The original ford ka was one of the pioneers of the fashionable city car class when it made its debut in 1996. Boldly styled, great to drive and cheap to run, the small ford was a huge hit. An all-new model was launched in 2008. The only engine available is the italian brand’s 68bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol, which is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox – there’s no automatic option.

However, ford has given the ka’s suspension a thorough overhaul, meaning it features sharper handling and a more controlled ride than its fiat relatives. It’s also a fraction more refined. That said, even with these tweaks the ka lags behind the best in the city car class for driving excitement and comfort.