It takes a real game-changer to win Wheels Car of the Year -- Australia's most prestigious annual car award -- and the Volkswagen Polo is a worthy recipient for 2010.
The Polo win makes it two on the trot for Volkswagen, the previous year's award to the Golf revealed to be more than just a 'hole-in-one' fluke for the German brand.
Wheels judges worked out a points score for the baby VW based on a range of five criteria: Function, technology, efficiency/environment, safety and value. The Polo topped the field, which initially numbered 47 eligible vehicles, representing 16 different brands, prior to Wheels paring this back to 22 finalists for the final selection process.
"The VW Polo range represents outstanding value for the motorist," said Wheels editor, Bill Thomas. "Volkswagen has elevated Polo's quality, safety, performance, efficiency, refinement, practicality and value to the top of its class. It's a case of mission accomplished, and the achievements read like a virtual checklist for our tough award criteria".
Now the tough test for VW: Launching a new model within the next twelve months to make it a hat trick.
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