Joint first place for the two South Korean brands, and the reason the judges couldn’t tear them apart is due to the fact that under the skin they are largely the same.

Both models are pitched against rivals such as the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf and while the Japanese companies have had a decent head start, the Koreans are strong contenders in the segment.

The Ioniq was the first to arrive, and features a 1.6-litre petrol engine, electric motor and battery pack matched to a six-speed twin-clutch DCT gearbox.  Hyundai claims a range of 39 miles for the plug-in model on electric power alone.

The appeal of the Kia Niro is its SUV style body. The hybrid model features a 104bhp 1.6 GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engine and a 43bhp electric motor for an overall combined output of 139bhp and a six-speed twin-clutch DCT gearbox.