The Kia Rio 1.1 CDRi 1 EcoDynamics is the most economical car you can buy in the UK (from non-electric models), returning 88.3 mpg – so should you buy one?

Much hype has surrounded the launch of the new Volkswagen Up! – so we tested the Move up!, in 68.9 mpg BlueMotion Technology form, to see if the car lives up to the high expectations.

To test its ‘low emission 4x4’ credentials, we pitched the new Peugeot 508 RXH diesel-hybrid against the racehorse of footballer Michael Owen – so which one won?

We’ve already driven the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4, the world’s first diesel-electric hybrid, at its launch in France, and we liked the concept; do we still have the same view after living with the car in the UK?

The Renault Twizy, which is essentially an electric four-wheeled scooter, felt so much like a go-kart on its launch in Ibiza that it inspired us to take it for a test around an actual go-kart circuit.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK is an icon, and for the first time, you can now have this icon with a diesel engine, resulting in fuel economy of 56.5 mpg.

The Kia Sportage is one of the more economical and lower emission 4x4s, returning 49.6 mpg with emissions of 149 g/km CO₂; but is it sufficiently capable off-road to justify buying the 4x4 version?

The Honda Civic 2.2 i-DTEC currently comes with an unusually large capacity 2.2-litre diesel engine for this class of car, but it gives impressive performance and good economy; so should you buy one?

The Kia Optima is a quality piece of design on both the inside and outside, and it has low emissions, but is that enough to win over company car buyers?

If you’re looking for a car that has an everlasting fuel tank then the Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion is the one for you.