FAMILY HATCHBACKS
Best In Class:
Volkswagen Golf
Well, it really couldn't be anything else, could it? The Golf has become so ubiquitous that it's a cliche. Supposedly the instant answer to every motoring question has become "just buy a Golf." Like all cliches theres a certain truth behind it: from its quality to its understated styling to its economy to the excitement of its high performance models, the Golf really is all motoring things to all motoring people. The GTI with Performance Pack is the ultimate Golf but a diesel BlueMotion or 1.4 TSI petrol are perfect bread-and-butter cars too. The Estate is on the way, as is a (now cheaper) 300hp R über-Golf.
Best one: 1.2 TSI Highline for €25,785.
Also consider:
Ford Focus
Just facelifted to give it a Fiesta-like gaping grille and staring, piercing headlights the Focus has been the perennial drivers' choice in this segment ever since the original was launched in 1998. While it has lost a little of that original dynamic purity since, the new higher-quality interior and brilliant EcoBoost petrol engines keep the Focus in the hunt for the Golf's crown.
Peugeot 308
Slick to look at, with a commendably high-quality cabin and some excellent diesel engines on offer, the 308 is a very hard car to ignore. You can quibble with the lack of rear-seat space in the standard hatchback, but then the boot is utterly massive and the good-looking 308 SW estate version has even more luggage space with extra room for knees in the back thanks to a longer wheelbase. New BlueHDI diesels are especially good for power and economy.
Worth waiting for:
Honda Civic
The Civic is getting a major update for 2015 as Honda looks to lift slipping sales in Europe. Visual tweaks are minor but Honda is making suspension and steering tweaks to try and broaden the Civic's appeal. The 120hp 1.6-litre diesel remains the pick of the oil-burning bunch in this class.
Launches Spring 2015
Opel Astra
It won't be here until very late in the year, but Opel's new Astra could be the car to shake up the family hatchback class. Let's just hope it works to the template set down by the impressive Insignia and Zafira tourer, and less to the somewhat underwhelming Adam and new Corsa.
Launches Autumn 2015.
FAMILY SALOONS
Mazda6
Buyers are moving from the family saloon category to the likes of crossovers and SUVs. At the same time the premium brands are trying to lure mainstream buyers at the upper end of the family car market towards their entry versions.
Two new arrivals are going to lead the way in this category: the Ford Mondeo and the VW Passat. We tested both recently and published the results of our twin test. The Mondeo won out due to its better driving dynamics but the Passat was a nicer, more refined place to spend time.
The car that offers the best of both worlds in this regard, however, is the Mazda6. It looks great, it drives well and it’s competitively priced. A minor update will arrive next year but that should be a bargaining chip for buyers, not a reason to ignore.
Best one: Mid-level Executive SE version at €30,795.
Also consider:
Ford Mondeo
Let down by a rather cluttered and unexceptional cabin, particularly in the lower-specification versions, the Mondeo is still the best car to drive in this class, with fantastic cornering characteristics and great handling. It's got a striking new front nose that really sets off the styling and it's also well priced, starting at €28,995 for the mid-range Zetec and with entry-level 1.6-litre Style versions likely to start at €27,500 when they arrive in January. However, we're still a little concerned that the 1.6-litre diesel engines are too low-powered for a car of this size. VW Passat It's the other new arrival and while it's very much an evolution of the outgoing version, it pushes the Passat further towards the premium end of the market. It's refined and smooth to drive and the cabin is the best in the family car market. However, the same reservations apply when it comes to the 1.6-litre diesels.
Worth waiting for:
The arrival of the Passat and Mondeo brings the final update to the family car market but two models coming out later in 2015 are the new Skoda Superb and an all-new Kia Optima. Probably not enough to delay a purchase right now, though.
PREMIUM HATCHBACKS
Best in class:
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Premium hatches such as the Audi A3 (which obviously shares much with the Golf) and BMW 1 Series might kid themselves they're a cut above the VW but the fact is that the GTI, the original GTI, is the one they're all chasing. The Mk VII Golf GTI is, though, slightly more spec-sensitive than was once the case. Pick a standard GTI and you have a fast, fluent, fantastic Golf. Pick, instead, the GTI with the optional Performance Pack and, thanks to more power, better brakes and a clever electronic differential, you have a essentially a practical five-door Porsche. It is quite, quite brilliant. The more powerful, more expensive Golf R, though, is a waste of effort.
Best one: GTI Performance 5-door for €36,810.
Also consider:
Mini Cooper
All new for this year, the Mini has seen a major boost in cabin quality to lift it more properly into the premium sphere. The new three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines are excellent, but perhaps not quite so frugal as they ought to be. Handling remains excellent and the ride has improved, but limited cabin space chafes rather more these days. The five-door version looks rather odd.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Far less groundbreaking than the original A-Class it might be, but the current A is also far more appealing. It's actually best sampled as a relatively basic A180 CDI, which may well miss out on some of the more whizz-bang options but which has an impressively comfy ride quality denied some of the sportier versions and which can genuinely hit 65mpg in daily driving. Excellent quality and good handling complete a very decent all-round package.
Worth waiting for:
Infiniti Q30
Infiniti, Nissan's luxury brand, has failed to make much of an impact in Europe yet, despite enjoying much success in the States. Could the Q30, a compact premium hatch which will platform-share with the Mercedes A-Class, change all that? The various concept versions have hinted at very sharp styling, and Nissan certainly knows how to put together a good engine line-up, so the omens look good.
