With the previous MINI Hatch, Cooper was the middle-ranking performance and trim combination, sandwiched between the humbler One and faster Cooper S. Leaving the rapid John Cooper Works version aside, this new-era MINI Cooper now has just two levels of petrol-powered urgency — C with 156PS and S packing...

The Honda Jazz is something of an unsung hero among small hatches . Unfairly derided for its sensible image and traditionally more ‘mature’ owner – the average buyer age is over 60 – the Honda Jazz has never quite had the appeal of the likes of the Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta. But maybe the...

The Dacia Sandero has established itself as one of the best value-for-money options in the new car market, delivering plenty of space for not a great deal of cash. Opting for the Dacia Sandero Stepway brings the same benefits, but adds extra ground clearance and some rugged, SUV-inspired styling features....

In a similar vein to the Dacia Sandero Stepway as well as now-departed rivals such as the Audi A1 Citycarver and Ford Fiesta Active , the Honda Jazz Crosstar features mainly visual changes rather than any serious mechanical upgrades. What it isn’t is a direct alternative to the Toyota Yaris Cross...

The Dacia Sandero Stepway is a car without rivals. Too big to be a city car, too small to be a family hatchback, and not boxy enough to be a compact SUV. Does this make it a bit of an oddball? Maybe, but there’s a reason why this is Dacia’s best-selling car in the UK. As the name suggests, the...

The Nissan Note is full of clever ideas, like a sizeable under-floor storage area in the boot and a rear bench seat that can be moved forward and backward, depending on how much legroom or load space is required. There’s a double floor in the boot, too, which gives more load space when it’s in the...