15:34 19-11-2025

Volkswagen sweeps four Golden Steering Wheel awards: Golf GTI Edition 50, ID.7 GTX Tourer, Tayron, T-Roc

The Goldene Lenkrad (Golden Steering Wheel) is awarded annually by AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG for outstanding new car models. This year, Volkswagen pulled off an exceptional feat, becoming the first manufacturer in the award’s 49-year history to win in four categories at once.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI EDITION 50 took the crown in the compact segment, while the ID.7 GTX Tourer led the midsize class. The new Volkswagen Tayron was named the best family car by the jury, and the new T-Roc, which goes on sale in Europe this week, received the editors’ accolade as the Best Car Under 40,000 euros. Together, these results show a breadth of strength across segments—compact, midsize, family, and value-oriented—without leaning on a single niche.

Since 1976, AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG have presented the Golden Steering Wheel, regarded as one of Europe’s most prestigious automotive awards. For the 2025 edition, 72 new models were in contention. Readers of AUTO BILD, its European partner magazines, and BILD am SONNTAG helped identify the year’s standouts in a preliminary poll. The top three in each category were then tested by the jury at the Lausitzring circuit in Germany—a two-step approach that brings together public preference and back-to-back evaluations.

Alongside industry journalists from the BILD Group, the jury included racing drivers and celebrities with a passion for cars. Scores were awarded across 17 criteria, covering handling, chassis, design, quality, environmental performance, value for money, safety, and fuel consumption. The wide-ranging checklist favors well-rounded engineering and keeps the focus on real-world merit.