Citroen DS5 and Volkswagen Up Claim TopGear Awards

The Top Gear Awards 2011 have been announced. The Citroen DS5 and Volkswagen Up have both been awarded. The Citroen DS5 has been awarded "Family Car of the Year", and the Volkswagen Up claimed "Small Car of the Year."

Voted for by the staff of the magazine and the BBC’s ever-popular television show, the award gives the up! its first accolade even before it is launched. In summing up, the TopGear judges said: ‘It is the cleverest small car around today, the city car we know VW was capable of producing, the distilled essence of Volkswagen.’

The Volkswagen up! is an all-new city car which offers maximum space on a minimal footprint, and embodies the core values of the brand in an innovative and compact package. The entry-level Take up! model comes with the new 1.0-litre 60 PS petrol engine. Retailers in the UK began taking orders for the all-new up! at the start of October ahead of the first deliveries in March 2012.

Commenting on the award, Director of Volkswagen, Chris Craft said: “This is a brilliant award with which to begin the up!’s trophy tally, and we hope the TopGear accolade will be the first of many.

“The up! is a hugely important car for Volkswagen which will appeal to a wide range of customers. Technological innovations, value for money and the highest quality standards make this – as the TopGear judges have said – a genuine small Volkswagen rather than just another small car.”

Some say, Citroën’s New DS5 is refined, luxurious, uniquely-styled and dramatic. Well, for the second year in a row, Top Gear magazine has made Citroën a top choice, naming DS5 its ‘Family Car of the Year’ in the publication’s 2011 awards.

The family-sized DS5, which combines distinctive style with creative technology and takes design inspiration from the world of aviation, saw off tough competition from already established models to take the best family car title.

Top Gear magazine said; “The DS5 is a well-grounded, slick, futuristic machine, both inside and out. The inside is quirky but rational, exciting but functional and put together with considerable care, just like the rest of the car. And that makes it very pleasing indeed. All of which goes to show that because the DS5 isn’t a half-hearted copy of a German saloon, it’s the better for it.”

The award means a second year of success for Citroën. In 2010, Citroën DS3 won both Top Gear magazine’s ‘Small Car of the Year’ and overall ‘Car of the Year’ accolades.

Linda Jackson, Citroën UK’s Managing Director, commented; “A second year of recognition for Citroën in the Top Gear magazine awards is a tremendous achievement and further proof the DS range is cementing Citroën’s reputation for class-leading design. Standing out from the crowd with its unique looks, Citroën flair and innovative Hybrid4 technology, New DS5 is about an outstanding motoring experience for the whole family to enjoy.”

The Volkswagen Up is available to order now and we will keep you updated on the Citroen DS5.