Hands up if you love supercars. Yep, that’s plenty of hands. You probably wouldn’t be reading this magazine if you didn’t enjoy reading about the latest Aston Martin, Ferrari or Lamborghini. Truth is, as appealing and as amazing as those cars are, they make up a very small percentage of the car market. So, hands up if you love small econoboxes. Yeah, that’s what I thought – not quite as many hands. Don’t let perceptions get in the way, however. We are living in a golden age for small and light cars, one in which there is actual driving pleasure. We just have to be willing to search for it. Take the Ford Fiesta ST, for example. It may only be a lightweight, but its cracking engine, sorted suspension and excellent interior all add up to an awesome drive experience which is virtually unrivalled in its segment. And what about the Renault Clio GT? Again, a quirky little car (though thankfully not too French) that is completely chuckable, feels nice inside and looks awesome. So, those are pretty easy examples to cobble together. We all know their merits and have read about their driving prowess. But what about some elements which make or break a car? Peugeot, for example has a three cylinder version of its 2008, which, apart from the sound the engine makes, is a rubbish car. But that engine with a turbocharger bolted on has transformed the 308 from a small car that could have been as boring as a toaster, into something that feels fun every time you step in. It sounds great, has plenty of torque and the grip for a family car is insane. Again, the Volkswagen Up is another car where the engine defines the whole experience. It’s as slow as a wet week, and kind of looks like someone has duct-taped a clown’s mouth, but because it sounds so willing and the gearshift is so slick, it makes driving a manual a pleasure instead of a chore. Throw in a tech-filled interior and the Up is totally enjoyable. Going completely against the grain, too, is the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Yes, it’s as good looking as a baboon’s posterior and the social message it projects is that you have given up all hope on your sex life, but it’s surprisingly nice to drive. A front-drive BMW shouldn’t work, yet somehow it manages to combine grippy handling, a likeable engine and acres of space to turn a family car into, well, a somewhat less embarrassing family car. Oh, and the stereo is awesome. No, I haven’t completely lost my mind. The 458 Speciale is still the best car I’ve driven, so I trust that balances out the thoughts above. But when you drill down into the details, every car has its merits. Okay, not every car, but you know what I’m getting at – we just have to put aside prejudices to find those endearing qualities. Whether it’s the steering, the seats, the engine, the handling or even the interior, there are some real gems out there. Now, if only one car could combine them all...
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