SUVs may be all the rage these days but when it comes to the most popular segment of the new car market the small car still reigns.

That's, at least in part, because of the intense competition between the brands with new models arriving in a steady routine. The last 18 months have been a particularly busy time with new or updated models from most of the big players.

In recent times both the top-sellers, the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, have been given mid-life upgrades. Last year also saw the arrival of the all-new Holden Astra and Subaru Impreza.

We tested that quartet earlier in 2017 and it was the Subaru that came out on top. But since then a new wave of small cars have arrived to take on the reigning champ.

First up we have the third best-selling model, the all-new Hyundai i30, next the hatch version of the Honda Civic and finally the new 'Generation 7.5' Volkswagen Golf.

We're putting these four to the test in high grade form to see which one stands out in the crowded marketplace.

Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S

Photos: Mark Bean

Using the company's new modular underpinnings as a base, the Impreza is lighter, stiffer, wider and has a longer wheelbase than the previous Impreza. That contributes to improved on-road manners, introducing a level of refinement not previous seen on the model.

The Impreza rides with composure and offers refined handling with nicely weighted and direct steering.

It is also the only one of this group with all-wheel drive. While that helps with traction on slippery surfaces, the majority of the time it doesn't offer a significant advantage over its opposition.

Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that offers 115kW of power and 196Nm of torque. While that's more power than the Volkswagen, it has the least torque of this group and it shows on the road.

Coupled with the Continuously Variable Transmission the Impreza's weakness is its performance off the mark. It can feel a little underwhelming from take-off as the engine labours to build speed.

It isn't a particularly efficient powertrain either, using 7.2-litres per 100km.

Where it wins points back is when you look at its value. Starting at $29,190 the Impreza is the cheapest in this test by $3100 (over the Honda) but comes well equipped.

Standard gear includes 18-inch alloys, sunroof,  leather accented upholstery, dual-zone air-conditioning, a hi-res 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In addition to that the 2.0i-S offers a comprehensive safety package that includes Subaru's EyeSight active safety features (forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, pre-collision steering assistance and adaptive cruise control) plus blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and reversing camera.

Subaru's improvement in quality carries over to the interior where the fit and finish is near the top of the class.

Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S pricing and specifications

Price: From $29,190 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol

Power: 115kW at 6000rpm

Torque: 196Nm at 4000rpm

Transmission: CVT, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.2L/100km

Hyundai i30 SR Premium

The South Korean brand has been powering on a steady upward trajectory for more than a decade. This new generation i30 is another leap forward, taking the brand from its 'cheap and cheerful' past to its current position as a rival to the biggest names in the industry.

We're driving the new i30 SR Premium, the top-of-the-range model powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

It's good for 150kW and 265Nm which makes it the most powerful of this lot. While this isn't meant to be a hot hatch those figures would have made it one in the not too distant past.

On the road it feels punchy, with good pulling power off the mark and strong performance across the rest of the rev range. If there's a criticism of the powerplant it's that it doesn't sound very refined, with a gruff note that detracts slightly from an otherwise good engine.

It's backed up by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which offers slick shifts on the move and feels smoother at low speeds than other gearboxes of this kind.

Fuel economy is far from class-leading though, despite the more advanced powertrain, using 7.5L/100km, the most of this group.

One of the key's to Hyundai's improvement is its decision to invest in local suspension and steering tuning to tailor its cars to Australia's unique road conditions. That decision shines through with this latest i30.

Given its sporty bias the ride is firm but it settles quickly over bumps so it doesn't feel uncomfortably stiff. Instead it helps the i30 feel responsive and agile in its handling, something that is helped by well sorted steering.

However, just because the brand has improved the quality and dynamics of its cars it hasn't forgotten about value.

The i30 SR Premium is priced from $33,950 and comes loaded with 18-inch alloys, dual-zone air-conditioning, heated and ventilated front sports seats, leather-appointed upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, panoramic sunroof, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

It also gets Hyundai's SmartSense suite of active safety includes autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control plus a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Inside, the car lives up its name with a premium presentation for a small hatch. While the cabin is dominated by dark plastics, the design is good and red stitching on the wheel and seats lift the presentation.

Hyundai i30 SR Premium pricing and specifications

Price: From $33,950 plus on-road costs

Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 150kW at 6000rpm

Torque: 265Nm at 1500-4500rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.5L/100km

Honda Civic RS

Honda has opted for a staggered launch with its latest generation Civic, rolling out the sedan in 2016 before the hatch joined the line-up.

The Japanese brand has high hopes for the 10th generation model, believing it will return the Civic to a popular small car option after it descended into a supporting act in recent years.

It certainly stands out from the pack with its 'bold' styling that polarises opinion; within the Drive office there aren't many fans with the consensus being it's a busy design.

We're testing the RS model, which despite its name, isn't a hot hatch (or even the top model in the range). It has the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the VTi-L and VTi-LX models.

It produces 127kW and 220Nm on paper but in the real world it doesn't feel that strong. That's in part because of the CVT gearbox, which drones under hard acceleration, but partly because it lacks punch low in the rev range.

Using a claimed 6.1L/100km puts it in second-place for fuel consumption in this group; but behind the likes of the Golf, Mazda3 and Holden Astra.

The Civic RS may have a hot hatch name but it doesn't handle like one on the road. It's not a bad small car, the ride is good most of the time (although it can be unsettled by repeated bumps) but the steering isn't has responsive and direct as its competition.

The RS is priced from $32,290, which makes it the second cheapest in this contest but that comes with some notable omissions.

What you do get are 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED foglights, central twin exhaust, 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone air-conditioning, heated leather seats and a 425-watt 10-speaker premium sound system.

What's missing is in-car navigation, leaving you to use your smartphone, and any of the active safety features offered as standard on the Subaru and Hyundai. Even worse, you can't option them, you have to upgrade to the $33,590 VTi-LX.

The inside of the Civic continues the same busy styling of the exterior. While the looks won't appeal to everyone it does have good space and plenty of small item storage areas.

Honda Civic RS pricing and specifications

Price: From $32,290 plus on-road costs

Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 127kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 220Nm at 1700-5500rpm

Transmission: CVT automatic, front-wheel-drive

Fuel use: 6.1L/100km

Volkswagen Golf 110TSI Highline

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The range has been overhauled, scrapping the 92kW entry-level engine and readjusting the pricing. We've opted for the range-topping 110TSI Highline which is powered by the 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that forms the core of the range.

As the name implies it produces 110kW, which makes it the least powerful of this quartet, but its 250Nm of pulling power is equal to the i30. The engine is a lesson in the importance of torque, particularly in a small car. Compared to the more powerful Impreza the Golf feels stronger off the mark and has more punch in the mid-range.

It's paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as standard, which offers intuitive shifts on the move but is still plagued occasionally by the occasional jerkiness at low speed that has been a trait of this gearbox for years.

Dynamically the Golf impresses with its composed and controlled ride, albeit one that is firm in typical Volkswagen fashion. The steering is nicely tuned too, weighted just right and with linear progression.

But it's hard to say the Golf is the dynamic benchmark because our test car was fitted with a long list of optional equipment, including VW's progressive steering and lower sports suspension as part of an R-Line package of extras.

Also included in that $2500 option is an R-Line bodykit, 18-inch alloys, aluminium interior trim highlights, black headlining, flat-bottom sports steering wheel and R-Line seats.

Standard equipment included on the Highline is 17-inch alloys, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone air-conditioning, cruise control, LED headlights, eight-speaker sound system, 8.0-inch capacitive touchscreen, CD player, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, navigation, sports seats, panoramic sunroof and leather-appointed upholstery.

Volkswagen has introduced the latest Golf with drive-away pricing, which is $35,990 for the 110TSI Highline. That lasts until the end of September, at which point it is expected to revert to a $34,490 plus on-road costs figure.

Our test car, however, cost more than $41,000 because it had both a $2300 Infotainment package and $1500 Driver Assistance package included.

The former includes the Active Info Display digital dashboard, 9.2-inch touchscreen and 400-watt premium sound system. The latter adds adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and park assist.

Standard safety gear includes autonomous emergency braking, multi-collision brake, a driver fatigue detection system, parking sensors and a reversing camera in addition to full airbag protection.

Given our test car was fitted with an optional dashboard, trim, seats, steering wheel and infotainment system it's hard to make a definitive judgement of the interior presentation in standard form.

Volkswagen Golf 110TSI Highline pricing and specifications

Price: From $35,990 drive-away

Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Power: 110kW at 5000-6000rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 1500-3500rpm;

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive

Fuel use: 5.7L/100km

Verdict

The Honda Civic RS is the first to fall out of the reckoning. Putting aside its styling, it is a good hatchback with a well laid-out cabin and a respectable engine. But its lack of safety equipment and navigation combined with its slightly underwhelming driving experience, compared to the others here, relegates it to fourth place.

Next to drop out of the running is the Volkswagen Golf. Not because it is a bad car, because it is a very good offering. But our test car is fitted with so many options it's hard to make a judgement on it as a $35k proposition.

As it is, fitted with the three option packages, it's without question the best of this four. Stylish, sporty, engaging to drive and efficient with an interior that borders on luxury car, ut that's because at $42k it is priced like a luxury car. 

Second place goes to the Subaru but it's a hard call because it is an excellent all-round small car. It impresses in terms of dynamics, presentation, value and safety. But it is let down by its slightly undernourished engine that falls short of the more effortless performance of its turbocharged rivals here.

Which leaves the Hyundai i30 SR Premium to take a deserved victory. Hyundai has built a small hatch that should be a best-seller not just on price but in every meaningful regard.

It is great to drive, offering a nice balance between comfort and responsiveness, is well presented inside and out and offers great value with its creature comforts and extensive safety features.