The latest Land Rover Defender SUV has been crowned as the 2021 Women’s World Car of the Year.

Announced yesterday on International Women’s Day, the awards are voted for by 50 female motoring experts from across the globe and from 38 different countries. Nine vehicles are crowned as category winners, with one overall winner then being chosen after thorough evaluation.

Judges analyse models on their safety, performance, comfort, technology and value for money, and in 2021 it’s Land Rover’s new reinvented Defender that received top honours. Introduced last year after much anticipation, it’s amazed many with its outstanding off-road ability but also superb on-road dynamics and high-quality interior.

The Defender also separately won the ‘Best Medium SUV’ category, with other winners including the Peugeot 208 being named Best Urban Car and the Skoda Octavia winning the Best Family Car.

Other notable winners include the Honda e being named as the Best EV, while the latest Kia Sorento was applauded as the Best Large SUV.

Marta Garcia, executive president of the Women’s World Car of the Year, said: “The Women’s World Car of the Year is the only jury in the world made up entirely of women motoring journalists. This gives it enormous value because its decisions represent the liking and preferences of millions of women drivers around the globe.

“But cars have no gender and are not subject to stereotypes so the winners of these awards are, quite simply, the best cars in the world.”