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Honda Jazz (2002-2008) 75%Extremely roomy, reliable and well-liked.ToyoTa yaris (2006-2011) 73%Reliable, five-star safety rating, versatile. audi a2 (2000-2005) 70%Ingenious, upmarket baby Audi.suzuki swifT (2005-2010) 70%Great value for money and dependable. Mini (2001-2007) 69%A joy to drive, fashionable and popular. vw polo (2002-2009) 69%Well built and feels high quality. ToyoTa yaris (1999-2005) 68%Still reliable despite its age.

Don’t Buys

smart forTwo Poor reliability results. Low levels of customer satisfaction. Pricey and unpleasant to drive. Avoid.nissan pixo/suzuki alto This pair of city cars has a three-star Euro NCAP crash score, which simply isn’t good enough. They both drive poorly, too.

used Best Buys

We start the round-up of our new 2012 Best Buys with superminis. With big-car levels of refinement, the winners are proof that the best things can come in small packages

superminisvolkswagen polo 80%The Polo looks and feels like a miniature Golf, and for such a small car you sacrifice very little in terms of quality or drivability. It boasts excellent engines, secure handling and decent practicality.

audi a1 80%Audi’s Mini-baiting supermini has proved economical in our tests and been reliable so far. Based

on the VW Polo, it feels understated and impressively upmarket, delivering best-in-class refinement and cabin quality. The new five-door Sportback boosts practicality.

Honda Jazz 74%If you value space and flexibility, no supermini beats the ultra-practical Honda Jazz. It’s also very

easy to drive and safe through corners. It’s well made and is one of the most reliable cars of all according to our survey (see p28), plus it remains a very firm favourite with owners.

seaT ibiza 75%Want the strengths of a VW Polo, but at a lower price? The Polo-based Ibiza is even sharper to drive

(great handling and ride) and has a tad more space than a Polo. The 2012 facelift has further boosted its strong appeal, with EcoMotive diesels being especially economical.

kia rio 74%This supermini is an impressive Best Buy from our Best Car Manufacturer 2012.

It combines ultra-efficient engines (up to 88mpg claimed in 1.1 EcoDynamics diesel guise) with a decent, if unsophisticated, drive. Passenger space is very generous for a car of this class, too, and the boot is a useful size, plus it has plenty of storage compartments. The cabin layout is especially impressive, with very easy-to-use controls and good driver comfort. Kia’s seven-year warranty remains the industry-leading standard and gives Kia a clear market advantage. Pricing is also extremely competitive and running costs over the long term should be very low.

ford fiesTa 74%Few superminis are as good to drive. The well-equipped cabin is bright and practical. The Fiesta is also very

reliable according to our survey, and is deservedly the UK’s bestselling car.

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Mercedes-benz b-class (2005-2011) 87%This spacious, flexible, well-built family car is an appealing choice. Although expensive, it’s proving very reliable.bMw 1 series (2004-2011) 76%The sportiest medium hatchback of all, although older petrol models aren’t as reliable as diesels, say owners. ford focus (2005-2011) 74%Plentiful, cheap to buy second-hand and reliable, the Focus is a great used buy. It’s also one of the best hatchbacks to drive.Honda civic (2006-2012) 73%Charismatic in many ways, the Civic has a versatile cabin and safe handling. Just beware of patchy reliability.volkswagen JeTTa (2006-2011) 72%This old-shape Golf-with-a-boot is a practical, quality-feel choice. Mazda3 (2004-2009) 70%Very good to drive, practical and highly reliable. A true second-hand star.

used Best Buys

This is the most competitive sector of the car market, with huge choice and some extremely talented machinery. Which medium cars offer the best all-round package?

Medium cars

ford focus 77%Ford’s evergreen Focus feels like a very grown-up car to drive, mixing comfort, refinement and cutting-edge driver aids. It’s got a great cabin, too, and a strong range of frugal engines.

Mercedes-benz b-class 80%If you need a lot of space, the B-class delivers masses of it – far more than

the forthcoming, but similarly sized, A-class whose chassis it basically shares. In fact, the B-class feels more like an MPV in terms of practicality. It’s not exciting to drive, but is safe, stable and refined. The B-class also succeeds in feeling very upmarket, with excellent build quality and attractive materials throughout; although considering its high list prices, it should feel this way. One criticism is that the ride is tooth-jarringly hard if you choose Sport trim. Interestingly, we haven’t got full test data yet for the new Audi A3: it will be fascinating to see how this compares with its Mercedes and BMW rivals.

volkswagen golf 77%There are obvious reasons why the Golf is so popular: it’s comfortable, practical,

well built, refined and good to drive. In fact, it’s a superb all-rounder. It’s proving reliable in service, too, which hasn’t always been the case with VW. New model due in 2013.

bMw 1 series 80%The latest 1 Series has fixed the main problem with the old model – its poor

ride quality – and remains one of the best medium cars to drive. Exceptional fuel economy is possible, too.

seaT leon 77%Think of the Leon as a more stylish, sportier take on the old-generation VW Golf Mk5 – it

also happens to be cheaper to buy and run. Add in excellent reliability and frugal diesels, and Seat has a real winner on its hands.

volkswagen JeTTa 76%The Jetta is essentially a stretched Golf with a separate boot. It’s roomier than the Golf

both in terms of passenger space and boot volume, and can be very economical in diesel form. Exciting it is not, but that’s not the point.

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bMw 3 series (2005-2011) 80%All models are great to drive, with class-leading handling and performance. ToyoTa avensis (2003-2009) 80%Running costs and reliability make for an excellent, if unexciting, used buy.Mercedes-benz c-class (2000-2007) 78%A well-made prestige choice that largely justifies its high used prices. ToyoTa prius (2004-2009) 76%This second-generation hybrid scores very highly for reliability and customer satisfaction. Pleasingly cheap to run. vw passaT cc (2008-2011) 75%An attractive alternative to the Passat that’s reliable and loved by owners. volvo s60 (2000-2008) 73%The Swedish saloon has impressive reliability. Comfortable, but staid to drive.Mazda6 (2002-2008) 70% Reliability may not be perfect, but the Mazda6 is practical and good value.

used Best Buys

Once the preserve of premium-badged brands, the large car class is opening up as budget brands, such as skoda, give the traditional stalwarts a run for their money

large carsbMw 3 series 81%BMW maintains its record for great drivers’ cars. The latest ‘3’ has fine handling, performance and refinement. Perhaps its biggest achievement is to be a fuel-efficiency class leader.

skoda superb 79%Here’s a car that actually lives up to its name. The Superb is a tempting ownership

prospect, with good reliability and one of the highest owner satisfaction scores of all in our 2012 survey (see p20). While not terribly exciting to drive, it’s thoroughly competent on the road, with safe handling and painless cruising ability. It also represents a lot of car for the money, with huge rear legroom and a price tag that shames most other large cars.

Mercedes-benz c-class 78%This may not be the most spacious choice in the large car class, but it’s a superbly

built saloon that marks a real return to form for Mercedes-Benz. It’s very good to drive, thanks to sharp handling and a great ride, and the cabin is a hushed and refined place to be. There’s a huge range of engines to choose from, including very frugal diesels. Owners report that the C-class is reasonably reliable, too, and they seem to be a fairly happy bunch on the whole.

volkswagen passaT 78%The latest Passat is one of the most reliable large cars of all, according to our

latest survey (see p29) – a real turnaround, as the previous Passat had a very patchy record. It’s a great all-rounder, offering space, equipment, comfort and refinement in generous measure. Choose the right diesel engine and fuel economy can also be exceptionally good. The Passat is keenly priced alongside premium-brand rivals.

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ford Mondeo 79%Premium brands may take the majority of large car sales these days, but the

Mondeo remains a hugely impressive car alongside some talented prestige rivals. It’s safe, comfortable and great to drive, with taut steering and a supple ride. It’s a good long-distance cruiser and its frugal diesel engines ensure it will go a long way between refills. There’s plenty of room inside for five people and the boot swallows a huge amount. A new Mondeo is due in 2013.

BESTBUY

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ROUND-UP | BEst BuYs

bMw 7 series (2002-2008) 80%Huge and spacious, this imperious saloon nevertheless feels like a sports car to drive. It’s beautifully built, too, although not the most comfortable-riding luxury car.Mercedes-benz cls (2005-2010) 77%The original four-door luxury coupé looks good and drives well. It’s well equipped, refined and powerful, although rear-seat passengers might feel squashed. Mercedes-benz e-class (2002-2009) 77%Very safe, comfortable to drive and feels high quality. Reliability is proving average, though, and parts are pricey. audi a8 (2003-2010) 76%Safety, quality and driving dynamics are all from the top drawer. There’s plenty of space for passengers, too.Honda legend (2006-2009) 76% You’ll find comfort and cruising ability in abundance in this rare all-wheel- drive saloon. Worth hunting down.

bMw 5 series gT 89%A massive and imposing hatchback, the GT has all the benefits of the regular

5 Series, including its brilliant handling and performance, plus folding rear seats to boost luggage space. It’s a high-quality car, too, with a super-luxury spec.

bMw 5 series saloon 87%With its superb range of engines, keen handling, comfortable cabin and a feeling of

quality throughout, this is undoubtedly one of the best cars on the market. Choose between economical (the 520d averages 56.5mpg) or powerful (535d and M5).

used Best Buys

Three prestigious German brands dominate this Best Buy chart, with good reason: they set the benchmark for quality, cutting-edge technology and driving pleasure

luxury cars

audi a7 86%Filling the narrow gap between Audi’s A6 and A8, the strikingly styled A7 is a huge five-door hatchback with limousine-like space inside. Ride, handling and performance are all top-notch.

Mercedes-benz s-class 84%Mercedes-Benz’s flagship model is packed with technology. It’s great

to drive and be driven in, and makes the ideal long-distance companion. No wonder so many are used as diplomatic limousines.

audi a8 85%Brimming with technology and equipment, this limousine-class saloon is superbly

comfortable and refined, yet can be hustled along like a sports car. Overall, a very convincing luxury choice.

audi a5 sporTback 84%Most luxury cars are gigantic, with associated running

costs. The A5 Sportback is more compact, yet just as appealing as pricier cars. It is essentially a ‘stretched’ five-door hatchback version of the A5 coupé. While not the most spacious car in its class, its cabin is certainly one of the best. It offers a sharp drive in all departments, with a very strong line-up of engines, superb handling, impressive ride quality and class-leading brakes. The owners who responded to the 2012 Which? Car Survey seem very pleased with their cars and reported solid reliability so far. No doubt about it, this is a classy, appealing and thoroughly competent luxury car.

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ToyoTa avensis Tourer (2003-2009) 84%Spacious, comfortable and decent to drive. audi a6 avanT (2004-2011) 80% Superb luxury estate: big, clever, classy.Mercedes c-class esTaTe (2000-2007) 79%Safe, refined and well made. ford focus esTaTe (2005-2011) 78%A complete family car: safe to drive, roomy. audi a4 avanT (2001-2008) 73% Decent space and superbly built. ciTroen c5 Tourer (2001-2008) 71%Big and stylish, but beware depreciation.skoda fabia (2000-2007) 71%No small estate car shifts more luggage.Honda accord Tourer (2003-2008) 70% Huge boot space and good to drive, too.ToyoTa corolla esTaTe (2000-2007) 70% Much more practical than the hatchback.

used Best Buys

unfairly overshadowed by MpVs and 4x4 crossovers, these Best Buys prove that there’s life in the estate-car format yet, mixing practicality with drivability

estate cars

Mini clubMan 80%Mini’s estate sacrifices space in the search for chic. Still, it offers all the driving flair of the regular Mini (excellent engines, super-sharp handling) and mixes in a dash of extra practicality.

bMw 5 series Touring 88%The best luxury estate car to drive, with huge load space, too.

audi a6 avanT 82%Clever and classy, it’s a smart alternative to a luxury 4x4.

skoda superb esTaTe 80%The Skoda is practical, frugal, good to drive and cheap to buy.

ford Mondeo esTaTe 84%We’ve never measured a bigger boot than this.

ford focus esTaTe 76%A well-rounded estate with some advanced safety features.

audi a4 avanT 83%May not be the biggest load-lugger, but a class act. Optional 4WD.

audi a4 allroad 83%Halfway house between estate and sports utility vehicle.

volkswagen passaT esT 82%Huge boot, safe, well equipped and comfy. A great all-rounder.

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skoda fabia esTaTe 74%Smoother styling and a more refined feel make the second-generation

Fabia estate a more grown-up car than before. But it’s still well built and impressive value for money. There’s room for four adults, and a decent-sized boot. Stability control isn’t standard across the range, so make sure you buy a model with this essential safety kit.

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ROUND-UP | BEst BuYs

MpvsseaT alHaMbra 82%Seat’s sister model to the VW Sharan is slightly cheaper to buy. If you’re in the market for a full-sized seven-seater and load lugger, this comfortable, refined and safe MPV is hard to beat.

used Best BuysToyoTa verso (2004-2009) 78%If you need space for seven, the Verso (formerly the Corolla Verso) is one of the best of its kind. It’s a roomy, versatile seven-seater that’s car-like to drive, in spite of its high roof and large dimensions. Honda fr-v (2004-2009) 75%Six-seater with a clever three-abreast seating layout that’s loved by owners. It’s more compact and more practical than some seven-seat MPVs, as it beats them for boot space with all the seats in place. It’s also one of the best used-only MPVs for reliability in our survey.

Don’t Buys

citroën nemo/fiat Qubo/ peugeot bipper Tepee Just three Euro NCAP stars for safety is a real concern for this trio of compact people carriers. Toyota urban cruiser The three-star Euro NCAP safety score simply isn’t good enough for a modern family car.

volkswagen sHaran 81%With its useful sliding rear doors, generous boot and spacious seven-seat cabin,

the Sharan is a leader in terms of practicality. Handling, ride comfort, safety and quality are all good, too. VW’s badge will be enough for many buyers to choose it over the Alhambra.

vauxHall zafira Tourer 78%A bigger and smarter sister model to the Zafira, the Tourer

convinces with its spacious, high-quality seven-seat cabin and enormous boot. This MPV is also great to drive, with comfortable cruising ability and good refinement.

ford grand c-Max 81%The great-to-drive C-Max is much better in seven-seat Grand form than as a regular

five-seater, thanks to its sliding rear doors and generous interior space. One word of caution, though: our survey shows reliability of the five-seat C-Max is poor (see p30).

ToyoTa verso 77%A very clever, flexible seven-seat cabin and sizeable boot make this a popular family

choice. It’s well built, too, and has a generous standard specification. It’s decent to drive, if not exactly inspiring, and benefits from well-designed, easy-to-use controls.

seaT alTea 78%A good compromise between style and practicality, with the XL version offering extra space. This five-

seat MPV drives very well and feels stable, but it’s now feeling its age in some areas.

vauxHall Meriva 77%The rear-hinged FlexDoors are a real boon for parents, and the adaptable seating

layout (for five) makes this an appealing MPV. The cabin feels plush and well made, too.

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With their flexible seating and large boots, MpVs are the ideal choice as family cars. The best are also good to drive, so you don’t even have to sacrifice driver enjoyment

BESTBUY

DOn’T BUY

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used Best Buys

The 4x4/suV market is very much growing in popularity again, with a whole swathe of new models and crossovers to choose from. But which ones make the cut as Best Buys?

4x4s/suvsMercedes-benz M-class 81%The new third-generation M-class does very little wrong and ticks the luxury box brilliantly. It’s great at cruising and towing, and has more space than before.

bMw x5 84%Seven seats in a BMW is a real novelty – indeed this is the first and only BMW to seat seven (if you tick

this option). The X5 is one of the best 4x4s of all to drive, with sure-footed handling and superb engines, especially diesels. It’s not so great for off-roading, but who does that in a luxury SUV like this? Reliability, as recorded in our 2012 Which? Car Survey, is excellent.

bMw x1 80%This Ford Kuga-sized car, based on BMW’s 3 Series, is appealing on many levels. It’s the most impressive

compact SUV of all to drive, and it’s safe, well built, and feels very upmarket (as its prices would indicate). Both 2WD and 4WD versions are available. Reliability is also looking good so far, and running costs aren’t too severe by class standards.

bMw x6 84%If you’re in desperate need of a five-door 4x4 coupé, this is your only choice.

audi Q7 83%Audi’s biggest 4x4 seats seven and is a luxurious, quality act. Pricey to run.

Mercedes-benz gl-class 83%Talented, gargantuan 4x4 is basically an extended M-class.

bMw x3 80%Excellent build quality and value retention, plus it’s well equipped and spacious.

Mercedes Ml (2005-2011) 80%With its cosseting cabin and ride this is a luxury star, but it can also cut it in the rough. porscHe cayenne (2003-2010) 80% The original high-performance 4x4 is a stormer and feels great to sit in.nissan Murano (2005-2008) 77% The first-generation Murano is petrol-only, but great to drive.Mercedes M-class (1998-2004) 73% It may be crude to drive, but this is a great tow car with loads of space inside.ToyoTa land cruiser (2003-2009) 71% Built like a tank, this is the daddy of hard-working off-roaders.

Don’t Buy

suzuki Jimny 27% While it’s adept off-road, the Jimny is a disaster on tarmac. Our testers found it slow, unrefined, cramped and wayward – it had a worrying level of instability in our tests.

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volkswagen Touareg 82%This highly capable 4x4 has a subtler image than most. It’s very safe and capable

on the road, with impressive refinement and excellent engines (diesel makes most sense). It’s also well built, with a large cabin and boot. This second-generation model is too new to identify reliability, but let’s hope it’s better than the patchy old one.

BESTBUY

DOn’T BUY

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ROUND-UP | BEst BuYs

used Best Buys

power, handling and driver enjoyment are what sports cars are all about. if you don’t give two hoots about practicality, they can be the most rewarding cars of all

porscHe cayMan 85%So much more than just a coupé version of the Boxster, the Cayman is sensational to drive, with scintillating performance and ultra-crisp handling. A new version arrives in late 2012.

bMw 1 series coupe/conv 86%Agile handling, lively performance, frugal diesels, and it’s reliable.

Mercedes-benz sl 82%About to be replaced, but a cracking blow- the-budget sports car.

Mercedes-benz c-class c’pe 86%Sleek looks, great to drive, safe, well made and comfortable.

bMw z4 83%Luxurious yet quick, the latest version of the Z4 is more refined and comfortable than its predecessor, which

was considered a bit of a brute. The sDrive 35is is a full-on M roadster in all but name, but the less powerful models in the line-up feel more like open-top cruisers than outright sports cars. The cabin is cramped but well laid out, and the folding hard-top boosts security.

Mercedes-benz e-class coupe/ conv 81%Refined, relaxed, easy to drive and built to last.

bMw 3 series coupe 87%One of the best sports cars on the market – and it’s practical too.

volkswagen golf cabrio 81%The Golf’s very fast-acting electric roof works well and doesn’t hinder this

car’s impressive refinement. Build quality is excellent throughout. A strong range of engines includes a mix of fiery and frugal. The chassis is very much set up for comfort rather than handling finesse, but, overall, this is a classy, sensible convertible.

Mercedes-benz cl 81%Effectively an S-class coupé. Pricey, but highly desirable.

porscHe boxsTer (2007-2012) 83% Sublime to drive, mid-engined sports car that’s proving very reliable.Mercedes-benz slk (2004-2011) 82% Folding hard-top works well, as do the performance and handling.porscHe 911 (1998-2005) 79%The ‘996’ generation 911 is one of the world’s best sports cars, full stop.bMw 3 series coupe (2000-2006) 78% Big choice of used cars, its agile handling is among the best.Mercedes-benz clk (2002-2009) 78% Surprisingly practical four-seat coupé, also very comfortable.nissan 350z (2003-2010) 78%Fast, old-school sports car with power and thrills aplenty, although it’s pricey to run. bMw z4 (2003-2008) 77%Sharp handling, sweet engines, and its owners are a fairly happy bunch.bMw 6 series (2004-2011) 77%Effortless performance combines with great comfort, but cheap it isn’t.

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sports cars