Deciding which cars to include in this list has been nothing but difficult. And no wonder, considering that German cars comprised over 30% of car sales last year. Audi, Porsche, BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Opel/Vauxhall are manufactured in Germany (to name a few!).
So how do you choose the best from the best? We decided to review hatchbacks, estate cars and performance models to determine which manufacturer’s car is the best with a capital B! To make things even easier, we presented the criteria that helped us decide – namely reliability, performance, styling and costs (ranging from 1–5 stars, 5* being the highest).
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Unsurprisingly, based on reviews (mostly by Jeremy Clarkson), the best Mercedes Benz model seems to be the S-Class. It has been around for over 40 years – for good reason! This car is virtually noise-free and driving it is smooth and effortless. The best seller is the S350 diesel, and we decided to review it in particular. It flaunts 18-inch alloys, leather trim and all-LED highlights.
Reliability****: It’s quite a reliable car, with a solid body and many safety features.
Performance**** The 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine won’t do you wrong. The S350 goes 0–62mph in around 6.8 seconds!
Styling*****: Luxurious and stylish as ever! All comes with a price though…
Costs***: The costs of running this beast are quite high and thus we gave it a 3-star score, however…if you can’t afford this car, you sure can afford the petrol!
Audi RS 6
In my opinion all Audi cars are amazing, but the RS6 tops the list! It a fast estate car with a beautiful face. Its price tag is quite high, but customers say it’s worth the money! Key specs include 8-speed gearbox, LED headlamps and sat nav.
Reliability*****: The RS 6 is a very reliable and solid estate car. It also features very high-tech safety technology.
Performance****: This model has a smaller engine than its predecessors, but it’s still quite big and powerful – 552bhp 4.0 V8. It’s faster than the Mercedes S350, going 0–60mph in 3.7 seconds. Wow!
Styling****: Somewhat aggressive styling on this model, with crisp and stylish features both on the inside and the outside.
Costs***: Quite costly to run, however there are some eco-friendly versions available, that are more economical to run.
BMW 3 Series Touring
Yet again, it was extremely difficult to judge which the best BMW is – they are all excellent! The German genius has managed to excel in everything – hatchbacks, performance and estate cars; BMW has got it all covered. Reviewers say that the 3 Series Touring is the best model ever as it combines luxury with a family car – and so can be used for various purposes. Some of its spec includes 17” light alloys, LED driving and rear lights and a multi-function steering wheel.
Reliability*****: Good handling of this car, which allows for greater reliability. This model also features amazing safety extras such as blind spot warning and lane keep assist. No wonder it’s got a five-star Euro NCAP rating!
Performance*****: It might be an estate car, but this model is certainly a beast on the road. A six-cylinder 300d engine promises and delivers! The smaller wheels allow for top-class handling. On top of all this goodness, BMW offers a Driver Performance Control system, which helps you set up the steering and stability,
Styling***: It’s stylish but nothing too surprising in the way the exterior or the interior look.
Costs****: It’s impressively economical to run, as its engine is equipped with stop-start, which enhances fuel economy. If you are eco conscious, go for the 320d diesel, as it has a return of 125g/km of CO2.
Volkswagen XL1 SEV
Volkswagen might as well be the king of affordable and reliable cars. Surprisingly, our list was topped by their latest model, which is neither. The XL1 is futuristic, exclusive and expensive. Ladies and gentleman, we give you… the world’s first green hypercar! We recently picked our top five green cars. It was built to use less than one-litre per 100km (63miles) and it looks like a tiny spaceship on the inside. It’s also very light and sleek.
Reliability****: Not many people have driven this car just yet, but overriding opinion is that the car is very, very reliable as it has many high-tech safety features.
Performance****: This model is relatively fast and its skinny tyres and great handling made us give this model a 4-star rating. What you’ll find under the bonnet also contributed to this score – it features a two-cylinder 47bhp turbo diesel engine and a 27bhp electric motor. It goes 0–62 mph in 12.7 seconds, which is not so fast…
Styling*****: Stylish is this model’s second name. The car is small and light, and the design is as novel as it could get. The styling inside is also following the concept of a green, lean and sleek car.
Costs*****: If we could give it more than 5 stars, we would. This model was built with economy in mind when talking about running costs. However, the price of the car is much more than any other in the VW range.