THE Volvo XC60 has been crowned the overall winner at the UK Car of the Year Awards 2018.

After scooping Best Medium Crossover when the category winners were announced in January, the Volvo went up against another 12 triumphant new cars to fight it out for the top honour.

It is the first time that Volvo has won the overall prize at the awards and the company has gone one better than 2016, when the XC90 was runner-up.

"The XC60 being crowned UK Car of the Year 2018 is very well deserved, at a time when crossovers are becoming increasingly popular. Having come close in 2016 with the XC90, it's fantastic to see Volvo now claim the top spot with it's smaller - but every bit as impressive - stablemate," said John Challen, director of the UK Car of the Year Awards.

Fellow director, Alisdair Suttie, added: "The XC60 is everything you ever thought a Scandinavian SUV should be - and more. Magnificent quality, comfort and space."

Jon Wakefield, managing director at Volvo Car UK, said: "Winning both the overall UK Car of the Year and Best Medium Crossover awards is a fantastic achievement for Volvo. The awards reflect the desirability and sophistication of the XC60 and the elegant Scandinavian design, cutting-edge technology and luxurious equipment levels have proved a big hit with customers."

In the most closely-contested overall category in UK Car of the Year Awards history, the XC60 triumphed over the Skoda Kodiaq by a single point, with BMW's 5 Series finishing in third place.

Full list of UK Car of the Year Awards 2018 winners:

Best Supermini - SEAT Ibiza

Best Small Hatch - Volkswagen Golf

Best Family - Peugeot 3008

Best Executive - BMW 5 Series

Best Luxury - Rolls-Royce Phantom

Best Estate - BMW 5 Series

Best Small Crossover - Citroen C3 Aircross

Best Medium Crossover - Volvo XC60

Best Large Crossover - Skoda Kodiaq

Best Coupe - Lexus LC

Best Cabriolet - Mazda MX-5 RF

Best Hot Hatch - Hyundai i30 N

Best Performance - Kia Stinger