Last night was the Auto Express awards show and in amongst the variuos awards on offer was the title of Best Hot Hatch of 2011. This year the Auto Express jury decided to award that title to the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Golf actually won two awards. The sixth generation model won the Best Compact Family Car award, praised for its quality, refinement and affordable running costs.

But it was the GTI model that scooped that hot hatch award, a title it has now won three years in a row. With 208bhp and a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds it’s got the necessary performance credentials, but Auto Express acknowledge that there’s more to the Golf than a decent engine.

‘The Golf’s talented underpinnings can easily handle the GTI’s extra power, and its spacious cabin and high-quality trimmings help to make our winner both hugely desirable and very easy to live with.’ – Graham Hope, Auto Express Editor

So Auto Express think the Golf is the best hot hatch while What Car? think it’s the Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup. Those are two cars that are very different in character, so who’s right?