SMALL-MEDIUM: $25,000 to $30,000

1ST - Peugeot 307 XS HDi manual
Fine new 1.6-litre turbo diesel with 240 punchy Newton metres means at least 30 percent improved economy from the HDi 307 compared to either the (petrol) Corolla or Golf. This is a decent small-ish car with a big, roomy interior and backed by a substantial 20,000km service interval. Fully loaded in both the brake and side-impact protection departments, the Peugeot lacks only ESP — and thus scored 10 out of a potential 15 on safety. Dynamically, the Pug trails the Corolla and the supremely sharp Golf in terms of outright precision and response, despite being the most expensive car in the entire category to insure.


2ND - Toyota Corolla Conquest sedan (man)
Twice now the Corolla has been (just) passed over for top spot, in favour of the Peugeot. It’s better in terms of RRP, insurance, resale and dynamics,
and line-ball on safety, service and warranty.
But that’s not enough to beat the Pug’s frugality.




3RD - Volkswagen Golf 2.0 FSI Comfortline (man)
It’s a great car – the best dynamic performer, and notionally the safest among the place-getters – but the Golf’s big stumble is its prodigious thirst for 98RON PULP. Its fuel cost is 75 percent more than the Peugeot’s. Result? An unrecoverable six-point deficit on fuel score alone.