New Registration Special

Hyundai i10 micro-car

£8,345 - £9,745

Hyundai’s i10 has been a sales smash since its 2008 launch, overtaking the Fiat 500 in the charts last year. This updated version has arrived just in time for the new March registrations, and improves one of the best city cars around. The latest version comes with two new petrol engines, a revised 1.25-litre petrol with more power than before, and an all-new 1.0-litre petrol which promises to deliver close to 70mpg and emits just 99g/km of C02. The previously dull styling has been given a refresh too, with a grille inspired by the ix35 crossover and fresh lights at the back. It’s still only available as a practical five-door, but the i10 is one of the best superminis around, as it’s spacious, fun to drive and offers amazing value for money.

Audi A6 saloon

£30,495 - £53,995

When it comes to executive cars the BMW 5-Series has always been the model to beat. But if driving fast is less important to you than comfort, build quality and cutting-edge technology the all-new Audi A6 is a great choice. Shorter but wider than the car it replaces there’s more headroom and legroom than ever plus lots of equipment, such satellite navigation, climate control and a 10-speaker sound system, fitted as standard. Long distances are covered with ease, while the more powerful models get four-wheel drive – a significant advantage over the BMW 5-Series. Prices start at almost £2,000 more than the old car, but that’s offset by the higher levels of equipment.

Ford Focus hatchback

£13,995 - £24,550

There's no more significant new car in 2011 than this, the third generation Ford Focus. Launched in March it is already close to the top spot in the sales charts which means it will quickly become a common sight on our roads. It's all-new, with a fresh look, host of high-tech gadgets and a super-efficient range of modern petrol and diesel engines. It maintains its reputation for class leading comfort and road holding by being the best in the class to drive, but although entry-level Studio, Edge and Zetec-trimmed models are well-priced, Titanium and Titanium X models are expensive, but very well equipped.

Kia Sportage SUV

£17,300 - £26,930

The Kia Sportage isn't just one of the best cars made by Kia - it's one of the best cars on sale in the UK today. Good enough to trouble all comers in the growing crossover market. The Sportage particularly appeals if you'd like to be noticed, as its futuristic styling is refreshingly different from the norm. Inside it looks good too, while standard equipment lists are lengthy. While the car was first introduced with a single 134bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, with four-wheel drive, it's the smaller petrol and diesel options with front-wheel drive that make most sense. All come with Kia's impressive seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty. And if you still can't quite believe a Kia is the car for you, consider this. In a recent group test conducted by Auto Express magazine, the Kia beat contenders from both Land Rover and BMW!

Volkswagen Passat saloon

£19,610 - £26,740

If you are looking for a stylish, comfortable long distance cruiser, then look no further than the Volkswagen Passat. Its fantastic ability to eat up long motorway journeys is almost unrivalled. The suspension is soft enough to soak up rough road surfaces while the cabin gets lots of sound-deadening insulation. This means engine and road noise are almost unnoticable at cruising speed - something that helps the miles fly by! This model is almost identical under the skin to the old car but comes with more efficient engines and takes comfort and luxury to the next level. All the diesel engines are fantastic, although we'd recommend avoiding the 1.6-litre unit if you're after performance - it can struggle to keep up with fast-moving traffic. The top of the range 2.0-litre petrol engine offers impressive levels of pace but sacrifices efficiency.

Nissan Leaf hatchback

£30,990 - £30,990

Electric cars are nothing new, but the Nissan Leaf is the first mass-produced model to be built specifically to run on battery power. It’s designed for those who like a practical and familiar five-door hatchback bodyshape, but take their environmental responsibilities seriously. Of course, it isn’t all about zero CO2 emissions – running costs should be low too. After an eight-hour charge from a standard socket it can travel up to 100 miles, and apart from the lack of engine noise it’s as easy to drive as any of its more conventional rivals. It’s not cheap though, even with the Government-backed £5,000 subsidy prices start from £23,990.

Kia Rio hatchback

£9,995 - £14,895

With its sights set on the Ford Fiesta's supermini crown, the new Kia Rio has big aspirations. Representing great value for money, the 1.1-litre diesel version is the UK's lowest emitting car at 85g/km - it is also capable of 88mpg. The interior is comfortable and well made and even entry-level models feel well equipped. Whilst it cannot match the Ford Fiesta's engaging drive it is both more spacious and cheaper to run.

Honda Jazz hatchback

£11,605 - £19,335

Expect great things from the new Honda Jazz. This updated model sticks closely to the winning formula of the original model - so the Jazz still offers loads of passenger space, efficient engines and lots of standard equipment. A new hybrid model has also been added to the range, which uses the same battery assisted technology as the Honda Insight. At £15,995, it is also the cheapest hybrid car on the market. The CVT automatic gearbox has also returned, prompted by high customer demand.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon

Few badges in motoring carry as much kudos as Mercedes’ three-pointed star. And now its C-Class has been given a thorough refresh just in time for the new registration change. The rival for the BMW 3-Series offers both saloon and practical estate variants. Mercedes has improved the interiors of all models, and thanks to improved automatic gearboxes and stop-start systems now fitted on all engines, the C-Class up to 31 per cent more efficient than the outgoing model.

Hyundai i40 estate

£18,650 - £26,150

The new Hyundai i40 Tourer estate is a stylish and hugely spacious family estate car gunning for the market position held by the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. Undercutting both on price, the i40 is also very well equipped and offers an impressive five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

Citroën DS3 hatchback

£12,600 - £24,300

It's Citroen's hottest ever hatch, and includes in its line up, the rally inspired DS3 Racing - a £23,100 super hatch that's almost as fast as a Porsche! Whichever model you choose, you can be sure that the comfortable suspension, powerful engines and good looks are an attractive package. What's even better news is that the cars are well built and offer quality interiors too.

Chevrolet Orlando mini MPV

£16,825 - £21,735

Love or hate its boxy design, there's no escaping the appeal of the space offered by the new Chevrolet Orlando, or the value it's low price tag represents. Launched in March 2011, the car also sports a quality interior, and offers a fine 2.0-litre diesel engine. The only fly in the ointment is the car's ponderous steering and lacklustre handling.