OKAY, SO LAST week we covered off the smaller end of the market, now we get into the meatier end with the various classes of SUVs, the luxury items and the sportier models.

These categories, to remind you, are based on the categories for the forthcoming Irish Car of the Year voting, of which I am a juror for DoneDeal Cars along with Dave O’Caoimh and they reflect new models which arrived in 2026.

They aren’t necessarily the best cars in the class, but they are the best of the latest bunch.

In a market now which seems to be moving very much towards fully electric cars, the one that I have gone for is, well – not.

The Mazda CX-5 impressed me because of its relatively good value, starting at under €40,000, the really good fit and finish.

The 2.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine puts out 140hp and offers decent fuel economy. It is a handsome thing, too.

Mazda design is up there with the best at the moment and the latest CX-5 is without doubt........

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