In-depth reviews

VW has ambitious plans, and no model highlights this more than the luxury Phaeton.

Great to drive, generously equipped, affordable to run and buy, the 159 ticks all the right boxes while appealing on an emotional level too.

Standard-setting premium saloon. Styling and pricing don't suit all but the drive and choice on offer from the 3-Series should.

The Honda feels half-hearted. The weedy electric motor means the engine is used too often, and that ensures fuel economy is poor. The Toyota Prius is …

The X-Type is the car that Jaguar hoped would bring in serious volume sales to the company, competing against the best of the German competition on bo…

The Merc has dramatic styling, road presence and sheer class.

Renault continues to offer the 'old' Clio a cheaper, entry-level model and revives the Campus badge to differentiate it from its newer relative

The competent Toyota is only let down by its cramped rear seats and high prices.

The Kia is fantastic value and a massive step forward from the car it replaces, making it a serious contender in the compact MPV sector.

The Magentis is solidly put together, inoffensively styled and offers excellent rear legroom. But it's outdated and lacks personality

Toyota is a fine effort and a tribute to the company's engineers. Yet the hybrid isn't sophisticated enough to beat the best diesel hatches

The Galaxy's blend of car-like handling, great packaging and a neat seating system makes it well suited to most families' needs.

The original Kia Rio marked a step change in Kia's car building enterprise

The Colt CZC offers decent value for money. Its roof is well designed and handling agile, but ride, and material finish let it down.

The Caterham Seven might be an enduring legend, but it's evolved very gradually to respond to the needs of buyers, while providing ever more extreme p…

The Skoda's blend of a car-like drive with a spacious, solid and well designed cabin makes it one of the best supermini-MPVs on the market.

Slotting into a gap in the 4x4 market which the Shogun has priced itself out of, the Shogun Sport is a surprisingly appealing way into the Shogun bran…

Not only does the Mazda RX-8 break conventional coupe rules by having two extra rear hinged doors to give access to passengers, but it also comes powe…

The current range-topper in Lamborghini's current two-car line-up, the Murcielago was the first car to be developed under the watchful eye of Lamborgh…

Great to look at, agile and fun to drive, the Punto Sporting has a lot going for it. It's well equipped too, and offers a fine blend of performance, e…

The original hot hatch is once again one of the world's best.

The Civic Type-S is one of the best cars in its class. Revised suspension gives the three-door more bite, while the five-door's clever rear seats and …

Stunning and charismatic, the Brera fills the coupe brief to the letter. It's a car you would be proud to own and drive.

The 197 handles wonderfully. With nimble cornering ability and bags of grip, it's every inch the hot hatch.

Many said Bentley were being foolish to move 'downmarket' with a range of cheaper cars but the success of the Continental GT has underlined what a sen…

The XKR is pretty and endowed with superb road manners, a great cabin and muscular performance.

The Fusion, as its name suggests, combines elements of different cars to create what Ford has dubbed an 'Urban Activity Vehicle'.

The Toledo is a hatchback based on an MPV that's trying to be a saloon.