TELEGRAPH AWARDS - The Volkswagen Up might be replaced later this year, but it is still winning awards.

Ahead of the arrival of the new Volkswagen up! in UK showrooms later this summer, the outgoing car has proved that it is still ahead of the pack by taking class honours in the 2016 Telegraph Cars Awards, announced today.

The smallest member of the Volkswagen family is today named ‘Best Car Under £10,000’ in the influential broadsheet newspaper’s annual automotive awards.

The Telegraph Media Group has once again picked its favourites from the UK new car market, with Volkswagen’s great value up! city car triumphing in its class.  The winners have been selected by theTelegraph’s expert road test team, who over the last 12 months have put hundreds of cars through a rigorous review process including everything from early first drives to a detailed 10-point test, as well as living with the cars on a long-term test basis.

Naming the up! as the Best Car Under £10,000, the judges said: “Yes it’s been around for a while and others in this class are cheaper to buy, but the up! has a classy interior, is brilliant to drive and will hold on to its value better than rivals.”

The up! is one of the five key pillars of the Volkswagen portfolio in the UK alongside new Tiguan, Polo, Golf and Passat, and the current car has been a popular addition to the range since its launch here in 2012.  Last year, more than 16,900 new up! hatchbacks found homes in the UK.

The current car is offered with a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder 12-valve petrol engine with outputs of either 60 PS or 75 PS, or as an all-electric e-up! with zero emissions and a range of up to 93 miles on a full charge.

The model line-up comprises entry-level Take up!, Look up!, Move up!, High up! and special editions Club up!, Street up! and Rock up!. Prices for the current car begin at £8,975 (RRP OTR).