If you want a fun car for not loads of money, what’s your best option? That’s what Autocar’s contest, Britain’s Best Affordable Driver’s Car, intends to answer every year. Welcome to the 2021 edition.
We’ve got six driver’s cars to test. Five are practical everyday hatchbacks that also aim to please while they’re at it, and they’re all new for 2021.
The newest of them all is the Hyundai i20 N. It takes on the Ford Puma ST, the latest Volkswagen Golf R, a Cupra Leon 300, and a BMW 128ti.
Then there’s our wildcard, the Caterham Super Seven 1600.
The cars’ prices run from under £25,000 to nearly £40,000, and we’ve driven to the greatest roads in Britain to help us decide. We’re in the Highlands: but there can be only one (see what we did there). Full specifications below!
Hyundai i20 N
£24,995
201bhp at 5500-6000rpm
207lb f t at 1750 -4500rpm
1220kg
0-62mph 6.2sec
Top speed 142mph
40.4mpg
CO2 158g/km
Volkswagen Golf R
£39,270
316bhp at 5200-6600rpm
310 lb ft at 2100-5350rpm
1476kg
0-62mph 4.7sec
Top speed 155mph
35.3-36.2mpg
CO2 176-182g/km
Ford Puma ST Performance Pack
£29,460
197bhp at 6000rpm
236lb ft at 2500-3500rpm
1283kg
0-62mph 6.7sec
Top speed 137mph
41.5mpg
CO2 155g/km
Cupra Leon 300 VZ2
£35,125
296bhp at 5500rpm
295lb ft at 2000-5200rpm
1420kg
0-62mph 5.7sec
Top speed 155mph
35.8-37.2mpg
CO2 171-179g/km
BMW 128ti
£33,885
261bhp at 4750-6500rpm
295lb ft at 1750 -4500rpm
1445kg
0-62mph 6.1sec
Top speed 155mph
38.2-40.9mpg
CO2 157-170g/km
Caterham Super Seven 1600 SV
£39,665
135bhp at 6800rpm
122lb ft at 4100rpm
565kg
0-62mph 5.0sec
Top speed 122mph
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