7/10BMW1 Series£22,835 – £23,365BMW's switch from RWD to FWD for the new hatch is no bad thing. This new 1 Series is a good car from the bottom up.
8/10CitroenC4 Cactus£21,455 – £23,800Citroen's Fiat Panda - character over driving thrills, but none the worse for that.
6/10CitroenC4 Cactus£21,455 – £23,800While still a comfy, useful hatchback, the C4 Cactus's move mainstream has taken away its class hero status
6/10VauxhallAstra£18,700 – £29,085Not as far behind the Ford Focus as you might think. Vauxhall's facelifted hatch is a very competent thing... but an all-new one lurks around the corner.