I HAVE long been a devotee of the Honda Accord which has one of the best diesel engines on the market.

It is easily as smooth and quiet as a BMW and, in fact, this big Honda matches the 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class in every way.

Some motoring writers have said it's not as much fun as the 3-Series but I think it is right up there in the driving enjoyment stakes.

And of course, it's a Honda, so build quality is second to none and longevity and reliability make other car manufacturers wince.

I drove the 150bhp 2.2 diesel and it's as smooth and quiet as most petrols, pulling happily from tickover in sixth gear without a murmer.

Acceleration off the mark is up with most similar cars, but the in gear urge beats them hands down, making it a marvellous companion across country.

The ride is very good even over rougher surfaces and the handling and road holding are every bit as much fun as BMW can provide.

A perfect driving position is available for all sizes thanks to excellent seat and column adjustment and the interior ambiance is brilliant.