Our car of the year

This year I have tested a wider variety of cars than in any other year and there wasn't one bad one among them.

The difficult part has been the number of categories that now exist, many overlapping, as manufacturers try to steer people into something that makes their car a bit different from those offered by their rivals.

You have city cars, cars, superminis, small, medium, family size, large, luxury, executive, sporty, off road and so on.

For my Car of the Year I have looked closely at what I would describe as family cars, the sort of vehicles that the average family would be looking at and comparing five seats and reasonable luggage area, good fuel consumption and performance, good to look at and fun to drive not often a combination that works.

To my mind, two cars stand out, clearly first is Honda's New Civic, starting price £10,670, and secondly the Ford Focus, entry price £10,350.

The New Civic is tremendous value. It has bags of leg and head room back and front, is good to look at and to drive, is full of innovations like the dash mounted gear change and is tremendous fun to drive.

Already a smash hit throughout Europe, especially since the recent introduction of the very sporty Type-R variation, this is a car that is going to go from strength to strength and collect many awards.

Both as a family and company car, the Civic is going to take some beating for some time to come.

This year has also seen accolades for other Hondas.

Its new supermini, the Jazz, was named Car of the Year in Japan and goes on sale in the UK next spring.

And the CR-V Sports Utility Vehicle, like the Civic made in Swindon, has been winning plaudits in all parts of the globe.

It has been a huge success in Europe and the Swindon plant is also exporting the car to Japan.

The Type-R version is acknowledged as being one of the quickest in its class on the road, and certainly best all-round performer.

Small/City car

Tops has to be the Smartcar (entry price ££5,575) which has the feel of a larger and can be parked just about anywhere.

With enough room behind its two seats for an average shop, very comfortable, futuristic in design inside and out, this is truly a car for the urban dweller.

The gearbox can be used either as an automatic or six-speed sequential change, and it is no slouch either, having a top speed of 85 and quite capable of motorway driving, although it has to be said one does feel a bit vulnerable while driving among the huge trucks.

Now that the right hand drive version, which I am testing next month, has been introduced, sales should rocket. The glass fibre panels can be interchanged if you so wish, allowing mix and match colour schemes of one1s choice. Very economical, it's a little cracker and the soft top version I tested earlier this year was sheer delight.

Supermini

Audi's innovative and very smart-looking A2 TD with an entry price of £13,970) shares top spot with BMW's new Mini (entry price at £10,155).

Both cars are outstanding, the latter I'll be writing about the Cooper version shortly certainly bears a marked resemblance to the original, but is much bigger and more comfortable and will be a smash hit everywhere.

The A2 is wildly innovative with bags of headroom and the TD version goes like a rocket while being hugely economical.

The Ford Ka (entry price £6,850) and Daihatsu Sirion (entry £7,370 follow.

Medium size

In this category the Audi A4 diesels, with a variety of engine sizes, ranging from 1.8T to the 2.5 TDI, as well as the incredibly quick sporty 3.0 litre petrol version are streets ahead of the opposition, offering superb value with diesel versions starting at £19,690.

These are closely followed by the very excellent Peugeot 406 HDI with an entry price of £14,260.

Family Car

Tops is the New Civic, followed by the Ford Focus and the Chrysler PT Cruiser, entry price £10,975. I loved both the automatic and manual versions of the Cruiser but I can see that they are a bit of an acquired taste. I also really liked the Suzuki Liana (entry price of £9,830) which looks good inside and out, has bags of room and drives very well.

Large car

The arrival of eagerly awaited four-wheel-drive baby Jaguar, the X-Type, met with immediate success. With a starting price of £21,820, this has to be one of the best value cars around. This is the category that has also seen the arrival of the exciting Audi A6 Avant TDI(entry £21,570) and the luxury MG ZT which has a starting price of £18,415 and is exceptional value.

Hot hatch

Honda's New Civic Type-R is in a class of its own (entry price £13,850) but the new MG ZR is also exceptional value with an entry price of £9,850. Vauxhall's New Corsa SRI is also a highly underrated performer with a starting price of £11,015.

Hot saloons

Only the Subaru WRX AWD at £21,815 really counted. Absolutely fantastic.

Sporty executive

Again Audi takes top honors with its New A8 and super sports saloon the S8 Quattro and Allroad TD Quattro Estate (entry prices £36,265, £49,640 and £29,180 repectively) leading the way. The Jaguar S Type and S-Type Sports follow. Entry, price £26,520 and £38,220.

Large MPVs

Vauxhall's New Zafira diesel, the Ti is a stunning example of innovation and practicality as well as being very quick. With an entry price for the range of £14,814, it represents exceptional value. Also impressive were the SEAT New Alhambra Tdi with an entry price of £18,815 and the Chrysler New Voyager CRD (the Voyager being the original MPV many moons ago) with and entry price of £19,510.

Small MPV

The Renault Scenic RX4, an exciting addition to the Scenic line-up. The entry level price for the range is £12,235 and £12,945 for the dTi. The Honda Stream, starting at £16,230 is a very close second. Both are excellent value.

Small sports car

The charming Peugeot 206cc Coupe/Cabriolet (£16,015) is unbeatable for top spot with the latest MGF (entry price £15,335) not far behind.

Sports coupe

The Alfa Romeo 147 (entry £12,995) was a wonderful driving experience. But so was the Audi TT (entry £23,870), the Peugeot 406 Coupe (entry £25,815), and the truly underrated Vauxhall Astra Coupe (entry £18,815).

Full size convertable

Volvo's C70 (entry 24,680 and Saab's 9-3 Aero (entry £21,115) were equally excellent.

Large off roader

Both the New Jeep Cherokee (entry £17,815) and the magnificent Grand Cherokee starting at £27,814, petrol or diesel, led the Land Rover Discovery (entry £27,115 petrol, 21,815 diesel).

Small off roader

The Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin (entry £12,315) led easily, with the Land Rover Freelander (entry £15,815) and the Suzuki Grand Vitara (entry £10,815) trailing.

Estate car

The Rover 75 Tourer (entry £17,265 petrol, £18,365 diesel) was of a quality of product and handling that was most impressive, pipping Audis, Mercedes and BMW as particularly good value.

Concept

Vauxhall's Sigmus is the car to look out for in a couple of year's time as a replacement for the Vectra perhaps.

Supercar

The Maserati 320 Coupe (priced at £60,770) followed by Jaguar's XK8 (entry £48,520).

Best newcomers

The Jaguar X-Type and BMW's new Mini both fantastic!