A DECADE ago, the thought of spending over £30,000 on a SEAT estate car would probably have seen you laughed out of the pub.

But now that pipedream has become a reality with the new Leon X-PERIENCE, a four wheel drive version of their smart ST, a car that is roomy, practical, a good drive and reasonably cheap to run.

So adding four-wheel drive makes it an even better proposition for those living in parts of the country that are a bit wet/muddy/slippy/slidey in winter. As well as offering a bit more on-road reassurance for the rest of the year.

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IF you saw the engine block of Ford’s 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine stripped of its bits, it would sit fair and square on a piece of A4 paper.

Were you so minded, you could take it on holiday with you as it would fit in the overhead locker on a plane.

Motoring in miniature then, but not in reality when it comes to its power output.

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TAKE a look at the picture above, consider the overall size and dimensions of the car and then take a wild stab at the engine size. Two litre diesel? 1.6 diesel?

Wrong. Under the bonnet of one of the neatest machines to arrive on the drive in recent months is just 1198cc of propulsion. And despite the fact its also mated to an automatic gearbox, it works. And works well.

The motor industry is having a pretty good stab at proving size isn’t everything, and Peugeot’s 308 SW – sampled here in its new GT Line trim – makes a strong statement before the house as a car that’s got the lot.

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CONSIDER the fact that Audi’s new RS3 Sportback has an engine that is barely longer than your average loaf of bread and you might be left thinking that it’s a slice short of a full wholemeal.

But that’s about as far wide of the truth as a claim that the mice are jumping on the traps because mother-in-law is coming to stay.

The clue’s in the title. RS. Two letters that sum up the importance to Audi of having products that are the pinnacle of their product range.

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IN true Blue Peter style, Vauxhall could have been saying ‘here’s one we made earlier’ when the wraps came off the all new VIVA at the UK launch.

For alongside it was the 1960s HA Viva, a car with the same value for money mindset that got many of us on the road all those years ago.

Thankfully the quality has improved immeasurably, and the revival of the name means Vauxhall now has a trio of offerings in the small car sector, the VIVA lining up alongside the Corsa and Adam.

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IT might have a name that makes it sound like a salad ingredient, but in reality there’s a bit more meat to the Suzuki Celerio.

For starters there’s its new Dualjet engine that makes it the cleanest and most fuel efficient new car on sale under 10 grand. A lot under that figure in fact, as you can buy one for just £8499.

And for that you get a compact car that has a decent amount of interior space, making it a worthwhile option for round town family usage and beyond.

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IS there really any car that can be the master of all normal roadgoing situations?

One that can close the gap between performance and caring for the environment at the same time? Be fun to drive but leave you with a big smug grin on your chops because you’re also doing your bit for the general wellbeing of the planet?

Here’s one. It might look like any other Volkswagen Golf at a quick glance, and it’s as smart inside as any Golf has been in the past. Only it’s a bit different when you lift the bonnet.

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IT’S been one of Britain’s best selling cars for yonks and quite how it’s managed it is beyond me.

Cutesy looks are fine but when the engine under the bonnet is wheezier than a fat lad on a school cross country run you begin to question the wisdom of those buying it.

But now, thankfully, there’s been a ‘hallelujah’ moment at Vauxhall and the Corsa now has a small engine that does the business.

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