6/10KiaCee'd Sportswagon£19,625 – £24,585The Kia Cee'd is the car that lobs the paving slab of reality into the windscreen of preconception. It might be a straight clone of a Toyota/Ford/VW hatch, but it’s a damn good one.
6/10FiatTipo£14,915 – £20,910Probably Fiat’s least interesting car, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth ignoring if you love a bargain.
6/10JeepCompass£25,835 – £32,790More an SUV than a soft-roader. Patchy dynamics but well finished and has good off-road ability
6/10RenaultCaptur£17,370 – £24,920Jumped-up Clio is miles less tinny than the old one. Breaks no rules, but it's good-looking, refined and comfy
6/10NissanMicra£13,875 – £22,385It's engine range isn't class leading, but overlook that and the Micra is a massively improved contender
6/10NissanX-Trail£30,235 – £34,260A good, solid SUV. Lots of space, but competitors have caught and passed in some areas
6/10RenaultMegane£17,515 – £23,930Not the most compelling hatch, but as a car for real family life, it could be brilliant
6/10JeepRenegade£19,480 – £30,660Buy it for the looks and lifestyle, then put up with the flaws. Likeable, but irrational
Editor’s choice6/10DS3£17,090 – £23,260Not as fresh as it was, but ageing gracefully, and still the best DS of the bunch.
6/10CitroenC4 Cactus£21,535 – £23,880While still a comfy, useful hatchback, the C4 Cactus's move mainstream has taken away its class hero status
7/10FordKuga£22,790 – £37,730The new Kuga is safer and roomier than before. Less fun, but a better family car
7/10RenaultKadjar£20,870 – £30,810Renault’s Qashqai rival is conveniently a rebodied… Qashqai. A fine appliance for family transport
7/10Hyundaii40£22,415 – £28,615Hyundai arrives to worry the Ford Mondeo – and the impressive i40 certainly does that.
7/10Hyundaii30£17,090 – £25,250A very rational car in standard form, which will make your life easy, but not exciting
7/10VolkswagenCaravelle£41,748 – £58,242Yes, it’s effectively a van with windows. But it’s also magnificent
7/10SeatAlhambra£30,415 – £38,270Seat’s most complete car. It has no real weaknesses – but we just know you’d rather have the VW…
7/10VolkswagenTouran£27,965 – £34,950Better than the car it replaces, but not interesting, exciting or memorable.
7/10Peugeot208£16,065 – £23,145A supremely desirable, futuristic ‘mini with a powertrain for everyone. Just beware the firm ride
