21 to 30: The Irish Times top 100 cars for 2016

21

Volkswagen Passat
The Passat, relaunched at the start of 2015, has rather had its thunder stolen by the storm of the VW diesel emissions scandal, but that doesn't stop it being a seriously impressive car. The cabin is hugely classy and comfy, and the build quality has that lovely VW sheen that you expect. The 120hp 1.6 diesel is pretty much enough engine for the car, and it's noticeably more refined than the more powerful 2.0-litre unit. The estate is a pretty nice way to haul your family and luggage around, but it does suffer a bit by being distinctly smaller on the inside than its cousin, the Skoda Superb.
Best buy: 1.6 TDI Comfortline
Price range: €27,455 to €51,580
CO2 emissions range: 103 to 139g/km

22

Honda Civic
A family hatchback with rather more styling chutzpah than you might expect. The Civic is also packing a class-leading 1.6 diesel engine which has more power (120hp) than most rivals but which is impressively refined and frugal too. Not quite perfect to drive but enjoyable and hugely spacious which makes it ideal for families. The 1.6 diesel is really your only sensible option for now, although Honda does have a new 1.0-litre turbo petrol under development. Your only real choice, then, is between hatchback and Tourer estate, but the hatch is so roomy that it renders the estate a touch moot. The cabin layout and design really is quite messy and some might find the front seats a little to narrow across the shoulder blades. Also, some of that impressive boot space comes at the cost of a full-size spare tyre.
Best buy: 1.6 iDTEC Sport
Price range: €22,185 to €31,485
CO2 emissions range: 94 to 150g/km

23

Kia Sorento
It's a very American 4x4 and we mean that in the best possible sense. Although it's pretty much right-sized for European roads, it does feel a little big and squishy. Again, we mean that in the best possible sense – it's spacious (seats for seven) and inordinately comfortable. Decent economy too as long as you go for the manual version. Get a 2.2 diesel with a manual gearbox and as many toys as your budget can handle. The exterior styling does look a little as if it's been smacked in the mouth with a shovel, but we'll allow it. Avoid the automatic version, though, as it pushes the CO2 emissions up just too high for an acceptable tax figure.
Best buy: 2.2 CRDI Platinum
Price range: €38,995 to €43,995
CO2 emissions range: 155 to 174g/km

24

Hyundai i10
It's the state-of-the-art small car, even if it looks a bit too conservative to be that. Under the subtle exterior, though, lies a truly excellent car, one that really rises above its city runaround station. Comfy, high quality and surprisingly capable on a long motorway haul, it's a minimalistic car but all the car you'll ever (really) need. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol is the one to have, and you may as well spec it up a bit as it's a car that benefits from a few extra toys. The steering is astonishingly rubbery and vague, which rather spoils the fun aspect, and there's none of the styling or engineering excitement that you'd get with a Volkswagen Up or Renault Twingo.
Best buy: 1.0 Comfort
Price range: €12,245 to €15,745
CO2 emissions range: 108 to 137g/km

25

Volkswagen Touran
Proof that when Volkswagen puts its collective mind to producing a really cracking family car there are few others that can better it. The Touran may not be the most exciting thing to drive or to look at, but it's hugely spacious, versatile, practical and built like an outhouse. And it's priced to shame the likes of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer or Mercedes B-Class. The new 120hp 1.6 diesel is really all you'll ever need. The extra grunt of the 2.0-litre engine is welcome, but hardly necessary. As we say, it's not especially exciting, but perhaps that's hardly the point when it comes to practical family motoring.
Best buy: 1.6 TDI Comfortline
Price range: €29,725 to €40,525
CO2 emissions range: 111 to 128g/km

26

Skoda Fabia
We are deep into the sensible Ecco shoes market here – now that the rorty little RS model is no more, there's very little you could point to on a Fabia that you'd call exciting. But it has space, exceptional build quality, good engines and surprisingly affordable tech, including Apple CarPlay now. You won't find a more sensible small hatchback. If you can stretch the budget to the 1.2 TSI turbo petrol, it's worth it – smooth and powerful but with close-to-diesel economy. The Combi estate, with its extra boot space, is also well worth a look. Anyone looking for sharp steering or sparky handling from their small car should look elsewhere.
Best buy: 1.2 TSI Ambition
Price range: €13,895 to €23,495
CO2 emissions range: 93 to 110g/km

27

Skoda Yeti
The Yeti's design is now five years old, but don't let its age out you off – this is still a seriously impressive compact crossover, and one that deserves to pinch a few more customers from the all-conquering Qashqai. Skoda tidied up the looks considerably a couple of years ago with a facelift, and you can spec a Yeti up to be a proper 4x4, with decent ground clearance and some serious mud-plugging abilities. Most will sensibly go for a front-drive model, though, and there's nothing wrong with that. Families will love the space in the back and boot, and it's actually a surprisingly engaging car to drive. The 1.2 TSI petrol turbo is a good option for those doing low miles.
Best buy: 2.0 TDI 110hp Ambition
Price range: €23,995 to €35,150
CO2 emissions range: 118 to 147g/km

28

Kia Cee'd
Kia's Cee'd has been quietly impressing customers and critics since the first generation was launched back in 2007, and in that sense nothing has changed. Of course, everything has changed, really, and the Cee'd is now every bit as sophisticated and pretty much as good to drive as its European and Japanese rivals. New 1.0-litre turbo engine is excellent and the quality levels just keep getting better and better. Three-door Pro-Cee'd has an appalling name but is surprisingly appealing to drive. But the one you want is the handsome, spacious SW estate.
Best buy: 1.0 Turbo SW Estate GT-Line
Price range: €19,650 to €24,850
CO2 emissions range: 94 to 138g/km

29

Toyota Auris
It's funny the difference a facelift can make. While Toyota hasn't radically changed the Auris, the update introduced in 2015 has really lifted it rather more than we thought it would. The quality and likely reliability remain undimmed, but it now feels more substantial and has a terrific new 1.2 turbo petrol engine. The 1.2 D4-T petrol is as good an engine as you'll find, so get that one. There's not a lot of fun to be had, and some of the build quality still feels a little tinny at times. The hybrid is too complex for too little reward, while the 1.6 diesel, bought in from BMW, is lacklustre.
Best buy: 1.2 D4-T Sol
Price range: €20,750 to €28,190
CO2 emissions range: 79 to 128g/km

30

Seat Leon
Somehow, Seat is still an under-the-radar brand in Ireland, and lacks the sales power of its close relative, Skoda. Don't let that put you off, though – the Leon is a seriously fine car and, in some ways, is actually the pick of the VW Group hatchback pack. In basic form, it's safe, sturdy and spacious, but it's also noticeably more fun to steer than either a VW Golf or Octavia. "Warm Hatch" FR version, in either petrol or diesel form, is fun and sporty without being bank-breakingly expensive. Xperience has useful extra ground clearance and optional 4WD while the salsa-hot Cupra now has up to 290hp and a temptingly low price tag compared to most GTIs. A sleeper that's worth getting out of bed for.
Best buy: 1.6 TDI estate for families, Cupra for fun
Price range: €19,995 to €36,075
CO2 emissions range: 108 to 156g/km