Less than a month after being declared the 2013 European Car of the Year, the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf bagged another prestigious award, the 2013 World Car of the Year, the results of which were announced during a press conference at the New York Auto Show.

The Golf beat other three finalists to become the winner, including the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Porsche Boxster / Cayman, and the combined entry Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT-86.

It is the second consecutive year that VW has won the World Car of the Year Title and the fourth time since 2009. The Volkswagen Up! won last year, the Polo in 2010 and the Golf VI in 2009.

The jury most appreciated the Golf’s versatility. “Right sized, but spacious, practical and comfortable inside, the latest Golf has been brought up to date with a fresh if evolutionary design, a range of new engines, plus an impressive list of equipment and safety features. What’s more, it’s fun to drive. If ever there was a car for everyman, the Golf is it,” reads the official press release.

The international jury panel comprises 66 automotive journalists from 23 countries around the world. To be eligible for the overall 2013 World Car award, the candidates must become available for sale on at least two continents during the period beginning January 1, 2012 and ending May 30, 2013.

The jury also handed out three more awards, the 2013 World Performance Car, 2013 World Car Design of the Year and 2013 World Green Car. The first went the Porsche’s Boxster / Cayman mid-engined sports cars, with the jury noting that Porsche achieved all of its targets with the two vehicles. “The Boxster needed to be seen as less of a fancy secretary’s car and the Cayman needed to be set loose to be an even better Porsche sports car than the iconic 911. In both instances, mission over-accomplished,” wrote one of the jurors.

The 2013 World Car Design of the Year went to another sports car, the Jaguar F-Type roadster, while the 2013 World Green Car went to Tesla’s Model S electric sedan.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

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