Many cars get larger as they are replaced with a new generation, but Ford has resisted this with its current eighth incarnation of the Fiesta. Instead, the present bearer of this illustrious name manages to feel more grown up and provide more interior space all while occupying much the same space on...

I don't have to persuade people into buying a Jazz. They love it anyway, for all of the sensible reasons I'd have used in my sales pitch. So it's not an emotional decision based on looks alone, as it might be for a Fiat 500 or a MINI. It's the whole package: a car that's going to do everything you...

Mazda is on a roll these days, with an impressive range of cars that are good to drive, stylish and practical. Those ingredients have now been distilled into the smallest model in the range – the Mazda2. The result is a success, giving big players like the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Fiesta something to...

Effortless to drive, spacious and backed by an excellent range of petrol engines, the Volkswagen Polo is the best excuse you’ll ever need for downsizing your daily driver. Admittedly, it lacks the value of its talented rivals, but the refined and practical sixth-generation Polo is one of the most-accomplished...

With its distinctive styling, cleverly packaged interior layout and economical 1.2-litre petrol engine, the Suzuki Ignis is a surprisingly sensible alternative to city cars like the Volkswagen Up. But it also provides an extra bit of crossover character and - surprisingly - the option of all-wheel drive...

The Citroen DS3 was one of the most must-have cars of the past decade. A small hatch good enough to take on the all-conquering MINI, with avant-garde styling, a premium cabin, fun-to-drive dynamics and a range of efficient and punchy engines. The car became the DS 3 Cabrio when DS Automobiles split...