The Car of the Year crown will be awarded to a newcomer that has proved itself over all other contenders to be the overall best new car on the UK market.

The shortlist includes a wide variety of vehicles, from city cars,  hot hatches through family cars and estates to luxury and sports cars. No fewer than 15 SUVs have made the cut, from large and family versions to luxury, reflecting the explosion in popularity of this versatile sector. 

The winner from the shortlist will succeed the BMW 520d SE, which took the prize in 2017.

Click through this slideshow to see all of the cars in the running to be crowned as the What Car? Car of the Year for 2018. Prices stated are the lowest on-the-road prices.