These are our inaugural New Car Awards. We've judged every new car on sale, to see which is the winner in each category. It's not judged on what we vote as the best car, but by calculating the general consensus from the leading UK car publications, to show you which cars critics think are the best .

The Volkswagen up! is a funky city car that has launched with a great reception from the press. If you're looking to buy a new city car now, it's the one to have.

The 5-Door version of Audi's popular A1 has been praised since the moment it launched. It's shot straight to the top of our recommend hatchback list.

It may have been on sale for four years now, but praise for the Scirocco isn’t dying down - if anything, it’s becoming easier with time to see just how talented the Scirocco really is.

The new 3-Series has launched with near perfect scores across the board, every critic adores it. If you want a saloon car then this BMW is the no-brainer choice.

Skoda make a lot of excellent cars these days, there isn't a weak one in the range, and the best is the Skoda Superb Estate. It also happens to be the best estate on sale.

The Peugeot 5008 is the best Large MPV on sale right now. It has a huge interior, it's comfortable, practical and as an added bonus it's fun to drive too!

An MPV needs to be designed with families in mind,  which is why reviews heap praise on the C-Max. It's practical, great value and it's the best MPV on sale.

If you're looking for one car that can do it all, then the Discovery 4 is your best bet. It's incredibly comfortable, great value and can cross mountains.

The Volkswagen GTI is a clear winner in the Hot Hatch category for 2012. It's not the newest car on sale, but it's still the one to have in this category.