This is the definitive ranking of the best and worst medium cars on sale in the UK.

How can we make such a bold claim? Because this list isn’t just based on our opinion. We’ve pulled together tens of millions of key data points on every new car (as well as a growing number of near-new used cars), including more than 15,000 new car reviews from 35 of the UK’s top motoring websites. We also factor in complete safety data from Euro NCAP, reliability data and five-year running cost information.

All this adds up to the most comprehensive analysis of expert opinion and real-world data found anywhere in the motoring world.

Despite the growing move towards SUVs, the variety of medium-sized cars remains huge and is more complex than ever. Several brands have more than one vehicle in this segment, with a variety of body styles like saloons, hatchbacks, estates and liftbacks. There is also plenty of choice when it comes to power, with petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles all available.

Once the second-most important sector of the market after superminis, the medium car segment is now on something of a gradual slide. Buyers who previously drove a traditional hatchback, saloon or estate are increasingly turning to SUVs as family cars.

This sector of the market often includes a couple of different models from the same brand – for example, the BMW 1 Series (hatchback) and BMW 3 Series (saloon and estate) are both found here.

Despite the growing move towards SUVs, the variety of medium-sized cars remains huge and is more complex than ever. Former budget brands such as Hyundai and Kia have upped their game and now produce cars that are every bit as good as traditional family favourites like Ford or Volkswagen.

Meanwhile, premium brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are actively targeting younger buyers to increase their sales, helped by finance offers that bring the cost of their vehicles down to similar monthly payments as cheaper alternatives. In fact, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is consistently one of the UK’s best-selling new cars.

This segment of the new car market offers a wide variety of engine options, so you will almost certainly find something that meets your needs. A growing number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars continue to join the ranks of traditional petrol and diesel models, both from familiar brands and newcomers like Tesla and Polestar.