Volvo XC60 Wins Women’s World Family Car of the Year

Eight female motoring journalists from Britain, the USA, Canada, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand put 21 selected cars to the test over the past year. After they concluded testing, winners of four categories were announced, with the Volvo XC60 clinching the Family Car of the Year award. Other winners were the Jaguar XF, Audi TTS and the VW Golf Diesel.

In order to qualify for this year's competition, the cars had to be sold in at least ten countries throughout the world and must have been available on the market between September 2008 and September 2009.

The cars were assessed on a wide range of criteria described as a "women-specific shopping-list". This includes parameters such as storage space, child-friendliness, aesthetic appeal - that is to say design - and driving pleasure.

"We searched a long time to put together a team of female motoring correspondents qualified to vote for the winners. This was no easy task since there aren't that many female motoring journalists," says Sandy Myhre, jury chairperson from New Zealand.

"What is most exciting for us women in the jury from all these different countries around the world is that for the first time ever, we have had the opportunity to express in our own way which cars impress us," says Sandy Myhre.

"It is naturally immensely gratifying that women appreciate the Volvo XC60 and that our product meets their requirements. With the Volvo XC60 we feel we have truly succeeded in creating a car that appeals to many different customer groups," says Johan Rasmusson, Car Line Manager for the Volvo XC60 and XC90 at Volvo Cars.