50 best road tests of 2011: 26-30

BMW 6 Series Convertible
Longcross test track, Chobham, Surrey (April)

There was a lot to consider when we jumped from Jaguar’s XK Convertible into the new BMW 6 Series.

Much as we loved the British-built XK’s V8 character and muscular styling, the BMW forced us to listen to our heads over our hearts, with its superb all-round efficiency, relative value for money, advanced engineering and vastly superior practicality.

While the 6 Series’ engine made do with two fewer cylinders, this did not translate into a significant performance gap on the road, and the 6 Series made the Jag look thirsty.

Low bills, big thrills
Longcross test track, Chobham, Surrey (June)

As temperatures rose early in the summer, we unearthed the hottest company buys around. Benefit in Kind tax is calculated from a car’s price and emissions, so business users often sacrifice thrills in the pursuit of low CO2.

But we showed that they don’t have to, picking out four cars that provided good clean fun: the Saab 9-3 TTiD SE, VW Passat CC TDI, Lexus RX450h and Audi A7 3.0 TDI.

Hyundai i40 vs rivals
Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk (August)

Take a look at the line-up for our triple test of Hyundai’s i40 Tourer, and you could be forgiven for thinking the new estate would be little more than an also-ran. Could the i40 really match Volkswagen’s legendary Passat Estate and the unstoppable load-lugging Skoda Superb? Absolutely...

In fact, the Hyundai very nearly took overall victory, and was edged into second only by the Superb’s more polished dynamics and greater practicality. The Passat was pushed aside by its better-value and better-handling rivals.

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Insignia Sports Tourer

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Test top 10s
Worst emissions of cars in 2011

VW Amarok vs rivals
Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk (June)

When Volkswagen decides to make its presence felt in previously uncharted territory, you know it’s going to make waves.

The Amarok burst into the pick-up class this summer, but its sights were set more on the commercial vehicle market than the lucrative family crossover class. The car aims to bridge the gap between the agricultural flat-bed and the modern SUV, and saw off established pick-up competition from the Nissan Navara to win one of its head-to-heads. However, it struggled to assert itself in the other one, where it met a conventional SUV.

We decided the Kia Sorento would be a better everyday companion for most drivers thanks to its more manageable proportions and comfort.

Toyota Yaris vs rivals
Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Leics (September)

It was hard not to leave the test track feeling a little deflated after driving Toyota’s new Yaris in September. Here was one of the world’s automotive superpowers delivering a new entry into one of the biggest and most fiercely contested of new car classes.

However, the Yaris could only manage fourth place behind the Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift and Ford Fiesta. While it’s bigger and better than its predecessor, a jittery low-speed ride and poor-quality interior plastics don’t fit the high price Toyota charges.