Audi named as safest carmaker

The award is given to the carmaker that produces the safest model ranges over the 12 months to the end April. Volvo took second place overall, boosted by its new Personal Car Communicator, which alerts a driver returning to their car if someone is hiding in the vehicle. The PCC, which sends a signal to the driver's key fob, also received the innovation award.

In other categories, the supermini award went to the Citroen C3 Exclusive and the family car award was won by the Peugeot 407 Executive. Citroen also picked up first place in the compact SUV sector for the C4 Picasso Exclusive, the performance car award was won by the Audi S8, the executive car award went to Citroen C6, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class won the luxury car category.

1st Audi UK 2nd Volvo Car UK 3rd Volkswagen UK 4th Mazda Motors UK

Latest Home Office figures show that in 2005/06 there were an estimated 1,730,000 vehicle related crimes - a fall of 8 per cent on the previous year.