually won by the Toyota Yaris, which is priced from £22,150 in UK dealers. 

There are only four battery models currently available for purchase in the UK of six that were up for the award in 2022. None are affordable.

The cheapest of those is the Skoda Enyaq iV, priced from £32,010 with the £2,500 Government Plug-in Car Grant of £2,500 included.

Skoda's Enyaq iV - which has a range of up to 256 miles - is the least expensive EV model in the list of nominees for the 2022 award. Prices start from £34,510 (£32,010 with the £2,500 PiCG)

Skoda’s Enyaq iV – which has a range of up to 256 miles – is the least expensive EV model in the list of nominees for the 2022 award. Prices start from £34,510 (£32,010 with the £2,500 PiCG)

The most expensive EV in the running for next year's award is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which starts from £42,530 to £66,280 for the range-topping GT version

The most expensive EV in the running for next year’s award is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which starts from £42,530 to £66,280 for the range-topping GT version

Cupra Born

Renault Megane E-Tech

Both the Cupra Born (left) and Renault Megane E-Tech (right) are not yet on sale in the UK but are expected to be priced at just under £30,000

The most expensive is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which starts from £42,530 to £66,280 for the range-topping GT version.

However, the Renault Megane E-Tech and Cupra Born – based on the VW ID.3 – are both set to start from under £30,000 when they do eventually arrive in UK showrooms next year. 

It looks like an EV is likely to win the Car of the Year title, as 86% of the nominations are battery cars.

The original Nissan Leaf (2011), and the Jaguar I-Pace (2018) were previous electric winners. 

Peugeot 308 is the latest engine from France to take on zero-emission cars.

Prices for the cheapest 1.2-litre petrol will start from £24,000. 

While there is no pure-electric version, it will be sold as a plug-in hybrid, which starts from £33,000 and offers an EV-only range of 37 miles.

Another electric nominee is the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is priced from £36,995 in the UK and has a range of up to 300 miles

Another electric nominee is the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is priced from £36,995 in the UK and has a range of up to 300 miles

The just launched Kia EV6 - with a range of 328 miles - is now on sale in the UK with prices starting at £40,945 for the rakish family car

The just launched Kia EV6 – with a range of 328 miles – is now on sale in the UK with prices starting at £40,945 for the rakish family car

The only model up for the 2022 award that does have exhaust pipes is the new Peugeot 308 family hatch. Prices for the 1.2-litre petrol start from £24k (though is also available as a PHEV)

Only model that has exhaust pipes for the award in 2022 is the Peugeot 308 family-sized hatch. Prices for the 1.2-litre petrol start from £24k (though is also available as a PHEV)

French manufacturer, 208 supermini, won 2020 award. It claims more than 24,000 European customers had placed orders by October 31st for new hatchback family. It claims that one fifth of all orders for the plug in hybrid version are made.

Order books in the UK for the new hatch were opened only this week. 

The Car of the Year award has been running for 58 years

For 58 years, the Car of the Year award was in place

On 28 February, the winner of the Car of the Year 2022 overall award will be announced.

These awards, which were first presented by Rover 2000 in 1964, are still being used and considered the top motoring honours.

All eligible vehicles must be in production within twelve months from the winner’s announcement, and at least five European nations before 2021.

Based on an scoring system, 61 judges from 23 countries chose the winners.  

> When are car brands going electric? Our complete guide is available here 

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