Auto Express - February 11, 2015 UK

HONDA’S167MPHTYPE R

DRIVEN TT ROADSTER

Special IssueNo. 1,357 | £3.30

Why new Audi is 2015’smost desirable soft-top

OFFICIAL Turboflier’s techsecrets

MARCH SPECIAL 132-PAGE MEGA MAG

SPSPEECCIIAALL ISISSSUE

TESTED Renault Mégane Trophy R vs Porsche Cayman● Ford Focus ST Estate

PLUS

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11 February Special Issue 1,357

91HALF-PRICEHHEERROOEESSHOW TO GETMORE CAR FOR YOUR CASH

FIAT’S MX-5City cars to supercars, bargain buys from £795

WORLD EXCLUSIVEMade by Mazda, styled in Italy.The perfect roadster?


ContentsNews | New Cars | Features |Tests |Products |Buying cars |Sport

Fiat’s MX-5 could be badged 124 Spider8

Our verdict on Audi’s TT Roadster30

Rutherford tries a driving school run by ex-cops26

167mph Type R is on the way16

TOP9GADGET

CHARGERSTESTEDPage 108

Onlinethisweek

Formore visit

First drive verdict onSEAT Leon ST CupraTHE standard SEAT Leon Cuprais currently our top hot hatch,so the prospect of a morepractical but equally fast estateversion set our pulses racingwhen it was revealed last year.

This week we’re in Spain totest SEAT’s souped-up wagonon the road and track and see ifit can match the brilliant hatchfor driving thrills. Head onlinenow for our definitive verdictahead of the Cupra’s publicdebut at the Geneva Motor Show.

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ContentsNews | New Cars | Features |Tests |Products |Buying cars |Sport

NewsweekCOVER Fiat’s MX-5 revealed 8Exclusive images and full details of new 124 Spider

Renault’s seven-seat SUV 10Kadjar set to be joined by big new Santa Fe rival

Hyundai Tucson returns 12ix35 replacement set to get familiar name

Diesel additive alert 14Drivers warned on additive needed to comply with Euro VI

COVER 167mph Civic Type R coming 16Honda confirms new details on eagerly-awaited hatch

Superb opens its doors 18Skoda reveals first picture of new flagship’s cabin

FeaturesTaught by the fuzz 26The ex-cops teaching learners how to drive

New carsAudi TT Roadster 30New drop-top is stunning to look at and great to drive

Mazda 2 verdict 32Sweet handling supermini takes aim at Ford Fiesta

Lotus Exige auto 36Paddleshift box aims to boost sports car’s appeal

Porsche Cayennes at the double 38Storming new GTS and Turbo S versions blast off

Juke Nismo RS 40First UK drive of front-wheel-drive hot Nissan

Focus ST estate 42Petrol estate offers thrilling pace and space

Half-price heroesCOVER Get more car for your cash 47More than 90 great deals, starting from only £795

Road testsEco warriors 80Audi A3 e-tron vs BMW i3 vs Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Wild Mégane vs Cayman 90Renaultsport Mégane Trophy R faces Porsche coupé

Our cars 98Updates on the Mazda 3 and Hyundai i10

ProductsScreenwash rated 106We try three different solutions. Plus books and DVDs

Gadget chargers tested 108Best buys to keep your gear powered up on move

Buying carsFiesta buyer’s guide 112Ford’s award-winning supermini is a great buy used

New car prices 118All the info you need before you head to the showroom

RegularsConsumer news 24Watchdog solves your problems, plus you have your say

Sport 128Brit drivers net Le Mans spots, plus all the latest news

Get Auto Express every week 129Great half-price offer on your favourite magazine

Back chat 130Mike Rutherford on the need for driving appraisals

47 Get more car for your money in our 32-page special

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Tell us about your carDriver Power is the UK’s biggestmotoring satisfaction survey.Every year we need you to tellus about your car. Good or bad, yourfeedbackhelps us tell EVERY motor manufacturerwhat YOU want... and believe us, they’re listening!

I OFTEN refer to Fiat as the 500Car Company.Log on to the company’swebsite, and of the

nine bodystyles on offer, five of themwear the500’s friendly face.When it comes to Fiat’s sales,500s account for the vastmajority, with thenew500X (above) set to increase that evenmore.Thisweek’s revelation that the long-awaitedroadster the Fiat Group has been developingwithMazdawill wear a Fiat badge (first it wasrumoured to be anAlfa, then anAbarth...) isa sign of expansion beyond the 500.Likely to be called 124 Spider, after the famoussports car of the sixties and seventies, the roadsterwill be followed by a newGolf and Focus rival – aglobal sector in all its forms (hatch, saloon, estate)that’s difficult to ignore for any car company.Insiders say that next upwill be a Puntoreplacement – another big-selling segment –but plans to expand the Panda rangewitha biggerQashqai-rivallingmodel have beendelayed. That’s a shame, as forme it’s themoreinnovativemodels like the 500 and Panda thathave helped to put Fiat back on themap. Recenthistory has shown it doesn’t domainstreamwell.But as those Panda ‘Qashqai’ rumours prove,we’ve been teased by the prospect of future Fiatsover and over – only to find another 500 variantfinding itsway into the showroom. Fiat’s hadmore false dawns than the English football team,so let’s hope the 124 Spider really is the start ofa Fiat renaissancewe can get excited about.At least Fiat’s dealers are showing signs ofimprovement – up four places in last year’s Driver

Power survey. This year’ssurvey closes soon, so logon at the address on theright to have your say onyour car and your dealer.

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groundswherecarsaredriventothelimitandperformancetested using RacelogicVBoxcomputer timing equipment.

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ntweek

8 Special Issue

“Mazda and Fiat haveagreed the MX-5 willtake centre stage thisyear, the Fiat in 2016”

Top storyFirst for news every week

THE sister car to the new MazdaMX-5 will be badged a Fiat, Auto

Express can now confirm. It couldalso revive the 124 Spider name fromthe past, and a hot Abarth versionwill follow later in the lifecycle.

Until recently, the Fiat ChryslerGroup rear-wheel-drive two-seater wasset to wear an Alfa Romeo badge, buta U-turn from CEO Sergio Marchionnemeant how the roadster would bebranded was up in the air, until now.

A company insider told us “all AlfaRomeos need to be 100 per centItalian”. That backs up Marchionne’searlier comments that no Alfa wouldbe built outside Italy on his watch.

And as part of the joint ventureagreement with Mazda, both carsare to be made at Mazda’s factory inHiroshima, Japan. According to oursource, the agreement between Fiatand Mazda is that the MX-5 willlaunch first and take centre stagein 2015, with Fiat’s alternativeoffering coming 12 months later.

News also broke last week of apair of Fiat trademark applications inthe US – for the ‘Fiat 124’ and ‘Fiat124 Spider’ nameplates, suggestingthey’re being readied for a return. The124 first appeared in 1966, usingthe same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout the Spider will adopt.

Being based on the MX-5, thenew Fiat Spider will, of course, sharecertain key components such as thewheelbase and chassis with itsMazda stablemate. However, anotherinsider hinted that the 124 Spider’sstyling will be more retro than theMazda’s, with elements inspiredby the Fiat 124 of the sixties.

Our exclusive images closelyreflect this, with squared-off rearlights, a wide front grille and muchmore rounded headlamps than theMX-5. The extended flat rear deckis another cue taken from the 124.

Our source revealed that thenew roadster will weigh in at lessthan 1,000kg, with a choice of“small affordable engines”. It’slikely to use the 1.4-litre MultiAirturbo from the Alfa Giuliettain a variety of tunes, while for theAbarth version the same engine

could be tuned to “200[bhp] withoutissue”. On top of the additionalpower, expect the Abarth to getstiffer suspension, more aggressivestyling and bigger brakes.

Given that the basic MX-5 hasjust 129bhp and does 0-62mphin 8.9 seconds, a 200bhp-plusversion could offer genuine PorscheBoxster-rivalling performance.

Our source also hinted that alightweight, more affordable,Caterham 160-style model couldbe on the cards. This would havesteel wheels and a “mechanicallysensible” powertrain. It wouldbe stripped of anything non-essential, though, with afocus on back-to-basics,rear-wheel-drive handling.

We can expect the new Fiat124 Spider to make its debutearly next year before goingon sale in the summer of 2016.

Prices and specs will beconfirmed nearer the time, butgiven the predicted power increasesover the MX-5, we envisage astarting price of just over £20,000.

EXCLUSIVE Insider sheds more light on Mazda sister car – and it could see

■ We take wraps off Fiat sister car to Mazda MX-5■ On sale next year ■ Could be badged 124 Spider

Poblete

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES

Richard [email protected]

@cutt_ings

RichaRicha

124 Spider to be

Special Issue 9

see famous badge return

POWER STRUGGLE One of thesignificant differences between Fiat

and Mazda will be engines, with theSpider using turbocharged units

Barchettawas soldin ninetiesbut camein left-handdrive only

FIAT 124 SPIDERLaunched in the sixties, the124 Spider was designedfor Fiat by Pininfarina

RETRO STYLING Use of famousname from the past means that Fiat

will feature more retro-inspired stylingthan Mazda has used on the new MX-5

be reborn on Fiat MX-5?

Special Issue 9

in left-handdrive only

FIALaunch124 Spfor Fi

Evoking the spirit of theBarchetta two-seaterFIAT’S last attempt at a two-seater sports car wasthe Barchetta – launched in Europe in the mid-nineties. Barchetta means ‘little boat’ in Italian,and given its long overhangs and pointed nose,it’s easy to see where Fiat got the inspiration.

Based on the front-wheel-drive Mk1 Punto,the Barchetta was great fun to drive. It featured a128bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine capable of 0-62mphin 8.9 seconds and a 124mph top speed.

Although it was officially soldthrough Fiat dealers in the UK, itwas never engineered forright-hand drive.Understandably,that limited itsappeal over here,although you cannow pick up usedexamples fromjust £1,500.

News Renault’s seven-seater SUV

10 Special Issue

“Renault’s design DNAis evident in the full-length headlamps andgrille arrangement”

“Seven-seater couldadopt curvaceous linesand panels seen onnew Kadjar (above)”

RENAULT is on the crossoveroffensive. Following the unveiling

of the brand’s new Nissan Qashqai rival,the Kadjar, bosses have announced thatan even larger seven-seater designedto take on the X-Trail is currently underdevelopment. Expected to appear in2017, the new Renault will also have tofend off the likes of the Hyundai SantaFe and Skoda’s forthcoming SUV forsales (see panel, opposite).

Our exclusive images show howthe newcomer could look. Adoptingthe curvaceous lines and panels seenon the Kadjar and Captur, Renault’sdesign DNA is evident in the full-lengthheadlamps and grille arrangementdominating the front end.

Designed to sit above the Kadjarin the range, the yet-to-be-namedlarge crossover is definitely on the way,but bosses were reluctant to spill thebeans at this early stage. “It’s too earlyto say just yet,” said Jerome Stoll,executive vice president, chiefperformance officer at Renault.

“The Kadjar is part of a renewal plan;we’re specialists in the multi-passengervehicle – we invented it – and nowwe’re moving into the crossover.”

AttractiveStoll continued: “I believe Renault forthe past two years has been renewingthe range with a number of products. Wehave much more attractive designs, andthe new cars are now very successful.”

As with the Kadjar, when it comesto developing the new crossover,Renault will take advantage of itsalliance with Nissan. The recentlyintroduced X-Trail is not only expectedto be a main rival, but it’ll also providea large portion of the newcomer’smechanical underpinnings.

The CMF platformproduced by the Renault-Nissan alliance alreadyunderpins a range ofcrossover models such asthe Qashqai, Kadjar andX-Trail, and is expectedto serve as a basis forRenault’s seven-seater, too.That means the 130bhp 1.6-litre diesel offered in theX-Trail would fit nicely intoplace. As with its Japanesecousin, the seven-seatconfiguration is expectedto be a cost option.

Although the likely 2017launch for the crossover issome time away, Renaulthas several new models in the pipelinethat’ll keep it busy in the meantime. Ahotter version of the quirky rear-enginedTwingo city car is expected soon, alongwith a pick-up truck and a replacementfor the Laguna saloon that will rivalthe Ford Mondeo and VW Passat.

Renault’s X-Trail■ Exclusive images reveal new seven-seat crossover SUV to sit above Kadjar

EXCLUSIVEIMAGESJonathan [email protected]

@Jonathan_burn

JonatnatJonathth

Seven-seater crossover set touse large portion of latestX-Trail’s underpinnings

Renault’s seven-seater SUVNews

Special Issue 11

ail shapes up

Hyundai Santa Fe Auto Express’s reigningSUV of the Year, the Santa Fe offers outstanding valuefor money wrapped in a stylish and premium package.

Kia Sorento The Sorento shares a large proportionof its DNA with the Santa Fe – and the new-generationmodel looks and drives better than ever.

Land Rover Discovery Sport At the morepremium end of the market sits the new DiscoverySport, with great off-road ability and advanced tech.

Nissan X-Trail The X-Trail will donate much ofits DNA to Renault’s new crossover. It looks good anddrives well, and all for a competitive price, too.

Skoda SUV Our exclusive image shows an all-newSkoda SUV which is due next year. The seven-seater willbe the brand’s first foray into this end of the SUV market.

WHAT IT HAS TO BEATHere are the SUV class leaders that Renault faces...

Milos

Dvorak

Milos

Dvorak

Kia Sorento The Sorento shares a large proportion

Here are the SUV class leadededersrsrs ttthahattt Renault faces...

Ni X T il


News Hyundai Tucson

12 Special Issue

SPIED

ix35 has proven a saleshit, so new model is set to

build on strong foundations

Jack [email protected]

@jack_rix

JaJacJack_R

...And little brother has Juke in

Hyundai Tucson back asHYUNDAI is bringing the Tucsonname back to the UK for the first

time since 2009. The new car, which willbe sold globally as the Tucson, will berevealed at the Geneva Motor Show inMarch before going on sale towards theend of the year, and this official sketchhints at how the compact SUV will look.

The all-new model replaces the six-year-old ix35, and looks set to offer amore athletic and aggressive exteriordesign. The Tucson’s proportions havebeen exaggerated in this designer’ssketch, but it’s a great start for a car thatwill lock horns with the Nissan Qashqai,Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5.

A low, sloping roofline, high waistlineand a sharper, sportier stance than thecurrent ix35 (below) are visible. There’salso Hyundai’s updated hexagonalgrille, as seen on the facelifted i30.Despite this Range Rover Evoque-styleprofile, we expect the Tucson tomaintain the same level of practicalitythat the outgoing ix35 offers, with amaximum boot capacity of 1,436 litres.

Peter Schreyer, president and chiefdesign officer of Hyundai, said: “Our

Tucson will feature Hyundai’supdated hexagonal grille, whichdebuted on the facelifted i30

New grille

A NISSAN Juke-rivalling little brotherfor the Tucson isn’t far away, either.

A company insider told AutoExpress: “We are looking at this veryclosely and with real interest. It’ssomething we would like to do,but we have to consider if it is just

a fad. The beauty of Hyundai is that ifsomething gets the green light, wecan move quicker than others.”

The brand has already shown whatit’s capable of with the unveil of theix25 at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show,but this wouldn’t be an option for

new compact SUV will be a big stepforward for the Hyundai brand globally.”

Hyundai has very high hopes for theTucson, especially considering it sold 26per cent more ix35s than ever before in2014, despite being the oldest model inthe range. The new car, with its rakishdesign, will also play a crucial part inreshaping opinions of the company.

“We want to move the brand awayfrom a rational purchase and towardsan emotional purchase,” said TonyWhitehorn, president of Hyundai UK.“And we want to do it quickly.”

Despite predicted growth in thetotal UK market of just 0.6 per cent,Whitehorn is hoping for a seven percent increase in Hyundai sales – for arecord-breaking total of 88,000 cars– thanks to a raft of new models.

The new i20 has already beenlaunched this month, the i20 Coupéfollows in March along with the new i30family (including the hot new 183bhpturbo version). A facelifted i40 thenarrives in April – the same monththe flagship £47,995, V6-poweredGenesis saloon goes on sale in sevenselected dealers across the UK.

As Hyundai is using its big-bucksWRC campaign as leverage, expectmore performance cars to start emergingin the coming months, too. And as asign of its intent, the brand recently

poached Albert Biermann,former VP of engineering atBMW M, to join its team.

■ Official sketch reveals ix35-replacing Qashqai rival for Geneva

JAGUAR Land Rover has confirmed itsline-up of star cars for the next James Bondfilm, Spectre, due for release towards theend of this year. Topping the bill will be theC-X75 hypercar that’ll go head-to-head ina “spectacular” car chase through Romewith 007’s Aston Martin DB10.

Prepared by Williams AdvancedEngineering, more than one C-X75 hasbeen used for filming. It’s the first time thecar’s been seen in any public role since theprogramme was shelved in December 2012.

The C-X75 is only one part of a productshowcase by the marque’s Special VehicleOperations division, however. “Heavily

modified” versions of the Land RoverDefender and Range Rover SportSVR will feature in scenes filmed inAustria – uprated to an extent thatLand Rover is calling the Defenderused in the film Big Foot. SpecialVehicle Operations has fitted thecars with huge 37-inch off-road tyres,bespoke suspension systems andenhanced body protection.

Managing director John Edwardssaid: “This is an exciting partnershipfor Jaguar Land Rover, and anopportunity to demonstrate thefantastic capabilities of the team.”

OFFICIAL

MOVIE STARS Jag C-X75 and “heavily modified”Range Rover Sport will join James Bond on big screen

C-X75, Range Rover Sport’slead roles in new Bond film


Hyundai TucsonNews

Special Issue 13

newsinbrief

TEASERS

its sights

as sharper new SUV

New Jukerival couldtake cuesfrom ix25revealedat Beijinglast year

Low, sloping rooflineand high waistlineadd visual appeal

Proportions

Western Europe. “No, a B-SUV wouldnot be based on the ix25,” said theinsider. “We liked some cues, butwouldn’t take a production version.”

Although the i20 is based on a newplatform, our source added that anymini-SUV won’t necessarily follow suit.

New Suzukis out of the shadowsSUZUKI is still playing its Geneva Motor Show cardsclose to its chest, having released these darkenedteaser images of two new concepts it’s set to revealat the event in March. The iK-2 and i-M4 are our firsthints at how the brand will achieve its target oflaunching six new models in the next three years.

But a spokesman was quick to distance the iK-2from a planned Swift replacement when talking to AutoExpress. The curvy car suggests a larger Ford Fiestarival, confirming marketing boss Dale Wyatt’spromise of a more practical, Nissan Note-style mini-MPV that “will answer the reasons not to buy a Swift”.

Wyatt also claimed the car will be “raised up andnot as dynamically wired as the Swift”. The mini-MPVfits with the brand’s ideology of having two new carsin each of the A, B and C segments – one “emotional”and the other “rational”. At first glance, we estimatethe i-M4 to be a long-awaited Jimny replacement, butthe spokesman suggested this was an all-new model.

i-M4 (above) and i-K2 (below) will be revealed at Geneva show

Fresh look for Kia’sfacelifted PicantoAS Hyundai gears up to reveal itsnew Tucson at Geneva (left), sisterbrand Kia has revealed this picture(above) of its revised Picanto citycar, which also stars at the show.

It gets new bumpers and a fresh‘tiger-nose’ grille, plus new alloys.Inside are new materials, with extrachrome trim around the air ventsand instrument binnacle, plus arevised centre console and severaloptional colour packs. A seven-inchinfotainment touchscreen will beadded to the options later this year.

The familiar 1.0-litre MPI three-cylinder engine is updated to meetEuro VI emissions rules, and biggerbrake discs cut stopping distances.The Picanto will go on sale towardsthe end of March after its debut.

Sport Pack turnsMINIs into JCWsYOU can now give your standardMINI hatch the look of a JCW with anew Sport Pack. The option (above)brings bonnet stripes, 17-inchalloys and a JCW spoiler and aerokit, while sports suspension isincluded on all versions, exceptthe entry-level One and One D.

Inside are new cloth or leatherseats, a multifunction sportssteering wheel and Anthraciteheadlining, plus JCW sill finishersand an upgraded light pack.

The Sport Pack also bringsMINI’s ‘Excitement Pack’ andadjustable driving modes. It costs£3,300 on top-spec models, butthis rises to £4,500 on the basicOne due to additional kit changes.MINI claims it’ll boost residuals byup to 25 per cent across the range.


News Diesel additive shock

14 Special Issue

AdBlue will beavailable on highstreet for DIYmotorists to buy

Chris [email protected]

@AE_ConsumerChris

Top up with new additive, or ecodiesels could come to a standstill

DRIVERS of diesels compliantwith new Euro VI emissions

standards could find themselvesstranded at home or in the supermarketcar park if they don’t keep their vehiclestopped up with a new additive.

As part of the stricter engine rules,which affected any new model afterSeptember 2014 and were appliedto cars already on sale a year later,a solution called AdBlue is addedto the exhaust gas of diesels toreduce harmful NOx emissions.

The solution – a mixture of waterand urea – is kept in a separate tankin the car. If it needs topping up, a dashwarning light will appear, and if driversignore this, the engine won’t restartonce it’s turned off. On average, affectedcars will warn drivers three times beforerefusing to start, although some will givelonger and more regular warnings.

A number of models already usethe AdBlue solution in their cars: thePeugeot 308; Audi A4, A5, A6 and othercars in the range; BMW’s 1 Series, X1and 3 Series; Citroen’s C4 Cactus;and the Mercedes B, C and E-Class.

According to Peugeot, its cars’ AdBluetanks will need to be topped up every12,500 miles, and for most drivers it’llbe done as part of the model’s servicingschedule. However, a spokesman toldus this might not always be the case:“Depending upon driving style, for asmall cost it can also be topped up ata Peugeot dealer while you wait.” Thatcost is £9.99 for a 10-litre top-up.

“Our training material includes usefulvideos and bulletins, which clearly explainthe AdBlue-based emissions reductionsystem and its implications for customervehicles.” When Euro VIb standards are

implemented, with even more stringentrules regarding emissions, AdBlue tanksare likely to be made smaller in a bid tosave weight. This will also mean they’llneed topping up on a more regular basis.

Confusion about AdBlue is an issue,according to Halfords product managerJemma Billings: “Drivers can be forgivenfor not knowing what AdBlue is, orwhether their car has it on board,because it isn’t highlighted inmanufacturers’ sales literature orby dealership staff selling the car.”

She continued: “There’s also nostandard size or location for the tankthat holds the AdBlue solution. Whereto find the filler cap varies betweenmanufacturers, too, making it difficultfor customers to get to grips with.”

While most drivers are expected toget their tanks filled by dealers, fromApril Halfords is set to sell four-litrepacks of AdBlue for motorists totop up their tanks themselves.

OFFICIAL

Focus RS to bringhost of AWD firsts

New 2.3-litre Focus RS features four-wheel drive

THE new Focus RS hot hatch was designed withfour-wheel drive in mind, Ford has revealed.

Speaking to Auto Express, Raj Nair, vicepresident global vehicle development, told usthat the car’s clever all-wheel-drive system debutsa host of innovations for the brand. He said thiswas needed to cope with the high power levelof the 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost turbo.

“Cost didn’t come into it,” explained Nair. “Itwasn’t a case of engineers vs accountants; we wantedto make an affordable performance vehicle with thebest technology possible. It needs to be a percentageabove an ST. That’s what an RS should be about.”

The first major innovation is the hottest Focus’selectronically controlled, twin-clutch, 4WD system.Essentially, this allows up to 70 per cent of power tobe sent to the rear, with as much as 100 per cent ofthat driving torque sent to one wheel. “You get greatsteering response but incredible pull out of the corner– and we can use the torque vectoring to keep thecar stable all the way through a bend,” added Nair.

‘Real-world’ emissions testing on the wayEUROPE is set to become the first placein the world where car makers are forcedto carry out ‘real-world’ emissions tests.

Regulations are expected to be introducedby 2017 to ensure all new vehicles are testedto reveal what emissions – and thus what

economy – they’re likely to achieve whendriving on roads and in traffic, not in ideallab-like conditions. The tests are designedto enforce a limit of 80mg/km of nitrogenoxide – a level currently met by only onecar in 16, according to researchers.

GROUNDBREAKINGHot Focus’s all-wheeldrive debuts a host ofinnovations for Ford, saysdevelopment boss Nair

MIX IT UP Special additiveshould help make dieselengines cleaner, but willneed to be topped up bydealers or car owners

“As part of stricter engine rules, AdBlueis added to the exhaust gas of dieselsto reduce harmful NOx emissions”

■ Warning about new AdBlue additive■ Cuts NOx emissions, but needs top-ups


News Honda Civic Type R

16 Special Issue


@jack_rix

JaJacJack_R

COLOUR Our image shows howthe production Type R could lookon stand at Geneva, finished instunning Championship White

White-hot new Civic Type

Hybrid MINI takes its first steps

DESPITE displaying a concept at theParis Motor Show in September,

Honda still isn’t ready to fully reveal itsproduction-ready Civic Type R – but it’sgetting tantalisingly close. Ahead of itsworld debut at the Geneva Motor Showin March, the brand has released threedetail pictures and new information,while our main image shows howthe production car could look.

Most striking of all is the Type R’sclaimed top speed of 167mph – just7mph behind the new four-wheel-drive,362bhp Audi RS3 and 2mph faster thanthe old 345bhp Ford Focus RS500.

The eye-popping top speed is down tothe Civic’s clever aerodynamic package,which uses a flat underbody, rear diffuser,big rear wing, front splitter and carefullyshaped side skirts to balance downforcewith drag and boost high-speed stability.

Also confirmed are specificallydesigned Brembo brakes that use four-piston calipers to grab 350mm drilleddiscs at the front. These sit behind theunique 19-inch wheels (right). Theproduction car also has a tweaked frontend, featuring round foglights and largerintakes to help the new 2.0-litre VTECturbo engine’s heat management.

The new instrument cluster has beenrevealed, too, displaying a rev counterthat reads up to 8,000rpm and a +Rbutton left of the dials. This will sharpenthrottle response, turn up the exhaustvolume and add weight to the steering.

The car on display in Geneva willbe finished in Championship White

Latest detailshots showType R gets

uniqueBrembo

brakes andstylish dials,

with a revcounter

reading upto 8,000rpm

Spies caughtdisguisedCountrymanbeing tested,and stickerreveals it’sthe firsthybrid MINI

paint – previewed in our main image anda colour synonymous with Type Rs of thepast. But that’s where Honda’s nostalgiaends. The new car will be on a differentperformance level to its predecessors,sending over 280bhp through a six-speedmanual box to the front tyres to take itfrom 0-62mph in around six seconds.

It’s no secret that Honda is targetingthe Nürburgring front-wheel-drive laprecord, currently held by the RenaultsportMégane Trophy R (tested on Page 90).So, helping it rip around corners is anew steer-axis suspension system tokeep things stable and quell torquesteer, while adaptive damperswill improve on-road usability.

Honda claims 100 UK orders havealready been placed, with each customerpaying a £3,000 deposit. When deliveriesstart in the summer, prices are expectedto kick off from just under £30,000 –putting the car squarely in line with Ford’snew 316bhp, four-wheel-drive Focus RS.

■ Honda reveals more details on new 280bhp-plus hot hatch

OUR spies have already caught MINI’snext-generation Countryman testinglate last year, but these latest shotsreveal a more interesting secret.

Buried among the vivid yellowcamouflage wrapping is a stickerreading ‘Hybrid Test Vehicle’. It’sour clearest proof yet that the brand isreadying plug-in hybrid tech for the nextCountryman – and means the crossoverwill be the first MINI to go hybrid.

A MINI insider hinted to Auto Expressthat the big MINI will feature the sameset-up as the BMW i8 supercar, whichcomprises a 1.5-litre, three-cylinderpetrol engine linked to an electricmotor and lithium-ion batteries.

We already know the second-generation Countryman will sit on

BMW’s UKL1 platform. This underpinsthree and five-door versions of the MINIhatch, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourerand the forthcoming MINI Clubman.

In line with the MINI five-door andnew Clubman estate, the Countrymanis set to grow. As our spy shots show,

the new Countryman has largerfront and rear overhangs and a largerpassenger compartment, hinting atmore room inside. It’s set to arrivenext year, with the plug-in hybridversion offered alongside conventionalturbocharged petrol and diesel engines. SPIED

OFFICIAL


Honda Civic Type R News

Special Issue 17

newsinbrief

Automedia

OFFICIAL

“The production caralso has a tweakedfront end, featuringround foglights andlarger intakes to helpwith the new 2.0-litreVTEC turbo engine’sheat management”

First look at newQX30 crossoverINFINITI will launch its BMW X1-rivalling QX30 concept at March’sGeneva Motor Show. This teaserimage (above) is our first look atthe raised-up crossover that’sbased on the Q30 hatchback.

Due in mid-2016, the QX30 willget a coupé-like profile with a highdriving position. It’ll be built onthe Mercedes MFA platform thatunderpins the latest A-Class, andwill also use the German brand’s2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.

High-spec Hyundaii10 is a hit for kitHYUNDAI has added a new top-spec Premium SE trim to its i10line-up. Prices start at £11,995for the manual car or £12,650for the auto, and all get 15-inchalloys, an electric sunroof, keylessgo, rear parking sensors andclimate control, plus heatedfront seats and steering wheel.

In addition, SE-spec i10s andabove now get a space-saver sparewheel, while the Connectivity Pack– comprising Bluetooth with voicerecognition, steering wheel audiocontrols and rear speakers –can be added for £175 extra.PAGE 100: Latest on our i10

Kia’s 500X rival forChicago show bowKIA has confirmed that it’ll usethis week’s Chicago Motor Showto debut a new Trail’ster e-AWDconcept car – a small electric SUVbased on the Soul supermini.

Details are scarce, but teaserimages point to a stylish, go-anywhere model that could signala crossover version of the Soul EV,and hint at a rival for cars such asthe Fiat 500X. Kia says the Trail’sterwill get a fully retractable fabric roofand rear-mounted electric AWD.

pe R to hit 167mph

Keyless hackers spikeLondon car theft by 8%CAR theft in London last year rose by eight percent on 2013’s figures, with keyless entrysystems on vehicles increasingly targeted,the Metropolitan Police has revealed.

More than 6,000 cars and vans were stolenby criminals without possession of the owners’keys in the capital in 2014 – an average of 17 aday – making up around 42 per cent of the totalthefts. Vans are the number one target, with theFord Transit, Ford Transit Connect and MercedesSprinter models the most commonly taken.BMWs and Land Rovers are also popular.

Gangs use devices purchased online to bypassor hack into onboard electronic ignition systems,although sometimes they just tow vehicles away.

The Met said it has evidence that the stolencars are driven to the Home Counties, wherethey’re stripped before being shipped abroad.


News Skoda Superb cabin

18 Special Issue

SHARPER STYLE Official design sketches show newSuperb will have a more dynamic look, clearly influencedby the Vision C concept unveiled at Geneva show last year

James [email protected]

@JRRBatchelor

JamesJame

“It shares keythemes withthe Octavia in anevolutionary approach”

OFFICIAL

18 Special Issue

Racy Golf R-Line revealed

Inside’s out on all-new Superb

Sportierstyling cuesand extra kitfor racy newGolf hatch

THE Volkswagen Golf range has justgot sportier, thanks to the addition ofa top-spec R-Line trim level. Bringingstyling upgrades and extra equipmentover GT specification, it starts at£24,190 for the 148bhp 1.4 TSI.

For the extra £995 over theequivalent GT model, the Golf R-Linebridges the gap between the standardhatch and the hot GTI and R by addinga sportier grille, larger air intake plus anew foglight and bumper design. It alsobenefits from larger side skirts and17-inch Singapore alloy wheels.

At the rear there’s a new bumperwith built-in diffuser, while a largerback spoiler also features. Additions

SKODA has revealed the interior ofits new Superb. And unsurprisingly,

the company has played it prettysafe with its range-topping model.

The dashboard is an upscaled versionof the Octavia’s, sharing key stylingthemes in an evolutionary – ratherthan revolutionary – approach.

Several horizontal lines are usedto exaggerate the feeling of space,while the air vents, large touchscreenand ventilation controls are all shared.

However, Superb passengers willbe able to control the infotainmentsystem via iPad, plus the car willsupport Apple CarPlay and,eventually, wireless phone charging.

With supple leathers and soft-touchplastics, the Superb is likely to matchsister brand Volkswagen’s Passatfor quality. But unlike the VW, theSuperb will not feature the Passat’sclever 12.3-inch ‘virtual cockpit’,relying on analogue dials instead.

While not pictured, rear legroom willbe vast – Skoda claims it’s double thatof Vauxhall’s Insignia – and each frontdoor will come with a small umbrella.

The Superb will debut atthe Geneva Motor Show inMarch before going on salein the summer. An estatefollows early next year.

to the cabin maintain the moresporting theme, with stainless-steel pedals and sill inserts, R-Line-embossed front sport seats and ablack roof lining. Completing theupgrades are a leather gearknoband sports steering wheel.

R-Line specification is availablewith only two engines from the Golfrange: the 1.4 TSI petrol with cylinderdeactivation, or the 148bhp 2.0 TDIfor an extra £505. A six-speed manualgearbox is standard on both, with aseven-ratio DSG auto optional on thepetrol and a six-speed DSG on thediesel. Order books are open now,and deliveries will start in March.

■ Classy cabin for new Skoda■ Unveiled at the Geneva show OFFICIAL

HI-TECH CABINOccupants can control infotainment byiPad; Apple CarPlay will be supported

20 Special Issue

News Police surveillance

Ray Massey

OFFICIAL

Cops hit heights to look■ Police using HGV cabs to

spot motoring offences■ Scheme to be rolled out

nationwide in March

DRIVERS face a new stealth ‘spy inthe cab’ offensive by police, using asecret unmarked lorry to catch thosewho text and phone at the wheelor commit other traffic offences.

Thousands of drivers are expected tobe prosecuted when it starts patrollingthe nation’s motorways and majorA-roads in the spring – with a policedriver and an officer armed with a videocamera sitting high above thetraffic on the look-out for offenders.

A support team of two policemotorcyclists and a marked police car inconstant touch with the undercover lorrywill drive nearby to help gather evidenceagainst motorists committing offences.These include texting or phoning whiledriving, speeding, lane hogging, drinkor drug driving, driving without careor failing to wear a seatbelt.

Police in the lorry will contact thesupport team to stop and deal withthe errant drivers with words of advice,driver education courses, fixedpenalty notices or summons to court.Foreign vehicle drivers will be dealtwith through the fixed penalty scheme.

The decision to go national with thescheme from 30 March follows a three-month trial between February and Aprillast year in five police areas headed bySurrey, and including Hampshire, Sussex,Thames Valley and Warwickshire, inconjunction with the Highways Agency.

From this year, it’ll cover England’smajor motorways and strategic roads,

used daily by more than four milliondrivers. The aim is to tackle on-the-move offenders whom conventionalstatic speed cameras simply can’t spot.

The Highways Agency has paid MANTrucks for the hire of the unmarkedheavy goods vehicle lorry cab, whichwill be rotated between the 45 police

forces in England. Officers will use thecab as a mobile observation platformto look into vehicles which are usuallytoo high to view from the ground.

A Highways Agency spokesman said:“The aim of extending the project to anational initiative is not revenuegeneration but to improve driver

“Thousands of driversare expected to beprosecuted whenthe ‘stealth by cab’offensive startspatrolling the nation’smotorways and majorA-roads in the spring”

Ferrari opens up to reveal all on new turboIN Issue 1,356, Ferrari revealed its newturbocharged 458 replacement – the488 GTB. But until now, we had noimages of the updated interiorand could only speculate onthe driver-focused design.

At first glance it’s similar to theoutgoing 458 Italia, but closer inspectionreveals subtle changes. The freshdashboard architecture has new air ventsand the controls for the infotainment,lights and wipers have been rearrangedaround the steering wheel.

As before, Ferrari has opted for aseries of gearbox buttons rather than aconventional gearlever – but now, as onthe new California T, they’re arranged ina line rather than grouped together onthe centre console. The climate controlsInfluence of 458 Italia is clear, but cabin is subtly revised on new 488 GTB

OFFICIAL

Special Issue 21

Police surveillance News

You can watchany of our videos

on your phone

Simply scanthis QR code.

SPIED

AT autoexpress.co.uk/videos, youcan see why we love cheap-to-runperformance cars, as we rate Ford’snew 182bhp, 67mpg Focus ST. Plus,we drive the Tesla Model S fromLA to Phoenix for next to nothing.

MatWatson

[email protected]@mat_watson

look down on driversNN EEEEDD TTOO KKNNOOWW“The national scheme will“The national scheme will

initially run for a year withinitially run for a year with

an option to extend it foran option to extend it for

a further 12 months”a further 12 months”

turbo 488 GTB

Revised Evora warms up for showLOTUS hasn’t appeared at the Geneva Motor Show for the last three years,but a heavily updated version of the Evora will mark its return. Spied in fullbody camouflage, the 2+2 sports car is expected to receive a boost in powerand a significant weight reduction, plus will offer lower running costs.

There will be modest exteriorupdates, too. The wide-mouthedfront bumper is now flankedby two new air intakes, whilethe headlamps will be tweaked.PAGE 36: Exige auto driven

Ford Focus STdiesel review

WHILE Volkswagen’s been offeringa hot diesel Golf for years, in theshape of the GTD, it’s taken untilnow for Ford to see the commercialvalue of such a car. Has switchingfrom petrol to diesel power takenthe sting out of the ST’s tail? With a182bhp 2.0 TDCi claiming 0-62mphin 8.1 seconds, it seems not, butour video reveals the full story.

US road trip ina Tesla Model S

THERE is no question that theTesla Model S is a great car. Buthow viable is it for long-distanceuse? To find out, editor-in-chiefSteve Fowler drove one from LAto Phoenix – and he also saw howmuch more advanced the charginginfrastructure is in the States.

During the pilot scheme,police stopped 436vehicles and detected462 offences including...

Results

● 179 mobile phone offences● 126 seatbelt offences● 68 not being in proper

control of vehicle● 18 driving without due

care and attention● 17 speeding● 15 defects on vehicles● 8 stopping on hard shoulder● 7 other offences● 5 using the motorway verge● 5 having no insurance● 4 trailers being driven

in offside lane● 3 dangerous or

insecure loads● 2 drivers’ hours offences● 2 overweight vehicles● 1 contravening motorway

lane restrictions● 1 contravening red

traffic lights● 1 driving on hard shoulder

behaviour. ” Last year’s trial – whichwas codenamed Operation Tramline –led to the detection of 462 offences,including evidence of a driver brushinghis teeth while at the wheel, anotherreading a newspaper in slow-movingtraffic and another drinking from a beercan. Professor Stephen Glaister, director

are unchanged from the outgoing 458.The seats also get an update, with arounded front edge and trimmed ina mixture of leather and suede.

Powered by a new 3.9-litre twin-turboV8, the 488 GTB ditches the 458’snaturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8, but getsa 99bhp power boost to 661bhp and anextra 220Nm of torque for a total of760Nm. It promises to be the fastestmid-engined V8 Ferrari ever, eclipsingeven the track-focused 458 Specialearound Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit.

You’ll be able to spot one fromthe outside thanks to its dual-pipearrangement and bigger diffuser at therear, double air intakes in the flanksand shaper front-end styling. The 488GTB will debut at March’s Geneva show.

of the RAC Foundation, said: “Thisis less an eye in the sky and moresurveillance six-feet up. Rooting out badand anti-social behaviour is important.”

He continued: “Now motoristswho are tempted to break the laware likely to have traffic officerspeering right over their shoulders.”

www.autoexpress.co.uk22 Special Issue

The All-new ŠkoDA Fabia is looking sharper than ever before.the brand’s design BOSS JOZEF KABAN explains his stylish creation

THE new ŠKODA Fabia is winning many friendson account of its great value for money, superbpracticality and fine build quality. But it’s the classydesign which is arguably the standout feature, as itpulls off the clever trick of being true to the Fabia’sheritage while ushering in an attractive new look.

The man responsible for the transformation isŠKODA design chief Jozef Kaban, and we spoke tohim about the challenges involved in creatingsuch an appealing, yet entirely functional, car.

Kaban is one of the more interesting designersworking in the car industry at present – a Slovakwhowas sponsored through the Royal College Of Artdesign course in London. He has a real understandingof what the ŠKODA brand stands for, and passionatelybelieves value-for-money cars can look good, too.

One advantage Kaban had when starting work onthe all-new Fabia was a very clear vision from ŠKODAboss Dr Winfried Vahland over what was wanted.Vahland said: “I was amazed by the proportions of theFabia RS racing car – the proportions were so strong.It was flat, it was wide, it was powerful. So I said Iwant a very sporty-looking Fabia, a car that attractsyoung people and keeps our elder customers.”

So the challenge was clear, but Kaban knew thatexecuting it would be a fine balancing act. He picksup the story. “We had a strong discussion aboutwhat we could do,” he says. “This is the thirdgeneration, and for us the Fabia is very important.In the first and second generation we sold overthree-and-a-half million cars – a huge number.

Different“So we knowmany people are big fans and waitingfor this model with huge expectation. But for the firstand second-generation model, the Fabia was theentry point to the brand. We now have the Citigowhich is doing this job. For the Fabia, there wasthe potential to do something in a different way.You could theoretically do something which ismore than only continuing what you did [before].

“We wanted to keep the genetics of the Fabia,keep the genetics of new ŠKODAs, but use theopportunity to make the car a little more sporty,give it a slightly different look. We used the Vision Cas a base to give the car a bit more character.”

The Vision C was, of course, the dramatic 2014GenevaMotor Show concept that previewed the futureof ŠKODA design. Its influence is clear, with the Fabia’sangular flourishes, contoured bonnet and chrome-rimmed grille all recognisable from the show car.

The sportier flavour was achieved by increasing thewidth (by 90mm) and reducing the height (by 30mm)to give it a much more purposeful, squat stance thanits predecessor. It’s the most dynamic-looking Fabiayet, and with the Colour Concept option – whichallows you to jazz up your paintwork by adding acontrasting silver or white finish to the roof and pillars– this really is a ŠKODA that stands out on the road.

But critically, this funky new attitude and stylehad to be allied to substance. Continues Kaban:“Functionally, we made it even stronger. This is

something that is very important, because when youare buying a car, not everyone does so because theywant to be excited. They are not designers or expertsin aesthetics, but pragmatically they need the bestcar for their needs and for us, it was important thatthe Fabia stayed, as it has been, the best choice [here].”

And Kaban believes he has succeeded in hismission. “Now, from the aesthetic point of view,there is almost a chameleon look, from the normalelegant appearance to the very provocative colourcombinations – a very expressive look,” he explains.

While Kaban is delighted with the stylish exterior,he bubbles over with excitement when talking aboutsome of the interior advances. MirrorLink – thefeature that allows your Android smartphone screento be replicated on the central display – will, he feels,be a big hit with young buyers. “They will appreciatethis, because they can have all their world, newtechnologies, right in front of them,” he says.

It’s this ability to personalise that he feels is key tocar design in 2015. He rationalises: “You give peoplethe chance to make a closer connection to their car.Imagine your iPhone – when you buy it, it is sterile.But once you have your stuff on it, it becomes themost private thing you can imagine. This is whatwe want, that the car can become a bit of you.” But

THENEWŠKODAFABIAAdvertising promotion

STYLINGFabia is sharper and more angular thanbefore, but familiar ŠKODA styling cues suchas the ‘C’-shaped tail-lights are retained

CABINNewmodel blends excellent build quality withpractical touches and some cutting-edge tech,including the pioneering MirrorLink set-up

INSPIRATIONVision C concept was unveiled by ŠKODA atthe 2014 Geneva Motor Show, and has pavedthe way for an exciting new era of design

AHEAD BY DESIGN


“Wewanted to keep thegenetics of the Fabia, butuse theopportunity tomakethe car a littlemore sporty”

“Functionally, wemadethe Fabia even stronger.This is something thatis very important.”

JOZEF KABAN CHIEF OF EXTERIOR DESIGN, ŠKODA

JOZEF KABAN

Formorego to autoexpress.co.uk/skoda-fabia

all this must be done without compromising ŠKODA’score values. Says Kaban: “When I came to ŠKODA, Ihad big ideas about the way the brand shoulddevelop. But it is so healthy, you have to do it withsensitivity. You don’t want to lose this pragmatic car.You don’t want to do just a design-led car.”

Vahland believes Kaban has got the balancejust right on the new Fabia. His verdict? “Forme, it is a complete ŠKODA – functionality,practicality, roominess and a good design.”


WatchdogWe get behind the stories that affect you

24 Special Issue

■ ADVICE What should you do if it happens to you?

■ CASE STUDY Owner left stunned at £1,600 bill because he activated wipers in frosty weather

IF you ever neededproof ofjusthowbadconditionsare

onBritain’s roads, one of thisweek’s stories (below) paintsa ratherworryingpicture.We all know that potholes

have become amajor problemin this country, but for driverstobeapplying for compensationclaims every 11minutes isa damning indictment ofthe kind of disrepair thatour roads have fallen into.What’smore concerning

about the data is that less thana quarter of the claimsweresuccessful. Having dealtwithsomeWatchdog caseswheredrivers have struggledwhenarguing a case against councils,it is easy to understandwhyso few complaints resultin a positive outcome.Often the councilwill hide

behind excuses as towhy itisn’t its fault there’s a hugepothole on the road that hasdamaged someone’swheel orsuspension.Whether it’s thefact that it has only been acertain amount of time sinceitwas reported, or that a conehas beenput down towarndrivers –andhas subsequentlydisappeared – this is alldone to dodge blame.It’s all very frustrating for

driverswho enduphundreds– or sometimes thousands –of pounds out of pocket.TheGovernment recently

announced a £6billion fundfor fixingpotholes, but if youaskme it all feels a little toolate, andmerely a goodnewsheadline to try to get peopleonside at Election time.

Sheer number of claimsfor pothole damagereveals extent of crisis

Frozen wipers blowECU on reader’s Civic

Extent of potholeclaims revealed

“Government’s£6bn fund for fixingpotholes all feelsa little too late”

ChrisEbbs

Graeme Scott couldnot believe reasongiven for blown ECU

COLD weather can cause a wholestring of problems for cars, with frozenwindscreens, dead batteries and icyroads all posing a danger to drivers.

What you wouldn’t expect is a £1,600repair bill for a blown Electronic ControlUnit (ECU). Yet that’s what Graeme Scott,from Banchory, Aberdeenshire, faced aftertrying to switch on his 2006 Honda Civic.

After turning the key in the ignition,the hatchback wouldn’t start, butflagged up its engine managementlight. Graeme got it to a local garage,which said it was a glow plug fault.

He then booked the car into Honda’sMacrae and Dick dealer in Aberdeen fora more detailed diagnosis. After severalweeks, Graeme was told it was a blownECU. This had been caused by thewindow wipers being frozen to thescreen and unable to move when the carwas switched on. This in turn created avoltage spike which damaged the ECU.Graeme said: “It is unacceptable. It’s

costing £1,600 simply because thewipers were on in frosty weather.”

A quick search online revealedGraeme wasn’t the only one to have hadthis problem on his Civic. Other ownerswere reporting the same failure.

We contacted Honda, feeling thatas it was a known issue, the firm shouldbe contributing to Graeme’s £1,600 bill.

A spokeswoman said: “When a vehicleis out of warranty, and has been servicedoutside of the Honda network, it is hardto offer goodwill gestures as we do notknow the full history of the vehicle.

“The vehicle in this instance is five-and-a-half years out of warranty and hasnot been seen by a Honda dealer since2012. As a company, we pride ourselveson exceptional customer service, andwould like to reduce Mr Scott’s ECUbill to £500 plus VAT and labour.”

Graeme was delighted. He added:That’s brilliant news – I can onlythank Auto Express for all its help.It’s far beyond what I expected.”

IF you own a Civic of this age, you should be aware of this potential problem.The best advice is to turn the auto wiper function off to avoid the wiperstrying to start if they’re frozen. Alternatively, remember to check the wipersaren’t frozen before switching the engine on to avoid a potentially hefty repair bill.

A COMPENSATION claim for potholedamage was made every 11 minutesby motorists in Great Britainlast year, council figures reveal.

Almost 50,000 drivers lodgedclaims in 2013/14, with local councilsshelling out £3.2million, says the RACFoundation. Less than a quarter of the48,664 claims were approved, though.This dropped to 18 per cent in Wales.

The number of claims in 2013/14was up on the previous year, yet theaverage payout for a successfulclaim was down from £357 to £286.

Surrey received the highest numberof claims – 3,912 – but only approved20 per cent, paying out £250,289.Second was Essex with 2,548, but itsigned off on less than four per cent. [email protected]

@AE_Consumer

Joe Finnerty


Inbox What do you think?

Contact Joe [email protected] @AutoExpressWrite to:Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing,30 Cleveland Street, LondonW1T 4JD

Special Issue 25

Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.ukDRIVING DOCTOR Paul Ripleywww.drd.uk.com @drpaulripley

SPIED

Owner irate at billfor replacement TT

HOT TOPIC New Ford Ka spied

Infotainment screensneed dimming down

Not all dealers arehard to reason with

FROM: CarGeek IT’S really sad to see the rapid decline of Ford’s products. It’slike the company has given up. How can it be so difficult for Ford to succeed?A few years ago, almost all its cars were near the top of their respectiveclasses or way beyond rivals, but now it is churning out some of the leastdesirable cars on the market – just look at the EcoSport. This One Fordprogramme is not working. It was a good experiment by all means, butit’s only proven that you cannot cater for every market with one car. Globalneeds differ so greatly that it just leads to compromise in each market.

FROM: Jim Heaton I’VE read with interestthe ongoing debate over daytimerunning lights and dipped headlights.I have also noticed many cars now withinfotainment screens which are verybright. Surely this is a distraction whennight driving? I learned to drive in carswhere you could dim the dashboardlights to help you see clearly.

FROM: Rod Harbottle THE problemsreaders have trying to get their carssorted under warranty by main dealersmake for depressing reading. I recentlybought a used car and when it had afault, the garage accepted liability withno fuss and even authorised a localdealer to do the work. There are someexcellent dealers out there after all!

FROM: John Jones IT’S time for legislationto instruct judges on serious motoringoffences like driving while disqualified.Even ‘short sharp shock’ sentences of14 days might make many offendersthink twice. It shouldn’t be a greyarea – you’re either driving while yourlicence is suspended, or you’re not.

FROM: Ron Morgan WHY has Peugeotstarted to put the steering wheel insuch a position on some of their smallmodels that it partially obscures theinstrument panel, so the average drivercannot easily see? This is positivelydangerous and it should be redesigned.Come on, Peugeot – sort it out.

Driving while bannedshould mean prison

Peugeot out of lineon steering wheel

■ “This could be a Micraor anything. The originalnineties Ka was funky andjaw dropping. Ford shoulddo that again.” sirwiggum

■ “Such a shame the Kaname has been diluteddown to be worn on sucha depressingly sterilelooking model.” Chris

■ “Ford needs a low-costmodel to compete withthe bottom of the market.If it’s from £6,995, it couldbe a winner.” John P

Readers arestill to beconvincednext Ka isright movefor Ford

MANY drivers enjoy helping othersand feel a sense of satisfaction whendoing so. However, a helpful gesturecould involve you inadvertently causinga pedestrian fatality at a crossing.

If someone is waiting at a crossing,never wave them across. Let them decideif it’s safe. If you gesture a pedestrianacross, you may be liable for being partlyresponsible if they’re hit on the crossingby a vehicle which hasn’t stopped.

TOP TIP: Don’t tell pedestrians to cross.Let them take responsibility themselves.

■ COPS SOUND TYRE ALERTPOLICE figures reveal that 86 per centof cars involved in UK road accidentshave incorrect tyre pressures.

In addition, Sussex Police force found73 per cent of all cars it had checkedrecorded pressures outside its toleranceof 5psi against recommended pressuresfrom manufacturer handbooks.

And it’s not just a safety issue. Tyresthat are under-inflated by just 20 per cent– 4 to 6psi – are likely to see their lifespancut, as well as a drop in fuel economy.

■ 30,000-mile Audi finally fixed, but owner wants new car

IF you’ve had troublewith a car, but covered quitea high mileage, should youpay towards a replacement?

David Robinson, fromSalisbury, Wilts, doesn’tthink so. He felt there wassomething severely wrongwith the ride and the handlingof his Audi TT Black Edition.

“I took out another car andit felt fine,” he said. Despiteregular complaints to hisdealer, it was 13,000 milesbefore the garage found thesuspension clamps hadbeen left on the vehicle.

The gearbox wasn’t linedup with the transfer box,either, which had causeddamage to components.

A number of other partswere fixed over more visitsand by the time Audi said itwas fully repaired, David haddone 30,000 miles. He’d lostfaith in the TT, though, andwanted a replacement, but thedealer said he’d have to pay.

“The customer care hasbeen appalling,” David said.An Audi spokesman told us:“As his car has covered aconsiderable mileage and it isnow in sound working order,we believe that it is fair andreasonable to request afinancial contribution.”

Faults on TT were finally repaired, butAudi wanted contribution for new car

Chris Ebbs

ContactsTHE following provide help withmotoring problems. Someservices are free, others chargea fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offeradvice for members only (m).

LegalAA: 0906 010 1300 (p)RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m)Which?: 01992 822 800Consumer Direct:0845 404 0506Local Trading StandardsLocal Citizens Advice Bureau

Used car inspectionsAA: 0800 085 3007RAC: 0800 085 2529

Technical adviceAA: 0870 606 1619 (m)

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Car registration/historyHPI: 01722 422422AA: 0800 316 3564DVLA: 0300 790 6802RAC: 0800 975 5867Traffic informationAA: 09003 401100 (p)RAC: 09003 444999 (p)

Problems with dealersMotor Codes:0800 692 0825RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m)Scottish Motor TradeAssociation: 0131 331 5510

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Financial problemsFinancial Ombudsman:0800 023 4567

Safety concerns/recallsVehicle and OperatorServices Agency (VOSA):0117 954 3300


InsidestoryA different take on the world of motoring

HELPING HANDFormer officer Kitchener will dispenseadvice from passenger seat during lessons

Mike [email protected]

TWO FORMER POLICE OFFICERS ARE USINGSKILLS they picked up as cops to teachlearner drivers. We went along to seehow different their driving school really is

WHAT do hugely experienced policeofficers get up to after they’ve been

in ‘the job’ for 30 years, then exercisetheir right to take early retirement?Some sit back, put their feet up,watch the sunset and enjoy theirnot unreasonable pensions.

But for two close and highly respectedMetropolitan Police colleagues, ChiefInspector Nigel Walsh and Sergeant AlanKitchener, retiring (aged around 50)from Scotland Yard enabled them togive birth to XCOPS, which describesitself as more than just a driving school.

We went along to see what makesit stand out against standard drivingschools, and find out just what theythought of our own driving standards.“Much like ex-military personnel, policeofficers on retirement can find themselvesslightly limited when looking for afollow-on career,” explains Alan.

“Security work, witness statementtaking or accident investigation seemsto be the norm. But Nigel and I looked atthe skills and attributes we had gained,before concluding that the role of drivinginstructor fits the bill for both us.”

Apart from having the legal formalqualifications to offer driving lessons orspecialist sessions to members of thepublic, these guys are good – perhapseven at their very best – in a crisis.

“Nigel served as an advanced policedriver. We worked together for manyyears managing major incidents such assieges, terrorist incidents, rail crashes,riots and demonstrations,” says Alan.

“I had responsibility for controllingvehicle pursuits and ensuring theycomplied with strict ACPO guidelines...before being concluded safely, of course.It’s fair to say that during this part of mycareer, I learnt a thing or two about drivers,driving, vehicles on the ground and,come to that, pursuit helicopters above.”

So when the two officers recently‘retired’ at around the same time, it wasinevitable that they’d establish andco-direct XCOPS. Because it’s still earlydays, the company only operates insouthern England. But, via franchisee

Taughtby thefuzzfuzz

WHAT’S ON OFFER ONTHE XCOPS programme■ Hourly lessons from £20.50 to£23, depending on age of pupilsand number of lessons booked.

■ Two free lessons for new driverswho pay for several in advance.

■ A promise to pay for anXCOP pupil’s second test ifhe or she fails the first.

■ Mock tests for learners, plusdrivers who qualified years ago butwonder if they’d pass again today.

■ Mock test ‘parties’ for those whothink they are better behind thewheel than their friends. Thewinner receives a coveted ‘BestDriver’ certificate from XCOPS.

■ ‘Welcome back to the road’sessions for qualified motoristswho haven’t driven for a while.

■ Country lane driving sessions –including potentially life-savingtips on how to avoid oncomingvehicles travelling at high speeds.

■ Personal security sessions – fordrivers and their passengers – whenthey’re on the road, parking up orbreaking down in remote areas.

■ Formal or informal appraisalsessions (not mock tests or retests)for existing drivers in theirown or XCOP-supplied cars.


NIGELWALSHEx-Chief Inspectorserved as anadvanced driverduring his timewith the Metand is keen topass on advice

ALAN KITCHENERFormer Sergeanthad responsibilityfor controllingvehicle pursuitsand ensuringthey adheredto guidelines

MIKE RUTHERFORDAuto Express columnisthas been driving for manyyears but is always keen tosee how skills can be improved

PeteG

ibson

“The guys have the formalqualifications to teachlearners, and are perhapsat their very best in a crisis ”

28 Special Issue

Inside story XCOPS driving school

“XCOPS would like tosee the learner processgo further than simplythe standard driving test”

RUTHERFORD RATED Our columnistdemonstrated his ability behind thewheel before XCOPS gave its verdict

opportunities it’s offering nationwide,it has exciting plans to serve drivers,young and old, across Britain.

“One of our unique selling pointsfrom day one was that only current orretired police officers can be XCOPSinstructors,” Kitchener continues.

“As far as we’re aware, we’re the onlyschool in the country with such a USP.What customers get when choosing anXCOPS instructor is someone who isreliable, very experienced, extensivelyand professionally trained, calm underpressure, able to communicate at alllevels – and in possession of a muchneeded healthy sense of humour.

“Feedback from pupils and parentsof younger drivers underlined that it’sthese qualities they’re looking for whenchoosing instructors for themselves,their sons or their daughters.

“The general view is that copperscan be trusted. Quite simply, studentsquite like the idea of being taught bymen or women who are, or used to be,police officers. And they seem to enjoypicking up from us a few tried andtested official police driving techniques.

“We’ve been formally taught overmany years to drive to the Police System,which concentrates on awareness,anticipation and forward planning but –primarily – driving safely. Our real worldexperiences dealing with fatal accidentsand the consequences of poor or recklessdriving are passed on to pupils throughour Safe Driving for Life programme.”

Driving testSo, as ex-police officers and nowqualified driving instructors, what dothe pair think of the current driving test?Says Alan: “It’s pretty tough and equipsthose who are successful to drive to adecent standard. But it doesn’t preparethem sufficiently due to certainconstraints. For example, motorwaydriving cannot be part of the test.”

It’s not just the standard test thatAlan thinks could be altered, though,and he wants to see the learningprocess go further – and not just for thosewho have just passed their driving test.

“There is a case for compulsory extratraining after getting a full licence –if only to cover motorway and nightdriving. Pass Plus covers this, butis voluntary. A bigger discountfrom insurance companies mighttempt more people to take Pass Plus.

“Also, some type of modified test forthe over-70s is needed, as the law sayspensioners only have to self-assess theirability to continue driving. This isn’t ideal.

“And we at XCOPS would be in favourof having a formal assessment of non-UKlicence holders before they’re allowed touse their foreign licences on UK roads.”

What worries Alan more, however, isjust how many of us have let our owndriving standards slip over the years.“If ordered to take their driving testsagain today, the majority of existingdrivers would not pass. That scaresme. And it should scare them, too.”

Mike Rutherford’sdriving appraisal“THIS is not an exam or a mocktest,” veteran police officer AlanKitchener reiterates to me. “It’sjust a professional appraisal tosee how you drive in your caron public roads. So show me.”

As I pull away from the kerb,I whisper “mirror, signal,manoeuvre”. The XCOP isimpressed – he’s convinceddrivers can help themselves bygiving a running commentary onwhat they’re doing and seeing.

But he warns that my glancein my mirrors was too short, Iindicated too long, and mymanoeuvring was a bit hesitant.

“Don’t be nervous or try toimpress. Just drive as you’dnormally drive,” Alan insists.Such appraisals aren’t intendedto teach already qualified driversnew tricks. Instead, they’re moreabout reminding them of skills,rules and tips they may not havethought about learning in the

run-up to their tests years earlier.It hurts me to admit this, but myappraisal revealed a number ofbad habits I’d picked up over theyears since I passed my test.

One of the first things thatAlan noticed was that I don’talways check my passengerside mirror when turning left.As well as this, I was told thatI indicate too often, mainly whenovertaking parked cars, whichyou’re not meant to do.

Another issue, which I’m suremost of us are guilty of, is that Ioccasionally drive one-handed.Why? I can’t answer that.

It was also noted that Isometimes confuse stopsignals with give way signs.And I was reminded not to flashoncoming drivers to proceed, asit could potentially confuse them.

What’s important aboutthese sessions is that Iaccept and will work on theseconstructive criticisms. There’sno point in paying for expertadvice if you’re not preparedto positively react to it.

APPRAISAL TIMEXCOPS found Mike had picked up some

bad habits, which he’s vowed to address


30 Special Issue


@jack_rix

JaJacJack_R

PeteG

ibson

NewcarsVisit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives

MAZDA 2Verdict on sharp newsupermini that’s takingthe fight to the Fiesta.

34

AudiTTRoadsterFIRST DRIVEWhy cool new drop-topis set to be this summer’s hottest buy

AUDI isn’t taking any chances withthe third-generation TT Roadster.

It’s the lightest, fastest and cleanest carin the class – blowing away both theBMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK in a game ofTop Trumps – and we can confidently sayit’s the best looking of the bunch, too.

We know the new TT’s design isn’trevolutionary, but it’s hard not to beseduced by its perfect proportions andangular surfacing. The Roadster losesthe Coupé’s cramped rear seats andgains a flatter boot deck plus a pair ofrollover hoops. However, it retains itssibling’s precision-sculpted bodywork,sharp front grille and criss-cross LEDlight signature. If convertible sports carswere purely about desirability, there’dbe no need to take the TT for a test drive.

The slimmed-down, twin-motor roofmechanism weighs 3kg less than itspredecessor’s and the fabric takes just10 seconds to fold neatly behind yourhead, where it doesn’t cut into theshallow 280-litre boot (25 litres lessthan the Coupé’s). You can drop it at upto 31mph, and doing so shows off theTT’s greatest asset – its superb interior.

New additions include a £1,695‘open-top driving package’, consistingof head-level seat heating that blowswarm air down the back of your neck,

an electric wind deflector and heated‘Super Sports’ seats. We’d recommendopting for it if you plan on gettingthe roof down any time other thanduring the height of summer.

The rest of the interior is carried overfrom the Coupé, but it’s worth reiteratingthe quality of the materials, plus thebrilliance of the 12.3-inch VirtualCockpit behind the wheel and the air-con controls integrated into the vents.

There’s a reassuring depth ofengineering, too. Thanks to the adoptionof the steel and aluminium MQB platform,the new TT Roadster is roughly the sameweight as its predecessor, despite heapsof extra kit. Reinforcements along thesills and across the rear bulkhead add90kg over the equivalent Coupé, but at1,395kg for the front-wheel-drive manual2.0 TFSI, it’s still impressively light.

Engine choices include the 181bhp2.0 TDI Ultra, which is only availablewith a six-speed manual box and front-wheel drive and capable of returning65.7mpg and emitting 114g/km of CO2.

At the other end of the scale is thequattro-only 306bhp TTS, while theentry-level 227bhp 2.0 TFSI comeswith front or quattro four-wheel driveand the choice of a manual or six-speed dual-clutch S tronic gearbox.

We drove the 227bhp 2.0 TFSIS tronic quattro, and it’s safe to say

Essentials

With top down and wind deflector in place, TT is impressively refined at speed

Audi TTRoadster2.0TFSI quattro S line

Price: £37,555

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power/torque: 227bhp/370Nm

Transmission: Six-speed twin-clutchauto, four-wheel drive

0-62mph: 5.6 seconds

Top speed: 155mph

Economy: 42.2mpg

CO2: 154g/km

ON SALE Now

DRIVE SELECT Five drivingmodes tweak throttle, suspension,exhaust, steering and gearbox forbetter economy or a sharper drive

that four-cylinder turbo engines don’tget any freer-revving than this, or indeedsound any better. There’s a throaty barkwhenever you prod the throttle, especiallyin Dynamic mode – the sportiest of fiveDrive Select settings for acceleration,steering and gearbox, plus suspensionif adaptive magnetic dampers are fitted.

The box is beautifully intuitive, too,shifting right on cue in auto mode andpinging instantly up and down whenusing the paddles behind the wheel.

With 370Nm of torque, only 10Nmless than in the TTS, the car can be

Special Issue 31

“If convertible sports cars were purely about desirability,there’d be no need to take TT Roadster for a test drive”

LOTUS EXIGE AUTOSix-speed paddleshiftbox aims to give two-seater fresh appeal.

CAYENNE GTSWe drive fully loaded,434bhp Porsche SUV onice. Plus, new Turbo S.

JUKE NISMO RSHot crossover left us coldwith 4WD and CVT. Nowwe try 2WD manual car.

FOCUS ST ESTATEUpdated 247bhp fastFord wagon blasts off. Isit the king of the load?

36 38 40 42

nnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww.... ..“Surprisingly, given the UK’s love“Surprisingly, given the UK’s love

for convertibles, Audi expects

for convertibles, Audi expects

the Roadster to account for onlythe Roadster to account for only

20 per cent of new TT sales”20 per cent of new TT sales”

Cabin features top-class materials and smart touches, including the Virtual Cockpit and air-con controls in the air vents

ROOF Pull the button in the centreconsole up, and the roof retracts in alightning-fast 10 seconds. Plus, it canbe operated at speeds up to 31mph

Running costs42.2mpg (official)

£59 fill-up

Performance0-62mph/top speed

5.6 seconds/155mph


“Variable ratio steering helps the Roadsterfeel more agile than either of its predecessors”

driven in a variety of ways: either byriding the torque in a higher gear andkeeping things smooth, or unlocking theengine’s full potential higher up in therev range. We also had a go in the TTS,and while it punches significantly harderdown the straights, it’s the less powerfulversion that feels sweeter on publicroads, because it lets you deploy moreof its performance, more of the time.

The updated four-wheel-drive system,which can send up to 100 per cent oftorque to the rear axle, is a nice securitynet, especially on greasy surfaces.

However, don’t assume Audi’sclaims that “safe, controllable drifts arepossible on low-friction surfaces” meanit’s now a match for the Porsche Boxsterdynamically. The handling is secure and

THE TT Roadster is a beautifullydesigned package. There’s afeeling of solidity to everythingyou touch and cutting-edge techwherever you turn. The addition ofa folding fabric roof hasn’t affectedthe Coupé’s handling too much,but it’s still no match for a PorscheBoxster. Drive swiftly but sensibly,though, and the TT’s smooth turboengine and four-wheel-drive gripallow you to carry effortless speedthrough corners, while making youlook and feel fantastic – which iswhat a sports car is all about.

★★★★★

Verdict

EQUIPMENTOptional ‘SuperSports’ seatsfeature head-levelheating; boot isshallow but has netto hold bags inplace, while exhaustnote is sporty fora four-cylinder car

BIG WHEELSHuge, 19-inch rimscontribute to the firmride, but TT Roadsterdoesn’t crash intobumps in the road

car, yet didn’t crash over every crackand hollow. That’s because the firmerand 10mm lower sports suspension(a no-cost option) wasn’t added.

With the roof up, refinement is good,but not perfect. There was an annoyingwhistle from wind over the left wingmirror, plus more tyre roar on roughmotorways than you get with the Coupé.

Drop the roof with the windowsand wind deflector in place, and thecabin is remarkably calm, though. Youcan even make hands-free calls usingthe microphone built into the seatbelt.

nnee ee dd ttoo kknnooww.... ..“Audi now has 51 separate“Audi now has 51 separate

models on sale, comparedmodels on sale, compared

to just 17 back in 2002”to just 17 back in 2002”

ither bynd

car, yet didn’t

stability in corners is superb, but the TTstill tends to understeer on the limit andalways feels best being driven at seven-tenths, rather than on the ragged edge.

The variable ratio steering, whichquickens up the more you turn the wheel,helps the Roadster feel more agile thaneither of its predecessors, but there’sbarely any feedback on what the frontwheels are up to. Despite the 19-inchalloys on our S line test car, the ridehas a reassuring firmness for a sports

Audi TT RoadsterNewcars


Newcars Mazda 2

34 Special Issue

Essentials

Mazdnnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww.... ..“Head-up display is available – a“Head-up display is available – a

first for a supermini. It’s part offirst for a supermini. It’s part of

a £400 safety pack, but it onlya £400 safety pack, but it only

comes on Sport Nav models”comes on Sport Nav models”

FIRST DRIVE Fun-to-

EQUIPMENT Entry-level SE andmid-spec SE-L cars get a screen with anintegrated radio, plus standard air-con,electric mirrors and a steering wheel withreach and rake adjustment. Bigger centraldisplay (right) features on higher-spec cars

PRACTICALITY Boot spacemeasures up at 280 litres, whichis 10 litres less than a Ford Fiesta’scapacity. Fold the seats down, and theload capacity swells to a respectable950 litres – 24 litres less than Ford’s

Mazda handles superbly, while the five-speed gearbox is precise andfun to shift up or down. Revvy engine is also a very willing performer

“Show it a series of corners, and the handlinghas a sparkle to it that few rivals can match”

WE’RE already big fans of the all-new Mazda 2, having driven a pair

of pre-production versions late last year.But this is our first chance to take thewheel of the full production car, fittedwith the entry-level petrol engine.

You can order the 2 with a 1.5-litreSkyActiv-G petrol unit, producing89bhp or 113bhp further up the range.But for base S and mid-spec SE-Lmodels, the 1.5 can be selected witha modest 74bhp and 135Nm of torque.

As a result, it takes 12.1 seconds togo from 0-62mph, returns fuel economyof 60.1mpg, emits 110g/km of CO2

and slots into tax band B – meaningthat a year’s road tax costs just £20.

Just like its more powerful brothers,and the upgraded 129bhp version we

Mazda21.574bhpSE-LPrice: £12,995

Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol

Power: 74bhp

Transmission: Five-speed manual,front-wheel drive


Top speed: 107mph

Economy: 60.1mpg

CO2: 110g/km

ON SALE March


@JRRBatchelor

JamesJame

drove in the new MX-5 in Issue 1,356,the 74bhp 1.5 is well suited to the jobin hand. It feels a little sluggish froma standstill, but once past 2,000rpm,the power kicks in and the enginerevs cleanly all the way up to 7,000rpm.

We wouldn’t get too close to the redline, though, as the dinky engine getsvocal past 4,000rpm and it’s a din thatquickly becomes tiresome. But there’sno doubt that it’s willing and loves torev, even if it’s noisy when doing so.

Show it a series of corners, and, aswe’ve come to expect from all modernMazdas, the handling has a sparkle to itthat few rivals can match. It’s brilliantlyagile, there’s loads of grip and the

steering is direct, if a bit light. The five-speed box has a precise mechanicalaction, just like the MX-5’s, thatmakes changing gears a pleasure.

Once at cruising speed, the long-geared manual helps to settle the cardown, and thanks to 15-inch wheelswearing tyres with deep sidewalls, plusgood sound insulation, the interioris hushed and comfortable.

The car in our pictures is a European-spec model, so isn’t representative ofUK versions, but the 1.5 comes in twotrim levels – base SE and mid-spec SE-L.Go for the SE at £11,995, and you’ll getelectric mirrors, an adjustable driver’sseat and a steering wheel with reach


Mazda 2Newcars

Special Issue 35

da2 Performance0-62mph/top speed

12.1 seconds/107mph


£47 fill-up

Verdict

drive supermini lives up to our high expectations

At cruising speed, the new 2 isrefined, plus 15-inch alloys lookgood; rear space is tight, though

UNTIL we’ve driven a UK model,we’ll reserve judgement as towhether the 2 handles better thana Ford Fiesta, but it’ll be close. The1.5 SkyActiv-G is great, while therest of the package is stylish, offersgood value and is fun to drive.Pricier diesel units are moreeconomical, while the higher-powered 89bhp 1.5 petrol is thebest all-rounder. Yet if you’re on abudget, this 74bhp version is ideal.

★★★★★

Up front, there’s room for six-footers,but cabin materials feel a bit cheap

and rake adjustment and audio controls.For £1,000 more, SE-L adds alloys,foglamps, heated folding mirrors, aleather steering wheel and gearlever,60:40 split-fold rear seats and Bluetooth.

Both pack a lot of kit for not a lot ofmoney, and their reasonable price tagsare further backed up with stylish looks.

The 2 carries on the ‘Kodo’ designlanguage – first seen on the largerMazda 3, 6 and CX-5 models – andworks particularly well on such a smallcar. The bold front leads on to sharpcreases on the sides and there’s aswoopy roofline. A squat rear-endnicely finishes off the sporty look.

It’s really only the dashboard plasticsthat let the cabin down for us. While the

design is pleasantly different fromthe competition, you won’t find manysoft-touch materials on this entry-levelcar. Things improve on the higher trimgrades, but there are vast swathes ofscratchy and hard plastics here.

It’s not the roomiest, either. Whilethere’s plenty of space for six-footersup front, the new Hyundai i20 trumpsthe 2 in the rear, as headroom is alittle tight. Boot capacity stands at280 litres – just 10 litres less thana Fiesta’s – which is adequate.

Mazda feels UK buyers will morelikely opt for the higher-powered 89bhpversion, and we’d agree it’s the betterchoice. But if you only have around£13,000 to spend and you want a fun-to-drive supermini that’s more stylishthan a Ford Fiesta, the Mazda 2 is awell rounded and very likeable little car.


Newcars Lotus Exige S

LotusExigeautoFIRST DRIVE Paddleshift box aims to boost sports car’s appeal

PeteG

ibson

LOTUS’ philosophy has long been to“add lightness”, but in the Exige S,

the brand’s latest addition comes inthe shape of a new six-speed torqueconverter auto gearbox.

This transmission isn’t strictly new,as it has been adopted from the Evora,but it’s the first time it has been madeavailable in the Exige S. The reasonfor its introduction is very simple –to help boost sales at minimal costand open up the market to a newcustomer base. But is it any good?

You’ll pay a reasonable £2,000 extrafor the auto over the manual, with theoption of a Coupé or Roadster remaining.

The control panel for the box isneatly crafted into the centre console.Simply depress the brake, prod ‘D’ andyou’re off – at speed, too. Stab theaccelerator and the rear tyres fight fortraction, yet it’s quicker from 0-62mphthan the manual, taking 3.9 seconds.

The stonking 345bhp 3.5-litre V6 stillnestles behind you, screaming all theway to 7,000rpm, but pulling on the

Lotus ExigeSRoadster auto

Price: £57,500

Engine: 3.5-litre 6cyl s’charged

Power: 345bhp

Transmission: Six-speed automatic,rear-wheel drive


Top speed: 145mph

Economy: 29.4mpg

CO2: 222g/km

ON SALE Now

EQUIPMENT A Race Packadds Lotus’ four-way DPM tractioncontrol system, as well as launchcontrol, active exhaust valve andoptimised sports suspension

WHEELS Standard kit includesa set of 17 or 18-inch alloys, with aConvenience Pack, Premium Pack andPremium Pack Sport also available

PRACTICALITY There is decentspace for two despite access beinga little tricky, but the 98-litre bootis only good for storing the roof

LOTUS predicts more than a thirdof Exige S sales could be made upof autos, yet this unresponsivebox doesn’t match the rest of thecar’s cat-like reflexes. There havebeen improvements in efficiencyand acceleration, but not enoughto make you want to ditch thethird pedal. Still, the Exige Sproves Lotus still builds some ofthe best-handling cars around.

★★★★★

right paddle reveals a notable lack ofurgency when selecting the next ratio.Manual upshifts are laboured, whichsaps away the car’s momentum, butdownshifts feel more urgent. They’restill a world away from the rapid-fire PDKyou’ll find in a Porsche Cayman, though.

Leaving the gearbox to its owndevices shows the Exige S at its best.Changes are well judged, if a littlesluggish, but selecting Race on theDynamic Performance Management(DPM) system sharpens throttle responseand adds some much-needed precision.

Happily, the agile, balanced andresponsive nature of the Exige S hasn’tbeen affected. The steering is loadedwith feedback, and while the ride ison the firm side, it provides an insightinto what the car is doing on the road.

Centre console houses the auto box’scontrol panel in the Lotus’ basic cabin


£43 fill-up

Essentialsnnee ee dd ttoo kknnooww.... ..“In the UK, Lotus sold just 235“In the UK, Lotus sold just 235cars in 2014, down from 256 incars in 2014, down from 256 in2013, but sales are up 63 per2013, but sales are up 63 percent globally year-on-year”cent globally year-on-year”

Verdict

Jonathan [email protected]

@Jonathan_burn

JonatJonath


Newcars Porsche Cayenne GTS

38 Special Issue

PorscheCayenneGTSFIRST DRIVE Smaller, more economical engine doesn’t spoil fun for sporty new SUV

nnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww.... ..“The GTS is positioned between“The GTS is positioned between

the Cayenne S and the Cayennethe Cayenne S and the Cayenne

Turbo, and is considered theTurbo, and is considered the

sportiest model in the range”sportiest model in the range”

Our man savours new Cayenne GTS’s sharp responses in the snow in Sweden

IN the search for more eco-friendlyfigures, Porsche has ditched the old

Cayenne GTS’s V8 petrol in favour of amore economical V6 turbo. The greatnews is that this boasts an extra 20bhpand 85Nm more torque, at 434bhp and600Nm respectively, and shaves half-a-second off the previous 0-62mph time.

The GTS feels brutally fast – even on ice– and is as tactile as ever. It’s much moreagile than the more expensive Turbo, too,and the PSM safety systems seem farless inclined to cut power when you’redriving near or at the limit. As a result,we managed some glorious powerslidesin the snow at Porsche’s winter drivingfacility in Skelleftea, Sweden, but theseshould be filed under ‘don’t try at home’.

The standard sports exhaust soundsgreat, growling under hard accelerationand burbling at lower speed. Pushthe Cayenne into a tighter corner andthere’s very little body roll. Granted,we were more concerned with keepingthe GTS in a straight line on the ice,but it’s lost none of the dynamism thatmade it such fun to drive before.

Every GTS has PASM adaptive dampers,with air-suspension an option. The latter

lowers the car by 20mm, while the steelsprings put the GTS 24mm closer to theground than on a normal Cayenne S.

The eight-speed Tiptronic is swift andsmooth, and will hold on to the gears ifyou ask it to. Sport Plus mode sharpensthings up, and makes the most of the revs.

Front styling is shared with the CayenneTurbo, and a standard Sport Designpackage adds chunkier side sills andflared arches. The 20-inch black alloysare a GTS signature, as are the badgeson the front doors. The cabin gets a setof Alcantara and leather sports seats,with GTS embossed on the headrests.These dash is beautifully stitched, too.

Porsche expects only 11 per cent ofCayennes sold here to carry the GTSbadge, compared to around 60 per centfor the two diesels. This is no surprisewhen you consider it’s only 0.2 secondsfaster than the S Diesel from 0-62mph,and 6mph quicker flat-out. It’s over£10,000 more expensive, too, andwill do around seven fewermiles to the gallon.

The smart money ison the top-spec diesel –but if you want the best-handling Porsche SUV,the GTS warrants a placeat the top of your list.


5.2 seconds/163mph


@cutt_ings

RichaRicha

“The Cayenne GTS feels brutally fast– even on ice – and is as tactile as ever”

no surprisey 0.2 seconds

om 0-62mph,t. It’s overtoo, and

er


Porsche Cayenne Turbo SNewcars

Special Issue 39

nnee ee dd ttoo kknnooww.... ..“Turbo S lapped the Nürburgring“Turbo S lapped the NürburgringNordschleife in seven minutesNordschleife in seven minutes59.74 seconds, taking the record59.74 seconds, taking the recordfrom the Range Rover Sport SVR”from the Range Rover Sport SVR”

PorscheCayenneTurboSFIRST DRIVEMega 4x4 is amazing to drive – as it should be for £120k

Interior is as luxurious as ever, andcomes with loads of kit as standard

PorscheCayenneGTSPrice: £72,523

Engine: 3.6-litre V6, twin-turbo

Power: 434bhp/600Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto,four-wheel drive


Top speed: 163mph

Economy: 28.2mpg

CO2: 234g/km

ON SALE Now

PorscheCayenneTurboS

Price: £118,455

Engine: 4.8-litre V8, twin-turbo

Power: 562bhp

Transmission: Eight-speed auto,four-wheel drive


Top speed: 176mph

Economy/CO2: 24.6mpg/267g/km

ON SALE Now

THE new Turbo S joins the BMWX6M and Range Rover Sport SVRin a growing list of mega-SUVs.With performance to shame mostsports cars, the way in which theCayenne belies its bulk is trulyastonishing. Yes, it’s expensive,but if you want a 562bhp super-SUV, its price is unlikely to matter.

★★★★★

IF you’re looking to own oneof the best-handling full-sizeSUVs on the market, then youcan’t go wrong with the PorscheCayenne GTS. It’s just as sharpas ever to drive – and, despitethe new, smaller engine, it’seven quicker than before.That said, its Cayenne S Dieselstablemate makes a strongercase still; it offers nearlyas much fun behind the wheel,with 35mpg economy anda £10k lower list price.

★★★★★

ENGINE New, more efficient3.6-litre bi-turbo V6 replaces the4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8, anddelivers 434bhp. Economy is up bya little over 2mpg, to 28.2mpg

EXTRAS Our car came with the£2,400 optional Burmester stereo,although the standard Bose systemdoes the job. Sat-nav is standard

STYLING LED headlamps and21-inch wheels signify Turbo S,although there aren’t many othervisual clues to its top-spec status

EQUIPMENT Dials control raftof driver aids, while sat-nav, climatecontrol and specially embossed seats(below) are standard on £72,500 GTS.Superb sports exhaust is included, too

EQUIPMENT Top-spec Cayennehas all the drive modes, includingPDCC active chassis control, as well asbeautiful leather and metal finishes

FEW people can justify a 562bhp V8super-SUV, but if you can, here’s the

new range-topping Cayenne Turbo S.With an extra 20bhp and 50Nm moretorque than its predecessor, this 2.3-tonne 4x4 sprints from 0-62mph in 4.1seconds – faster than the Cayman GT4.

It belies its size, too. Porsche’s PDCCactive chassis control does a frankly mind-blowing job of keeping the car in check,with little or no body roll even at very highspeed. Clever torque vectoring works inconjunction with the four-wheel-drivesystem to allow breathtaking corneringspeeds, while switching off the stabilitycontrol entices ludicrous amountsof slip from the back wheels.

On ice even a family hatchback canbe made to slide like a sports car, butwe also tested the Turbo S on someremote Swedish B-roads, motorwaysand even around town. The breadth of

this car’s abilities never fails to impress– and so it should, for nearly £120k.

Plant your right foot – at any speed– and it takes off, with 800Nm comingin from only 2,500rpm. It pins you backin your seat with an instant rush fromthe two turbos. Stopping isn’t an issue,either. The Turbo S has 10-piston 420mmceramic brakes at the front, giving fade-free performance. This, in conjunctionwith the PDCC system, helped the top-spec Cayenne smash Land Rover’s SUVNürburgring lap record by more than 14seconds towards the end of last year.

Huge 21-inch alloys, leather sportsseats and sat-nav are standard, but areversing camera, heated windscreenand lane-departure warning are options.The sports exhaust costs nearly £2,000and the brilliant high-end Burmesterstereo comes in at a little over £2,400.It’s clear that Porsche wants very fewbuyers to walk away with a list price car.

Essentials

Essentials

Verdict

Verdict


@cutt_ings

RichaRicha

“PDCC active chassis control does a franklymind-blowing job of keeping the car in check“


Newcars

Nissan JukeNismoRS2WD

FIRST DRIVE Do RS upgrades makemore sense with manual box?

AFTER nearly three years in UKshowrooms and 6,000 examples

sold, the Nissan Juke Nismo is dead.In its place comes something evenhotter, though – the Juke Nismo RS. Toavoid cluttering the range, the new carreplaces the non-RS version completely,adding more power, better brakes, astiffer chassis and an upgraded exhaust.

In Issue 1,356, we drove the lesspotent four-wheel-drive model,which showed potential but washobbled by its CVT box. This front-wheel-drive manual sounds muchmore promising, with a 215bhp1.6-litre turbo engine (18bhp morethan before), six-speed box and afront limited-slip differential. It’s goodvalue, too, costing just £1,150 morethan the outgoing model at £21,650.

Slip into the Recaro bucket seats andgrip the Alcantara-wrapped wheel, andthe Nismo RS feels like a proper hothatch should. Push the starter button,and it’s a little more disappointing – theengine buzzes away under the bonnetbut never sounds particularly exciting.It’s a similar story when you stretch itslegs, because as the revs rise, theengine drones rather than sings.

There’s nothing wrong with theway it accelerates, though, going from0-62mph in 7.0 seconds despite thelack of excitement in the process.

Things improve in corners thanks tothe sharp steering, lack of body roll forsuch a high-riding car and the sheer

Long-throw gearlever shifts well; Ancantara wheel feels great

Nissan JukeNismoRSPrice: £21,650


Power: 215bhp

Transmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive


Top speed: 137mph

Economy: 39.2mpg

CO2: 165g/km

ON SALE Now

PRACTICALITY RS has a 354-litreboot capacity with the back seats upand 1,189 litres with them down. Two-level floor makes space more usable

WHEELS Striking 18-inch alloysare fitted as standard, as are redcalipers. They’re part of upgradedbrake system with bigger front discs

EQUIPMENT Recaro wing-backbucket seats are a £1,300 option,but worth the money, as they providea proper hot hatch look and feel

YOU have to admire the originalityof the Juke Nismo, and the RSupgrades mean it’s faster andmore capable than ever. It’sreasonably good value, too, whenyou consider the performanceand equipment on offer. We onlywish that the muted drivetrainfelt more special more of thetime, which would be in keepingwith the outrageous exterior.

★★★★★

amount of grip, but it’s the differentialthat makes all the difference. It allowsyou to get back on the throttle early,feel the outside front tyre dig deepand catapult you out the other side.

Fortunately, Nissan has resisted thetemptation to firm up the suspensiontoo much compared to the standardcar. It’s noticeably more brittle over

potholes and speed bumps, yet it’smostly comfortable and refined enoughto be driven every day. Meanwhile,the gearlever has a long throw, buta tight, mechanical action.

The standard Juke is alreadyaimed at extroverts, although you’llneed to be brave to drive the NismoRS. Available in white, black or silverwith trademark red pinstripes, 18-inchwheels and red brake calipers, it’s anunusual sight on the road, as there’snothing quite like it out there.

Bodykit and diffuser help Nismo RSstand out, as does loud exhaust note

Essentials

nnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww.... ..“The standard Nissan Juke was“The standard Nissan Juke was

the UK’s 10th best-selling newthe UK’s 10th best-selling new

car in 2014, with a total ofcar in 2014, with a total of

39,263 examples registered”39,263 examples registered”

Verdict


@jack_rix

JaJacJack_R


7.0 seconds/137mph


PracticalityBoot (seats up/down)

476/1,502 litres

Newcars Ford Focus ST-3 Estate

FordFocusSTEstateFIRST DRIVE Updates promise to make fast estate more fun than ever

HOT estates are making a seriouscomeback of late. Forget the array

of V8-powered Mercedes AMG wagonscurrently available, we’re talking aboutmainstream family cars with a sting intheir tail. The Skoda Octavia vRS hasbeen around for a couple of years now,but you’ll soon be able to buy a SEATLeon Cupra ST, while a new VolkswagenGolf GTD Estate has been confirmedfor the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Ford can claim some credit for therenewed interest – it’s been offering aFocus ST Estate since 2012, and thanksto a recent series of mechanical andcosmetic updates, it should be better todrive and as practical as ever. It threw ina curveball for the facelift, too, becauseyou can now order your fast Focus Estatewith the choice of a 247bhp 2.0-litre

EcoBoost petrol engine or a 182bhp2.0 TDCi diesel. We drove the dieselST hatch in Issue 1,355, so it’s thepetrol wagon we’re focusing on here.

From a purely practical point of view,the Focus Estate could well be all the caryou ever need. Open the large tailgateand there’s 476 litres with the rear seatsup, or a whopping 1,502 litres with themdown, forming a perfectly flat load space.Compare that to 316 litres and 1,101litres respectively for the hatchbackand the benefits are easy to see.

OK, so there’s a slight penalty interms of price and performance – theEstate costs £1,100 more than theequivalent hatchback and takes 0.2seconds longer to cover 0-62mph.

But remarkably, claimed fueleconomy and CO2 emissions areidentical at 41.5mpg and 159g/kmrespectively – an improvement of sixper cent over the pre-facelift model

thanks to the addition of stop-start. Onpublic roads, the performance gap isimpossible to spot. The Estate thundersdown the road with the same force asthe hatchback, and thanks to its rush ofturbocharged acceleration feels evenquicker than the numbers suggest.

The best part about its directinjection EcoBoost engine, though, is itsflexibility. A generous 345Nm of torqueavailable from low-down in the rev rangemeans it’s just as easy to select a highergear and feather the throttle to makesmooth and serene progress. To uncorkthe full performance potential, you simplylet it rev and enjoy the rasping exhaustnote until it’s time to change up.

Things don’t fall to bits in corners,either. In fact, despite the extra weightover the rear axle, it handles just like thehatch, which is great news for the driver– if not for the dog in the boot. Changesto the chassis and hardware include


8.3 seconds/154mph

PRACTICALITY Load bay isimpressive. Plus, rear seats foldflat, providing 1,502 litres of space– 400 litres more than in the hatch


@jack_rix

JackJacJack_R


Ford Focus ST-3 EstateNewcars

Special Issue 43

“Thanks to its rush of turbocharged acceleration,ST feels even quicker than numbers suggest”

INTERIORNew interior layoutis far less clutteredthan before, withlarge eight-inchtouchscreen ontop-spec modelsrunning on latestFord Sync 2 software

Ford Focus ST-3 EstatePrice: £27,095


Power: 247bhp

Transmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive


Top speed: 154mph

Economy: 41.5mpg

CO2: 159g/km

ON SALE Now

new front springs and slightly stifferdampers all-round. As a result, bodyroll is minimal, but while the suspensionnever crashes over bumps, it does feelbusy over less-than-perfect surfaces.

There’s a quicker ratio for thevariable electromechanical steering,too, which means the Estate’s nosedarts immediately to where you pointit – almost too quickly at first – butyou soon get used to steering with yourwrists, rather than taking armfuls oflock. Up the speed and the ST stays wellwithin its comfort zone – it’s a car thatactually gets better the faster you driveit, leaning on the outside tyres andtesting the levels of grip. But caution

is advised: carry too much speed into acorner or jump on the throttle too earlyand the ST’s spiky power delivery isquick to spin up the front tyres andsend you understeering across the road.

The question you now have to ask iswhether you want this full-fat petrol-powered ST, or its tamer diesel sistercar. If you’re already a hot hatch fan,then only the snappy petrol version willquench your thirst for speed, but thediesel’s superior fuel economy seemsto go hand in hand with the Estate’spractical layout. What’s clear is that theFocus ST is one of the most competentand rounded hot hatches out there, andnow there’s a version for everyone.

IT seems strange that hot wagonsaren’t more popular, becausethis ST Estate delivers all thehandling, speed and excitementof the hatch, with genuine familyfriendly practicality. Despitepower output staying constant,the EcoBoost engine is a peach,even if the ride is a bit nibbly.If you prioritise fuel economythen the diesel is a better idea,but if it’s thrills you’re after, thepetrol car wins hands down.

★★★★★

EQUIPMENT All models getwell bolstered Recaro seats, buttop-spec ST-3 features heated,leather-wrapped versions that areelectrically adjustable as standard

ENGINE In the world of hothatches, 247bhp really isn’t thatmuch any more, but you’ll besurprised at just how strongly the2.0-litre EcoBoost hauls you along

nnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww.... ..“We now know the Focus RS will“We now know the Focus RS will

be a 316bhp four-wheel-drive five-be a 316bhp four-wheel-drive five-

door hatch, but unsurprisingly

door hatch, but unsurprisingly

there are no plans for an estate”there are no plans for an estate”

Essentials

Verdict


Volvo V60 PolestarNewcars

Special Issue 45

Buying a new car?Tell us about your experiencewww.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower

ComingsoonFORDMONDEOVIGNALE 2015Mondeo will be thefirst of Ford’s newVignale models,offering a premiumbuying experience.

SUPERMINISFiat 500 2016Ford Ka mid 2015Honda Jazz early 2015Hyundai i20 Coupé MarchMazda 2 springRenaultsportTwingo late 2015RenaultZOE update springSEAT Ibiza 2016Skoda Fabia early 2015Smart ForTwo early 2015Smart ForFour early 2015Suzuki Celerio FebruaryVauxhall AdamS AprilVauxhall CorsaVXR springVauxhallViva spring

FAMILY CARSAlfa Romeo Giulia late 2015Alfa Romeo Giulia Estate late 2015Audi A3 three-cylinder late 2015Audi A4 mid 2015BMW 1Series facelift 2015BMW 3Series Plug-in mid 2016BMW i5 2016Ford MondeoVignale mid 2015Honda FCEV mid 2015Infiniti Q30 springJaguar XE springMercedesCLAShoot. Brake early 2015MG5 early 2015MINI Clubman early 2015Nissan Leaf mid 2016Porsche Panamera estate 2016Renault Espace late 2015SkodaSuperb summerSkoda Fabia estate early 2015Tesla Model III 2016Toyota Prius late 2015Toyota Mirai late 2015Vauxhall Astra late 2015VW Beetle Dune late 2015VW Golf Alltrack mid 2015VW Golf CC 2015VW Golf R estate springVW Passat Alltrack summerVW Passat GTE June

SPORTS CARSAlfa 4CStradale 2015Alfa 6C 2016Aston Martin DB9 late 2016Aston MartinV8Vantage early 2016Audi RS3 springAudi A5 spring 2016Audi R4 2016Audi R8 mid 2015AudiTTSportback 2016AudiTTSport Quattro 2016BMW M1 2016BMW M2 mid 2015Caterham sports car 2016Chevrolet Corvette Z06 springFerrari 458M springFiatSpider late 2015Ford Focus RS 2016Ford Mustang early 2015Honda CivicType R MarchHonda NSX mid 2015Infiniti Q60 2016Jaguar XESVR early 2016Kia GT4Stinger 2016Lamborghini Asterion LP910-4 2017Lexus GS-F late 2015Lexus RC late 2015Lexus LF-LC 2016Maserati Alfieri 2016Maserati GranTurismo late 2017McLaren P13 2015Mercedes-AMG GT early 2015MercedesC450 AMGSport springMGTF replacement 2015MINI JCW early 2015Nissan Pulsar Nismo mid 2015Peugeot 308 R mid 2015

Porsche Cayman GT4 2015Porsche GT3 RS mid 2015Porsche 911 facelift late 2015Porsche 961 2017Porsche Pajun 2017Renault Alpine late 2015Toyota FT-1 (Supra) late 2015Vauxhall Monza 2015

SUVsAlfa RomeoSUV early 2016Aston MartinSUV 2017Audi Q1 2016Audi Q5 2016Audi Q6 2016Audi Q7 mid 2015Audi Q8 2017Audi RSQ1 late 2016Bentley Bentayga 2016BMWX3 2016BMWX7 2018Dacia Duster facelift 2016Ford Edge 2015Honda CR-V 2015HondaVezel 2015Infiniti QX30 late 2015Jaguar F-Pace 2016KiaSorento early 2015Lamborghini Urus 2017Land Rover Defender 2016Maserati Levante 2016Mazda CX-3 mid 2015Mercedes GLC 2015Mercedes GLE Coupé 2015Mercedes babySUV 2017Peugeot Quartz 2016Porsche Cayenne Coupé 2017Porsche MacanTurboS early 2015Porsche Macan GTS 2015Range RoverSportSVR springRenault Kwid 2016Renault MéganeSUV mid 2015Renault seven-seatSUV 2016SEAT IBX 2016Skoda Yeti+2 2016SsangYongTivoli 2015SuzukiVitara AprilTesla ModelX 2015Toyota C-HR 2017VolkswagenTaigun 2015VolkswagenTiguan 2016VolkswagenT-ROC 2016Volvo XC40 2018Volvo XC60 late 2015Volvo XC90 early 2015

PEOPLE MOVERSBMW CAT 7-seater early 2015Ford C-MAX facelift springFord Grand C-MAX facelift springFordS-MAX early 2015Mercedes R-Class 2016VWTouran March

CABRIOLETSAudiTT Roadster 2015Alfa Romeo 4CSpider early 2015Ford Mustang Convertible 2015Lamborghini HuracánSpyder late 2015Mazda MX-5 early 2015Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet 2015MercedesS-Class Cabriolet 2015MINI Convertible 2016Range Rover Evoque Cabriolet 2015Rolls-Royce Wraith Drophead 2016VW Beetle Dune cabriolet late 2015

LUXURY CARSBMW 7Series mid 2015Cadillac ELR late 2015Infiniti Q80 2020Jaguar XF late 2015Mercedes-MaybachS600 springMercedesS-Class Pullman 2015Rolls-Royce Phantom 2017VW Phaeton late 2016VolvoS90 2016

VolvoV60PolestarFIRST DRIVE Hot estate hails new performance line

VolvoV60PolestarPrice: £49,775

Engine: 3.0-litre in-line 6cyl, turbo

Power: 345bhp

Transmission: Six-speed automatic,four-wheel drive


Top speed: 155mph (limited)

Economy: 27.7mpg

CO2: 237g/km

ON SALE Now

ON THE ROADHot V60’s responsesare dulled a littleby slow-shiftingbox, but 4WD givessuperb grip, rideis surprisinglycomfortable andbrakes impress

WHILE Volvo boasts a strongreputation for safety, it doesn’t have

the performance credentials of someof its rivals. However, the manufactureris addressing that issue with the launchof its Polestar division – and the firstmodel in the range is the V60 Polestar.

The estate’s body has been pumpedup, and under the skin is a 345bhptransverse straight-six turbo coupledto Haldex 4WD and a six-speedGeartronic auto. It produces 500Nmof torque from 2,800rpm, and underhard acceleration delivers a screamnot dissimilar to that of a Jaguar F-Type.

What’s more, this estate can sprintfrom 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, whichmeans it can give plenty of racy coupésa run for their money. Unfortunately, thegearbox is a bit of a letdown; its upshiftsare slow, while changing down multipleratios is an exercise in patience.

There’s plenty of grip from the 4WDsystem, though, and sharp Brembobrakes deliver great stopping power.Those large 20-inch wheels look asthough they should deliver a bone-jarring ride, but the standard-fit Ohlinsdampers mean that while the car is stiff,the suspension is more comfortablethan you’ll find in some performancemodels fitted with smaller rims.

A near-£50k price tag is steep, yetthe V60 Polestar is loaded with gear,including sat-nav, heated leather andAlcantara sports seats and the usual raftof safety kit. Distinctive Rebel Blue painthelps to shout about its potential, too.

Roomy, high-quality cabin boasts a high kit count,with sat-nav, heated leather and Alcantara seats

THE V60 Polestar fallsbetween Audi’s S4 and RS4Avant estates. It’s loadedwith kit, plus has plenty ofpower and unbreakable grip,while the ride is far betterthan in either Audi. If onlythe automatic gearboxwas more responsive.

★★★★★

Verdict

Dean [email protected]

Half-PriceHeroesHeroes


EVERYONE loves a bargain, and overthe next 32 pages, we guarantee to

find a temptingly cheap used car to suityou. We’ve spent hours sifting throughthe classifieds to serve up a selectionof brilliant buys that will set you backaround half what they cost new, or less.

There’s something for everyonehere, as our list of nearly 100 second-hand bargains is spread over 10 keyprice categories – from sub-£1,000superminis to supercars costing

over £100,000. And in nearly everycategory, we include a green choice– a sign of our eco-conscious times.

Plus, as fuel prices fall, our expertslook at the thirsty, big-capacity petrolcars that were once worthless, but nowseem far more tempting again. We alsohave a guide on how to cut your fuel,insurance and maintenance costs.

Just be warned: the bargain buys inour Half-Price Heroes special will giveyou an itchy wallet. Can you resist?


NISSAN QASHQAI

WAS £16,895 NOW £7,699

FORD FIESTA

WAS £12,645 NOW £5,995PORSCHE 911

WAS £69,900NOW£19,990

buying used has never made more sense, and over the next 32 pages we pickout nearly 100 bargain cars across every class, from £1k to £100k-plus

FORD FIESTA

S ,6 5WAS £12,645 ONOW £ NOW£19,990

hand bargains is spread over 10 keyprice categories – from sub-£1,000superminis to supercars costing

urance and maintenance costs.Just be warned: the bargain buys in

our Half-Price Heroes special will giveyou an itchy wallet. Can you resist?

NISSAN QASHQAI

WAS £16,895 NOW £7,699NISSAN QASHQAI

5,995£5,995

you resist?

CHE 911PORSC

WASS £69,900


ARE you after fun on a shoestring budget? Well, look nofurther than the Ford Puma. A revvy 1.7-litre petrol enginematched to an agile front-wheel-drive chassis provides topentertainment behind the wheel, and it’s pretty stylish, too.

The Puma added a dash of panache to the fast Ford recipewhen it debuted in 1997, with a clever TV advert featuringHollywood legend Steve McQueen doing wonders for thecompact coupé’s sales. That means there are plenty to choosefrom on the second-hand market. We found a 1999 1.7showing a relatively low 77,000 miles for just £795.

However, as values have dropped to rock bottom, so haveowners’ desire to look after them. Lots of Pumas will nowbe showing signs of 15 years or more of use, so watch outfor rusty wheelarches and sills that could bring about MoTfailures. Still, with humble Fiesta supermini underpinnings,it should mean affordable running costs and cheap carinsurance, even for the younger generation of drivers.

IF you’re in the market for a versatile compactSUV for not much cash, then the first-generationToyota RAV4 is well worth considering, as it wasone of the pioneers of the class. Good groundclearance and a 2.0-litre petrol engine poweringa robust four-wheel-drive system mean thatthe RAV4 should cope well on winter roads.

Three-door models limit access to the rear, soopt for the larger five-door if practicality is high onyour wish list. Load space isn’t great, either, plusToyota didn’t alter the original side-hinged bootdoor for the UK market, making access tricky.

FIAT’S space-age Multipla revolutionised theMPV market when it was launched back in 1998,and it had the edge over its five-seater rivals withits two rows of three seats. The looks might notbe to everyone’s taste, but a roomy, airy cabinprovides plenty of visibility. Add that to its large,450-litre boot, and you’ve got an affordable,versatile and practical people carrier – evenif the interior doesn’t feel that hard-wearing.

The 1.9 diesel is the pick of the range andshould be the most frugal, although the base-spec SX trim doesn’t get air-con as standard.

Half-Price Heroes Bargain buysHHalf-PPrice Heroes

Off-road Toyota RAV4

Price Now £995 1998/S-reg, 80k Price Now £895 2002/52-reg, 90k

FUN Ford Puma

MPV Fiat Multipla

bargains needn’t be bangers with our pick of top-value cars

Pricenew:£17,695

model:2.0GX

Engine:2.0-litre4cyl,127bhp

C02/roadtax:N/A/£230

Economy:27.2MPG

EuroNCAP:N/A

pricenew:£12,995

model:1.7


C02/roadtax:178g/km/£230

Economy:38.2mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Pricenew:£14,110

model:1.9jtdsx



Economy:44.1mpg

EuroNCAP:★★★

Price Now £795 1999/V-reg, 77k

Best Buys forUNDER£1,000


RENAULT’S Laguna was the first car ever to achievea five-star Euro NCAP rating, featuring safety techsuch as seatbelt pre-tensioners, load limitersand a vast array of airbags – adding peace ofmind if you’re planning on transporting your family.

In Privilège spec, there’s plenty of kit onoffer – including keyless entry, xenon headlights,auto wipers, power-folding door mirrors and ESP– so you won’t have to scrimp on gadgets. A£1,000 budget will give you a good choiceof petrol or diesel models in both hatchbackand estate form. Plus, reliability is strong.

BY the early 2000s, the Nissan Micra had shedits original boxy bodywork and was curvierthan ever. The radical redesign had a purpose,however, as more room inside meant evengreater practicality and improved visibility.

It’s not the most fashionable used superminion the market, but with low running costs,strong reliability and plenty of second-handchoice, it’s a great option for a first-timebuyer or a learner driver. We’d opt for the1.2 petrol version, which will be cheap tobuy and insure. We found a 2003 model in Sspec with 86,000 miles on the clock for £950.

Bargain buys Half-Price Heroes

Family Renault Laguna

First car Nissan Micra

Pricenew:£17,265

model:2.0Privilege



Economy:36.6mpg

EuroNCAP:★★★★★

Pricenew:£7,995

model:1.2s



Economy:47.9mpg

EuroNCAP:★★★★

Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £895 2003/03-reg, 58k

Price Now £950 2003/53-reg, 86k

Price Now £XXXXX YEAR/XX REG

Skoda Fabia

Price now £895 2000/x-reg, 138k

THE original Fabia signalled a change infortunes for Skoda. It was the first superminideveloped under VW and delivered a winningblend of practicality, value and dependability.

If you’re after affordable frugality, the Fabiaoffers that and more. Plus, there are plenty ofefficient models to choose from, all of whichprovide strong value for money and cheapbills. Skoda always performs well in ourDriver Power satisfaction surveys, andfinished top of our owner poll in 2014.

Pricenew:£11,300

Model:1.9tdicomfort


CO2/roadtax:130g/km/£230

Economy:56.5mpg


green choice cutting your bills

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“The Ford Puma’s 1.7-litre“The Ford Puma’s 1.7-litre

engine is a belter, but theengine is a belter, but the

smaller 1.4 and 1.6-litresmaller 1.4 and 1.6-litre

units feel a littleunits feel a little

underpowered.”underpowered.”

james disdalejames disdaleroad test editor


HERE’S proof that familyhatchbacks can be bothpractical and fun to drive.The original Ford Focuscreated a sensation whenit replaced the dowdy,ageing Escort back in1998, adding a much-needed dose of vitality tothe manufacturer’s family car line-up. The second-generationmodel took over the mantle as the UK’s best-driving hatch,thanks to agile and pleasingly predictable handling.

More importantly, the newcomer also addressed some ofthe original car’s shortcomings – it brought a larger 385-litreluggage area versus 350 litres in its predecessor, not to mentionmore refined and efficient diesel powerplants.

Today, the Mk2 Focus still offers this great mix of dynamics,practicality and affordable running costs, making it one of themost attractive used cars in Britain. The second-hand market ispositively flooded with good examples, so with a £3,000 budgetyou’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of engine and trim. If you’renot going to be doing very many miles, a better option will bea small petrol model, such as the 113bhp 1.6-litre in Zetecspec, which boasts a fair level of equipment as standard.

WITH a new Type R turbo waiting in the wings, setto cost around £30,000, Honda is ready to restateits claim on hot hatch class honours. However, ifyour budget doesn’t stretch that far, the maker’spocket-rocket back catalogue is equally exciting.

This is particularly true of the second-generationhot Civic, which boasts a sophisticated rearsuspension set-up that produces some playfulhandling traits plus a 197bhp VTEC engine thatrevs to a heady 8,250rpm. Reliability should betypically bulletproof, while build quality is solid.The only letdown is the low-rent cabin.

COULD buying a used Alfa Romeo be a first-classticket to frustration and expensive repair bills?Maybe, but it’s hard to deny that the thoughtof a GTV for less than £3,000 is tempting.

You may have to budget for regular repairs,but when everything’s right the GTV’s rev-happy163bhp 2.0-litre Twin Spark engine will delightand the sleek, two-door coupé will still turn heads.This Alfa isn’t going to rival a contemporary hothatchback for performance or ability, but at justshort of £3k for a stylish Italian sports car, itdoes bring a lot of kerb appeal.


HOT HATCH Honda Civic Type R

Price Now £2,995 2002/02-reg, 75k Price Now £2,500 2005/55-reg, 63k

STYLE Alfa Romeo GTV

a tiny budget will stretch a surprisingly long way these days

Pricenew:£16,000

model:CivicTypeR

Engine:2.0-LITRE4cyl,197bhp


Economy:31.4mpg


Pricenew:£21,800

model:GTV2.0JTS



Economy:30.7mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Price Now £2,875 2006/06-reg, 60k

Best Buys £1,000-£3,000

FAMILY Ford FocusPricenew:£14,695

model:Focus1.6Zetec



Economy:44.1mpg



THE 2003 XJ may have retained its predecessor’squintessentially British looks, but underneathit was all-new. Jaguar developed a lightweightaluminium chassis, which gave great handling,ride, performance and efficiency benefits.

The low kerbweight means a gas-guzzling V8isn’t necessary: the sweet 240bhp 3.0-litre V6offers 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and 27.1mpg –not bad for a luxury saloon. At £3,000, though,you won’t be looking at the freshest examples– the car we spotted had done 138,000 miles.Luxury options include twin rear TV screens.

ESTATES are all about practicality, and the Mazda6 wagon scores highly here. There’s a large 505-litre load bay, while the 60:40 split-fold bench canbe lowered using the handy levers in the boot.

The car is engaging to drive, too, with a punchy141bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel that delivers up to46.3mpg. For around £3,000 there’s a solidblend of performance and economy on offer.Even the mid-spec TS trim comes well equipped,featuring cruise and dual-zone climate control,plus a multifunction steering wheel. Robustbuild quality and strong reliability mean theMazda should be trouble-free to own, too.


LUXURY Jaguar XJ6

Estate Mazda 6

Pricenew:£39,000

model:XJ6

Engine:3.0-litreV6,240bhp


Economy:27.1mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Pricenew:£17,920

model:6Estate2.0dTS

Engine:2.0-litre4cyldiesel, 141bhp


Economy:46.3mpg


Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £2,995 2003/53-REG, 138k

Price Now £2,995 2007/56-reg, 78k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“Is there a better used buy in“Is there a better used buy in

Britain? The Ford is cheap toBritain? The Ford is cheap to

purchase and run, reliablepurchase and run, reliable

and brilliant to drive.”and brilliant to drive.”

richard ingramrichard ingramdeputy news editor

Toyota Prius

Price £3,000 2004/54-REG, 97k

THE Prius Mk2 helped bring hybrid power tothe mainstream. Its design isn’t exactly fashion-led, but with strong eco credentials thanksto a 1.8-litre petrol engine, battery pack andelectric motor, the Toyota claims 65.7mpg. Justdon’t expect to see that in everyday driving.

With many examples now nearing 10 yearsold and 100,000 miles, battery capacity mightnot be what it was. But given that the tech wasat the cutting edge just a decade ago, and theefficiency is still impressive, £3k is a bargain.

Pricenew:£17,495

Model:PriusT3

Engine:1.8-litre4cylpetrol/electric, 112bhp

CO2/roadtax:104G/KM/£20

Economy:65.7MPG


green Choice Cutting your bills


AFTER a stodgy period in the nineties, VW’s original hot hatchreturned to form with the fifth-generation Golf GTI. Performancehas to be at the heart of any pocket rocket, so with the GTI’s2.0-litre petrol turbo sending 197bhp to the front wheels,the sprint from 0-60mph takes a rapid 6.9 seconds.

Add to that the option of five-door practicality, Volkswagen’simpeccable image and build quality, solid dealer serviceand acceptable running costs – not to mention a splitpersonality that sees the GTI equally at home on therace track as it is in the local golf club car park – andyou have the recipe for a superb all-rounder.

With a maximum budget of £5,000 you’ll be lookingat high-mileage examples, but this proves that you don’thave to break the bank to buy something that’s thrilling todrive, can carry front and rear passengers in comfort andaccommodates plenty of luggage. Many owners will havecared for their cars well, too, so it promises to be durable.

WITH the new Mondeo hitting showrooms, there’snever been a better time to take the plunge withits predecessor. Mixing a huge amount of spacewith low running costs and Ford’s typicallyinvolving driving experience, the family friendlymachine covers all the necessary bases.

There’s a huge range of trim and engine options,and while the 1.8-litre TDCi isn’t the most efficientunit by today’s standards, it delivers 123bhp soperformance should be adequate. CO2 emissionsof 149g/km mean £145 road tax, and it beats thelarger 2.0 TDCi on economy, returning 49.6mpg.

THE 5’s great attraction is how it drives. Most top-heavy people carriers roll through corners and feelimprecise on the road; not so the Mazda. A welldeveloped chassis is clothed in a relatively sleekand functional body, which proves that drivingan MPV doesn’t have to be boring.

The 141bhp 2.0 turbodiesel is smoother thanits rivals of a similar age, and there’s plenty oflow-down torque. Practicality is strong, too, thanksto Mazda’s ‘6+1’ layout and sliding rear doors –and when all seven seats are in place you’ll stillbe able to squeeze in 110 litres of luggage.


Family Ford Mondeo


Hot hatch VW Golf GTI

MPV Mazda 5

high-performance fun or family practicality? choice is yours...

pricenew:£20,045

model:Mondeo1.8TDCiEDGE



Economy:49.6mpg


pricenew:£19,995

model:GolfGTI



Economy:35.3mpg


pricenew:£17,900

model:52.0DSport



Economy:46.3mpg


Price Now £4,950 2005/05-REG, 85k

Best Buys £3,000-£5,000


TODAY the X-Trail is a sharply styled seven-seatcrossover, but before Nissan’s big off-roadertook its design inspiration from the new Qashqai,it had more utilitarian roots. This makes it agreat 4x4 bargain for the winter months.

This is especially true in 2.2 dCi form, thanksto 220Nm of turbocharged torque. The engineis a little noisy but performance is dependable– especially when towing – just like themechanicals. Don’t expect high-quality cabinmaterials, but £5,000 should buy a well cared-for example and still leave you plenty of change.

A PORSCHE for less than £5,000 – what’s thecatch? Well, as long as you buy wisely, thereshouldn’t be one. This budget will get you anearly 2.5-litre manual Boxster, which still hasplenty of straight-line performance even bytoday’s standards. With 201bhp on tap,0-62mph takes 6.9 seconds, while a nimblechassis and precise steering mean it should keepup with some much more modern hot hatches.

The mid-engined layout gives the Boxstertwo boots (one front, one rear), creating totalluggage space of 260 litres – so it’s relativelypractical for a weekend break, too.


4x4 Nissan X-Trail

FUN Porsche Boxster

pricenew:£19,795

model:X-Trail2.2dCiSport



Economy:39.2mpg


pricenew:£33,950

model:Boxster

Engine:2.5-litreflat-six,201bhp


Economy:31.7mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £4,000 2002/02-reg, 84k

Price Now £4,490 1997/R-Reg, 79k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“Edition 30 models are pricier,“Edition 30 models are pricier,

but offer 227bhp, a subtlebut offer 227bhp, a subtle

bodykit and bespoke BBSbodykit and bespoke BBS

18-inch alloy wheels.”18-inch alloy wheels.”

jack rixjack rixassociate editor

Kia PicantO

Price now £3,790 2011/61-reg, 54k

WITH its funky looks, generous kit and thriftyrunning costs, the Picanto city car has been abig hit. It backs this up with a surprisinglypractical cabin, low running costs and a goodhaul of standard kit. And while the 1.0-litrethree-cylinder is underpowered, it’s happyto be worked hard and emits only 99g/km.

More importantly, Kia’s seven-year warrantymeans even the £3,790 61-reg model we sawhad three years’ cover left. Few used carsdeliver such peace of mind for so little cash.

pricenew:£6,395

model:Picanto1.0S



Economy:67.3mpg


green Choice cutting your bills


A MAINSTAY in the UK best-sellers list virtually since its launchin 2007, the original Nissan Qashqai was a true game changer,setting the blueprint for a host of copycat crossover SUVs andbecoming extremely popular in the process. If you don’t mindpassing another one every few minutes, a used 2009 modelat under £8,000 is all the family car you’ll ever need.

Equipped with the 1.5-litre dCi engine, it’s far from thequickest car, but feedback from Qashqai owners suggests afigure close to 50mpg in everyday use is realistic – which, for acar with this amount of practicality and comfort, is pretty good.

Our Driver Power satisfaction survey results through theyears have also shown that Qashqai drivers are largely verysatisfied with their car’s build quality and reliability, too. Plus,as there are plenty of used models about on dealer forecourts,there’s plenty of room for you to haggle for a good price andchoose one in your preferred colour and specification. Acentatrim is mid-range and there’s a version that includes sat-nav.

DESIRABILITY wins the day here, because despitebeing even less practical than the MINI hatchbackand suffering dynamically – both due to losing thefixed roof – the Convertible holds its value well.If you can live with the minuscule 125-litre bootand rear seats that may as well not be there,the MINI Convertible is a fantastic drop-top.

In this case, petrol versions are preferable –the 1.6-litre Cooper is efficient and punchy enough,and you won’t have to endure the amplified dieselclatter with the roof down, on top of increased windbuffeting when the car’s open to the elements.

THE BMW 3 Series has been king of the compactexecutive car class for generations, and the 320dis both the best-selling version and best all-rounder. Its strong performance seems at oddswith its outstanding fuel economy – especiallytrue of the 68.9mpg EfficientDynamics model.

A regular in the UK’s top-10 sales charts, a five-year-old 3 Series will almost always have highmileage, but there are so many to choose fromthat you can be fussy. Pick one with an impeccabledealer service history and you should get trouble-free, premium motoring well into six-figure miles.


Convertible MINI Cooper

Price Now £7,989 2010/60-reg, 33k Price Now £7,850 2010/10-reg, 93K

Crossover Nissan Qashqai

Business BMW 3 Series

Get plenty of bang for your buck with this crop of used buys

Pricenew:£15,795

model:Convertible1.6



Economy:49.6mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

pricenew:£16,895

model:1.5dciacenta



Economy:54.3mpg


Pricenew:£27,245

model:320dED



Economy:68.9mpg


Price Now £7,699 2011/11-reg, 51K

Best Buys £5,000-£8,000


IF you can look past the slightly humdrum image,then the Skoda Octavia is one of the best-valuefamily cars money can buy. That’s especially truein the used market, with four-year-old examplesavailable for city car cash – and with similarrunning costs in the case of the 1.6-litre TDI.

Mid-spec SE models include all the essentials,like air-con and alloy wheels, with VW Groupparts meaning that reliability is excellent. And ifanything does go awry, the Octavia won’t be amoney pit. Plus, the boot has a 580-litre capacity,making it as practical as family hatchbacks come.

THE Land Rover Freelander 2 has a no-frills,utilitarian sort of appeal compared to morepremium, medium-sized 4x4s like the BMW X3and Audi Q5. So while it boasts a roomy interiorand a supple suspension set-up that makes itmore comfortable than its German rivals, it can’tquite match them for cabin ambience. Plus,the 2.2-litre diesel engine isn’t especiallyeconomical by today’s standards.

It is, of course, a hugely capable off-roaderand a well priced used buy, but the Freelander 2is also known for patchy reliability. So, checkthe service history carefully before purchasing.


Family Skoda Octavia

4x4 Land Rover Freelander 2

Pricenew:£17,240

model:1.6tdise



Economy:62.8mpg


Pricenew:£23,457

model:2.2Td4gs


Co2/roadtax:194g/km/£265

Economy:37mpg


Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £7,799 2011/11-reg, 40k

Price Now £7,950 2007/07-reg, 99k

JUST a few minutes behind the wheel of a MazdaMX-5 is all it takes to understand why it’s one ofthe most popular two-seater sports cars evermade. It’s not without its flaws, though, asthe naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engineis very thirsty compared to the latest turbosand it’s also about as spacious as a shoebox.

But this is a car all about the driving experience,which is sublime. Less than £8,000 will buy a2009 model, which was updated from the 2005version with a more modern look and includesair-con, remote central locking and a Bose stereo.

Fun Mazda MX-5Pricenew:£17,345

model:2.0iSE



Economy:37.2mpg


Price Now £7,995 2009/09-reg, 19k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“The new Nissan Qashqai“The new Nissan Qashqai

is more refined, but theis more refined, but the

original car has a ruggedoriginal car has a rugged

charm that’s missingcharm that’s missing

from the latest model.”from the latest model.”

lesley harrislesley harrisroad tester


A TORQUEY diesel engine, big boot, classyinterior and impressive list of safety featuresmake the V70 a good family estate car – if notquite as cavernous as its boxy predecessors.

It’s comfortable and quick, though, with acharacterful five-cylinder diesel engine and oneof the most cosseting driver’s seats around.Plus, its impressive kit list includes a poweredtailgate and leather upholstery. Most at homecruising on the motorway, the front-wheel-driveV70 also boasts impressive rear space. Factor inits solid build quality and reliable mechanicals,and the Volvo will deliver years of faithful service.

BY virtue of its 4.2-litre V8 engine, a 2003 Audi S4looks pretty old school now, and it takes a specialtype of commitment to satisfy its demand for superunleaded fuel and a £500 annual tax bill. Still, thereward is a near-five-second sprint from 0-62mph,accompanied by the sort of soundtrack thatsmaller-capacity modern turbos cannot provide.

It’s also relatively easy to drive quickly dueto its quattro four-wheel-drive set-up. Add tothat the build quality we’ve come to expectfrom an Audi, and the S4 is an alluring high-performance family car for less than £6,000.

SMALL hatchbacks don’t come any better thanthe Ford Fiesta – our Supermini of the Yearfive times over and consistently the UK’s best-selling new car. And with a 2012 model in sportyZetec trim priced at a shade below £6,000,it’s hard to argue against it as a used buy.

It’s the blend of day-to-day comfort and brilliantdriving dynamics that makes the Fiesta sucha compelling car, and very few owners reportreliability issues. Low-mileage drivers will findthe 1.25-litre petrol engine a quiet and punchyunit that’s well suited to the Zetec’s character.

Half-Price HeroesHalf-Price Heroes

Performance Audi S4

Price Now £5,650 2003/53-reg, 69K Price Now £5,995 2012/12-reg, 27k

Estate Volvo V70

Supermini Ford FiestaPricenew:£36,155

model:S4



Economy:21.2mpg


pricenew:£28,815

model:D5se



Economy:41.5mpg


Pricenew:£12,645

model:1.25zetec



Economy:54mpg


Price Now £8,000 2007/57-reg, 85k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“The Volvo’s seats are the best in“The Volvo’s seats are the best in

the business. Even after thethe business. Even after the

longest journey, you’llbe

longest journey, you’llbe

free of aches and pains.”free of aches and pains.”



Bargain buys Half-Price HeroesHalf-Price Heroes

WITH the current Renaultsport Clio taking a stepbackwards dynamically in the quest for morerefinement, the status of its predecessor moveseven closer to ‘future classic’. That explains whyprices remain relatively high for a good, low-mileage 2009 model, but also why it’s moneywell spent – as it won’t drop in value at anywherenear the rate of the standard supermini.

The hot Clio is riveting at any speed, whileretaining all the practicality of lesser models.Pound-for-pound, pure driving enjoymentdoesn’t come at much better value than this.

Hot hatch Renaultsport ClioPricenew:£15,750

model:200



Economy:34.4mpg


Price Now £8,000 2009/09-reg, 19.5k

STILL the best MPV to drive on the market, theFord S-MAX offers dynamics surprisingly closeto those of a hatchback half its size. It’s a great-looking people carrier, too, avoiding the overlyboxy look that plagues many cars in its class.

And, thankfully, none of these qualities comesat the expense of space. The Ford is massiveinside, and the easy-to-operate fold-flat seatingmakes for superb practicality, too. Our pick ofthe engines is the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel – with320Nm of torque, it does a great job of haulingthe bulky S-MAX around, while proving smooth,frugal and relatively quiet at all times.

MPV Ford S-MAxPricenew:£21,495

model:2.0TDCIZetec



Economy:53.3mpg


Price Now £7,495 2010/10-reg, 85k

IN the used market, the BMW 7 Series joinsmost other huge executive saloons in being anabsolute bargain – if you can afford the runningcosts. That’s not just a case of fuel. In fact, the39.2mpg 730d will prove marvellously efficientin that respect, but the main dealer servicingand parts costs will hurt if something goes wrong.

If you’re prepared for that, the BMW beautifullycombines luxury and refinement with enjoyable,almost nimble, rear-wheel-drive gusto anda huge reserve of motorway-crushing torque.Later models get even more power and a moreefficient auto box, but the difference is marginal.

Luxury BMW 7 SeriesPricenew:£54,160

model:730dse



Economy:39.2mpg


Price Now £7,700 2005/54-reg, 85k

VW Golf Bluemotion

Price now £7,995 2011/61-reg, 62k

THE Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion was arevelation at launch, as it offered all thequalities we’ve come to expect from the Golf– superb build quality and ambience, space,class – but with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.

What was, and remains, amazing is thatthe BlueMotion is so refined, and will surpass60mpg in daily use without you even trying.Standard equipment is relatively sparse,however, and expensive options maybe reflected in the price you pay used.

Pricenew:£19,430

Model:1.6TDIbluemotion



Economy:74.3mpg


green Choice Cutting your bills


Ifyou

AUDI’S evolutionary styling approach means thatthe second-generation TT hasn’t dated too badlywith the arrival of the new version. It remainsone of the classiest coupés on the road.

Diesel versions are, of course, more economical,but the 208bhp 2.0-litre TFSI petrol better suitsthe TT – it’s quieter and makes the car lighterat the nose, and therefore slightly more agile.

The TT’s interior is so wonderfully stylishand so well built that a low-mileage, six-year-old version for under £11,000 seems a steal –and it’s more practical than you might think.

TODAY’S SEAT Leon is a very different car to itspredecessor, much more focused on quality,refinement and technology. But the old Leonwas more involving to drive, plus arguably moredistinctive to look at, with a uniquely sporty designthat became synonymous with British Touring CarChampionship wins at the end of the last decade.

It serves up an engaging driving experience,but the price is an overly firm ride, while thequality of the interior plastics leaves a lot to bedesired. Still, there’s plenty of car in a £9,000Leon 2.0-litre TSI – and no shortage of pace, too.

Half-Price HeroesHalf-Price Heroes

Style Audi TT coupe

Price Now £10,750 2009/09-REG, 69k Price Now £8,995 2010/59-REG, 67k

Hot hatch SEAT Leon

Up your Budget and some very desirable cars are in reach

Pricenew: £28,050

model:2.0TFSISline



Economy:36.7mpg


pricenew:£19,725

model: 2.0TSIFR



Economy:38.7mpg


Best Buys £8,000-£11,000

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......““If your annual mileage isIf your annual mileage is

low, then the six-cylinderlow, then the six-cylinder

diesel 5 Series offers evendiesel 5 Series offers even

greater value for money.greater value for money.””

DEAN GIBSONDEAN GIBSONDEPUTY Road test editor


THERE’S no better executive saloon than the 5 Series,and what makes the 520d remarkable is that it blowsexpectations out of the water: a big four-door carpowered by a four-cylinder diesel engine shouldn’t beanywhere near this quick, quiet, refined or economical.

It’s great to drive, too, and while it’s not the last word ininvolvement – a long wheelbase and overly light steeringsee to that – its rear-wheel-drive chassis is certainlymore engaging than on the Audi A6 or Mercedes E-Class.

In order to keep a current-generation 5 Series below£11,000, you’ll probably have to stick with a six-speed manualrather than the popular eight-speed auto box, but the 520d SEcomes with a generous standard spec: leather upholstery,17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control and a high-resolutioncolour infotainment display linked to BMW’s iDrive control.

Better still, the cabin is vast, with plenty of head and legroomin the back and loads of handy storage. And while the traditionalfour-door saloon body isn’t the most versatile, the 520-litreboot is well shaped and there’s a useful split-fold function.

Quality is superb, as you’d expect – but what youwouldn’t expect is to be topping 50mpg with ease, asyou will do on a daily basis. Only its common-as-muckpopularity, justified though it is, might put you off.

A PEOPLE carrier of huge proportions, the C4Grand Picasso is a fine family-friendly workhorse;seven seats, five of which fold flat; three ISOFIXfittings in the middle row; a vast glass area andhigh driving position for great visibility; a hugeboot that extends to almost 2,000 litres.

The over-soft suspension makes the GrandPicasso wallow significantly, while the autolurches through gearchanges. But it’s refined andcomfortable, while poor residuals mean a three-year-old model offers vast space for the price.Plus, fuel economy is good in HDi diesel form.

SAAB’S demise has hit used values hard, butwith a dedicated parts and supply network inplace in the UK, buyers needn’t worry – andthey can take advantage of a very reasonablypriced piece of leftfield premium motoring.

The 9-3 Convertible has always enjoyed areputation that exceeds its actual ability, butfor a four-figure sum it’s sensational value. Pace,an exaggerated turbo whistle, fresh air andstyling that’s ageing well more than compensatefor the slightly lead-footed handling and datedcabin. In keeping with the old cliché, buying aSaab seems an unusual, yet smart, thing to do.

Bargain buys Half-Price HeroesBusiness BMW 5 SEries

MPV Citroen C4 Grand Picasso

Convertible Saab 9-3

Pricenew:£28,045

model:520dSE



Economy:57.6mpg


Pricenew: £20,050

model:1.6HDIVTR



Economy:54.3mpg


Pricenew:£27,510

model:1.8tlinearSE



Economy:36.2mpg


Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £9,685 2012/12-reg, 45k


THERE are very few cars as capable overall as theDiscovery 3, which combines imperious off-roadability with enormous practicality, plus day-to-day comfort that nudges the luxury class.

It’s not without flaws, though – our DriverPower survey shows that owners generally lovetheir Discos, but the car has a patchy reliabilityrecord. That’s worth considering, as both servicingand parts are expensive, and high CO2 emissionsmake road tax pricey, too. The Disco 4 update inlate 2009 brought better interior quality, but a wellspecified seven-seat Disco 3 is still a fine used 4x4.

4x4 Land Rover Discovery 3Pricenew:£30,190

model:2.7TDV6GS



Economy:30.7mpg


Price Now £10,750 2008/08-reg, 93k


THE Mercedes S-Class is no match for its BMW7 Series arch rival along a twisting back road,but in the rarefied luxury car market, handlingfun is much less important than refinementand comfort. And from the passenger seats,the Mercedes has the edge. Even thoughyou’ll be looking at the previous-generationversion in this price bracket, no luxury saloonthis side of a Rolls-Royce rides with theunflustered comfort of an S-Class.

While buyers shopping for a second-hand limousine like this will be taking onpotentially huge servicing and parts bills,

an 06-plate example will already have donethe vast majority of its depreciating, so youcan gain from someone else’s financial pain.

Plus, the fuel costs for the 3.0-litre engine aremanageable – making an £11,000 S-Class a lotof luxury for little cash. And as a safety pioneer,including tech like self-drying brake discs, it’sa comforting family car in more ways than one.

THE ix35 is a solid, competent crack at thelucrative crossover SUV market by Hyundai.It’s spacious inside and the four-wheel drive only2.0-litre CRDi model has plenty of pulling power– 4x4 versions of the ix35 are preferable tofront-wheel-drive cars for their added traction.

Cabin quality is standard for the class, but it’sa little bland overall and doesn’t sparkle in acompetitive sector. Still, what it does have is valueon its side – under £8,500 for a 10-plate model isexcellent. You might even find an example withthe balance of its five-year manufacturer warranty.

THE current Skoda Superb was a genuine surprise,moving away from the ‘bigger Octavia’ flavour ofits predecessor and up in class to trouble theexecutive market. Beautifully built and refinedas well as offering limo-like rear seat space,the Superb is a fantastic value used buy.

A three-year-old example at £10,000 will feelevery bit the modern premium car, albeit in a plainsort of way, while its VW Group 2.0 TDI engineis both effortlessly punchy and frugal. The twin-hinged boot is gimmicky, but gives the Superb’shuge 595-litre luggage space added practicality.

Half-Price Heroes Bargain buysHalf-Price Heroes

Crossover Hyundai ix35


luxury merc s-class

Family Skoda SuperbPricenew:£21,905

model:2.0crdistyle(4wd)



Economy:49.6mpg


pricenew:£55,595

model:s320cdi

Engine:3.0-litrev6,231bhp


Economy:33.6mpg


Pricenew:£21,635

model:2.0tdise



Economy:52.3mpg


Price Now £10,750 2008/08-reg, 66k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“For the price of a few choice“For the price of a few choice

options on a new S-Classoptions on a new S-Class

you could have the 2006you could have the 2006

S320 CDI we found.S320 CDI we found.

That’s amazing value.”That’s amazing value.”

jonathan burnjonathan burnsenior news reporter



THERE aren’t many cars capable of dishing up adriving experience as visceral and enjoyable asthe Lotus Elise’s. A near-handmade productionmethod means the car doesn’t have the sameinterior build quality as a Porsche Cayman, butwell documented engineering heritage equatesto world-class dynamics – so trim imperfectionshere and there shouldn’t matter too much.

The current Series 2 Elise is 14 years old, soyou can get a 2002 example with the revvy (andnow discontinued) 1.8-litre Rover K Series enginefor supermini cash – and it still looks modern.

Fun Lotus ElisePricenew:£25,995

model:1.8111S



Economy:40.9mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Price Now £11,000 2002/02-reg, 66k

IT’S not exactly exciting, but the VW Passat verynicely bridges the gap between common orgarden estate cars and those in the premiumclass. Quality comfortably falls into the lattercategory, and heavy motorway users will findover 60mpg economy regularly attainable withthe refined and punchy 2.0-litre TDI engine.

The Passat estate is preferable to the saloonbecause of its practicality advantage, with the1,731-litre total luggage capacity one of thebiggest in the class. Rivals, not least the FordMondeo Estate, are more involving to drive, butnone offers the classy simplicity of the Passat.

Estate VolksWagen PassatPricenew:£23,375

model:2.0tdisebluemotion



Economy:61.4mpg


Price Now £9,000 2012/61-reg, 77k

THERE are lots of issues to address before a 2006Impreza WRX STi makes sense: can you live withthe jarring ride quality and astronomical thirstfor fuel? Do the traditional hatchback shape andlack of a huge rear spoiler offend you? Do youlike hard interior plastics? Deal with all that,and there’s immense fun to be had behindthe wheel of this unbelievably grippy andrapid hatch – all for less than five figures.

More importantly, performance is accessiblewhatever the weather. News of failing pistonsblighted this version, although Subaru sayswell cared for cars shouldn’t be problematic.

performance subaru ImprezaPricenew:£27,590

model:wrxsti



Economy:27.4mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Price Now £9,995 2008/08-reg, 66k

Nissan Leaf

Price now £9,495 2011/11-reg, 18k

THE Nissan Leaf wasn’t the UK’s first electriccar, but for many it was the first viable option.

With its 100-mile battery range, seating forfour adults, large boot and ‘normal’ looks, it’sa surprisingly sensible short-haul choice, anda sub-£10,000 used price adds to the appeal.

It’s also good to drive, with brisk pace,composed handling and decent refinement.Only the firm low-speed ride lets it down, butit’s no worse than most eco diesels. All modelsare well equipped, plus it’s dirt cheap to run.

Pricenew:£26,490

Model:LeafVisia5dr

drivetrain:107bhpelectricmotor


Economy:N/a


green Choice cutting your bills

The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the car shown are: urban 40.4 (7); extra-urban 60.1 (4.7);combined 51.4 (5.5). The official CO2 emissions are 127g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environmentfigures. Fuel consumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.

Finance provided by RCI Financial Services Limited, PO Box 149, Watford WD17 1FJ. Subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. You must be at least 18 and aUK resident (excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands). Terms and conditions apply. Our dealership introduces customers to a limited number of financial providers includingRCI Financial Services Ltd. Offer based on 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage 8p per mile inc VAT. Offers cannot be used with other schemes or finance offers and areavailable on featured new vehicle when ordered and registered between 3 February 2015 and 31 March 2015. Participating dealers only. *Deposit contribution shown isavailable to new Renault Finance customers when taking Renault Finance on Renault Clio (excluding Clio Expression). Clio shown has optional Flame Red Renault i.d.metallic paint, available at £595. †Four-year warranty applies to new vehicles when ordered from a UK Renault-approved dealer. Warranty up to 4 years/100,000 miles (whichevercomes first). For full warranty terms and conditions visit www.renault.co.uk/warranty **Service package available at £199 when the vehicle is ordered and registered by 31 March2015. Visit renault.co.uk/servicepackage

www.renault.co.uk

48 monthly payments of £159 Total amount of credit £10,705 Total amount payable £15,678

Customer deposit £1,290 Finance facility fee £99 Duration (months) 49

Cash price £13,495 Optional final payment £5,008 Fixed interest rate p.a. 6.12%

Dealer deposit contribution £1,500 Option to purchase fee £149 6.9% APR representative

SEDUCTIVE OFFERS FROM £159 PER MONTH

WITH £1,500 DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION* AND 3 YEARS’ SERVICE PACKAGE £199** UNTIL 31 MARCH

RENAULT CLIO DYNAMIQUE MEDIANAV 1.2 16V 75

Touchscreen navigation 16" alloy wheels 4-year warranty†

RENAULT

ROMANC

E SEASON

OOH-LA -

LA!


WHEN it was first unveiled way back in 2009, few peoplebelieved that Peugeot’s 308-based RCZ could reallyback up its head-turning styling with an equallystriking driving experience. But it does.

It’s not the quickest coupé money can buy, while thedriving position could do with a little more adjustment.Plus, as is usually the case with this sort of car, therear bench should be regarded more as a parcelshelf than genuine seating for two passengers.

There’s a range of petrol and diesel enginesto choose from, and even though the 1.6-litre THPturbocharged petrol version delivers a modest poweroutput of 156bhp, the RCZ is never less than pure theatre– from the distinctive ‘double-bubble’ roof to the soundactuator that boosts the exhaust note. Finally, it’s notan Audi TT, which for many potential buyers lookingto stand out from the crowd is likely to be a positive.

WHEN it comes to drop-top desirability on a budget,the sleek A5 cabrio takes some beating. Not onlydoes it look good and boast impeccable quality,but the fabric roof matches folding hard-top rivalsfor refinement without sacrificing boot space.

Unlike the Coupé and Sportback ranges, inwhich diesels are dominant, a petrol engine ispreferable in the Cabriolet – and the punchy andfrugal 1.8-litre TFSI is the best. The Audi is less funto drive than a BMW 3 Series, but it’s composedand comfortable. Its well built cabin is alsosurprisingly practical, plus has all the essential kit.

MULTIPLE winner of the Best MPV crown at theAuto Express New Car Awards, the Alhambra isa shining example of how VW Group platformsharing works to give buyers the best deal. It’sidentical to the VW Sharan, but cheaper – andbecause it’s a SEAT it depreciates a little moreheavily, making it a cracking used buy.

It’s not as spirited to drive as Ford’s S-MAX,but its sliding side doors and cavernous interiorwill make a genuine difference to growing families.Available with some of the best TDI diesels in thebusiness, the Alhambra’s also cost-effective.


Convertible Audi A5 cabriolet

Price Now £13,495 2011/61-reG, 28K Price Now £12,990 2011/11-reg, 66k

Style Peugeot RCZ

MPV SEAT Alhambra

for five figures, you can get a cool sports car or classy mpv

Pricenew:£28,915

model:A5CABRIOLET1.8TFSI



Economy:40mpg

EuroNcap:N/A

pricenew:£23,560

model:RCZGTTHP156



Economy:44.1mpg

EuroNcap:N/A

Pricenew:£26,915

model:Alhambra2.0TDISDSG



Economy:49.6mpg

EuroNcap:★★★★★

Price Now £11,470 2011/11-REG, 24k

Best Buys £11,000-£15,000


WHILE the E-Class doesn’t have the dynamiccharacter of the BMW 5 Series, it’s a typicalMercedes in terms of its build quality and high-speed comfort and refinement. Also, as with thetraditional Merc estates, the 2010 model tradeson having a huge cargo area that dwarfs thoseof its rivals, including practical flourishes suchas an electric tailgate and seven-seat option.

The E250 CDI diesel packs a 500Nm punch,which is great for hauling a full load, and can do50mpg-plus. Even better, the robust cabin easilycopes with the rough and tumble of family life.

ONE of the best-handling hot hatches ever, theRenaultsport Mégane 250 makes every journeyan event to savour. Yet while it may be a familyhatch by name, this is not a car for those whovalue their children’s comfort first and foremost –the ride on Cup models is firm, while all versionshave a noisy engine and the three-door-onlylayout results in a cramped rear compartment.

The turbocharged engine produces 340Nmof torque in the mid-range, so this hot hatchfeels scorchingly quick, and is a head-turner,too. Look for a car with low miles, a full servicehistory and no evidence of thrashing.


Estate Mercedes E-Class

Hot hatch Ren’sport Megane

Pricenew:£33,555

model:E250CDISE



Economy:54mpg


Pricenew:£27,390

model:renaultsportmEgane250



Economy:33.6mpg


Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £13,990 2010/10-reg, 71k

Price Now £11,995 2011/11-reg, 38k

AS the Z4 M Roadster was made for only twoyears, it’s now a fairly rare sight on the road, yetprices have dropped to a third of their originallevel. This makes the BMW a very cheap way to getinto the five-second 0-62mph club. You’ll pay day-to-day, though, with real-life economy unlikely toexceed the high teens, as well as serious servicingand parts costs for the M Division-tuned engine.

Yet as the M Roadster was engineered withdriving fun in mind, the howling straight-six,nimble handling and wind-in-the-hair thrills shoulddistract you from the running costs and firm ride.

Fun BMW Z4Pricenew:£43,402

model:Z4MRoadster



Economy:23.3mpg

EuroNcap:★★★★

Price Now £15,000 2007/07-reg, 45k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“If you don’t mind high mileages,“If you don’t mind high mileages,

then this budget shouldthen this budget should

stretch to the faster andstretch to the faster and

sharper THP 200 RCZ.”sharper THP 200 RCZ.”



IF you want the ultimate in family car versatility,look no further than the Skoda Yeti. With its ruggedexterior styling, spacious cabin and robust buildquality, it’s every bit as desirable as it is dependable.Plus, if you go for the 4x4 version, you’ll get all-weather ability thrown into the bargain.

The 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI isn’t the last word inrefinement, but it’s quiet on the motorway andefficient, too, making it a preferable choice if you’re

covering big miles. Yet its docile nature and strongtorque make it a doddle to drive around town.

A 2011 Yeti is a pre-facelift car, meaning it doesn’tget the latest looks, but its blend of space, versatility,quality and a wonderfully dynamic driving experience(at odds with the car’s size and shape) adds up to thebest family crossover SUV there is, pound-for-pound.

Elegance is the top-of-the-line specification, soit comes with full leather upholstery, as well as

heated front seats, parking sensors and Bluetoothconnectivity. There’s also a touchscreen infotainmentsystem, plus xenon lights and alloy wheels.

And with our annual Driver Power satisfactionsurvey making it emphatically clear that ownerslove their Yetis, on the second-hand market it’s quitesimply one of the best family cars money can buy.

WITH prices of the earliest Cayman S modelscoming down into mid-level supermini territory,a Porsche that some people regard as a betterbalanced – and therefore more enjoyable – sportscar than the 911 is phenomenal value. Its grip andsteering are the stuff of endless superlatives, andwhile comfort wasn’t a priority for the brand’sengineers, the ride is not back-breaking.

The Cayman doesn’t have much standard kit,and some of the early switchgear looks and feelslow-rent now, but if you’re after driver engagementabove all else, you’ll live with those things.

IT’S a long-standing car industry cliché to openup any discussion about the Volkswagen Phaetonby referring to it as “the best-value used car evermade”, owing to its staggering depreciation.And while that’s only partly true (all luxury carsdepreciate heavily), it’s telling that a Golf GTIof similar age will cost about the same.

Yet what really impresses is the Phaeton’s superbengineering. VW spared no expense in making oneof the world’s best luxury cars, and this big saloonoozes quality. Look past the mainstream badge;it’s one of the big car bargains of the decade.


Performance Porsche Cayman


CrossoverSkoda Yeti

Luxury VW PhaetonPricenew:£44,250

model:Cayman3.4S



Economy:26.6mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Pricenew:£22,625

model:Yeti2.0TDI1404x4Elegance



Economy:47.1mpg


pricenew:£42,757

model:Phaeton3.0V6TDI4MOTION



Economy:29.4mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Price Now £11,295 2011/61-reg, 75k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“Yeti’s as tough as its Tonka toy“Yeti’s as tough as its Tonka toy

looks suggest. Few cars are aslooks suggest. Few cars are as

well suited to the roughwell suited to the rough

and tumble of family life.”and tumble of family life.”




THE Kia Optima pulls off the unique trick of beinga stand-out car without standing out in any onearea. It looks good and is rare on UK roads –but that’s because it’s not a huge-seller –and it matches rather than exceeds thestandards set by the class-leading saloons.

There’s loads of kit in mid-spec 2 Luxe trim,though, including 18-inch alloys, dual-zoneclimate control plus auto wipers and lights. Atthis price you’ll feel like you’ve got your money’sworth, especially given its interior space andseven-year warranty. It’s cheap to run, too.

Family Kia OptimaPricenew:£21,695

model:Optima1.7CRDi2Luxe



Economy:57.6mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Price Now £10,500 2012/12-reg, 35k

ANNUAL sales of the XF have climbed every yearsince its launch, and it’s not hard to see why.The Jaguar has a top-quality cabin with a touchof theatre – such as the revolving air vents onstart-up – and it focuses on refinement ratherthan driving fun, making even the 2.2-litrediesel a quiet long-distance companion.

With 187bhp this is a fairly quick machine,but it’s cheap to insure and run. Be aware,though, that the SE doesn’t include satellitenavigation – vital in this market sector – soit may be worth spending a little more moneyon an SE Business model, which does.

Business Jaguar XFPricenew:£30,950

model:XF2.2DSE



Economy:52.3mpg


Price Now £14,990 2011/61-reg, 75k

IN many ways the Touareg springs no surprises,because it has all the virtues of any other VW:logical cabin layout, top-notch quality, greatrefinement and a slightly bland personality. Yetthis is VW at its most comforting best, and oneof the most understated big SUVs on the road.

If that appeals, then £14,000 for so muchimpressive engineering and ability is moneywell spent. Compared to updated versions, thisTouareg’s cabin is a little fussy, and its olderV6 TDI is jarringly uneconomical, but buyerprudence will find a good, low-mileage examplethat shouldn’t prove too expensive to maintain.

4x4 VolksWagen TouaregPricenew:£35,145

model:Touareg3.0V6TDIAuto



Economy:38.2mpg


Price Now £14,000 2010/59-reg, 77k

Vauxhall Ampera

PRICE NOW £14,995 2012/12-REG, 19k

THE Ampera blends futuristic looks inside andout with a petrol-electric drivetrain that uses a1.4-litre engine as a generator for an electricmotor, rather than to drive the wheels.

It makes for an odd experience whereengine speed doesn’t correlate to road speed– but it also equates to 235.4mpg. Even afterthe £5,000 EV grant it’s costly new, however,so at less than half price it’s a much betterprospect used. Some will prefer a conventionaldiesel, but this is still a good-value choice.

Pricenew:£35,495

Model:AmperaElectron

Engine:148bhpelectricmotor/1.4-litre4cyl,84bhp


Economy:235.4mpg


Green CHOICE cutting your bills


COMPETITION is fierce in the large executive saloonmarket, where high CO2 emissions figures can mean bigcompany car tax bills. But as subtly revised models replaceyesterday’s fleet favourites, private buyers looking to pickup a bargain can turn to used German four-door cars asa cheap and cheerful way into premium motoring.

Audi’s current A6 is a strong performer, serving up acost-effective mix of power and efficiency. The 175bhp2.0 TDI engine is punchy yet refined for a four-cylinder, whileCO2 emissions of 129g/km mean it will cost £100 to tax.

This A6 has been on sale for four years now with minimalchanges, so you’ll get a decent level of equipment suited tobusiness users – especially the intuitive MMI multimediainterface controlled by a central rotary dial. The cavernousinterior feels upmarket and refined, and is comfortablefor long journeys. Just watch out for cars with rock-hardS line suspension – SE-spec versions ride better.

THE BMW X5 has always been an SUV thataims to deliver a thrilling driving experience.There’s plenty of grip and superb body control,giving it a planted feel through corners, andeven on standard road tyres there’s enoughin the way of rugged ability for most needs.

The interior is slick – helped by an improvediDrive system and a large colour multimediascreen – and we found a 2010 X5 30d SE for£18,700. It’s the pick of the range, with BMW’ssilky-smooth 3.0-litre turbodiesel delivering lots oflow-down torque and reasonable running costs.

AFTER years of Jaguar’s traditional designlanguage, the current XJ marked a big stylingdeparture for the brand, with the flagshipmodel shaking off the country club imageand trading it for a modern, vodka bar vibe.

The 3.0-litre diesel Premium Luxury model isour pick of the range thanks to its cocooning cabinand nimble chassis. The ride is on the sporty side,but it’s still comfortable, and thanks to the plushinterior, you’re left feeling fresh after every journey.With the potential to return 41mpg and go from0-60mph in 6.4 seconds, the V6 engine is a star.


4x4 bmw x5


Business Audi A6

Luxury Jaguar XJ

at this price, top execs to sports car legends are within reach

Pricenew:£43,980

model:xdrive30dse

Engine:3.0-litre6cylturbodiesel,241bhp


Economy:38.2mpg


pricenew:£30,145

model:2.0TDISE

Engine:2.0-litre4cylturbodiesel, 175bhp


Economy:57.6mpg


Pricenew:£38,600

model:3.0DPremiumluxury

Engine:3.0-LITREV6TURBODIESEL,271bhp


Economy:41.2mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Price Now £15,000 2011/61-reG, 47k

Best Buys £15,000-£20,000


THE ultra hot hatch is a recent phenomenon thathas manufacturers cramming more power andtechnology into their regular, everyday familycars. The VW Golf R arguably started that craze.

But with more power and a heavy four-wheel-drive system, the R lost a little bit of the cheaperGTI’s finesse. Still, there’s massive all-weatherpotential on offer here, and with the solidinterior of the Mk6 Golf brought to life by afew racier touches, this will be a docile car forthe school run but a thrill on typical BritishB-roads at around half of its original price.

PORSCHE’S 911 has ruled the sports car roostfor years, and despite challenges from Audi andAston Martin, the rear-engined legend has alwaysemerged on top. With prices of 997-generationmodels now below £20,000, the more powerful911 Carrera S is an affordable, iconic sports car.

Porsche’s flat-six engine churns out 355bhp,which makes for a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.8seconds. There’s the option of four-wheel drivefor all-weather security, but the rear-driven car ispurer with a delicious steering feel and a pointyfront end. Both are equally fun, though, andavailable for the price of a new family hatch.


Hot Hatch Volkswagen golf R

Fun Porsche 911

Pricenew:£30,345

model:Golfr

Engine:2.0-LITRE4cylTURBO,267bhp


Economy:33.2mpg


Pricenew:£69,900

model:CarreraS



Economy:24.5mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £15,800 2010/10-REG, 39k

Price Now £19,990 2005/55-REG, 79k

Lexus RX 450h

Price Now £18,995 2009/59-reg, 69k

LUXURY hybrid cars don’t need to cost theearth, as the Lexus RX 450h proves. It wasthe first premium hybrid SUV on sale, andearly third-generation cars have now lostmore than half of their value. We founda 69,000-mile SE-spec car for £18,995.

Compared to modern hybrids, the RX’s1.2-mile electric-only range is poor and its446-litre boot small, but what you do get fora good price are low running costs, generousstandard equipment and excellent refinement.

Pricenew:£41,600

Model:400hse

Engine:3.5-litreV6petrol-electric,295bhp


Economy:44.8mpg

EuroNCAP:N/a

the green choice

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“Few cars can match the A6’s“Few cars can match the A6’s

superb interior. Slick designsuperb interior. Slick design

and top-notch finish meanand top-notch finish mean

it’s a cut above rivals.”it’s a cut above rivals.”

james batchelorjames batchelornews editor


BUYING a diesel coupédoesn’t mean you haveto compromise when itcomes to performance,as the BMW 640d proves.Surprisingly, it’s actuallyfaster in the sprint from0-60mph than its 640ipetrol equivalent, thanksto the massive 630Nm peak torque output that’s availablelow down in the rev range, from a mere 1,500rpm.

If the diesel model beats the petrol car for performance, itpositively annihilates its stablemate for fuel economy. BMWclaims that the 640d will return up to 54.3mpg, while the 640ican muster only 38.2mpg – and with CO2 emissions as lowas 143g/km, it’ll be £80 a year cheaper to tax.

Values of BMW’s sleek four-seat coupé have steadily fallenaway, to the point where entry into a big, premium, Germantwo-door such as the 640d is now incredibly affordable. Wespotted a 2012 model for sale with only 23,000 miles on theclock for £29,890. This is towards the top end of this pricerange, but with a new car costing £63,130, and boastinga fair amount of equipment as standard, the 640d coupérepresents a lot of flash for not much cash.

IF you like your SUVs with a little more style thanthe norm, the Range Rover Sport is about the bestthere is. We found some great-value facelifted carson sale second-hand for less than £27,000, allwith the desirable TDV6 diesel.

This engine gives more than enough power forday-to-day use, and economy is fair at 33.2mpg,although expect closer to the mid-20s on average.It might not be quite as good off-road as the regularRange Rover, but on tarmac the Sport feels that bitmore responsive. Better still, it boasts similartowing capacity and just as much refinement.

BIG engines shoehorned into small cars oftendominate the driving experience, and theMercedes SLK 55 AMG two-seater convertibleis no different. The snarling 355bhp 5.4-litre V8engine will push the roadster from 0-60mph in4.8 seconds. It sounds glorious, too.

The AMG is about more than mere performance,however. It has a reasonable-sized boot, whilethe seven-speed automatic gearbox gives greatcruising potential as well, hampered only by the23.5mpg average economy. Expect less aroundtown or if you’re using all the performance.


4X4 Range Rover Sport

Price Now £26,667 2011/60-REG, 45k Price Now £24,950 2009/59-reg, 25k

Coupe BMW 6 Series

Performance Mercedes SLK

at this price, some of the finest cars in the world can be yours

Pricenew:£53,995

model:Sport3.0TDV6HSE

Engine:3.0-litreV6diesel,208bhp


Economy:33.2mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Pricenew:£62,080

model:640d


CO2/roadtax:143G/KM/£145

Economy:54.3mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Pricenew:£51,585

model:SLK55AMG



Economy:23.5Mpg


Price Now £29,890 2012/12-reg, 23k

Best Buys £20,000-£30,000


CONVERTIBLE motoring can be a thrill, but it’seven better when there’s a beautiful soundtrack– and few drop-tops sound better than this Jag.

Newer versions of the supercharged XKR are outof reach if you have £30,000 to spend, but this’llbuy a 5.0-litre V8 XK. The roaring engine gives adelicious soundtrack, yet the compliant ride, hidetrim and well insulated drop-top make it a greatlong-distance cruiser. Beware of minor drawbacks,however, including the small, awkwardly shapedboot and ageing cabin. On the plus side, tried-and-tested mechanicals should give no trouble.

LUXURY cars don’t all come with six-figureprice tags – buying second-hand is the smart,affordable way to avoid huge depreciationand get into a premium car for little morethan the price of a diesel family saloon.

Take the Bentley Flying Spur; it’s more than£100,000 new, but you can now pick up thisprestige limo for a touch more than a top-specFord Mondeo. Averaging 16mpg, it’ll costsignificantly more than a family saloon to run,but you’re getting a silky 6.0-litre W12 andimperious refinement, plus plenty of handcraftedluxury, for around a quarter of its original price.


Convertible Jaguar XK

Luxury Bentley Flying Spur

Pricenew:£62,500

model:XK



Economy:25.2mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Pricenew:£115,000

model:FlyingSpur

Engine:6.0-litreW12,552bhp


Economy:16.0mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £29,000 2010/10-reg, 30K

Price Now £28,999 2005/05-reg, 49k

Price Now £22,900 2012/62-reg, 31k

THE E300 Hybrid hasn’t long been on sale, butwith used cars fetching £17,000 less than listyou can now a make a sizeable saving on oneof the most refined, efficient hybrids around.

The car we found had done 31,000 miles,yet the E-Class’s cabin is hard-wearing andthe mechanicals proven. The diesel/electricpowerplant serves up decent performance:228bhp means 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds, soit’s an efficient, premium saloon that’s cheapto run but doesn’t require daily compromises.

Green CHOICE cutting your bills

Special Issue 69

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“If you can stomach the fuel“If you can stomach the fuel

bills, then the petrol-poweredbills, then the petrol-powered

640i and 650i represent640i and 650i represent

even bigger bargains.”even bigger bargains.”

james Disdalejames Disdaleroad test editor

Pricenew:£39,645

Model:E300Hybrid

Engine:2.1-litre4cyldiesel-electric,228bhp


Economy:68.9mpg


Mercedes E-CLass Hybrid


FOR years Aston Martin has been voted thecoolest brand in the car world, thanks in part tothe DB9. The gorgeous coupé marries a burblingV12 to a smooth automatic box and a cossetinginterior to give huge continent-crossing potential.

In the 11 years it’s been around, the styling maynot have changed much, but the DB9 has beengradually updated, giving it more power andsharper handling. Of course, Aston ownershipisn’t cheap – £65,000 will buy you a 2010 model– although many DB9s are only used as weekendcars, so few will have covered serious mileage.

THE R8 was Audi’s first attempt at cracking thesupercar class, and a hostile shot across thebows of the Porsche 911. It combines the brand’straditional immaculate build quality with a touchmore design flair and driver engagement.

Around £60,000 will buy you an R8 V10, but£40,000 will get you the keys to the equallydesirable V8. You’ll never tire of the 414bhp4.2-litre engine’s noise and performance, whilethe four-wheel-drive chassis delivers entertaininghandling. The R8 is also usable every day, withgood visibility and a decent-sized boot.


Coupe Aston Martin DB9

Price Now £64,495 2010/10-REG 18K Price Now £39,995 2008/57-REG, 75k

Performance Audi R8

blow the budget, and some truly amazing cars can be yours

Pricenew:£122,445

model:DB9



Economy:19.3mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Pricenew:£78,195

model:R8V8



Economy:19.3mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Best Buys £30,000-plus

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“Range Rovers are tough, but“Range Rovers are tough, but

the gearbox can fail. Checkthe gearbox can fail. Check

for noises and ensure it’sfor noises and ensure it’s

had regular oil changes.”had regular oil changes.”

jack rixjack rixassociate editor


FEW manufacturers can claim to make the bestcar in the world, but Rolls-Royce is one of them.When it returned with the Phantom in 2003,it redefined what was possible in the luxurysaloon sector, and now you can buy a Rollerlike this with a big saving over new.

Today, the car is difficult to spot from thesubtly facelifted current model, and the 6.75-litreV12 engine is similar and beautifully refined, too.The Phantom is also surprisingly agile for its sizeand is enjoyable to drive, even if most ownerstend to spend more time in the back.

FOR the price of a brand new Audi A6 3.0 TDIautomatic you could be driving around in aV8 Maserati with bags of style – buy wiselyand a luxury lifestyle on the road doesn’thave to cost as much as you think.

The naturally aspirated 400bhp V8 soundsglorious and delivers a thumping hit ofperformance, taking the Quattroporte from0-60mph in 5.7 seconds. But it’ll also hit yourbank balance. Even official figures show the4.2 can’t quite crack 20mpg. Still, next toluxury saloons from Audi, BMW and Mercedes,the Maserati has the edge in terms of character.


Luxury Rolls-Royce Phantom

Style Maserati Quattroporte

Pricenew:£250,000

modelPhantom



Economy:17.8mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

Pricenew:£79,555

model:4.2



Economy:19.2mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £94,995 2003/53-REG, 33k

Price Now £39,990 2010/60-REG, 41k

BMW ActiveHybrid 7

Price Now £41,950 2014/64-REG, 1.5k

BMW’s hi-tech i electric cars can trace theirroots back to the company’s earlier exploitswith hybrid technology. The ActiveHybrid 7combined a characterful six-cylinder petrolengine with an electric motor, giving a totalof 349bhp and 158g/km CO2 emissions.

More importantly, savage depreciationmakes the big BMW a serious bargain. Wefound an ActiveHybrid 7 less than one yearold with only 1,500 miles on the market for£41,950 – around £25,000 cheaper than new.

Pricenew:£69,300

Pricenow: £41,950

Model:ActiveHybrid7

Engine:3.0-litre6CYLpetrol/electric,349bhp


Economy:41.5mpg

EuroNCAP:N/A

GReen Choice cutting your bills

WHAT if we said you could have all the luxury, refinementand off-road ability of a Range Rover that’s barely four yearsold for less than £40,000? You’d barely believe us – and wecould hardly believe it until we checked the price guides!

The arrival of the current-generation Range Rover latein 2012 has hit second-hand values of the previous car,and it means the market is awash with attractively pricedlow-mileage models – like the Autobiography we spotted.

Last-of-the-line TDV8 versions such as this are nowhovering around half of their original list price, and they’rethe pick of the line-up, with the lovely, smooth 309bhp 3.8-litrediesel engine delivering effortless power. By comparison, abrand new Range Rover SDV8 Vogue costs £80,850.

Expect lots of equipment in that sumptuous interior,and you’ll never fail to be impressed by how a car that rivalsa Mercedes S-Class for luxury can take the most challengingterrain in its stride. But bear in mind that while a second-handRange Rover might look like a snip to buy, it won’t necessarilybe cheap to run – claimed economy stands at 30.1mpg, but ifyou push the diesel hard or use the car off-road, you’re unlikelyto match this. Servicing and things like tyres will be pricey, too.

Still, with an accomplished ride, amazing cruising ability anda peerless image, many buyers will be able to overlook this.

4x4 Range RoverPricenew:£84,320

model:TDV8autobiography

Engine:3.8-litreV6diesel,309bhp

C02/roadtax:253G/km/£500

Economy:30.1mpg


Price Now £38,546 2011/11-reg, 46k


WHEN McLaren launched its game-changing 12C supercar in2011, it sent a message of intent to its nemesis, Ferrari. TheBritish brand’s best known for its racing, and its first mass-production car has been the 458’s closest rival ever since.

F1-derived technology, including a carbon-fibre chassis,is matched by an equally exotic drivetrain. The car’s 3.8-litretwin-turbo V8 engine originally produced 592bhp, but was laterupgraded to 616bhp. The 12C also boasts a lightning-fastdual-clutch gearbox that helps it to accelerate from 0-62mphin just 3.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 205mph.

It wasn’t just the performance that saw McLaren arrive onthe supercar scene with a bang, either – clever, electronicallyadjustable suspension allows the 12C to be as firm as a racerone minute and as soft and forgiving as a Rolls-Royce the next.

The stunning looks are tempting, but although you might beable to pick up a used example with a significant saving over theoriginal £168,500 list price, it’s still going to be costly to run.

AS a used supercar purchase, the Ferrari 458offers it all: badge appeal, smoldering looksand huge performance. Many 458s will havebeen specified with myriad options when new,so buying second-hand is a smart way to avoideye-watering extra costs and huge depreciation.

It’ll still set you back a significant sum, but ataround the £120,000 mark, you’ll have plenty ofused choice at just over 50 per cent of the list price.For one of the best Ferraris ever with a screaming562bhp 4.5-litre V8, it’s an attractive proposition– just make sure you budget for running costs.

BEFORE the Continental GT, Bentley was knownfor big, luxury saloons. But the coupé opened thebrand up to a new youthful audience. The GT Speedis the most powerful version, with its huge 6.0-litretwin-turbo W12 engine uprated to 602bhp.

It blends effortless performance with superblevels of comfort and a beautifully handcraftedinterior. The 0-62mph sprint takes 4.3 seconds –impressive given the GT’s considerable weight –but you’d never know it, as it’s so refined. However,economy is poor, with around 15mpg on a cruiseand less if you fully exploit the 602bhp engine.


thoroughbred Ferrari 458

Price Now £116,490 2010/10-REG, 11k Price Now £56,890 2008/58-reg, 27k

F1 tech MClaren 12c

big brit Bentley Continental GT

save big on the greatest names in the performance car world

Pricenew:£178,551

model:458



Economy:21.2mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

pricenew:£168,500

model:12c

Engine:3.8-litretwin-turboV8,592bhp


Economy:24.2mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Pricenew:£141,300

model:GTSpeed

Engine:6.0-litretwin-turboW12,602bhp


Economy:17.0mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Price Now £103,950 2012/12-reg, 13k

Best Buys SUPERCARS


THE Gallardo was designed as Lamborghini’sentry-level model, but it’s every bit as exciting asthe brand’s wild flagship hypercars. Featuringoutlandish looks, a howling, mid-mounted V10engine and savage performance, the Italian two-seater delivers some seriously intoxicating thrills.

Yet thanks to its four-wheel-drive transmissionand the influence of parent brand Audi, theGallardo handles sweetly and is surprisinglyrobust. Despite its popularity when new, pricesfor the Gallardo are starting to harden, as buyershave realised this is a classic of the future. Sosnap up a bargain now, before it’s too late.


4wd fun Lamborghini GallardoPricenew:£117,000

model:Gallardo



Economy:14.5mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Half-Price Heroes

Price Now £65,995 2004/54-REG, 32k

IF you want a devastatingly effective all-weathersupercar, then look no further than the Porsche911 Turbo. The brand has honed and evolved itsturbocharged 911 over the years to the pointwhere, with four-wheel drive and the option ofeither a manual or PDK automatic box, it’s asmuch at home on the road as on the race track.

Around £63,000 will buy you a well lookedafter standard 2009 Turbo with 493bhp at itsdisposal, allowing it to sprint from 0-62mph injust 3.3 seconds. If you want even more oomph,then opt for the more powerful Turbo S model.

All-roundER Porsche 911Pricenew:£99,678

model:Turbo

Engine:3.8-litreflat-sixtwin-turbo,493bhp


Economy:24.4mpg

EuroNCAP: N/A

Price Now £62,995 2009/59-REG, 40k

ALTHOUGH the Mercedes SLR McLaren hasbeen around for more than a decade now, itsstyling is no less shocking – which makes itthe perfect outrageous used supercar choice.

The supercharged 5.4-litre V8’s soundtrackmatches the car’s looks, plus it’s a memberof the 200mph club. This product of a short-lived collaboration between Mercedes andMcLaren still treads the line between visceralsports car and relaxed GT beautifully, and withsecond-hand values now hovering around£180,000, it could be a brilliant investment.

classicMercedes slr mCLarenPricenew:£317,610

Model:SLRMclaren

Engine:5.4-litresuperchargedV8,617bhp

C02/roadtax:357G/KM/£500

Economy:19.5mpg

Euroncap:N/A

Price Now £179,950 2006/06-reg, 15k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“At this end of the market,“At this end of the market,

it’s difficult to find a trueit’s difficult to find a true

half-price hero, but thehalf-price hero, but the

savings offered here stillsavings offered here still

look very tempting.”look very tempting.”



Half-Price Heroes Bargain buysHalf-Price Her

big, thirsty petrol cars now make far more sense as pump prices fall, and we’ve found some real bargains

WHEN fuel prices hit a peak of£1.42 per litre back in April 2012,

motorists quickly tried to find theeasiest way out of their large, gas-guzzling cars and into somethingsmaller and more fuel efficient.

That resulted in used prices ofbig-engined, thirsty cars droppingdramatically, and the price-cuthangover still remains today.

However, what’s differentnow is that fuel costs have fallensignificantly since the mid-2012panic, with one filling station inBirmingham even cutting the priceof unleaded to less than £1 per litre.

With petrol prices expected toremain around their current low rate,or even drop further, we’ve scouredthe classifieds to find a selection ofcars that you could consider nowthe costs have been softened.

From high-end, luxuriouslimousines to powerful and iconicsports cars, not only couldyou get something alittle different onyour drive, butyou could bemaking a decentinvestment onsome of thesecars in theprocess, asthey enterthe realm ofclassic status.

Chris [email protected]

@AE_Consumer

GGOOLLAARRGGEE!!

A REAL rival for the Range Rover, the Mercedes GLeasily delivers on the road, even if it doesn’t quitehave the off-road prowess of the British 4x4.

Despite its massive size, the GL 500 covers0-60mph in 6.3 seconds, thanks to its 5.5-litre V8.

Climb inside, and you’re greeted by exactlywhat you’d expect from a Mercedes – plentyof clever tech and a plush finish throughout.

The price tag might look a little high, butthat’s a fraction of the £60,000-plus the originalowner would have paid, and you’re gettinga massive amount of car for your cash.

THERE are few finer things in the automotiveworld than a Rolls-Royce, and while the moderncars boast impressive tech, it’s the older modelsthat really show off the manufacturer’s attentionto detail and beautiful handmade craft.

The Silver Shadow’s figures look similar to thoseof the Bentley Turbo R – which was based looselyon the Rolls-Royce – so it clearly has pedigree.

A full tank may still look a little pricey, but therearen’t many cars left in the world that will make youfeel like royalty when in them, particularly if you’relucky enough to be getting a lift in the back.

seven seats Mercedes GL 500

Price Now £22,950 2009/59-reg, 76K Price Now £7,490 1978/T-reg, 100k

class Rolls silver shadowPriceNew:£6,557


Costtofillup2012:£152

Costtofillupnow:£114

Pricenew:£61,969




Dr. VelauthamSarveswaran cutpetrol to under£1 a litre at hisforecourt; othersare set to follow,so thirsty carslook tempting



IF you’re after something with the grandeur of a presidential motorcade,then the Bentley Turbo R should be right at the top of your wish list.

This model boasts the luxury that you’d expect from the British brand,but also offers a little more than a relaxing waft down the high street. Despiteweighing well over two tonnes, the Turbo R was the high-performance Bentley ofits time, and could go from 0-60mph in seven seconds, thanks to its 315bhp V8.

It’ll still set you back a fair amount in fuel, but if you keep it back for specialoccasions – not just nipping out to give it a few ostentatious revs when headingto the shops for a pint of milk – then it begins to make some sense.

luxury Bentley Turbo R

Price Now £7,395 1990/H-reg, 134K

4x4 Jeep GrandCherokee Limited

Pricenew:£30,995




Price Now £1,750 2001/51-reg, 68k

WHILE a Range Rover maybe the popular choice forthose after a large, powerfulSUV, the Jeep GrandCherokee deserves alittle more considerationthan it tends to get.

The exterior may be abit brash and too Americanlooking for some, but climbaboard and the interior feelsplush for a car of this age.

More importantly, whilethe Grand Cherokee mightnot be able to rival someof its European rivals forluxury, it’s brilliant off-road,as you’d expect from a Jeep.It also represents somethingof a bargain in this class.

Pricenew:£101,390




THE Maserati has all the hallmarks of asleek Italian sports car: it’s good lookingwith a wonderful V8 engine developed byFerrari. Plus, it got a welcome boost in buildquality over previous Maseratis, thanksto Maranello’s input, and this only addsto the appeal of the luxurious 2+2.

If the idea of a Porsche 911 leaves youfeeling a little cold, then the 4200 might

represent an exotic alternative. The caris now more than a decade old, but theMaserati badge, sleek lines and classyinterior still offer a real sense of occasion.

style Maserati 4200Pricenew:£56,650




Price Now£15,695 2004/04-reg, 53k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“There are more capable coupés“There are more capable coupés

than the Maserati, but itsthan the Maserati, but its

style and snarling V8style and snarling V8

make it hard to resistmake it hard to resist.”.”



180 words into here

THE DB7 is not just a good-looking Aston Martin;it’s widely regarded as having saved the brand.It became Aston’s most successful productionmodel ever before being replaced by the DB9.

There’s an excellent compromise betweenhandling and ride quality in the DB7, andthe supercharged straight-six engine is wonderful.

What really sets it apart from some of its moremodern brothers is that it feels like one of the lastoriginal Aston Martins, even if large parts of it wereborrowed from the Jaguar XJS. It’s also one of themore affordable models currently on the market.

MENTION the word Porsche, and most people’swill immediately think of the 911 – but the928 offers something a little different.

This car was actually created to replace the911, although it never quite worked out like that.Still, the S4 model was a technical masterpieceat launch in 1987, and the V8 engine was pushedfrom the original 4.5 to 5.0 litres, which only madeit sound better and further boosted performance.

It might not be everyone’s first-choice Porsche,but with the 928 you get an alternative thatlooks just as good and will cruise effortlessly.

Half-Price Heroes Bargain buysf-Price Herroes

sex appeal Aston Martin DB7

Price Now £18,000 1997/P-REG, 67k Price Now £13,995 1988/F-REG, 93k

performance Porsche 928 S4Pricenew:£82,500




Pricenew:£55,441




Half-Half-

YOU should know by now exactly whatyou’re getting with an Alfa Romeo, andthe Spider fits the manufacturer’s mouldperfectly. There’s the textbook sharpdesign, the charismatic engines andthe boldly styled interior.

Where the Spider begins to standout from some of its predecessors isin terms of reliability, as it brings abig improvement – although it’sstill not a completely safe bet.

The V6 engine sounds fantastic– even more so with the topdown – and, attoday’s prices,this car will costyou the sameas a standardGerman saloonto fill up. Weknow whichwe’d rather have.

style AlfaRomeo SpiderPricenew:£29,690


Costtofillup2012: £99


Price Now £8,950 2007/56-reg, 55k

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“The Alfa’s seductive lines hide“The Alfa’s seductive lines hide

humble hatch underpinnings,humble hatch underpinnings,

so it should be relativelyso it should be relatively

hassle-free to run.”hassle-free to run.”




AFTER the style of the Alfa, how aboutsomething that’s a bit more brutal? TheVauxhall Monaro VXR should fit the bill.

Essentially a rebadged Holden fromAustralia, the Monaro is a noisy 6.0-litrebeast that’s all about power rather thanprecision. Fortunately, that gives it enoughcharm and fun factor to warrant your interest.

The best thing about the Vauxhall, otherthan its 398bhp output, is that it’s plummetedin value. So, even before fuel prices got out ofhand, it was already struggling to hold its price– making it an even better used buy now.

muscle Vauxhall Monaro VXRPricenew:£37,040




Price Now £8,996 2006/56-REG, 121k

WITH its unmistakable long bonnet, this luxury grand tourer stood the test of time for more thantwo decades, as Jaguar built various versions of the XJS from 1975 to 1996. And it’s easy to seewhy – while there’s a whiff of the seventies about it, this is still a smart-looking and stylish car.

You can find models with smaller engines, but if you’re going to dip your toe into XJS ownership,you may as well go the whole hog and buy a powerful 5.3-litre version now that the cost of fillingup the tank has dipped below the £100 mark. Plus, with values hardening, this Jag is beginningto look like a decent investment in the long run, as we predicted it would in Issue 1,319.

classic Jaguar XJSPricenew:£34,200




Price Now £4,990 1989/G-reg, 55k

we’ve shown how you can savebig on your next car – now, we

reveal what you can do to slashyour everyday motoring bills

cutting thecosHalf-Price Heroes How to slash your billsHalf-Price Heroes

EVEN if you’ve bagged a bargain with one of the Half-PriceHeroes we’ve picked out over the past 32 pages, running that car

isn’t cheap. The cost of ownership is never-ending, whether it’s fuel,insurance, breakdown cover, repairs or maintenance. So while we allknow how to hunt for a good deal in the classifieds or haggle on thelist price, what can you do to slash the costs of motoring altogether?Our handy tips reveal how to keep control of your finances...

FuelTHE cost of fuel might beat a five-year low, but it’sstill expensive if you’redoing high mileage orhave a thirsty engine.The simplest way to limithow much you’re payingis to find a garage that’soffering a decent price, asretailers can fluctuate by20p per litre. Locate thecheapest by visiting asite like Petrolprices.com,which will show you thelowest pump prices withina 10-mile radius.

The supermarket pricewar has also helped todrive down costs, andsome leading grocerybrands will offer specialfuel-saving deals whenyou spend a certainamount in store. If you’redoing a weekly shop, it’sworth going somewherethat’ll reward you withvouchers. Loyalty cards– such as Nectar or TescoClubcard – can also netyou some savings overthe long term.

Some banks are gettingin on the action, offeringcashback cards. The 123account from Santanderwill give you money backwhen you fill up, althoughyou’ll be capped per monthand have to pay an adminfee for the account.

InsuranceWHILE the minimuminsurance cover yourequire in order to drivelegally on UK roads isthird-party, surprisingly it’snot always the cheapestoption. Fully comprehensivepolicies can often costless despite offering more,so make sure you geta quote for both.

And while drivingfewer miles will cut wearand tear on your car andreduce fuel bills, it’ll alsohelp with the insurancepremium. If you travelless and can accuratelypredict your mileageon your policy, you’llpay less annually.

Taking out a policywith a higher excess isalso worth considering.When you make a claimfor less than £500 worthof damage, it can increasethe future cost of insuranceand invalidate your no-claims bonus, so it’s notalways worthwhile. Set theexcess over £500 and yourannual premium will fall.

Of course, thebest advice for cuttinginsurance in general isto shop around. Loyaltyis rarely rewarded in theindustry, so come renewaltime get fresh quotesbefore signing up.

BreakdownPAYING for cover on theoff-chance your car mightbreak down can seem awaste, but the peace ofmind it brings is hard tobeat. There are plenty ofrecovery firms – you justneed to find the best. OurDriver Power ownershipsurvey regularly ranksGEM Motoring Assist atthe top, but do check afew things before takingout a fresh policy.

If you’ve bought a carnew, a year’s breakdowncover may be included.Makers such as Audi, Kia,Ford and Citroen have alldone deals. Breakdowncover can often be nettedas part of an insurancepolicy, too. It’ll be offeredas an add-on – oftenfree – that’ll sweeten thepremium and work outcheaper than astandalone annualbreakdown product.

Banks do the same.Nationwide, Lloyds andHalifax are among thosewho offer paid-foraccounts with breakdownpolicies, often alongsidetravel and phone cover.

It’s a similar situationwith household insurance,which will sometimesinclude breakdowncover with a policy.

MaintenanceRECENT figures show onein 10 drivers struggles topay for their car’s upkeepand is driving around in anunsafe vehicle. Avoid fallinginto that bracket; considersome of these solutions.

MoTs are a yearly cost, yetwhile the test fee’s cappedat £54.85, you needn’t paythe full amount. KwikFit andHalfords do them for £30.

It’s post-MoT repairsthat really hit hard, so usea council-run test centre.They’ve no vested interestin seeking unnecessary,costly repairs – unlike someunscrupulous garages.

To avoid failure, do somebasic pre-test checks. Faultybulbs, wipers or tyre treaddepth and pressures canall fall foul, but are cheapand easy to fix yourself.

Need new tyres? Huntaround for a discount.Our tests have shownBlackcircles.com is a goodplace to get up to 40 percent off major brands.

Finally, consider aservicing package. If you’rebuying a car – new or used– from a dealer, thinkabout taking up a monthlypayment deal that’ll fix thecost of maintenance overthree years. This’ll avoidan unexpected outlay 12months down the line.

78 Special Issue

Special Issue 79www.autoexpress.co.uk

ostofmotoringHow to slash your bills Half-Price HeroesHalf-Price Heroes

Auto Express half-price offerTO celebrate our Half-Price Heroes feature, you can start a trial subscription to Auto Express for halfprice. Turn to Page 129 for full details on how to get six copies for only 50p. You’ll ensure you nevermiss an issue of Britain’s biggest-selling weekly car magazine with free delivery to your door eachweek and – beyond your six issue trial – you’ll still get a 46 per cent saving on the shop price.

50%OFFww


RoadtestsVisit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives

andand

Audi A3 Sportback e-tronPrice: £29,950 Engine: Electric motor/1.4-litre 4cyl, 201bhp

0-60mph: 7.9 seconds Test economy: 32.2mpg/7.1mpl

CO2: 37g/km Annual road tax: £0

ULTIMATE MEGANEvs PORSCHE CAYMANIs stripped-out, £37kRenaultsport Trophy Ra match for Porsche?

90


Latest user-friendly plug-in cars promise great efficiency, but is Audi’s newA3 e-tron hybrid a better bet than range-extending BMW andMitsubishi?

Pictures: Pete Gibson Location: Hoton, Leicestershire All prices include £5,000Government plug-in car grant

BMW i3 with Range ExtenderPrice: £29,130 Engine: Electric motor/647cc 4cyl, 168bhp



Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX3hPrice: £28,249 Engine: Two electric motors/2.0-litre 4cyl, 200bhp



ECO-friendly plug-in models areslowly gaining in popularity, so it’s

no real surprise that after decades ofexperimentation Audi has finally decidedto jump on the petrol-electric bandwagon.

The new A3 e-tron is based on the classyA3 Sportback, and packages together a 1.4-litrepetrol turbo and 75kW motor, while a compact

lithium-ion battery pack sits under the backseat. Its raw statistics certainly look compelling,with a 31-mile claimed electric range, CO2

emissions of 37g/km and 176.6mpg economy.Just as importantly, Audi says these figures

don’t come at the expense of the standardSportback’s space, refinement and upmarketappeal. However, there are many different

ways to package the perfect plug-in, as ourother contenders here prove. Mitsubishi’srugged Outlander PHEV claims to deliver all thepracticality of the standard model, but – with a30-mile electric range – city car-humbling costs.

Completing our trio is BMW’s daring i3Range Extender, which sets the class standardfor efficiency, design and driving dynamics.

LIVINGWITH A...MAZDA 3After a year and nearly32,000miles, our man’sat one with trusty steed.

LIVINGWITH A...HYUNDAI i10City carmeets superminibig brother. Which isbetter? We decide.

98 100


Road test Audi A3 e-tron vs rivals

82 Special Issue

Audi A3

T EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“On paper, the Audi’s a recipe for success. In“On paper, the Audi’s a recipe for success. In

reality, it struggles to deliver. The biggestreality, it struggles to deliver. The biggest

gripe concerns the hybrid drivetrain; itgripe concerns the hybrid drivetrain; it

just doesn’t feel as well resolved as rivals’.”just doesn’t feel as well resolved as rivals’.”


Interior

Exterior

AUDI’S beendabblingwithhybrid techever since it pulled the covers off its duo

concept at the 1989 FrankfurtMotor Show.However, only nowhas the brandput a petrol-electricmodel into production. TheA3 e-tronis a plug-in hybrid that combines a traditional1.4-litre petrol enginewith a 101bhp electricmotor to deliver claimed fuel economyof176.6mpg andCO2 emissions of only 37g/km.

Styling 4.0/5SUBTLETY is thewatchwordwith the e-tron,because it’s virtually indistinguishable froma standard Sportback. Eagle-eyed enthusiastswill spot the e-tronbadges, carefully reprofiledfront bumper and LEDheadlamps, but therest of the car is pureA3. Even the socket forthe charging cable is hidden away behind thefour-ringed badge – although, unlike theothers here, the opening isn’t illuminated,makingplugging in after darkhit-and-miss.Inside, you’ll have just asmuch trouble

identifying thenewcomer as an eco-friendlyhybrid. There’s a power gauge in place of therev counter and a smattering of e-tron logos,but that’s about it. Still, that’s no bad thing,because theA3’s cabin isoneof thebest around.Not only is its design slick and layout

thoughtful, it’s beautifully built and crammedfull of top-gradematerials. Highlights includethe knurledmetal controls for the stereo andair-con, plus the intuitive rotarycontroller fortheMMI infotainment onthecentreconsole.Anotherneat touch is the standard seven-inchhigh-resolutiondisplay screen that glides outof the top of the dash at the touch of a button.Given theAudi’s hefty price tag, it’s no

surprise tofind it comes loadedwith standardkit, including sat-nav, keyless entry, dual-zoneclimate control and aDAB radio. You even getan iPod connection,which is normally anextra-cost option onAudimodels.

Driving 3.4/5UNLIKE its rivals here, theAudi is a hybridrather than a range extender. Thismeans theelectricmotor is housed between the internal-combustion engine and six-speed twin-clutchbox, letting it drive the car in batterymodealone,orassist theenginetoboostperformance.Youcanchoosehowthepowerplantdistributesits energy via the EVbutton on the dash, bytoggling through four different drivingmodes: EV,Hybrid,Hold andCharge.On a full charge, EV allows you to travel

around 30miles at speeds of up to 81mph inpure electricmode,whileHold saves batterypower until you get to a city or village,whereyoumight prefer to use the zero-emissionselectricmotor.Once the lithium-ion cells are

drained, Chargemodeuses the engine to topthemupagain–although this takesaheavy tollon efficiency,with economydropping towellunder 30mpg. The default setting isHybrid,which aims to juggle the electric andpetrolmotors tomakebestuseof theavailableenergy.However, in practice it’s not that simple.

Up to 40mph the car tends to run in EVmode,but unless you’re extremely sensitivewith thethrottle the enginefires up evenwhen there’splenty of range left in the batteries.Worsestill, the transitionbetween electric andpetrolrunning isn’t always smooth, andmore oftenthannot there’s anuncomfortable pause inthe power delivery as the gearbox andvariousmotors sort themselves out.Still, there are few complaints about

performance.With a combined output of201bhp theAudi comfortably shrugged off itshefty 1,540kg to sprint from0-60mph in asprightly 7.9 seconds. Andwhile it never feelsas fast as the i3, it seems farmore responsivethan theOutlander. Aswith the standardA3,the e-tron feels safe, grippy and composedthrough corners – although the extraweightof the batteriesmeans thehybrid is a littlelazier to respond to the direct steering.Refinement is good, too. There’s virtually

nowhine from the electricmotor and the TFSIpetrol becomes intrusive only at high revs. Yetwhile the ride is generally settled, it’s firmatlow speed and canfloat over big bumps as thesuspension struggles to control thatweight.

Reliability 4.2/5THE latest A3finished ourDriver Power 2014satisfaction survey in a superb 16th place outof 150 cars,with owners praising its qualityand reliability. Andwhile the e-tron’s hi-techdrivetrain is new to buyers, Audi has beendeveloping it for years, so problems shouldbe fewand far between. Even so, the batteriesare covered by a separate eight-yearwarranty,while the rest of the car gets the brand’sstandard three-year guarantee.All e-trons have seven airbags, stability

control and an active bonnet that pops up inthe event of a pedestrian impact. But forwardcollision alert is £200more,while blind-spotmonitoring and lane-keep assist cost £900.

Running costs 3.7/5ASwith all our trio, the e-tronmakes a lot ofsense for business users. It hasmarginally thehighest Benefit inKindbills, but it’ll still savehigher-rate earners nearly £1,000 a year overanA3 1.6 TDI Sport S tronic.Our experts alsocalculate that the e-tronwill retain 44.4 percent of its value after three years,meaning it’lltrade in formore than theOutlander and i3.However, it’s not all goodnews. Audi claims

a 31-mile electric range for theA3, but duringour test’s cold conditionswewereunable todomore than 20miles. Also, over our variedroute the e-tron returned a pretty dismal32.2mpg. Yet aswith all plug-inmodels, thisfigurewill improve if you’re able to plug thecar in once a day anduse it for short-hopcommutes rather than longmotorway slogs.

“The subtle Audi A3e-tron is virtuallyindistinguishable froma standard Sportback”

MODEL TESTED: Audi A3 Sportback e-tronPRICE: £29,950 ENGINE: Electric motor/1.4-litre 4cyl, 201bhp


Audi A3 e-tron vs rivalsRoad test

Special Issue 83

e-tron !

T EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“Like the Outlander,“Like the Outlander,

you can use the Audi’syou can use the Audi’s

shift paddles to boostshift paddles to boost

the regenerativethe regenerative

braking effect. Inbraking effect. In

Hold mode they workHold mode they work

like normal shifters,like normal shifters,

giving you fullgiving you fullcontrol of thecontrol of thesix-speed box.”six-speed box.”


CO2/tax37g/km

£0 or 5%


280/1,120 litres

Performance0-60/30-70mph7.9/6.6 seconds

Braking70-0/60-0/30-0mph

51.2/37.9/9.3m

Running costs32.2mpg (on test)

£42 fill-up

Practicality 3.8/5GIVEN that the e-tron is based on a standardA3 Sportback, it’s nosurprise tofind the cabin is reasonably spacious and comfortable.There’s plenty of rear head and legroom, plus – aswith the PHEV– theAudi is full five-seater.However, there are some compromises.For starters, packaging thebatteriesunder thebootfloormeans load

capacityhas shrunkbynearly 100 litres to a supermini-sized 280 litres.Worse still, there’s no storage for the charging leads, so they live in apaddedbag that clips on to the side of the load bay. Also, the chargeritself ismuchbigger andbulkier than theMitsubishi andBMW’s.On the plus side, the cable is long and theAudi needs only four

hours for a full charge fromadomestic supply, or two-and-a-halfhours if youhave a specialwall-mounted fast charger installed.

On the roadSUBTLE e-tron badges, reprofiled front bumper and LED headlightsare only changes from standard A3; even charging socket is hiddenaway behind grille badge. Handling is grippy and composed throughcorners, ride is generally settled and refinement is good

CabinTHERE aren’t many cluesthat the e-tron’s a hybridinside, but standard A3 styleand quality make this one ofbest hatch cabins around

EquipmentGENEROUS standard kitincludes sat-nav, keylessentry, dual-zone climatecontrol and a DAB radio



84 Special Issue

Mitsubishi OutlanderInterior

Exterior

CO2/tax44g/km£0 or 5%


463/1,691 litres


!Braking

70-0/60-0/30-0mph51.4/37.1/9.1m


£48 fill-up

MITSUBISHIhas a reputationfor building rugged, no-nonsense

off-roaders, so its PHEV represents a boldtechnological step for the brand. Based onthe standardOutlander compact SUV, itcombines a traditional 2.4-litre petrol enginewith a powerful electricmotor and all-wheeldrive. Prices range from£28,249 to £39,999,andwe test the entry-level GX3hhere.

Styling 2.5/5AT a glance, the PHEV looks just like astandardOutlander. Thatmeans the sameboxy SUVprofile, slab sides andhigh-ridingstance.However, look closely and you’ll spotthe blue PHEVbadges on the frontwings andtailgate. You’d struggle to call theMitsubishihandsome, but the rugged off-roader cuesgive it plenty of presence,while the polishedalloywheels add a touch of class.Inside, it’s functional but a little basic.

The combination of gloss-black trimandsilver inserts helps to lift the dash, yet therest of thematerials feel very low-rentcompared to theAudi andBMW’s. The PHEV’sswitchgear also lacks its rivals’ robust feel,while the stubby gearlever seems cheap.Aswith the exterior, there are very few

clues to theMitsubishi’s eco-friendly status.A power gauge takes the place of a traditionalrev counter, and the small TFT screenbetweenthe dials has a number of options to displaythe car’s efficiency – but that’s about it.Unfortunately, the PHEV can’t even rely

onplenty of standard kit to offset the shortfallinupmarket appeal.While theGX4hmodel inour pictures is generously specified, theGX3hversion tested feels quite spartan. Climatecontrol, Bluetooth and electricwindows areincluded, but there’s no sat-nav orDAB radio– theA3 and i3 comewith this desirable kit.

Driving 2.7/5THEMitsubishi’s 2.0-litre petrol engine isthe largest here,while the combined outputof its two electricmotors is an impressive200bhp– that’s 32bhpupon the i3.However,with a hefty 1,810kg kerbweight, the PHEVwas comfortably outperformedby itscompetitors at the track, taking a leisurely10.2 seconds to sprint from0-60mph.Matters don’t improve out on the road,

where theOutlander never feels as eager as itssmaller rivals.Not only does it respondmorelazily to the throttle at low speed, it’s slower toacceleratewhenovertaking on themotorway.On the plus side,when left to its own

devices the hybrid system is smoother thantheAudi’s. Despite a similar range in batterymode, theMitsubishi’s generator is far less

likely to kick inwhile there’s still power in thecells. Andwhen it doesfire up, there’s noneof the jerkiness found in theAudi.However,although the drivetrain’s smooth, the four-cylinder unit sounds strainedwhen extended.Aswith the e-tron, the hybrid systemhas

numerous settings. For instance, if you’veplanned a long journey you canhold thebattery charge on themotorway, saving it forthe city or lanes nearer your destination. Youcan also recharge the lithium-ionbatteries onthemoveusing the engine – the BMWwillmaintain only theminimumcharge – plususe the steeringwheel-mountedpaddles toincrease the regenerative braking effect.Given its tall stance, it’s no surprise that the

Outlander doesn’t feel as secure as its rivals ontwisting roads. There’s farmore body roll andthe suspensionquickly loses composure overmid-corner bumps. Plus,while the steering islight anddirect, it has noticeable kickback.Our car also suffered from intrusivewind

noise thatwas exacerbated by front doors thatdidn’t seal properly. Still, the ride is suppleand road roar is kept to aminimum.

Reliability 3.5/5DESPITE its reputation for building rugged,no-nonsense cars,Mitsubishi finished ourDriver Power 2014 satisfaction survey in adisappointing 23rd place. This lowly ratingwas reflected in our test car’s patchy buildquality. Still, the brandhasworkedhard torefine the PHEV’s hi-techunderpinnings,while experience gained from its i-MiEVelectric city car should aid durability.AllOutlandermodels get seven airbags,

stability control and low-speed collision alert,but you’ll have to trade up to the pricerGX4hmodel if youwant lane-departurewarning.

Running costs 3.9/5ONCEagain, theMitsubishi proves to be amixed bag. The goodnews for business usersis the fact that the PHEV’s lowest-on-test pricehelpsmake itmarginally themostcost-effectivecompany car. And although the predictedresiduals of 39.8 per cent are nothing towrite home about, it’ll beworth over£2,000more than the i3 after three years.TheOutlander’s lithium-ion cells take

about fivehours to charge froma standarddomestic three-pin plug,while this timedrops to three-and-a-half hours if youuse adedicated fast charger. Eitherway, you’ll payonly a couple of pounds tofill up.With a fullchargeMitsubishi claims the PHEVwill travelaround 32miles in pure EVmode – althoughduring our test’s cold conditions this figuredropped to around 20miles.On longerjourneys you’ll have to rely on the petrolengine,whichmeans bigger fuel bills thanits rivals here.Over our varied test routewemanaged a disappointing 28.9mpg.However, it’sworth bearing inmind that

an examplewe recently ran onourfleetmanaged amore respectable 54mpg– although this figure includedplentyof electric-only commutingmiles.

“Mitsubishi builds no-nonsense off-roaders,so the PHEV is a boldtechnological step”

MODEL TESTED:Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX3hPRICE: £28,249 ENGINE: Two electric motors/2.0-litre 4cyl, 200bhp



Special Issue 85

Outlander PHEVT EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“PHEV uses two electric motors – one for each“PHEV uses two electric motors – one for each

axle – to deliver permanent all-wheel drive.axle – to deliver permanent all-wheel drive.

This gives decent off-road ability and aThis gives decent off-road ability and a

maximum 1,500kg towing weight.”maximum 1,500kg towing weight.”

Dean GibsonDean GibsonDeputyDeputy road test editor

T EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“Given the Mitsubishi“Given the Mitsubishi

Outlander PHEV’sOutlander PHEV’s

large price tag, itslarge price tag, its

cabin falls well shortcabin falls well short

of expectations.of expectations.

The design seemsThe design seems

dated and many ofdated and many of

the materialsthe materialsfeel cheap.”feel cheap.”

James DisdaleJames Disdaleroad test editor

Practicality 4.4/5IF youwant cabin space and eco-friendly credentials, theOutlandertakes somebeating. It’s longer,wider andhigher than its competitorsin this test,which translates into amuch larger interior. There’splenty of space for five adults,while thosewho are sitting in the backgetmore leg andheadroom than theywould in the BMWorAudi.Opening the large tailgate reveals awell shaped luggage area

with a cavernous 463-litre capacity – that’s over 200 litresmorethan the BMW’s load space. TheMitsubishi also features a hiddencompartment under the boot floor inwhich to store the chargingcable, aswell as a couple of handyhooks.However, the two-stage folding seatbackmechanism isfiddly to operate,whilethe load cover looks cheap and feels flimsy.

On the roadWITH boxy profile, slab sides and tall stance, rugged4x4 looks just like a standard Outlander – PHEVbadging is only giveaway. Performance is leisurely,although hybrid system is smoother than Audi’s. Itquickly loses composure over mid-corner bumps,and while steering is light and direct, it kicks back

DashboardPOWER gauge replacestraditional rev counter, andTFT screen between dialsdisplays the car’s efficiency

Fit and finishCABIN is a little basic. Gloss-black trim and silver insertslift dash, yet some materialsfeel low-rent. The stubbygearlever seems cheap, too



86 Special Issue

T EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“If you plan on using the i3 as your only car,“If you plan on using the i3 as your only car,

then you’ll need to make some compromisesthen you’ll need to make some compromises

– particularly on long journeys. But day-to-– particularly on long journeys. But day-to-

day, its long electric range, effortlessday, its long electric range, effortless

performance and nimble handling makeperformance and nimble handling make

up for the clever car’s few quirks.”up for the clever car’s few quirks.”

dean gibsondean gibsondeputy road test editor

BMW i3

Exterior

Interior

BMW’S current success canbeattributed to its brilliant range of

high-performance petrol anddiesel cars, butwith its hi-tech i3 the companyhas shownit has one eye on the future. Packedwithstate-of-the-artmaterials and cutting-edgeengineering, the boldly styled hatchback isavailable in pure electric and range-extendingguises – and it’s the latterwe test here.

Styling 4.1/5WHILE theMitsubishi andAudi are basedon existingmodels, the i3 has beendesignedfrom the groundup as an EV– and it reallyshows. Taking its cues from theBMWCoupéConcept that debuted in 2012, the battery-powered car looks like it’s driven straightoff a designer’s computer screen.Lightweight plastics are used for the

sculpted bodypanels,while the bonnet andglass tailgate get a gloss-blackfinish.Otherhighlights include the angularwindow lineandmetallic blue trim for the faired-in grilleand lower sills,while our car benefited fromthe £1,080optional 20-inch alloys.The daring design continues inside. Access

is easy thanks to the rear-hingeddoors andlack of a B-pillar – although youhave to stepover thewide sill,while the ‘suicide’ rear doorscanbe tricky to use in tight parking spaces.Once in, you’ll be able to enjoy the brilliantlypackaged and imaginatively styled layoutthat’s easy to use andbeautifully finished.Climb into the high-set driver’s seat

and thefirst thing you’ll spot is a pair of largeTFT screens – one ahead of the driver and onethat appears to ‘float’ above the centre of thedashboard. These units display everythingfromspeed to sat-nav info, and are controlledvia BMW’s trademark iDrive dial.There are four interior finishes to

choose from– standard, £1,000 Loft, £1,500Lodge and £2,000 Suite – and all get brightlycoloured seat and carpet trims,withmanymade fromsustainablematerials.Metallicblue inserts add thefinal flourish,whilethe low-set dashboard and vastwindscreencreate a bright and airy feel.

Driving 4.2/5WITH its powerful 168bhp electricmotor andlightweight 1,315kg carbonfibre structure,the BMWhas its rivals comfortably beaten atthe track. It goes from0-60mph in a brisk7.2 seconds,whichwas a full three secondsfaster than the cumbersomeMitsubishi.When the battery capacity drops to 20

per cent, the i3’s 647ccmotorbike enginegenerator kicks in tomaintain charge at theminimum level. Apart from the increase

innoise, the performance remainsunchanged – althoughunder extremeloads the car’s accelerationwill beblunted to protect the battery’s reserves.Despite featuring a strong energy recovery

function, the i3’sbrakepedalhasamorenaturalfeel and greater progression than theAudi’sandMitsubishi’s. Youwon’t need to use itmuch, though, because lifting off the throttlecreates a powerful engine braking effect thatreturns anywasted energy to the battery.Surprisingly, it’s on twisting back roads

where the i3 feels least composed. The steeringis quick andwellweighted, and there’smoregrip than you’d expect from the thin tyres,but hit amid-corner bumpand the tall i3quickly becomesunsettled. The short-travelsuspension struggles to contain large bodymovements, plus there’s plenty of roll. It neverfeels like it’s going to lose control, and thestability control intervenes smoothly, but it’senough tomake you take things a bit easier.As a result, the BMWis at its bestwhen

beingused as a relaxed and refined cruiser.The suspension copeswell on themotorway,windnoise is kept in check and the two-cylinder generator emits only a distant drone– although it’smore intrusive at lower speeds.

Reliability 3.5/5BMWhasworkedhard tomake the i3’shi-techunderpinnings as durable as possible,but in a bid to reassure buyers, the brandprovides an eight-year/100,000-milewarranty for the lithium-ionbattery pack.The rest of the car is covered by a standardthree-year/unlimited-mileage guarantee.With its strong, carbonfibre-reinforced

plastic architecture, six airbags and advancedstability control, the BMWboasts someexcellent safety credentials.However, blufffront-end styling cost it points in EuroNCAP’spedestrian-collision tests – resulting in a verydisappointing four-star score.On the plus side, you can add a raft of

advanced safety options, including the £790DrivingAssistant Plus pack. This combinesadaptive cruise control, forward-collision alertand Traffic JamAssist,which can accelerate,steer andbrake the car at speeds up to 24mph.Apedestrianwarningnoise generator is £85.

Running costs 4.4/5TAKING into account the £5,000Governmentplug-in car grant, the BMWwill set youback£29,130 – that’s £881more than theOutlanderPHEV. Still, the i3 is better equipped.Anovernight charge should cost no

more than a fewpounds, but the recent coldweather resulted in only a60-milemaximumelectric rangeonour car –well short of BMW’s120-mile claim. Even so, on our varied testroute it returned a decent 63.3mpg.The i3works out as amore cost-effective

choice for company car users than theA3.Plus, BMW’sfive-year/60,000-mile servicepackagewill set youback amere £375.Onlythe surprisingly poor predicted residualsof 30.9 per cent give cause for concern.

MODEL TESTED: BMW i3 with Range ExtenderPRICE: £29,130 ENGINE: Electric motor/647cc 2cyl, 168bhp

“The BMW i3 lookslike it’s driven straightoff a designer’scomputer screen”



Special Issue 87

Head-to-head

detailsCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into space


PracticalityBoot (seats up/down)260/1,100 litres


!Braking70-0/60-0/30-0mph52.9/38.3/9.5m

Running costs63.3mpg (on test)£9.50 fill-up

Practicality 3.7/5UNLIKE its rivals here, the i3 is a strict four-seater,although rear head and legroommatch theAudi’s.The colourful trimand largewindows give an airyfeel, yetwhile the boot iswell shaped andhas aflatloading lip, its 260-litre capacity is the smallest.BMWclaims the i3will travel 120miles between

charges, althougha rangeof between80and 100milesin pure electricmode ismore realisticwith gentleuse. Plugged into a domestic socket, the batteriescan be boosted to an80per cent chargewithin sevenhours, but BMW’s powerful £315 iWallbox chargerslashes this time to three hours. A tinynine-litretank for the range-extending generatormeansyou’ll get only around80miles betweenfill-ups.

Counting the costFOR many potential buyers,particularly business users, a plug-in’s big appeal is its running costs.The combination of ultra-low CO2emissions and the ability to run inrelatively cheap electric-only modemeans some serious savings canbe made. For instance, a higher-rate earner will face a £698 annualBenefit in Kind tax bill with the A3e-tron, while an A3 1.6 TDI SportS tronic will set them back £1,553.Mitsubishi PHEV drivers make

even bigger savings, with top-ratetax payers saving a huge £2,273annually over the diesel equivalent.That’ll help buy a lot of fuel – whichis good news, because unless youcharge up every day and limit yourmileage to a short commute, theOutlander will cost at the pumps.With the petrol engine running,it’ll struggle to crack 30mpg.As with all our cars, you should

plug the PHEV into the mains asoften as possible. A full charge onall three will cost no more than afew pounds, but with its potential100-mile range the BMWwill gofurthest on a full battery.So the savings are there, but

only if the car fits your lifestyleand motoring needs. If you can’tget to a socket daily, the fuel billswill start to add up – particularlyon the PHEV and e-tron, which canrecharge on the move but only atthe cost of even heavier fuel use.However, this tech is improving

all the time, and it won’t be longbefore a car with a petrol generatorfor emergency use and a TeslaModel S-rivalling 300-mile electricrange arrives. Until then, you’llhave to do your sums carefully andensure these compromised cars fitwith your motoring requirements.

GadgetsCOLUMN-mounted shifterand iDrive dial amonghi-tech kit fitted tomake driver’s life easier

DashboardCABIN is brilliantlypackaged, imaginativelystyled, easy to use andbeautifully finished

Runn63.3mp£9.50



88 Special Issue

1st

Figures

Results 2nd 3rd

AudiAudi rrange secretsange secrets Worth considering...Worth considering...

On-the-road price/total as testedResidual value (after 3yrs/36,000)

DepreciationAnnual tax liability std/higher rate

Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles)Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost

Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service

Length/wheelbaseHeight/width

DrivetrainGenerator/engine

Peak power/revsPeak torque/revs

TransmissionFuel tank capacity/spare wheelBoot capacity (seats up/down)

Kerbweight/payload/towing weightTurning circle/drag coefficient

Basic warranty (miles)/recoveryService intervals/UK dealers

Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos.Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./stars

0-60/30-70mph30-50/50-70mph

Top speedBraking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph

Noise levels outside/idle/30/70mphAuto Express econ. (mpg/mpl)/range

Govt combined economyGovt combined economy

Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket

Airbags/Isofix/park. sensors/cameraClimate control/leather/heated seats

Metallic paint/LED lights/keyless entrySat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth

Stability/cruise control

BMW i3with RangeExtender

£29,130*/£36,625£9,001/30.9%£20,129341/£682£922/£1,53721/£383/A/£0£375 (5yrs 60k)

3,999/2,570mm1,578/1,775mmElec. motor/2cyl in-line647cc168/0 bhp/rpm250/0 Nm/rpmSingle-speed auto/rwd9 litres/repair kit260/1,100 litres1,315/415kg/N/A9.9 metres/0.30Cd3yrs (unlimited)/3yrsVariable/4410th/22nd86/81/57/4

7.2/6.5 secs2.3^^/4.2 secs^^93mph52.9/38.3/9.5m**N/A/N/A/64/73dB63.3/13.9/125 miles470.0mpg103.6mpl103/13g/km/5%

Six/yes/yes/£790Yes/£2,000/yes£530/yes/£330Yes/yes/yes/yesYes/yes

Audi A3Sportbacke-tron

£29,950*/£32,500£13,298/44.4%£16,652£349/£698£1,813/£3,02129/£390/A/£0TBC

4,312/2,630mm1,424/1,785mmElec. motor/4cyl in-line1,395cc201^/5,000 bhp/rpm250/1,600 Nm/rpm6-spd auto/fwd40 litres/repair kit280/1,120 litres1,540/510kg/N/A10.9 metres/N/A3yrs (60,000)/3yrsVariable/3412th/26th82/78/66/5

7.9/6.6 secs3.5/4.8/6.3/8.0 secs138mph51.2/37.9/9.3m**60/52/62/71dB32.2/7.1/283 miles176.6mpg38.8mpl203/37g/km/5%

Seven/yes/yes/£275Yes/£1,115/£260£525/yes/yesYes/yes/yes/yesYes/£225

MitsubishiOutlanderPHEV GX3h

£28,249*/£28,249£11,243/39.8%£17,006£332/£665£2,020/£3,36626/£388/A/£0£500 (three services)

4,655/2,670mm1,680/1,800mm2 x elec. motor/4cyl1,998cc200^/4,500 bhp/rpm190/4,500 Nm/rpmSingle-speed auto/4WD45 litres/repair kit463/1,691 litres1,810/500/1,500kg10.6 metres/N/A5yrs (62,500)/3yrs12,500 miles (1yr)/11323rd/19th88/84/64/5

10.2/10.0 secs3.5^^/6.5 secs^^106mph51.4/37.1/9.1m**68/48/68/69dB28.9/6.4/286 miles148.0mpg32.5mpl226/44g/km/5%

Seven/yes/yes/noYes/£1,500/no£500/no/yesNo/yes/no/yesYes/yes

*Prices include £5,000 Government plug-in car grant. ^Combined output. ^^In kickdown. **Figures recorded in wet. Insurance quotes from AA(Tel 0800 107 0680 or www.theAA.com) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Residual values provided by CDL VIP Data.

MitsubOutlanPHEV

£28,24£11

AudSpoe-tro

£29

BMWNONE of our contendershere is perfect, but thebrilliant i3 puts eco-friendlycredentials into the most usable,everyday package. Designed from theground up as an EV, it has the longestbattery range, boldest looks and best-packaged cabin. While the generatorisn’t ideally suited to long motorwaystints, it relieves range anxiety. Thisis the best alternative-fuel model.

★★★★★

AUDIIT’S very easy to beseduced by the e-tron’supmarket badge, classy cabin andpenny-pinching on-paper costs, aswell as its punchy performance.However, the hybrid set-up feelsless well resolved than rival range-extenders, while the batteries’ extraweight blunts the drive. Finally, ifyou use the car for long journeys,fuel economy suffers, too.

★★★★★★★

MITSUBISHIIF you want space,rugged SUV styling andlow company car tax bills, then theOutlander PHEV makes a certainamount of sense. Yet the petrolengine is thirsty, the interiorfeels low-rent and the drivingexperience lags behind that of thebest 4x4s. Finally, in GX3h trim itlacks the standard kit you’d expecton a car costing nearly £30,000.

★★★★★★★

e-tron models?CURRENTLY, the A3 Sportback is the only modelavailable with e-tron technology. However, Audihas revealed a number of plug-in concept cars,including the 2012 A1 e-tron, which featured athree-cylinder turbo engine and electric motor.

Audi charging?PLUG into a domestic supply and the A3 will be fullycharged in around four hours. Install a British Gaswallbox or use a public charging point, and the timeis slashed to just over two hours. Even better, thee-tron comes with charging cables for all situations.

Vauxhall AmperaSLOW sales mean that Vauxhall is planning to pullthe plug on the Ampera. However, the sleekly styledmachine is still one of the best range-extenders moneycan buy, thanks to its strong performance, economyand well integrated petrol-electric drivetrain.

RESIDUALSLURE of BMWbadge isn’t enoughto convince useddealers of boldi3’s worth, soit suffers fromweak residualsof 30.9 per cent.

POWERTHE i3 has thelowest poweroutput here at168bhp, but lowkerbweight of1,315kg meantit comfortablyset the pace atour test track.

BRAKINGSKINNY, low-rolling-resistancetyres take theirtoll on brakingperformance,with the i3 needingmore space thanits competitorsto come to a halt.

ECONOMYCLAIMED economyis highest here,and is reflectedin our test figures.Our 63.3mpgreturn is average,but our fleet i3recorded 134mpg.

BENEFIT IN KINDLOW CO2emissions helpmake e-tron acheap companycar choice, withhigher-rate earnerssaving nearly£1,000 a yearover a diesel A3.

OFF-ROADPHEV’s twoelectric motorsprovide permanentall-wheel drive,while groundclearance isthe same as thediesel model’s.

KERBWEIGHTCOMBINATION ofhefty SUV body,electric motorsand battery meansOutlander tips thescales at 1,810kg.

BOOT SPACEAUDI claims e-tronis as practical asstandard A3, but280-litre boot is85 litres down onpetrol or diesel car.

STANDARD KITE-TRON is wellequipped, withclimate controlsat-nav andkeyless go allincluded. Youeven get powerfulLED headlamps.

MISSING KITMITSUBISHI issparsely equippedgiven its price –sat-nav showingcharging pointsreally should bestandard on a carof this type.

Road test

90 Special Issue

THE Nürburgring Nordschleifecircuit in Germany has a fearsome

reputation, and car makers take greatpride in boasting about their lap recordsat the infamous ‘Green Hell’. Whilesupercars battle for the outright laprecord, there are other titles to layclaim to, such as the fastest hot hatch.

The current title holder is theRenaultsport Mégane Trophy R, whichcompleted the 13-mile course in undereight minutes. To celebrate, Renault isselling a limited-edition roadgoingversion, featuring performance tweaksinspired by the record-breaking car.

With a price tag nudging £37,000,the Trophy R is moving into the realm ofdedicated sports cars, and for £3,000more, you could get behind the wheelof a Porsche Cayman. The entry-level2.7 delivers plenty of driving thrills,but how do these two cars compare?We hit road and track to find out.

www.autoexpress.co.uk xxXxxxxxxx2015 91

Renaultsport Mégane Trophy R vs Porsche CaymanRoad test

Pictures: NathanMorgan Location: Crickhowell, Powys

Renaultsport's Mégane Trophy R is a record-

breaking hot hatch, but can it competewith

the Porsche Cayman for pure driving thrills?

PicPictures: NathanMorgan Location: Crickhowell, Powys

Renaultsport's Mégane Trophy R is a record-

t s Mégane

breaking hot hatch, but can it competew

ng hot hatch, but c

the Porsche Cayman for pure drivin

e Porsche Cayman for pu

Serialthrillers

SeSerialltSeSeriaSeriarialrial

Renaultsport Mégane 275 Trophy R

Price: £36,430 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 271bhp 0-60mph: 5.6 seconds

Test economy: 26.7mpg/5.9mpl CO2: 174g/kmAnnual road tax: £205

Porsche Cayman 2.7

Price: £40,234 Engine: 2.7-litre 6cyl, 271bhp 0-60mph: 5.6 seconds

Test economy: 27.6mpg/6.1mpl CO2: 195g/kmAnnual road tax: £265


Road test Renaultsport Mégane Trophy R vs Porsche Cayman

Renaultsport MégaInterior

Exterior

THERenaultsportMéganehas alwaysbeen at the cutting edge of hot hatch

development, and the latestmodel pushesthe performance envelope even further. TheTrophyR is based on theMégane Trophy,so has a 271bhp turbocharged four-cylinderengine, aswell asweight-savingmeasures andperformance-enhancingkit, all for £36,430.

Styling 3.7/5WHILE the standardMégane is looking abit old these days, theRenaultsportmodelhas carved its ownniche, thanks to its three-door coupé body and racy add-ons. TheTrophyR takes this a step furtherwithdistinctive red body stripes,while thestandard car’s 19-inchwheels are replaced bylightweight Speedline alloys of the same size.These are black as standard, but our car

had redwheels,which cost £250 extra. TheTrophyR comes inwhite,while black paintis a £525 option, ArcticWhitewith a blackroof £625 andRenaultsport’s Liquid Yellowmetallic a hefty £1,300.Whichever colour yougo for, the TrophyR lettering on the frontsplitter, the deletion of the rearwindscreenwiper and anAkrapovic-branded carbon-fibreexhaust tip all add to its sporty appearance.Inside, there aremore significant changes.

The TrophyRhas ditched the back seatsandparcel shelf – they’ve been replaced bya substantial brace across the suspensionmounts –while lightweight, polycarbonate-shelledRecaro seatswith bright redfive-point Sabelt racingharnesses have beenfittedup front.Our car featured the£1,995N∑rburgringRecord Pack,whichadds a six-point harness for the driver,while the passenger seatmakes dowitha regular, lighter, three-point seatbelt.These additions shout about the TrophyR’s

potential, but overall cabin quality is aletdown.Hard plastics are used for the dash,and the layout is identical to the standardMégane’s, save for the removal of the stereo.Even though the rearwash/wipehas beendeleted to saveweight, it’s still present onthe columnstalk,while the door trimsstill feature speaker grilles.We also foundthe electricwindowswitch panel on thedriver’s doorwasfitting loosely. Thismaybe a stripped-out, racer for the road, butit feels decidedly cheap inplaces.

Reliability 3.7/5THEMégane TrophyR should prove to bereliable, as the base hatchhas a reasonablereputation andhas been inproduction forquite awhile now. Renaultsport has addedplenty of bespoke running gear to optimise

its performance. Plus, the lack of electricalgoodiesmeans there’s less to gowrongin thefirst place. If youdohave problems,the TrophyRgets the same four-yearwarranty andbreakdown cover as therest of the range,whichwill hopefullygive addedpeace ofmind.Safetywill be good, as you get six airbags

and an advanced stability control system, andif you think thefive-point racingharness isoverkill, there’s a standard seatbelt for regularuse.However, you still need this buckled ifyou’re using theharness, otherwise thecar’s seatbeltwarning chimewill cut in.

Running costs 2.6/5AT £36,430, the TrophyR is expensive for ahot hatch, although its bespokenature goessomeway to justifying the cost. If you’reconsidering it, then stumpingup £1,995 fortheN∑rburgringRecord Packwill give youtheultimateMégane experience, although ifyouwant luxuries such as sat-nav and climatecontrol, they’re also offered as options.Wemanaged 26.7mpgon test,which

wasn't as good as the Porsche, but emissionsof 174g/kmaremarginally cleaner than theCayman’s. You can get a four-year servicingpackage for the TrophyR,while a limitedproduction run–only 50 carswill cometo theUK–means it has the best residualsby far of any current Renaultmodel.

“Switching toracemodemakesattacking a twistingroad an absolute joy”

MODEL TESTED: Renaultsport Mégane 275 Trophy RPRICE: £36,430 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 271bhp


Road test

Special Issue 93

gane Trophy RT EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“You have to admire“You have to admire

the attention to detail –the attention to detail –

replacing the standardreplacing the standard

12 volt battery with a12 volt battery with a

slim lithium-ion itemslim lithium-ion item

is a real talking point.”is a real talking point.”

dean gibson,dean gibson, dep ROAD TEST EDdep ROAD TEST ED

T EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“The Mégane Trophy R is about as“The Mégane Trophy R is about as

close as you can get to a tarmac-close as you can get to a tarmac-

specification rally car for the road.specification rally car for the road.

The race-derived suspension andThe race-derived suspension and

tyres deliver a raw drivingtyres deliver a raw driving

experience that’s trulyexperience that’s truly

exhilarating.”exhilarating.”


CO2/tax174g/km

£205 or 27%

PracticalityBoot

991 litres


!Braking

70-0/60-0/30-0mph44.9/27.9/8.2m


£71 fill-up

Practicality 2.7/5THE two-seater layoutmeans the TrophyR is less versatile than the standardRenaultsport for carrying passengers, but stripping out the rear seats hasresulted in acres of space in the back. The rear strut brace has a cargonetattached to it to stop items rolling forward into the passenger compartment,while Renault has designed the boot so that it can accommodate a set of tyres.Go for theN∑rburgringRecord Pack, and you get a set of branded tyre covers.Thefigure-huggingRecaro seats require a special technique to climb in

andout,where you swivel on your backsidewith your leg cocked in the airto get over the high sides.Once in place, the seats are firm, but reasonablycomfortable. Rear visibility is poor due to the lack ofwiper, althoughstandard rear parking sensors help to compensate for this.

MaterialsHARD plastics let downthe cabin, and somefittings feel loose, butthis all adds to Mégane'ssporty character

SeatsRECARO seats holdyou in place throughtight turns, while ourcar featured optionalsix-point belt for driver

Driving 4.8/5PRESS the starter button, and the2.0-litre turbo buzzes into life. There’splenty of noise in the cabin, thanks tothe removal of 21kgworth of sounddeadening, but use all the revs and theAkrapovic titaniumexhaust delivers adistinctive note,with pops andbangsif you time your gearshift right.Get rolling, and you’re immediately

aware of the TrophyR’s extremelyfirmride. The standardOhlinsRoad&Trackdampers deliver brilliant body control,but the ultra-stiff chassismeans theMégane follows every ripple and rut inthe road. You canadjust thedampers tosuit the surface, although this involvesgetting your hands dirty under thewheelarches.Urbanormotorway

driving is a trialmore than a joy, asthe harsh ride and lack of sounddeadeningmean every tripwill leaveyour body tingling and ears ringing.But head for a twisty road, and the

TrophyR comes into its own. The track-focusedMichelinPilot SportCup2 tyresdeliver phenomenal grip in the dry,while switching the car toSport orRacemodesmeans the sharp chassis, stiffdampers anddirect steering let youknowexactlywhat’s going onbeneathyou, andmakes attacking a twistingroad an absolute joy. Thesemodes alsoliberate the full 271bhponoffer, and theengine’smeatypowerdelivery feelsveryresponsive, plus there’s barely a hint oftorque steer under hard acceleration.At the test track, the TrophyR

was a closematch to theCayman forperformance,with similar accelerationfigures and impressive braking fromthe optional 350mmfloatingBrembodiscs and calipers.However,whilethe TrophyR impresses on a dryroad, if it’s cold orwet, youneedto tread carefully, as the track-biased tyres need to bewarmbefore they performat their best.

Cargo net stops items in rear rolling to the front


Road test Renaultsport Mégane Trophy R vs Porsche Cayman

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“The Mégane is unreletingly firm,“The Mégane is unreletingly firm,

but the Cayman’s compliantbut the Cayman’s compliant

ride feels like a Mercedesride feels like a Mercedes

S-Class in comparison.”S-Class in comparison.”


Porsche Ca

Exterior

Interior

THE second-generation PorscheCaymanwas launched in 2013, and it follows the

same formula created by the original. Thatmeans it's essentially a Boxsterwith a roof,but the stiffness of the hard topmeans theCayman is a better driver’s car as a result.There are currently threemodels in the

range: the 2.7-litre standard car, plus the 3.4-litre S andGTS.We line up the basemodel,with a starting price of £40,234,which isonly around £1,000more than the totalfor theMégane TrophyRwe’ve testedhere.

Styling 4.5/5PORSCHE is famous for producing thelegendary rear-engined911, but it’s also triedits hand at buildingmid-engined cars, andthemodels that have followed this formathave gone down inhistory as someof themost successful sports cars inhistory. TheCayman is the latest road car to use thistemplate, and as youwould expect, it sharesits styling cueswith the Boxster roadster,albeitwith the addition of ametal roofthat incorporates a large glass tailgate.The lownose, roundheadlights and

distinctive profilemean theCayman isunmistakably a Porsche,while the entry-level2.7model can beupgraded to look just likemore powerful versions,with biggerwheelsand colour-coded trim.Nomatter howyouspecupyourCayman, it’s unlikely tomake thesame impact as the racer-for-the-road looks oftheMégane, but then theunderstatedappeal ofthe Porschewill be attractive tomanybuyers.Climb inside, and theCayman is leagues

ahead of the TrophyR for quality. The layouthas plenty of traditional Porsche touches,includingoverlappingdials on thedash, banksof buttonsflanking the gearlever, aswell ashigh-quality plastics andmetal trim. Thelayout takes a bit of gettingused to, especiallythe rather vague climate controls, but there’sno faulting the driving position,while theclear viewout andwellweighted controlsmean theCayman is surprisingly easy todrive.

Driving 5.0/5POWER for the PorscheCayman comes froma 2.7-litre flat-six, butwhile it’s the smallestengine in the range, it’s still a characterfulperformer. Itmakes 271bhp,which is thesame as the TrophyR, but thenaturallyaspirated Porsche delivers peak power at7,400rpm– some2,000rpmhigher thantheRenault.More importantly, it’s downontorque,with 290Nmat 4,500rpm,whilethe TrophyRoffers 360Nmat 3,000rpm.Combine the lower torquefigure of the

Porschewith relatively long gearing, and you

need to use all of the revs tomake themostof the power available.However, that’s nohardship, as theflat-six delivers a distinctivehowl – especially if you add the £1,473 sportsexhaust. The six-speed gearboxmakes themost of the power onoffer, too,with a slick,mechanical shift that has a positive action.While theCaymandelivers respectable

straight-line performance, it’s in cornerswhere it really impresses. The fast, accuratesteeringmeans the car has positive turn-in,and the chassis generates lots of grip – somuch so that you’re never likely to troublethe standard-fit stability controlwhenpushing on a twisting country road.Where the Porsche really differs from the

TrophyR is how it delivers its performance.Youneed to keep the engine on the boil athigh revs tomake themost of its power, butwhile it soundsmanic, theCayman coversgroundwithout the TrophyR's fuss or drama.And that’swhere this car steals an

advantage over theMégane.While theRenault is pushing the absolute limit offront-drive performance, the Porsche isbarely tapping the potential of itsmid-engined set-up. So although it’s just as fast,it'smore refined and capable in everydayuse.Motorway cruising comfort is first-rate,with smoothdamping and ahushed cabinat speed,while the suspension soaks up citystreets nearly aswell as an executive saloon.

Reliability 4.2/5THECayman shares its running gear andelectrical systemswith othermodels in thePorsche range, and as the companydesignsits carswith performance inmind, it shouldprove able to standup to the rigours ofeveryday life.While the original Caymanwas built in Finlandby Valmet Automotive,the current car is assembled byGermancoachbuilderKarmann, althoughproductionstandards are as high as they are at themanufacturer’s Stuttgartworks.Porsche is confident that its carswill last, so

theCaymanhas two-year service intervals. Butwhilemaintenancewill be expensive, you canexpect a first-class service, as Porsche dealerscame third in ourDriver Power 2014 survey.

Running costs 2.5/5THECayman2.7 costs £40,234, butwhilethat’s only £934more than the total of theMégane TrophyR tested, youdon’t getmuchkit for yourmoney. TheRenault featureskeyless entry, parking sensors and cruisecontrol, but these are all pricey options on theCayman. You get a CDplayer, but noDABradio,while climate control is an expensive£518 option.However, there are assortedmechanical upgrades, including adaptivedampers and ceramic brakes, but they onlyenhance the already engaging standard car.Standard stop-start helps fuel economy–

wemanaged 27.6mpgon test – but higheremissionsmean theCayman is costlier to tax.Still, residuals of 51.2 per cent are better thantheTrophyR’s, despite that car’s exclusivity.

MODEL TESTED: Porsche CaymanPRICE: £40,234 ENGINE: 2.7-litre flat-six, 271bhp

“While it's just asfast as the Mégane,it's more refined ineveryday use”


Road test

Head-to-head

detailsCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into spacehere pleaseCaption into space

T EST ErS’ n ote s ...T EST ErS’ n ote s ...“The Cayman is a fantastic“The Cayman is a fantastic

sports car, and thesports car, and the

entry-level 2.7 model isentry-level 2.7 model is

just as capable of puttingjust as capable of putting

a smile on your face asa smile on your face as

Porsche models that arePorsche models that are

twice the price. What’stwice the price. What’s

more, its excellentmore, its excellent

all-round ability meansall-round ability means

you could easilyyou could easily

drive one on adrive one on adaily basis.”daily basis.”

dean gibsondean gibsondeputy road test editorCayman

!


PracticalityBoot (front/rear)150/275 litres


Braking70-0/60-0/30-0mph43.7/31.6/8.2m

Running costs27.6mpg (on test)£76 fill-up

Practicality 3.2/5AS it’s a two-seater sports car, youwouldn’t expect thePorscheCayman tobeparticularly practical.However,youmight be surprised byhowmuch luggage youcan takewith you. The tailgate lifts to reveal a shallowload area, althoughPorsche claims that it has avolumeof 275 litres. The twodeepbins either side ofthe engine cover are useful, although they are trickyto access. Pop the bonnet, and you get awell shaped150-litre front boot,which is deep and rectangular.The passenger compartment is spacious, and

it’s easy to get comfortable. Porsche’s trademarkcup-holders pop out above the spacious glovebox,andwhile the door bins are a little narrow,they hinge open to improve access.

PerformanceTHESE high-performancemodels serve up exactly thesame 271bhp power output,but the turbocharged Renaulthas a broader spread of mid-range torque, which boostsin-gear acceleration.However, one of the thrills

of driving the Porsche is beingable to wind the 2.7-litre flatsix-cylinder engine all theway up to maximum revs. Incomparison, the stripped-outTrophy R’s lack of soundproofingmeans it's left feeling very raw.

Racing kitRENAULT has used race-derivedkit from Brembo (brakes, below),Ohlins (dampers), Allevard(springs), Recaro (seats) andSpeedline (wheels) to enhancethe Mégane. Porsche doesn’tbuy in technology, but doesoffer in-house-developed kitsuch as ceramic brakes, sportssuspension and lightweight seats.

Load spaceSTRIPPING the back seatsout of the Trophy R createsa large load space, whichRenault has designed toaccommodate a set of tyres.The Cayman doesn’t have thesame maximum space, butthe front and rear boots arereasonably sized and can take asurprising amount of luggage.

ButtonsBANKS of buttonsnear the gearleverare a traditionalPorsche touchand provide easyaccess for use

MaterialsMETAL trim andhigh-quality plasticsgive Porsche a moreupmarket feel thanin the Mégane


Renaultsport Mégane Trophy R vs Porsche CaymanRoad test

*Red = equipment fitted to our test car. Insurance quotes from AA (Tel 0800 107 0680 or www.theAA.com)for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Residual values provided by CDL VIP Data.

1stResults 2nd

Figures

RangeRange secretssecrets Worth considering...Worth considering...

What do you think?Tell us about your carwww.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower

On the road price/total as testedResidual value (after 3yrs/36,000)

DepreciationAnnual tax liability std/higher rate

Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles)Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost

Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service

Length/wheelbaseHeight/width

EnginePeak power/revsPeak torque/revs

TransmissionFuel tank capacity/spare wheel

Boot capacityKerbweight/payload

Turning circle/drag coefficientBasic warranty (miles)/recovery

Service intervals/UK dealersDriver Power manufacturer/dealer pos

Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./stars

0-60/30-70mph30-50mph in 3rd/4th50-70mph in 5th/6th

Top speed/rpm at 70mphBraking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph

Noise outside/idle/30/70mphAuto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range

Govt urban/extra-urban/combinedGovt urban/extra-urban/combined

Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket

Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/cameraAutomatic box/stability/cruise controlClimate control/leather/heated seats

Metallic paint/xenon lights/keyless goSat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth

PorscheCayman 2.7

£40,234/£46,464£20,600/51.2%£19,634£2,461/£4,922£2,340/£3,90037/£421/J/£265£480/£610/£480

4,380/2,475mm1,294/1,801mmFlat 6cyl/2,706cc271/7,400 bhp/rpm290/4,500 Nm/rpm6-spd man/rwd64 litres/repair kit425 litres1,330/325kg11.0 metres/0.30Cd3yrs/3yrs20k miles (2yrs)/366th/3rdN/A

5.6/4.6 secs3.7/5.1 secs6.4/8.1 secs165mph/2,500rpm43.7/31.6/8.2m65/31/61/70dB27.6/6.1/389 miles23.9/44.1/33.6mpg5.3/9.7/7.4mpl236/195g/km/31%

Six/£122/£348/£1,044£1,922/yes/£267£518/£2,174/£284£558/£1,061/£599£2,141/yes/£324/£446

RenaultsportMegane 275Trophy R

£36,430/£39,300£17,669/48.5%£18,761£1,949/£3,897£2,419/£4,03239/£386/H/£205£299 (3yrs)

4,299/2,636mm1,435/1,848mm4cyl in-line/1,998cc271/5,500 bhp/rpm360/3,000 Nm/rpm6-spd man/fwd60 litres/repair kit991 litres1,297/303kg11.1 metres/0.34Cd4yrs (100k)/4yrs18,000 miles (1yr)/15315th/14th83/78/60/4 (2014)

5.6/4.5 secs2.2/3.5 secs4.3/6.0 secs158mph/2,500rpm44.9/27.9/8.2m64/53/69/77dB26.7/5.9/352 miles28.8/45.6/37.7mpg6.3/10.0/8.3mpl244/174g/km/27%

Six/no/rear/£350No/yes/yes£500/part/no£525/no/yes£500/£300/no/£300

leadersHow Renault took theNordschleife lap record

RingRESIDUALSPORSCHE'S strongpredicted resalevalue of 51.2 percent is even betterthan the limited-edition Trophy R.

BOOT CAPACITYTHERE’S acombined425 litres on offer,split between150 litres in thefront boot and275 litres atthe back.

SERVICINGTHERE’S no fixed-price servicing, buttwo-year intervalsshould help tospread the cost.

OPTIONSYOU don’t getmuch as standardon the Cayman,while going wildwith optionscould doublethe list price!

SPAREWHEELIT goes againstthe weight-savingphilosophy of theTrophy R, but youcan add a space-saver sparewheel for £95.

EURO NCAPTHE five-doorMégane had a five-star rating in 2008,but in the tougherretest last year, itearned three stars.An update andsecond retest sawit achieve a four-star score.

OPTIONSSAT-nav, climatecontrol and astereo are alloffered, whileelectricallyoperated, heatedand folding doormirrors are £150.

WHILE Porsche is a front-runner for the outright laprecord at the NürburgringNordschleife with its 918Spyder, Renaultsport hasconcentrated on makingthe Mégane the king ofthe front-wheel-drivehot hatchbacks.

The Trophy R weighs inat 1,297kg, which is around100kg lighter than thestandard Mégane Trophy.Weight has been savedwith the removal of theair-conditioning system(-6kg), back seats (-20kg),sat-nav and radio (-1.4kg),rear wash/wipe (-1kg) andsound deadening (-21kg).

More weight is savedwith the addition of thelightweight polycarbonate-shelled Recaro seats(-22kg), Speedline alloywheels (-5kg), Allevardcomposite front springs(-2kg) and an Akrapovictitanium exhaust (-4kg).

If you add the £1,995Nürburgring Record Pack,you get larger and lighterbrakes, which save 3kg,while a lithium-ion 12vbattery sits under thebonnet and saves a hefty16kg over the standardlead-acid version.

All of these changeshelped the Trophy R topost a lap record at theNürburgring Nordschleifelast June, of seven minutes,54.36 seconds – that's23 seconds faster thanRenault’s last hardcoreMégane, the R26.R.

Mégane Trophy?THE Trophy R is the flagship Renaultsport model. It’sbased on the Mégane Trophy, which costs £28,930,and features the creature comforts deleted from theTrophy R. What’s more, you can add Ohlins dampersand sticky Michelin Cup tyres to match the top model.

Hardcore Cayman?PORSCHE has just announced the stripped-outflagship Cayman GT4 (Issue 1,356). It uses a 380bhpversion of the 3.4-litre flat-six from the Cayman S,and covers 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds. However, at£64,451, it costs £24k more than the standard car.

BMWM235i CoupéTHE M3 and M4 have moved upmarket, so the flagship2 Series Coupé fills the gap at this price bracket. At£34,535, it’s £2,000 less than the Trophy R, so youcan upgrade to the £515 M Sport adaptive dampersto make the most of the rear-wheel-drive chassis.

PORSCHETHE Cayman is the entrypoint to Porsche coupéownership, but you won’t feel short-changed with the 2.7. It has more thanenough performance to entertain onany road, while its beautifully balancedhandling will leave you grinning fromear to ear. Add fine motorway manners,plus compact dimensions and fuel-saving stop-start for around town,and the Cayman is a thrilling coupéyou could live with every day.

★★★★★

RENAULTTO be mentioned inthe same breath asPorsche is a victory for theMégane Trophy R. It represents thepinnacle of Renaultsport’s hot hatchdevelopment, and on the right roadits ability to transcend its humblehatchback roots and turn into a razor-sharp driving machine is staggering.It'll embarrass supercars on a trackday, but its intense character meansyou’d be mad to use it on a daily basis.

★★★★★★

464

RenMegTrophMegTrophMeg

£36RESIDUALSPORSCHE'S stro


Our cars Living with a Mazda 3

Essentials

Otis [email protected]

@AEsnapper

OtisOtis_

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“The Mazda is a front-runner“The Mazda is a front-runner

for driving fun, but cabinfor driving fun, but cabin

quality is still a couplequality is still a couple

of steps behind theof steps behind the

class’s best cars.”class’s best cars.”

James DisdaleJames Disdaleroad test EDITOR

Mazda 3FINALREPORT After nearly 32,000 miles, our man’s at one with

Mazda32.0SportNavOn fleet since: February 2014

Price new: £20,195

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 118bhp

CO2/tax: 119g/km/£30

Options: Soul Red metallicpaint (£660), leatherupholstery (£1,200),Safety Pack (£700)

Insurance*: Group: 18 Quote: £341

Mileage/mpg: 31,969/41.5mpg

Any problems? None so far

*Insurance quote provided by AA(0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old living

in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

INTERIOR There’s a seven-inchtouchscreen, or you can use therotary controller on the centreconsole to navigate through theassorted options on the display

GEARBOX Six-speed gearboxholds sweet spot of rev rangeperfectly, and makes up forslightly underpowered engine

IHAVE to admit that I’ve never beenparticularly fondof horses. They

scareme a bit, due to a combinationof the immense power in their legs,the fact they have amindof their own,whichmakes themunpredictable, plustheir unhealthy love of Polomints.It’s a shame, because ourMazda 3has

beenbuiltwith the Japanese philosophyof ‘Jinba Ittai’ inmind. This translates ashorse and rider in perfect harmony, andis the basis ofMazda’s SkyActiv rangeofweight-savingmeasures.When carmakers comeupwith these phrases, Idon’t really paymuch attention, but overthe past 12months, 31,969miles andnumerous trips across the SouthDowns,I realise that it sumsup exactly howI feel about the Japanese hatch.AsMazdahas embraced thehorse

and rider theme to develop its cars,I felt that itwas time tomeetmyfour-legged fears face-to-face forthe 3’s final photoshoot, becauseit’s one of the best cars I’ve ever run.The bondbetween ahorse and its

rider is, as I have come to learn, veryimportant, and it’s not somethingwhichis easy to acquire. Butmy affinitywiththeMazda seems tohave got stronger as

PRACTICALITY It’s not aclass leader, but 364-litre bootis still generous and grows to1,263 litres with back seats folded

themonths have passed. The 364-litreboot isn’t the biggest in the class, but ithasmore than enough room for allmycamera gear. Andwhen I’mnot cartingaround cameras, tripods and cleaningkit, there’s enough room to seat fiveadults in comfort on long journeys.I also think the 3 looks pretty good,especially in top-spec Sport trim,and ismore distinctive thanotherhatchbacks currently on sale.But the one thingwhichhas really

wonmeover is how theMazda drives.The 118bhp 2.0-litre naturally aspiratedpetrol engine seems a bit archaicwhencompared to the latest small-capacityturbos offered in other cars. Yet

“The one thingwhich has reallywonme over is howthe Mazda 3 drives”

HANDLING Philosophy behindMazda’s SkyActiv tech translatesas horse and rider in harmony, andthat’s how Otis feels at wheel


Living with a Mazda 3Our carsGG oooo dd & Bad& Bad popo ii nnttss ......“The Mazda 3 is entertaining to“The Mazda 3 is entertaining to

drive, but the pay-off is a firmdrive, but the pay-off is a firm

ride, especially in the Sport Navride, especially in the Sport Nav

model with 18-inch wheels”model with 18-inch wheels”

his trusty steed

CO2/tax119g/km

£30 or 16%


364/1,263 litres

Performance0-62/top speed8.9 secs/121mph

while it’s a little underpowered,it’s a joy to use. Youneed to rev ittomake themost of the power ontap, but the slick six-speed gearboxmeans it’s nohardship to keep itin the sweet spot of the rev range.The car also feels very light and

agile, and is a real joy to drive quicklyon twisty roads. Andwhile roadnoiseis a little intrusive atmotorwayspeeds, this is a price that’sworthpaying so that I can take advantageof the sharphandling. I guess that’swhere the horse and rider thememakes themost sense, as the 3 reallyis an entertaining driver’s car.Sadly, it’s nowbeenput out

to pasture, returning toMazda,leavingmewith a long face. Andmynext set ofwheelswill have tobe pretty special to fill the shoesofmydearly departed steed...

MYRATING★★★★★

100 Special Issue

Our cars Living with a Hyundai i10Our cars

Hyundai i10FIRSTREPORT Sibling rivalry is put to the test in battle of the hatchbacks

INTERIOR i10 and i20(below) have similarinterior design, withcoloured dash trim

DURINGour timewith the dinkyHyundai i10, there’s been very little

to give us a headache, as the city carhas impressedwith its big car feeland superb value formoney.It evendispatchesmotorway

marathonswith little fuss, and fora car of this size that’s not somethingyou’d expect it to have in its armoury.Given this list of talents, could it be abetter bet than its i20 bigger brother?Wewerekeen tofindout, so brought thepair together for a unique comparison.Bigbrothers specialise inhumiliation,

embarrassment and exploitingweaknesses for all to see, sowould itbe an awkward encounter for the i10?Obviously, there are plenty of

similarities. Bothfive-doors are genuinefive-seaters,with strong interior buildquality and lots of standard equipment.The i20has amore premium image,

helped by the sleeker roofline, LEDdaytime running lights andfloatingC-pillars, but this iswhere itsdominancecomes to an end. And it’s how the

“The i10 has a farwider range ofabilities than itsbigger brother, too”

two cars drivewhich is the biggestdifference.Under the bonnet of thisparticular i20 sits a rather uninspiring74bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrolengine.Whereas rivals are all bringingturbocharged three-cylinders to theparty,Hyundai doesn’t yet offerone. It’s a realmissed opportunity.The i20needs to be revved tomake

themost of the power onoffer, but thatmeans you’ll struggle tomatch theclaimed58.9mpg it’s capable of.This isn’t the casewith the i10,

however. It uses a 1.0-litre naturallyaspirated three-cylinder engine,which suits the car’s characterperfectly. It’s an eager, sprightlyengine and sounds good, too.Afternearly6,000miles inandaround

central London,we’ve also averaged ahealthy 43.1mpg. In previous testswiththe i20,we’ve rarely got above 38mpg.The i10has a farwider range of

abilities than its bigger brother, too.Onthemove it feelsmore compliant andforgiving around town,whereas the i20tends tofidget over rougher surfaces.Load both cars upwith passengers

and luggage, and although the i20willswallowmore, the i10 does a far betterjob ofmanaging the extraweight andkeeping those insidemore comfortable.My verdict? The i10 is definitely a

wiser choice – this is one instancewherebigger doesn’t necessarilymeanbetter.

MYRATING★★★★★

TT EESSTT EErrS’S’ nnoottee ss......“A recent test with the 1.2-litre i10“A recent test with the 1.2-litre i10

confirmed our 1.0-litre is a betterconfirmed our 1.0-litre is a better

bet – it’s smoother and morebet – it’s smoother and more

frugal, yet just as sprightly.”frugal, yet just as sprightly.”

dean gibsondean gibsondeputy road test editor

Jonathan [email protected]

www.autoexpr o.uk Special Issue 101

Living with a Hyundai i10Our cars

is Clay

We’ve told you about our carsNow tell us about yourswww.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower

~Our cars

GG oooo dd & Bad& Bad popo ii nnttss ......“The i10 is a sharp looking city“The i10 is a sharp looking city

car, although it could do with acar, although it could do with a

selection of brighter colours toselection of brighter colours to

help it stand out from the crowd”help it stand out from the crowd”

Fleetwatch

Our fleet

www.autoexpress.co

Oti

co.uk

Otis Clay

Essentials

PracticalityBoot (seats up/down)218/1,012 litres

Running costs43.1mpg (on test)£43 fill-up


Fiat Panda CrossTHE Fiat is the smallest car on our fleet, butthat hasn’t stopped road test editor JamesDisdale putting it to the test as a family ferrier,with the help of his two young children.First up, the rear bench easily accommodated

two bulky child seats, while the 225-litre bootswallowed two scooters, various bags, welliesand even a few bags of shopping (above).With his family safely squeezed on board,

James could concentrate on enjoying the PandaCross’s driving experience. And with its eagerTwinAir engine, grippy4WD transmission andhigh-set driving position,it was a hoot to threaddown the lanes nearJames’ Hertfordshirehome. Less impressivewas the 34mpg fuelreturn, which wasbarely any better thanour VW Golf GTI’s.

SEATLeon Cupra

AudiTTNewarrivalBMWi3Issues 1,338, 1,353DaciaDusterIssues 1,305, 1,315,1,330, 1,339Fiat PandaCrossNewarrivalHyundai i10Issues 1,332, 1,338, 1,348Jaguar F-TypeIssues 1,307, 1,319,1,329, 1,344, 1,355Kia Soul EVIssue 1,350Lexus IS 300hIssues 1,312, 1,320,1,329, 1,340, 1,355Mazda 3Issues 1,311, 1,334, 1345MINICooperD5drIssues 1,346, 1,352Peugeot 308SWIssues 1,342, 1,356RangeRover SportIssue 1,356SEATLeonSCCupraIssue 1,353SkodaSuperb EstateIssue 1,347Suzuki SwiftNewarrivalVauxhall CorsaIssue 1,354VolkswagenGolfGTIIss. 1,320, 1,332, 1,341, 1,352

OUR Cupra hot hatch isproving huge fun on adaily basis, but thethree-door body isputting a limit on itspractical credentials.Deputy road test

editor Dean Gibson hasfound it difficult to getchild seats in the back,as the front seats don’tmove far enough forward,although the slidingmechanism for thepassenger seat is provingeven more annoying.While the driver’s seat

returns to its set positionafter it’s moved forward,the passenger one slidesall the way back on itsrunners, squashing thefeet of those in the back.

Hyundai i10 1.0SEOn fleet since: July 2014

Price new: £9,660

Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 65bhp

CO2/tax: 108g/km/£20

Options: Metallic paint (£495)

Insurance*: Group: 1 Quote: £309

Mileage/mpg: 5,670/43.1mpg

Any problems? None so far

*Insurance quote provided by AA(0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old living

in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

GEARBOX Five-speed gearboxhas slick and precise action, whiletall-striding top gear takes strainout of long motorway journeys

DRIVING Sharp, accomplishedand capable, the i10 manages toembarrass its sibling when itcomes to ability on the road


Q

Q

A

A

TOPTIPS

Smartcharge 200 can revive range of batteries

ProductsVisit autoexpress.co.uk for our extensive product archive

THISWEEK’SHOTKIT nnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww.... ..

“All-season tyres present the“All-season tyres present the

benefit of not changing wheels to

benefit of not changing wheels to

suit summer or winter conditionssuit summer or winter conditions

and are ideal for low-mileage cars”and are ideal for low-mileage cars”

Multi bike car carriers

PRICE FROM£73.27 (205/55R16)

Tyre for all seasons

HenryWillis

THERE are so many ways to carry bikes with a car.Those that attach by mounting on to the tow barprovide a sturdy and flexible fit. After impressingin our Issue 1,274 test of towball-mounted cyclecarriers, our favourite is still the Atera Strada DL,which can carry three to four bikes. The best priceas we went to press is £374.95 – see roofbox.co.uk.

HALFORDS has released a range of newproducts that could be ideal for gettingbatteries into shape after a cold winter.

Each of the company’s new chargingsolutions can help maintain existingbatteries and prevent you from having tofork out on a new one. The Smartcharge 200(£54.99) is a Halfords-branded charger that’smuch lighter than previous products.

The small box comes with a series of leads,including cables with terminal clamps andeyelet charging points. This tops up lead acid,gel, calcium and AGM batteries with a maximum35-amp output. An LCD display shows progressand it can recondition deeply discharged cells,

too. In addition to launching this, Halfords hasrefreshed its own-brand series of powerpacks.The Powerpack 100 (£79.99) can help recharge aflat battery, plus it has 12V and USB outputs, anda compressor that can inflate tyres up to 150psi.

The Powerpack 200, for £99.99, offers similarfeatures, and has the added bonus of a 230Vmains power output for small electrical items.

NEWPRODUCTHalfords charging solutionsBest price: From £54.99 (Smartcharge 200)

Contact: 0345 504 5353, www.halfords.com

PIRELLI hopes to increase demand for all-season tyres as one of the first big-name

manufacturers to bring out a new solutiondesigned to take on all weather conditions.

The Cinturato All Season claims to be bestsuited to temperatures ranging from minus twoup to 30 degrees Celsius – so it sits somewherebetween summer and winter tyres, yet can stillhandle hot and cold extremes, even snow and ice.

The company is determined to keep driversmoving at all times, so some Cinturato All Seasonsizes include exclusive Seal Inside technologythat can make a tyre airtight when punctured

before air has escaped. A layer of sealantlines the tyre and can prevent puncturescaused by objects of up to 4mm in size.

Before the nail or stone is removed, anairtight seal is formed around it. Then, onceit’s taken out, the sealant closes the gap sodrivers can continue on their journey.

Pirelli says drivers of performance carsor those running in really extreme conditionsshould still fit summer or winter tyres, butthat the Cinturato is ideal for those whodon’t cover high mileages, such as city carowners or families running second cars.

The new tyre comes in 21 sizes, with thefirst version launched this month in the mostcommon fitments, including 15, 16 and 17-inchsizes. Three sizes will get Seal Inside tech, withPirelli releasing more by the end of the year.

NEW PRODUCTPirelli Cinturato All Season tyreBest price: From £73.27 (205/55R16, non-sealant)

Contact: 01283 525252, www.pirelli.com

DIY stereo switch in CivicI WOULD like to change the stereo unit in my2007 Honda Civic myself. But it looks like atricky job, so I’m not sure if I should take iton. Are there any good guides I can use?Colin Kneller, E-mail

YOU’RE right that it can be tricky as there is alot of trim to remove on that model of Civic. Buthave a look at fitaudio.co.uk – this site containspicture-led audio installation guides for dozensof cars. Alternatively, pick up a Haynes manualin which basic modification tasks are explained.Visit haynes.co.uk to find a manual for your car.

Newdrill for buffer jobHAND polishing my car seems to take forever,but I’ve seen the buffersyou can use with drillsin your pages. Before I start, I need to replacemy cordless drill. What’s the best option?Shane Atkins, E-mail

WE’D recommend a mains drill for this kind ofjob, but if that’s not an option, the top choice inour Issue 1,331 test of cordless drills was Black &Decker’s EGBHP188K. Its single 18V lithium-ionbattery powered its motor up to a 1,500rpm topspeed, while it had a comfortable, professionalfeel. We spotted it for £89.95 as we went to press– see blackanddecker.co.uk. Once you’ve got yourdrill, Meguiar’s Dual Action polisher kits (from£59.99, meguiars.co.uk) are the best option.

Got a [email protected]

@WineryHills

Beat the winter battery blues


Know an event coming soon?Contact [email protected]

Products Latest kit rated

nnee ee dd ttoo kknnooww.... ..“Instead of taking water from“Instead of taking water from

a pressure washer, the Wo-Woa pressure washer, the Wo-Wo

Snow Foam Lance can workSnow Foam Lance can work

straight from a garden hose”straight from a garden hose”

news,deals&events

PRICE £34.99

Gadgets slot in place with holderBESTPRICE £14.95

nnee ee dd ttoo kknnooww.... ..“Instead of“Instead ofdisplayingdisplayinghardware onhardware onthe dash orthe dash orwindscreen,windscreen,revampedrevampedmount slipsmount slipsinto a stereointo a stereodisc hole todisc hole toprovide anprovide analternativealternativemountingmountingsolution”solution”

T-shirt honours theend of the 2CV eraFANS of Citroen’s classic 2CV cancommemorate 25 years since thelast model was made by snappingup a newly designed T-shirt.

Available via 69pitstop.com,the white tee pays homage tothe car as it’s drawn driving downthe road, complete with frog andsnail, along with the text ‘Vive le2CV!’ – long live the 2CV. Madein sizes S to 3XL, it’s priced at25 Euros including postage.

Goodyear summertyre raises gameTYRE brand Goodyear has revealedeight new sizes of its EfficientGripPerformance tyre, with every oneof them promising top A ratingsfor fuel efficiency and wet gripperformance in EU tyre label tests.

The 205/55R16 size finishedsecond in our 2014 summer tyretest, but Goodyear’s new optionsare spread over 16 and 17-inchsizes. And the tyre label ratingperformances improve on theprevious scores of B and A.

Celebrate classiccars over breakfastTHE Brooklands Winter ClassicBreakfast takes place this Sunday(16 February) at the BrooklandsMuseum, in Weybridge, Surrey.

It’ll be one of three events heldat the venue this year, and ownersare invited to bring their classiccar along and enjoy food servedfrom 8am in the Sunbeam Café.The motoring village and museumwill open shortly after breakfast.See brooklandsmuseum.co.ukfor ticket and event information.

RECENTLY launched car care firmWo-Wo has continued to expand its rangeby introducing a snow foam lance – andit can be hooked up to a standard gardenhose, instead of a pressure washer.

While this is nothing new, as rivalshave released similar low-pressuresnow foam lances lately, it offers thebenefit of a full shampoo coating formotorists who don’t want to shell outon a pressure washer. The snow foammethod of cleaning a car is becoming

increasingly popular as it’s relativelyeasy and requires little scrubbing.

We connected the lance up to astandard hose and were keen tofind out if it could tackle the muckon our car – which was filthy, havinggot covered in salt from winterroads, splattered dirt and oily marks.

The Wo-Wo lance doesn’t comewith shampoo, but works with anystandard solution available. Andalthough the hardware is packaged ina number of small parts, everythingclicks together really easily, so wewere ready to go within minutes.

After rinsing our car with a hose,we quickly allayed any concerns thatthe Wo-Wo lance wouldn’t deliversufficient pressure, and it had

soon thoroughly coated our car,turning it white with snow soap.

When we rinsed the foam off, it hadthe desired effect, agitating the worst ofthe salt and muck from our bodywork.Not surprisingly, stained-on smears andstubborn grit remained, as this didn’thave the power of a pressure washerand we weren’t doing any scrubbing.

Still, the sheen the Wo-Wo SnowFoam Lance gave our car wassatisfying, even if we had to revisitthe dirtiest areas and wash them again.

Overall, it works out as an expensiveway of washing a car, as you’ll getthrough quite a lot of snow foameach time – but it might appealto drivers who don’t have time tospend with a bucket and sponge.

FIRST TESTWo-Wo Snow Foam LanceBest price: £34.99

Contact: 0843 289 5653, www.wo-wo.co.ukRating:★★★

Henry Willis

Hose lance lets it snow

WHEN we last tried the CD Slot Mount in Issue 1,289, weweren’t keen on its awkward design. The device holder sticksin the disc slot of a car stereo to hold hardware on the go, andcame with a sticky pad for gripping phones and accessories,but we felt it wasn’t up to scratch compared to other mounts.

The key features have now been redesigned, and the newSlot Mount comes with extra mounting options as well as thesticky pad. Now there’s an expanding grip to hold the outsideof a handset, and you can buy another mount accessory foran extra £4.95 to hold additional phones at the same time.

This improves on the previous design, and means thesticky grip function, which annoyed us so much when welast tested the product, is no longer an issue. The CD SlotMount held our phone firmly in three of the four cars wetried it in, although in the fourth car it was a bit too loose.Still, it should work well in most models with a CD player.

FIRST TESTCD Slot Mount gadget holderBest price: £14.95 Rating:★★★Contact: www.tidymycar.com


Minitest

PRICE £XX.XX (xxxml)

ProductsProducts Screenwash mini test

Appof theweek

books,dvds&apps

Andre Lefebvre andthe Cars He Created

BMW Classic Coupés

FIA World Rallycross2014 Review

Motorsport Manager

Gijsbert-Paul Berk (Veloce, www.veloce.co.uk)

RRP: £19.99 (paperback) Rating:★★★

James Taylor (Crowood Press, www.crowood.com)

RRP: £25 (hardback) Rating:★★★★

Available for: DVD, download (www.dukevideo.com)

Best price: £13.99 (download) Rating:★★★★

Available for: iOS

Price: £1.99 Rating:★★★★

A spring clean foryour windscreen

FIRMFAVOURITEComma Xstream ScreenwashBest price: £11.99 (five litres)

Contact: 01474 564311, www.commaoil.com

SOLID SECOND CHOICEPrestone BugwashBest price: £6.49 (four litres)

Contact: 0161 866 4800, www.holtsauto.com

ROOMFOR IMPROVEMENTAngelwax ClarityBest price: £7.95 (one litre)

Contact: 0141 886 6732, www.angelwax.co.uk

“It’s essential tostay topped upwith a screenwashthat won’t freeze”

nnee ee dd ttoo kknn ooww......“Angelwax has reworked its“Angelwax has reworked its

screenwash since we last testedscreenwash since we last tested

it. While it’s still a good product,it. While it’s still a good product,

the alcohol smell is very strong”the alcohol smell is very strong”

ANDRE Lefebvre was influential indesigning revered vintage Citroenslike the Traction Avant, 2CV and DS.In this book, author Berk remindsus that Lefebvre is largely unknownin the modern auto industry, buthighlights his role as a key pillarof the manufacturer’s history andsheds some light on his life.

WHILE there’s a host of stylishcoupés in BMW’s range today,author Taylor argues that thebrand’s two-doors came of agebetween 1965 and ’89. He makesa good point as some of the cars inthis title are stunning, and backedup with excellent prototype andmodel pictures, plus text. Thisis sure to appeal not just toBMW fans, but all petrolheads.

THE inaugural FIA World RallycrossChampionship took place lastyear, to the excitement of manymotorsport fans. Each of the12 rounds from all over theworld is summarised withexciting highlights in thiscomprehensive and wellpresented season review.

ONE of our favourite pocket motorsportsims has been updated with a host of newfeatures. More challenges have been added,as well as new leaderboards to conquer.It’s well worth the initial £1.99 as we’vespent hours aiming for the perfect race.

Henry Willis

THE run-up to spring canbe a tricky time for driving, witha mix of sunshine and sub-zerotemperatures the norm. It’sessential to stay topped up witha screenwash that won’t freeze,yet can clear dirt on warm days.

Angelwax’s Clarity sets outto improve on the company’slast screenwash offering, whichwe gave an average rating inour Issue 1,276 test.

To see if the new version isbetter, we tried it against thetop-ranking two from that test:Comma’s Xstream Screenwashand Prestone’s Bugwash. Priceswere taken from a range ofsources as we went to press.

We waited to see how longeach would last in a freezer,as well as rating how well theycleared a windscreen coveredin dust and oily smears.

Comma’s reliable Xstreamwash swept up again. Thenewcomer performed well,but its strong smell remains.

EVEN when diluted in a summer mix,this was efficient at clearing stubborndirt stuck to the windscreen. It stoodfor longest in the freezer when mixedand outlasted its rivals when frozenneat. Some remains were left on thescreen once we’d sprayed it on, but thefact that the five-litre solution is greateven when diluted makes this the best.Rating:★★★★★

THE Prestone screenwash is still anadmirable contender, and remainsahead of the Angelwax product. Itdealt with dust, oil and specs of dirtefficiently, just as we found last time.The four litres are ready-mixed, sowe weren’t expecting it to last longagainst its neat rivals in the freezer,but it still stood the test of time.Rating:★★★★

ON the side of its bottle, the strong-smellingAngelwax Clarity screenwash solution claimsit works down to minus 25 degrees Celciuswhen used neat. This is only one degreeoff our Comma favourite, and when weleft each product in the freezer to test itsboasts it was almost as good as the winner.

It was the same when we reviewed thelast Angelwax product in our group testas well. We were impressed by its abilities infreezing conditions, but were put off by its alcoholscent. This remains unchanged, so despite offeringa new solution, Clarity doesn’t improve on itspredecessor that much. When we sprayed it onthe screen it worked adequately, although itwasn’t up to the standards of top-rated rivals.Rating:★★★


Products Gadget chargers tested

GADGETCHARGERSWhich of these nine products is best for keeping your kit alive?

PRODUCTGROUPTEST 11 | 2 | 2015Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners.Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive.

Kim Adams

PORTABLE electronic gadgets are a key part ofdriving and travelling, but they all need chargingafter prolonged use. Cigarette lighter adapters(tested in Issue 1,353) are one option, but powerbanks provide the ultimate charge on the go.

These can revive phones and almost anythingUSB powered, plus finish the job away from thecar. They come in a wide range of sizes, capacitiesand options, but which is the best to keep yourgadget working? We plugged in nine to find out.

QUICK charging that matched our best kits earnsthis second Halfords offering four stars. It has thesame range of tips as its smaller stablemate, butit’s quicker to charge through its 2.1A single USBsocket. It will also revive a phone several timeson one charge. The Kit: unit is smaller than ourtop two and could be carried in a pocket, althoughit’s hefty at 200g and lacks a Lightning connector.Rating:★★★★

THE PowerGorilla is the size of a small tablet andideal for the heavy user who spends their life onthe move. It comes with its own mains chargerwith three international plugs, which can be usedto power a laptop while topping up its battery– the biggest on test. There’s a huge selection oftips, including a 12V socket, but oddly no Applekit. Charging wasn’t the quickest and for this eye-watering price, we’d expect more than one USB.Rating:★★★

IF you spend time away from any sort of power,then this solar-powered device could be thesolution. Four solar panels fold neatly aroundthe slender battery. It can also be charged viaa USB, and it comes with Apple Lightning and30-pin adapters for the micro USB lead. There’s afour LED battery monitor, but sadly charging wassome way behind the rest of the devices on test.Rating:★★★

Kit: PremiumPowerbank6,000mAhBest price: £20 Capacity: 6,000mAh

Contact: www.halfords.com

PowerGorillaBest price: £160 Capacity: 21,000mAh

Contact: www.powertraveller.com

enCharge FoldingSolarStorage PowerBest price: £34.99 Capacity: 8,000mAh

Contact: www.mobilefun.co.uk

BEST BUY DESPITE the Intocircuit kit’s cracking price, youstill get two leads plus a range of tips including those forPSP, Nokia, Samsung and Apple 30-pin. There are two USBsockets, with one rated at 2.1A – making it possible to chargeyour tablet and phone at the same time. A clear LCD displaykeeps track of charging, which was the joint best on test,plus there’s a small LED worklight – a great combination.Rating:★★★★★

Intocircuit PC11200Best price: £20.99

Capacity: 11,200mAh

Contact: www.amazon.co uk

Olixar enCharge15,000mAh Dual USB

Power BankBest price: £34.99

Capacity: 15,000mAh


2014

20

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Gadget chargers testedProducts

Howwe tested themYOUR choice will be dictated by the kit you need topower, so we focused on charging performance,capacity and what’s in the box. Extra points wentto products with all you need to charge a range ofkit, tested on the iPhone 5S, 3GS and iPad 2. Wefactored in convenience, plus extras like torchesand storage bags. Also considered was price,taken from a range of sources as we went to press.

INTOCIRCUIT’S PC11200 balances performance,capacity and attachments at a fine price to win.The similar Olixar enCharge 15,000mAh finishessecond, ahead of the Kit: Powerbank 2000mAh.

1. Intocircuit PC112002. Olixar enCharge 15,000mAh Power Bank3. Kit: Premium Powerbank 2000mAh

LIGHT and slender, this Pama Power N Go PNGP3could be slipped into an inside jacket pocketand barely be noticeable. Charging through the2.1A USB socket was only a touch behind thebest, and the decent capacity makes it capableof reviving several devices on a single charge.A battery monitor is in the casing, but you don’tget any accessories apart from a charge lead, soyou’ll have to provide whatever your kit needs.Rating:★★★

ABOUT the same size as two packs of chewinggum, the Olixar kit can be carried in your pocketand makes a good budget emergency product,although charging through its single USB is alittle slower than the best. It tackled our iPad, butwouldn’t work with the 3GS iPhone. You get an LEDwork light and a charge cable, although you’ll haveto supply leads for the devices you’re using it on.Rating:★★★

WHILE other chargers here can be transportedin pockets, this diminutive unit will easily fit intoa wallet or purse as it’s just five credit cards thick.There are versions for Apple Lightning and microUSB, and the cable and charging USB are cleverlybuilt in. It works well, too, matching the quickestchargers here. It’s useful if the two plugs are all youneed, although it’s pricey and capacity is small.Rating:★★★

Pama Power N Go PNGP3Best price: £37.49 Capacity: 6,000mAh

Contact: www.pama.com

Olixar enCharge 2,000mAhPortable Power BankBest price: £9.99 Capacity: 2,000mAh


LinearfluxLithiumCardHyperchargerBest price: £39.99 Capacity: 1,200mAh

Contact: www.firebox.com

RECOMMENDED THE Kit: charger is the size of a tubeof mints and light enough to be carried in your pocket.Unlike other small chargers here, it has a range of tipscovering mini and micro USBs and Apple’s 30-pinconnector. There’s only a single USB and it was slowerthan the top performers, but it got the job done andcoped with all our tests. For emergency phone charging,this generously priced unit is all many of us will need.Rating:★★★★

RECOMMENDED THIS unit provides all Appleusers will need, as it includes 30-pin and Lightningadapters plus mini and micro USBs among others.There are power and charging leads and a four-stage LED battery monitor. You also get twoUSBs, including a faster 2.1A, and, oddly, anSD card reader. Charging was a touch behind ourwinner, and you pay for that extra kit and capacity.Rating:★★★★

Kit: PremiumPowerbank2,000mAh

Best price: £10

Capacity: 2,000mAh

Contact: www.halfords.com

Verdict


CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED?Call us on Freephone Get a Quote Online Watch Quentin’s Guide

warrantywise.co.uk/guide

Just look for Quentin!

“WELL made, fast,economical andhandles beautifully.”

“It’s the best andmost efficient carwe have ever had.”

“The level of standardequipment is fantastic.”

“Great to drive. Feels likea more expensive car.”

“I like the shape of thecar and some of thedesign features thatmake it unique.”

“I love the looks, powerand gadgets. It’s abrilliant compromisebetween practicalityand performance.”

“THE fuel consumptionis disappointing and thecabin materials feel alittle low budget.”

“The brakes were doneby the main dealer, butthe cost was steep.”

“An amber enginewarning light came onand the dealer couldn’tfind anything wrong.”

“Within the first week ofownership I had a lossof engine coolant.”

“The dash materialsare too plastic.”

“Aftersales care was ajoke. They wanted £300to update the sat-nav.”

Motability rejection rightsMY Volkswagen Golf was bought throughthe Motability scheme, but I’ve had aseries of problems with it. Can I reject it?John McCauley, E-mail

YOU’RE leasing the car through Motability soyour contract is with them. This means you’llneed to pursue a rejection with Motabilityrather than the dealer concerned. Just becauseyou’ve bought on a scheme, though, doesn’tmean your statutory rights are affected whenit comes to rejecting a car not fit for purpose.

Taxexemption confusionI BOUGHT a pre-registered Kia Venga that’stax exempt for year one. However, the dealerthen told me I’d need to stump up £110 fortax. How can that be right?Gwyn Fitch, E-mail

THE first-year rate would’ve applied when itwas pre-registered and taxed by the dealer.However, since October tax hasn’t beentransferable when a car is sold. That meanswhen you bought it you’d need to re-tax it atthe standard rate. First-year discount rates onlyapply to the first vehicle licence taken out.

Willwarranty cover rust?RUST has appeared on the door handlesof my 2008 Hyundai i20. The car has justcome out of its warranty, and the garage hassuggested it won’t be covered. Is this right?Luke Cafferty, E-mail

EXAMPLES of the i20 from this year are knownfor developing corrosion in these areas, aswell as around the rear wiper blade. You mightbe covered under the Hyundai anti-perforationwarranty that lasts for 12 years. This coversinside to out rust. If the damage is as a resultof stone chips or other outside influences,though, Hyundai is unlikely to foot the bill.

Q

Q

Q

A

A

A

SEAT Leon Mk2

How do you rate your car?Tell us what you thinkwww.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower

Got any car queries?

JoeFinnerty

[email protected]@AE_Consumer

NOT SO GOODGOOD

YOU TELL US... Hatch is good to drive, but can be costly to fix65thPLACE

2014 ResultsLeon Factfile

Bars show where modelfinished out of 150 cars inour 2014 survey. The lowerthe rating the better87.44%

OVERALL SCORE

Years: 2005 to 2012 CO2: 180g/km

Fuel economy: 37mpg (1.6 Reference 5dr)

Best features: Electric folding mirrors, Bluetoothconnectivity, rear parking sensors, MP3 player

Prices: From £2,500

RELIABILITY

BUILD QUALITY

RUNNING COSTS

PERFORMANCE

ROAD HANDLING

RIDE QUALITY

EASE OF DRIVING

SEAT COMFORT

PRACTICALITY

IN-CAR TECH

6413754232711268959666

150 125 100 75 50 25 1

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS

BuyingcarsNew and used buying advice


www.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower

Buying cars Ford Fiesta Mk7

FROM £4,000 Award-winning Mk7 supermini is even better value as used buyRichard Dredge

EVER since the originalwas launched in 1976, Ford’sbaby Fiesta has come todefine the supermini market.

For almost four decades it’sbeen one of the best-sellingcars in the UK, and it’s nothard to see why. Fun to drive,brilliant value and cheap torun, it’s no wonder the Fiestais a national institution.

Thanks to its popularitythere are masses to choosefrom, so you won’t have totravel far to find one. There arelots of variations on the theme,too – whether your focus isperformance or economy,there’s a Fiesta for you.

HistoryTHE seventh-generation Fiestadebuted in 2008, with 1.25,1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol engines,along with 1.4 or 1.6 diesels.The 1.25 came in 59 or 81bhpforms, there were three or five-door hatchbacks, and Studio,Style, Style+, Zetec, Zetec Sand Titanium trim levels.

From October 2009, Edgemuscled in between Style+ andZetec. From the outset therewas a 98g/km ECOneticedition; by March 2012 thiswas cut to just 87g/km. The 1.4petrol got an auto option fromJune 2009, then in April 2010came the sporty 118bhpS1600. The hot 180bhp1.6-litre ST followed in 2012.

A facelifted Fiesta arrived inearly 2013, offered with Ford’s1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

Which one?THERE are no poor enginechoices, but we prefer the 1.6TDCi for its muscle, relaxedcruising and economy.

The entry-level Stylecomes with electric frontwindows and remote centrallocking; Style+ adds a heatedwindscreen and air-con.

Zetec Fiestas feature 15-inchalloy wheels, a trip computerand ambient cabin lighting,while the Zetec S comes with16-inch alloy wheels, loweredsuspension and sports seats.

The range-topping Titaniumpacks cruise control, power-operated door mirrors, privacyglass, climate control, plusautomatic lights and wipers.The high-spec Titanium is also

“The Fiesta Mk7 has been our superminiof the year no fewer than five times”

InteriorTHE cabin is neatly designed, easy to use and generally has a qualityfeel. There’s plenty of cubby space, plus head and legroom are good,but not brilliant. The 290-litre boot is also fine without beingexceptional; it expands to 974 litres with the seats folded.

OUR VIEW

YOUR VIEW

IT seems our readers don’tlove the Fiesta as much aswe do: it finished a lowly78th in our Driver Power2014 survey. The highlightwas 18th for handling, but132nd for practicalityis disappointing.

HELEN Whitcombe fromShepherds Bush, W London,owns a 2010 Fiesta 1.25.She says: “It was a usedbargain that’s cheap to run.It’s nippy in traffic, but goodon the motorway, too. I won’tsell it for many years yet.”

BUYER’S GUIDE: FordFiestathe most popular trim level forbuyers of the Fiesta when new.

AlternativesTOYOTA’S Yaris is reliable andgood to drive, but you’ll paymore for one of these thanan equivalent Fiesta. Skoda’sFabia is roomy and fun to drive,too, while its VW Polo cousinoffers the same virtues, but ata higher price. The VauxhallCorsa is almost as plentifulas the Fiesta, and great value.

Don’t discount Renault’sClio or Nissan’s Micra;the first for its drivingenjoyment and thesecond for reliability.

But the HondaJazz is the Fiesta’stoughest adversary.Not only is it verydependable, it’shugely practical andgenerously equipped.It’s costly, though.

VerdictTHE Fiesta Mk7 has been oursupermini of the year no lessthan five times – and we stilllove it. In fact, we love it evenmore as a second-hand buy,which is why in our most recentused car awards, the Fordwas crowned best supermini.

Thanks to a great range ofengines, every model is nippyand frugal. As an all-rounder,you really can’t buy a moreaccomplished used supermini.

Thanks to TC Harrison in Derby(www.tch.co.uk) for the loanof the Fiesta in our pictures

Pictures by John Colley

ContactsOfficialwww.ford.co.uk

Forumswww.fiestamk7.comwww.fiestaclubgb.co.ukwww.fiestastoc.comwww.ukfiestanetwork.com

NEEDTOKNOW

A knocking noise whenthe steering wheel is

turned at low speeds isdue to a worn column

universal joint.


Ford Fiesta Mk7Buying cars

Prices for a 2012 Fiesta 1.25 82. Dealer prices from TC Harrisonin Derby (tch.co.uk). Independent prices from Euro Car Parts(eurocarparts.com). *Price from wingmirrormarket.co.uk

How much?

Recalls

Partwatch

Running costs

642014

622012

602011

592010

082008

Fuel CO2 Annualeconomy emissions road tax

Model1.0 6-18 65mpg 99g/km Free1.25 3-8 49-67mpg 120-133g/km £30-1301.4 7-9 43-49mpg 133-154g/km £130-1801.6 12-17 47-48mpg 134-139g/km £1301.4TDCi 6-8 67-68mpg 107-110g/km £201.5TDCi 8-9 85-88mpg 95-98g/km Free1.6TDCi 12-13 67-87mpg 87-110g/km Free-£20

Dealer price Independent price

PartFront brake pads (axle set) £61.20 £29.94

Brake discs (pair) £102.29 £55.08Door mirror glass (electric) £21.56 £12.30*

Front wiper set £29.95 £22.20

Insurancegroup

Valuescourtesy

ofGlass’s

Guide

Model1.0 (79) Zetec 5-door £11,095 £8,795 N/A N/A N/A1.25 (59)Style 5-door £8,695 £6,950 £5,995 £5,150 £4,2501.25 (81) Zetec 5-door £10,350 £8,195 £6,650 £5,995 £4,9501.4 Zetec 5-door N/A £7,975 £6,695 £5,995 £4,9751.6Titanium 5-door N/A £8,795 £7,375 £6,650 £5,4501.4TDCi Zetec 5-door N/A £8,750 £7,095 £6,250 £4,9751.6TDCi Zetec 5-door £12,095 £9,250 £7,495 £6,495 £4,350

ALL Fiesta Mk7s need to be serviced every 12,500 milesor 12 months. Services run minor (£146), intermediate(£191) then major (£250) for all cars, apart from the 1.6ST which differs slightly. All engines have a timing belt,which has to be replaced every eight years or 100,000miles for the 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6 Duratec units. It’s every10 years or 150,000 miles for the 1.0 EcoBoost, or every125,000 miles for the 1.6 EcoBoost and TDCi diesels.

Expect to pay £300 to have a new cambelt fitted, apartfrom on EcoBoost engines when it’s a massive £850 job.The brake fluid needs to be replaced every two years – at£35 – while fresh coolant is needed every 10 years (£59).

ANY Fiesta Mk7 priced at less than £4,000 is likely tobe a category C or D insurance write-off. Straight, high-mileage early cars start at £4,000, but for just £500 moreyou can buy a Fiesta that’s done less than 50,000 miles.

More than three-quarters of Fiestas have a petrolengine; if you’d prefer a diesel you’ll pay from £5,000 foran example that’s done under 50,000 miles. Five-doorsare more plentiful than three-doors, while automaticsaccount for less than one in 10 cars available. Mostautos are priced from £5,000; the odd one is cheaper.

FORD has recalled the Fiesta Mk7 three times. The firstaffected cars built between July and November 2011 thatcould suffer from exhaust fumes getting into the cabin.The next came in February 2012; the rear suspensionbolts could fail in 889 Fiestas built in September 2011.

In November 2014, the most recent recall was issued.It affected 40,000 diesel cars built in 2010 and 2011. Theglow plug control module could short circuit and catch fire.

Partw

Run

Mode1.01.251.41.61.4TDCi1.5TDCi1.6TDCi

PartFront brake pads (ax

Brake discDoor mirror glass (e

Front wi

ALL Fiestaor 12 mon(£191) thenST which difwhich has tomiles for th10 years or125,000 mile

Expect tofrom on EcoBThe brake fluid£35 – while

autos ar

SealsDOOR seals can comeaway from the frame,leading to wind noiseat speed and waterleaks into the cabin.A dab of glue shouldadequately fix things.

AlloysALLOY wheels canbuckle – particularlythe 16 and 17-inchrims. Once a wheel hasbuckled, though, it’llbe obvious as soonas the car is driven.

Steering racksSTEERING racks don’tseem to lastvery long,while trackrod endsaren’t alwaysverydurable, either.Repairs tend not tobe too costly, though.

GearsGEAR selection canbe tricky, especiallyreverse and first. It’soften easier to selectwhatever gear you canget, before moving tothe one you want.


13.3 secs/104mph

Running costs52mpg (1.25 82)

£45 fill-up

C02/tax124g/km

£110

NEEDTOKNOW

Windscreen washerscan pack in when the

under-bonnet hose getstrapped, and kinked, in

the bonnet hinge.

NEEDTOKNOWDiesel Fiestas can

suffer from hesitancyat low speeds, makingquick getaways from

junctions tricky.


White tops colour charts

THESMARTCHOICE THERELIABLECHOICE THECOMFORTABLECHOICE

Buying cars Best buys

£8,000 for a multi-purpose family estate

CarhunterContact:[email protected]

Dear Lawrence, I’d like amid sized diesel estate that’s practicalenough for plumbing work, yet smallish and comfortablefor the family to drive. What should I consider for £8,000?

Gary Hutton, E-mail

AudiA7SportbackDEALOFTHEWEEK£8,000contributiononA7

WHITE is now the most popular carcolour in the UK, according to figuresreleased by the Society of MotorManufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Just a decade ago, white carsaccounted for less than one per centof new car sales, but as fashion trendschange, it has enjoyed a resurgence.

In 2014, 22 per cent of the 2.48 millionnew cars registered were a shade ofwhite, the biggest number on record.

The most popular car sold in thisshade was, unsurprisingly, the best-selling Ford Fiesta, with 25,845 findinghomes. The second most popular colourwas black, which had a 19 per centshare, while prevously sought-aftersilver models slipped to 14 per cent.

AUDI’S A7 Sportbackjust got a whole lot moretempting thanks to thefirm offering a generous£8,000 towards thefinance deposit.

It means the totalamount payable on a215bhp 3.0 TDI Ultra inSE Executive spec withthe S tronic auto boxfalls from £51,753 to £43,753. You’ll pay 35 monthlyinstalments of £449 plus a £9,000 deposit of your own.There’s an optional final payment of £18,978 at the end ofthe three years to keep the car, too. Visit www.audi.co.ukfor more info, or go to www.carbuyer.co.uk for more deals.

“22 per cent of the 2.48 millionnew cars in 2014 were white”

VAUXHALL’S Astra isn’t often described as the moststylish car, but in this company it looks pretty smart.The price you pay for a sleeker roofline is a smallerboot than rivals’, although it’s still a handy 500 litres.

Plus, the boot is well designed, with one-touchfolding seats. The rest of the cabin is classy, with a high-quality feel, yet some buttons are fiddly and the frontpillars cause blindspots. There’s plenty of space for four.

On the road, the Sports Tourer is a refined andcomfortable cruiser, while it handles competently,although the steering is a little lifeless. At least youcan get the gutsy 2.0 CDTi diesel engine with yourbudget, which offers the strongest performancehere and nearly 50mpg real-world economy.

The Astra ranked a poor 124th out of 150 in ourDriver Power 2014 survey, with dealers also faringbadly. We found a 2011 2.0 CDTi model in SEspec with 48,000 miles on the clock for £7,650.

THIS generation of Mégane banished many of thequality and build issues of previous Renaults, butit still maintained some French flair in the styling.Inside it’s much better built than before, and ona par with rivals without being cutting-edge.

Boot space is decent, too, with 524 litres, butrear passengers don’t get quite as much legroomas rivals. It’s not exactly cramped, though, andthere’s good kit, plus the usual storage areas.

The Renault majors on comfort with a softride that is the best here and shrugs off bumps.Handling could be better, but the 1.9 dCi istorquey and economical, if not the quietest diesel.

The Mégane only finished 92nd in our Driver Power2014 survey, and it’s worth looking out for electricalniggles. There’s plenty of choice on the market,and our search found a 2011 1.9 dCi DynamiqueTomTom with 57,000 miles on the clock for £7,350.

THE Cee’d was a landmark car for Kia, marking thepoint when it could finally challenge the best themarket had to offer. It looks dated on the outsidenow, but if you can live with that, it’s a strong choice.

The Sportswagon’s boot is the biggest here – 534litres – and there are hidden storage areas to keepvaluables out of sight. There’s reasonable passengerspace, too. But some cabin materials are scratchy.

Despite the big boot, the Kia is very easy to drive,with good all-round visibility and light controls. Thehandling could be sharper, though, and the ride isfirm in town. The 1.6 CRDi diesel is also the slowesthere, but it makes up for that with excellent efficiency.

The Kia offers great peace-of-mind with a seven-year warranty, and although this version of the Cee’dwasn’t ranked in Driver Power 2014, the latest modelfinished 10th out of 150. We spotted a top-spec 20111.6 CRDi 3 with 46,000 miles on the clock for £7,230.

VauxhallAstraSTFOR: Elegant looks, refined, solid cabinAGAINST:Smallestboot, fiddlydashcontrols

KiaCee’dSWFOR:Bigboot, efficient, seven-yearwarrantyAGAINST:Dated looks, somecheap trim

RenaultMéganeSTFOR:Comfy ride,well equipped,availabilityAGAINST:Passenger space,electrical issues


1

3

2

Verdict

Sporty looks continue inside the Mazda Skoda’s interior is full of neat touches VW features classy, high-quality cabin

VW Passat61.2mpg (official)

£79 fill-up

Buying cars Used triple test

TurningonthestyleThese second-hand saloons offer luxury and performance on a budget. But which is best?

SkodaSuperb VolkswagenPassatMazda6

2.0 TDI SE PlusYears: 2008 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 168bhp

Insurance group: 23 Econ/CO2: 50mpg/149g/km

Why? Skoda’s big saloon features limousine-like

space, excellent comfort and practical touches.

Prices from: £8,250

2.0 TDI SportYears: 2011 to 2014 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 168bhp


Why? The familiar Passat is classy inside and

out, and is surprisingly good value second-hand.


2.2D 175 SportYears: 2013 to date Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 173bhp


Why? Japanese saloon is stylish, great to drive

and offers something different to its rivals here.


THE Mazda 6 saloon was always a bit ofa left-field choice for many – until now.The latest model impresses on theoutside with genuinely sleek styling,and its sporting intent is clear inside.It’s not quite as slick to use as the VW,but it’s driver-focused and comfortable.

The real selling point with the 6 is itsdrive. The 2.2-litre diesel is smooth andpunchy, yet the most efficient here. Ithas responsive and sharp steering, butthe trade-off for that is a slightly firmerride. Minor electrical niggles have beenreported, but the 6 is generally reliable.

SKODA’S Superb doesn’t do sporty,unlike the Mazda, and the rather datedexterior shows that. Instead, it majorson comfort and practicality, with by farthe roomiest rear cabin here and someneat touches. The huge boot also has asplit-level opening for hatch-like access.

It’s no surprise that the Superb isgreat on the motorway, with a soft rideand good refinement, but the 2.0 TDI’semissions are high, plus the car is quitewallowy in corners. However, bar someproblems with alloy corrosion and worndriver’s seat leather, it’s dependable.

THE VW Passat has just been replaced,but the outgoing car is still a good buy.While it’s not exciting to look at, climbinside and you’re greeted by executive carquality and a classy feel. It can’t matchthe Skoda for pure space, although it’son a par with the 6, and the boot is big.

The Passat is a quiet and composedcruiser, but despite the ‘Sport’ spec, itlacks the dynamic edge of the Mazda. TheTDI is a newer diesel than the Skoda’s,with better economy and emissions. Lookout for issues with the electronic parkingbrake sticking and battery going flat.

Skoda Superb

★★★★★IT might not drive as wellas its rivals or have thelooks, but for pure space,comfort, practicalityand costs, the SkodaSuperb just edges itout of these three.

VW Passat

★★★★★THE Passat is a worthyrunner-up here. Interiorfinish is unrivalled,plus it’s very refinedand efficient. However,it feels a little datednext to the Mazda.

Mazda 6

★★★★★THE Mazda is muchbetter to look at andmore polished to drive,but just comes thirddue to its high price.Still, it was close.

Skoda Superb49.8mpg (official)

£67 fill-up

Mazda 662.7mpg (official)

£70 fill-up

SportAll the action from the world of motorsport


CAPTION HERE TA Caption intospace provided here please taCaption into space provided here

SportAll the action from the world of motorsport

Stephen [email protected]

■ Nissan, Toyota, Audi and Porsche all sign British talent for 2015 ■ Full grid for championship

Brits clinch top Le Mans seats

Marussia could return to F1 gridTHE Marussia Formula One team couldreturn to the grand prix grid – but underits original name of Manor Motorsport.

Former Sainsbury’s supermarketboss Justin King is reported to be oneof the investors aiming to bring thesquad back. It missed the last threeraces of the 2014 season when Russianbacker Andrey Cheglakov ceased hisfunding after seeing the team raceat his home grand prix in Sochi.

King’s 20-year-old son Jordan wasBritish Formula 3 champion in 2013and recently confirmed he would begraduating to the GP2 Series in 2015with top team Racing Engineering.

A planned auction of Marussia’s raceequipment and cars was called off at

the last minute and administratorshave announced that the companywill exit bankruptcy on 19 February.

However, the F1 Strategy Group,composed of Red Bull, Mercedes,Ferrari, Williams and Force India, has

rejected the team’s request to runa modified version of its 2014 car.

When Manor Motorsport enteredF1 in 2010, it was initially known asVirgin Racing, before being renamedafter new backer Marussia in 2012.

RISING British star Harry Tincknellwill be among the drivers to take on

the World Endurance Championship andLe Mans 24 Hours in Nissan’s radicalnew front-engined GT-R LM racer.

Tincknell, 23, joins Spanish ex-F1driver Marc Gene and Frenchman OlivierPla for a full-season campaign, whileJapanese GT champion TsugioMatsuda will be in the third car thatNissan will run at Le Mans. Furthernames for the nine-strong squad willbe announced in the coming weeks.

“To be offered my first factory contractin racing with a manufacturer as big asNissan is something I’ve dreamt aboutsince I began karting 13 years ago,” saidTincknell, who won the LMP2 class atLe Mans last season and is mentoredby triple overall winner Allan McNish.

The GT-R LM Tincknell will drive wasunveiled in a US Super Bowl commercialearlier this month. It’s powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged petrol engine witha Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS),and unlike the other factory LMP1racers, it sends its power to the frontwheels, which is claimed to produce apower output of at least 1,250bhp.

Nissan will take on the establishedmight of Audi, Porsche and Toyota inthe series’ top LMP1 class, and all

“Tincknell, 23, joinsex-F1 driver Marc Geneand Frenchman OlivierPla in the Nissan”

Father of F3 star JordanKing (left) is behind thebid to rescue Marussia

Radical new Nissan GT-R LM will takeon Audi, Porsche and Toyota in theWEC and the Le Mans 24 Hours

■ BMW REVEALS M6 GT3BMW has released the first imagesof its new M6 GT3, which is set tomake its competition debut in 2016.

The car will succeed the currentBMW Z4 GT3 racer and, like itspredecessor, will be eligible tocompete in events such as theBritish GT Championship and theBlancpain GT Series in Europe.

Power comes from a 4.4-litreV8, producing over 500bhp, whilethe car weighs less than 1,300kg.

three rivals have also signed up youngBritish driving talent for 2015.

At Audi, Oliver Jarvis is steppingup to a full-season campaign, havingraced only at Le Mans last year, whileToyota has promoted Mike Conwayfrom test to race driver. Nick Tandy willdrive a third Porsche 919 at Le Mans

alongside F1 star Nico Hulkenbergand New Zealander Earl Bamber.

The LMP2 class sees a healthyincrease in full-season entries, goingfrom four in 2014 to 10 for this year.

British outfit Strakka Racing will beon the grid with its new Dome coupé,driven by the 2010 Le Mans LMP2

class-winning line-up of Jonny Kane,Nick Leventis and Danny Watts.

The production-based GT class willonce again see Ferrari, Porsche andAston Martin battle it out for honoursover the course of the eight-roundseason. Corvette will join for theLe Mans 24 Hours in June only.

Nick TandyPorsche (Le Mansnsnsns))))

Harry TincknellNissan (full season)

Mike ConwayToyota (full season)n)n)

Oliver JarvisAudi (full seasoson)n)n)n)n)

bid to rescue Marussia


BackchatJoin the debate now... www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion

130 Special Issue

nextissue

onsaleWednesday 18 February

●News● Product testsDrives● Features & Sport

DRIVEN

ON THEROAD

TESTED

Do you agree with Mike?Have your say at facebook.com/autoexpress

Motoring’s most outspoken andopinionated columnist sounds off

What’s wrong withall qualified driversbeing required to sitthrough professionaldriving appraisalsonce a year?

Focus ST dieselvs Golf GTD, V40

New R8 blasts off

All-new XC90

Ford’s hottest diesel hatch takes onrivals from Volkswagen and Volvo

We hitch a ride on ‘sign-off’ drivefor Audi’s next-generation supercar

We hit the road to give the definitiveverdict on Volvo’s stylish super-SUVMike

Rutherford

YOUwouldn’t believe howoftenbroadcasterswheelme into their

studios to discuss the thorny subject of‘retests’ formotorists in certainagegroups.Oneminute, pensionerswithhalf-century-old licences are the problem. Thenext, it’s newly qualified youngsterswhoare branded theworst drivers on the road.Do I detect age discriminationhere?Please, canwestopputting fear intoyoungandold folkwith threats of automatic‘retesting’ and, in turn, the possible lossof their full licences andmodest cars?What’swrongwithALLqualified driversbeing legally required to sit and steer theirwaythroughprofessionaldrivingappraisals(not tests) onceayear? For each60-minuteassessment they’d pay around £20, or alittlemore if driving the appraiser’s car.Only qualified driving instructorscould qualify as appraisers, and itwouldmeanmorework for existing drivingschools, plus potential andmuchneededemployment prospects forwould-beinstructors/appraisers/assessors.The icing on the cake is that the trainingindustry and itsworkerswill earnmorewhile appraising 30million-plus drivers per annum.HMTreasurywillrake in additional corporate and employee taxes. Britainwill get richer.The counter argument goes that already cash-strappeddriverswill be£20 a year poorer. Butwill they? Perhaps forward-thinking car insurerscanpick up the tab for someormost of their customers. After all, apolicy holderwho consistently receives brief but glowingwrittenassessments is surely bound tohave fewer prangs.Maybefirmswho employ company car driverswill pay the fee onbehalf of their staffers. Andwhat better affordable birthday presentfromgrandma to grandson than a £20 appraisal bookedwith a drivingschool convenient to him?But even if you’re on your ownandmustpay it yourself, consider themodest annual spendone of the bestinvestments you’llmake during the course of eachmotoring year.Voluntarily, I’ve just donemyfirst appraisal (see Page 26) andwill definitely be going back formore. Like personal health checks,gas boiler inspections and routine servicing on cars, annualdriving appraisals aren’t compulsory – but they should be.

Automedia

MG3 Fuel consumption mpg (1/100km) for MG3 Range: Urban: 37.7 (7.5), Extra Urban 57.6 (4.9), Combined 48.7 (5.8), CO2 Emissions 136 g/km. MG6 FuelConsumption mpg (l/100km): DTi-TECH Urban: 48.7 (5.8), Extra Urban: 64.2 (4.4), Magnette: 59.0 (4.4), Combined: 57.6 (4.9). CO2 Mass Emission (Combined) 129 g/km.Models shown – MG3 3FORM SPORT in Stuck on Blue withWhiteTrophy Stripe at £10,203.MG6 DTi-TECHTSE in Regal Red at £19,995.Metallic paint an optional extra at £395.On the road price of £8,399 applies to the MG3 3TIME with no optional extras.On the road price of £16,995 applies to the MG6 DTi-TECH S with no optional extras.On the road (OTR) prices includeVAT where applicable, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and 12 months’Vehicle Excise Duty. From prices shown excludeoptional metallic paint, accessories and graphics packages. Fuel consumption: figures shown are based on official EU test results and are to be used as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect actual driving results. For more information on MG3 andMG6 please visit mg.co.uk

GET MORE MG FOR YOUR MONEY. Go find your dealer at mg.co.uk

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Auto Express - February 11, 2015 UK