The Ford Focus RS has beaten the likes of the BMW X5 and Mini One to been named overall Used Car of the Year.

In the first ever Used Car Awards, readers of the Auto Trader website and magazine and viewers of ITV’s Used Car Roadshow voted in their thousands in a range of categories.

The Ford Focus RS also picked up the best hot hatch in the awards, which included some surprise winners.

Victory in the Family Car category went to the 1999 – 2004 Rover 75, which beat the big-selling first generation Ford Focus and second generation Ford Mondeo.

Other awards went to the Mitsubishi Ralliart FTO (Sports Car), Audi A2 (Supermini), Jaguar XJ (Luxury Car) and BMW X5 (SUV).

Award ceremony presenter, former Top Gear star and used car expert Jason Dawe said: ”These awards are special because the owners and drivers of used cars in the UK have decided them – not a panel of journalists, critics and motor industry ‘gurus’.

“These awards celebrate the fantastic choice of used cars for sale in the UK and prove that when it comes to buying a great used car, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a cracker.”

Built between 2002 and 2003, the Ford Focus RS is powered by a 2-litre turbocharged engine and accelerates from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 144mph.

New, the blue oval hatchback cost £20,264, but you can find a used one for £11,000.

Auto Trader is the number one destination for buying a used car, with more than 380,000 advertised at any time.

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