My judgement is based on following grounds:

Volkswagen Polo – If there was ever a car for a time and a place, then the Polo is it. Bigger than the Mark II Golf, yet feels as small and dainty as a supermini should. The cabin is beautifully put together, with an attention to detail that gives you one of the nicest steering wheels ever produced outside of the Bentley factory. It’s built like the Bismark yet drives with the fluidity that previous Polo owners could only dream of. The chassis is composed, yet the 1.2 TSI engine is so much fun it wouldn’t be out of place on a trackday.

Mercedes-Benz E-class – Mercedes-Benz’s most important car provides the three-pointed star’s soul as well as its profits. Inside the commodious cabin, the car has a whiff of moneyed excellence. The materials are top rate and everything works with a deferential click or sigh. The small diesel engines are superlatively economical and the big diesel units are unhurried and long legged. The whole package oozes class and quality, then you climb out, look at it and wonder how it ended up so ugly.

Toyota iQ – Clever is as clever does and, in the iQ’s case, it’s at Mensa levels. Its tiny, beautiful air-conditioning unit should be on display in the Science Museum. Toyota has provided such innovations as the reverse-layout transmission, the flat fuel tank and the centre take-off steering, which are to be seen on bigger cars in future. It rides well, has a great turn of speed, drives brilliantly and is completely lovable, yet the sum of the parts is less than the whole. It’s also too wide and expensive.

Skoda Yeti – Surprise of the year, yet fantastically conventional under its bonkers coachwork. It’s a measure of the Yeti’s refinement, agility, traction and brilliant range of engines that clawed its way on to so many shortlists. Like a lot of medium-sized urban SUVs, the Yety rides better at speed than it does when going slowly, but the body control is excellent and the quality of the interior fit and finish immaculate – a lot of very competent fun.

Vauxhall Astra – It more than matches the current Ford Focus for ride and handling, and beats it out of sight for interior finish and comfort. That said, the Astra doesn’t exactly move the game on. This five-door hatchback looks too much like son-of-Insignia and not a model in its own right and while the chassis is accomplished, the ride is borderline harsh on British B roads.

Peugeot 3008 – Drive the 3008 and the sense of relief that Peugeot has rediscovered its ride and handling mojo all but blinds you to the downsides of this big urban SUV. The steering is excellent, with a comfortable, supportive ride and respectably agile handling, but the packaging is poor.

Citroën C3 Picasso – Few could argue with the generous accomodation, but the ride while superficially good, it simply tosses ocupants about. With lightweight steering and poor traction, this is not a pleasurable drive.