1st - Suzuki Swift S
Suzuki’S Swift looks cool; is cool. Strong — but not class-leading — resale and fuel economy keeps Swift in the hunt, as does an equal first for service interval. Overall, the Swift is a big step forward for Suzuki, but the actuaries don’t like it — check that insurance premium, which is $200 higher than in-class rivals. That’ll hurt in the cheap seats.

But the little Swift gives you side airbag protection at a sharp price. Interrogate the reams of data and it is this safety score that gifts Swift its class win — albeit by a super-slender 0.10 point margin over the $2000 cheaper Hyundai Getz. This is actually the narrowest margin of victory across all 18 categories of Gold Star Cars. Nearly too tight to call.



2nd - Hyundai Getz SXi
Unbeatable five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and sharpest price point in the field saw Getz accept the silver medal here. It’s up there in the ‘funk’ department with other podium-sitters, but dynamically is a little under-done.



3rd - Mazda 2 Maxx
Easily the best drive of the class, the new Mazda 2 is undone by second-highest purchase price and fuel consumption. It just pipped the Toyota Yaris, with which it shares the class-worst 10,000km service interval, by a scant 0.08 points.