Top five new cars for the new 66-plate

September means only one thing in the world of automotive – it’s time for a plate change! The rolling registration plate system in the UK means numbers change every six months, so for those looking for a new car, you’ll be able to boast about your shiny new ‘66’-plated car!

If you’re getting a shiny new car, and a new 66-plate, why not get one of the best of the latest to launch too. A perfect storm of awesome newness. To help you out, we’ve picked out five …

Jaguar F-Pace

The Jaguar F-Pace is the Coventry-based company’s first foray into the SUV world, but that hasn’t stopped it being one of the best. For those that want to stand out in a market sector crammed with German brands, the F-Pace is perfect. Climb behind the wheel though, and things get even better.

Is it a proper Jaguar? Well we certainly think so. A dashing cabin and fine ride quality put it high up in the comfort stakes, while on a twisty road it’s as capable as any Jag saloon.

Seat Ateca

2016 was the year Seat decided to have a go at its first SUV too, and it’s drawing just as much admiration as the F-Pace. The all-new Ateca can be considered a slightly cheaper Tiguan alternative but, in all but price, it certainly isn’t a cheapskate Volkswagen. A spacious, uncluttered cabin and excellent build quality makes the Ateca a great choice for families.

Engines are carried over from sister-brand Volkswagen too, meaning there’s a very complete range of frugal petrols and punchy diesels. With the Qashqai, Tucson, Sportage, Kadjar, Kuga and CX-5 all plying their trade, there’s an argument that the world doesn’t need yet another SUV. However, the Ateca manages to offer a fresh and desirable alternative in an increasingly crowded sector.

Volvo S90

Looking at Volvo’s range, it’s easy to see its line-up goes for the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” approach. It’s been 10 years since a Volvo saloon got a major facelift, so when the handsome S90 came along earlier this year, it was a big deal. Aimed squarely at the German competition, this superb new Swede promises comfort and safety in abundance.

What’s more, it gets the same striking front end styling as the XC90, giving it a left-field look (in a good way). It’s the technology that truly impresses however, with a host of new features added to Volvo’s Pilot Assist – it allows adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance to work together, making motorway not only safer, but less stressful too.

Renault Megane

With its new Captur and Kadjar crossovers doing so well, the French company has somewhat neglected its Megane hatchback over the last few years, but the 2016 model changes all that. The new car’s styling, ride quality and great engine availability mean Renault once more has a car capable of fending off the Golf.

It’s a class-leader for space too, with a capacious 434-litre litre boot – that’s more than 100 litres larger than its Ford Focus rival. Step inside and on all but entry-level models you’ll find an enormous touchscreen infotainment system that dominates the dashboard A closer look at the infotainment system confirms Renault’s R-Link is one of the easiest and fastest systems available, too.

Audi Q2

Are you after a small crossover, but don’t fancy the marmite appeal of a Nissan Juke or Citroen C4 Cactus? Well, the answer is finally here. Audi has finally released its new Q2 crossover. It’s spacious, easy to drive and best of all, it’s screwed together in a way that only Audi seem capable of.

There’s the choice of Audi’s super-refined 1.4-litre TFSI petrol or, if you do more miles, the 1.6 and 2.0-litre tried-and-trusted diesels should fit the bill. The Q2’s interior is based on the class-leading A3’s, so even entry-level variants of this small crossover will come with an equipment list that puts larger and pricier rivals to shame.