CAR makers' efforts to harmonise their prices across Europe have been undermined by the strength of Sterling, according to the latest European Commission car price report. This has revealed that the UK has the most expensive pre-tax prices for 62 of the 75 best-selling cars in the European Union.

The Honda Civic has the greatest pre-tax price differential, costing over 80% more in the UK than in Denmark, while a Rover 214 costs 61% more in the UK, where it is built, than in France.

Among key fleet models, the Ford Focus costs 50% more in the UK than Denmark and the Mondeo 59% more, while the Vauxhall Astra is 40% more expensive in the UK than in Denmark. Yet an official EU statement still found good news in the latest findings, saying: 'For more than half of the models offered in the UK, manufacturers have carried out, in some cases substantial, price cuts. This effect has, however, been neutralised in many cases by the sharp appreciation of the British Pound, making UK prices higher again after conversion into Euro.'

Fiat, Renault and Volkswagen were all singled out for reducing their prices in the UK, but the table was compiled too early in May to take account of recent price cuts by Ford for the Mondeo, or other manufacturers' introductions of facelifted models with higher specification at no extra cost. Pre-tax prices of Mercedes, meanwhile, now differ by no more than 14% across the EU, giving it the most consistent pricing of any car maker on the continent.