Auto Express Car of the Year gallery

Well-specced, spacious and good to drive, the ZX took the hatchback fight to the ever-popular Ford Escort and VW Golf.

A real revelation, the Mondeo consigned the Sierra to the history books being fun to drive and a great all-rounder. It marked a turning point for Ford and its legacy can still be felt today.

The rear-wheel drive Omega was Vauxhall’s take on a luxury car to see off the challenge of Ford’s oddball Scorpio.

The A4 set a new benchmark in Audi's premium saloon sector. And with its improved design and quality, a new 3-Series and C-Class rival was born.

Sportier than its great rival – the Mercedes C-Class - the 5-Series set new standards of performance, handling and design.

The Passat bought Audi-like levels of interior quality and style to a more mainstream audience, coaxing company car drivers out of their Mondeos.

The simply styled hatchback was very reliable and well-built. It also offered good handling and suspension and was cheap to run and insure.

The Escort was so dire that Ford really had to pull the stops out with its replacement – and it did just that with the Focus. Good looking, fun to drive and well made, it's still deeply impressive today.

Another standout Skoda, the Fabia combined a smooth ride with excellent value, making the Polo rival a class winner.

One of the most successful reinventions ever – the MINI packs all the charm, fun and performance of the original into a stylish, safe and high quality small car.

Honda's Jazz was economical, fun to drive and its innovative design made it one of the most spacious superminis on the market.

With its subtle styling and seven-seater layout, the XC90 was – and still is – the acceptable face of the SUV. Factor in supreme quality and a comfy ride and you've got a winner.

The stylish looking, second-generation Panda was a hit. It was simple, spacious and fun to drive, plus it was just as good on the motorway as it was around town.

Improving on the MK1 Focus was always going to be a tough challenge – but with better build quality, refinement and space, Ford did just that. And kept the driving experience intact too.

The lightweight XK combined grand tourer comfort with sports car performance and showed that Jaguar could make a coupe that looked as well as it performed.

Re-wrote the family car rulebook yet again, with stand-out styling, prestige-brand quality, acres of space and, of course, the best driving experience in the class.