Hidden figures

Latest versions of three relatively affordable petrol-fuelled favourites head to the moors

BMW M135 £43,740 OTR/£54,050 as tested/£602 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: It’s about time BMW had a hot hatch worthy of the M badge again DRIVER: jethro bovingdon THE M135 LEFT ME QUITE unexpectedly. It was plan

The idea of taking the simple, powerful, reliable powertrain from an American muscle car and dropping it into a vehicle that is a bit more special is nothing new. Indeed, De Tomaso – which created the

The Renault 5 has all the glamour and excitement, but it’s the frumpier, roomier and far more versatile 4 that actually delivers the goods

Alpine, Abarth, Alfa and Mini have decades of experience in making affordable performance cars. Does that know-how translate to EVs?

FIAT GRANDE PANDA PRICE: £20,975–£23,975 The Panda was distinctly endangered for a while there (though you can still buy the old petrol one in Italy), but it’s been given a new lease of life with an e