About as cultured as Vinnie Jones performing Shakespeare on the Big Brother stage, the Cube will be bigger than Avatar in 2010. No really. James Cameron's epic motion picture transports us into a 3D fantasy world. The Cube looks like something out of bad Orwellian novel. But fear not. Nissan's ugly off-spring has just been named one of the 50 cars that changed the world by the London Design Museum, indicating this little City car will become something of an icon in its own right.
Click here to view the NISSAN CUBE
Prices start from 14,000 for the 1.6-litre petrol unit that includes a glass roof, rear privacy glass and Bluetooth and cruise control. A 1.5-litre diesel will be added in May 2010. A genuine blockbuster.
WANT a budget car that delivers more than low bills? The New Citroen C3 goes on sale during 2010 at just over 10,000. What impresses most is the light feel. For that reason, this is one of Citroen's most CO2-efficient models, which means of course that buyers pay less road tax.
The Citroen designers have focused on minimising weight and optimising aerodynamics, snazzier than a Floyd Mayweather combination. But there's more to the C3 than fast and efficient performance (up to 48.7mpg for petrol models, and up to 74.3mpg on diesel versions). Citroen has focused on style, quality and space too. The panoramic Zenith windscreen (better than the Vauxhall design) is just one extra feature that will mark this one out as a benchmark of engineering in the small car market for 2010.
Click here to view the Citroen C3
New technologies include the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost direct injection petrol. A semi-automatic parallel parking and a blind-spot detection system are among the many affordable safety features that will popularise the industry over the next decade. To be launched in the second half of 2010 in the 17,000 - 23,500 price range.
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Unbeatable value from Hyundai in 2010. The 2010 entry-level model - the i30 Classic will come with a 1.4 petrol or 1.6 diesel, and includes AirCon, ESP and front electric windows. Starting price is 312,000.
Click here to view the new Hyundai i30
If you like a good looker, watch this Seat become the most desirable estate on the market in 2010. Sleek and sporty, it's expected to sell for just over 11,000 from the middle of the year. But this car is not just about a good style. With a 410-litre boot and rear seats that fold flat, this Ibiza is a practical too.
Click here to view the new Seat Ibiza ST
The Volkswagen Passatt range for 2010 has made the headlines for new equipment and price, but check out the new Scirocco that went on sale on January 4. If the entry-level engine 1.4-litre TSI 122 PS engine is efficient, so is the price tag at just under 19,000 on the road. The two-door compact coupe accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in less than 10 seconds, and tops out at 124 mph.
A summer launch for the Meriva, Vauxhall's five-seat MPV. With a longer wheelbase and a hybrid platform, the car has something in common with the family-based Astra and Insignia.A sure winner for 2010 with fuel consumption 15% better than the outgoing model. From about 314,000.
A landmark year for Toyota in terms of hybrid innovation. The ground-breaking Toyota Auris Hybrid will be built at the Burnaston factory. Engines will be supplied by the Deeside facility in North Wales. At less than 18,000, the expected launch date is late 2010. Toyota's first full hybrid to be built in Europe, and the first hybrid to be built in the UK. Another one to look out for.
Peugeot will launch the i0n at the end of 2010 - an electric vehicle that can travel 80 miles on a single charge. A nice a touch.With four doors, four seats and a turning circle of 4.50m, this could be the perfect motor for City driving.
But if more storage capacity is your thing, then prepare to get excited by the Peugeot 5008, which goes on sale in February from 17,000. Seating for up to seven people, automatic electric parking brake with Hill Assist, Energy Saver tyres and air conditioning as standard. That's a lot of standard extras.
The 5008 Exclusive model includes a Cielo panoramic glass roof, automatic headlamps and wipers), Distance Alert, rear parking aid, USB and Bluetooth hands-free equipment and climate control air conditioning.
