Suzuki Alto

It's Suzuki's Indian take-away! Built in Delhi, the Alto is Suzuki's latest attempt to take the world by storm. It's a much better car than its predecessor, mixing a throaty three-cylinder engine with a spacious cabin and decent dynamics.

Sister car to the forthcoming Nissan Pixo, the Alto range kicks off at £6,795 in SZ2 spec – and that's as much as we'd advise you to pay. Other versions may be better equipped but the base car comes with electric windows, a CD player and power steering – all you really need.

The ride is a bit on the bouncy side but the steering is precise and the engine loves to be revved, yet returns 64mpg and emits just 103g/km of CO2. Factor in decent build quality and space in the back for two small adults, and you've got a dependable small car.