Volkswagen’s new city car, the Up, has claimed its first award, being named Small Car of the Year by the UK’s best-selling motoring title, TopGear magazine.

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.’

Prices start at £7,995 for the entry-level Take Up model 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.’