The new Audi A1 scooped the top honour at the What Car? Awards last night at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The judges said the premium subcompact hatchback “comes across as every inch a bespoke premium product“ and “oozes quality everywhere you look and from everything you touch – you won’t find better at this price".

Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of What Car?, said of the car winning the 2011 Car of the Year award: “The Audi A1 is a brilliant car: brilliantly targeted and brilliantly executed.

"More and more buyers are looking for smaller, more efficient cars, but with all the luxury trappings of much larger cars.

"That’s exactly what Audi has given them – a super-stylish, high quality small car that’s affordable and great fun, too.“

The A1 has also clinched the Best Supermini title for 2011. The A1 had been voted by What Car? readers as the Most Exciting Car of 2010 at last year’s awards.

Jeremy Hicks, director of Audi UK said: “It’s an incredible honour for the A1 to win three What Car? awards in its debut year."