Yes, it may not look like it, but the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer can grip corners like a (slightly sleepy) hot hatch and has beautifully weighted controls that make it a fun and fulfilling car to drive quickly. You'd have never guessed that, would you? And who could blame you, because the Active...

The fact is, there’s also plenty to like for those who aren’t quite so long-of-tooth. The styling might be fussy in places, but we like the fact that it looks like nothing else in the class, especially when that class is packed full of such conservative-looking machines. One of the biggest boots...

It might still have two ‘barn’ doors for accessing the boot, but that’s about the only thing the new MINI Clubman has in common with its predecessor . This Clubman is more like a conventional small family car , with the added bonus of a luxurious interior. In fact, despite the estate car...

It might not be the quickest or cheapest fast Ford money can buy, but the Focus ST has lots of universal appeal thanks to its   ability to mix hot hatch performance with everyday usability. Indeed, when it comes to matching fun and value , the Focus ST is in a class of its own. The Ford Focus...

The Volkswagen Golf has become the default choice. The safe bet. The ‘nobody got fired for buying IBM’ car. Launched in 2013, and facelifted in 2017, the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf is one of the most popular Golfs ever. It helps that there’s a Golf for everybody, whether you’re after a frugal family car...

While the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra are the obvious choices in a crowded segment, the Mazda 3 is the best of the rest. What makes it so good? We’ll start with the styling, which looks chiselled and honed to within an inch of perfection, particularly following the facelift at...