Best new cars for 2008

The New Year always brings a frisson of hope, faith and generally bold disposition, so before they´re all dashed to nothing on the shores of despair we´re giving you a rundown of ten exciting cars to look out for in 2008.

And while there´ll be the occasional sports car in there, we´re mindful of that New Year pinch, so our rundown will include a car from a segment to please very wallet. The best small cars, MPVs, estates, family cars - the lot.

Some of these cars will be out in the near future, while others will hit the roads towards the end of the year, giving you plenty of time to save up, or try to justify ditching your 11-year-old Saxo for a New Evo X.

From a financial point of view it makes more sense to wait until a few months after a car is launched, but the heart often rules the head in matters automotive.

Budget cars

• Hyundai i10

Hyundai´s new alphanumerical naming system brings forth the i10 - the Korean manufacturer´s entry-level model. The i30 took the industry by surprise with its quality, so expect a similarly impressive effort here. Impressive fuel economy figures, five-year warranty and low list prices will make the i10 an attractive package. Due out: March. Review: Hyundai i10 review

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Alternatives:

• Ford Ka

Perennial winner will be based on the new Fiat 500 platform and should be larger than the outgoing and cheap. Due out: Winter

Supermini

• Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 was voted Car of the Year for 2008 before it was even released, so who are we to argue. It´s hard to think of a car that has attracted so much buzz despite being driven by a mere dozen motoring journalists. Whether you´ve driven it or not, any fool can tell the 500 is cool. There´ll probably be more sensible choices, but who wants to be sensible when it comes to buying a car? Due out: Now. Review: Fiat 500 review

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Alternatives:

• Ford Fiesta: New Fiesta is larger and more aggressive than the outgoing model, with ´Kinetic´ design philosophy. Ford can still make little cars like this in its sleep, so it´ll be a guaranteed winner for some time yet. Due out: Winter

• Smart Fortwo: What´s small, green and a lot more expensive than you think? Inevitably it´s the Smart ForTwo, now with hybrid elements and road tax- and congestion charge-dodging emissions. Due out: Autumn

Hatchback

• Peugeot 308

Available to buy now, the 308 is now available in three- and five-door ranges, with a sportswagon added this spring and a cabriolet later in the year. The three-door version is powered by a great 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol model and has an improved ride over the five- door and has decent interior space. Due out: Now. Review: Peugoet 308 review

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Alternatives:

• Kia Pro-cee´d: Stupid name, serious car. A three-door cee´d with seven-year warranty. Due out: February. Review: Kia Pro-cee'd review

• Ford Focus: Restyled for 2008, and still the class leader. Due out: March. Review: Ford Focus review

• Mazda3: Three-door with Ford DNA at a lower price. Due out: April

Family car

• Mazda6

The Mazda6 is a perennial high achiever in the family saloon category, as evinced by the outgoing model´s repeated wins in Used Car categories. This new version is almost completely restyled, with a new engine line-up, retuned suspension and larger dimensions. Hushed suspension and settled ride should make for a great cruiser. Due out: Now. Review: Mazda6 review

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Alternatives:

• Citroen C5: Impressively restyled, alternative to floaty ride of old model, saloon option. Due out: February. Review: Citroen C5 review

• Vauxhall Insignia: Vectra replacement will be larger and focussed on comfort. Expect sharper styling. Due out: Autumn

Estate

• Mercedes C-Class Estate

Mercedes will look to build on the critical reception the saloon garnered, which was widely held to win back the ´premium´ crown from the 3- Series. The new C-Class Estate will be bigger than the outgoing model and rivals, while engines will be uprated for power and emissions. Expect high quality. Due out: Summer

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Alternatives:

• Laguna Sport Tourer: Big boot space and practicality, wide engine range and good kit levels. Due out: Now. Review: Laguna Sport Tourer review

• Skoda Fabia Estate: A big package for a small price, the Fabia is a smart choice if you need a cheap estate. Due out: Summer

MPV

• Chrysler Grand Voyager

All-new and more massive than ever, the Grand Voyager will seat seven, with all rear seats splitfolding to provide massive load space and sliding rear doors

New engines, gadgets aplenty and improved ride quality should be enough to overlook the steep asking price and sluggish performance. Due out: February

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Alternatives:

• Peugeot 807: New 2.2 turbodiesel for the seven-seater 807 - always a strong all-round package. Due out: Now

• Mazda5: Now available with a 2008 styling tweak and electric sliding doors. Due out: Now

SUVs

• Volkswagen Tiguan

The German manufacturer´s baby SUV is expected to be a typically VW affair, with tried-and-tested elements cherry-picked from across the Volkswagen family. Expect competence, rather than thrills. Due out: February

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Alternatives:

• Ford Kuga: Ford of Europe´s on a roll, so expect big things of the Kuga from about £20K. Due out: May. Review: Ford Kuga review

• BMW X6: Weird coupe/SUV thing is the vanguard of a new sector. Audi, Renault and Volvo will follow with their own offerings. Due out: Summer

Coupe

• Volkswagen Passat CC

Confusingly standing for Comfort Coupe, the CC is VW´s attempt to take on Mercedes CLS, which could turn out to be a massive error of hubris (Phaeton, anyone?). Nevertheless, the CC will come in at less than half the price of the CLS, and has a sporty and smart stance. Expect a similarly sporty engine line-up. Due out: July

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Alternatives:

• Mercedes CLC: A smaller coupe from Merc based on the C-Class platform, expected to retail at £20K. Review: Mercedes CLC review

• Renault Laguna Coupe: Proving that Renault aren´t the boring bastards the saloon would suggest, the Coupe looks smart and should have the handling to match. Due out: Autumn

Executives

• Audi A4

All-new model from Audi, who will be looking to take the recent successes into a new stratosphere. The A4 is likely to have BMW and Mercedes watching nervously, promising to be larger, more refined, faster, cleaner and more luxurious. There are more diesl options, three gearboxes and starting prices from £22.5K. Due out: February. Review: Audi A4 review

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Alternatives:

• Infiniti G35: Nissan´s up-market variants hit the UK late in 2008. It looks good, it´ll be classy inside, and it´ll ride well. Due out: Winter

• BMW 3-Series: An update rather than a new model, with styling upgrades outside and in, new engines and EfficientDynamics. Due out: Winter

Luxury

• Jaguar XF

What else? The XF divides opinion with regard to its looks, but the industry is blown away that struggling Jaguar has managed to produce such a quality car, and just in time.

Ditching the retro shtick, the XF is an unashamed sports saloon with the handling characteristics and power to match, twinned with an quality interior that will get it right in the faces of the E-Class, 5-Series and A6. Due out: March. Review: Jaguar XF review

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Alternatives:

• Mercedes E-Class: Thought by some to to be the best car in the world, the E-Class is due a restyle and out late this year, with a range of new engines to boot. Due out: Winter

Performance

• Subaru Impreza WRX STi

304bhp 2.5-litre lump hits 62mph in 4.9 seconds, twinned with a four-wheel drive to stop you oversteering into a wall. Dubious styling aside, the WRX STi features good kit levels and competitive pricing for aging boy racers everywhere. Due out: March

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Alternatives:

• Mitubishi Lancer Evo X: The Evo X´s styling has the edge on the Impreza, with a huge 280bhp, 311lb-ft 2-litre turbo and mountains of driver dynamics. Due out: Summer

• Nissan GT-R: Finally a Nissan sports car makes it back to the UK. Expect massive power and speed, bold looks and a top whack cash. Due out: Winter

Cabriolets

• BMW 1-Series Convertible

Essentially a coupe with a cloth roof that opens electronically in 20 seconds at up to 25mph. There´s a wide range of engines, smart aircon system that recognises when the roof´s down and EfficientDynamics programmes to cut consumption and emissions. Due out: Spring. Review: BMW 1-Series Convertible review

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Alternatives:

• Chrysler Sebring Cabriolet: A larger CC with a choice of soft and hard folding roofs. Due out: February

• Audi A3 Convertible: 1-Series rival with cloth roof, smaller price tag and uprated engines. Due out: Spring. Review: Audi A3 Cabriolet review

Top ten small cars

Increasingly the supermini is the choice of car-buyers in an age where the economical, practical, easy to park and ´green´ small car is king.

A-Z of superminis

Prices, pictures and reviews of all the small cars on the road in the UK.

A-Z of executive models

Prices, details, pictures and reviews of all executive cars on the UK's roads.

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