Six of the best: Saloons

And with no shortage of choice, Britain’s market is seriously competitive. Adrian Hearn rounds up six of the best.

BMW 3 Series Saloon

The ubiquitous 3-Series is a market leading motor and the most searched for car on AutoTrader.co.uk. Its good looks, excellent performance, range of engines and reliability make it a serious contender for anyone looking to move into the compact executive market. And with their desirability come strong used values.

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Ford Mondeo

It’s no longer Mundano, but Bondeo – the Mondeo is finally cool. After Daniel Craig drove it in Casino Royale everyone wanted to know more about the Blue Oval’s latest family saloon. It’s a brilliant car with a market-leading spec. Oh, and it’s impossible to put the wrong fuel in thanks to an ingenious nozzle that recognises what’s being put in the tank. The 2.5T is seriously quick and the 2-litre diesel is fast, frugal and excellent value. Watch out 3-Series, the new boy is coming for you.

Auto Driven: Ford Mondeo Europe launch
Auto Driven: Ford Mondeo UK launch
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Lexus LS600

The LS600 is unique in its marque with its hybrid technology. This means on the motorway the luxury saloon can make use of the 5-litre, 439bhp engine under the bonnet meaning 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. But when driving in congested areas or at low speeds, the Lexus uses a silent electric motor, meaning lower fuel bills and no Congestion Charge.

Auto Driven: Lexus LS600
What Car? Lexus LS600 review

Mazda 6 MPS

The 6 is known as a Q-Car – quiet but quick – and it fills these quotas superbly. With 260bhp channelled to all four wheels, the MPS rockets from 0-60mph in a hotter-than-a-hot-hatch 6.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 149mph. On top of this, Mazdas are solid, reliable cars.

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Mitsubishi Lancer Sport

It hasn’t got its big brother’s four-wheel drive or manic rally-bred engine, but the Lancer Sport offers brilliant value for money. For a shade under £12,000 you get all-round electrics, a sporty design – including alloys and a rear wing – and a top speed of 127mph. In its market, nothing can touch the Lancer.

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Volkswagen Passat

While its looks aren’t exactly pulsating, the sixth-generation Passat is a fairly imposing saloon. It’s bulky and borrows styling from the luxury Phaeton model. Safety wise, the Passat is excellent and mated with pretty good performance, rock-hard reliability and a good level of comfort, puts it in an enviable position in the competitive market.

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