7. Honda Civic
Best for: Big car sophistication wrapped in a hatchback shell
Our choice: Honda Civic 1.0 EX
The Mk10 Civic’s looks were certainly radical, but that didn’t stop it from being a practical hatchback with big car sophistication on the road and a not insignificant dose of sportiness to its drive.
It has proven very tough, too, and even mid-level versions were well kitted out, with the EX model going so far as to include adaptive dampers.