Scottish COTY - The Car of the Year is - Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen’s best-selling family hatchback, the Golf, which went on sale in the UK in January and has since won a string of accolades, has added a new title to its name after winning both the Family Car and, for the first time, the overall prize at the 2013 Scottish Car of the Year awards.  The award was presented last night at a ceremony held in Glasgow.

Commenting on the Golf’s performance, Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: ‘Success can often breed complacency but that’s certainly not the case on this occasion.  In a world of uncertainty there’s something solid, familiar and reassuring about our Family Car of the Year yet at the same time this is a thoroughly modern machine.  Its engines are among the most frugal in the segment, there’s a choice of bodystyles and, to both look at and sit in, it feels a nudge above the rest.  Seven generations on and still going strong, take to the driving range in what we believe is every car you’ll ever need.’

Robert Hazelwood, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: ‘2013 has been the year of the Golf. Following a successful UK launch in January the car has gone from strength to strength. It has won awards on both a European and world stage – but the UK awards are the ones which have the most tangible results. Winning the overall Scottish Car of the Year accolade is a huge boost and our Retailers north of the border will be delighted with the additional success I am sure this will bring to the car.’

He continued: ‘From the standard hatchback, through the GTI and GTD performance versions to the economical BlueMotion and the spacious Estate, there is a Golf to suit every need and desire.  The Golf’s high levels of quality, safety equipment, technology and value for money have made it a winner, and we’re delighted these attributes have been recognised in this award.’

The seventh-generation Golf has been named overall World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year, as well as taking numerous awards from a number of publications.

The latest Golf is lighter, safer, more advanced, more spacious, more efficient and better equipped than previous generations of Europe’s best-seller, of which over 30 million have been sold since its introduction in 1974 – some 1.6 million of these in the UK.

All Golf models come with seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, five three-point seatbelts, ABS with ESP, XDS electronic differential lock and Isofix preparation for two rear child seats, while standard technology includes a 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, DAB digital radio, CD player, MDI interface (for connecting iPod or MP3 player), Bluetooth telephone preparation and audio streaming and eight speakers.  Also standard is ‘Climatic’ semi-automatic air conditioning, among a host of other features.  Prices start at £16,495 OTR, RRP.

The Scottish Car of the Year awards were established in 1998, and are judged by all 15 members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, who represent publications and websites from across the country.

The ASMW was founded in 1961 and continues to represent the vast majority of working motoring writers/broadcasters in Scotland.  The membership includes staffers and freelancers covering radio stations, regional and national newspapers, websites and an array of specialist publications. For more details of the Volkswagen Golf, please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk or contact your local Volkswagen Retailer.