Nissan Juke vs Rivals

These cars are all about style, which makes picking a winner a difficult task. But even taking into account varying personal tastes, one stands out – the Kia Soul. The model that kick-started the crossover supermini craze drives well, is packed with kit and looks great. Factor in its practical design and seven-year warranty, and it takes the victory.

Second place goes to the Juke – very nearly on its looks alone. It’s well equipped for the money, but it is far from perfect. Not only is the cabin cramped, but it fails to excite behind the wheel.

In third place, Skoda’s Roomster shows that you can marry head-turning looks with a practical cabin. However, its high price prevents it from taking second spot here. The combination of its 1.2 TSI engine and DSG box also proved disappointing – the manual would be our pick.

That leaves the Toyota to pick up the wooden spoon. The competent Urban Cruiser barely puts a foot wrong and is very efficient, but in a test where style and image are important, the Japanese machine lacks the necessary desirability or character to compete.

Distinctive looks, value-for-money price and impressive kit ensure the Soul is a strong all-rounder. It drives sharply and promises to be easy to live with.

New kid on block looks the most distinctive and is well equipped. However, it’s not as good to drive as the Soul and can’t match Kia’s promise of hassle-free ownership.

If practicality is your main priority,  this is the car for you. But it isn’t cheap, and on this evidence we couldn’t recommend the DSG box with the 1.2-litre TSI engine.

It's competent, but the Toyota is outclassed for style and interior versatility. The driving experience is uninspiring, too but stop/start makes it the most efficient choice.