Rock and a hard place

Can Peugeot's new family car emerge as a class leader, or will it find itself stuck in no-man's land like its predecessor? We've lined up rivals from Seat and Toyota to find out

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Toyota Corolla

1.8 Hybrid 122 Design

List price £28,855

Target Price £26,469

The Corolla has always impressed us with its comfy ride and excellent fuel economy. Updates to its infotainment system should make it even more recommendable

NEW

Peugeot 308

1.2 Puretech 130 Allure Premium EAT8

List price £28,020

Target Price £27,738

The previous 308 was never a great buy, but Peugeot has been on a roll with some of its other models. Does the latest 308 follow suit?

Seat Leon

1.5 eTSI Evo 150 FR DSG

List price £29,195

Target Price £28,616

The Leon is our reigning Family Car of the Year in regular 1.5-liter petrol form. This time it's represented in a more powerful mild hybrid guise and with an automatic gearbox

We're not here to preach. It's your money and you can and should do whatever you choose with it. But before you go and buy a new SUV because most of your neighbours have one or you've seen a slick TV ad with a happy family going wakeboarding, there are a few things you might want to consider.

An equivalent family hatchback would be a cheaper option. It would also drink less fuel - which, even if you aren't that fazed by the cost of living crisis, is a good thing for the environment. It would most likely be nearly as practical. And it isn't just the boring, sensible stuff, either, because being closer to the ground helps make a car more agile, which in turn means you can have more fun behind the wheel.