THE Tesla Model 3 has been crowned the best new car in Britain for 2020 in the UK Car of the Year Awards.

It is the second year running an electric car has emerged victorious in the awards following the success of the Jaguar I-PACE last year.

Electric vehicles carried off the top three places in this year's competition with the Kia e-Niro coming second by just one vote and the Porsche Taycan grabbing joint third spot alongside the BMW 3 Series Touring.

Twenty one of the 29 judges voted for battery powered vehicles in the 2020 awards which is judged by a panel of Britain's leading motoring journalists.

"Game-changer is an often-overused phrase, but the Tesla Model 3 has shaken up the executive segment and got many brands thinking," said John Challen, director of the UK Car of the Year Awards..

"Electric vehicles attract a broad spectrum of opinions, but it's clear that with its technology, performance and range, the Model 3 is converting a lot of people.

"Kia should also be acknowledged for its own battery-powered prowess in the e-Niro, which pushed the Model 3 all the way - demonstrating the strength in depth of electric cars currently on the UK market."

Tesla UK said: "We are proud of what this car has achieved so far and with the upcoming zero per cent company car tax there is an exciting year ahead for EVs in the UK."

This year's winners were chosen from nine models which were voted best in their individual categories and nstead of being restricted to their own category, EVs compete directly against internal combustion engined-vehicles.

This year's UK Car of the Year Awards category winners were:

Best Supermini - Renault Clio

Best Small Hatch - Mazda3

Best Executive - Tesla Model 3

Best Luxury - Bentley Flying Spur

Best Estate - BMW 3 Series

Best Crossover - Kia e-Niro

Best Premium Crossover - Range Rover Evoque

Best Cabriolet - Porsche 911

Best Performance - Porsche Taycan

Previous winners of the title which was launched in 2104 have included the BMW i3, the Mazda MX-5 and the Volvo XC60.