Best buys: Sports saloons

Best in class

BMW 3 Series

When a recipe is as fundamentally tasty as a compact, light, rear-drive sporting saloon, you don't tend to mind when a company doesn't mess too much with the basics. Thus it is that the BMW 3 Series, so carefully honed and evolved from its 1980s E30 genesis remains of top of an increasingly talented class. The 320d is the lynchpin of the model range, providing enough perk to be exciting to drive, but economy and emissions that make this premium-badge saloon no more expensive to run than a basic hatchback. BMW has a mild freshen-up waiting in the wings, with new three-cylinder turbo petrol power and sub-100g/km emissions for the most frugal diesel, but the updates will be subtle, and hard to spot. We wouldn't have it any other way. Best one: 320d Sport Touring estate for €45,420

Also consider

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

In many ways, the C-Class is actually superior to the 3 Series. It has an interior which is far more beautiful and opulent for a start. Its level of quality seems fractionally higher too, and it’s arguably a better looking car (although the looks are very spec-and-quality dependent). What holds it back from a best-in-class rating are the diesel engines, which are just a bit too noisy and growly. It has sublime steering though, actually slightly better to that of the 3 Series.

Jaguar XE

Jaguar’s attempt to take on the 3 Series is shaping up to be a serious contender, far and away better than the moribund X-Type of the early 2000s. That car was Mondeo-based and too ordinary. The XE gets a bespoke rear-drive aluminium chassis, an impressive new diesel and some delightfully playful chassis settings. 3.0 V6 version, using the engine from the F-Type sports car is a highlight of the range, even if it’s destined to play a distant second fiddle to the more affordable diesel.

Worth waiting for

Audi A4

The current A4 is handsome, comfy and just a bit too turgid to drive. The new one, due later this year, should be something of an improvement on the driving front, and will be lighter and more efficient into the bargain. If Audi can make the new A4 as roundly impressive as the current A6, then the 3 Series could for the first time ever be facing serious sports saloon competition from Ingolstadt. Launches: Winter 2015

Underrated

Volvo S60 & V60

While Volvo has made a massive premium market breakthrough with the new XC90, the perception of the S60 still lags behind that of BMW and Audi. That’s a shame, as there’s much to recommend the S60, and its handsome V60 estate sister. Best of all is the new D4 diesel engine, which matches the Germans for power, but has them well beaten when it comes to refinement and efficiency. Plus, the Volvo’s interior actually looks, feels and works better than the cabins of pretty much any of the rest. Not as exciting or dynamic to drive, perhaps, but the mid-size Volvo is very, very satisfying nonetheless.