MINI Cooper S

Price: £20,630Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol
Power: 189bhpTorque: 300Nm0-62mph: 6.8 secondsTop speed: 146mph

Yes it dwarfs its ancestors, but the MINI is still a hugely entertaining hot hatch in Cooper S guise. Agile handling has always been a trademark, and the current car is no disappointment, as it'll readily cock an inside rear wheel when cornering hard.

• MINI hatch review

The turbocharged petrol engine packs a decent punch, too, and if you go for the optional adaptive dampers, you can switch between hardcore handling and cruising comfort at the flick of a toggle switch.

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