8/10VolvoS90£38,200 – £47,900Goes in a different direction to the German alternatives, with convincing success.
8/10AudiS1£18,230 – £31,030Well done Audi, this one's a proper little stonker: fast, small, fun, a 4wd hot hatch done properly.
7/10VolkswagenPolo£15,185 – £23,255It's a sizeable leap, and enough to shove the Polo up to the upper reaches of the supermini order.
7/10RenaultClio 200 Renaultsport£13,870 – £21,595Softer and a little disappointing: the new RS isn’t what it was. Still fun, but we hoped for more…
7/10RenaultClio£13,870 – £21,595Cheery and characterful, the new Clio is a genuinely appealing supermini.
7/10VauxhallInsignia Grand Sport£20,220 – £41,185New Insignia ticks every cost-effective box, and is much more refined than before. Still tricky to be enthusiastic about, though
6/10VauxhallInsignia£20,220 – £41,185Not the best car in this uninspiring, fleet-orientated end of the segment but a very worthy effort.
6/10RenaultClio£13,870 – £21,595Neither revolutionary in style nor the most exciting to drive, but a very mature car
6/10KiaProceed£24,065 – £28,825A refreshing niche that ain’t a crossover, but not as sporty as billed