After winning this year's European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards, the Volkswagen Golf has picked up its third - the annual Car of the Year Japan award.

The Volkswagen Golf achieved a first in the 34-year history of the Car of the Year Japan awards by winning the coveted title in a ceremony held in conjunction with the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. No foreign car has won the award, till now.

In a contest that was expected to see the Golf trade blows with the Honda Fit/Jazz for honours, the Golf polled strongly from the outset and ended up amassing a commanding 504 out of a possible 600 points from the 60 jurors in attendance. The Fit/Jazz came in second with 373 votes while the Volvo V40 followed with 167 votes.

"This is a very special award for us in so many ways. Firstly, our Golf 7 has become the first ever imported car to win Japan's COTY award, and we achieved this in our 60^th year since Volkswagen imports started into Japan," commented Shigeru Shoji, President of Volkswagen Japan.

Explaining its decision, the jury highlighted in particular the new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) as a core strength of the Golf. The MQB formed the basis for precise handling with simultaneously high levels of ride comfort and driving pleasure, the jurors said. Further features to earn praise included the excellent standard of safety, the clear and clean design, the high-quality interior and exterior finish and the highly modern TSI engines.

In three new minor awards that were introduced this year, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV picked up the 'Innovation Award', the Mazda6 won the 'Emotional Award' and the jointly developed Suzuki Spacia and Mazda Flair Wagon captured the 'Small Mobility Award'.

The 'Special Achievement Award' went to the Daihatsu Move for its front seat lift design, technology created to assist senior citizens and people with disabilities.