10 most underrated cars EVER made – including bargain Citroën & Porsche as ‘good as iconic 911’

WITH thousands of car brands battling against each other to get your attention, it's easy for some exceptional models to slip under the radar.

We decided to give these cars a bit of love and bring them back in the spotlight.

Porsche 914 and 914/6

We are kicking things off with one of Porsche's underdogs: the 914.

It never quite reached the same level of stardom as the 911, but this little motor packs a punch.

It was the world's first mid-engined sports car and has been likened to a ‘fun size' Porsche 917.

Experts believe the VW-Porsche 914 was too expensive when it first launched in 1969.

Fiat 124 Spider

Fiat knew exactly what it was doing when it launched the 124 Spider.

It was the first rear-drive sports car since the 1980s, which was when the Mazda MX-5 stole the hearts of petrolheads across the country.

Citroën ZX

After its launch in 1991, the Citroën ZX had its work cut out.

The hatchback had to compete with the likes of the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Astra at the time.

However it was highly regarded as the best family hatchback you could buy, but today it's been forgotten.

It contains a 1.4 litre Multiair engine and although it might not match the Mazda's range of speed, it's one of the best fake MX-5 money can buy.

Jensen-Healey

Making its way onto the scene in 1972, the Jensen-Healey was a modern take on the classic British sports car.

It carries a Lotus twin-cam 16-valve engine, giving it a powerful grunt.

It was also made for comfort, handling the roads with ease – perfect for those Sunday country-lane drives.

The gearbox was taken from the Sunbeam Rapier and the suspension, steering and front subframe were all Vauxhall.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Whilst it may look like a box on wheels, the W168 Mercedes-Benz A-Class was one of the most innovative cars of the 20th century.

It is far cheaper than its Mercedes siblings, but it's technical features, packaging and construction makes it one of the greatest, and most underrated cars ever made.

Vauxhall Calibra

The Vauxhall Calibra has aged exceptionally well.

The 1990s coupé is one of the most perfectly designed Vauxhalls to hit the road.

The base models boast a 0.29 Cd drag coefficient and are nippy as hell.

Whilst they might not make the best family car, they were loved by solo riders across the world.

Volvo C30

Sliding its way between a coupé and a family hatchback is the Volvo C30.

Despite gaining a reputation as the Audi TT's ugly sister – Volvo deserves a round of applause for its interpretation of the original SCC Concept of 2001.

It's got a 2.5 litre five-cylinder engine and plenty of room inside for the kids.

VW Golf Mk3

Golf GTIs aren't cheap, but the MK3 is probably the most affordable of the collection.

It's bigger and safer than its Mk4 or Mk2 counterparts and has now earned its retro stripes when it comes to its look.

Toyota Land Cruiser

According to Autocar, the Toyota Land Cruiser is “the only 4×4 you'll ever need” and is “tougher than Dwayne Johnson in a tungsten suit”.

The Land Cruiser is a proper piece of kit to be driven in terrain that 4x4s were born to conquer.

The car offers no thrills, but this beast doesn't need them.

Ford Mondeo

Nothing screams ‘Dad car' like the 2000 Ford Mondeo.

It became the benchmark for family cars, offering a combination of ride and handling that championed the Escort.

The Mondeo Mk2/Mk3 is probably one of the most underrated cars of all time.

However, it went on to be outsold by premium rivals like the BMW 3 Series.