Motor manufacturer Hyundai has won an impressive four awards at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards, including three for its market-leading alternative-fuel technologies.

Chief among them was the Technology Award, handed to Hyundai for its work in electrification and the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

The judges said: "Hyundai won not only for building the EV with the greatest real-world range we’ve tested so far – the Kona Electric – but also for leading the way in developing the hydrogen fuel cell technology that could one day offer car buyers greater electric range without the hassle of recharging a battery."

The Ioniq was named Hybrid Car of the Year for the second year running, with judges finding that it “presented the most polished all-round package of all its competitors," while the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid Premium won Best Plug-in Hybrid for less than £30,000.

"We think the regular Ioniq is the best hybrid car you can buy, but it’s also among the very best plug-in hybrids at any price," said the judges.

Meanwhile, the sporty i30 N also won the Best Hot Hatch for £22,000 to £27,000 title for its rewarding drive and extremely generous standard equipment list.

And in a separate competition, Hyundai's Kona electric has been named Best Green Fleet Car by Fleet World.

Judges praised Kona Electric as a tipping point for fully electric vehicles, bringing real-world usability, smart looks and a fun driving experience to the mainstream.

The win followed plaudits from Auto Express, which named the Kona Affordable Electric Car of the Year, and the Next Green Car Awards where it won Car of the Year.

Dominic Threlfall, managing director of Swindon's Hyundai dealership, Pebley Beach, said: "Hyundai's innovative approach to motor manufacturing is really grabbing people's attention.

"Hyundai is unique in that its model range includes petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fully electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles – with the hydrogen-powered Nexo arriving early this year – while the Ioniq family is the world’s first car to be offered with three different electrified powertrains.

"With Swindon playing its part as a centre of hydrogen technology, we were delighted to give the town a premiere of the Nexo last year.

"And we are committed to making Swindon and cleaner, greener place to live and work, which is why we've put Swindon's mayor behind the wheel of an Ioniq plug-in hybrid."

2019 has been hailed the Year of Electric SUV by leading eco-motoring publication Green Car Reports. And one of the first electric SUVs off the blocks is Hyundai's Kona Electric.

Already popular in petrol form, the Hyundai Kona – which arrives at Swindon dealership Pebley Beach later this month – promises an electric powertrain under an SUV body for the masses.

It will be the first electric car in the small SUV segment – making it desirable to urban drivers looking for SUV styling, safety, and driving position without the impracticalities that full-size SUV ownership can bring.

Jaguar and Tesla were the first brands to launch electric SUVs in the UK. But the I-Pace and Model X came with a premium price tag – £64,000 for the Jaguar, and £80,000 for the Tesla.

The zero emissions Kona, however, starts at £27,250, with the whistles-and-bells Premium SE with 64 KWh battery available for £35,145.

Auto Express has already named the compact crossover its Affordable Electric Car of the Year – ahead of the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf – saying the Kona Electric "shows that genuinely mainstream electric cars are viable now."

Autocar.co.uk have called the Kona Electric "a landmark in the development of the electric car" which "offers the most compelling blend of usability and affordability yet seen in an EV."

And What Car? were impressed with an electric car which could match a petrol for mileage – 300 miles between plug-ins.

"It’s all down to a whopping great 64kWh battery, like those that, until recently, were found only in astronomically expensive Teslas," explains their article.

Reviewers have also been wowed the performance of the Kona. Auto Car said: "The performance of the motor and batteries is quite startling if you choose to use the 291 lb ft of torque, which is available instantly.

"If you unleash all of the Kona Electric’s performance, it will sprint from 0-30mph (and onwards) at super-saloon pace."

And What Car? found: "the Kona 64kWh builds speed almost as rapidly as a Ford Fiesta ST. And there’s no waiting for the revs to rises before maximum performance is delivered; simply tread on the accelerator pedal and the car immediately surges forward."

Dominic Threlfall, managing director of Pebley Beach, said: "The Kona Electric has been receiving rave reviews, and for SUV drivers wanting to ditch fossil fuels in 2019, the Kona Electric offers a stylish and affordable alternative to the premium brand models."

Drivers of Suzuki motor cars from Cirencester dealership Pebley Beach could be saving themselves pounds at the pumps after a major survey put three models in the Top Ten for real-world fuel efficiency.

The True MPG test by What Car? magazine used a real-world driving route to show drivers what fuel economy they can really expect from their car.

The test found that the compact crossover Suzuki Ignis SHVS offered the best real-world fuel efficiency at 59.6 miles per gallon.

In second place was another Suzuki – the Celerio 1.0. And claiming joint sixth place was the Suzuki Baleno 1.0.

"The SHVS version of the Ignis, which is front rather than four-wheel drive, is the most efficient car we've ever tested," wrote What Car? editor Steve Huntingford.

"It's a mild hybrid, which means a small electric motor works alongside its 1.2-litre petrol engine, helping to get you moving and reducing the strain on the engine."

Award-winning City car the Celerio achieved a real-world MPG of 57. "Despite being one of the cheapest new cars around, the Celerio comes with a decent array of equipment, including air conditioning, a DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity," said What Car?

And the hatchback Baleno achieved a sixth place real-world MPG of 55.2, which it shared with the Skoda Citigo and the Renault Kadjar.

What Car? tested vehicles on a on a rolling road under strictly controlled laboratory conditions at Millbrook Proving Ground. The tests are based on real-world driving data across a selection of different roads, giving what the magazine says are more true to life fuel economy figures than those published by manufacturers.

Dominic Threlfall, managing director of Pebley Beach, said: "The Suzuki Ignis, Celerio and Baleno represent great value for money motoring – both on purchase price and fuel economy.

"The results of these real-world tests are great news for anyone currently driving, or thinking of buying, one of these models from us."

Westbury-based Mercedes-Benz dealer group Rygor has won the title of Showroom of the Year at the prestigious Commercial Motor Awards.

The award wrapped up a year in which directors Tim Stacey, Graham Drake and Paul Reed celebrated 10 years as owners of the business.

Rygor has 11 branches across the south of England, and is the UK's largest Mercedes-Benz commercial dealer group. Its Gloucester showroom, for which it won the award, opened in 2016.

Managing director Tim Stacey said: “We were thrilled to have been shortlisted in four categories this year and even more delighted to walk away as the winners of the Showroom of the Year category.”

“Having started life in the 1960s as a family haulage business in the Mendips, today we employ more than 700 team members with 11 authorised Mercedes-Benz Vans and Mercedes-Benz Trucks sales and after sales branches across the UK.

"The growth of our business has been substantial over the past 10 years and the launch of our Gloucester branch in late 2016 was a significant part of this growth as it represented a huge investment not only in the business and the Gloucester area, but crucially in our fantastic team.

Rygor was also shortlisted in the Apprentice of the Year, Franchised Dealer of the Year, and Sales Team of the Year categories.