Volkswagen Achieves Historic Four-Category Victory at the 2025 Golden Steering Wheel

Discover how Volkswagen won four Golden Steering Wheel 2025 awards, as reported by AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG, highlighting key models and the brand’s milestone achievement.

Volkswagen achieved a historic breakthrough at the 2025 Golden Steering Wheel awards, becoming the first manufacturer to win four prizes in a single year. In the 49-year history of the competition, no brand had previously reached such a result, underscoring a significant shift in the company’s product direction and the steady progress of its BOOST 2030 strategy.

The Golf GTI Edition 50 secured victory in the compact class. Developed for the 50th anniversary of the GTI, it stood out with strong performance: 239 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque helped it surpass two electric competitors. In the upper mid-size segment, the jury named the ID.7 GTX Tourer the winner. As Volkswagen’s first fully electric estate car, its dual-motor system with a combined 250 kW and solid long-distance capability positioned it ahead of premium German rivals.

In the family car category, the Tayron emerged as the top choice. Positioned between the Tiguan and the Touareg, the new SUV impressed with generous space, comfort and versatility. Its optional seven-seat layout and towing capacity of up to 2.5 tons became decisive advantages over competitors from the Czech Republic and Sweden. The fourth award went to the updated T-Roc, recognised by AUTO BILD’s editorial team as the “Best car under 40,000 euros”. The model received upgrades in design, comfort and equipment, along with hybrid technology and advanced assistance systems.

During the final evaluation, 21 vehicles were tested at the DEKRA Lausitzring, where experts, racing drivers and journalists assessed driving behaviour, everyday usability, quality, sustainability and overall value. These results ultimately determined the winners.

Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer emphasised that winning four awards at once is a strong confirmation of Volkswagen’s direction: moving toward becoming the technologically leading volume manufacturer. As part of the BOOST 2030 strategy, the brand aims to reinforce its commitment to quality, engineering and a globally appealing model portfolio, with six new vehicles planned for launch next year.