The compact that drives best in its class: cheap to buy, sharp to steer, and fine to own if you avoid the wet-belt EcoBoost and the dry-clutch Powershift.

Still the best-driving cheap hatchback. The 1.6 Duratec petrols are simple and durable; the 1.8 Duratec and 2.0 are fine; the 1.6 TDCi (PSA DV6) needs a careful owner (turbo oil feed, DPF); the 1.8 TDCi (Ford Lynx) is tough but noisy. Rust on rear arches is the Mk2's weak spot. A very honest 8,000–14,000 PLN car.

Refined and well equipped, with two famous traps: the 1.0 EcoBoost's wet timing belt and degas hose (overheating) and the dry-clutch Powershift (DPS6) on 1.6 petrol/diesel automatics. The 1.6 Ti-VCT manual and 2.0 TDCi (wet-clutch Powershift is fine) are the sensible picks; the ST is a great hot hatch.