6/10ToyotaAygo£9,640 – £15,245One of the smallest cars on sale makes a good case for itself if you seek simplicity
8/10VolkswagenUp£9,955 – £16,090Will shake up the city car segment and could become a game-changer for the whole class.
7/10VolkswagenUp GTI£9,955 – £16,090You can tell it’s not had squillions spent developing it, but if you like hot hatches simple and scrappy, the Up GTI is a little tonic
6/10CitroenC1£10,360 – £14,330Similar to the old one underneath, but with a happier character and even lower running costs.
7/10RenaultTwingo£10,530 – £13,235As entertaining and satisfying as the old Twingo was mundane and mediocre.
6/10SmartForFour£12,485 – £23,030A Renault Twingo that’s not quite so cool as a Renault Twingo. Sorry.
7/10Fiat500 (2007-)£12,500 – £21,520Technically and mechanically other city cars outstrip it, but emotionally – well, that’s up to you. We understand.
5/10Alfa RomeoMiTo£12,705Italophiles will get some kicks here, but this is an average effort that is easily trumped for comparable money.
1/10SuzukiJimny£15,664 – £19,164The Suzuki Jimny is a tiny, cheap and rival-free hardcore off-roader. Does what it does quite brilliantly. Does everything else appallingly.
7/10SuzukiJimny£15,664 – £19,164The Jimny’s ultra-honest unpretentiousness is the antidote to every beige crossover out there. Just don’t expect sophistication, and you’ll adore it
7/10Abarth500£16,375 – £26,525An addictive little begger that is much better than its list of failings would have you believe.
8/10SkodaCitigo-E iV£20,400 – £22,760One of the cheapest EVs you can buy just so happens to be really quite good
7/10BMW2 Series£26,095 – £40,190Far better looking than the old 1 Series Coupe. Driving and owning qualities mark it out as a real BMW.
8/10ToyotaGT86£26,495 – £32,164The simplest and most exciting Toyota in years is also a real pleasure to drive
7/10FordMustang£33,995 – £45,955It’s not sophisticated, but it is enormously good fun. Even as a convertible
7/10AudiA5£34,525 – £56,240Superb design and refinement cloak a nondescript driving experience. Again
8/10MorganPlus Four (2020)£35,400 – £43,200The point where 2020s technology meets 1920s craftsmanship. Not perfect, but a joyous thing nonetheless...
8/10Mercedes-BenzC-Class Coupe£36,150 – £79,883A coupe that majors on comfort and luxury. Unless you go for the C63 AMG, in which case it's NUTS
7/10AudiA5 Cabriolet£37,330 – £57,050It’s a seductive car, the new A5 Cabriolet, and while more dynamically accomplished than its predecessor, still more of a grand touring boulevardier rather than a B-road hustler. But what an ownership proposition.
8/10Mercedes-BenzC-Class Cabriolet£39,674 – £82,301Mercedes nails it. The C-Class cabrio is pleasant to drive but majors on open-top relaxation
5/10LexusRC£39,975 – £46,390Forgettable engine and transmission in a sporty-looking package. A sheep in wolf’s clothing.
