24/03/10

Small cars that'll fill a big space in your life. But which are the very best all-rounders from a big and capable field?

1 Volkswagen Polo
Price new: £9910-£15,775
Latest Polo looks like a shrunk-down version of its big brother, the Golf, making it the most handsome and classiest of small cars. Cabin quality has moved up a notch, too, so it is one of the few at its price offering expensive soft-feel plastics on the dash. It’s lighter than the previous model and, depending on the engine, up to a fifth more economical and cleaner on emissions, too. It rides smoothly and handles securely and while it isn’t as much fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta, it is strong on big-car ‘feel’. There’s a big choice of engines and trim levels, including (optional) treats you’d only expect on more costly cars, including colour sat-nav and a seven-speed, twin-clutch auto transmission with manual over-ride. Remember, though that the cheapest trim level dsn’t include air conditioning as standard, while the ‘entry’ 1.2-litre, 60bhp petrol motor is very slow.
Verdict ****

To read the full motors.co.uk road test of the Polo, click here

2 Vauxhall Corsa
Price new: £9995-£17,030
The Corsa is tough, well made and drives sweetly. The latest one is leaps ahead of the previous Corsa, which was popular but no great shakes to drive. But the newie steers well and copes with bumps superbly, although SXis and other sporty Corsas ride firmly. It is also quiet and composed at motorway speeds. And, like Renault's Clio, it is roomy inside, giving a wide range of seat and wheel adjustments so that the driver can sit just as he or she wants to. There’s a huge choice of Corsas from the economical to the blisteringly quick. Like Ford, below, Vauxhall has upped its new-car prices several times over the past year, making them expensive if you pay list price. Second-hand ones are more competiitively priced but big demand for them means that bargains are hard to find. Verdict ****

To read the full motors.co.uk road test of the Corsa, click here

3 Ford Fiesta
Price new £11,795-£16,730
The latest Fiesta retains its crown as the most responsive and satisfying to drive of all small cars. It's also roomy and has one of the most imaginatively styled cabins you'll find anywhere. It's still nippy but now feels very grown up, sophisticated even. Ford has upped its prices of late while equipment levels still aren't over-generous, model for model, compared with those of rivals. Look for a sizeable discount if buying new or else go for a year-old one that's covered fewer than 20,000 miles because the savings over new on such cars are huge. You should also look at the Mazda 2: the two cars run on the same platform and chassis, although they feel different enough to drive. But although there are fewer 2s on the road, second-hand ones can still sometimes be cheaper to buy and so offer superior value.  Verdict ****

To read the full motors.co.uk road test of the Fiesta, click here