Best buys: Premium hatchbacks

Best in class

Audi A3

Yes, it's true that you can have all of the A3's mechanical components and most, if not actually all, of its driving dynamics wrapped up in the more affordable body of a VW Golf. And you'd be hard pressed to say that the Golf is any less classy or well-made either. And don't even get us started on the Skoda Octavia… Still, this is a category in which rational decision making doesn't really stand a chance and there's no denying that the A3 looks an almost perfectly desirable product when parked in front of you. Better still, you can have it as an even more handsome saloon. Choose from a simple diesel, a high-tech plugin hybrid e-Tron or the mildly mental 300hp S3. Best one: A3 2.0 TDI S-Line saloon for €36,670

Also consider

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The smallest Merc (well, the smallest one for now – there are rumours of yet smaller to come) manages to successfully blend classic Merc values (comfort, solidity, classiness) with a compact, front-wheel-drive hatchback layout. Basic diesels, using a 1.6 diesel borrowed from Renault, are staggeringly economical in daily driving (they'll easily crack 65mpg) but the larger and more powerful 2.1-litre diesels are just a bit too noisy. Spec the cabin carefully too – it's easy to go overboard and end up with something that looks too chintzy and not classy enough.

Mini Cooper

Proof enough that if your badge has the right resonance with the buying public, you can charge pretty much whatever price you like. How else do you explain the runaway success of a car masquerading as a small hatchback that’s actually hugely impractical. The latest version of the Mini doesn’t deviate too far from the successful established recipe, but the new 1.5-litre petrol and diesel turbo engines have some very impressive economy and emissions figures. Shame that the driving position has suddenly become so cramped though, and that the five-door version just doesn’t look quite right.

Worth waiting for

Infiniti Q30

Infiniti is a brand in search of an image. Nissan's posh off-shoot has done well in the US market but in Europe, it's been hamstrung so far by a range that lacks the instant appeal of BMW or Audi, and the lack of an entry-level hatchback model. That ends this September when the compact Q30 hatch arrives (with a chassis and engines borrowed from the Mercedes A-Class). Expect dramatic styling and a high-quality cabin, but can we expect Irish sales this year? Nissan is still schtum on the subject. Launches: TBA

Underrated 

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Perennial glamorous under-achiever, Alfa Romeo is currently gearing up for a new rear-drive future that kicks off in June with the unveiling of the new Giulia saloon. Until then, one of the greatest badges in motoring is struggling on with the front-drive Giulietta. A major update last year finally gave the Alfa hatch the sort of refinement and cabin quality that it needed, and while it’s still some way short of competing head on with the A3 or A-Class, it’s now basically good enough that the inherent charm and sexy styling can fill in the gaps.