My judgement is based on following grounds:

Volkswagen Polo: The Polo is really a small car close to perfection. The design is almost compromise-free which is a difficult task for cars of this size. What I like particularly is the answer to modern needs of transportation – highly efficient downsized engines and double clutch gearboxes. Without that, it should be difficult in the future for a car to win this title.

Toyota iQ: I like this car very much. The package is absolutely fascinating. Three adults and one child travel in a vehicle of less than three meters, that’s amazing. And it handles very well, which is also due to an excellent seating position and good ergonomics of the front seats. It is also well equipped with hightech safety features as well as with an optional start-stop device. Weak points are some materials like the inner door panels that easily get scratched. And the high price.

Mercedes E-Class: This car is an absolutely convincing example for a limousine being worth the title. High comfort, low noise, but also excellent roadholding and a high level of perceived quality. And look at the estate version, it is a LUV, a luxury utility vehicle. Of course, its price is high, but this is a true premium product. The engines’ efficiency is great, you don’t need a bigger one than the 220 CDI. Unusual design? Yes, but the more often I look at it, the better I like it.

Opel Astra: It is really hard to mentally separate the endless discussions about the future of Opel from the cars. First thing is depressing but then, the products and the people making them are so positive. Last year’s winner was even a bigger surprise because in its segment, the Insignia was really a huge step forward. The small brother is fairly in line with that. Weak points of the Astra: Engines and gearboxes could be more on the edge and should be equipped with the latest fuel saving technology, and the room for backseat passengers is limited.

Skoda Yeti: I like the Skoda design. The Yeti looks strong and robust, but it is not too big. It also shows a high quality and with its reasonable price, it offers good value for money. All this is no surprise, because it is a Volkswagen made in Czech Republic.

Citroën C 3 Picasso: This car is very practical, rational, good value for money. On the other hand, to me, it is not a car that creates too many emotions. That’s what I clearly miss. And environmental technologies should be pushed much more at Citroën.

Peugeot 3008: There are some fine details with this car: It has a huge boot with a double door. It has a cool cockpit with some nice materials. Some efficient engines with six-speed gearboxes are available. But still, for me it is quite difficult to understand this car. It is very contradictional. It’s not a minivan, it’s not a SUV, it’s not an estate. But it’s quite ugly. The 5008 which is very close to it, would have been an easier choice.