Japanese cars dominate a best-buy list compiled by Britain's Consumers' Association in its Which? Car magazine. Peter Woodman reports.
The Toyota Yaris is a best buy for the fourth year running and is seen as a "rewarding drive". Some 91 per cent of owners recommended their Yaris Verso, making it the most popular car in this year's survey.
The magazine said the Honda Jazz "strikes an appealing balance between diminutive size and a Tardis-like interior". And it was "difficult to find anyone with a bad word to say about another best-buy car, the Toyota Corolla."
Which? Car said that not long ago it would not have dreamed of recommending a Ford, but the Focus had played a big part in improving Ford's reliability.
The Nissan Primera had no persistent problems, with plenty of space for back-seat passengers.
Owners loved the way the Volvo S60 drives and praised its comfortable driving position.
Owners also lavished praise on the design quality of the Mercedes-Benz E-class which "looks set to hold its value well".
The magazine said the Jaguar S-type drew on "Jaguar's heritage of almost effortlessly attractive cars that are a pleasure to drive".
The Nissan Almera Tino was "comfortable to drive and cheap to run".
Brickbats went to Fiat's Brava and Bravo which were "almost comically unpopular with people who've brought one".
The Peugeot 406 was described as an editing nightmare for Which? Car: "there are more things wrong with the 406 than we could fit on the page". - PA