Skip advert
Advertisement
Car group tests

Class winners

Which supermini is the best? Which MPV should you avoid? Find out in our rundown of the best and worst cars in each class

So you know what kind of car you want, but you aren’t sure which model to choose.

We’ve pooled together all the results to weigh up which cars are best - and which came last - in each class to help make your decision as easy as possible.

Scroll down to find out which cars owners rate highest.

Best small car

Owners of superminis are hard to please - cars in this class received an average rating of 81.97 per cent.

PositionMakeModel%
1KiaRio MkIII87.79%
2HondaJazz MkII87.34%
3NissanMicra MkIV87.31%
    
Last placeMitsubishiColt MkV79.12%

Best compact family car

Our compact family car champion had to be the Skoda Yeti, which finished in the top 10 in eight categories.

PositionMakeModel%
1SkodaYeti92.65%
2SkodaOctavia MkII89.20%
3Alfa RomeoGiulietta89.10%
    
Last placeCitroenC4 MkI79.63%

Best family car

The Skoda Superb is a clear family car class winner, with eight category top 10 finishes.

PositionMakeModel%
1SkodaSuperb MkII92.13%
2ToyotaAvensis MkIII86.54%
3Mazda6 MkII86.37%
    
Last placePeugeot40781.67%

Best compact executive car

The king of the compact execs is the BMW 3 Series, with an overall rating of 88.74 per cent.

PositionMakeModel%
1BMW3 Series MkVI88.74%
2HondaAccord MkVIII87.29%
3MercedesC-Class MkIII87.19%
    
Last placeAlfa Romeo15982.76%

Best executive car

Executive cars had the highest average score of any class, at 87.09 per cent.

PositionMakeModel%
1JaguarXF89.90%
2MercedesE-Class MkIV88.61%
3BMW5 Series MkVI88.41%
    
Last placeBMW5 Series MkV84.94%

Best sports car

As the Jaguar XK finished first for performance, it's no surprise it took the sports car crown.

PositionMakeModel%
1JaguarXK/R MkII87.57%
2PorscheCayman MkI87.09%
3MercedesC-Class Sports Coupe86.77%
    
Last placeMazdaRX-882.22%

Best SUV

The CX-5 has made a sensational Driver Power debut to come top of its class.

PositionMakeModel%
1MazdaCX-589.63%
2Land RoverDiscovery 488.92%
3BMWX3 MkII88.30%
    
Last placeMINICountryman82.68%

Best MPV

It's all change in the MPV market, as the Ford S-MAX loses its crown to the Renault Scenic.

PositionMakeModel%
1RenaultScenic/G Scenic MkII89.82%
2VauxhallZafira Tourer88.41%
3ToyotaVerso MkI86.92%
    
Last placeFordC-MAX MkI80.25%

See the results for previous years…

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,919 off RRP*Used from £31,445
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,250
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £1,743 off RRP*Used from £20,921
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,510 off RRP*Used from £11,890
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Citroen is plotting a new 2CV – but the risks are huge
Citroen 2CV retro render

Citroen is plotting a new 2CV – but the risks are huge

We talk to Citroen bosses on plans to reboot its icon – and do they go retro or futuristic?
News
8 Jun 2025
New Kia Sportage breaks cover and it’s sleeker than ever
Kia Sportage - front

New Kia Sportage breaks cover and it’s sleeker than ever

Full specification and details have been announced for the UK version of Kia’s big-selling mid-size SUV
News
4 Jun 2025
Best mid-size SUVs to buy 2025 - our expert pick of the top options
June 2025 Best mid-size SUVs

Best mid-size SUVs to buy 2025 - our expert pick of the top options

Mid-size SUVs are hugely popular in the UK, and these are the very best of the current crop
Best cars & vans
4 Jun 2025