Top 50 fun cars - £22,000 - £30,000 part 1

10 Jeep Wrangler
2.8 CRD Sport
Price £22,995
Target Price£21,893
Used from £12,750

If spending time with an American legend is your idea of fun, the new Jeep Wrangler could be right up your street.

We say ‘new’, but this is in fact the latest incarnation of a model that traces its lineage back to World War II. The latest round of improvements brings an improved 2.8-litre diesel motor, better interior quality and, believe it or not, an engine stop-start system.

Despite the updates, the Wrangler still feels as if it’s from a bygone era – and that’s what makes it such a laugh. Marketing types like to talk about ‘active lifestyles’, but the Wrangler pretty much wrote the book on the subject. It’ll get you to places few other vehicles would, thanks to phenomenal off-road ability.

That explains why the name Jeep has become a by-word for 4x4s. On the road – and in the cabin – the Wrangler still feels rough and ready, but get it off the Tarmac and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear.

Jeep Wrangler review
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9 Ford S-Max
2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec
Price £23,205
Target Price£21,519
Used from £9455

The S-Max proves that big, practical MPVs needn’t be dreary. Perhaps it’s not that surprising. The Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo have also earned places in our top 50 – it would appear that Ford has a knack for turning the mundane into the magical.

The S-Max’s sharp looks get it off to a good start, and the driving experience is more than a match. There’s the kind of tight body control and plentiful grip that you’d expect of something much lighter and sportier, and the steering provides lots of feedback. This is a car that truly flows down a country road. Although the ride is firm, it’s forgiving enough to keep each of the car’s occupants from complaining on a trip.

Our favourite engine is the 138bhp 2.0 TDCi, which is smooth and gives lots of low-down muscle to call on when it’s playtime. To top it all, the S-Max is a brilliant family car, with a classy, versatile cabin and space for up to seven.

Ford S-Max review
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8 BMW 120d Coupé
SE
Price £23,840
Target Price£22,340
Used from £11,950

In a world of front-wheel-drive small cars, the BMW 120d stands as a beacon for fans of rear-wheel drive. Yes, front-drive is more compact and efficient, but rear-drive is usually far sportier.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine does a fair job of moving the car along at
a decent lick while taking care not to gorge itself on diesel, and the chassis keeps everything going in exactly the direction you intended it to. The steering also gives you a reasonable idea of what’s happening down below.

Everything’s stuck together with the care you’d expect in a car costing more than £22,000, too. That, though, is the problem with the BMW: it’s nearly £24k. That’s a lot for a small coupé, especially one with tight rear quarters that force you to indulge in a spot of human origami just to get to them.

Best to grab the keys and enjoy driving it instead.

BMW 1 Series coupe review
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7 Audi A3 Cabriolet
1.8 TFSI Sport
Price £25,715
Target Price£23,825
Used from £15,980

Convertibles with folding metal roofs tend to be heavy and, inevitably, you feel this in the way they drive. Fortunately, the A3 Cabriolet avoids such a problem with its fabric hood, which doesn’t weigh nearly as much.

The A3 blends lively performance with taut handling and a reasonably supple ride. What’s more, whether the hood is up or down, it handles in the same way, whereas many metal-roofed rivals suffer whenever you drop their tops.

Meanwhile, interior quality is as good as anything in the class and there’s space for four. The hood also folds quickly and can be operated on the move. Given our changeable weather, that’s essential to keep the fun coming.

Audi A3 Cabriolet review
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6 Peugeot RCZ
1.6 THP 156 GT
Price £23,605
Target Price£22,993
Used from £19,000

There's plenty of fun to be had by having people stop and stare, mouths agape, at your beauty. That’s what owners of the Peugeot RCZ get on every journey. From the sleek nose through the Gloucestershire-made aluminium roof arches to the double-bubble rear screen, it’s a stunner.

The RCZ isn’t all about ‘look at me’ style, though. When there’s an empty road ahead and the only things around to look at you are sheep, the RCZ will make you feel genuinely good about driving.

The 154bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine has plenty of zip, and the chassis has the talent to let you make the most of it.

The RCZ is beautiful on the inside, too: there are circular chrome highlights and high-class materials throughout. It’s so good that you may even forget that it’s a bit noisy and cramped in there at times.

Peugeot RCZ review
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