Skoda Karoq

the-most-popular-new-car-reviews-in-2022

Hatchback

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

KAMIQ

Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.

If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.

LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER

What’s been the most popular&nbsp;car review on the What Car? website so far in 2022? With so many excellent models on sale at the moment, it isn't easy to guess.

Is it one of 2022's headline-grabbing newcomers, such as the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a> luxury SUV or the sporty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/tonale/hatchback/review/n24504">Alfa Romeo Tonale</a>? Or could it be&nbsp;a traditional big-hitter, like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>?&nbsp;Well, we've been through the numbers of an incredible few months for cars, and below we count down the top 10 most-read reviews.

The most popular new car reviews of 2022 so far

The Kamiq is a five-star small SUV with&nbsp;a remarkably roomy interior that's better finished than those of most rivals. It's also supremely comfortable, and the 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine we recommend offers plenty of zip even with all five seats filled. Go for SE trim and you'll have most of your equipment needs covered too, with 17in alloy wheels, cruise control and rear parking sensors coming as standard.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

10. Skoda Kamiq

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

The first of two MGs on this list is the ZS, and while plenty of its SUV rivals can beat it for performance and fuel economy, it still has a lot to offer. It provides lots of space for your rear-seat passengers, for example, and there's&nbsp;a decent boot&nbsp;so&nbsp;nobody needs to pack light,&nbsp;even if every seat is filled. It's also substantially cheaper than most rivals, and it comes with the reassurance of a seven-year warranty should anything go wrong.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n17318">MG ZS review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

9. MG ZS

Temporary taxonomy to separate ZS EV from other models in the ZS range. Built by ChrisH 11/10/2019

ZS EV

No, you're not seeing double, this really is a second entry for the MG ZS SUV, but now it's&nbsp;time for the&nbsp;fully electric version. The ZS EV makes a lot of sense if you're in the market for an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUV</a>; it offers&nbsp;an official range of up to 273 miles according to official tests. It comes well equipped, too; even entry level SE versions come with air conditioning, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV&nbsp;review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/deals?trim=trophy-ev">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

8. MG ZS EV

Estate

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

YARIS CROSS

If you're looking for a practical small SUV that won't cost you a lot to run, the Toyota Yaris Cross deserves a place on your shortlist. It's one of the most economical cars to ever go through our real-world <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/truempg/mpg-calculator">True MPG tests</a>, where it returned an impressive average of 60.1mpg. Stick with entry-level Icon trim and you'll be well covered for kit, because 16in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start and a rear-view camera all come as standard.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris-cross/estate/review/n23440">Toyota Yaris Cross</a> review, or see our latest deals &gt;&gt;

7. Toyota Yaris Cross

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

PUMA

We think the Ford Puma is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-suvs-2022/n17050">best small SUV</a> you can buy. In fact,&nbsp;it's a former <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">What Car? Car of the Year</a>. Why do we rate it so highly? Well, not only is the Puma economical to run thanks to its mild hybrid setup, but it's also every bit as practical as a growing family could want. There's even a washable storage box under the boot floor – perfect for muddy wellies.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford/puma/hatchback/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

6. Ford Puma

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

T-ROC

The T-Roc small SUV has just been updated, and the latest changes have made a good small SUV even better. With a comfortable ride and the kind of high-set driving position that SUV buyers crave, there's a lot to like about the T-Roc, and it even has a good boot by the standards of the class. Upper trim levels can get a bit pricey, though, so we recommend sticking with entry level Life trim, which comes with all the kit you really need.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc&nbsp;review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

5. Volkswagen T-Roc

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

TUCSON

Choice is the order of the day with the Hyundai Tucson family SUV; you can choose from a range of mild hybrid petrol engines, or there are&nbsp;regular and&nbsp;plug-in hybrid versions to choose from. The plug-in hybrid can travel for up to 38 miles without using a drop of fuel according to official tests, and has plenty of power too. Elsewhere, the Tucson impresses with its high-quality, spacious interior and decent boot.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson&nbsp;review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai/tucson/4x4/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

4. Hyundai Tucson

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

XC40

Another former What Car? Car of the Year, the Volvo XC40 remains our favourite family SUV because it's good to drive, comes loaded with safety and convenience kit and has the kind of high-quality interior which buyers will love. It's also available with a plethora of engine options, ranging from regular petrols to a plug-in hybrid, and even a fully electric version called the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n22063">XC40 Recharge.</a>

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40&nbsp;review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volvo/xc40/estate/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

3. Volvo XC40

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

SPORTAGE

This five-star family SUV offers a smart interior, generous space for your family and all their luggage, and if you stick to the lower trim levels, it even represents great value for money. As an all-rounder, few family SUvs can beat the Sportage's breadth of talents, and there are even tempting savings to be found if you use our free New Car Buying service.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia/sportage/4x4/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

2. Kia Sportage

Our reigning <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2022-overall-winner/n23994">Car of the Year</a> is also the car What Car? readers have read about the most so far in 2022. And that's not surprising because the Kia EV6 is remarkable. As an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric car</a>, it can travel for up to 300 miles in real-world conditions, and thanks to its super-fast charging technology, it can replenish its battery in as little as 18 minutes if you can find a suitably powerful charger. Add in lots of space for rear passengers and a long warranty, and the EV6 is an unbeatable package.

Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6 review</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia/ev6/estate/deals">latest deals &gt;&gt;</a>

<hr />
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">Read more: The best and worst electric cars 2022 &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

1. Kia EV6

What’s been the most popular car review on the What Car? website in 2021? With so many excellent models on sale at the moment, it isn't easy to guess.Is it one of 2021's headline-grabbing newcomers, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq</a>? Or could it be a traditional big-hitter, like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>? Well, we've been through the numbers of an incredible 12 months in cars, and below we count down the top 10 most-read reviews.

What’s been the most popular car review on the What Car? website in 2021? With so many excellent models on sale at the moment, it isn't easy to guess.

Is it one of 2021's headline-grabbing newcomers, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq</a>? Or could it be a traditional big-hitter, like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>? Well, we've been through the numbers of an incredible 12 months in cars, and below we count down the top 10 most-read reviews.

The most popular new car reviews in 2022

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

Has a stylish SUV, a practical hatchback or a high-tech electric car been the most-read-about car across the first six months of the year?

The most popular new car reviews in 2022        

A former motorsport team and independent tuning company, Abarth is now owned by Fiat and responsible for the firm’s sportiest cars.

In recent years, Fiat has even tried to establish Abarth as a standalone brand – in the same way that Citroën has split off its DS luxury division. However, the major difference is that DS cars look completely different from the Citroëns on which they’re based, whereas Abarths rely on bodykits and big wheels to mark them out.

The Abarth 595, for example, is a beefed-up Fiat 500 hatchback, while the Abarth 124 Spider is a hotter version of its Fiat namesake.

ABARTH

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive and has performed very well in the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, while the closely related Stelvio competes in the booming SUV class.

Smaller and larger SUVs are planned, as is a two-door coupé version of the Giulia that will take on the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition, featuring paintwork-protecting ‘Airbumps’ and eschewing the sporty looks favoured by most rivals.

Indeed, Citroën tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from small hatchbacks (such as the C1 and C3) to big, family-friendly seven-seaters (the Spacetourer and Grand C4 Spacetourer).

The C3 Aircross SUV is another of its popular models, while a larger C5 Aircross is planned.

CITROEN

The sportiest Seats have long used the&nbsp;Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

There's just one car in the line-up at the moment: the Cupra Ateca SUV. However, Cupra versions of the Ibiza and Leon hatchbacks are also planned, as is a bespoke model which –&nbsp;initially, at least –&nbsp;won't be offered in regular Seat from.

Don't think that the first Cupra is just an Ateca with a bit more power and a sporty bodykit, either. Its&nbsp;engine, gearbox and four-wheel drive system are actually very similar to what you'll find in Volkswagen's flagship Golf R hot hatch, and the car can hit 62mph in just 5.4sec.

CUPRA

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds Britain’s cheapest new car, the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means nasty, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the Logan estate and Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing platforms and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.

More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

Infiniti is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota: the premium arm of a mainstream car maker.

Infiniti’s current model range includes the Q30 hatchback, Q50 executive saloon and Q60 coupé, all of which go head to head with cars from the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. There’s also the QX30, a small SUV.

The brand has so far struggled to make a big impact on British buyers due to high prices, but most of the time that’s partially offset by a long list of standard equipment.

Future plans include a new range of electric vehicles and a smart petrol engine that is said to offer diesel-like fuel economy.

INFINITI

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.

There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

POLESTAR

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

Hatchbacks, SUVs, fast cars, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of them all is the design, with its cars now having a distinctive look that has won the firm a legion of fans for its flair and charm.

To drive and to own, the line-up is typically decent rather than outstanding. Best of the cars when they are rated against rivals are the Kadjar SUV, the fast RS models and the electric Zoe.

With new and used pricing also keen – and Target Price discounts through our New Car Buying marketplace usually more generous than most – there is the opportunity to negotiate an appealing price.

RENAULT

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

Owned by Mercedes-Benz and with a reputation for making small, clever cars, Smart offers a striking, upmarket alternative to more conventional rivals.

It currently has a two-car line-up, the smaller of the two being the distinctive Fortwo, which, as its name suggests, is an ultra-short two-seater that uses an unusual rear-engined configuration to deliver the sort of turning circle that even London taxis can only dream of. It's a doddle to park in small spaces, too.

Smart's 'family car' is the Forfour, which is little more than a stretched version of the Fortwo, with a second row of seats and a larger boot. It's more of a natural rival for cars like the Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto.

On paper, both cars come at a considerable price premium when compared with rivals, something it says is justified by its badge appeal and the technology in the cars.&nbsp;However, sales have been slow and there are often keen Target Price deals to be found.

SMART

Ssangyong has made giant strides in recent years, after it was taken over by a new owner and given a injection of investment to help its bid to become a credible car maker.

The result so far is a range of cars dominated by SUVs (as well as a single pick-up), most of which are below the class average standard but all of which have merits, including the amount of space and practicality they offer for the money.

The highlight in the range is currently the Korando, a Nissan Qashqai rival that offers all the space of that car but for a price closer to the much smaller Nissan Juke’s. It is very roomy and has decent engines, but it’s let down a bit by interior quality, high running costs and poor resale values.

SSANGYONG

Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.

The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Levorg is a more conventional estate.

At other extremes, there’s also the BRZ, an entertaining coupé that is let down by its price and resale values, and of course the Impreza, which comes in a variety of forms, including a hot model.

SUBARU

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

Tesla is the company that changed the car industry, putting electric cars at the forefront of public conscious – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has a wider line-up than ever, with the BMW 3 Series-rivalling Model 3 set to make its products more accessible. Alongside the Model 3, the larger Model S saloon and the Model X SUV continue to turn heads, while a new roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is in the works.

However, while the cars are all impressive, and for all that Tesla has acted as a catalyst for the more traditional car firms to develop electric vehicles, it’s a firm that continues to attract criticism, most notably for the reliability of its vehicles – a fact verified in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey.

TESLA

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

FABIA

OCTAVIA

SCALA

SUPERB

A fantastic all-rounder, although its&nbsp;low driving position&nbsp;isn't very SUV-like

Skoda Kamiq

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

The original baby SUV is the Nissan Juke, which remains a popular choice, but there are plenty of better rivals to consider instead. We’d recommend you look at either the Ford Puma or Skoda Kamiq, because they offer&nbsp;a great blend of practicality and value that keeps them&nbsp;clear of the opposition. Equally, if you’ve got more money to spend, the Audi Q2 and Volkswagen T-Roc&nbsp;are both fine choices.&nbsp;

Small SUV

Fill out our 2022 Reliability Survey - and win a prize!

Citroen C4

Nissan Qashqai

Hyundai Kona

Seat Arona

Mazda MX-5

Honda CR-V

Peugeot 5008

Renault Arkana

/news/complete-the-2022-what-car-reliability-survey-for-the-chance-to-win-a-prize/n15554

New car deals >>

The most popular new car reviews in 2022

Has a stylish SUV, a practical hatchback or a high-tech electric car been the most-read-about car across the first six months of the year?...

Best family SUVs 2022

Volkswagen Tiguan plug-in hybrid long-term test review

New Skoda Karoq vs used Audi Q3

New Skoda Karoq vs used Audi Q3: practicality

New Skoda Karoq vs used Audi Q3: verdict

The new Skoda Karoq: next-level company car thinking

Used test: Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq verdict

Used test: Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq interiors

New Skoda Karoq vs used Volvo XC40: verdict

Also consider

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information