Our choice: Honda Civic e:HEV Sport

Like Toyota with its Corolla, Honda has stuck to the traditional family hatchback template for its latest Civic – and it’s all the better for it.

Incredibly, the Japanese machine is in its 11th generation, but it shows no signs of slowing down or resting on its laurels. Bigger, more accommodating and easier to live with than ever, this is the super-sensible family car honed to as near perfection as possible.

Ignore the wild Honda Civic Type R fast flagship and the Civic is essentially hybrid-only these days. Like the HR-V crossover and Jazz supermini, it uses the brand’s clever e:HEV drivetrain, which in most situations uses the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as a generator for a 1.05kWh battery that powers a 181bhp electric drive motor. It sounds convoluted, but in partnership with the CVT, it makes for surprisingly swift and smooth progress, while throttle response is keener than you might expect. There’s even a Sport mode that allows the engine to get in on the action more often and adds a pleasingly rorty engine note.

Its fuel economy won’t quite beat that of the Toyota Corolla, but it will get close, and for those who can’t easily plug in, it’s a sight better than most heavier PHEVs might deliver.

More importantly, the chassis is better still. Here’s a fairly humble hatchback that’s genuinely stimulating to hustle, with quick steering, strong grip and impressive body control that also manifests itself in a composed and comfortable ride. Yet it’s relaxing when you just want to mooch, with low noise levels and easy-going controls that make for hassle-free progress whether you’re slicing through town or pounding along motorways.

Elsewhere, the Civic has all the family car bases covered, with a roomy interior, a big boot and more standard kit than you can shake a BMW options brochure at. It even has a user-friendly dashboard that includes physical controls for the most commonly used infotainment and ventilation functions.