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Like the Toyota Aygo and Citroen C1, which share the same mechanicals, the Peugeot 107 is first and foremost a car for affordable city driving. It's big enough for short runs on the motorway, but its compact dimensions, sharp steering and 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine are perfect for darting through traffic and parking in small spaces. The basic Urban Lite version is sparsely equipped, though, and does without electronic stability control or central locking. We’d advise buying the more expensive Urban spec. Alloy wheels and air-conditioning are paid-for options, although if you negotiate hard there are plenty of offers to be had from dealers.
The Chrysler Ypsilon is a five-door hatchback designed to compete with the Volkswagen Polo, Fiat 500 and Ford Fiesta. Despite an eye-catching appearance and unique interior styling the Ypsilon falls short of the competition once behind the wheel and is expensive to buy. Interior materials also feel cheap when compared to rivals. The Ypsilon is available with a 0.9-litre twin-cylinder petrol, a 1.2 petrol and an economical 1.3 diesel.
The Kia Optima is an attempt to introduce something a little more daring to a segment that includes dull but worthy models like the Toyota Avensis. Its bold looks and well-appointed cabin will draw some attention and it also comes fitted with a 1.7-litre diesel that provides a good balance between performance and running costs. A hybrid model will be made available later in 2012 too.
All-American off-road firm Jeep is part of the larger Chrysler organisation, which has been through a turbulent few years. First the company parted ways with Mercedes-Benz, then the recession hit the firm harder than most, but now Chrysler's future is looking a lot more stable under Fiat ownership. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is something of a transition model, as it uses a platform that's shared with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, but it's powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel that was developed by Fiat.
Think of the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer as a more upmarket and stylish replacement for the Zafira and a more direct competitor to the Ford S-MAX. As of its launch at the beginning of 2012 the Tourer will be sold side-by-side with the Zafira but with prices for the Tourer starting at £21,000 – about £6,000 more than the car it effectively replaces. The engine line-up and chassis have both been updated for a more stable and involving driving experience with better performance and cheaper running costs. Our pick would be one of the 2.0-litre diesel engines – the 163bhp unit in particular – as we expect the petrols will be costly to run.
If there's one thing Suzuki knows a thing or two about, then it's making small cars. The Splash is, largely, another fine example of Suzuki's ability to maximise space and efficiency. Despite being tall it still looks cute, but there's loads of passenger room front and back. Sadly, the boot is far too small to make it a serious family runabout. And while it's well built, the cabin doesn’t have a great deal of flair. All three engines are cheap to run, but none especially quick.
The Chevrolet Aveo boasts high levels of standard equipment, and a new, motorbike-inspired interior. The funky rev counter and LED speedometer add a sporty touch to the Aveo's cabin, while the coupe-inspired styling, including hidden rear door handles and aggressive headlights, adds even more kerbside appeal. The Aveo is more practical than the excellent Suzuki Swift, and with prices set to undercut many of the class leaders, Chevrolet has created a tempting package. A new diesel version should also be one of the most frugal cars in its class too.
The new BMW 3 Series has a lot to live up to, as its predecessor has been the class leader in the compact executive sector since making its debut in 2005. But the old car wasn’t without its flaws, and recent updates to the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have made the 3 Series look vulnerable. As a result, the latest model couldn’t have come soon enough. Designers have worked hard to improve BMW in every area, while there's now a model to suit every taste and budget, including ES, ED, SE, Luxury, Modern and Sport.
The new B-Class is a compact MPV, positioned as a premium rival to the Ford C-MAX and Volkswagen Golf Plus. It's built around an all-new front-wheel drive platform that will be used for the new A-Class and three other brand new models. The interior layout is versatile and spacious, as well as maintaining Mercedes’ reputation for high-quality.
American brand Chevrolet has worked hard to give its models a more European flavour, and the result is this - the seven-seat Orlando MPV. Taking on established rivals like the new Ford Grand C-MAX and Citroen Grand Picasso, the chunky off-road styling conceals a spacious and practical interior with lots of well-thought out touches, including a hidden panel in the dash for holding valuables, and a convex mirror that lets the driver keep a watchful eye on rear seat passengers.
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