car reviews

Success in a hatch isn't just about the drive. The Focus has the rest of the bases well covered too

The C-HR handles well, looks quirky and makes a tank of fuel go a long way, but small families will quickly outgrow it

Hardcore normcore. If JK Rowling was writing Harry Potter today, it's probably what the Dursleys would drive

With its eye-catching design, impressive equipment levels, and comfortable ride, the 308 SW makes a compelling case for itself

Roomy, versatile, easy to recommend – the Jazz knows its audience, but would you count yourself in it?

Not the most compelling hatch, but as a car for real family life, it could be brilliant

Practical, comfortable and premium. A fantastic large estate from Skoda

Wilfully odd-looking small SUV is actually fun to drive. It's the Nissan Juke's worthy heir

Life's pretty great inside the new 4, not just because you don't have to look at it

As useful as cars get below about £20k. But as joyful? Um...

Vauxhall upgrades its mainstream hatch, makes a very competent Focus rival. Definitely worth considering

Heartland Audi, now with (shock!) semi-controversial looks and crowd-pleasing tech

Peugeot's hot hatch renaissance continues. The 308 GTI has a joyously wild streak

A thoroughly capable family car that handles far better than it really needs to

Renault’s Qashqai rival is conveniently a rebodied… Qashqai. A fine appliance for family transport

The 500 looks tempting and fun where so many cars in this segment are drab.

The latest version of the car that defined the premium hatch sector stays classy

A fun car with a practical side, but no longer one of the sharpest hot hatches on sale

Citroen has made the C4 Cactus more mainstream, yet conversely it's become a more niche choice in the process

Octavia’s straight-down-the-line simplicity is refreshing, if not memorable.

It’s the car that Top Gear staffers tend to recommend when asked ‘what should I buy?’ more often than anything else.