The Volkswagen Up scooped the title of What Car? Car of the Year last night. The small Volkswagen also claimed awards for best city car and car safety.
Despite its £10,000 price tag, judges said the Up was the right car for the right time, fending off competition from the new BMW 3-series, Porsche 911 and Ford Mondeo. The Up beat the Hyundai i10 and Fiat 500 in the best city car category, and was the standout model in the car security award thanks to its City Emergency Braking System.
What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: “The Volkswagen Up is the best car we've seen this year because it combines refinement, quality, space and economy. It sets new standards for the £10,000 price bracket. It feels at home in town and copes admirably on the motorway; it is the right car for the time.”
The Up’s sister cars, the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo were not nominated as they are not currently on sale.
The Ford Mondeo took top honours in the estate car and family car categories, and the Audi TT won the best coupe and best convertible awards.
It proved a successful evening for German brands, taking 11 of the 18 awards. The BMW 3-series retained its best executive car title for the seventh consecutive year
The MG6 took its first major award for security thanks to the industry’s highest-rated alarm and immobiliser system, achieving the top five-star rating from Thatcham for resilience against theft.
The full list of winners:
Car of the year – Volkswagen UpSupermini – Audi A1Small family car – Volkswagen GolfCity car – Volkswagen Up4x4 and SUV – BMW X3MPV – Seat AlhambraEstate car – Ford MondeoLuxury car – Mercedes S-classSports car – Porsche 911Executive car – BMW 3-seriesCoupe – Audi TTFamily car – Ford MondeoHot hatch – Renault MeganeConvertible – Audi TTFuel consumption – KiaCar safety – Volkswagen UpCar security – MG6Reader award – Jaguar C-X16
