Top ten small family cars | Top 10 - Car News May 2012

1. VW Golf

The Golf is nothing short of a legend. It has been produced in six generations since its launch in 1974 and is the third biggest selling car of all time, with over 27 million Golfs finding homes worldwide. It's a bit austere but it's easily the best car in its class, and was named World Car of the Year in 2009.

Refined, classy, good to drive and built like a German Schloss, the Golf is not only the best small family hatch on the market, but one of the most complete and well-rounded cars on the road.

2. Ford Focus

When the Focus came out, it was nothing short of a revelation. In the late 90s, Ford was the company that sold the horrendous Escort and was still putting Anglia engines in its Fiestas, and somehow it'd managed to design one of the best cars in the sector.

Unfortunately, everybody in the known universe drives one and, consequently, the Focus is precisely as interesting as a BBC4 documentary on staplers. However, it's the only car in its class that holds a candle to the Golf, and that's no mean feat.

3. Audi A3

Two words: Posh Golf. While the A3 has none of the character of its cheaper, less exclusive brother, what it does have is class. It's expensive but that's sort of the point -- this is a small family hatch for small family hatch snobs and it's a tastefully designed, well-made car. If you need a small family car with a premium badge, then look no further.

4. Vauxhall Astra

Make no mistakes, it's nowhere near as good as a Focus but it looks great, rides well and offers all the practicality you'd expect from a car of this size.

5. Mazda 3

It's everybody's fourth favourite Japanese car company! Everybody always seems to forget about Mazda (maybe this is a subconscious effort caused by those mind-numbingly awful 'Zoom Zoom' ads) which is a pity, given that it makes pretty good motors.

The 3 is a great car and terrific value for money and, on top of this, it should last forever.

6. Kia Cee'd

Are you wearing beige slacks? If so, then this is the small family hatchback for you. It’s not quite as good as its European competitors, but it's a good all-rounder, reasonably priced and comes with a seven-year warranty. Plus, you'll be able to bore people to death for years to come by telling them how good Korean cars are nowadays.

So, while you'll benefit from a competitive seven-year warranty, you'll have no friends.

7. Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Don't believe what the ad men tell you -- Uma Thurman does not drive an Alfa Romeo Giulietta. However, we think that Ms. Thurman is missing out because the Giulietta is a good car, if not quite as good an all-rounder as the class leaders.

Decent engines, competitive pricing and typically dashing Italian styling make the Giulietta a convincing proposition.

8. BMW 1 Series

The 1 Series makes it onto this list by virtue of its superb engines and rear-drive balance. It's not the best family car in the world -- there's very little space in the cabin and the boot is tiny -- but it's the best car in its sector to drive and it has a classy, premium image which has won it many fans.

However, by driving a 1 Series, you're advertising to the world the fact that you can't afford a 3 Series. So, drive a 1 Series and what you're saying is, "Hey, I might be a snob, but at least I'm careful with the pennies"

9. VW Jetta

It's not all about hatchbacks y'know. VW has been peddling a booted Golf since the eighties (the Vento, the Bora) and they're strangely unpopular in the UK, with most buyers simply buying the Golf instead. This is a pity as the Jetta is a fine car which is comfortable, well priced, well equipped, practical and reliable. However, it's so boring that otherwise healthy individuals have fallen into narcoleptic trances just by looking at it.

10. Skoda Octavia

Q. How do you double the value of a Skoda? A. Fill up the tank.

Okay, so Skoda is no longer the butt of everyone's automotive jokes. In fact, it consistently ranks near the top of the JD Power Survey so it must be doing something right. The Octavia is a cheap, comfortable, safe and spacious family car and owners seem to love them. So stop it with the Skoda jokes. Oh alright, just one more:

Q. What do you call a Skoda with a sun roof? A. A skip.

Right, so there you have it, BuyYourCar's top ten small family cars. If you can think of any we've missed or want to query one of the car's we've picked, comment below. And if you've got any good Skoda jokes, we'd love to hear them.