Aston Martin DB9
Recommended. Another achingly cool car from Aston, one that splits the difference between a supercar and a grand tourer. Start saving now. |
 |
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Highly recommended. With looks, pace and one of the most desirable badges on the planet, Aston's baby supercar is a very credible rival to Porsche's 911, BMW's M6 and the Maserati Gran Turismo. |
 |
Bentley Continental GT
Recommended. Massive performance comes as standard - it's just a shame about the rather dowdy design. |
 |
BMW 1 Series
Average. BMW's baby drives brilliantly - but looks, costs and poor practicality tell against it. |
 |
BMW X5
Recommended. The ultimate in luxury all road driving, this is as close to piloting a sumptuous estate car, albeit a tall one, as it gets. |
 |
Citroen C1
Clean, green and clever - but why would you pick one over the pretty much identical Toyota Aygo?
|
 |
Citroen C3
Average. Characterful supermini marred by cheap-feeling construction and indifferent dynamics - but priced to sell. |
 |
Citroen Picasso
Not recommended. Cheap but desperately outdated compact MPV. Only seats five and can't match more modern rivals for quality or driving experience. |
 |
Ferrari 360
Highly Recommended. An awesome baby supercar more than worthy of the badge it wears. With superb performance, a wonderful engine and scintillating handling the only problem is the six-figure asking price... |
 |
Ferrari Enzo
Highly Recommended. Ferraris are about ultimates, and this is the ultimate Ferrari, and on the road - which it consumes like a starved locust - it doesn't disappoint. |
 |
Ferrari F430
Highly Recommended. One of the world's best sports cars and a candidate for the title 'best Ferrari ever'.
|
 |
Ford Focus
Recommended. The original Focus was revolutionary. This one is more evolutionary, but it is still an excellent product. |
 |
Honda Civic (00 - 06)
Average. Much-improved space and specification, but desperately short of charisma - except for the dramatic Type R, that is.
|
 |
Hyundai Coupe Siii
Average. Decent mid-sized coupe combines handsome looks with tough construction - but it's not particularly thrilling to drive. |
 |
Jaguar S-Type
Recommended. Relaxing chassis settings and syrupy smooth engines make the mid-sized Jaguar a fine long distance companion. Substantially improved by recent facelift and new diesel is outstanding. |
 |
Jaguar X-Type
Average. Jag's supposed rival to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class is fading fast. It's still a good car, but doubts as to whether it deserves the badge are growing. |
 |
Jaguar XK
Highly recommended. Stylish, classy and brilliant to drive - the XK puts Jaguar back at the top of the luxury coupe segment. |
 |
Land Rover Discovery
Highly Recommended. Everything you'd expect a Land Rover to be - big, tough and great in the wilderness. Seven seat versions are impressively practical, too. |
 |
Lexus IS
Recommended. Lexus's antidote to the 3 Series has almost got us convinced |
 |
Lotus Elise
Recommended. Brilliant lightweight sportscar that drives like nothing else, but don't buy one expecting much in the way of practicality. |
 |
Maserati Spyder
Recommended. Maserati are finally back as a credible manufacturer of GT cars. Slightly uneven abilities, but huge character. |
 |
Maybach 57/62
Not recommended. If there's a point to this vast, bloated super saloon we've yet to spot it.
|
 |
Mazda RX-8
Highly recommended. Storming four-door sports coupe. Great to look at and great to drive - the only downside is steep running costs. |
 |
Mercedes C Class
Recommended. Sticks with the scaled-down S-Class looks and space, but now with better finish, superb handling and decent steering feel |
 |
Mercedes E Class
Recommended. Familiar looks hide a comprehensive makeover - but can the new E Class deliver on substance as well as style?
|
 |
Mercedes S Class
Highly Recommended. Possibly the most complete luxury saloon in the world - makes even its accomplished rivals appear crude by comparison. |
 |
Mercedes SL
Recommended. Effortlessly talented luxury roadster that's growing old gracefully. Expensive to run but very exclusive. |
 |
Mercedes SLK
Highly recommended. The novelty of the SLK's folding metal hardtop has faded - but the rest of the ownership experience is still pretty special. |
 |
Mini Mini
Underneath the very familiar looks the Mini is a better car in almost every regard.
|
 |
Mitsubishi Outlander
Recommended. A well-rounded addition to the growing "soft roader" clan, with good on-tarmac performance and excellent equipment. |
 |
Mitsubishi Shogun
Not recommended. Good looks but not much substance. Don't confuse it with the more expensive Shogun: mechanically, this one is more like a heavily modified pick-up truck underneath. |
 |
Nissan 350Z
Highly recommended. Nissan revived the coupe segment with the 350Z - and now it's even better. |
 |
Nissan Qashqai
Recommended. A new breed of small family car - as desirable as an SUV but without the downsides. |
 |
Peugeot 307
Average. Distinctly average family hatchback with decent all-round talents - but a terrible driving position.
|
 |
Toyota MR2
Recommended. A lightweight two-seater that is serious fun to drive, looks fine and sounds great. But as for storage - a toothbrush, perhaps? |
 |
Vauxhall Astra
Recommended. Handsome family hatchback with good specification and a decent range of engines - just lacking in excitement. |
 |
Vauxhall Corsa (00-06)
Average. Ageing supermini that offers good kit and performance - but feels unpolished next to more modern rivals. |
 |
Volkswagen Golf
Recommended. A brilliant all-rounder - good to drive, well constructed and competitively priced. |
 |
Volkswagen Passat
Recommended. Big, sensible and comfort. Lacks excitement, but still the one to beat in the segment. |
 |
Volkswagen Touareg
Recommended. The Porsche Cayenne's (slightly) more socially acceptable sister - this big off-roader combines good road manners with a comfortable, spacious cabin. |
 |
Volvo C70
Recommended. A stylish new contender in the four-seat cabrio segment, with a graceful folding roof and laid-back on-road dynamics. |
 |
Volvo S40
Average. Great at absorbing the strain of long journeys, but overpriced compared to key rivals. |
 |
Volvo XC90
With a nose job and some new engines the XC90's appeal to suburban housewives looks set to get even stronger. |
 |
|
|