Suzuki Alto

The Suzuki Alto might be one of the cheapest cars to insure in the UK, fitting into insurance group 1, but it's certainly not one of the best. However, you can’t argue with the bottom line where this cheap runabout is concerned.

As you'd expect, performance is sedate fromt he 1.0-litre engine: 0-62mph takes 13.5 seconds, which isn't a problem in towns and cities, but can turn motorways and dual-carriageways into a real struggle.

It's pretty easy to drive, thanks to its light steering and fuss-free controls, but handling isn't its strong suit and there's little feedback through the steering wheel. Noise is a bigger problem, with severe wind and tyre roar inside at motorway speeds.

A city car is never going to be massively practical, but even by the standards of the class, the Alto is extremely disappointing. Its 129-litre boot is one of the smallest of any car on sale in the UK, while a high lip and narrow opening only compound the problem. The back seats do fold down – but not completely flat – and when they're in place, adults will find the rear cabin extremely cramped.