Of course, the BMW X1 needs to be pretty good to make a splash against rivals like the Volvo XC40 , Lexus NX , Mercedes GLA and Audi Q3 - not to mention the stylish new Alfa Romeo Tonale and ever-popular Range Rover Evoque . Mainstream competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage...

Both the hybrid and the plug-in have a high driving position and plenty of space, but are also economical, with low emissions and impressive economy in real-world driving. On the basic hybrid, power comes from the combination of a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 44PS electric motor, with a total output...

The Peugeot 408 takes a similar approach to the new Citroen C5 X . It's a high-riding hatchback with a bold design and none of the compromises of an SUV. That's the theory, anyway. Under the bonnet, the most affordable Peugeot 408 models come with a 1.2-litre petrol engine. This 130PS unit is sprightlier...

Hopefully the world has moved beyond the ‘all MINIs should be small’ argument, and accepted that larger models like the MINI Countryman are here to stay. As our MINI Countryman review will illustrate, the second-generation model is well established, and is set to be followed with a third-generation...