The saloon car is one of the most long-standing types of car on the road. It means car makers have had decades to perfect every facet, from the styling to the engine, the suspension to the in-car gadgets. Engineers have worked tirelessly to ensure they offer drivers the most polished performance of any type of car. Little wonder, then, that models from Audi, BMW and Mercedes have become some of the best-selling cars in Britain. While this means there is no shortage of choice for used car buyers, it can make it difficult to know where to start. To help drivers find the perfect sports saloon for their needs, we’ve picked well-known examples from Audi and BMW, and a wild card, from Lexus. Any Audi model with a ‘quattro’ badge on its bootlid comes with four-wheel drive. The name comes from the Audi Quattro, the sporty coupé of the 1980s that dominated the sport of rallying. And although the four-wheel drive system is often an option that drivers have had to pay for when choosing a new Audi, it’s proved a popular one, no doubt due to Britain’s unpredictable weather and crumbling roads. Combine the sure-footed appeal of such a system with the stylish design and robust quality of the A4 and you have a sports saloon fit for slogging up and down the motorway or winding its way up a slippery mountain pass. What’s it like to drive? If you want a car that you can place your trust in, the A4 quattro is for you. With four-wheel drive, it is as loyal as a Labrador. And in bad weather this means drivers can reach their destination with a slower heart rate than might otherwise be the case. Our pick would be a 2-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. They’re free-revving, sound nice and offer strong performance throughout the rev range. What’s more, compared to a V6-powered model, there is a little less weight over the front wheels, which means the handling is slightly better balanced. What does your money get you? There is a wide choice of 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol models available, most with a manual gearbox and full service history. We found a 2011 A4 2.0T quattro SE with 53,000 miles for sale with a franchised dealer, for £10,500. Alternatively, a more sporty looking A4 1.8T S Line, from 2011 and with 43,000 miles on the clock, was available for £10,700. There is a simple reason that the BMW 3 Series comes highly recommended: it is an exceedingly good all-rounder. This is a car that scores highly in all areas, from its interior space and comfort to the performance and poise on the road. But perhaps it’s that roadholding that helps it stand apart from the competition. BMW has always managed to stay one step ahead of the competition in this respect, and any test drive of a 3 Series is likely to leave drivers impressed.