Volkswagen Golf Crowned What Car?'s Small Family Car 2011

Firm motoring favourite the VW Golf has won yet more awards, this time from What Car? magazine. 

The Golf beat rivals to take the Best Small Family Car prize for the fifth year on the trot. The model to be honoured this time was the five door Golf Match 1.4 litre TSI (petrol). 

Building on its success at last year's BIVSA (British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards) Volkswagen also took What Car?'s Security Award, which is jointly awarded by Thatcham (the Motor Industry Repair Research Centre). 

Each year Thatcham examine thousands of different models for every aspect of security. One of the more rigorous procedures is the 'break in' test, designed to see how long a car will thwart a determined thief. 

What Car?'s editor in chief Steve Fowler acknowledged that, despite "ever-improving rivals", the Golf has an "unbeatable combination of quality, space, fun and frugality" that makes it "all the car most people will ever need". Commenting on the Security Award, he added "Volkswagen continues to take car security seriously while some carmakers think it’s yesterday’s problem. Buying a new Volkswagen is a great way to keep your car and its contents secure."

These are just the latest in a long line of awards for the Golf, which include three Fleet Car of the Year prizes and also World Car of the Year. Not surprisingly it is VW's biggest seller.