You’ll pay much less for a car in Abu Dhabi than in most parts of the world; public transport is vestigial and petrol is cheap. But which are the best cars for Abu Dhabi?

Hummer

Where else can you still drive one of these without passersby sneering at your disrespect for the environment? Oh all right, go for the smaller and therefore much greener H3.

Nissan Tiida

There’s a good reason why you see so many on the roads (and why they’re a staple of the rental market): they are cheap to buy, cheap to run, and dead easy to fix. Does nothing for your street cred, of course.

Toyota Land Cruiser

The vehicle of preference for dealing with speed bumps without slowing down. Other drivers get out of the way as you thunder into their rear-view mirror. You need have fear ...

Ford Mustang

‘Nuff respect all round, especially with a big white stripe down the middle. Masses of noise, easy to burn rubber, great at going long distances in a straight line; less impressive if any corners are involved or any parking is required.

Smart Car

Ok, they do look a bit nervous around town, but boy are they practical – laugh at the pumped-up 4x4s as you slip into the pint-sized parking spaces, tell your new acquaintance you won’t be able to fit in the fat friend as well, marvel at the complete immobility of the fuel gauge needle ...

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 27]