Road tests of the year 2012: June

Skoda Citigo vs SEAT Mii vs VW Up!

Winner: Skoda Citigo Read the full test >>

We hit the town in June to find ourselves the best city car in the business, and we knew that separating the new Skoda Citigo from its SEAT Mii and VW up! siblings wouldn’t be easy. These are all effectively the same car, with minor trim changes, unique branding and different pricing the only obvious ways to tell them apart.

Dynamically, we concluded, they set the benchmark for this class, as they mix impressive long-haul comfort with a flawless urban skill-set. Their spacious, high-quality interiors mark them all out as potential rivals to existing superminis, too – but it was the Skoda which got the nod. The Citigo won on account of its lower prices, fuel consumption and emissions, ending the up!’s brief spell at the top of the class. Still, an attractive pre-paid servicing pack helped the VW to edge past the SEAT and claim second place.

Ford Focus ST vs Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Renaultsport Megane

Winner: Ford Focus ST Read the full test >>

Most Brits who head to the Mediterranean in June travel by plane – but not us. We grabbed the keys to our favourite hot hatches and drove there for a rendezvous with one of the most exciting new cars of 2012: the new Focus ST. Had Ford’s engineers done enough to knock the brilliant Volkswagen Golf GTI off its throne?

We needn’t have worried about the newcomer losing the old car’s charismatic five-cylinder engine, as the latest ST took Ford back to the top of the performance hatchback class. It can play the role of back road blaster to perfection, but the fast Focus can also be a comfortable long-distance cruiser when you need it to be.

In contrast, the Golf wasn’t as much fun, while the thrilling Renaultsport Megane demanded too many compromises in its pursuit of dynamic brilliance – it finished in third.

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe vs Porsche Panamera vs Mercedes CLS

Winner: Mercedes CLS Read the full test >>

With summer finally in full swing, we headed to the glorious roads of Wales in the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. This is essentially a four-door version of the sleek 6 Series, and it left us grasping for superlatives. Great to drive, solidly built and elegantly designed, the big BMW had no trouble beating the Porsche Panamera diesel. Yet it couldn’t trump the Mercedes CLS, which was just as stylish and cost nearly £10,000 less.