Nameplates like Corolla, Cruze, Pulsar and Golf dominate suburban driveways and even country roads.

However, calling them small cars seems a bit odd anyway these days. The growth of the so-called “small” car means a modern Pulsar sedan, for example, has dimensions similar to the original Ford Falcon XK. It is marginally longer, less than 20mm narrower and is taller.

At Country Cars we are often asked which is the best. It is not a simple answer. The best small car for an elderly couple may not necessarily be the same as the best choice for a single parent or a driving enthusiast. So we have decided to produce a bit of a buying guide.

Speaking of practicality, we are deliberately concentrating on popular models with petrol engines and automatic transmissions.

And sadly, we are yet to drive everyday versions of the Honda Civic, Renault Megane and Subaru Impreza so have left them off the list. Having driven performance versions of a couple of them, we suspect they would be pretty competitive.

So, without further ado and in no particular order, here’s our guide to motoring’s small wonders.

TOYOTA COROLLA

AUSTRALIA’S favourite car and still the small car by which all others are measured. Corolla’s reputation is built on reliability and practicality (sometimes at the expense of excitement) but the latest model looks good, is entertaining to drive, and has a more interesting interior than previously. The base engine is a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four with 103kW peak power and the transmission a CVT. It remains a safe bet: nobody ever made a mistake buying a Corolla.

STARTING PRICE*: $23,990

FUEL ECONOMY**: 6.6l/100km

WEEKLY COST**: $162.97

HOLDEN CRUZE

WITH the Cruze, it is a tale of two engines. Equipped with the standard 1.8-litre four and six-speed auto the Cruze is easy on the eye and well-equipped but dull to drive and a tad noisy. However for an extra $1000 there is a delightful 1.4-litre turbo (103kW, 200Nm of torque) which transforms Cruze from an also-ran into a very entertaining device. Build quality has evidently improved since being made in Australia and cost of ownership is great. Just make sure you tick the 1.4T box.

STARTING PRICE*: $22,190

FUEL ECONOMY**: 7.0 l/100km (1.8-litre)

WEEKLY COST***: $156.02 (1.8-litre)

FORD FOCUS

THE interior is busy, fussy and a little old-fashioned (it has a retro-spaceship vibe with heaps of buttons whereas most others have a cleaner, touch-screen arrangement). Where the Focus fights back is on the road. As a car to enjoy driving it may be the pick of our small cars. The base engine is a 1.6-litre four (92kW/159Nm) and the auto a six-speed dual-clutch. It is also among the cheapest to own.

STARTING PRICE*: $22,590

FUEL ECONOMY**: 6.5-l/100km

WEEKLY COST***: $160.33

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

PRESTIGE flavour at a budget price: little wonder the Volkswagen Golf is so fashionable. The appeal goes further: great fuel economy from its 1.4-litre turbo-four (90kW/200Nm) and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, a pleasant ride and a classy interior. The price to pay for this is above average cost of ownership compared with Japanese and South Korean models.

STARTING PRICE*: $24,290

FUEL ECONOMY**: 5.2-l/100km

WEEKLY COST***: $165.12

NISSAN PULSAR

PRESENTING a vastly different personality to virtually every other car in the segment, the Pulsar sedan is more like a comfy medium-sized car rather than a nimble hatch. The power plant is a 1.8-litre (96kW/174Nm) and the transmission a CVT. Ride and handling is on the soft side, which explains the appeal to older buyers. in particular.

STARTING PRICE*: $22,240

FUEL ECONOMY**: 6.7l-100km

WEEKLY COST***: $167.18 (hatch)

MAZDA3

THE classy all-rounder of the pack, which looks and feels a step above most contenders. The base engine is a 2.0-litre petrol four with 114kW peak power and the six-speed conventional automatic is one of the best. We love the interior, the ride and performance. The only bad thing you can say about it is they are so popular you are unlikely to stand out on the road.

STARTING PRICE*: $22,490

FUEL ECONOMY**: 5.8l/100km

WEEKLY COST***: $162.14

MITSUBISHI LANCER

WHILE the Lancer is quite sound from an engineering perspective, the current generation car dates back to 2007 and is showing its age. The 2.0-litre engine (110kW/198Nm) is competitive if a little rowdy, as is the CVT transmission. We don't mind its looks, but the interior is very dated. The Lancer hits back though with the cheapest price and close to the cheapest ownership costs in its class.

STARTING PRICE*: $20,990

FUEL ECONOMY **: 7.3l/100km:

WEEKLY COST***: $160.06

HYUNDAI i30 / ELANTRA

AS THE office runabout Country Cars is very familiar with the Hyundai i30 hatch (the sedan is called Elantra). It is easy to drive (if not overly exciting), comfortable, generally well built and the layout and look of the controls is quite attractive. The 1.8-litre engine (107kW/175Nm) is about mid-park as is the six-speed automatic.

STARTING PRICE*: $23,290.00

FUEL ECONOMY**: 7.1-l/100km

WEEKLY COST***: $160.51 (Elantra)

KIA CERATO

VIRTUALLY everything which can be said for the i30 applies for the Kia Cerato because they are very close relatives. Do you prefer blue instrument lighting (Hyundai) or red (Kia)? Kia quotes figures of 110kW and 179Nm for the 1.8-litre engine but there is nothing in it. Just like the Hyundai, the Cerato is a vast improvement over its predecessors.

STARTING PRICE*: $22,290.00

FUEL ECONOMY**: 7.1-l/100km

WEEKLY COST***: $161.21

PEUGEOT 308

THE Pug is back in the game with an impressive new model after trailing the pack for while. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine (96kW/230Nm) makes up for any lack of size with plenty of character and impressive economy and the six-speed automatic is a vast improvement on the previous four-speed.

STARTING PRICE*: $23,990

FUEL ECONOMY**: 5.1-l/100km

WEEKLY COST***: not available

* recommended retail price, not including on-road costs

** official ADR81/02 combined cycle

*** RACV Driving Your Dollars survey (based on selected models), 2014 (www.racv.com.au): includes fuel, servicing, depreciation and other expenses.