THE new Peugeot 3008 SUV has won the coveted European Car of the Year award for 2017.

The car, which went on sale in the UK only a few months ago and is priced from £20,635, took the honours in this year's awards which were announced on Monday on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.

Peugeot is now the second biggest auto maker in Europe after Volkswagen following the announcement earlier on Monday that it was taking over Vauxhall and Opel operations in Europe from General Motors.

In this year's awards the 3008 was voted top from a list of six other finalists - the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Citroën C3, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Nissan Micra, the Toyota C-HR and Volvo's big car pairing of the V90 estate and the S90 saloon.

Hakan Matson, automobile expert from the Swedish economic magazine Dagens Industri and the president of the Car of the Year judging panel, said: "The jury recognizes that the market share of SUVs and crossover cars has been steadily increasing. The Peugeot is a worthy winner."

Jean-Philippe Imparato, chief executive of Peugeot saidi: "We are so happy. It is a great moment and I am very proud to receive this prize for our Peugeot 3008."

The criteria taken into consideration for the annual awards are innovation, security, design and value for money.

The new 3008 has made a mark with its revolutionary i-Cockpit high tech interior and instrument panel being a standard feature across the 17 model line up.

Peugeot last won the award, which has been running since 1964, two years ago when the 308 hatchback was voted best in Europe.

Last year the honours went to the British-built Vauxhall Astra which has now become part of the Peugeot Citroen PSA Group.