I've got a Qashqai 2.0 diesel auto Tekna. Very pleasant it is too. Lots of toys if you like that sort of thing. The glass roof is nice but I'd prefer one which opened. Personally I'd prefer not to have the auto wipers and auto lights or the keyless ignition etc. The lights don't come on when you want them to and do come on when you don't, I'm constantly losing the key fob thing in the car and the wipers have a very petulant personality, Bluetooth is good though, however, 35k on it now and nothing to really to complain about at all. Fine car in many ways. People often ask about it too which might mean it's slightly cool. Dunno about that for sure and can't say I care but maybe some folk think it's nice.

For what it's worth though, my deeply uncool eight year old Mondeo estate with monstrous mileage on it is in every way a better car to drive and use. Handles better, more comfortable with great ergonomics, holds more stuff , apparently bulletproof mechanically, cheaper to service and tax and uses less fuel...........just not cool.

Good hunting. Subaru might be nice. Never had the pleasure.

If you want a BMW, it's because you like the image and the driving style that BMWs encourage, and not much else will do. But the others on your list are good cars too - have you test-driven them yet? That's the only way to find out.

if you're happy to try others out, add the Ford S-Max to your list, or if you need 4wd, try the Kuga.

What is 'cool' to one person is uncool to another! Strangely, my Octavia vRS estate gets more admiring comments than the Mercedes B-class ever did. It deserves to - but the average person might not expect to think a Skoda 'cooler' than an Mercedes.

Edited by Avant on 03/05/2010 at 18:50