Mid-sized saloons from BMW and Mercedes will make their greatest leaps in a generation – while batting off an ever-larger array of rivals The rivalry between the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class has

AS we embark on the new year, it’s time to get ready for the most exciting, potentially game-changing new cars due over the next 12 months. And petrolheads should rejoice, because they’re not all EVs!

SMART’S DESIGN TEAM DID A grand job, outside and within the astonishingly roomy, well kitted and well finished cabin. It rides really softly too, a passenger might think it’s a luxury car. The driver

THE DEFINITIVE VERDICT

RATINGS = Thrill-free zone = Tepid = Interesting = Seriously good = A truly great car = new entry this month. Cars in italics are no longer on sale. Issue no. is for our most recent major test of the

Price new: £32,140 Price used: From £14,000 Engine: 2.0-litre turbo petrol Gearbox: Seven-speed auto Power/torque: 296bhp/400Nm 0-60mph: 5.7 seconds Top speed: 155mph IF one hot hatch literally flies