It’s mechanically identical to the Kia Picanto at the top of this list, right down to the duff automated manual gearbox.
Read our Hyundai i10 review
8. Toyota Aygo
The city car formerly known as the Aygo has come of age: the suffix X has, in theory, turned the city car into a baby SUV.
In reality it’s a bigger car than the old Aygo, but still a tiddler, despite sharing its platform with the Toyota Yaris. This means that there is enough space in the back for adults and that the luggage compartment is sufficiently large at 231 liters.
The ride, comfort and insulation are comparable to those of a supermini, as is the stability on the highway. And the interior is light and airy.
However, acceleration is not a strong point. On our stopwatch it clocked a 0 to 100 km/h time of 16.7 seconds. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder with 71 hp is seriously lacking in torque and feels syrupy until 6,500 rpm.
Read our Toyota Aygo X review
9. Fiat 500 – £16,790
A car that was so popular that it spawned its own subgenre, Twitter. The Fiat 500, like the Panda with which it shares the mechanicals, is practical in the sense that it is small and simple. But unlike the Panda, the 500 is also chic, charming and adaptable. It’s unashamedly aimed and advertised at young people – and if you’re in love with the looks, it’s a sensible purchase, as the parts are cheap and it’s elegant and easy to drive.
Only one engine is offered from new: a 1.0-liter mild hybrid. If we can compare the different types of curry hybrids, with the PHEV Mercedes-AMG SL 63 being a jalfrezi, the 500 is a korma, as its 69 hp has little to offer in terms of pace, zest or speed.
10. Suzuki Swift – £17,199
Suzuki is known for its longevity, real-world MPG and financial offers. If you don’t really care about German badging or the last word in refinement, the Swift is an undercover gem.