Supermini, estate, hatchback or MPV? With thousands of cars to choose from, buying the wrong one can be a costly mistake. Read this essential guide to find the right car for you.

Lifestyle
A number of factors should influence your decision making process:
* Your finances - how much are you willing to spend?
* Your family - how many passengers will you have?
* Your location - city living or rural idyll?
* Eco-friendly - how important are the car’s CO2 emissions to you?

Type of car
1. Supermini / compact vehicles

These cars have low engine sizes and are generally easy to drive. They’re ideal for new drivers, someone with a small family or a tight budget. Fuel economy is good and tax is low - but so is the performance and size.
Typical examples: Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 207, Ford KA, Mini Cooper

2. Hatchback
One of the most popular type of cars on the road today, hatchbacks have two rows of seats with an integrated cargo space in the back passenger cabin.

The seats can usually fold down to provide more luggage space, accessed from a top-hinged tailgate at the back of the vehicle. Sizes vary, but these are reliable, all-around vehicles and tend to make good family cars.
Typical examples: Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, Honda Civic

The shape, design and feel of a vehicle’s exterior is what everyone else will see - so choose wisely

3. MPV (Multi-purpose Vehicle) / People Carrier
Perfect for the motorist with a large family or many passengers.

These cars have plenty of luggage space, seven or eight seats - but also take up more room on the road.
Typical examples: Ford Galaxy, Citröen Grand C4 Picasso, Chrysler Voyager, Vauxhall Zafira, Volkswagen Touran

4. Sports
If speed, style and panache are your thing, then a high-performance sports car may be what you’re after. Most are rear-wheel drive, with two seats, two doors, superior power and manoeuvrability.

But they don’t come cheap - and may be more expensive to run and insure. Fuel economy tends to be low, but they can look, feel and sound impressive.
Typical examples: Lotus Elise, Audi TT, Lamborghini Murciélago, Ferrari F355, Porsche 911, Mazda MX-5, Vauxhall VX220

5. Estate / saloon
A passenger car with a longer body style than a hatchback but less room than an MPV.

They make good family and executive vehicles, and usually have an assortment of extra features to offer, such as leather seats, electric sunroofs and in-car temperature management systems.
Typical examples: Volvo V70, Mercedes E-class, Jaguar XJ, Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Mondeo, Audi A4/A6

6. SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) / 4x4
These off-road vehicles have good towing capabilities, strong engines and passenger space similar to an estate.

Most have four-wheel drive capabilities for increased traction, but their larger size is something to bear in mind - especially in built-up areas. Fuel consumption is generally inefficient, but SUVs are highly reliable vehicles.
Typical examples: Land Rover Range Rover, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Rav 4, Hummer H3, Honda Pilot, Subaru Forester

Features
The features and accessories a car has to offer are further considerations to take into account - do you want a car with a heated windscreen, seven seats and a 2-litre engine, or just something simple which will get you from A to B?

Consider the following car features to help narrow your search:

* Amount of seats
Most cars offer five seats - a good amount if you have occasional friends or family members sit in your car. If you have a larger family, you might want to consider a seven or eight-seater MPV or people carrier. Single or sportier motorists sometimes opt for two or four-seater vehicles.

* Boot and luggage space
Ask yourself how often you’ll use the boot and how big it should be. If your job requires lots of equipment to be transported, or you have a huge shopping load, think about going for a family hatchback with roof rack or a van for extra room.

* Size of the car
If you’ve decided you want great luggage space and many seats, then you’ll need a bigger vehicle. Consider fitting into parking spaces and turning circles when deciding on the size of a vehicle.
If you drive by yourself around town, a smaller, zippier vehicle may be the one for you.
* Appearance
The shape, design and feel of a vehicle’s exterior is what everyone else will see - so choose wisely. Do you want something bright, curvy and small, or long, sleek and dark?

Don’t forget extras like metallic paint, colour and modified body kits can make a large impact on how your car looks.

You’ll also want an interior you feel comfortable in - take the time to browse dealer brochures and view pictures from inside the car you’re after.

* Safety features
Probably the single most important factor to take in when considering a car is how safe it is - even more so if you have a family.

Measure how many airbags it has and always check the Euro NCAP’s star ratings for each car before you buy.

* Performance and engine
How well a car performs is an important factor - the acceleration time from 0 to 60mph may be important if you use the motorways a lot, as will the brake horse power.

The engine size is another important factor to consider. Remember the higher the performance, the higher your insurance cost is likely to be.

* Fuel type
The most popular fuel types are petrol, which performs well, and diesel, which has lower CO2 emissions. More environmentally friendly motorists may opt for electric, bioethanol or hybrid vehicles.

Remember the more CO2 the car emits, the higher the tax will be. It’s also a good idea to find out how many miles to the gallon your car burns.