Porsche Boxster punches its weight

Today as the new ‘56’ number plates are launched and sales of new cars set to soar, Which? Car reveals Britain’s most loved and loathed cars.

The most popular car in this year’s survey, which is now available all year round at which.co.uk/cars, is the Porsche Boxster — a phenomenal 98 per cent of owners would definitely recommend it to a friend. Those lucky enough to own one praised every aspect of this open-top sports car’s driving performance.

Other highly rated cars are the Mazda MX-5 (1998-05), a Porsche Boxster on a shoestring, with 95 per cent owner recommendation; the Land Rover Discovery (92 per cent) which owners find good to drive, practical and well designed; and the Toyota Yaris Verso (2002-05) with 92 per cent despite owners admitting it’s no oil painting.

Down at the bottom of the table is the Rover 25 (1999-05), which a mere 27 per cent of owners would recommend. The best thing owners could say about this car is that it has very good boot space.

Other contenders for the wooden spoon are the outgoing Land Rover Freelander (33 per cent) — owners find it sluggish, not much fun to drive, uncomfortable and costly to run; Vauxhall Vectra (1995-02) with 34 per cent — miserable to drive and dull to look at, both inside and out; and the Peugeot 306 (1993-02) with 36 per cent — popular in its day but owners no longer have a good word to say about it.

Which? Car also reveals this year’s Best Buys — cars that owners can’t fail to love. From the humble Honda Jazz to the exclusive BMW 5 Series, all Best Buys are good to drive, practical, comfortable, safe and secure. But they also keep their owners happy and are less likely to have mechanical trouble.

Awards also go for the first time to the best green cars for fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. The Toyota Prius, Citroën C1 diesel, Toyota Aygo diesel and bio-fuel cars from Ford and Saab earn the plaudits.

Richard Headland, editor, Which? Car, says: “We collected information on more than 32,000 cars this year from the people who know best – the owners. We also carry out our own expert road tests and rate safety and security to give new or used car buyers straightforward, no-nonsense advice.”