Performance hatchbacks

	Alfa Romeo 147 The 147 has Alfas best cabin yet. Its also cheap to buy, handles well and the engines are great
	Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon The Alfa 159 is a very attractive car with a large, comfortable cabin for passengers and plenty of equipment for prices that undercut the usual German suspects.
	Alfa Romeo Giulietta Alfa Romeo Giulietta features the new map navigator integrated with TMC Pro - and real-time information on traffic - which, tank to its central position, in the upper side of the dashboard, allows the driver to see the itinerary and mechanic function parameters without taking its eyes off the road.
	Alfa Romeo MiTo The Mito looks distinctive and Italian – especially in red – and has a nicely-designed sporty cabin. Resale values are strong and there are some fine engines
	Audi A1 A small car with Audi qualities and the Audi badge cant fail. All three engines are good, and quality is up to the usual Audi standards. Its a more practical car than the rival Mini.
	Audi S3 Performance is excellent, and the four-wheel drive shuffles the power around as its needed. Plus, you get lavish specification, a comfy driving position and superb build quality.
	Audi S3 Sportback Performance is excellent, and the four-wheel drive shuffles the power around as its needed. Plus, you get lavish specification, a comfy driving position and superb build quality.
	Audi S4 Limousine The S4 is spacious inside, and a good, grippy car to drive, with plenty of powerful engines. Thanks to reasonable list prices and strong residual values, the ownership costs are competitive.
	BMW 1 Series Convertible Enjoyable to drive, thanks to communicative steering. Diesel versions are impressively frugal and the larger engines have plenty of power. Residual values will be solid.
	BMW 1 Series Coupé Good feedback through the steering means the 1 Series is fun to drive. Diesel versions are frugal and the driving position is spot-on.
	BMW 7 Series Technologically advanced, beautifully made, fully equipped and spacious even without the optional longer wheelbase – and the diesel has the lowest-CO2 and best economy luxury car on sale.
	BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Technologically advanced, beautifully made, fully equipped and spacious even without the optional longer wheelbase – and features a 0.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack combined with the diesel has the lowest-CO2 and best economy luxury car on sale.
	Chevrolet Lacetti For everyone who takes the day on their own terms, we introduce the Chevrolet Lacetti. The practical hatchback with a winning personality.
	Citroën C3 Awake your driving senses with the New Citroen C3 Visiodrive. Real quality and the largest panoramic windscreen in its class gives enduring pleasure. High quality materials and stylish finishes are everywhere in the New Citroen C3, offering maximum comfort for everyone on each journey.
	Fiat 500 The smash-hit re-invention of the 1950s original is now available as a convertible too! Has there ever been a more stylish way of zipping around the city?
	Fiat Bravo One of the most elegant cars in its class, the Bravos beauty is not just skin deep. With a brand-new range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, the Bravo offers a class-leading combination of performance and economy.
	Fiat Grande Punto The classic Punto, the Grande is available with a 1.4 litre petrol or as the fire breathing 155bhp Abarth.
	Fiat Panda Like the 500, another re-invention of an icon: the original Panda sold over 4 million examples. The Panda is uniquely Fiat: no-one else could make something so practical and yet so enjoyable to drive. It has all the spirit and vitality of its home country.
	Fiat Punto Evo The Punto Evo is the latest chapter in the hugely successful Punto story. Under its stylish new body, it boats the most advanced petrol engine of any mainstream model. The Multiair Sporting combines 50 mpg with 135 bhp.
	Ford Focus Packed with features to keep you safe, secure and comfortable, the All New Ford Focus Edge is a great choice with these features all incorporated as standard. You can now drive the European Car of the year from only £175 per month for a limited period only, with £1000 towards your finance deposit and an APR of just 4.9%. Plus there is a £750 saving off list price and a free upgrade to 16 inch 5 spoke alloy wheels.
	Ford Ka Now in its second generation, the Ka has been best loved small car ever since the original model was launched in 1995. Fun-loving and spontaneous, the Ford Ka lives for the moment.
	Ford Fiesta The new Fiesta is a phenomenon. Launched to universal acclaim, it has taken the supermini market by storm and outsells its rivals by a country mile. Practical, stylish, great to drive - every mainstream motoring magazine rates the Fiesta as the best car in its class.
	Honda Jazz The Jazz, offers masses of space despite its compact size. Plus, residual values are strong and it should prove to be reliable.
	Honda Civic The Civic is a great looking small family car. Its also blessed with superb build quality and a great drive, while the boot is one of the largest in its class.
	Honda Insight The Honda Insight hybrid is an efficient, well-equipped, practical and clean-living car that can cope with family life.
	Hyundai i10 Streetwise, nippy and surprisingly spacious, the irresistible i10 comes equipped for the city.
	Hyundai i20 Theres a new car in town - the Hyundai i20. Buzzing with fresh ideas and smart solutions, its sharp and stylish on the outside, and packs more interior space than should ever be possible in a supermini.
	Hyundai i30 Combining style, comfort and a high specification that delivers genuine value for money, the i30 is the intelligent choice for 2010.
	Jaguar XJ The all new model is the most radical XJ since the 1968 original. Its blend of style and elegance is unique, and it has the high technology to back up the promise of its looks.
	Jaguar XKR Introducing the breathtaking XKR, Jaguar´s latest, most muscled athlete. Shouldered and powerful as always, but sleeker now with aluminum bodyshell drawn taut across the chassis, this dramatic sports machine ia purposefully trimmed and tuned for heart-pounding performance.
	Kia cee`d Since its launch the Kia ceed has been turning heads with its style, versatility and award winning transferable 7-year warranty.
	Kia Picanto The Picanto may look small on the outside but it is super-spacious on the inside. Its got everything you could need for day after day of happy driving including power steering for squeezing into those tight spaces.
	Kia Pro Ceed With dynamic styling combined with practicality the Kia pro_ceed takes all the positives from the ceed familys excellent reputation, while having its own unique personality and stand-alone attraction.
	Kia Rio The dynamic 5-door Rio supermini is turning heads once again after a facelift that has refined its styling inside and out.
	Mazda CX-7 This one-of-a-kind sports crossover blurs the boundaries between SUV and sports car. On the outside the sporty design flows from the raked front windshield to the rounded tail lights. Open the doors and youll find enough space to rival any SUV.
	Mercedes-Benz A-Class The cabin is versatile, roomy and well built; affordable running costs and plenty of safety kit
	Mercedes-Benz R-Class The R-Class is a smooth, quiet cruiser with hushed engines. Cabin quality is excellent, too, and despite the cars size, its actually pretty good to drive, with the reassurance of four-wheel drive on the top model.
	Porsche The 911 GT2 RS is the fastest and most powerful production car Porsche has ever made. Lighter and more powerful than the now-discontinued GT2, the rear-wheel drive only GT2 RS has a wider track, polycarbonate windows and a carbon fibre bonnet.
	Porsche 911 Carrera With a power unit derived from the fantastically successful Carrera 3.0RS and an aluminium crank-case shared with the lengendary 911 Turbo, the Carrera 3 was, for the short period between 1975 and 1977, the ultimate normally-aspirated 911, combining searing road and track performance with every-day driveability. Relatively few of these wonderfully free-revving Carreras were made and the remaining cars are now becoming increasingly recognised as rare and much sought-after Porsches.
	Porsche 911 Carrera 4S The 911 Carrera 4S is stunning in just about every way. Its the sort of car that excels no matter what speed youre doing and will leave you grinning from ear to ear -- even if all youre doing is going down to the shops. The coupe is, ultimately, more of a drivers car, and does have superior handling, but given the choice, wed opt for the drop-top time and time again.
	Porsche 911 carrera 4S cabriolet The 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is stunning in just about every way. Its the sort of car that excels no matter what speed youre doing and will leave you grinning from ear to ear -- even if all youre doing is going down to the shops. The coupe is, ultimately, more of a drivers car, and does have superior handling, but given the choice, wed opt for the drop-top time and time again.
	Porsche 911 Carrera S cabriolet It’s a Porsche 911 Carrera S without a roof. That’s all you need to know really. Oh, an our car came with the clever PDK dual clutch gearbox and a bucket load of options which pushed the price up by well over £10K. There’s something wrong about a convertible version of the 911. Still, if you can get over the fact and that people may think you own a tanning salon, what you have is the best all-round drop top sports car. Fact.
	Porsche 911 Targa 4 Not only does the Targa look great, but the glass canopy creates a unique ambience in the cabin. On the move, scenery rushes past and over you - just as it does in a cabrio. But here, wind noise is dramatically reduced. Special sun filters added into the glass cut out heat and UV rays, ensuring the cabin is cool and comfortable, too. And because the glass is relatively lightweight, performance is near-identical to that of the standard 911 Carrera 4. The bodyshell remains very stiff, while theres virtually no detectable flex in the chassis on rough roads.
	Porsche 911 Targa 4S It’s been a staple of the 911 range since the first appeared in the mid sixties. Back then it was a solution to the problem of offering a convertible at a time when it looked like roll-over conscious America might ban traditional soft tops. Porsche finally produced a full convertible in 1983 but the Targa lived on and while Targa sales aren’t huge – Porsche sold 5000 of the 996 version – there are enough buyers out there to keep the car alive. This is the first Targa based on the 997.
	Porsche 911 Turbo Porsche has taken the massively accomplished Turbo and made it even more massively fast. One of the worlds most accelerative road cars ever, its speed-gathering abilities make it a relative bargain, despite the £123k list price...
	Porsche 911 Turbo S cabriolet Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is a new version that takes the mechanical and technical base of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, which will be officially introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, next March. This version is also sold with the coupé body.
	Porsche Boxster Mid-engined balance and balletic chassis make this maligned ‘soft’ Porsche a true cracker. Like most Porkers, you have to drive it to really understand. Do so soon. Despite some inevitable stick for being a ‘poor man’s 911’, and for being a hair dresser’s car to boot, the Porsche Boxster is a truly magical piece of engineering. Its supple but responsive chassis, mid-engine configuration and vocal flat-six make it a genuine joy to drive.
	Porsche Boxster S The second-generation Boxster is showing no signs of a mid-life crisis. In fact, it’s faster and greener than ever. But can you really improve something that’s already so good? We climbed behind the wheel of the revised S model for a maiden drive on UK roads to get the answer. As with all new Porsches, you’d be hard-pushed to spot any visual differences. But fresh bumpers, new mirrors, updated LED tail-lamps and, for the first time, daytime running lights add some sparkle. The interior remains as functional and as beautifully put together as ever.
	Porsche Boxster Spyder There are further signs of anorexia in the cabin in the shape of a pair of lightweight bucket seats, and flimsy door pulls replacing the standard handles. The Spyder doesnt get air conditioning or a stereo system as standard, but you can choose to spec them if youre some sort of mod-con-addicted wimp. Were guessing you want to know how fast the Boxster Spyder is, and the answer is: fast. Equipped with Porsches launch control as standard, itll crack 62mph in 4.8 seconds, a couple of tenths quicker than the Boxster S or even the Cayman S. Itll top out at 166mph with the roof removed: leave the roof up on a v-max run and youll be left with a messy heap of canvas and metal hanging off the back of your Boxster.
	Porsche Cayman t’s not very often you get more for less – but that’s exactly what the revised Porsche Cayman has in store. The German firm has given its smallest coupe a makeover and the entry-level model has more power than before with lower emissions. Out goes the old 2.7-litre flat six, which has been replaced by a new 2.9-litre unit. Power is up 20bhp to 265bhp and fuel economy has improved to 30.1mpg. Emissions of 221g/km are similarly impressive, so this is a Cayman with a conscience. It’s also got a bold new look. The revised front end borrows heavily from the flagship Carrera GT super car and looks both more aggressive and less fussy than the original. It includes striking LED sidelights while new LED light clusters also make an appearance at the back
	Porsche Cayman S Few cars can match the Performance Car of the Year pedigree of the Cayman S. The talented coupé has taken the overall crown twice – which is a record. However, engineers at Porsche haven’t rested on their laurels, and so the Cayman is back again this year with a whole host of updates. So, is it possible to improve on perfection? Initial impressions suggest it is! The biggest change is the introduction of a more-powerful direct-injection version of the existing 3.4-litre flat-six engine, which gives the car a greater urge, while still serving up the same spine-tingling sound. There’s also a new nose that takes its cues from the company’s Carrera GT supercar.
	Porsche GT2 RS Meet the maddest Porsche for many a day! The new 911 GT2 RS is faster than Ferrari’s 599 GTO, and is capable of matching or improving on figures posted by the German company’s own legendary Carrera GT.
	Renault Mégane Hatch The Renault Mégane Hatch takes style, power and reliability further than ever before. Mégane is a true expression of sophistication and confidence.
	SAAB 9-3 Sport Wagon The driver focus is striking the very second you take off in the Saab 9-3. Echoing the inspiration obtained from our unique aircraft heritage, With instant power at hand and a chassis turned for agile, sporty handling. Innovative systems designed to assist our driving add to the sensational feeling of control.
	SAAB 9-5 Estate The Saab 9-5 Estate is a spacious car filled with ingenious utility and class leading real-life safety. Designed to let you actively engage - every day on the road.
	SAAB 9-5 Saloon Sleek, aerodynamic, inspiring and purposeful. Drive the Saab 9-5 and experience what its like in action. The turbo power, the agility and the impressive response - fine tuned for long-distance comfort.
	Seat Altea With its swooping lines, this is the compact MPV with style. And there is substance to back it up: an extremely spacious interior, high levels of safety and quality materials make this the sensible choice too. It is now available as the even more spacious Altea XL.
	Seat Altea XL With its swooping lines, this is an MPV with style. And there is substance to back it up: an extremely spacious interior, high levels of safety and quality materials make this the sensible choice too.
	Seat Ibiza The edgy, swoopy new Ibiza is one of the most stylish superminis you can buy. It also has a vast range of engine choices, from small economical petrol engines, though diesels to fire-breathing 170 bhp performance models.
	Seat Leon All the lines of the Leons low profile body suggest forward motion. This gives the Leon the appearance of a stylish coupe, when it is in fact a 5-door hatchback. But the Leon is more than just a pretty face, its wide track and taut chassis offer smooth driving in the city and exhilaration on the open road.
	Skoda Fabia The Fabia rides decently enough, its cabin is spacious and all of the controls are a doddle to use. Skoda has a fine reliability record, too. The Fabia is roomy and well made, but its interior is desperately dull. While it’s a good car, the best in its class are truly excellent.
	Skoda Superb This car has an innovative boot/hatch arrangement, cavernous cabin and executive build quality, but all for family-car money. This car has executive car space for passengers and quality at family-car prices. Its no beauty, though.
	Subaru Impreza Standard four-wheel drive gives the Impreza excellent traction. Its cheap to buy, well specified and has decent handling. Cheap to buy and well stocked with kit, the Impreza isnt a bad effort, but many will be put off by the bland looks and it doesnt trouble the class leaders.
	Toyota Prius The smooth drivetrain and slick ride mean the Prius is comfortable, while the cabin is roomy enough for families. Emissions and fuel economy lead the field, and resale values are great. The Prius makes a great family car as well as a great green car, thanks to the spacious cabin and big boot. Its comfortable and easy to drive, and it also comes with Toyotas legendary build quality.
	Vauxhall Astra Fall in love with driving again with the Vauxhall Astra. With its great style, truly involving chassis, efficient engines and innovative features you will re-discover your passion for driving.
	Volkswagen Fox The VW Fox is decent to drive and offers good performance. Its low pricing also makes it attractive, as does the desirable badge. The Fox is good to drive, as well as being desirable and roomy - but some rivals offer as much or more for the same money.
	Volkswagen Golf The Golf is refined and comfortable, but remains fun to drive. The cabin is classy and practical, the residual values are strong, and every car has lots of safety kit. The Golf is better than ever. Desirable, refined and great to drive, its one of the best all-rounders, and deservedly our 2010 Small Family Car of the Year.
	Volkswagen Golf GTI The Golf GTI combines strong performance, agile handling and precise steering with impressive refinement and a supple ride. Its also practical enough for everyday use and is very classy inside. A brilliant all-rounder thats as good to drive as it is to own. Yes, its pricey, but resale values are strong and this is one instance where you get what you pay for.
	Volkswagen Golf GTD What distinguishes the GTI is that it’s significantly nimbler, sharper and more responsive than the average Golf, with a firmer ride, keener controls and more feedback for the driver. The GDI goes some way along that road, but you wouldn’t mistake it for a car built to compete with the Focus ST, let alone the RS. And for most people, that’s fine. It’s quick enough to overtake most other cars in most circumstances, it enjoys going around corners, it stops quickly and securely, and it looks the part, inside and out.
	Volkswagen Golf R If you like your hatches hot, but not at the expense of usability, you’ll love the Golf R. It’s just as you’d imagine it would be, a Golf GTi with the wick turned up, and retains the more basic car’s all-round appeal and manages to be even more desirable. Our biggest problem with the Golf R is the price. It’s simply too expensive and not sufficiently better than the GTI to justify a £30k-plus pricetag. And that reflects just how great the standard GTi is as much as anything else.
	Volkswagen Golf Plus The Golf Plus has more space and offers easier access than a regular Golf hatchback. Most of the engines are strong and its good to drive, despite the tall body. The ordinary Golf will be practical enough for most buyers, but the extra space and versatility of the Plus make it worth considering if youve got a young family.