Britain"s worst ride...

Britain"s worst ride and handling... Mercedes A-Class (old)

A test driver from a Swedish motoring magazine was carrying out a routine slalom test with Mercedes" forward-thinking A-Class city car - known as an elk test because it simulates swerving around a wild animal which suddenly appears in the road. Before he knew what was happening, the five-door toppled over, sparking off a chassis redesign for Mercedes. All of that is now ancient history, but it seems even nine years down the line, the previous-generation A-Class is still disappointing those who drive it.

Finishing last behind bulky off-roaders and ageing budget models in the ride and handling charts is not what Mer-cedes would have wanted for its first city car. So why has the Merc got such woeful dynamics? It"s largely down to the structure that made it so unique in the first place. A pioneer in terms of passenger car safety, it has a so-called "sandwich floor", with most of the heavy mechanical parts on a different level to the cabin.

As a result, the occupants sit high up in a light and airy cabin with plenty of space and are out of harm"s way should the engine be pushed back in the event of a frontal impact. The downside is the centre of gravity is higher. In everyday driving, that leads to excessive body roll if corners are taken at speed. There is also a tendency for the Mercedes to push wide when cornering, rather than sharply turning into the bend. The hard suspension is the final straw for many.

Still, all is not lost. The new A-Class is no hot hatch, but it"s worlds apart from its predecessor. While it"s too new to make it into Driver Power this year, it"s sure to finish higher up the handling and ride charts than the original model.

Britain"s worst braking... Ford Ka/Sportka

It"s rare for a car to have enduring appeal, but it"s virtually unheard of for that model to be a budget city car. Ford"s Ka first appeared in 1996, and the design has proved so timeless that it"s still seeing off newer rivals today.

However, things have moved on in several areas. There"s no doubt that the little Ford"s handling raises a smile, but what you aren"t happy with is the way it stops.

Brakes have come a long way in recent years. In Issue 883, Auto Express proved just how outdated the Highway Code"s braking distances have become, and there"s no doubt the Ka has been left behind when it comes to pulling up sharply.

While the little Ford"s entry is made up of reports on both the Ka and Sportka, it"s the standard model that"s the worse offender here. The low budget hatchback is fitted with small discs up front and weedy drums at the rear. What"s more, the majority of Ka models don"t have ABS fitted as standard.

So what"s ahead for Ford"s baby? A replacement is coming, but bosses still insist that it"s some years away from production. When it does arrive, you can rest assured it will be fitted with uprated brakes...

For the full Driver Power 2006 results, see this week"s issue of Auto Express magazine.