8. MINI Countryman

The idea of a MINI 4x4 was pretty controversial when the Countryman first appeared, but think of it as a four-wheel drive for the fashion conscious and it makes real sense. Nothing in the sector looks quite like the MINI Countryman and its retro-inspired styling and unique interior design make it one of a kind here. If you want to be different, look no further.

There’s more to the MINI than eye catching looks, though, because BMW, which owns the British brand, has company car drivers firmly in its sights. Its clever array of economy-boosting features ensures the ALL4 model is up there with the class leaders when it comes to efficiency. If you want to minimise your tax burden as a user-chooser, CO2 emissions start as low as 129g/km for the Cooper D.

Sporty Cooper SD and John Cooper Works models add to its appeal, but the firm ride compromises comfort and the Countryman’s eager chassis doesn’t deliver the same level of driver enjoyment as the firm’s hatchbacks models or, indeed, the likes of the Skoda Yeti or VW Tiguan.