What do you look for in a car? A sense of fun, looks, great handling or the best value? We put the latest saloons and hot hatchbacks through their paces to find out how they perform on each level, head on.
Former Eurosport commentator Richard Nichols runs you through the action, as the experts from Auto Express magazine and ITVs World Rally commentator Robbie Head push these everyday cars to their limit on the Ty-Croes circuit in Wales. The aim - to find out whether you really need to spend an arm and a leg to be ensured lots of fun from your motor.
They offer a cheeky yet candid examination of each car with an entertaining comparison of looks, power and performance. Cars featured include:
- Renault Clio 182 - Subaru Impreza WR1
- BMW 330 Cd - Renault Megane RS
- Skoda Fabia vRS - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 FQ-330
- Honda Civic Type R - BMW M3 CSL
- Audi S4 Cabriolet - Vauxhall Monaro
- Mini Cooper S Works - MGZT 260
But on-track performance is not the only yardstick these are real-world cars, and all were put to the test on public roads by a mixture of drivers, both professional and amateur, to get you all the dirt on these machines.
