SEAT Leon hatchback

It might be the sister car to the Volkswagen Golf, but it s the SEAT Leon which wins on looks. It features SEAT s pointy front end design with relatively narrow glass to make it look sporty.

It s fairly wide, too, which gives it a bit of an aggressive figure. The interior isn t the most radically styled on this list, but it s more exciting than most other small family hatchbacks out there. On the road it s at least as good to drive as the Golf, with steering that responds with immediacy, and the ride is sporty but comfortable. The engine range is similar to the Golf s too, which means small petrols, economical diesels and some serious performance in the Cupra hot hatch.

Price £16,115 - £24,170

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