Small Family Cars
FIRST
Ford Focus
27 variants
from £13,995 to £24,345
The mark three Focus is slightly controversial. Ford has clearly changed the, er, focus of the model towards refinement and away from handling. That is a disappointment to enthusiasts, but it does make for an amazingly refined motorway cruiser. It also has more gadgets than a sci-fi movie: you can specify items like a display that shows the speed limit for each road and a low speed collision avoidance system. The handling is still good, but the steering is a lot lighter than before. Although we usually reckon smaller wheels work better on most cars, the Focus is an exception: the optional 18-inch wheels give a bit more feel. Overall, we still reckon this Focus is the best car in its class, but the gap to the Golf is far smaller than it was five years ago.
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SECOND
Volkswagen Golf
68 variants
from £15,865 to £33,315
Many will argue that the latest Golf - the sixth evolution of the model - is simply a heavily facelifted remake of the old car. And they'd have a point. This is the first Golf to maintain much of its predecessor's platform and mechanical underpinnings. Happily, though, the Golf V was already a top three competitor in this class - and VW has built on its talents with this latest VI model. The Golf's looks have been freshened up, although the subtle, classy and very Germanic styling ethos behind them remains. There are impressive improvements in comfort and refinement too. VW's people say they tried to 'Phaeton-ise' this latest Golf, offering a more cosseting cabin and the sort of hushed ride we usually expect from the likes of Lexus. They've succeeded, too. In doing so, though, Volkswagen has detracted from the Golf's fun factor. We know its chassis is excellent but because the driver feels more detached, this Golf isn't as amusing to steer along a twisty road. Still, in all other areas the Golf VI is a classy and accomplished car that's the benchmark for quality in the small family car segment. As always, mind, it is rather expensive.
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THIRD
Nissan Qashqai
43 variants
from £16,495 to £28,245
Nissan Qashqai
3rd: Nissan Qashqai
Rating
4 stars
Price: £16,195 - £26,745
Road test
The Qashqai's a breath of fresh air that's shaken up the small family hatch market. It blends desirable 4x4 styling with small hatchback sizing and frugal engines. A raised roofline means the Qashqai can offer more cabin space than its rivals, but funky off-road looks help it avoid MPV monotony. Fine diesel engines - notably the 1.5-litre dCI - offer strong fuel economy, and the raised ride height makes the Qashqai perfect for bouncing over speed bumps in town. Only the top-end models actually have four-wheel-drive, but then most owners won't ever need it. And lower down the order, the 2WD Qashqai is very competitively priced. It's not as fun to drive as a Focus though, and it could be quieter on the road.
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