What is it? Peugeot must almost rue the day it built the original 205 GTI, defining what a hot hatch could and should do. Every successive effort by the French firm has been held up to comparison with the 205 and, so far, been found wanting. However, the 208 GTI finally steps out from this [...]

What is it? The SQ5 could be accused of being a parts bin compilation from Audi, using the brawny 309bhp twin-turbo V6 diesel engine in the Q5. However, it comes together to be a much better whole than the sum of its parts to offer one of Audi’s best driving cars and a swift, sure-footed [...]

What is it? The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is the cheapest car of its type in the UK. It also has the lowest emissions for a hybrid that cannot be plugged into the mains to recharge, so it should be a win-win for anyone considering a small, economical car. What’s it like? Toyota achieves class-leading 79g/km [...]

What is it? The new A-Class takes a more traditional approach to the small hatch sector than it previous incarnations. Mercedes hopes this will take sales from the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series.  What’s it like? Mercedes has reinvented it’s A-Class. Gone are the tall-sided, MPV-ish looks, replaced by sleek hatchback lines that Merc [...]

What is it? Ford’s latest model within its ‘Econetic’ range, and the company’s most serious effort, to date, to compete with the likes of Volkswagen’s TSI and Fiat’s TwinAir downsizing technologies. What’s it like? Impressive. Considering the same amount of power is available here as is found in the 1.6-litre Duractec engine, the performance from [...]