Choosing a new vehicle can be harder than splitting the atom. This is because there is so much choice motorists often struggle to know where to start. After all, garage forecourts are literally overflowing with everything from cheap superminis to monstrously large 4x4s.

The key to eliminating unsuitable vehicles is to define your requirements. For example, in simple terms, if you have four kids and a dog there is little merit in considering a car the size of a milk bottle. Equally, if money is tight you would be wise to avoid vehicles that drink fuel like it's going out of fashion and cost more to repair than an ocean liner.

It is also important to recognise that vehicle design is a compromise and that no single machine is good at everything. Okay, perhaps one particular model has enough interior space for a rugby team, but this bulk can make parking tricky. An alternative choice may corner like it's on rails, but sporty cars often have rock solid rides that can shake your fillings lose.

There is very little 'right or wrong' when it comes to choosing a type of car, it is simply a case of finding something that suits your lifestyle and aspirations. The trick is to identify your requirements early in the buying process, before some smooth salesman convinces you to buy a Ford Model T.