The Vauxhall Insignia has won the title of Car of the Year 2009 beating the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf.

A panel of 59 motoring journalists from 23 European countries voted on 37 new vehicles to decide which was best.

The Vauxhall Insignia was awarded 321 points while the Ford Fiesta missed out on top honours by a single point.

Third place went to the latest Volkswagen Golf, which arrives in the UK in 2009 and scored 223 points.

Celebrating the results, the Car of the Year organisers said of the Insignia, “Many Jury members appreciated the looks and visual quality of this model but the new C/D car from Russelsheim is much more than style.

“Active and passive safety, comfort and a wide array of efficient engines characterise this model.

“The richness of equipment can be increased with sophisticated options such as the ‘Opel Eye’, that reads road signals, FlexRide suspension and nine-mode Adaptive Forward Lighting.“

It’s the first time a General Motors designed car has won the prestigious title for 22 years.

When Auto Trader road tested the Insignia last month, Deputy Editor Stuart Milne commented, “There's certainly no denying Vauxhall has moved the game on when it comes to its styling. It’s the first Vauxhall for many years to have a truly radical design.”

The Ford Fiesta is on sale in the UK now, and initial sales have been strong with more than 4,000 driving out of showrooms.

After our first drive of the Ford Fiesta on British roads, Auto Trader road tester Andy Goodwin said, “It’s clear there is a new leader in the supermini class, which will be more than able to accommodate drivers from the class above and enjoy strong sales to carry the Fiesta brand into the next decade.”

The Volkswagen Golf features a more luxurious interior and quieter cabin ambience. “Thicker window glass, new door seals, and better damping also contribute to a very quiet driving experience with road, wind and engine noise all reduced” said Auto Trader web editor Adrian Higgins.

What do you think of the Vauxhall Insignia? Have your say on the Auto Traer Blog