91
Toyota RAV4
One of the best-selling SUVs in the country and it's not at all hard to see why. The RAV manages to combine a temptingly low price with lots of cabin space, decent performance from its 2.0-litre D4D diesel engine and somewhat surprisingly sharp steering, that feels rather closer to that of the GT86 sports car than the Avensis or Corolla. It's also a massive step forward from the previous-generation RAV, which was feeling far too old-fashioned, noisy and clunky by the time it was replaced. The only flaw in the ointment is that the styling is just a bit too plain, especially compared to rivals from Mazda and Hyundai. New hybrid version has temptingly low CO2 emissions, and might be the best one to buy for townies.
Best buy: 2.0 D4D 2WD Luna Sport
Price range: €29,950 to €43,800
CO2 emissions range: 115 to 128g/km
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92
Ferrari FF
You just don't expect something like this from Ferrari. A high-revving, blisteringly fast V12 engine? Oh yes, you expect that. Beautifully resolved handling and steering? Okay, yes, you'd expect that. Four seats? Well, Ferrari has built four-seater before. A decent boot? Er, maybe not. Four wheel drive? Huh? Yup, the FF has power going to all four wheels and it makes this one of the most useable Ferraris of all time. On dry, fast roads it drives just as you expect a V12 Ferrari to do so (explosively comes to mind) but on wet, miserable ones it's more like a low-slung Range Rover. Madly expensive but unique enough to command the price.
Best buy: 6.3-litre V12 FF
Price range: POA
CO2 emissions range: 360 to 380g/km
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93
Audi A7
If there is a problem with the A7 it's that the more affordable A6 is lighter on its toes and better to drive. Still, you'll forgive the A7 quite a lot when you see just how gorgeous and low-slung it looks. Yes, the A6 is a good-looking car too, but the 7 is just operating on another level. That's true inside too. Yes, there are a lot of components shared with the A6 (of course there are) but everything is a bit more wrapped around the driver, a bit more low-down and slinky. Yet, there is still good space in the back seats and the boot, beneath that vast hatchback, is pretty decent too. It certainly isn't cheap, but the good news is that the "basic" 218hp 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine is enough for most purposes, although an upgrade to the 272hp version, with quattro, is to be recommended.
Best buy: 3.0 TDI 272hp quattro S-Line
Price range: €69,750 to €149,250
CO2 emissions range: 124 to 221g/km
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94
Mercedes-Benz CLS
You could do your head in, just a bit, trying to work out what a CLS actually is. Because technically, it's a four-door coupe which you can also have as a five-door coupe estate. Confused? Probably best to think of it, then, as an E-Class that's been honed. Perhaps not to perfection, but close enough. It's getting on in years a bit now, but this is still a very good-looking car, and the cabin is really quite stunning in parts. Space in the back is only okay, but if you do go for the even-odder Shooting Brake estate (and you most certainly should) then you could consider it almost practical. The 220 CDI diesel will have enough poke and performance for most purposes, but you'll probably be wanting the thumping AMG V8 twin-turbo. And who could blame you?
Best buy: CLS 220 CDI
Price range: €62,850 to €163,540
CO2 emissions range: 129 to 231g/km
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95
BMW 2 Series Coupe
While the 1 Series hatchback continues to plough its ugly-duckling furrow, the 2 Series, better looking by far, gets on with providing the best possible modern-day analogue to the original BMW E30 3 Series. Like that far-off E30, the 2 Series Coupe makes do with just the two doors, has moderately practical back seats, is relatively simple and is enormous fun to drive. Unlike the E30, it won't petulantly spit you backwards off a wet roundabout, nor will it crumble into a silver ball at the lightest impact. It also has such things as a decent stereo and a proper heater, alien concepts to an E30. Forthcoming M2 should put the high-performance cat amongst the pigeons, but we'd be just as happy with a torquey, frugal 220d M-Sport.
Best buy: 220D M-Sport
Price range: €33,170 to €66,980
CO2 emissions range: 104 to 189g/km
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96
Renault Captur
This is the best-selling car in the small crossover segment right now, and looking at it from the outside, that's perhaps no surprise. While other car makers tried to downsize boxy 4x4 styling for their small SUVs, Renault instead decided to butch-up the already gorgeous Clio shape and it's worked wonders. 1.5 dCi diesel and 900cc TCe petrol turbo engines are really good, and it's not bad to drive but the Captur is really let down by an interior that looks and feels way too cheap. Also, it's too easy to go nuts on the contrast-roof colour schemes – think of your potential resale value before you pick.
Best buy: 1.5 dCi Dynamique
Price range: €19,590 to €25,490
CO2 emissions range: 95 to 121g/km
97
Citroen Berlingo
Almost as uncomplicated as a Dacia Duster (although not quite so cheap) the Berlingo is what motoring would be like if we could eliminate badge snobbery and high-performance driving. Based on a small van, it has close-to-limitless interior space, and versatile rear seats (with, yes, plenty of room for child car seats). Seven seats are available as an option, but those looking for an alternative to car-based MPVs should remember that you do pay a price in terms of cabin quality, refinement and handling. Still, for those who appreciate real practicality and who prefer to take life at something of a slower pace, this is one of the best family cars out there.
Best buy: 1.6 BlueHDI Feel
Price range: €23,545
CO2 emissions range: 112g/km
98
DS 3
Citroen is busy trying to convince us that its DS model range can now stand on its own feet as a separate brand, and that it is the natural successor to the original and ground-breaking DS saloon of 1955. We'll wait and see on both points, but while the DS4 and DS5 are still rather underwhelming, the little DS3 hatch is still a decent thing. A competitor to the likes of the Mini and Audi A1, it really needs the 150hp 1.6 THP petrol engine to feel right, but even with a more basic engine it's stylish, has decent cabin and boot space, and is really good fun to drive. Cabriolet version isn't a full convertible but is a fun little sunshine toy all the same.
Best buy: DSport 1.6 THP
Price range: €18,995 to €25,645
CO2 emissions range: 87 to 129g/km
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99
Mazda CX-3
Mazda's entry into the small crossover class majors on styling (it looks barely toned down from concept car status) and handling (the steering is sharp and it's decent fun to drive on a twisty back road) but somewhere along the line someone forgot to add space in the rear seats (seriously, are people supposed to leave their knees at home?) and also managed to leave out some sound-deadening (the roar from the rear tyres is quite intrusive on a motorway). The 1.5 SkyActiv diesel is the obvious engine choice, but don't discount the 2.0-litre petrol. It sounds odd in these diesel-hungry days, but the petrol engine is surprisingly economical and better in its CO2 emissions than you might expect.
Best buy: 2.0 SkyActiv-G SE
Price range: €20,695 to €31,595
CO2 emissions range: 105 to 137g/km
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100
Fiat 500x
The 500x is a classic case of what happens when you let fashion too tightly dictateform and function. Yes, the small crossover category is expanding rapidly and yes, Fiat should absolutely make a car that competes in that category. And yes, there's nothing wrong with using styling cues from the hugely successful 500 small car. And all of that combines into a package that has muchto recommend it – decent quality, nice to drive, good engines, good value. But it's just too small in the back and especially in the boot for family duty, which is surely the point of such cars. The uglier, less fashionable 500L MPV actually does a better job, all round . . .
Best buy: Cross 1.6 Multijet
Price range: €19,750 to €33,200
CO2 emissions range: 107 to 157g/km