Here are 10 of the best ‘all-round’ cars you can buy right now

Let’s face the facts here: utilitarian vehicles are getting cooler by the day. Why take up two car spaces and bloat your already unreasonable insurance premium even further if you can have one tool that does it all? In this regard, BMW has nailed the brief with the G80 M3 Touring.

It’s a car which has been years in the making, with the Bavarians teasing the idea as far back as the E46. But if for whatever reason the M3 just doesn’t seem appealing to you (still side-eyeing the grille?), here are 10 cars that play the jack-of-all-trades card just as well.

A commanding London to Monaco mile muncher that’s not actually worlds apart from the M3 in price. What the Audi RS6 does have over its adversary though is an additional 100bhp, which would make it noticeably better in the unofficial sport of competitive tailgating.

How exactly did we get here? It wasn’t so long ago that a seemingly unshakable cloud of despair followed the Kia badge around and now, headlining its revitalised fleet, is the brilliant all-electric EV6 GT. Sprightly, handsome and capable of over 300 miles of range, the EV6 is a strong shout for one of the most multifaceted electric cars on sale right now.

The Honda Civic Type R lineage has always been associated with frenzied front-wheel drive lunacy, but it has now transcended to a higher plane of hot hatchery with the FL5. Conservative on the inside yet feverous on the out, the Type R deservedly earned its place among the stars of Top Gear’s 2023 Speed Week.

When Top Gear was given the reins to the Tesla Model S Plaid, we walked away with one pretty big talking point: this may be the best electric powertrain in production. With over 1,000bhp at your disposal thanks to the tri-motor and 100kWh battery combination, the end product is thrilling. Love it or hate it, the fact remains the Model S Plaid is a genuine all-rounder… and some.

This comes as no surprise really, given that few cars can strike a balance between versatility and usability quite as well. The soon-to-be-retired F90 BMW M5 can be had for as little as £40,000 these days, and given its proven track record, it’s easy to see why that can be considered a good deal.

The R35 Nissan GT-R has been with us since 2007 and a replacement is on the way in 2024. The reason it’s managed to survive for so long is simple: it’s an engineering marvel. Not only does it put a worrying number of exotic supercars made of pixie dust and unicorn horns to shame, but it does so comfortably, economically and with minimal fuss. Plus, it's called Godzilla, and that's always cool.

The first truly sporty electric car has solidified its standing even further with the introduction of the Cross Turismo version. Gaining a nine out of 10 on the scorecards from our team, the Taycan has all the performance and practicality on offer with the M3 Touring without the emissions, making it a real heavyweight in the here and now.

Now in its second generation, the Mercedes-Benz AMG A45 has firmly established itself as one of the leaders in the hot hatch segment. The all-wheel drive, 415bhp pocket rocket from Stuttgart may be a touch on the expensive side, but it all starts to make sense from the minute you step into it - and even more so when you open up the taps.

Taking a slightly more conservative approach, the Defender is a nominee on our list not because it offers the same sort of pace that the M3 does, but because it is a masterclass in utilitarian engineering. A no-nonsense go anywhere, do anything vehicle whose robust underpinnings are made even better with a set of steelies.

The natural competitor to the Kia EV6 considering their similarities. Despite its mediumly-crossover appearance, the Ioniq 5 N is more of a hyper-hatch. Amenities are plentiful here, and throw in the wonderfully childish ‘N Drift Optimiser’ setting that enables you to hit some serious angles, it’s a more than appropriate choice to draw the curtains on our list with.

It's also TopGear.com's Car of the Year 2023.