Road tests

With great pace and assured handling, Audi's S5 is a good alternative to offerings from BMW and Mercedes

When it comes to buyers' pockets and the environment, the Smart ForTwo makes a lot of sense as the city car of choice.

Vauxhall's Antara makes sense for buyers wanting a luxurious compact SUV with head-turning looks

Vauxhall's new 1.7 turbodiesel Astra betters its 1.9-litre brother in every way

Cheaper and better looking than its Compass brother, the Jeep Patriot is an interesting alternative to a conventional family car

It drives better than a petrol car and the only downside is the lack of ethanol filling stations

Kia's Excee'd is a good looking car with an equally attractive seven-year warranty scheme and competitive pricing

The new Nissan X-Trail retains all the traits that made the first version such a hit

The Touran's engine features the new Combined Combustion System, and it seems practical and economic

The Delica is a quirky, stylish alternative to mainstream people carriers, but does the UK need an eight-seat off-road MPV?

Obviously stylish, but practicality is compromised by the lack of a seven-seat option, and cabin quality is average

SEAT's Altea Freetrack is safe, roomy, economical, soundly built and well equipped

The looks could be more distinctive, and the interior lacks style, but in every other area the i30 performs well

With a combination of good looks, impressive pace and well-furnished cabin, the 500 is a sure-fire hit.

The distinctive styling of the Chrysler Sebring could be its Achilles' heel

Citroen's first SUV comes with off-road looks, seven-seat versatility and car-like handling to make it an enticing proposition

With a strong engine range and capable driving experience, the Peugeot SW is a decent addition to the 207 range

The GTI W12 is a fabulous showcase for VW's design and engineering expertise

After a 14-year wait, the Twingo is finally coming to the UK but unfortunately the GT flagship doesn't cut it against its rivals.

Porsche's new range-topping 911 convertible offers huge pace in every gear and sensational performance

With its unique construction, the eXasis is a real thriller, offering staggering performance and near-unbeatable emissions.

If you want more thrills than the TDI version can offer, the TSI is the pick of the Jetta range.

Saab has excellent safety and decent handling but is perhaps not as dynamic as its German rivals.

The Clio's blend of pin-sharp responses and a free-revving engine makes it an involving choice

The Compass is a competent crossover but it's hampered by its limited practicality and VW-derived diesel engine.

The new Mazda 2 is a radical improvement over its predecessor, plus is fun to drive, too

The new Ford Mondeo is bigger, bolder and even more enjoyable to drive than its predecessor

The Octavia has few problems tackling rough terrain, and performs well on gravel tracks

With a range of excellent engines plus a keen price tag, the new Renault Twingo has been worth the wait

SsangYong has finally injected a dose of desirability into its line-up, but the Kyron still lacks strength in depth

The Impreza has greater practicality and a higher-quality interior but bland exterior styling.

The Roewe 750E is proof that Chinese car manufacturers are capable of producing more than simply cheap imitations

Compact dimensions make the Mitsubishi i perfect for the city, and the unique styling helps it stand out from the crowd

With its powerful yet refined V8, Audi's flagship Q7 sets a new performance benchmark in the luxury SUV class

The Elfin MS8 Streamliner's costly, but it's one sports car which definitely stands out from the crowd

The Chevrolet Captiva gets a make-over with the refined, if slightly expensive, Captiva LT