Hoot top tens Most satisfying cars

If you're thinking about buying a new car, chances are that you're not that interested in which of the available models is the fastest or flashiest - but knowing in advance which ones were the most satisfying would be a real help.

That's because the specifications of a car - it's engine size, top speed, number of airbags and so on - are only useful up to a point. You can put the numbers side by side for a model comparison, or punch them into a website to check the prices of online car insurance, but they can never really tell you what the car feels like to drive and to own.

Taking a test drive is one answer, but if you've spread the net any wider than about four or five options (and with the number of models available today that's more than likely) trekking from garage to garage for viewings is more likely put you off buying a car altogether than it will help you to choose one.

To help out drivers in the same predicament, What Car? magazine publishes a yearly "UK Car Customer Satisfaction Index" - which among other things yields a top ten list of new car buys that make people the happiest.

The 2007 top ten was based on findings from over 18,000 owners. Participants were asked to rate their cars based on a range of factors, including reliability, comfort, performance, fuel consumption, and the availability of cheap car insurance.

The Top Ten most satisfying new cars:

10. Toyota Yaris
One of four Toyotas in the top ten (and one of eight Japanese cars), the Yaris has been a hit with British motorists since its launch in 1999. The latest models are roomier than previous incarnations, but still smaller and consequently more agile than most other superminis. The Yaris is very safe and reliable, but let down a little by its plasticky interior.

9. Toyota Corolla (tied with Toyota Avensis)
The Corolla is currently the best-selling car in the world, and it's easy to see why. Smart and roomy on the inside and stylish on the outside, the hatchback also boasts excellent safety features, smooth handling and the ever-reliable Toyota engine.

8. Toyota Avensis
A great family car, the Avensis has acres of room both for passengers and luggage and is extremely well put-together - it was the first Japanese car to get an NCAP 5-star rating. Great for school runs and motorway cruising, but it can come a little unstuck handling-wise at higher speeds.

7. Skoda Fabia
Skoda's supermini borrows much of its excellent design and build quality from the VW Polo, but it costs a fraction of the price. Good handling and braking help it feel like a much bigger car from the inside.

6. Honda Accord
Another classy family saloon from another excellent Japanese firm, the latest Accord has more of a sports car look and feel about it than its predecessors. Its build quality and interior styling are superb.

5. Skoda Octavia
A second appearance for the Czech manufacturer and the highest-placing European car. The Octavia saloon offers unrivalled boot space and all-round roominess, both for driver and passengers. The current second-generation model handles excellently in all conditions and displays a refinement that belies its modest price tag.

4. Lexus RX
The first SUV in the top ten is Lexus' biggest selling model, designed to combine the ruggedness of an off-road vehicle with the ride and features of a luxury saloon. Uniquely among SUV's, the RX is available with a hybrid engine - offering eco-friendly owners a break from traditionally high 4X4 car insurance premiums.

3. Honda Jazz
The innovative Jazz is the size of a regular supermini, but it's styled like a MPV - with fold down seats and oodles of room for five passengers. The Honda engine gives terrific fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance, and the car's quirkiness makes it great fun to drive.

2. Lexus IS (tied with Toyota Prius)
Lexus' saloon offers all the luxury and high performance of its German rivals (notably the BMW 3-Series) at a substantially reduced price. Sleek and stylish inside and out, the IS handles beautifully and seems to glide along thanks to its whisper-quiet engine. Besides that, top-of-the-range models come with more extras and gadgets than the Batmobile.

1. Toyota Prius
The famous hybrid shares the satisfaction top spot with its luxurious cousin (Lexus being a Toyota subsidiary). While the original version appealed to what was then a niche market for greener transport, the second edition has set its sights on the mainstream - offering the performance and functionality of the best petrol hatchbacks on top of its eco-friendly credentials and unrivalled fuel efficiency. Plus the fringe benefits of owning a Prius are unbeatable: cheaper car insurance, exemption from the London congestion charge and £1,000 cashback from the government when you buy one.

Online car insurance from Hoot
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