Used car tests

It has never been a top seller, but there's more to Citroen's C5 than meets the eye. Although not the most attractive family car, it's extremely pract…

If value for money is your priority, then a Hyundai will always be near the top of your shortlist. With a five-year warranty as standard and a range w…

Big Italian executive cars aren't renowned for holding their value, but this makes for some excellent deals when buying used. That's certainly true of…

Until the 6 zoom-zoomed on to the scene at the beginning of last year, Mazda saloons had something of a dull reputation. Its 626 predecessor was decen…

Small cars have been a French way of life for years. With the likes of the Citroen 2CV and Renault 4 selling by the multi-million, the market for basi…

The 1990 Ford Escort did not have the best start in life. Criticised for being dull in comparison to rivals, it was slated for having inferior dynamic…

Think of Vauxhall and you probably conjure up Vectras, Astras or Corsas. All are fine cars in their fields, but do little to stir passion. It's a pro…

Back in the early Nineties, Ford and the VW Group had a problem. While rivals enjoyed record sales of MPVs, the best-selling marques in Europe had not…

Superminis always hold their value well. They have a broad customer base that ensures they are popular new or used.

Honda's track record with small cars has been patchy over recent years. Not since the original Civic, which rivalled motors such as the MkI Ford Fiest…

If you're looking for excitement, then Nissan's Almera isn't for you. But if you're after dependable, inexpensive and respectable family transport, th…

The Mercedes-Benz name is a byword for top-class motoring. Seen by many as the finest prestigious brand, the Stuttgart manufacturer's cars offer excel…

Some like it rough. And if you are one of them, then the Land Rover Defender is hard to beat. Its boxy lines, separate ladder-frame chassis and utilit…

The 600 was a fine-looking mid-sized saloon that offered a brave new future for the Rover brand when it arrived in 1993. Based on the then contemporar…

Always a fleet favourite, the Peugeot 406 has long since become a justifiably popular second-hand buy. Its tough construction, good handling and decen…

It might not be in its first flush of youth, but the Rover 45 is still a respectable second-hand purchase. Launched in 1999, the 45 replaced the Honda…

Quality doesn't come cheap. If you need proof, look no further than the Audi A2. The baby German is smaller than a Citroen C3, yet prices start at mor…

Thanks to great build quality, an upmarket image and mature road manners, VW's baby has won thousands of fans since its introduction in 1999. Indeed, …

Introduced in 2000, the SEAT Leon is like a Volkswagen Golf in a party frock.

Car buyers were won over by the LS400 at launch

Considering the slow sales of its predecessor, the Vento, Volkswagen had to really fire people's imagination with the Bora. Placing a much greater emp…

The toughness of a Land Rover Defender, luxury of a Range Rover and prices that undercut both. Meet the Mitsubishi's Shogun

A joint venture between Volvo and Mitsubishi, the S40 and V40 line-up replaced the ageing 440/460 Series in 1996.

Thanks to low prices and a youthful image, the Fiat Punto has established itself as a popular supermini

It was the car that started the current trend for retro styling and it gave a new life to one of motoring's greatest icons

With popular sporting models, keen pricing and a great drive, Citroen's baby has plenty of Saxo appeal

Let your heart rule your head with Alfa's 156

The American Jeep epitimises off-road performance

Why are growing numbers of motorists buying a 4x4 even if it spends most of its time on the drive? It's all about four-wheel-drive security and image …

Lexus's flagship LS400 made an immediate impact on the prestige sector when launched