Off-roaders have been getting a hard time recently, but it's worth remembering that the best SUVs have abilities that normal cars lack. Whether it's fording deep water, ploughing through a muddy field, effortless towing or simply carrying the family, accomplished 4x4s should soothe the pains of everyday driving.

The sign of a great car is strength in depth. Just when we thought Fiat had forgotten how to make small models, along came the Panda and knocked us all for six. And the baby Fiat has been more than just a flash in the pan. Our Car of the Year three years ago, the Panda has once again proved itself the best bet for motoring in the city.

It's been another fantastic 12 months for the Civic, which holds on to its compact family car title. The passage of time has done little to dull the Honda's visual appeal - it still looks like nothing else on the road - and the recent arrival of a three-door version has given the range an even sportier edge.

The old phrase ‘rewriting the rulebook' could have been made for the Mercedes S-Class. Just when you think that every conceivable four-wheeled luxury gadget or safety aid has been invented, along come the boffins from Stuttgart with a raft of new ones.

The mark of a truly great New Car Honours champion is the ability to see off fresh rivals - and that's exactly what BMW's all-conquering 3-Series has done yet again this year. Unbeaten since its launch in 2005, the German saloon marches to its third successive title - despite the challenge of the all-new and highly competent Mercedes C-Class

If you're going to do a job, it's worth doing it properly. Not only has Ford managed to launch a brilliant new Mondeo hatch, it has somehow found the time to develop a class-leading estate version - a remarkable achievement.

Sometimes it's the simplest ideas that are the best - as the Mazda MX-5 has shown countless times. Occasionally, however, you need to move with the times and embrace new technology - and that's exactly what Mazda has done with the MX-5 RC.

The off-road king is back! After years of being beaten at its own game, the Freelander has returned to the top of the class with a neatly designed and beautifully executed second-generation car. The 4x4 recreational market has evolved considerably since the Freelander's debut nearly 10 years ago, and the good news for potential buyers is that the new version moves the game on again

Although the first-generation Citroen Picasso was a big hit with buyers, the Xsara-based MPV was some way from being the best offering on the market. However, all that changed with the arrival of the latest C4-based version, which has immediately become the benchmark for the sector.

The fact that the first-generation Audi TT won or was shortlisted for this award five years in a row is a tribute to the company's vision and sense of style. So replacing it was a tough mission - especially when you're competing in a sector where looks and fashion are as important as performance and handling