Why it won

Agile handling, sparkling performance and affordable prices are the key ingredients in the sporty hatchback recipe, and the Suzuki Swift Sport combines them in the perfect quantities. The latest model picks up where its predecessor left off, but provides added comfort, making it even easier to live with day-to-day.

On the outside, the Swift Sport ticks all of the right boxes, with its sporty three-door body, smart alloy wheels and racy front bumper and side skirts. At the back, a spoiler above the rear window and diffuser-style bumper incorporating twin exhausts signal its intent.

Power is from a zippy 1.6-litre engine that thrives on revs. It produces 134bhp, which is plenty in a car that tips the scales at 1,045kg. The Suzuki Swift Sport can accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds and its snappy gearshift and racy engine note make it great fun to drive. So does its talented chassis, which combines sharp responses with lively handling. It's pretty comfortable, too, so you won’t need dental treatment after every trip, and its tall sixth gear helps to improve its motorway comfort and economy.

The Swift Sport comes with luxuries like air conditioning, cruise control and grippy sports seats as standard, so the only real downsides are its small boot and cramped rear seats – but they’re a small price to pay for such an enjoyable car.