CarBuyer's most popular video reviews 2013

As another great year of motoring draws to a close we celebrate with CarBuyer’s best videos of 2013. In the past 12 months we have tested everything from big executive saloons to 4x4 SUVs, small executive saloons, small hatchbacks and family cars. So, to celebrate, we take a look at the videos that you have watched most this year.

1. Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is CarBuyer's most popular video of 2013. The Sportage is a landmark car for Kia offering some of the best looks in its SUV class, a hugely practical cabin, a knockdown price and an excellent seven-year warranty. It can also be specced in either two-wheel drive to improve economy, or four-wheel drive for extra grip in slippery conditions. It is also comfortable to drive on the straights, and fun to drive in the corners.

2. Audi A4

The Audi A4 executive saloon is one of the most popular models in its class, so it’s no surprise that its review is our second most watched video. It blends good looks, with plenty of practicality and a good choice of engines that give a mixture of economy and performance. It might not be as fun to drive as a BMW 3 Series, but we expect the A4 will remain one of the most popular videos on CarBuyer.

3. Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta may be relatively cheap to buy, but it is one of our favourite cars and your third most popular video on CarBuyer. It is fun to drive, stylish to look at and has a modern cabin, too. It can be specced with Ford’s excellent EcoBoost engine, which means the Fiesta is quick and gives economy of nearly 66mpg and CO2 emission of less than 100g/km.

4. Peugeot 208

The Peugeot 208 supermini is a direct rival to the Ford Fiesta and, as with the Ford, it’s good to look at inside and outside. It has a decent range of economical petrol and diesel engines and is also comfortable and quiet on the motorway. It’s not as fun to drive as the Fiesta, though, which may be why it got nudged into fifth place as our most viewed video. Also not so good is the steering wheel, which can obscure some of the dials on the dashboard.

5. Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai is the fifth most viewed video on the CarBuyer site and one of our favourite cars. Nissan caught out its rivals when it launched the Nissan Qashqai, and they’ve been playing catch up ever since. The Qashqai blends the driving characteristics of a normal car with a raised ride height, which means it gives a good view of the road ahead and is easy to get in and out of. It also drives like a normal car and can offer decent economy.

6. Volkswagen Golf

“It is the only car you will ever need” is how Mat Watson described the Volkswagen Golf in his video review, so it’s no surprise that it made it into our top ten most viewed videos at number six. The VW is fun to drive, comfortable and practical. But where the Golf really leaves its competitors behind is in the quality of its construction especially the interior, which wouldn’t look out of place in an executive saloon.

7. Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is fun to drive, economical, capable of heading off-road and practical. No wonder it is one of our most viewed video reviews. The firm suspension means the Mazda goes round corners very well, while its 2.2-litre diesel engine can manage more than 60mpg. Space in the back for two is good, but it gets tighter when you try to fit three people, and there could be more storage areas.

8. Ford Focus

The Ford Focus has been one of the UK’s most popular hatchbacks since it was launched, so it was always going to be a popular review. It is one of the best handling cars in its class, and is as much at home in the corners as it is on the motorways. The suspension can sometimes feel a bit too firm in town, though. The new model has more head and legroom for passengers, and the interior also looks nice even if it isn’t as well built as the Volkswagen Golf’s.

9. Mercedes E-Class

The Mercedes E-Class has just received a major facelift, which has catapulted it straight into our top ten most viewed videos. The revised E-Class is even better than the model it replaced, and it was already pretty good. The Mercedes is fun to drive, but really comes into its own as a comfortable cruiser, and it has an excellent range of engines. Inside, the seats are comfy and the cabin is spacious, although three adults may find it a bit tight in the back.

10. BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series has always blended hatchback practicality with fun handling, so it deserves its place in our top ten most viewed videos. The new model claims to keep the good parts of the old car, while improving on the bad parts. The boot is now bigger and the rear seats fold almost completely flat. There is also a decent number of cubbyholes. Best of all, the BMW also has fun handling despite also being comfortable in town.