Toyota’s Yaris has always been a decent, if not great, alternative for those in the market for Ford Fiesta-sized car. Majoring in bulletproof reliability, a spacious well-built cabin and strong range of economical engines, the small Yaris has some of the lowest running costs in its class. Buy new and the Toyota will also doggedly hold its value. In 2010 the whole Yaris range was spruced up with the addition of an all-new 1.33-litre engine that offers stop start in congested traffic.

One of the most appealing things about the Fiesta is that it combines small-car fun with big-car sophistication, and that’s true of the way it rides. Steer clear of the larger optional alloy wheels and the Fiesta deals brilliantly with the sort of nasty sharp-edged bumps and potholes that are all too common on British backroads.

The Mazda Demio is a supermini manufactured and marketed globally by Mazda since 1996, currently in its fourth generation. The Demio is marketed prominently as the Mazda2 and under previous nameplates including Mazda 121, Mazda Metro and Ford Festiva Mini Wagon.

The Swift has always had style by the bucket load, and the all-new model is no exception. With expertly designed muscular curves and interior and exterior personalisation options to enhance every journey, all eyes will be on you. Take a look at the all-new Swift in action.

The five-door Micra is built on Nissan’s V-platform which also underpins the Versa Note hatchback. At a length of 150.7-inches (3,827 mm), it’s 13 inches shorter than the Versa Note, three inches shorter than the Toyota Yaris, six inches longer than the Chevrolet Spark and two inches longer than the Mitsubishi Mirage.

Ford's compact Focus is one of the best-selling cars in the world, sold on nearly every continent in almost the same form these days thanks to the company's globalization efforts. For us in North America, that means the same slick handling, high build quality and excellent interior materials that have always been on the European-market model now appear on our domestic one, as well. (This wasn't the case in the U.S. Focus' early generations.)

This is the third-generation Toyota Yaris hatchback, a five-door supermini competing in one of the most fiercely-fought segments against the likes of the ever-popular Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and VW Polo, as well as the Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20, Kia Rio and Nissan Micra.

The Nissan Note has been a popular family car since its introduction in 2006 but this new model with low CO2 emissions and more safety systems could be an even bigger hit with the UK car-buying public. Manufactured in Sunderland, this five-door hatchback is based on Nissan's small car, the Micra. And though the firm claims it moves away from the traditional mini MPV sector and is aimed squarely at the Ford Fiesta it retains the previous car’s impressive levels of practicality.

There’s not much power or dynamic capability, and while improvements to the sound-deadening make the interior more refined at speed, it’s still some way short of the city car class leaders for motorway driving. Practicality also suffers thanks to the Aygo’s super-compact dimensions.

Looking at the exterior of Nissan Serena Facelift, maybe this is one of the best looking Serena compare to the previous generation. Indeed its not as good looking as the Biante, but it looks more mature and futuristic compare to the ordinary looks of the previous version.