High quality, style and practicality from Vauxhall

Its continuing rivalry with Ford ensures that its products are regularly updated and improved.

The demands placed on city cars grow ever more exacting with each passing generation. Time was when a city car needed only to be small, economical and cheap to insure. No longer.

The new Vauxhall Agila must also satisfy those demanding better safety, higher quality, lower emissions and classier styling. It looks equipped to tick all those boxes.

The new Vauxhall Corsa is well worth its popularity amongst UK supermini buyers. Good looks, a polished driving experience and a high quality interior mean this Vauxhall is at the head of the class on merit alone.

In order to go straight in at number one in the family hatchback class, new Vauxhall cars like the Astra had to be very good indeed.

Vauxhall will tell you that it is with more space, sleeker styling and improved driving dynamics, courtesy of a clever rear suspension system. With Vauxhall’s usual vast range of engines and trim levels, it is certainly making the opposition take notice.

More striking to look at than the Vectra but also more spacious and with an improved engine range, the Vauxhall Insignia looked like a winner from the very start. The optional four-wheel-drive system is going down well at the top end of the range helping the Insignia to extend its appeal to more private buyers.

The Vauxhall Meriva is a small MPV based on the Corsa supermini with a clever rear seating arrangement that helps you get the most out of its generous interior space. Well constructed from sturdy materials and both comfortable and responsive on the road, it’s a very accomplished package.

Big practicality and a high quality finish set the new Vauxhall Zafira apart from its compact MPV rivals. The VXR range topper is an odd inclusion in the range but great fun and even the less extrovert versions drive very nicely. It’s not bad looking either with all the Vauxhall family styling cues very much in evidence.