| Country | Name | Ford S-Max | Opel/Vauxhall Corsa | Citroen C4 Picasso | Skoda Roomster | Honda Civic | Peugeot 207 | Volvo C30 | Fiat Grande Punto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria |
Gerhard Nöhrer | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Herbert Völker | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
 Belgium |
Jos Gryseels | 8 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Etienne Visart de Bocarmé | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
 Czech Republic |
Tomas Hyan | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
 Denmark |
Peter Aaboe | 4 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Finland |
Martti | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
 France |
Christophe Bonnaud | 6 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Philippe Gégout | 5 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Jean-Pierre Gosselin | 5 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Jean-Claude Letrou | 6 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Francis Monsenergue | 4 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |
| Alain-Gabriel Verdevoye | 2 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
 Germany |
Thomas Imhof | 6 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Frank Janssen | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | |
| Georg Kacher | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Jürgen Lewandowski | 7 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| Wolfgang Peters | 7 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| Jörg Reichle | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
 Greece |
Efstratios Chatzipanagiotou | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
 Hungary |
Miklos Gajdan | 6 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Péter Surányi | 4 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
 Ireland |
Michael McAleer | 3 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Italy |
Daniele | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Carlo Cavicchi | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Diego Eramo | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | |
| Alessandro Ferrari | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Massimo Nascimbene | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
| Claudio Nobis | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | |
 Netherlands |
Jeroen Jongeneel | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Ton Roks | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| Jos Vroomans | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
 Norway |
Rune Korsvoll | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
 Poland |
Wojciech Sierpowski | 1 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Maciek Ziemek | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
 Portugal |
Joaquim Oliveira | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| José Vieira | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | |
 Russia |
Vadim Ovsiankin | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Mikhail I. Podorozhansky | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
 Slovenia |
Tomaz Porekar | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
 Spain |
Eduardo Azpilicueta | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Manuel Domenech | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Pedro Figueruelo | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| Alberto Mallo | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | |
| Sergio Piccione | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| María Ángeles Pujol | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | |
 Sweden |
Lasse Holmström | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Hakan Matson | 0 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Marianne Sterner | 1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
 Switzerland |
Michel Busset | 5 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Urs Bärtschi | 6 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
 Turkey |
Ufuk Sandik | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
 U. Kingdom |
Steve Cropley | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Andrew English | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Paul Horrell | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Ray Hutton | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| John Simister | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| David Williams | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 235 | 233 | 222 | 189 | 148 | 144 | 141 | 138 |
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën Picasso: This is probably the most advanced MPV execution on the market. Homogeneous, extremely light thanks to the exceptional amount of glazing, spacious, welcoming and cosy with its silky-soft seats and clear colours (if you choose them), the new Picasso has a marvellously warm feel to it – in contrast to the Opel Zafira or Mazda 5. It fulfils every family’s dream of a car in which journeys are enjoyable and don’t leave you exhausted. The comfortable suspension also provides a high level of safety driving – provided that the unnecessarily big 17-inch wheels are left out. The multimode transmission (in some versions) contributes to the general smoothness. A real Citroën, even if the Renault Espace seems to have heavily influenced the dashboard design. Its only real drawback is the high price.
Peugeot 207: Overall a success, without adding anything significant to the 206. The latest small Peugeot has heavier, thicker lines without gaining in roominess. The finish is better, but the car is less comfortable than the Renault Clio, and this aspect is frankly dire with the idiotic fashion for low profil tyres.
Skoda Roomster: For its first real “ludospace”, the Volkswagen group has designed a highly original, spacious, practical, functional vehicle which is fun to drive, if you ignore the entry-level engine versions. All this plus a higher manufacturing quality than its direct competitors. On the other hand, certain details give it a slightly strange look, like the falsely curved front side windows; the TDI engines are still noisy and the suspension is hard. A less austere interior would be welcome.
Ford S-Max: The American group claims to have invented a new automobile concept, combining the roominess of a MPV, the thoroughbred lines of a station wagon and the zip of a sports saloon. At first glance, the contract seems to be fulfilled. But, with use, the vehicle turns out not to have been thoroughly perfected. The diesel engines are extremely slack at low speeds, making it necessary to slip the clutch a great deal so as not to stall. The turning radius is excessive. A solid suspension system makes for a bumpy ride. As a result, driving in town is not particularly enjoyable. The rather flashy finish seems mediocre.
Honda Civic: There’s no question that this really stands out in the street, and its bold silhouette makes a complete break with its rather ordinary predecessors. But its showy lines won’t be to everyone’s taste, and may rapidly become dated. The same original touch can be seen with the interior, but the ergonomics are disconcerting and irritating. You can have a lot of fun at the wheel, but your spine will know about it afterwards. So all in all, it’s a very uneven mix, with bags of character maybe, but with a certain illogical side to it. The hybrid version, with a more conventional body, makes for an easy drive but in the end, with its relatively high fuel consumption, fails to convince.
Fiat Punto: This is nice-looking, joyful and lively: in short, a great deal better than the previous model. Its attractively low price is matched by its capacity. However, although it has made progress, the manufacturing quality remains somewhat second-rate.
Opel Corsa: Marketing specialists and designers have told us in great detail – as is the fashion – how their latest model is active, sporty, youthful, and so on – but in vain. In the end, it is simply a good little car, nice enough to drive, but nothing really exceptional. A cousin of the Fiat Punto, which provided its basis. Unfortunately, it suffers from one major defect: unacceptably low interior trim – at least, in a fair few units – using low quality plastic, fitted in a hurry, which comes off in the hand. Not very reassuring. Cost-cutting has gone too far here.
Volvo C30: After Audi and BMW, Volvo is ogling the lucrative market for snobbish, expensive cars designed for smart big city neighbourhoods. But so as not to spend too much money, the Swedish firm has taken the S40-V50, removed two doors and shortened the back. The result has a pleasant line reminiscent of the old 480. But roominess, storage space and comfort are limited.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Peugeot
It´s the best balanced car among the three 07 finalists in its category. Additionally, the 1.6 THP is one of the most brilliant engines of recent years, a small petrol plant that can compete at low revs with the full-of-torque turbodiesels. And at high revs, it´s a pleasure.
Citroën C4 Picasso
A masterpiece in design with very practical, audacious and trendy solutions. Citroën has taken care of each matter, and the car is really comfortable to both driver and passengers.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
Full of features, but could be improved in general comfort. The small 1.25 Diesel engine lacks response under 1.900 revs, which is unpleasant especially in city traffic.
Fiat Grande Punto
As sporty as you can wait from Fiat, but has the same problem as the Corsa with the small Diesel engine.
Ford S-Max
The first MPV that you can drive as fast as a good sedan. Excellent handling, very pleasant steering and powerful 2.5 engine.
Honda Civic
Amazing look, flexible interior and very good Diesel engine, but suspension and 1.8 petrol engine are not at the same level. Hybrid version is not enough to compensate.
Skoda Roomster
Nice exercise of design and engineering to confirm the philosophy of a brand that is stronger each day.
Volvo C30
Thanks to Volvo for offer a new coupe so appealing. But handling and ride must be improved.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Honda Civic – The more I drive the new Civic the more I appreciate the superior handling of this car, that has the roominess and the functionality of a sedan but also the spirit and the fresh and non convenctional design of a coupé. I find that, with the new generation, the Civic is returned to be a datum-point for the GTI-family cars.
Volvo C30 – For me this car has been one of the most pleasant surprises of this year. The C30 is really something new for the Volvo standards, a car with a young and smart aspect, an up-to-date interior, a splendid steeringand a good range of engines. I find that the C30 will be a real alternative to the most succesfull sport and trendy compact cars.
Corsa, Grande Punto, 207 – Three cars that show how must be today a vehicle for everyone and every day. They are large (sometimes too much) and safe. The Grande Punto has a good handling and a very interesting design, the Corsa has a fresh aspect and the electronic stability control standard, the 207 is more comfortable and is superior in the engines range. Actually none of these three cars emerges clearly on the other competitors.
Ford S-Max – A great chassis on a large vehicle for the whole family, that means excellent handling and a car funny to drive with the functionality of a one-box-car and the possibility of two supplementary seats.
Skoda Roomster – A good idea: people who seat in the back don’t have the sensation of travelling in second class. And the driver doesn’t feel as driving a commercial vehicle. Good prices and inside finishing not too cheap.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volvo C30
Good: Great to look at and to drive. The major controls trade absolute precision for a long-legged, rangy feel, but the C30 can still be hustled along like the best sports coupés. Looks terrific and, unlike German rivals, you never feel you’re in the cheap model. Interior is well designed, unmistakably Volvo, and accommodates four with ease in safety and style.
Bad: Rear parcel shelf cover redefines the word crap and replaces the Dodge Viper hood as the worst thing on any car, ever. Steering not as good as the BMW 1-series, ride is harsh on poor surfaces.
Honda Civic
Good: A stylish and great-looking Honda, not something you see every day. Wonderful spaceship-style dashboard. Drives well, offers great handling and the engines are jewel-like, race-bred screamers with respectable economy. Interior seats fold with ingenious origami mechanism to the delight of cyclists and dog owners. Beautifully made, with historically good residuals and great reliability.
Bad: Thanks to the change to technically inferior twist-beam suspension, the ride is harsh and road noise is intrusive. The engines can also be noisy and the rear seats are uncomfortable.
Ford S-Max
Good: The House of Henry’s bright, light and pointy multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Stand-out steering, front-seat comfort and gearboxes. Great to drive and handles better than any MPV has a right to.
Bad: The interior’s a bit bling, the handbrake’s shaped like a aircraft flap control and virtually impossible to let off, the ride is firm to harsh, the rear seats are for small children only and the big petrol engine will drink fuel. It’s still an MPV.
Vauxhall Corsa
Good: Exactly what does this car share with its sister car, the Fiat Grande Punto? The Corsa feels taut, well made, and smart; the Fiat doesn’t. Classy, well-made cabin, with good storage space, and high quality trim. Dynamically very good, with excellent handling and a firm, but supple ride. Engines are powerful and economical.
Bad: Brakes are grabby, the accommodation is cramped in the rear, especially in the three-door. Bad screen reflections with some of the trim options and the thick windscreen pillars restrict vision.
Skoda Roomster
Good: Amazing shape, with a bright, high-roofed cabin, which prioritises luggage over seats. Terrific compromise of ride and handling. Engines punch above their weight in performance and under it in economy. Good value.
Bad: Not as well built as we expect from the Volkswagen group product. When the middle seat is folded there is no bulkhead, so the Tom-and-Jerry anvil can slide through from the back and wreak havoc. Only its designer’s Mum could like those looks.
Peugeot 207
Good: At last, a small Peugeot that accommodates drivers with big feet – Hurrah! A bigger car and bigger inside, too. Still no place for your clutch foot though – what does Peugeot do with all that space, a Priest hole? Good looking, with a fine ride and handling balance (but not as good as the Corsa). Fine range of diesel engines.
Bad: Old, wheezy petrol engines at the moment (PSA/BMW replacements arrive soon). Ride not quite as good as the Corsa. Some kick back in the steering column over bumps. Pricey.
Citroën C4 Picasso
Good: Stylish cabin, with lots of lavish new features. Plush ride with comfortable seats. One-touch seat folding is fast and easy. Powerful and refined turbodiesels. Panoramic windscreen makes cabin light and pleasant.
Bad: Ultra-confusing dashboard, myriad warning lights resemble a field-of-vision test. Only just a seven-seater. Parking space indication feature a poor substitute for self-parking system in VW Touran. Wallows at speed on bumpy roads. Uneven floor restricts practicality. Semi-automatic gearbox better, but not there yet.
Fiat Grande Punto
Good: Looks good and accommodation is spacious for the class, with wide range of seat adjustment. Steering and handling are good when driving with your pants on fire, less so at the speed limit. Fantastic brakes. Good choice of powerful and economical diesel and petrol engines.
Bad: Noisy and rattly. Ride vastly inferior to the Corsa. Interior trim is horribly cheap and the choice of ghastly materials appears to have come from a Fifties Sci-Fi film. Thick windscreen pillars. Iffy build quality – the footwells were filled with blanking plugs after ten miles, is this supposed to happen?
My judgement is based on following grounds:
We are at the end of a season in which we saw a very long list of candidates to the title of Car of The Year 2007. While I became enthusiastic over several of them, I didn’t fall in love with anyone.
It’s therefore with difficulty that I did my choice. First place to Honda Civic, for the effort done by the Japanese constructor. They offer a car in the van of technology, with a great engine and a fantastic habitableness without increasing its external dimension. In years in which streets are overcrowded to a real emergency, it seems to me a commendable effort. It’s difficult to find substantial differences among Peugeot 207, Opel Corsa and Fiat Grande Punto. The Fiat has a better look, but the 207 gets –slightly- the upper hand on road. At the same time, the Opel Corsa shows intelligent solutions… All in all, they seem to me to be very well done cars. Only personal preferences lead to a choice.
As far as the two MPVs are concerned, their merits are equal. The Citroën C4 Picasso shows fantasy and impresses more. The Ford S-Max is very pragmatic and pleasant to use.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Picasso
Citroën has invented a very well achieved family car concept. Today, this is the perfect synthesis of all the 7-seat MPVs. Unfortunately, it’s not a compact MPV any more and its middle range engines are not powerful enough to drive this heavy vehicle.
Ford S-Max
With the same size and prices as the C4 Picasso, the S-Max affords less innovation considering its classical dashboard. Therefore, it offers a more personal and pleasant holding, but to the loss of comfort.
Skoda Roomster
Skoda has created a new market category. Though its price is close to the leisure MPVs -as Berlingo, Kangoo-, the Roomster offers a lot for habitability. Pity its comfort is not in step with its small family car concept.
Volvo C30
Very good holding, which is not surprising considering that the base is well known (Ford, Mazda). Very good marketing target and well achieved design. Volvo has now got to learn how to sell this completely new kind of vehicle…
Peugeot 207
The car has preserved the traditional values of the brand and the finishing touches are really good compared to the predecessor. The dynamic performances are less exciting than the 206’s, contrary to the habitability…
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel Corsa
This year we are faced with a very tough choice, since the finalist lot is made by cars substantially different one from the other, all deserving the podium, but difficult to compare.
I’ve selected the Opel Corsa because I believe that the “car of the year” should be, first and foremost, a car affordable by the majority of the European buyers. I believe that this philosophy underlies the work made by Opel in developing the Corsa: a bold attempt to move away from its traditionally conservative approach, while responding to the consumer’s needs. The Corsa is a proper response to the challenge posed by Fiat in 2005 with the launching of Grande Punto.
More could be done by widening the engine choice, and by extending to the rest of Europe the installation of ESP as a standard feature for the car.
Ford S-Max
The presence of a minivan among the finalists is a sign of the times, and of the new trends expressed by today’s automobiles. The segment is lively and crowded, but Ford deserves particular credit for having found a great balance between dimensions, functions and price. The result is a tremendous riding experience, even more surprising giving the typology of the vehicle. Great is also the choice of TDCI diesels, both for the 1.8 and the 2 liters.
Peugeot 207
One more competitive model in the B segment, endowed with a great variety of trims and engines, though some of the latter not very adequate to the increased weight of the vehicle. The desire to please everyone has pushed Peugeot to conceive twin personalities, one more sedate, one more aggressive for the same car.
The weight of the success of its predecessor 206 has prevented Peugeot from developing a truly innovative design, while the exterior growth of the body was not matched by a corresponding increase in comfort of the interiors. We were all expecting a bolder proposal by the French brand. What we got instead is a perfectly comparable model with his peers within the segment, which is not enough to make the difference.
Honda Civic
If it wasn’t for the limited availability, this “niche” little queen, last of 7 generations of great Civics, would be deserving of the first spot. A captivating design, meant to lure true connoisseurs who are not discouraged by the first look. Great use of technology, smart use of the space, brilliant performance: this is the pedigree for a car of distinction.
Volvo C 30
One more car worthy of notice, one that could revolutionize our list by captivating the buyers in 2007. Hats off to Volvo, for having shown once again its ability to surprise and innovate. Excellent design, with strong features in the rear portion of the car. The Volvo C 30 is a classy compact, and has a real chance of becoming one of the trendiest cars, both for the look and for the content. Comfort and performance are well balanced, with the 2.4 turbo diesel engine deserving special praise. A great package overall, with a great personality.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Ford S-Max. No family-mover ever moved like this. On the road it is one of the most entertaining of the shortlisted contenders with impeccable manners, willing diesel and petrol engines, terrific, responsive steering and light, positive gearboxes. Throw in rakish lines and a smart and spacious interior and you have a natural winner. Others have gone down the racy people-carrier route before but none as successfully. This fun seven-seater has great roominess and the seats fold away simply and neatly. Storage is impressive too as is the general build quality. It’s the kind of good solid motoring fun families have been waiting for.
Vauxhall Corsa. More fun to drive than once considered decent for a Corsa, thanks to a good chassis, steering and a great ride. Interior is light years ahead of its predecessor, cleverly designed and neatly executed. Build quality is good too – if only it were a little more involving to drive.
Skoda Roomster. Highly capable, spacious, good-to-drive family car … if you can get over its ugly-duckling looks. Cleverly combines MPV versatility with car-like road manners and gutsy performance.
Honda Civic. It’s the futuristic lines of this car that get you first – both inside and out. But it’s good to drive too with a great diesel engine and rewarding handling. Awkard rear window hampers vision and the ride can be over-firm.
Citroën C4 Picasso. So good and with so many clever innovations it’s another car growing families will love. They’ll like the big windscreen, easy-folding seats internal space, gadgetry and style – but it’s still not as good to drive as the S-Max.
Peugeot 207. Attractive spacious hatchback that – especially in 150bhp petrol engine form – is mighty fun to drive with light controls, a generally pliant ride and decent boot. Slightly let down by over-light steering and dislike of unruly road surfaces.
Volvo C30. Quiet, relaxing car with good build quality, good views out and competent ride and handling. They need to improve the flappy tarpaulin-like boot cover though.
Fiat Grande Punto. Good-looking package outside with plenty of space and gutsy engines and good steering, let down by cheap-feeling interior.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Unfortunately there is nothing extraordinarily innovative this year, despite an excellent range of cars. Therefore it seems fair to reward Citroën for setting new parameters in terms of on-board comfort: the C4 Picasso offers many intelligent and practical solutions, original and stylish, making the interior an extremely pleasant place to travel in, with or without a family. With good performance and handling.
Considering its dimensions, the Ford S-Max impresses for its agility and driving precision, unthinkable in its category until a short time ago, thanks to a set up similar to that of a sports car, with no sacrifices in terms of comfort.
With regard to the three competitive cars in segment B, my preference by a short head goes to the Peugeot 207 over the Fiat Grande Punto and the OpelCorsa. The French vehicle tips the balance in its favour thanks to a superior driving feeling originating from a more direct and precise steering system and a flatter and more controlled set up. A characteristic also found in the three-door Sport versions of the Corsa, but with a level of absorption on uneven ground which is decidedly less effective.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Is it the inevitable consequence of standardisation (i.e use of common platforms/architectures), or maybe the supremacy of the marketing on the passion? I like several things of all the cars but nothing to fall in love for. The result of the first selection too shows how wide and “flat” the parterre is and one more time final judgement is consequence of a fine balance between value for money, innovation, originality, efficiency, roadholding and a lot of personal taste.
Choosing Civic I would also express my tribute to the Honda tradition in this segment, the attention for technology, often the design braveness, always the sportiness; all features we find in the new model, plus the best diesel engine in his row.
Regarding the three “B segment” I have to admit all are properly designed and executed, but in comparison with the standard (set by last year winner) I felt no major improvement; a little advantage for the 207 because the engines and the whole refinement.
S-Max is roomy and handles well; an intelligent alternative to the classic sedan, a kind of Galaxy Coupe and a interesting evolution of the C-Max concept.
Picasso: everything works very well, but are all that gadgets the state of the art of MPV’s?
C30: looks great and is undoubtedly Volvo, no other news under the body.
Roomster: fine concept with surprisingly good roadholding, weak points in styling and noise.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat has a combination of roominess, safety, comfort, sensible technical features and reasonable economy that in my view makes inte an obvious numer one in its category. Among the candidates, and even on the short list, are cars of the same size to a higher price – but withouit significant advantages over the Passat. In addition to its other qualities I appreciate that it is at the same time fun to drive.
In a similar fashion the Renault Clio comes out as a very strong alternative in a somewhat smaller category. Comfortable suspension and surprisingly little noise in the cabin are its main qualities, though I didn´t appreciate the lack of road feel in the steering.
Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo is as far as I can see the most fuel effective four seater in the market and that cannot be overlooked when you look at the world´s state of affairs as we are approaching the year 2006.
Mazda 5 is certainly not the first small MPV but it offers some new and intelligent solutions. The configaration of seating and the sliding back doors are two examples.
BMW 3-series and Alfa 159 are new and attractive models in a very popular segment for european car buyers – the sporty saloon. Their major problem is that a so called bread and butter car like the Passat can provide a similar standad of driving pleasure, performance and comfort and safety.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën: About the cleverest vehicle among the increasingly demanded compact minivans. Luminosity, space, 5+2 seats and flexibility with smart touches. To applaud the bold bet on the electronic gearbox that could make automatics more popular.
Ford: True sportiness in a 5+2-seat minivan, without sacrificing practicality. Touring without a spare wheel may turn nasty, especially in a vehicle with family approach.
Opel: Looks of a bigger car, good equipment and elegant interior generate big expectations. Dull engine line and high prices are its weak points.
Peugeot: Style may be only evolutionary, but still very pleasant. Bright car at build quality, safety, driving fun and comfort. Not so at roominess in the rear.
Skoda: The formula pretends going, and does go, beyond the typical light van with a cozy cabin. This vehicle could fit the real needs of many even if they don’t know.
Fiat: Half-forgotten because of its late 2005 launching, Grande Punto is still a valid car with several good points.
Honda: Practical, roomy and safe. Original style and ‘space-age’ instrumentation might be visually tired soon.
Volvo: Fresh concept, strong character and a touch of youth, plus a popular platform, define the most affordable Volvo.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Peugeot 207.My first choice’s main advantage is Peugeot΄s 207 road handling in each version. 207 behaves like a “traditional” Peugeot, while, thanks to its spacious cabin it may stand ideally as a true family car. Although its weight is relatively high – a fact that characterizes henceforth the category- the turbocharged versions performance overcome this disadvantage.
Opel Corsa. The new Corsa is a pleasant surprise detailed by Opel΄s new profile; a detail particularly important for the car industry. Even if the great built-in quality was an expected result, we didn’t expect to provide such an interesting driving experience. Its exceptional steering wheel has nothing to do with the days of the past.
Fiat Grande Punto. On a face to face battle, since both Grande Punto and Corsa share the same platform, German philosophy in built-in quality plays the key role and finally sets the winner. As for the design, the Grande Punto for sure surpasses Corsa, but this factor is subjective. By the time the diesel versions prove to be well performed too, the 1.4 petrol versions will not provide any real advantage.
Volvo C30. Trendy, without “extreme” choices inside and out, the 2.5 litre Turbo version makes you feel good even after a very difficult day. In any case it proves to be equal to the German competitors. Expected to be mainly selected by women, but this does not mean that men will not choose it; after all it is the type of car that gives the driver the opportunity to drive quite fast as a modern Gti. We liked it!
Citroën C4 Picasso. No relation even with the C4, or with the Picasso predecessor. This is an exceptional proposal for a seven seater model which ideally matches the spacious cabin, the built-in quality and the good handling. At last the semi automatic gerbox has been improved.
Ford S-Max. In the 2.5 Turbo version it proves to be a real Gti, even if it is an MPV; by far the best presence at the category. The most important thing is that the S-Max has not disadvantages in any of its versions and at the same timeits main advantage is its good handling.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Again, we had right to a difficult vote, with serious and well established candidatures. After analyses and tests, Citroën C4 Picasso is essential accuracy, in my opinion in any case, for its general approval and its facility of use. One cannot certainly overlook a relative sensitivity of this car to the cross-wind, inherent to the form, nor to speak about great revolutions in the aspects practise of a monospace. Citroën C4 Picasso however manages to benefit from the different multiples experiments to make all the elements related on the modularity and the ease of use of the cockpit, easier and more practical.
Of the three large rivals who are the Fiat Grande Punto, Opel Corsa and Peugeot 207, it is the « Frenchwoman » who appears to me as that which makes a success of best balance in all the sectors, from the behaviour to comfort while passing by the output, inter alia. Skoda Roomster and Ford S-max propose also interesting solutions, but without going until the end. As for the Honda Civic and Volvo C30, I could not try them sufficiently a long time to make me a more complete opinion.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
MPV version of the excellent Citroën C4, runner-up in last year election, the C4 Picasso is the best of its category. Roomy and confortable, this car can easily carry seven people : the transformation from five to seven seats is very practical and needs no effort. As the saloon, the C4 Picasso is fun to drive, especially with the “manual-automatic” gearbox. The very wide windscreen, the original dashboard and manypractical equipment make this car the new reference for the family. But, because of its high level price, it can not have the maximum note.
On use point of view, the Volvo C30 has nothing in common with the C4 Picasso : this car isperfect for… two persons, with a minimum of luggage! But it is the most emotional car of the eight finalists. Inboard presentation and quality of building are at their best level.Based on the same platform that Focus, Mazda3 and Volvo S40, the C30 is very pleasant to drive and safe. Undoubtedly, it’s an expensive car, but the look…
The Ford S-Max and the Skoda Roomster are the two others MPVs of the list. The first one is the biggest, the second, the smallest (the C4 Picasso is between them) but one and the other are very interesting cars. The Ford has all the dynamics qualities of a sporty saloon car and all the advantages of a big MPV. With an excellent ratio price/equipment/quality/pleasant to drive. The Skoda is sold at a very competive price with a lot of equipment. Easy to drive, it is made for the “young families” with its funny look.
No surprise for the 206’s heiress : very good driving feeling, excellent new turbo engine, nice look (too close from 307) but the Peugeot 207 is sold at too high prices.
The new Opel Corsa is like a small Astra sold at competitive price but the comfort is really under the average of the category.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
The Volvo C30 is the hatch I would go for. Despite the rear window from the famous 1800 ES, its design is not retro at all. C30’s line is fantastic, clear and crisp, same is for interior and materials. On the driver’s seat you have almost that special GT feeling that only a few cars can offer. And is has even enough space on the back seats and in the boot. What I really like is that it’s not a sports car pretender. Most customers never go on race tracks and handling courses, so Volvo made a good decision: They resisted to make the suspension hard and uncomfortable like other premium manufacturers tend to. On the contrary: they made it even softer than brother Ford Focus, which is already excellent. To me, C30 has the full brand identity. Yes, it’s quite expensive. But rivals are too.
New Skoda Roomster is my small family car number one. It’s nicely designed but not too stylish, just good-looking. The line of the windows is a great solution of bringing front and back end elements together. My little daughter can easily look out of the rear side windows from her child seat. The Skoda is roomy but gives not that boring feeling of sitting in a delivery car like a Citroën Berlingo or Fiat Doblò. And it’s very much fun to drive thanks to a good seating position, a nice dashboard, good quality, fine suspension and – last but not least – a good range of engines from the Volkswagen shelf.
After Ford Focus C-Max, the S-Max is an even bigger surprise. Both models prove that vans can be a littlebit sporty as well. It’s a real sports tourer. S-Max is spacious and versatile, but not too reasonable. A van does not need 18-inch wheels and on some cars they are ridiculous but on a S-Max, they look good. That’s because this car offers also emotions. It has an aggressive and elegant design, good quality, fine tuned suspension (don’t change that attitude, please) with a safe roadholding. If a Ford deserves to enter the so-called premium league, it’s this one.
With the Grande Punto, Fiat is back. Finally. First of all, for this car, it’s matter of design. This small Maserati really looks good. Among the other finalist, Peugeot and Opel, Punto has the strongest character as it doesn’t want to be a compromise. Three- and five-door versions look almost the same, which is fine. Quality is still far from being perfect, but it improved quite well. Comfort is good except on very bumpy roads, and it handles well, but engines are noisy and the level of wind noise is high as well.
Brave designers work at Honda. Civic is extreme. And it’s a matter of taste. That’s the weakest point of this car, besides a poor overview and small space for back seat passengers. Driving quality is high as usual, and the engines are fine.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa is a nice car, no question. But in its character, it’s not that strong as the Fiat Grande Punto, for example. Compared to the three-door-version, the fiver’s design drops. And the interior with the optional coloured dash is overdone, too fashionable. The car also feels heavy and to me, the steering is not precise enough.
Among the younger Peugeot’s designs, the 207 is the best, but in general, the approach of the French brand becomes boring. How big can headlamps get? Driving it gives few new impressions. 6-speed gearbox is missing in the Diesel version I drove.
Being among the finalists is enough for the Citroën C4 Picasso, if you have only 25 points to spread on eight cars. I don’t find anything worth a great applause. Yes, it’s versatile and roomy, but there are many others. Does anyone want to read the manual for thousands of seat combinations? If you are not a maths teacher, will anybody show emotions for that? Why not more simple? Why an extra huge windscreen if you then need extra long sunguards to protect your eyes? Who needs a full digital beep-beep dashboard? And so many buttons on the steering wheel. Distraction in modern cars is generally a problem, so Picasso’s approach is much too much. I don’t understand this car. Zafira and Scénic, just to mention a few, showed the way more clearly.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Skoda Roomster
A remarkable all-rounder in design, concept and execution. Funky and functional, this is the lifestyle edition of the previously predominantly utilitarian microvan. The Roomster also is good value for money, well put together and a quite entertaining drive. The engine to go for is the unrefined but frugal turbodiesel.
Ford S-Max
A minivan that performs like a sedan while offering more space and more flexibility than a wagon. The S-Max has all MPV assets but very few generic drawbacks – even the ride is comparatively cushy. In addition, it looks good inside and out, is well made and can be equipped to luxury car standards.
Peugeot 207
The version that saved the 207 is the turbocharged GT which spices up what started life as a rather average motor car. In general, the Pug blends a smooth ride with an inspired handling: steering, brakes, clutch and transmission work in remarkable harmony.
Honda Civic
Apart from the polarizing exterior and interior design, this is a class act – especially when fitted with the 2.2litre diesel. Once more, the Civic manages to be the driver´s car in its league, providing plenty of feedback and sharp responses.
Volvo C30
The C30 pays tribute to the 1800ES, and it also scores ten out of ten on any current street credibility scale. Out of the pricey and overly stiff turbocharged models, the diesel is the much more compelling choice, combining lots of low-end grunt with moderate drinking habits.
Fiat Grande Punto
It rides really well, its cabin is grande enough to swing a cat, and the new engines are quite promising. What lets the Fiat down are its drab interior, the ho-hum quality and the rather indifferent steering. Potential greatness spoilt by too many detail flaws.
Opel Corsa
Almost unbeatable on paper, none of the super-sized new Corsas I tried was quite right in the fun-to-drive department. Things that spoilt the show included a direct but lifeless steering, a grippy but ill-tuned suspension and a nominally potent but actually quite breathless petrol engine.
Citroën C4 Picasso
The jerky robotised transmission, the messy ergonomics and the passive dynamics put the C4 one point behind the midfielders. Otherwise, this is an attractive and affordable vehicle which adds a few new tricks to the MPV rulebook.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel Corsa
With the new Corsa, Opel has finally found its ideal course again. Considerably larger and with ultramodern design, the Corsa mainly delights with its fantastic handling. More dynamic force is not to be foun in this segment. And the smart Flex-Flix is brilliant.
Skoda Roomster.
The Roomster is a little economic miracle. Taste, fresh styling and smart details make the Skoda king among the compact economy class. The marque is getting more and more promising.
Peugeot 207.
A decent car. First-class handling, a great deal larger, more comfortable and not as noisy as its predecessors. And the prospect of different types of 207 deserves acclamation.
Fiat Grande Punto.
Interior and exterior are a real treat with only some minor flaws. Very spacious and impressive level of quality. Suspension could be a touch sportier.
Honda Civic.
No doubt that Honda showed a lot of courage. A car with a visionary character, but the future is already here: a future to be seen from exterior to cockpit. In addition: very spacious interior and good engines.
Volvo C30.
One thing is for sure, the C30 can’t be mistakes for one of its competitors. Respecto for the courage, the striking rear of the car attracts the young buyers.
Ford S-Max.
As sporty as a van can be.
Citroën C4 Picasso.
The way architects would furnish their car.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Picasso
Is it really a car? Or is it a rolling room with a view? For sure, this is the most innovative car this year, with lots of flexible and useful technology to make every day driving more pleasant. Belt reminders on all seven seats at a time when competitors hesitate to offer it on more than one.
Skoda Roomster
The concept looked only as a styling exercise, which the production version is not. Yes, it keeps its charm, but shows that functionality doesnt have to be dull. Combining old and new techonlogy keeps price down.
Honda Civic
For a long time it seemed harder for Honda to get out of boring styling than for mankind to put a man on the moon. And suddenly this car comes along and everything changes. A good and safe drive, too.
Opel Corsa
A perfect example of how luxury options moves down into small car segments. Fun to drive, nice interior, exciting features.
Volvo C30
Enters a new segment with both confidence and credibility. The styling reflects tradition without being retro. A method for others to follow.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
We experience a general upgrading of „the small car“ into the full value segment of compact cars. They differ now only by mere ten inches or so – and not by class, smartness, ambiance and ride comfort. Among this remarkable new generation the Opel Corsa is the most refined, most complete car, with interior material and finishing that make it even look a bit premium. Standard and extra gadgets are at a slightly higher level than that of its rivals. Not to forget motorway speed and mileage with the six speed gearbox, quite outstanding for a car this size. Both the Peugeot and the Fiat make their points with attractive styling and this common achievement of emerging to the upper floor.
Apart of the group of the small ones the Ford S-Max is a real surprise, so crisp, well handling and fun to drive. The message is: Vans don’t have to be just functional (and a bit boring) but may display other talents. And this the S-Max surely does.
The Volvo C30 is technically very much on the safe side but offers an exciting tail gate that goes along with an elaborate philosophy for the young urban customer. Altogether it makes a clear distinction to all other compact cars.
When it comes to sheer value + space for price, the Skoda Roomster is unbeatable whether or not you like the sort of delivery van shape.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
To my opinion, the “Car of the Year” jury is supposed to reward an innovating vehicle, which makes life easier and comfortable for its passengers.
This year, two cars, precisely two MPV, seem to me very close to these items. These are the Citroën C4 Picasso and the Ford S-Max. Their creators have not given in to the tentation of gadget or useless brainwave which used to be the main characteristic in this category.
They are both handy, pleasant to live on board, very spacious even for seven passengers and pleasant to drive too. I have given 7 points to the C4 Picasso for its user-friendliness and 6 to the SMax which brilliantly proved that MPV and pleasure of driving could get on well together.
The very aesthetically successful Volvo C30 reminds us that the Scandinavian manufacturer knows how to make seducing as well as safe cars whereas the 4 points attributed to the Roomster show that the leisure MPV is no longer the poor relation of car industry as brilliantly proved by Skoda with this odd and practical car.
At last, the very peculiar Civic livens up the usual aesthetic standards of the saloon cars and for this particular reason itreally deserved its 3 points.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
My opinion is based on the level of innovation – only useful innovation of course – regarding the eight cars in competition.
Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207, Fiat Grande Punto All of them are very good cars and I’m sure they will be successful on all markets. But their level of innovation is not very high, they do not bring anything new (except style) to the market, it’s a classical improvement between two generations of cars. Best styling for Punto, best handling and comfort for 207, best compromise for Corsa, one point each.
Honda Civic, Volvo C 30Very different, both cars have one common point, a very interesting design, young and futuristic for the Japanese, sporty for the Dutch. Two points for the style, but I am a little bit disappointed by engines and handling.
Ford S-Max, Skoda RoomsterOne step higher, the level of innovation of these two cars is better. Roomster is not a new concept, but the brand new style of this « ludospace » looks better than its oldest competitors. With the Roomster, it is clear that Skoda is really becoming a strong and independent brand.Ford S-Max is a big step in the MPV evolution in Europe, getting closer and closer to the sedan, with more fun in driving and a very good roadholding. Welcoming and roomy cockpit, generous standard equipment, good construction quality, price, the Ford S-Max has been my « Car of the year » for a long time, but after testing the Citroën C4-Picasso I have changed my vote.
Citroën C4-PicassoWith the C4 family, Citroën is clearly back to styling originality and high level of innovation, re-inventing the MPV concept with its new Picasso. Clever double A pillar, extra large windscreen, roominess, safety, ergonomics, generous standard equipment, folding seats in the second row, easy to drive and comfortable, the Picasso is the most innovative car of the eight. Price is competitive but a little bit too high, with a faster automatic gear change the new Picasso should have been ranked at 10 points.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Excellent allrounder with a lot of interior space and lively driving performances. New suspension accounts for comfort as well as thorough road behavior. Lot of clever (interior) space and a very strong appearance means that the S-Max is both usefull and trendy.
Without any doubt the C30 is this year’s most appealing new car. Designwise it’s a vere strong statement, nobody has been afraid to make outspoken choices. Driving the car is a great pleasure also, but of course we’ve seensome technical elements on earlier cars.
New Citroën C4 Picasso is no art for arts sake, but points out that Citroën is still keen and clever when it comes to developing good looking cars. Masterpiece is somewhat disturbed here and there, specially because of semi-automatic gearbox that just is not smooth enough and the unability to combine some engines with normal gearboxes.
Fiat Grande Punto proves that Fiat still is capable of sorting things out in the smaller segment.Stylish & well-priced, thus getting an advantage on its sistermodel from Opel. Good range of engines and well-proved handling, because of comfortable/sporty suspension lay-out.
Skoda Roomster is quite uncommon when it comes to design and in that way a car you like or just don’t fancy. However, it gives its owner a lot of possibilities, like interior space and a large loading aerea. Technically spoken it combines Fabia/Octavia-elements, which results in good allround behavior. Not cheap though.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Ford S-Max
The first child of a new generation of design for Ford – conceived by the inspired creativity of ex-Opel´s style boss Martin Smith – embarrassed the lines of most of the cars launched by the American automaker in the last decade! On the other hand, we must give Ford all the credit for designing lower than usual MPVs, a sine qua non condition to make way for an efficient road handling. As it was the case with the C-Max and now with the S-Max, that once again reminds us that fatherhood and enjoying driving are not incompatible. Another great step up as far as build quality and materials are concerned, in such a positive way that Ford is capturing the attention (and the money) from customers that are truly familiar with premium brands. The macro analysis of this MPV allows us to identify positive aspects in the way this technical base derives in other vehicles (Galaxy, the future Mondeo, the Volvo S80) and the possibility to offer 5 or 7 seats – although there is no record of a D segment MPV winning the COTY. And the micro analysis shows a difficult to beat price range in Portugal, where the special homologation is the key to avoid the application of 40% of the ridicule national car tax.
Peugeot 207
The exterior length and the wheelbase have been significantly extended, with some benefits in terms of interior roominess (although more in terms of width than height or length, where the 207 is not in par with the segment best). The dashboard has a sober but rather convincing overall aspect, which benefits from the soft touch surface materials in almost all the trim levels. The driving position was also greatly improved. There are no major breakthroughs as far as the suspensions are concerned, but the C3 inherited architecture produces much more convincing results (in terms of stability), partly because the 207 favours the width over the height, unlike his cousin from Citroen. The engine palette is focused on the Diesel offer, with three options ranging from 70 to 110 hp (1.4 to 1.6 litres). Inside the petrol ooptions there is the lack of an engine below 1.4 l, and that harms the sales potential. On the other side of the offer, the 1.6 (turbo) petrol unit – done together with BMW – is going to raise some eyebrows. The new 207 has some strong cards to play when it comes to body variations: following the 3 and 5 door there will be a Station Wagon and a Coupé-cabriolet – within a year – that show clear signs of progress both in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
Fiat Grande Punto
An important leap in terms of safety and an interesting improvement in overall quality when compared to other products inside the brand. The exterior design is one of Grand Punto´s most valuable assets, with that Maserati GT front end look alike doing wonders. The engine range is wide and the 1.3 multijet Diesel is destined to be a hit, namely in Portugal. Fiat was conservative when it decided to use a torsion beam rear suspension, in line with the goal to keep costs at the lowest possible level as long as the final product would not be harmed by this strategy. It’s a shame the Grande Punto line-up has basically one body (with 3 and 5 door interpretations) and there seem to be no plans to produce a Station Wagon or a convertible that could make it a car with more reach, both in terms of sales volumes and image.
Opel Corsa
This is no longer “the small Opel”, considering substantial growth of the exterior dimensions. The height, if anything, ultimately because the need to preserve the physical integrity of the pedestrians raised the front hood and, with it, the windshield and the cabin roof. The same 4 cm that were added in height were increased in width, but if we take into account the car is wider than taller (1,49 m height, against 1,73 m width) the final impression is that the new Corsa is basically a much taller car. But also when negotiating sequences of curves, meaning that stability is compromised. In terms of styling this is a good evolution of the former Corsa generation, namely in the case of the 3 door version that brings back to the memory the Astra GTC and most likely will have a strong impact on small coupé fans. A number of smart innovations help the overall impression of the Corsa: such as the rear bumper built-in bicycle carrier system, the intelligent halogen headlamps or the power assist system with progressive variation, but the chassis is basically the same of the Fiat Grande Punto. The engine offer is rich (and the 90 hp 1.3 Diesel must be, again, highlighted) but there is a gap in the gasoline offer, that jumps from the 90 hp 1.4 to the future OPC, which will boast around 200 hp.
Honda Civic
Honda decided to fight against the sales decrease of the Civic – once the star of the company in Europe – by means of a bold design with space shuttle genes. Ugly, in my debatable judgement, but a bit too far ahead to seduce a large number of clients outside the realms of the explicit non-conformists or of the tuning addicted, which is probably not enough for such a large volume segment in Europe. Having said that, we must pay tribute to the generous offer of space/load capacity, as well as to the easy and usable interior practicality, thus creating an unforeseeable combination of a sporty exterior and a useful interior. We notice the lack of a smaller and less powerful engine (in the region of the 1.5 to 1.7 litres) to cover an important market sub-segment, even if we bow to salute the very competent 2.2 Diesel worth 140 hp and 400 Nm, that had already seduced when mounted in the Accord’s hood. The chassis gets a thumb up, namely due to the impressive stability, and the driving interfaces (steering and gearbox) are really pleasant to operate. Yet, the confusing dashboard launched me again to the conquest of the moon, due to the amalgam of lights and different plans.
Citroen C4 Picasso
Citroen managed to impress in the execution of the 2nd generation of the compact MPV built on top of the chassis of the C4. More than a mere taller and roomier body variation of the hatchback, it is innovative (electric hand brake and pneumatic rear suspension) but – above all – boasts a number of interior functionalities that make it one of the most pleasant to use people carriers around. If we add a favourable1.6 HDi engine (which is able to escape the application of taxes in Portugal) and a very aggressive price positioning (as it has become a tradition in Citroen), the new Picasso has a respectful number of positive attributes. Nevertheless, it lacks a wider (and newer) engine range and it still can be seen as a derivative of a car that has already been voted.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Ford S-Max
This is an original, inspired package and a work of engineering and marketing genius. That an MPV can be such fun to drive, with accurate and credible steering, genuinely sporting handling yet – mainly – a decent ride for passengers, strikes pleasure into the heart of a motoring journalist dismayed by a world in which driving pleasure is increasingly villified by the car-haters. The S-Max shows that seven-seater practicality needn’t be the end of driving fun, especially when it has a five-cylinder turbo engine. But why does this car have to be so wide?
Skoda Roomster
Here’s a car much greater than the some of its diverse Skoda parts, with an astonishingly good ride on the UK’s disintegrating roads and an individual personality whose wackiness is tempered by real-world practicality. It demonstrates Skoda’s creative independence from Volkswagen, and is both fun to drive and fun to live with. Pity the middle rear seat is so uncomfortable.
Citroën C4 Picasso
Here is Citroën showing its innovative streak again, with a compact MPV full of new ideas. The space, the interior quality and the equipment levels are remarkable at the price, and the driving experience with the LCD displays and that vast windscreen is almost futuristic if less fun for the car-lover than the S-Max and Roomster. The one-hand seat-fold system works well, the parking-space sensor is ingenious and it’s clear a lot of thought has gone into this versatile car. It’s no beauty, though, with that vast front overhang.
Volvo C30
This is clearly a desirable, high-image object, and almost a great car whose five-cylinder petrol turbo version is actually a more satisfying drive than the Focus ST whose mechanicals it largely shares. Details spoil it, though: the hopeless luggage cover, the slow electric seat-slide mechanism with its lack of a position memory, too many hard interior plastics, the rattle of an unused front passenger seatbelt against the adjacent door pillar. These should have been fixed before launch.
Honda Civic
Different is not necessarily better, but originality should be celebrated and that’s why I like the Civic. The double-decker facia and the information system are logical and a pleasure to use, and the styling is futuristically and sportily distinctive. The engines suit the Civic well, and the sharp, responsive and consistent handling is a delight. Three main snags: a sometimes-harsh ride, a poor view rearwards and an infuriating seatbelt-warning chime which comes on as soon as you turn on the ignition. That alone would prevent me from buying this car.
Peugeot 207
None of this year’s shortlisted superminis really moves the game on, and all are oversize and overweight. But the 207 comes closest to the nippy, agile, handy feel a supermini should have, with the most natural steering and less of a feeling of a small engine being overwhelmed by a corpulent car. Its salvation, though, comes with the THP 150 version which is a crisply-handling, energetic and very enjoyable semi-hot hatchback.
Vauxhall/Opel Corsa
It’s very boldly styled and full of striking details, and on paper it has all you could want from a supermini. It’s well finished and its chassis dynamics are far ahead of its predecessor. But there’s something wrong when even a 1.2-litre engine with 80bhp struggles to pull a supermini with any conviction.
Fiat Grande Punto
It does look good with its Maserati-esque nose, but otherwise the Punto is like a Corsa (its under-skin cousin) which hasn’t been finished yet. The suspension is noisier, the brakes snatchier, the interior a woeful expanse of cheap, hard plastic, dated dials and unappealing switchgear. I’d much rather have a Panda.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Skoda Roomster:
A car that fits best in these modern times: small on the outside but lots of room inside with smart use of space and practical. The finish is superb and the roadholding very safe and reliable. Add to this a innovative, reaconisable design which makes the Roomster a serious car that doesn’t look like a upgraded van, like the competitors as Renault and Peugeot. The pricetag fits the car.
Opel Corsa
A very big step forward in comparison with its predecessor, technical as in size. The car is bigger, the finish is great and the driving dynamics secure in all situations. It is a good example of how grown up small cars have become nowadays. The rich list of extra’s underlines this. It looses points for the stiff suspension.
Ford S-Max
Even if the statement from Ford is a bit too much, the S-Max represents a new segment. In this case a very big and spacious car with sporty driving dynamics. It convinces with very powerfull engines and excellent roadholding both on the track and as travelcompagnion. And it looks good too, even when the rear roofsection looks a bit akward.
Peugeot 207
Same amount of points as the S-Max, the 207 is my number three this year. With this new generation Peugeot has made a good car even beter and shows, just like Opel, how grown up these cars have become. Just like the Corsa it makes the next segment almost redundant. The 207 has excellent build quality, is roomy and comfortable and offers good value for money.
Volvo C30
The first compact-class from Volvo has instant liking through its attractive styling which combines classic elements with modern lines. The technical layout is wellknown from other models. That the Volvo doesn’t reach a higher ranking is in my opinion due to limited interiorspace and the body which is only available as three door hatchback.
Fiat Grande Punto
With the same amount of points as the C30, the Grande Punto is fifth for me. His biggest advantage is the attractive design which makes it stand out in its class. On the handling circuit it is also convincing. The sometimes poor buildquality and the use of cheap (looking) materials in the interior make him lose points. Competitors like Opel and Peugeot make a better score on these matters.
Honda Civic
A dynamic and compact car that will attract youngsters with its sportiness. On the track it is huge fun to drive. Unfortunately is the modern design not recognisable as typical Honda and the many different shapes and forms in the interior are confusing and makes it unnessecairely difficult to operate.
Citroën C4 Picasso
It shares the last place with the Honda Civic. Positive are the design, the very comfortable ride and suprising details like the panorama-windscreen. Unfortunately the switches and other gear are badly placed and the automatic gearbox has his weaknesses in everyday traffic.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
As all selected cars are outstanding in there segment, and none of them glanced out of the seven candidates, the choice was rather difficult.As for the latest years the choice of an outstanding candidate was rather difficult. For instance, to give points to the two MPVs, Ford S-Max and Citroën C4 Picasso, was like choosing between the best combination of a sporty berline and a roomy family car or to choose for the future with the application of all new features of the modern car building, like Citroën always did with legends as the DS or XM or the latest C6. The same occurred with the choice between the Opel Corsa and the Peugeot 207, both good driving cars and also good looking.
I chose for the S-Max as I like the feeling of good driving and good behaviour. It’s spacious and sporty and this combination convinced me as I believe it corresponds on the demand of a big market. Especially the platform, the same of the new Galaxy and the future Mondeo, is one of the best in his segment.
Number two on my list is the Opel Corsa. The small Opel Corsa is a really good looking trendy car, but I wasn’t convinced by some motorisations. With this fancy and young car Opel finely finds his way to make attractive cars for everybody, especially for youngsters, the car drivers of tomorrow.
As third I chose for the Citroën C4 Picasso, good looking, roomy and good driving. But the semi-automatic and the oversized front glass didn’t convince me.
The C30 is a young, sporty and lovely version, has a solid character and good finishing. The Volvo C30 is based on the S40/V50, a car who had all the chances to become Car of the Year a few years ago.
As for the Peugeot 207: this is a really Peugeot, true to its image and quality and a surprising successor of the lovely 206, the heartbreaker for so many young drivers. But his image and new technology weren’t really surprising.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Picasso. This compact seven seater has great, original styling. I especially like the huge windscreen. The interior is spacious and the seat retraction system is very practical and easy to operate. The car has a lot of innovative interior and exterior details. The six speed automatic transmission is very good. Extra points for the available pneumatic rear suspension.
The Volvo C30 has a great exterior design, reminiscent of two classic Volvos from the seventies and eighties, the 1800ES and 480ES. Just like these historic examples the C30 is once again an elegant four seater coupe, with a practical glass tailgate. Driving dynamics are very good. The interior is wonderful and the overall build quality is high.
The Ford S-Max has very sporty looks and matching driving dynamics. It almost feels as if you’re driving a ‘normal’ car. However, it is a compact MPV. Practical and sensible, with a lot of interior space and seating for five or seven people. In crashtests it was the highest scoring MPV to date and it has a standard knee airbag.
The Skoda Roomster deserves praise for its bold and innovative design. It has a cockpit shaped front and a wide rear end with a big glass surface, giving the backseat passengers a great view. Inside the Roomster is indeed roomy, and the rear seats can be easily folded up or removed completely. The road handling is surpisingly good.
With its Maserati-like nose the Fiat Grande Punto is a very seductive design. It has a roomy interior and very good driving dynamics. It is very well equipped and offers good value for money. The safety level is high.
The Opel Corsa looks very good. Especially the three door, which looks like a smaller Astra GTC. Other strong points are its good road handling and its interior space. It also has an impressive list of available options, such as the the very practical Flex-Fix bicycle carrier.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Peugeot 207. Succeeding the popular 206, but substantially bigger, the new 207 brings Peugeot back to the forefront of the supermini class. With a modern design, improved interior quality and space, a choice of four body configurations and seven engines and excellent dynamic capabilities, the Peugeot 207 is, in my opinion, the 2007 Car of the Year.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. Looking like a smaller Astra, the Corsa represents a good value for money with an improved quality. The versality is one of its best characteristics: wide choice of versions and engines.
Ford S-Max. Only five centimeters shorter than the Galaxy, the S-Max is a more sporty choice for people who need an MPV more performance-oriented. The ride is firm, especially with the optional 18 alloy wheels, low profile tyres and active suspension in Sport setting, but the S-Max is great to drive, mainly with the 220 CV turbocharged 2.5 litre petrol engine.
Citroën C4 Picasso. The Picasso is probably the roomiest of all compact MPVs, a merket segment that is growing every year. As most of other cars in the segment, the new Citroën has seven seats. The difference is that you have a lot of space and an easy access to the third row of seats. Very comfortable and quiet, well finished and equipped, the C4 Picasso is fun on the road, even with the less powerful 110 CV 1.6 litre Hdi engine.
Fiat Grande Punto. As its name suggests, the Grande Punto is bigger than the previous Punto and, consequently, more roomy. On the road is fun to drive, fast in corners and agile. There are a large choice of petrol and diesel engines, but, undoubtedly, the 90 CV 1.3-litre Multijet, in combination with the 6-speed gearbox, is the better choice.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel Corsa.
Good looking, good driving, excellent value for money.
Ford S-Max.
Excellent concept, fun to drive, very good design.
Peugeot.
Very good value for money, interesting engines, good looking.
Skoda Roomster.
Marketing concept, good quality.
Fiat Grande Punto.
Good design, nice to drive.
Citroën C4 Picasso.
Interesting concept – a little too futuristic.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Honda Civic: You often see them at the launches of a new car, the first sketches from the designers, the way they want the new car to look. Then something happens, a project leader, clinics, market people and a board – and out comes a new car that almost looks like the predecessor or like the competitors. But Honda dared to go the whole way and let the new Civic look like they wanted and probably like young people prefer, futuristic on the outside and the inside. Add low fuel consumption, well balanced engines, roominess, and proven safety, plus a hybrid alternative, although I would have seen the European five door Civic as hybrid – and you have my winner.
Opel Corsa: A big step for Corsa, with comfort, low consumption, and some interesting features, like the bicycle holder.
Skoda Roomster: Looks like no other car, roomy and practical, but why just aim for four stars in the European crashtest?
Citroën C4 Picasso: Comfort and class, and with a lot of features as standard and option.
Volvo C30: Fantastic chassis and handling on all kind of roads. A real challenger in the segment.
Fiat Grande Punto: Low consumption and high safety.
Ford S-Max: Best chassis in the mpv class!
Peugeot 207:A big car’s comfort in a small cars costume.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
I would divide the Car of the Year 2007 contest finalists into three groups: exceptionally good cars; cars good because of their uniqueness and cars good because of their untypical nature. The first group includes: the Ford S Max (6 points), the Citroën C4 Picasso (5 points) and the Opel Corsa (4 points). The second group is made up by: the Fiat Grande Punto and the Peugeot 207 (3 points each), and the third one – by: the Skoda Roomster (2 points), the Honda Civic and the Volvo C30 (1 point each). And here follows an explanation.
The Ford S Max is the first van that is more shapely than many a compact hatchback and drives better than most of the vehicles pretending to be sports cars. Its five separate and spacious seats ensure comfortable travel for five well-built people. They can also make use of an enormous boot. If need be, the S Max, just like a full blooded van, can be easily and quickly turned into a very capacious vehicle, which can even be used to move house. What the S Max offers and for how much, in combination with a good build quality and rich standard accessories, makes it to me the unquestionable winner in the value-for-money category this year.
There’s no denying that also the Citroën C4 Picasso has style. Thanks to some bold details, it stands out against the crowd, not only against other vans. The car boasts excellent visibility it offers the driver and a well thought-out and functional interior. Unfortunately, the C4 Picasso is not among the cheapest vans in its class.
The new Corsa, which finally said goodbye to the rather unattractive Opel style design, can at last be liked not only for how it is made, but also how it handles. However, the Opel baby principally impresses the user with improvements in its functionality.
The Fiat Grande Punto – the most shapely contender not only among this year’s finalists, but all small hatchbacks at large – loses by one point against its twin Opel Corsa, mainly because of its poor build quality and worse driving precision. The Punto is also not in the same league as the Corsa as far as spring comfort is concerned.
The Peugeot 207, with its good road grip, reliable brakes and fine build quality, should even move in front of the Fiat and Opel. Poor visibility from the driver’s seat, however, makes it difficult to drive, not only occasionally, when travelling long distance, but especially on an every day basis, when going to work and back home in the town.
The manufacturers of the Roomster, the Civic and the C30 also deserve some recognition. Skoda, because at last it has managed to show its own idea of a small car, but with remarkable capabilities. Honda, because a run-of-the-mill Civic has been replaced with a Civic individualist. Volvo, because for a lot of money it has dared to propose a car for “only” four people, but one that has style, is very well built and has a sporty flair.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën: Innovative for design, practical solutions and easy-to-use techonology. The right size not to abandon the class of compact minivans. Interesting engine line and good road attitude.
Peugeot: Remarkable among superminis as it will offer four different body styles. With an attractive design, it has grown respect the 207, but not in rear rooominess. Complete engine line and good handling.
Fiat: A significant step ahead from the Punto in all respects: design, size, build quality, cabin space and safety. Excellent handling. Engine line not enough updated.
Honda: Quite a revolution in design from former Civic. Excellent engines. Clean and safe dynamics, but ride a bit rough. Awkward rear visibilityand oppresive rear seats.
Opel: Appealing looks, with two well-differentiated body shapes. Bigger size allows an ample and comfortable cabin. Good behaviour in general, but some engines need improving.
Volvo: The youngest model in Volvo history for its body style and the looks and configuration of interior. Wide and interesting engine line. Handling with a sporty touch.
Ford: Atrative and dynamic design. Powerful and efficient engines. Convincing road behaviour. For size and cabin arrangement, is a minivan offer too close to Galaxy.
Skoda: Interesting model of the Czech manufacturer as an advance for the refreshing of its product line. Compact in outer size, but with a spacious and flexible cabin. Looks not so different from a light comercial van.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Peugeot 207: Overall, this is the model that wins the most points in my partial evaluation: esthetics, habitability, range of petrol and diesel engines, and excellent dynamic behaviour on the road.
Opel Corsa: In all the aspects, this car has made a big qualitative jump compared to the last generation. Its engine’s fuel range is very good but the basic diesels don’t measure up to its rivals
Citroën C4 Picasso: A late arrival in the 7-seater monospace segment, but they have arrived with a good practical solution which until now has not been seen in the segment. The engine range is complete and overall is a reasonable with a good balance between price and product.
Ford S-Max: Even though offering 7-seats is nothing new any more, in the case of the S-Max the thing that is notable is its magnificent on-road behaviour (in my opinion, the best in class).
Honda Civic: If the criteria was only about design, the Civic would be the indisputable winner, but other factors make it lose points: the engine range is limited and dynamically has lost ground relative to the last generation. The dashboard is too baroque with too many lights and controls which lead to distraction.
Volvo C30: An interesting model for Volvo which will be accepted by customers. A good range of engines and good dynamic behaviour.
Fiat Grande Punto: A good model in all areas but belongs to last year and would have had possibilities to win.
Skoda Roomster: Original design and a functional interior. Is a good car but needs to refine thinks like materials and mechanicals aspects.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
There are no spectacular new innovations in Skoda Roomster, but the concept is very practical and the roominess in the compact body is remarkable. By making the front end rather low and intimate the car feels more like a sporty sedan than a family container – from the driver’s seat. The rear is perfect for both children and grown up people – the Roomster is a family car which suits drivers and passengers of all ages. It is also nice and reliable to drive. Unfortunately I can not give the Roomster the maximum points since we still wait for an account of the crash safety.
Among all prudently designed cars it is relieving to see a model with a striking style – and to discover that it is not only a daring design. Honda Civic is exiting to look at, and is also very practical in everyday use. The hybrid technology in the sedan model works as good as more complicated systems and brings the consumption down to levels which spares the environment and the owners´ economy. But the fact that Honda Civic only gained four stars in the Euro NCAP test, lower the points from me.
Opel Corsa has a – relatively – small shell but high comfort and safety. It is capable, well equipped and safe and is a pleasant alternative to a bigger, more expensive and “thirsty” car.
In the segment for big family cars, Citroën Picasso fulfils most demands – and a little more.
A lot of space, practical interior and driving joy – Ford S-Max has a perfect mixture.
High comfort, driving pleasure and safety in a handy and very chic body – Volvos entrance in the ”young” segment deserves commendation
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Skoda Roomster.
Its unique appearancedivides opinions both for and against. Personally I like it. It is a new kind of a concept which will certainly be followed by others. The car is roomy, which makes it great for families with children. A good value for money balance emphasizes that. Technically the car doesn’t offer anything new, but as a whole it works well. There isn’t any particular weak point in it. Thinking about safety, a good touch is that in our market the ESP is a standard equipment throughout the model line.
Honda Civic.
The five-door model of the Civic displays courage in its futuristic design work inside and out. Especially the dashboard has a new, interesting look. Also the basic configuration – the gas tank in the middle – is a fresh idea to gain more space and better balance in a mid size family car. The suspension is a bit stiff and sporty to a liking of some drivers, but not all. The car drives basically nicely, but the odd feel in a steering lessens the good impression.
Citroën C4 Picasso.
This is a newcomer to a crowded compact MPV class, and thus a brave move by its manufacturer. The car is unique. Typical to the interior is its versatility and easiness. In its design one goal has also been to guarantee a good visibility to all passengers, which also makes it feel spacious. The goal has been reached with exceptionally large windows, which is an interesting solution but necessarily doesn’t satisfy everybody.
Opel Corsa.
The design work on the new model has been more successful than with the previous one. By today’s standards the new Corsa is a solid choice but doesn’t offer surprises. However, thinking about the Finnish market, there is a couple of nice equipments available: a heated steering wheel and an integrated bicycle rack. ESP is a standard through the model line, which is a laudable decision.
Ford S-Max.
It leaves a well finished and sturdy impression. For a MPV it drives really nicely, and feels even sporty. The good looks underline the very same feeling. S-Max suits well for long journeys and family traveling especially because from inside it is very roomy. It is a little puzzle to whom this car is really meant for.
Peugeot 207.
This is a logical successor to the 206. Everything is right in the car, but there is nothing tremendously new. The goal has been to fine-tune and improve earlier technical solutions. As a result, the car’s drivability is very good while it feels bigger than its size. From behind the wheel it feels immediately like an old friend.
Fiat Grande Punto.
The styling is very impressive. Immediately it brings to one’s mind the Maserati, which belongs to the same family. Because of its looks the Grande Punto most probably will be successful, but its drivability needs to be improved. Especially in some conditions strangely acting suspension could be more comfortable.
Volvo C30.
It is a brave step into a new class by Volvo. The C30 shares the platform with S40/V50-models, but its styling and concept differs completely. Even though the sporty C30 drives excellently, it hardly becomes a top seller, although it is the smallest and lowest priced Volvo. The fact is guaranteed by its essential nature of a special car with a little rear leg room and a small trunk.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
You may debate about its style, but the superb driving qualities, the excellent engines and the high level of perceived quality of the Honda Civic are out of discussion. Nonetheless, its better point is the increased roominess in a smaller body. On the other hand, the three fighters in the B segment offer more or less the same roominess of the previous models in a larger, more impressive body. Each of them prevails in different areas: Punto offers the nicest look, 207 shows better dynamics, while Corsa marks a major step beyond in terms of quality. At the end, the better score of the Corsa is due to the introduction of the ESP as a standard equipment. Apart from that, I wish to underline the job done by Ford with its S-Max, offering an advanced design together with amazing driving qualities, for an MPV.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
It was a year with a record number of entries and yet no one car stood out from the fray to warrant a really convincing victory. Several, however, made enough dramatic improvements within their categories to warrant serious appraisal.
The Opel Corsa has made enormous strides forward, both in terms of styling and drivability. The exterior is better suited to the youthful image Opel is keen to portray, but it’s the interior where the major improvements set a new standard that the rest of the Opel range would do well to follow. The smaller engines are eager and the ride and handling matches comfort and sportiness in the right proportions for its audience.
Skoda’s Roomster was a big surprise this year. It may not appeal to all tastes, given its rather quirky design, but inside it’s a little wonder. The variation of seating combinations and flexibility is on a par with the best on the market and yet it’s very competitively priced. Behind the wheel you get the feeling of a proper saloon; in the back all the flexibility of a fully-fledged people carrier.
Citroën’s C4 Picasso pushes the French brand’s people carrying entrant right up the league in terms of quality. Aimed to fit between the ongoing Xsara Picasso and the C8, it has the look and feel of a more premium entrant than either of the other two and any of its competitors. Awash with technology, most of it is rather useful to the driver and even the robotic gearbox is impressive, once you get used to it. There’s excellent visibility and some traditional French flair when it comes to comfort.
Honda’s new Civic really makes a statement, even if the interior is a little too space-age for many tastes. It’s also lost some of its driving sparkle. Yet it feels as solid as one would expect from a serious Japanese contender and the introduction of a hybrid version – admittedly scraping into the Civic range largely on name – really adds to the range on offer. The smaller 1.4-litre engine is too noisy for our tastes and the I-Shift gearbox is a bit clunky, but the Civic returns to a sporting pedigree that past it by in recent generations.
Ford’s S-Max adds some sporting sparkle to the traditionally practical people carrier market. The best of these high-set MPVs to drive, it proves that family life doesn’t always have to mean motorists sacrificing fun in favour of family.
The Fiat Grande Punto has fantastic styling but doesn’t live up to the image inside or behind the wheel.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Picasso. This new MPV doesn’t merely retake the best features of its competitors. It also adds a personal touch in visibility, luminosity, flexibility.
Ford S-Max. The big MPV tempts the family man compelled to purchase this kind of vehicle but also appreciating the driving fun. Effectively, the strong point of S-Max is its road behaviour.
Skoda Roomster. Intelligent, likable, the Roomster is a bit the sign of emancipation for Skoda, not following in this case the steps of VW.
Honda Civic. Looks make heads turn, roominess is there, dynamics are remarkable. Pity that comfort and fit are not in the same league.
Peugeot 207. Worthy successor to 205 and 206, despite the weight gain. With the 1.6 engine conceived together with BMW, it stands out in the segment by combining performance, torque and low fuel consumption.
Opel Corsa. Its lines, now typical of the brand, don’t lack appeal. Nice to drive, except for the ride…
Fiat Grande Punto. Style has already proved very successful. Other qualities place this car on equal terms with its best rivals.
Volvo C30. An interesting response, aesthetically speaking, to Audi A3. It’s a clever reminder of ancient Volvos. At the wheel, such a suggestive car lacks some salt and pepper.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
It was extremely difficult to select the winner.
It was a year of evolution: just small steps ahead, without breakthrough in areas of design, technology or engineering. The most positive impression given by the cars from a short list was a good example of “badge and some shape engineering” – Toyota/Peugeot/Citroën, funny and different looking city cars with reasonable for this segment comfort, dynamic and ergonomic properties. Most serious disadvantage is that all three are not available in Russia.
BMW performs on the road better than it looks (I mean both interior and exterior), while Alfa Romeo looks more interesting than it behaves: even with V6 it does not give me what I knew as Alfa character, Quore Sportivo.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. Two different and greatly styled bodies for the three and five door version, five star NCAP crash safety, Sport equipment level with different suspension settings, roomy interior with good build and perceived quality, spacious trunk, comfortable ride matched with good roadholding, broad engine and transmission range, a lot of useful and valuable equipment, affordable price – all of these make the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa the most outstanding car not only in its category, but among all the cars introduced to the European market in 2006.
Ford S-Max. With breaking the conventions Ford S-Max brings real freshness among the big MPVs. Dynamic appearance, roomy interior with karakuri seat-folding system instead of the traditional take-out seats, comfortable ride, great handling, and fun to drive factor distinguish it from the other models of the category. The only reason of its second place is the price tag, which makes this amazing MPV affordable only for a smaller part of the population than the Corsa.
Citroën C4 Picasso. Recently Citroën was about nothing else than design. But not the C4 Picasso! It is full of ideas again, which belonged for long time to the name of the brand. The air suspension in the rear, the smooth working robotized transmission, the great variability, the fascinating utilization of the spaces – most of all below the third seat row, together with the numerous practical ideas make this new Picasso a very usable vehicle for most of the families and a special offer in the segment of the compact MPVs.
Fiat Grande Punto. The most attractive Fiat model of recent times because of its bold design, roominess, broad engine range and affordable price.
Honda Civic. Regarding its great handling, ride, driveability, build and perceived quality, refinement of its engines and transmissions the new Civic is faithful to the best tradition of Honda, but it was now completed with a special feature, a shockingly futuristic styling. It is a great job!
Peugeot 207. Compared to its predecessor the new small Peugeot is much improved in every respect, except styling. In spite of this, its package is not so attractive as of the new Corsa.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
The Civic’s design is terrific, combining visual distinction with versatility and interior space. The engines are highly efficient. And no car in the class is more fun to drive. Honda has a superb record for reliability. OK, some areas of the design are a bit flashy, there’s not quite enough rear foot-space and it can be noisy, but these are small quibbles in a car that brings some excitement to a dull class.
We’ve got two interesting variations on the MPV theme. The Ford is the one for people who don’t like people-movers – it’s great to drive and looks sharp. It’s also well-priced. The C4 is for the passengers: lots of clever storage solutions, big windows and easy seat folding. Self-levelling rear suspension is just what’s needed in a car with such a wide ratio of laden to unladen weight.
The Skoda is an oddball but I rather like it. It’s good value, providing vastly more space than the 207 for similar prices. It drives pretty well, but the interior finish isn’t as good as in other. Skodas and so it doesn’t seem robust enough for the kind of carrying duty (objects and children) it’s designed for.
The Volvo is fun, stylish and refined. It meets its brief well.
Three superminis this year. The Corsa is the one for me. It’s good value, and price is important in small cars. It drives well and it’s good looking and well finished. It has a wide range, and good space and safety. It’s a class leader – albeit only just.
That means the 207 and Punto are not class leaders and so for me can’t be Car of the Year. The 207 doesn’t offer anything much for its extra price. The Punto shares much with the Corsa but the suspension comfort isn’t as good and its interior feels far too cheap.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën: Compact minivan addressed to families, where comfort, roominess and flexibility predominate, as well as equipment. Three seat rows and up to seven occupants (there will also be a 5-seat derivative).Several contributions to comfort and safety enhance this car as the most interesting of finalists.
Fiat: As usual in Fiat, ‘Mediterranean’ design and inner space are again big features for this Grande Punto, now slightly longer than 4 m. Agile handling is also a plus. Nothing to do with the former model.
Honda: Sporty and dynamic looks, on 3 or 5-door body styles, are the focus of attention. Sporty character is also there, as usual with Hondas. Good engine range includes a hybrid system.
Ford: It could be a direct rival of C4 Picasso in the market, in spite of having a different approach. S-Max is more focused to road behaviour, with driving fun close to a conventional car. It offers up to seven seats, but the family approach is not so clear.
Opel takes seriously the style of its small model for the first time. Or perhaps it’s easier to shape a car when, as most of today superminis, it touches the 4 m. size.
Peugeot. Rear room used to be a weak point in forerunners and it keeps on being so, despite improvements. In the other hand, it offers an impeccable handling, in the edge of sportiness, but with no comfort trade-off.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
From the longest list ever it was not easy to nominate seven candidates – but it was easy for me to pick my winner among the eight nominees.
Citroën C4 Picasso earns maximum points for fulfilling most of the many criterions that make a car Car of the Year. From styling, five star safety, assuring dynamic behaviour, roominess, seven seats, smart, versatile interior with plenty of light and very small dead angels, high level of ride comfort, low noise from engine as well as road and wind all the way to a competitive price and not least the innovative and brilliant new semi-automatic 6-speed gearbox made my winner.
Honda Civic and Skoda Roomster have very little in common except roominess, versatility and style. Had Roomster been priced less ambitious the score would have been 4-6 to Roomster instead of a 5.
Ford S-Max is a first when it comes to a dynamic MPV and S-Max certainly is Maximum Sport for this size of vehicle. The rest though is not much different from the roomier Galaxy, which drives just as sporty with the looks of a family car the S-Max design cleverly avoids.
Fiat Grande Punto deserves a point for high level of safety and for the grande styling.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 PicassoAn interesting approach of creating a car in the very popular compact monospace segment. Technologically state of the art solutions, extra large windscreen not only for the sake of the fashion but to improve the driving conditions, plastic front wings to eliminate the minor injuries of the body, aluminum bonnet, etc. Improved safety features by the special driver airbag, lane departure warning system, stability advantage by the air suspension at the back. Good scale of engines.
Skoda RoomsterA supermini car with great capacities. Clever body structure, using the modules of exciting cars aiming to make a spacious car and minimize the cost behind it. Fresh, unique design, rather flexible interior for the family and for transportation purposes with extra large spaces in the passenger and luggage compartment. A large scale of accessories depending on the level of the model range. Fine engine choice with remarkable diesel items.
Ford S-MaxA new sporty participant in the monospace segment with very high safety measures. A definitely harmonic unit, with very good road holding among normal driving conditions, silent and well balanced. Good comfort in the passenger compartment and at the rear as well, spacey trunk space. Wide assortment of engines. Rich safety equipment option.
Opel CorsaAn influential player in one of the most competitive segments: supermini. Average measures with high level perceived quality. Good handling and very sophisticated suspension. Witty solutions like the Flex-Fix carrier. A lot of accessories, safety ones as well. Very good safety features. Economical engine scale.
Grande PuntoA small car with big measures. The stiff body improves the drivability of the car, good road holding. Remarkable safety results (NCAP) with rich safety equipment. Good list of petrol and diesel engines. Good value for the money.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
The C4 Picasso is the best example of the new generation of MPVs that can reconcile the automobile fanatics and this kind of utility vehicle. Fine to look at, nice to drive and comfortable, it is even so a high quality “people mover” thanks to the smart versatility of the second row of seats. Furthermore, it concentrates a lot of new equipments. A real innovative Citroën as we can see in the pneumatic rear suspension.
The little Volvo is a brand new seducer. Its very handsome body is paired with an interesting interior design: the two rear passengers enjoy an incredible visibility and a large space for such a sporty stylised car. Furthermore, engine range is wide and perceived quality is at a high level.
S-Max is another one of the new MPVs which are able to combine versatility, strong design and fun to drive. A little bit too much, especially with the big wheels that doesn’t help the riding comfort.
The Roomster is a very pragmatic car: original look, smart versatility and robust feeling at affordable price. Unfortunately the engines are too noisy for a modern family car.
The Honda is a very interesting proposal: very good handling, roominess, equipment, diesel engine and strong design. Maybe too strong! Especially for the dashboard coming from Star Trek, with an invisible speed indicator.
The three competitors in the B segment are obviously good cars, but not really innovative. In addition, they cannot claim to be better than the current Car Of The Year, the Renault Clio.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
This year’s finalists include three cars classed as superminis – though at 4m length there is no longer anything ‘mini’ about them.Only the Opel/Vauxhall Corsamoves to the top of this class, above existing contenders like the Renault Clio, Car of the Year 2006. It has style, inside and out, lots of interesting details, and quality in the way it is made and how it drives. While the previous Corsa was merely ordinary, this one sets a new standard among small hatchbacks.
The Ford S-Max is not the first ‘crossover’ between an MPV and a low-roof saloon or estate car but it is the most successful. Whether powered by 2 litre diesel or the 2.5 litre turbo petrol engine, it has a lively performance and driving dynamics that belie its height and seven-seat accommodation. True, the rearmost seats are a bit claustrophobic but they provide the versatility that MPV buyers require in a package that looks special and behaves like an accomplished sports saloon.
Adopting a radical design was a risk for the Honda Civic, which onlookers either love or hate. I like it – especially the multi-layer spaceship dashboard – and was pleased to find that it drives as well as ever, although the adoption of a cheaper torsion-beam system means that the ride on bumpy roads isn’t as good as rivals with independent rear suspension. The engines are good, especially the 2.2 litre diesel.
Given their common origin, we might have expected the Fiat Grande Punto to be just like the Opel Corsa but it isn’t.The design is distinctive – outside, sophisticated, smooth and smart; inside, cheap-looking materials and garish colours. Only one engine is shared with Opel – the 1.3 litre diesel – and the Punto drives differently from the Corsa. Most versions are noisier and the suspension settings not as well judged.
The Citroën C4 Picasso deserves two points for its many detail innovations and its futuristic presentation, with excellent all-round visibility, steering column controls, and four-zone air conditioning. It is the best-equipped MPV at this size and price. Handling is precise and the ride comfortable, especially with the optional pneumatic rear suspension.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Skoda Roomster
The new Roomster is on the top of my list, because Skoda have created a car with a different styling, very good interior space, practical seat-arrangement and rear seats with a wiew that kids will love. All this to a very nice price.
Citroën C4 Picasso
First of all this is one of the most practical rides a family can dream of. But the Picasso also contains exciting equipment that we have not seen before in a car of this class.
Opel Corsa
Its appearence is more youthful than ever, but I belive the Corsa also appeals to people above 50. Good space for a small car and some clever practical solutions.
Honda Civic
A brave, sporty design, combined with a good drive and a practical interior, deserves some points. As does the hybrid version.
Volvo S30
It is small, looks good, drives almost like a sports car and is probably the safest small car on the road. But far from practical.
Ford S- Max
A sporty family-car is a contradiction and impossible to design. The S-Max is probably the nearest thing to it.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Picasso: The design takes the maximum advantage of the interior space. It offers a superior roominess than greater size MPV. The interior trim transmits quality impresion. The well known range of engines allows contained fuel consumptions with a good level of perfomance. In addition, the gearbox SensoDrive (or CMP) fitted with the 2.0 HDI engine as only alternative, has improved much in its operation.
Fiat Grande Punto: Although the differences are not great, offers more interior space than other competitors appeared last year. Its handling is very good as well the riding comfort. The engine range at the launching time is sufficient for a car of its size. It is remarkable that Fiat has equipped the 1.3 90 CV diesel version with shorter ratios than those than Opel has chosen for the Corsa, that shares the same platform. Its weak point, the upholstery of the seats in the first series. At present time Fiat is offering other options. Very competitive price.
Opel Corsa: Without entering aesthetic details, it transmits a greater perception of quality than the Fiat. Nevertheless, its interior roominess and the volume of the trunk are smaller. The handling is as good as in the Punto with something more of comfort (less rolling noise). Regarding the mechanics, the gasoline engines are economic in consumption but less brilliants than those of their competitors. In the 1.3 liters 90 CV diesel version, the gearbox ratios are excessively long.
Peugeot 207: It offers an agile and amusing handling in the way to expect from a very sporty car. Thats makes the difference over competitors of its category. Its engine range is in line with this philosophy, offering some more power. It looks as if the main aim of Peugeot developing the 207 would have been to achieve a very attractive exterior design and a car fun to drive. The design of the interior transmits quality. Nevertheless, its habitability is smaller than its direct competitor in this poll.
Volvo C30: It completes the declination of a already well-known platform fitted with a range of engines also very well known and credited. Nevertheless it is necessary to value the good design, the adaptation of the chassis to a much more sporty handling than in the S40 and V50and its excellent trim. The weakest point of the model is the not very good insulation from the engine noise in the diesel versions.
Ford S-Max: The concept is half way between a traditional station wagonand a MPV. It has very good dynamics, although the engine range at the launching time is limited. Leaving apart the big 225 CV engine, what can be excessive, a car like this should offer some engine between 140 and 180 CV.
Honda Civic: Attractive exercise of design, offering at the same time a good rear roominess and flexibility. The system to fold the rear seats allows a good management of the space. Short but well selected range of engines. Nevertheless, the setting of the suspension is not the best. Looking too much for the comfort, the car jumps excessively on irregular pavement. In addition, the increase of weigth on the front axle in the diesel version has not been well compensated and the car loses agility on twisty roads.
Skoda Roomster: Courageous proposal of style. The interior roominess is very good and this permits a high level of comfort. Excellent presentation of the interior (front seats).
My judgement is based on following grounds:
There are so many good cars this year, it’s a problem. I’ve had more trouble allotting votes than ever before. What annoys me most is that I’ve been forced to give some good cars low scores just to do justice to my winners. The Peugeot 207’s a good thing, for instance, and doubtless heading for bumper sales, though to me it’s just not as “finished” as the leaders in this class and I’m not a big fan of the styling. The Fiat Punto Grande styling is wonderful, and so is its packaging, but I believe GM has done a comprehensively better job with the dynamics of its Corsa, using very similar raw material. I’m impressed with the Volvo C30, especially the ride/handling compromise and the brilliant styling, but in the end it’s a niche model that uses a lot of familiar hardware. The Honda Civic is a great hackback all-rounder, and I love its avant garde dash and interior, but I’m not so keen on the chassis qualities and I reckon the exterior styling is already starting to age.
Funny to have three contrasting MPVs in a group of eight COTY finalists. To me, the Ford S-Max succeeds spectacularly in its mission to establish a niche for the genuinely spacious, genuinely sporty “driver’s” MPV. The C4 Picasso is a lot less conventional, but the fact that all its unusual features and gadgets work brilliantly makes it relevant even to buyers with a conventional outlook (provided they can live with a six-speed automated manual gearbox). The Skoda Roomster is a neat and versatile machine which contains important clues to Skoda’s future, but its pricing structure makes me think the company is over-anxious to get away from its position as a budget car-maker.
Which leaves my winner, the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. To me, this excellent car shows how ruthless internal honesty about the shortcomings of the previous model, plus great detail planning and all-round thoroughness builds winning cars. The Corsa succeeds because all the effort put into making it great hardly shows. Its styling is especially successful at incorporating latest crash requirements into something people simply see as modern, cheeky, sporty and appealing. The driving experience cleverly incorporates big-car refinement with small-car agility. Early build quality seems supremely good and I’m especially impressed with the ride qualities of the low and mid-spec models, worthy of cars a couple of classes above. Throw in some surprising bits like the retracting bicycle rack and you have, I believe, a very deserving winner.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Skoda Roomster
Highly original design, that will especially be loved by the second row passengers. Combinedwith clever seating flexibility and near-Volkswagen-like perceived quality. The Roomster is much more than a Kangoo or Berlingo and – after the Octavia and Fabia – stretches Skoda-design into a bold new direction that was already further highlighted by the Concept Car Joyster. Frugal and environmentally-friendly engines, although – as all TDIs – a bit too noisy. It only could need a sliding rear door – and in fact Skoda is thinking about this as an option for the future.
Ford S-Max
Europe has brought the modern MPV to perfection so that they become a good alternative to the heavier, bulkier SUVs again. With the S-Max Ford earns the merit of widening that architecture of carinto a distinctive sporty direction. Handling is fabulous, as is the gearshift and modern-cool interior. The exterior makes the car look pretty low-slung – in a marked diversion from the upright old-style MPV. The interior is allergy-tested and there is talk about a version which uses E85 Ethanol-fuel.
Citroen C4 Picasso
The French “Monovolume” is noticeably less agile on the road and surprisingly also not as softly sprung like you would expect from a French car. But it bristles with nice little details, like the Panoramic-front screen with moveable sun visors. The handling of the flexible seat landscape couldn’t be easier. So – despite the usual flaws of the Citroen ergonomics – a dreamcar for families and – although in another way than the Ford – a proof of how perfect European-MPVs have become meanwhile. Only the computerized automatic gearbox is a mess.
Fiat Grande Punto
Master Giugiaro has managed to transform the Grande Punto into a „Maserati for the masses“. The car looks much more grown-up than the fanciful Corsa which uses the same floorpan. Fiat has the lowest CO2-outputs of all European brands and also the Grande Punto benefits from this ecological achievement.
Volvo C30
As an owner of an (notoriously unreliable!) 480 ES I should nevertheless give the C30 maximum points. But as nice as the two-door successor of the legendary snowhite-coffin (P 1800 ES) may look, it is most of all a fashion statement. If you order it with stronger engines and some equipment it becomes rather expensive. Doubt that it will conquer two many Audi A3-buyers. Cramped rear compartment, much too rough damper setting.
Opel Corsa
In contrast to the Punto I find the exterior too nervous. Not the liveliest and most silent engines, and in two-door-format with restricted headroom and bad rear quarter view. Overall a little disappointment since also the luggage room hasn’t been increased. I consider the predecessor in his latest format as the better overall package and longer enduring design.
Honda Civic
A case of over-design, inside and out. Therefore it will very likely age quicker than normal. By far the strongest point: Steering and fun to drive factor.
Peugeot 207
I don’t see any major innovation worthwhile to mention – just to be 20 cms longer than the outgoing model is no achievement in itself. Won’t be the same blockbuster than the 206.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
How difficult to distribute just 25 points to so good 8 finalists! But you should decide for your favorite, so when I compared three very similar mainstream cars and also hot favorites for title, Fiat Grande Punto, Opel Corsa and Peugeot 207, I decided in favor of Italian car, because as I feel it, Fiat Grande Punto has best design with Italian flair, best ergonomics in interior and best road behaviours, and of course, Grande Punto also fulfills all the safety requirments of this era.
Skoda Roomster is very interesting car, it is crossover between car and LCV, with very good roadholding (definitely, it is the car, not light commercial vehicle), compact and roomy, and very well engineered with combination of some Skoda/VW Group architectures, not just overtaking existing platform. Quality feel is also very good.
Volvo C30 is nice, with excellent platform and broad powertrain possibilities, but it is still just niche model.
I like the bravery of Honda Civic designers, both exterior and interior, but I see some unpractibility (starting of engine, view backwards) and it seems also, that what was spent on visual appearence, was saved on technical side (rear axle).
As for two favorized MPVs, I have just one point left, so I give it to Ford S-Max for its sporty difference.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
With eight finalists this year we have had a really though task to find the proper product to wear our Car of the Year 2007 crown. Almost all of them are worth not only to be mentioned, but to be the winner of this year’s voting.
Well, as this is not possible, this is my decision which one is even more interesting than the others:
Why Opel (Vauxhall) Corsa gets my maximum amount of points? Corsa is a very grown-up car. That is the most important reason for it to be on top. As some other competitors, Opel chooses stretching in the length but they also gave the car many other details that not so long ago we were used to only in bigger models. At last, but not least, the styling of the car is a strong point of the Corsa, and I especially appreciated the interior design approach!
Why Ford S-Max gets my second max amount of points? Ford opened a new niche with the new S-Max and – for me – deserves one point extra to be in the second place on my voting grid. The execution of the “sports activity” idea is quite a daring one, one that in future will get competitors in this (growing) niche. With S-Max Ford also found some customers that earlier would never have considered a Ford for their car.
Grande Punto and 207 are competitors which could not be more different than they are. 207 is a great successor for 206, but based on more sophisticated and sometimes even premium accessories. If only PSA could introduce a more precise transmission (after such a long wait)! Grande Punto is by all means of Italian style – in some respects, almost perfect, but sometimes, as if Fiat just forgot to fulfil all tasks needed to design a new car. Completing the trio with the same amount of points is Civic. Honda was very daring with the styling of this car, but that is also a problem if you consider the overview of the back when reversing. On the other side it is a milestone how to build a hatchback and provide as much space as if it were a small MPV. Hooray and a special award for the rear seats and how they fold.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
My personal winner is the Volvo C30. An outspoken design, focused on young and trendy people, without any compromises. In my opinion this car is a breakthrough in this class, I cannot remember a vehicle in the Golf-segment that has been styled so attractively.
It is also a very good car to drive. The ergonomics are top class, the roadholding is excellent, the choice of engines is very big and vision around the car is excellent as a result of the low tailgate window and the triangular B-style.
I was very impressed by the Citroën C4 Picasso. A lot of intelligent solutions inside the car, some are really new, some are a wink to the past (gear lever) and some are a little bit art for art’s sake, but that does not matter much. The new MPV from Citroën is a very convincing car, nice to drive (gearchanges could be better), nice to be in and nice to look at. Family cars are often dulled by the need to be acceptable for a large group of people and tastes, but Citroën (again) has dared to be different and has gone its own way. People who buy MPV’s are almost always driven by practical needs, but for me the C4 Picasso is the first MPV that you want to buy because of its design, the way it drives and the way it dares to be different.
I was almost equally impressed by the Roomster, which drives very nicely, especially with the 1.9 TDi engine. In general this type of car is not very attractive and most of them are driven by people who want transport and space and do not care about cars or design. Skoda has cleverly grabbed the chance to transfer this type of car into a lifestyle vehicle. It is also the first time that the company threads new ground under VW rulership.
The S-MAX is an excellent all-rounder with very good styling and very good performance. It shows that a MPV can be a very tempting vehicle for the enthusiast, its driving dynamics are not compromised by the size and shape. The S-MAX proves that a MPV can drive very well and be sexy, and it proves that more convincingly than Opel did with its Zafira OPC.
I ran out of points to honour the small cars Honda Civic, Fiat Grande Punto, Opel Corsa and Peugeot 207.
I do appreciate all of them because they take the small city car to a new, grown-up level, but I was not impressed by the small petrol engines of some of them, their driveability lags behind other manufacturers. To me it appears that the development of petrol engines has been neglected in favour of diesels, especially as far as smaller sizes are concerned.
I gave the one point that was left to the Punto because of its value for money and its styling, which is the best of the three last cars mentioned.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
I liked the classy design of the new Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. This new design adds more value to the car than it has. Interior space’s quality and design are also successful. The new Corsa changes the standards of its class by its accessories. The new Corsa redefines its class and comes close to the upper class. Although D pillar causes some problems at parking maneuvers, the automobile has no other vision difficulties. Driving dynamics are successful and Corsa ensures driving pleasure.
Volvo C30
Volvo C30 has taken my attention with its original interior and exterior design. Especially, back seat formation gives the impression that the car’s interior is designed for passengers and material quality is very good. Volvo C30, which presents a satisfactory performance, draws attention with its comfort rather than its sportiveness. The handling of the C30 is very good for a comfortable car.
Skoda Roomster
Roomster has a different character because of its design and spacious interior. I liked this original design perception. Especially, high roof structure presents optimum space for passengers. Roomster’s driving dynamics is between a passenger car and light commercial vehicle. The handling is average.
Honda Civic
Civic differs from its competitors with its brave design. It has an extraordinary outlook. Interior space is also radical and futuristic. Driver can feel himself as a space shuttle captain behind the steering wheel. Its driving dynamics has clearly improved compared to the predecessor. The steering is very sensitive and handling is above the average.
Ford S-Max
I liked the sportive design of the S-Max. It combines functionality with dynamic driving features. It is able to meet the expectations of families. At the same time this car presents successful handling and sportive driving. Engine performance is satisfactory.
Fiat Grande Punto
It has a sporty and young design but the interior style is very ordinary. Its handling is very good for a small car. It is not comfortable but I like the engine performance. Especially, 1.9-liter diesel engine is very impulsive in the interim accelerations.
Peugeot 207
Still you can feel 206. I think this overshadows the success of 207. The interior materials are very good for this class. The steering is very light in the urban traffic. It’s getting heavier when the car reaches high speeds. This makes the driver feels safety. Especially, the new 150 HP GT version has an amazing performance but this is not enough.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel Corsa. Opel has managed to turn things around – and shows just what modern superminis can offer with the Corsa. Technically innovative, chic, sporty and well built. A solid all round package.
Ford S-Max. The Ford S-Max is a genuine family car. Both versatile and comfortable. At the same time, its sporty side shines through – a GTI for dads. A very successful combination.
Skoda Roomster. An unconventional blend of saloon and van combined with clever flexibility on the indise, breathes new life into mini-MPVs.
Fiat Grande Punto. With the new Punto, we finally get to see a Fiat again with lots of strength and only a few weaknesses (mainly build quality). The turning point for the brand after years in the doldrums.
Volvo C30. Volvo may not have reinvented the small family hatchback, but the C30 offers an interesting alternative to those wanting more than a run-of-the-mill car.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Ford S-Max
S-Max is a big step made by Ford and MPV market. New form, new design and new spirit. There is no any MPV in the world with so nice combination – family, sporty, traveling and activity for life.Comfortable, economy with high level results for safety (5 stars EuroNCAP and 4 stars for child protection rating), and a lot of room inside for passengers and luggage. For driving ambitions S-Max is another level.I was surprised by S-Max handling in my “Nordschleife” experience with 2.5 turbo(220 bhp) version. Steering is very informative and fast, ESP workscorrectly. There are no problems with balance and body roll, though we are speaking about MPV. The same situation was during moose test. Just one car, but so many enjoyment for life. S-Max – the best choice value-for-many.
Opel Corsa
Looks very sporty with high energy pressure and you want to drive one immediately.Did you believe five years ago car like this could be complete by so many innovations:integrate “Flex-Fix” system, adaptive head light and ready to make your hand worm steering wheel? You can see it in new Corsa today. Comfortable, fast, but has some problems with electric power-steering assist. One of the best in the segment and 5 points – good prize.
Peugeot 207
Bigger and better than predecessor, with ambitions to be bestseller for next 10 years.Looks amazing and very friendly. Designers from Peugeot know the way to the customer heart. Co-operation with BMW making engine range wide and stronger, I like it. But steering wheel is not informative enough and car is loosing grip by suspension job on the bumpy road.
Fiat Grande Punto
Fiat handles better than Opel Corsa and looks nice with racing in blood. I was surprised, there is double zone climate-control inside! For drive and handling it is one of the best cars in the class, and I’ll hope the same situation is going to be with quality for long term using. Very stable on the road especially in the corners with correct balance. What about brakes? – it is perfect! What is wrong? – Too expensive! For this way new Corsa better, and more interesting in B-class.
Volvo C30
Oh! So exciting, so sexy on the back view and so usually looking on the front. Volvo C30 looks like half made car. I understand the spirit from S40 but I was waiting a little more from Volvo team. Of course, it is safe car and BLIS system is another step for this direction. I’m sure; Volvo is going to do it for next cars too. New Volvo has the same platform with Ford Focus and has nice performance by T5 engine, but on the road is not so stable like Ford.
Honda Civic
There is absolute new car with original design decisions. Exterior has some controversial opinions, but interior very amazing! Dual zone panel, high quality materials, interesting design and looks like spaceship pilots place.For the road going well and a little bit dips. I was expecting for 5 stars for safety, but just 4 have been awarded by EuroNCAP.
Citroën C4 Picasso
Next car made by people from new PSA design center. All unusual when you are sitting inside. Gearshift on the steering column (DS spirit), there is big and informative display on the middle of panel, wide-angle panoramic windscreen and a lot of room. If you switch off the ESP, it doesn’t matter, system works all time and doing well. Picasso is family car at first, without any driving ambition, but too much noisy made by engine (2.0i) after 2000 revs, and low (2 stars) child protection rating.
Skoda Roomster
It is interesting car, with small transporter exterior and sport edition on the range. Roomster is comfortable, with panoramic roof in option, and a lot of rear seats transportation opportunity.Nice interior, pleasure to tough plastics.For handling doing well, good job for ESP but big disappointment on the bumpy road, jumping like snooker ball. Best choice – 1,9 tdi version.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
In my opinion, Opel Corsa mostly deserves the Car of the Year title, because while being a relatively not expensive car, it is characterised by high quality, has a great number of innovative elements, drives perfectly and without stress. Moreover, it is characterised by attractive styling. Corsa is, undoubtedly, a very good shot of Opel.
On the second place I put three competitors. Fiat Punto, designed on the same basis as Corsa, is one of them. But in this case, the GM concern had the time advantage over Fiat. It had more time to work out the car, which in fact enters the market one year later. However, it does not change the fact that Punto is, for me, the best styled car in its class. This design simply dazzles simplicity of the form, typical of works done by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
The same number of points I allocated to Volvo C30 and Skoda Roomster. I appreciate that Volvo, while designing the car of the C segment, has not created the next version of Golf, but it has reached out for the fantastic model of its rich history – and that is how it should act more often. And Skoda had the courage to enter the segment, new for itself and new for the whole market. Functionality of this vehicle will definitely be appreciated in my country.
The next places were jointly taken by Honda Civic with the most interesting interior in this group and very correct Peugeot 207.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Opel Corsa: is best in style, technical innovation and road manners. It has sharp calculated prices, high quality apperance, a good roominess, and comes with a high variety of bodies and engines. The New Corsa can direct Opel to a better future.
Ford S-Max: A new, strong personality among the Minivan-Cars, it is excellent to drive with a good portion of fun and safety and it offers good quality.
Fiat Grande Punto: Exciting styling, good looking, with a clean and sporty design, it has a narrow relationship to the Corsa, but the Opel ist more exciting.
Peugeot 207: Tries very hard to look good, but is not really overwhelming, design is overdressed, comfort on bad roads is really bad, maybe I expected more from Peugeot.
Skoda Roomster: It is spacious and ambitious, the design is really radical and it has good quality for all day use. But offers not really fun to drive, more fun to live with it.