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  1. Five of the best: selling cars of 2009 so far
  2. Ford Fiesta, No need to be blue, oval
  3. Ford Focus, British institution
  4. Vauxhall Corsa, Grand little Griffin
  5. Vauxhall Astra, Class understudy
  6. Volkswagen Golf, Quality for the masses

Volkswagen Golf, Quality for the masses

Ever since the Mk IV came along in 1997, the Golf has been as synonymous with quality as Channel Five is with nudity. Unlike the latter shot, it's never been cheap, but for the last three generations it's been effortlessly classless - like a new MINI, a Golf can be legitimately driven by the richest people on earth.

That's why it's still kicking about the top five. Its price means it will never stay at the very top of the sales chart, as does, probably, the fact that it's been dynamically inferior to its main rival - the Focus - ever since the Ford hit showrooms. But GTI apart, it's never been about outright dynamics anyway, rather Audi-rivalling prestige and quality for the masses. It doesn't quite match the Audi for outright build - but it's outselling the four-ringed rival by over a third this year - a ratio that's set to go up with the launch of the predictably excellent Mk VI.

Mark Nichol