64 Seat Leon: Hatchback with quiet appeal

The quiet one of the VW Group hatchback-producing machine, the Leon doesn't have the cachet of the Golf, nor the sheer cabin and boot volume of the Skoda Octavia and most definitely not the snob value of the Audi A3. It's kind of a middle ground between the other three – more affordable than the Golf, less ostentatious than the Audi and slightly more stylish than the Skoda. It's good looking, in a very quiet way, but you really need the sporty add-ons of the FR models if you're going to call it properly handsome. The cabin is nicely laid out, and decently roomy, but always feels just a touch underwhelming, as if it was designed to be not quite as nice as that of a Golf. Which is, we suppose, quite probably the case. The Leon's trump card, though, is that it's actually nicer to drive than any of its VW brethren – its steering is sweeter than that of the Golf or Audi and it's less noisy inside than the Skoda. The 1.2 TSI petrol engine is perfect for most purposes, and more pleasant to use than the 1.6 TDI diesel. ST estate is useful and good looking, and 290hp Cupra hot hatch is properly quick and enjoyable, and calls the point of a Golf R rather into question.

Price range: €19,275 to €40,180

Co2 emissions: 102 to 158g/km

Which one? 1.2 TSI SE estate for sense, Cupra for fun

PCP from €229 per month