My judgement is based on following grounds:

The Ford Fiesta is the best looking small car by far. It offers a wide range of engines and safety features, along with sensational handling and good comfort too. It is also a big improvement in interior design for Ford and the two door version is really a little sportscar.

For me, the Insignia is the best Opel ever. Its all round excellence heralds better times to come for the brand. What I like most is the new refinement in design and interior quality. A new kind of style for Opel.

Renault Mégane is impressively spacious, and a big improvement on the technical side of the range, with better steering and finally, excellent diesel power. And it is very competitively priced.

The Alfa Romeo Mito brings Alfa power to the compact class and reminds the world that vehicle dynamics have not been forgotten in a time more concerned with saving energy. It is a stunning beauty, but with too many electronic gadgets.

The Citroën C5 comes with a great history of ride comfort and design distinct from the mainstream. The passenger cabin and the trunk are both spacious and the engines run quietly with low fuel consumption.