In the fine tradition of sexing up the estate car, Kia calls the Optima-based estate a ‘Sportswagon’. It evokes an exotic lifestyle choice rather than reflecting your basic need to carry a lot of stuff. Fortunately, in a basic sense the Kia Optima Sportswagon is an estate that carries a lot of stuff....

The Kia Sportage is the family SUV for people who don’t fancy a Nissan Qashqai . That might be a bit unfair, but the Sportage has been playing second fiddle to the Qashqai for many years. So why should you choose the Kia over the all-conquering Nissan? Let’s get the obvious point out of the way...

The Picanto may be Kia's smallest car but it's probably its most important model. The compact five-door hatchback has been the brand's best selling car for the last seven years and is one of the best small motors around offering great value for money. The second generation Picanto grows up with a sleeker...

The anonymous Toyota Avensis has now been dressed in a sharp new suit, as Toyota aims to give it a more noticeable presence on the road. But the changes are more than skin deep. An updated cabin with plusher materials and new BMW-sourced diesel engines add some much-needed appeal, making the Avensis...

Stylish outside and good value , the Hyundai Tucson is a family SUV that has lots of appeal. Much of that is down to its large interior, refined ride and affordable price. The Hyundai Tucson offers more space and equipment than its Hyundai ix35 predecessor. It has a more purposeful look, with...

With a budget price tag and little-known badge, the SsangYong Tivoli might seem cheap and cheerful – but it’s much better than that. (And the little known badge is about to be replaced, anyway, as the firm rebrands to KG Motors). Offering space for a family, plenty of standard equipment and impressive...