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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

TRANSPORTER

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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

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 cars, the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged 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 mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

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

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

Iveco

LEVC

MAXUS

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

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

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

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

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

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

ABT eTRANSPORTER 6.1

CADDY

CRAFTER

e-Crafter

ID Buzz Cargo

This is the Volkswagen Transporter T6.1. Don’t be fooled, though – that name doesn’t mean it has a 6.1-litre engine. Rather, think of that last bit as a version number, like you’d find in the tech industry.

It's not usually the done thing in the automotive world, but the ‘.1’ bit was added to the name of the facelifted Transporter to show that it’s an evolution of the sixth-generation model, which was already one of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans-2023/n20726">medium vans</a> on the market.

The T6.1 has smaller headlights than the&nbsp;T6, and they&nbsp;flow into a&nbsp;revised grille and bumper up front. The facelift isn't purely cosmetic, though:&nbsp;under the skin, there’s a new electric power steering system&nbsp;similar to the one in the bigger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/crafter/van/review/n18277">VW Crafter</a>. The result is that the Transporter can now be fitted with updated driver assist features, such as lane-keeping assistance and crosswind assistance.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZPxgQDey5-A" width="560"></iframe>

Such tweaks were needed in order to keep it current against competitors including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>.

Mind you, the VW Transporter isn’t quite as flexible as it used to be. There’s now only one roof height, rather than the three you used to be able to get, and it’s the lowest of the lot. If you want a van with a high roof, the Crafter might be a better bet.&nbsp;

Happily, you can still get short and long wheelbase versions of the Transporter. And, as has always been the case, there are lots of body types to choose from, including a&nbsp;standard panel van, a crew van (known as the Kombi), a full-on minibus&nbsp;and a plusher executive shuttle bus.&nbsp;There’s also the brilliant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/california/mpv/review/n19868">VW California</a> camper,&nbsp;which we’ve covered in a separate review.

You can have your VW Transporter in one of three trim levels. The cheapest is Startline, which is a little utilitarian, and above that you'll find the more luxurious&nbsp;Highline and the sportier looking Sportline. The engine range consists almost entirely of VW's&nbsp;stalwart 2.0-litre diesel, in single&nbsp;and twin-turbo forms, and in a variety of power outputs.

The exception is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-electric-vans-2023/n21136">electric van</a> version. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/abt-etransporter-61/van/review/n22641">VW ABT e-Transporter 6.1</a>&nbsp;– which we've reviewed separately – is a conversion carried out by aftermarket tuner ABT&nbsp;but can be bought through <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> dealerships with the same after-sales backup as any other Transporter.

Here, though, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the VW Transporter T6.1 range, including its loadspace and payload, driving dynamics, cab layout and passenger comfort.

Remember, once you’ve chosen the best model for you, you can find the best van&nbsp;leasing deals on our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing/">What Car? Leasing pages</a>.

Improved connectivity, bigger displays and more safety advancements than ever before make the Transporter&nbsp;an excellent prospect

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