MotorMouths

Behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz, E63 AMG is an empowering place to be. It’s hard to see where AMG can go from this kind of benchmark, although with each new model the specialists seem to eke out ever higher figures.

In the rarefied world of bespoke performance cars, the Aston Martin DBS still has an unbeatable aura. And the DBS Volante matches its coupe sibling in terms of performance and agility.

The Lamborghini Murcielago has pedigree. It has eccentricities and foibles. In short, it has previous form. For the deep-pocketed purist, nothing else comes close.

The Lexus RX Hybrid is a supremely comfortable place in which to wait out the inevitable spots of congestion, the knowledge that the engine is switched off, silent, and contributing precisely zero CO2 to the world around you a small salve on the conscience.

The Range Rover Sport remains an unrivalled off-road drive, a Land Rover core value that the company is thankfully unwilling to dispense with.

The Toyota Prius is an utterly practical, discretely designed and easy-to-use machine, one that delivers some of the very lowest CO2 figures on the market.

The GL’s quibbles don’t seem to bother the Mercedes loyal customer base, however, implying that familiarity breeds confidence when it comes to the 4×4 driving style.

The Nissan 370Z is a plaything first and foremost, a car that demands twisting, empty roads, as well as plenty of time in hand for an extended detour.

The Honda Insight demonstrates that hybrids have truly come of age. The sensible price and functional, well-built interior is pitched at the consumer in the market for economical, trouble-free motoring with just a slight whiff of techno-futurism.