We bought a record 1.14 million new vehicles in 2013, Now the manufacturers are hoping we’ll buy even more in 2014. Paul Murrell lists what new cars are on the way.

The BMW 116i may be an entry-level model as far as BMW is concerned but it doesn’t have an entry-level price. Tony Bosworth asks if the five-door hatchback represents good value for money, and does it really deliver the goods?

Mazda has finally succumbed to the push for capped priced servicing and reconsiders its mandatory six-month service demands. The company hasn’t made it clear how this impacts existing owners.

The Proton Exora is touted as Australia’s cheapest (sorry, “least expensive”) seven-seater. Does it have more to offer than a price advantage?

The new Kia Cerato Koup marks a number of firsts for the company: the first Kia with a turbocharged engine, and the first Kia you may just buy because it looks so good.

It’s reckoned to be the world’s biggest and glitziest car show, and Frankfurt certainly didn’t disappoint this time round as the wraps were taken off a host of new and exciting cars, many of which are headed this way, reports Tony Bosworth.

The Fiat 500 has never really been a serious choice for Australian motorists, but with a price cut and cute looks that might be about to change. It also makes a strong case for itself against the other “retro” contenders such as the VW Beetle and Mini, which are bought more for image than any compelling practical reasons.

If you’re in the market for a highly sensible new car with all the attributes of a small car but the space and practicality of a mid-size car, the Nissan Almera almost stands alone. You’ll miss out on a few of life’s little luxuries, but you shouldn’t get too many complaints from the back seat.

Overall, the Sorento 3.5 Si 2WD is a nice competent seven-seater that rides and handles well, has a grunty and refined drivetrain, and a decent amount of standard features. It’s the perfect alternative to some of the pricier seven-seaters on the market, but for families that like to get their feet dirty, you’ll need to pay more for the 4WD variant.

The new Honda CR-V may not exactly get the blood pumping, but by every measure it offers more of what you want and need, and less of what you don’t. It’s a conjuring trick that Honda’s designers and engineers can be proud of.