Vauxhall Insignia has won 2009 European Car of the Year, one point ahead of Ford Fiesta.

The 59-strong motoring journalists from 23 European companies voted the Vectra replacement first, with Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf coming in second and third places.

While Insignia received 321 votes, Fiesta won 320. VW Golf polled 223 votes.

Autocar editor-in-chief and 2009 Car of the Year executive vice president Steve Cropley said: “The Insignia and Fiesta are both brilliant cars.

"Commiserations to Ford for just missing out. I hope the strength of the support that its car received will be some kind of compensation.”