Volkswagen extends World Car of the Year dominance

VOLKSWAGEN has won its fourth World Car of the Year title in five years, taking out top honours this year with its Golf Mk7.

The Golf edged out fellow finalists including the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Porsche Boxster/Cayman twins and Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S sports car triplets.

Finalists were whittled down from a top ten list that included Golf competitors the Volvo V40 and Audi A3 as well as the Peugeot 208 light-car.

Mazda’s CX-5 and Land Rover’s Range Rover were the only two SUVs to make it into the top ten while the mid-size Mazda6 range rounded out the list.

The win for the Golf marks the fourth time in five years that a Volkswagen vehicle has taken out the award after the Golf Mk6 was crowned the winner in 2009 followed by the Polo in 2010.

Nissan broke the pattern in 2011 when its electric Leaf won the award, but Volkswagen returned to the podium in 2012 with its tiny Up hatch.

From top: Toyota 86 Porsche Cayman Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Speaking after the announcement of the winners at the New York motor show last week, Volkswagen AG chairman Martin Winterkorn said he was delighted the Golf had won the award for a second time.

“To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world,” he said. “This car sets new benchmarks again and again, not least in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials.”

The sleek Jaguar F-Type convertible beat out the Mazda6 and Aston Martin Vanquish for the World Car Design of the Year Award, while the Tesla Model S electric sports saloon was the top pick for World Green Car, pipping the Renault Zoe and Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid wagon.

World Performance Car came down to the Porsche Boxster/Cayman, Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, with the Bahn-storming Porsche twins winning the judges over.

This year marks the ninth year the awards have been held with previous winners including the BMW 3 Series in 2006, Lexus LS460 in 2007 and the Mazda2 in 2008.

Finalists are selected by a panel of 66 automotive journalists from 23 different countries, including two from Australia.

The Volkswagen Golf goes on sale in Australia in April.