Front-loading CD/Radio and MP3 systems with steering wheel controls are standard on all of these cars, along with trip computers and electric windows. Electric mirrors are standard on all but the Clio. Those with some tech savvy will appreciate the Ford’s ergonomic advancement. Well, not only are the controls laid out like a cell phone, but it also offers blue tooth for your phone connection and voice control.

Luckily these cars have avoided going altogether too gimmicky with spec, and it’s good to see that they’ve used manual climate controls rather than higher-grade automatic systems that don’t work properly in most cases anyway.

Practicality a plus

Clearly, commuting is no longer just getting from A to B and the high specification levels found in this quartet prove that the only way to move up the ladder is to constantly improve. Practicality in these cars has certainly taken a great leap with the latest incarnations and inside they’re really not much smaller than your traditional C-segment cars. They all offer ample rear leg-room, but the Yaris is a little bigger in the back, but you pay for that with a really pathetically small boot that will be a real headache come holiday time. The others have reasonably-sized boots.

The ‘growing up’ phenomenon also applies to the performance race. Small four pot engines now need to return performance akin to older 2-litres while returning small diesel-like consumption figures. We chose the smaller-engined derivatives from the various stables because of price relevance but obviously if you have more cash to blow then it is worth looking at the 1500 and 1600 versions.

The bigger Ford measured in well in the consumption race, finishing just behind the smaller capacity Mazda and ahead of the Toyota by the narrowest of margins. The Clio’s claimed consumption is a little poorer than the rest of the pack.

When it comes to performance, surprisingly it was the Yaris that proved quicker from 0-100km/h in our tests done at altitude. Its time of 12.4 seconds was only fractionally ahead of the Ford’s 12.6, while the Mazda and Renault trailed far behind, taking 14.2 seconds.

Stopping power is decent on all four but the pedal hypersensitivity takes a bit of getting used to in the Yaris and Clio. It is the same for the Yaris’ steering, which is very light and over-sensitive at speed. The Mazda2 steering feels rather good, while the Fiesta and Renault top the pile with lightweight, but not skittish, wheel action. Ride quality is good for all and thankfully so much better than the old entry-level offerings. Ford and Renault would also be my choice for carving up the twisty stuff, closely followed by the Mazda. The Yaris feels a little too top-heavy and doesn’t quite inspire.

So if I was making decent inroads up the corporate ladder, which upstart would I move up the ranks with - Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Renault Clio3 or Toyota Yaris? The Mazda currently holds the SAGMJ Car of the Year title, so must be worth a stab. The Toyota is the cheapest here and has that all-important brand name tagged on.

The Renault suffers the opposite to a certain degree, a good product with a bad wrap. In the UK, Ford is the business and it is amazing they aren’t held in better regard locally. That is going to change and the new Fiesta will lead the way for the blue oval.

My next right-hand man would be the Fiesta, no doubt about it.