Business Class

What's the difference between family cars and small executive models? With every launch come aspirations to push upmarket, leave mainstream family vehicles behind and challenge the best German executive machines.

What this means to ordinary buyers is that the benchmark for Ford Mondeo-sized vehicles has never been higher. Honda’s latest Accord is arguably striving hardest to break into the class above – dominated by the BMW 3-Series – but will that make it a winner?

For this test, we have lined up five of the latest family car contenders. And you can see how diverse the top-selling market has become. Style, comfort, driving fun and attractive prices all should be standard. Our Accord EX GT, one of the first models to arrive in the UK, is powered by the firm’s new 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine. Honda claims the car matches the 3-Series for dynamics and the 5-Series’ cabin quality.

Clearly, the Japanese firm has confidence in it – so bettering other family models will surely be a breeze. But not if the Mondeo has anything to do with it. The big five-door is a brilliant all-rounder – and the reigning Auto Express Car of the Year. The top-of-the-range Titanium X should have everything it needs to tackle the challenger from Honda.

And while Renault’s Laguna has yet to prove itself a winner in our tests, can it teach the Honda a thing or two about upmarket aspirations? Mazda’s top-value 6 and the sumptuous Citroen C5 must also be beaten if the Accord is to take the top prize here.

So the stage is set to find the best all-round family car. We are looking for a model that’s just as at ease outside one of the world’s most advanced offices – like the cutting-edge OpTIC Technology Centre in Wales – as it is ferrying the children around at weekends.