The new, entry-level Audi was awarded the accolade at the 34th annual What Car? awards last night. The A1 was also named Best Supermini, while Audi also picked up the Best Coupé award for the TT.
Steve Fowler, What Car? editor-in-chief, said: "The A1 is the right car at the right time: a car that combines desirability and ability alongside frugal financials – the perfect combination."
This year's Reader Award for the most exciting car to be launched in 2011 went to the Range Rover Evoque, six months ahead of its launch. Fowler commented: "Our readers have obviously taken to the Evoque and it's easy to see why. Its combination of style, quality and eco credentials have grabbed everyone's attention – it seems car buyers can't wait for it to go on sale."
British car makers did well at the awards ceremony, with the Land Rover Discovery winning the Best 4x4 Award for the seventh year running, while Jaguar won the Best Executive Car award for the fourth year in a row with the XF. The British-built, all-electric Nissan Leaf claimed the new Ultra-Low-Carbon-Car award.
Volkswagen scooped the Small Family Car award for the Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match, and also the Security Award in association with Cobra.
The Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec picked up two awards – Best Family Car and Best Estate Car. Seat picked up the Best MPV award for the Alhambra, while the Crossover award went to last year's What Car? car of the year, the Peugeot 3008.
Renault dominated the Hot Hatchback category with all three nominees, with the Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup taking the overall prize.
Ferrari won its first ever What Car? Award – the Ferrari 458 Italia beating the likes of Aston Martin, Audi, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche to the Best Performance Car award.
BMW picked up two Awards: the Z4 was named Best Open-Top Car and the 3-series took the Compact Executive award.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class took the Luxury award, while Volvo won the Safety award for its pedestrian detection system.
