Currently reading: Everyday handling heroes - how much fun can be had for £30,000?
The quest for 2015’s most entertaining car in the real world starts here. Nine candidates tackle two days of road and track in the hands of our road testers

Over the next few web tests we'll name the best sub-£30,000 driver’s car of 2015.

In repetition of an exercise we’ve carried out every year for the past five, we’ve gathered nine of the stand-out sporting introductions of the past 12 months and diligently pitted them against each other on road and track. For access to a circuit, we’re indebted to the good people at Motor Sport Vision and the staff at Bedford Autodrome.

Our aim is simple: to single out which sub-£30k driver’s car you should spend your money on right now. The latest turbo superminis, 300bhp mega-hatches and rear-drive sports cars are all in the mix, and the winner will go into our marquee driver’s car test this autumn – up against Ferraris, Porsches, Aston Martins and more.

As you can see from the picture above, it’s a bumper crop – and there isn’t a car in it that couldn’t be on your driveway for £400 a month. Some could be yours for considerably less. So lock your wallets away. You have been warned. 

Test one - Honda Civic Type R versus Ford Focus ST-2

Test two - Caterham 270R versus Toyota GT86 and Mazda MX-5

Test three - Hot hatcbacks on test

Test four - The final verdict

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RPrior 11 September 2015

Honda Civic Type R

Sutcliffe has already set Type R against Audi RS3 and M3.

You should search for this video.

Sutters was the very best........... Search phrase "Sutcliffe Audi RS3 BMW M3"

AHA1 11 September 2015

Missing a trick?

These 'best handling' tests have been done each year for decades but why are they always about speed? It would be refreshing to have an analysis of the 'best riding' cars too i.e. those with the best ride/handling set up. This is just as much about quality suspension, drivetrain refinement and engineering integrity but expressed in a mode that is far more accessible for drivers today. From bumpy, gnarly A-roads (A31 Hogs Back) to overbanded, potholed city congestion-fests, which are the cars that just feel great to drive at any speed?
bowsersheepdog 13 September 2015

AHA1 wrote: These 'best

AHA1 wrote:

These 'best handling' tests have been done each year for decades but why are they always about speed? It would be refreshing to have an analysis of the 'best riding' cars too i.e. those with the best ride/handling set up. This is just as much about quality suspension, drivetrain refinement and engineering integrity but expressed in a mode that is far more accessible for drivers today. From bumpy, gnarly A-roads (A31 Hogs Back) to overbanded, potholed city congestion-fests, which are the cars that just feel great to drive at any speed?

Good point, well made, What proportion of drivers of even hot hatches/sports cars take them onto a track? A small fraction I'd guess. Even empty A-roads are scarce in most parts of the country. Concentrating on driving satisfaction in all of the conditions faced out on the roads everyday would be a better measure.