Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i What Car?

‘Seven of the 10 best-selling cars in the UK in 2018 were hatchbacks’ You hear a lot about the rise of the SUV, and with good reason: these models now account for more than a third of all the cars sold in the UK, whereas a decade ago that figure was just 7%. However, the decline of the traditional family hatchback has been greatly exaggerated. While SUVs filled three of the top 10 spots in the 2018 UK sales charts, hatchbacks took the other seven, including every place on the podium. So, from p58, we’re pitting two of the most popular examples – the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf – against Toyota’s all-new hybrid Corolla to see which is the best all-rounder. This issue of What Car? also features first…

‘Even at motorway speeds, wind and road noise are really well suppressed’ WHAT DO YOU buy if you don’t want a high-riding SUV but are bored with the usual suspects in the family hatchback class, such as the Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf? Well, the new, fourth-generation Mazda 3 is bound to catch your eye. In terms of looks, the 3 has a lot going for it, closely replicating Mazda’s stunning Kai concept car of 2017 with its smoothly contoured surfaces and sloping roof. On top of that, there are all-new underpinnings, the option of four-wheel drive and a clever new ‘spark-controlled compression ignition’ Skyactiv-X engine that promises far better fuel economy than a regular petrol unit. These are certainly welcome advances, because while Mazda has built its…

BREXIT COULD PROVIDE an opportunity for Vauxhall to grow its market share, the boss of its parent company, the PSA Group, has said. Speaking during a press conference announcing PSA’s financial results for 2018 – wherein it was also revealed that Vauxhall and sister brand Opel had posted a profit for the first time in 20 years – Carlos Tavares admitted that while Brexit presented a ‘headache’ in terms of the supply chain for cars, Vauxhall could be positioned to benefit from the UK leaving the European Union. Tavares described Vauxhall as being “warm to the hearts of UK consumers”, adding: “We may be the ones who have the best opportunity to survive and make a business out of it.” He said: “Since Brexit was announced, the profitability of our…

Family-friendly cars Practicality is the name of the game here, but we still want fine driving manners 1 Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI Sport List price £25,495 Target Price £23,647 Saving £1848 A former What Car? Car of the Year, the A3 Sportback strikes an excellent balance between comfort and control on the road. 2 Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 115 SE List price £27,570 Target Price £22,503 Saving £5067 Good to drive and well built inside, the Touran is the best MPV you can buy.This 1.6-litre diesel engine is our top choice. 3 Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI SE DSG List price £22,185 Target Price £20,370 Saving £1815 Our champion in the family hatchback market, the Octavia offers more space than you’re ever likely to need.The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is…

DO YOU REMEMBER those magic eye pictures? The ones that look like psychedelic art, but if you make your eyes go all squiffy, a significant image reveals itself? Well, glance fleetingly at these three cars and they look like direct rivals. Look more closely, though, and this test also has a deeper significance. What makes a better company car in 2019: a petrol, a diesel or a hybrid? Let’s start by introducing the petrol car. It’s the Volkswagen Golf, which will probably be familiar to you. This iteration has been around since 2012 and will be replaced later this year, but it’s no has-been. The turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol model we’ve chosen is one of the most efficient cars of its kind, while recently introduced Match trim is designed to…

IF THE PORSCHE Macan is to be remembered for one thing, it should be that it was the first SUV to show the world that such cars can really handle – and not just handle but be genuinely fun to drive. In the five years since it was launched, we’ve seen SUVs that are faster, more expensive and more technologically advanced, but none has quite matched the Macan for driver appeal. So, it’s probably a good thing that when it came time to give the Macan a mid-life update, Porsche didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. There’s a new full-width LED light bar at the rear, a new infotainment system, revised suspension and a tweaked 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but that’s about it. None of this comes cheap, though; the…

WHEN I TOOK delivery of my Mini, I had a feeling we’d get along well. This was, after all, a car that appeared to suit me and my single, man-about-town lifestyle down to the ground. Despite that, however, I wondered how much of its initial shine would rub off during daily use. The answer, as it turns out, is almost none at all. Let’s start with the 1.5-litre petrol engine. Producing 134bhp, it proved usefully quick around town, its willingness to rev allowing me to scoot away from traffic lights with ease, and it never felt out of its depth on faster roads. The engine sounds refreshingly fruity, too, especially in Sport mode, which also sharpens up the accelerator response. And then there’s the automatic gearbox. This was a contentious…

2.0 TSI 190 Elegance DSG Mileage 6540 List price £34,380 Target Price £30,041 Price as tested £35,335 Test economy 37.0mpg I can just imagine the meeting in Wolfsburg: Volkswagen execs brainstorming chic, on-brand names for their new seats. “The seats are both ergonomic and comfortable. But what to call them?” “Ergocomfort?” “Says it all, really.” Fortunately, the seats themselves are more inspiring than their name. Having done lots of long drives in the Arteon, they’ve been terrifically comfortable. Only the backrest and lumbar support are electrically adjustable, but it’s all easy to fine-tune. A highlight is the extendable seat squab. On some cars that have this, such as BMWs, extending it exposes a gap that fills up with crumbs and dirt, but in the Arteon there’s a full-leather join that…

It’s a close call, and we wouldn’t blame you if you were tempted by either of these cars. But in the end, the SL wins, thanks to its Swiss Army Knife-like ability to adapt to almost any situation. It’s a great cruiser, with or without the roof down, being refined enough to handle a trans-European blast in a day without disturbing its occupants. On top of that, it’s still pretty enjoyable when the road gets twisty, thanks to precise steering and tidy handling, and it rides comfortably, which is more than can be said of the firmly sprung F-Type. It also costs less to buy and will be considerably cheaper to run, plus it’s better equipped and more practical. The F-Type is not without its considerable virtues, however. It’s slightly…

LESS THAN £20,000 Kia Ceed Our pick 1.0 T-GDi 2 List price £18,295 Target Price £17,203 MPG 50.4 CO2 122g/km For Decent performance; seven-year warranty; good build quality; large boot. Against Not the most comfortable ride or driving position; engine can sound coarse. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Leon Our pick 1.0 TSI SE Dynamic List price £19,045 Target Price £15,839 MPG 47.9 CO2 112g/km For Strong yet economical petrol engine with low running costs; good to drive. Against Some of the plastics feel cheap and some rivals are more practical. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai i30 Our pick 1.0 T-GDi Blue Drive SE List price £19,165 Target Price £17,788 MPG 45.6 CO2 126g/km For Supple ride; good driving position; lots of room in the front; logical dash layout. Against Conservative looks;…

LESS THAN £25,000 Citroën Berlingo The beauty of the Berlingo is that it offers so much for so little; you’ll be hard pressed to find anything more cavernous for the money. But it isn’t just spacious and cheap; it also rides more comfortably than many larger MPVs, so you’ll find the Berlingo a relaxing place in which to travel. Although the interior quality isn’t anything special, the Berlingo is about the most practical car you can buy. Our pick Puretech 110 Feel M List price £19,645 Target Price £17,585 MPG 42.4 CO2 119g/km For Comfortable and relaxing to drive, with a vast amount of space and storage inside. Against Wallowy handling; laggy infotainment system; cheap-feeling interior plastics. WHAT CAR? SAYS Peugeot Rifter Our pick Puretech 110 Active List price £20,460…

LESS THAN £40,000 BMW 5 Series No matter how hard we try, we can’t really find any areas in which the 5 Series drops the ball. Take the interior, for example: it’s virtually identical to the 6 Series’ and just as well made, but it comes for a comparatively bargain price. The infotainment system is the same, too, and you can spec it up with nearly every luxury feature that the 7 Series offers. It’s the supreme luxury package without a price tag to match. Our pick 520d SE List price £38,585 Target Price £35,201 MPG 52.3 CO2 117g/km For Spacious, well-appointed interior; great to drive, with a quiet, economical engine. Against You need to add adaptive dampers for the best ride quality. WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi A6 Our pick…

LESS THAN £25,000 Mini Convertible Our pick Cooper Classic Comfort/Navigation List price £21,880 Target Price £20,506 MPG 45.6 CO2 127g/km For Fun to drive, good resale values and reasonably refined. Against The pedals are offset, rear seats are cramped and it isn’t as cheap as we’d like. WHAT CAR? SAYS Fiat 500C Our pick 1.2 Lounge List price £16,410 Target Price £15,480 MPG 44.8 CO2 118g/km For Engine is perfect for town driving, and you’re well protected from the wind with the roof down. Against Lots of wind noise; not as classy as the Mini; little space inside; rear visibility isn’t great. WHAT CAR? SAYS Smart Fortwo Cabrio Our pick EQ Prime Premium (22kW charger) List price £23,335 Target Price £21,706 Official range (WLTP) 70.2 CO2 0g/km For Truly agile…

LESS THAN £50,000 Kia Stinger Our pick 3.3 T-GDi GT S List price £40,535 Target Price £40,535 MPG 27.7 CO2 221g/km For Nicely balanced handling, with strong pace from purposeful-sounding V6 engine. Against Tight in the back for tall adults; not quite as classy inside as its German rivals. WHAT CAR? SAYS Alfa Romeo Giulia Our pick 2.0 Turbo 280 Veloce Ti List price £45,990 Target Price £42,967 MPG 33.6 CO2 160g/km For Amazing steering; Quadrifoglio styling; great suspension set-up; well calibrated gearbox Against The four-cylinder engine isn’t the most refined and interior quality is disappointing. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-AMG CLA Our pick CLA 45 4Matic Night Edition List price £46,785 Target Price £44,656 MPG 30.4 CO2 193g/km For Great fun to drive, with plenty of grip and performance to…

THE TRANSFORMATION OF the electric car from niche to mainstream choice will take another significant step with the launch of the new Peugeot 208, because the latest version of this popular Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo rival will be the first small hatchback to be sold here in petrol, diesel and electric forms. The latter variant – badged the e-208 – has a 136bhp motor and a 50kWh battery that’s good for 211 miles between charges on the new, more realistic WLTP test cycle. That compares favourably with its closest rival, the Renault Zoe, which manages 186 miles. A full charge of the e-208 from a domestic socket takes more than 20 hours, but the wait drops to eight hours if you use a dedicated 7.4kW wallbox at home, while…

IF YOU CAN’T tell from the pictures, the new BMW X7 is big. Very big. To be more precise, it’s just over a metre longer than the Ford Fiesta and about twice as heavy, tipping the scales at between 2.3 and 2.5 tonnes, depending on spec. In fact, this full-fat luxury SUV is even bigger than its closest rival, the Range Rover. And as you’d anticipate, that gigantic footprint has resulted in an interior that’s far from short on space. Slip behind the wheel and you almost feel as though you’re in a different postcode from your front passenger and in a different country from anyone in the third row. Indeed, seven seats are standard, whereas they’re not even available on the Range Rover and optional on the comparatively tiddly…

LOOK BENEATH THE surface of this el-Born concept car’s funky, futuristic styling and you’ll spot Seat’s first electric car. Using the same underpinnings as Volkswagen’s upcoming ID electric family hatchback, the el-Born will lead to a production model with about the same footprint as the current Leon. Powered by a 201bhp electric motor, the el-Born has an official range of 261 miles on the WLTP test cycle – far greater than electric rivals such as the Renault Zoe (186 miles) and Nissan Leaf (168). In What Car?’s Real Range tests, those cars managed 132 and 128 miles respectively.The el-Born should also be nippy; it can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 7.5sec. Charging the el-Born to 80% capacity takes as little as 47 minutes using the latest 100kW rapid chargers, but…

SEAT SWALLOWED MORE than a couple of brave pills when it threw itself into the sports SUV class. Not only was it bold enough to create an entirely new brand to do it, but it also created a new entry-level price point for the category, the Cupra Ateca being unrivalled for thrills by any other SUV costing less than £40,000. Now, with the help of its Volkswagen Group family ties, the Audi SQ2 has arrived to keep it company and jostle for supremacy at the more affordable end of the market. Although the SQ2 is a smaller car than the Cupra, the two are priced within a few hundred quid of each other and share a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (from the Volkswagen Golf…

IF YOU DRIVE an older car in inner London, you could soon be given a cash incentive to dump it and buy a newer, more efficient model. London mayor Sadiq Khan will introduce a £25 million scrappage scheme later this year to help motorists switch to less polluting cars and therefore avoid having to pay the £12.50 daily charge when the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanded in October 2021. It’s estimated that more than 2.5 million cars will incur the charge when the zone grows to encompass the area between the North and South Circular roads.The fee for driving a pre-Euro 3 (2001) petrol car or a pre-Euro 6 (2015) diesel car equates to £87.50 a week. At the recent National Clean Air Summit, leaders of 14 major…

SALES OF DIESEL cars in the UK plummeted by 30% last year, so perhaps the fact that no version of Volvo’s new BMW 3 Series rival will require a black pump isn’t a shocking headline. Instead, Volvo will offer a range of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines – the 250bhp T5 at launch, followed by the 190bhp T4 and 316bhp T6 – alongside plug-in hybrids with 340bhp and 400bhp. It’s also chasing sporting saloons, with sister brand Polestar engineering a plug-in hybrid model with 415bhp, uprated suspension and bigger brakes. But the S60 is still the suave Swede you’d expect, with a mechanical set-up focused on smoothness and comfort. That’s mirrored on the inside by generous space for five, high-end materials, a digital instrument panel and a 9.0in infotainment touchscreen that…

Sports suspension (£325) lowers the A4 by 20mm and sharpens its body control. However, it also makes you feel more bumps at lower speeds, so we’d stick with the more comfortable standard set-up. If you’re in the market for an executive saloon, the Audi A4 should be on your shortlist. It’s a former What Car? Car of the Year, and although it has since lost class honours to the new BMW 3 Series, it remains an exceptional all-rounder. We recommend going for the 190bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine (badged 40 TDI) for its punchy performance and decent fuel economy – officially, 51.4mpg. Team that with Sport trim and you’ll have most bases covered, with cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and sat-nav, but here’s how to add more luxury without…

The F-Pace is one of the best cars Jaguar makes; it handles well at normal road speeds, sports an impressively roomy interior and comes with plenty of standard kit. However, there’s no ignoring the fact that, when viewed as a sports SUV, it isn’t quite up there with the Macan. That’s right: five years on, the Macan, even in entry-level specification, is still the class’s most rewarding car to drive.With a sweet chassis balance and precise steering, you hardly have to make any allowances for the fact that it is a high-sided SUV.And surely that’s what all makers of sports SUVs should be striving for, right? Porsche Macan For Great chassis balance; fantastic steering; slicker gearbox; cheaper to run Against Tight rear seat space;AEB is only an option; sparsely equipped…

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT thing about my new Skoda Fabia is named the PQ26. This is not the code for some tax paperwork (phew), but the name of the Volkswagen Group platform on which this small hatchback is based. The many benefits afforded by this, combined with Skoda’s super-competitive pricing, initially enabled the Fabia to take charge of its class – to such an extent, in fact, that we named it our Car of the Year in 2015, saying: “The Fabia is one of the very few cars on sale today that has no major weaknesses. It may not be the most exciting car in the world, but it’s quite possibly the most sensible one.” But in early 2017, the new MQB platform, which had already lived up to the “strategic…

75D Dual Motor Mileage 25,214 Price new (2016) £70,235 Value now £50,600 Test range 200 miles One of Tesla’s proudest boasts about the Model S’s proposition as a used car is that it’s able to get some of the same technology that rolls out on brand new models, thanks to over-the-air updates. I experienced this firsthand the other day when my car told me an update had been downloaded overnight, giving me a new security feature. PIN to Drive allows you to set a PIN number before the car will move.The idea is that it guards against ‘relay theft’ (when thieves use a device to pick up the signal from your keyfob and then use it to get into the car) if you have keyless entry turned on. Even if…

SO, YOU’RE AFTER a two-seat sports car, but you’ve got used to life’s little luxuries. You want to feel the wind in your hair, but not at the expense of electrically operated toys, a plush interior or everyday usability. You also want the dependability of a high-quality new car, but at the price of a used one. You’re being a bit demanding, aren’t you? Well, maybe not, actually, because the Mercedes-Benz SL seems to present a solution. For starters, it looks remarkably good value at three years old, having knocked more than 50% off its original list price. It’s able to waft you down to the south of France in complete comfort yet also blast you through the air when you’re in the mood for a bit of speed. It’s…

LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 Dualjet SHVS 2WD SZ5 List price £14,859 Target Price £12,867 MPG 54.1 CO2 98g/km For Real-world economy is excellent, surprisingly spacious and practical; lots of kit as standard. Against Unsettled ride, noisy on the motorway and there are only four seats. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 GDi 1 List price £14,725 Target Price £14,149 MPG na CO2 152g/km For Spacious interior; decent grip and body control; you get air-con and a DAB radio. Against The ride is overly firm at lower speeds and the steering is vague. WHAT CAR? SAYS MG ZS Our pick 1.5 Excite List price £14,045 Target Price £13,705 MPG 41.5 CO2 140g/km For An 8.0in infotainment touchscreen is standard; more interior space than most rivals.…

LESS THAN £40,000 Cupra Ateca Price is far from the be all and end all in this class, but it’s a large part of the reason why the Cupra Ateca is our Sports SUV of the Year. With a 0-62mph time of 5.2sec and a 153mph top speed, no other SUV offers as much performance for less than £40,000, and it’s nearly as much fun to drive as the pricier BMW X3 M40i and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Yet its ride is no firmer than a regular Ateca’s. Our pick 300 List price £35,900 Target Price £35,900 MPG 34.0 CO2 168g/km For Unbeatable bang for the buck in this class; handles very well; still very practical. Against Doesn’t sound very exciting and isn’t as sharp to drive as a hot…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £16,320 Target Price £15,467 MPG 51.4 CO2 105g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estates; SE trim adds air-con and a touchscreen. Against So-so handling and could do with more supportive seats. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Ceed Sportswagon Our pick 1.0 T-GDi 2 List price £19,295 Target Price £18,140 MPG 47.1 CO2 120g/km For Gutsy enough performance for most buyers; lots of equipment; boot is big and practical. Against Ride is restless and there’s quite a bit of tyre noise on the motorway. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Logan MCV Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Comfort List price £11,295 Target Price £11,190 MPG 45.6 CO2 121g/km For Lots of space; low running costs; plenty of equipment…

LESS THAN £25,000 Hyundai Ioniq Most buyers considering a low-emissions car don’t want to go fully electric straight away, which is why hybrids continue to make a lot of sense. The Hyundai Ioniq is the most polished, being more practical, better equipped and smarter inside than Toyota’s Prius. It combines modest ownership costs with a reassuringly normal driving experience, switching seamlessly between electric and petrol power. Our pick Hybrid Premium List price £23,600 Target Price £21,886 MPG 62.8 CO2 84g/km For Good-quality interior; low running costs; good to drive; well-integrated power sources. Against Poor rear head room; unsettled ride around town; not as efficient as Toyota Prius. WHAT CAR? SAYS Toyota Yaris Our pick Hybrid Icon List price £18,200 Target Price £16,988 MPG 58.8 CO2 84g/km For Generous standard kit;…

Star ratings Target Price The most you should pay for a car True MPG Our real-world fuel economy figures whatcar.com The place to look, whether you’re buying, leasing or simply running a car KEY INFORMATION Verdict Our road test reviews are the standard by which the car industry judges new cars. Price on the road The price set by car makers, including delivery and the initial rate of VED. Contract hire Contract hire rental prices supplied by Wessex Fleet Solutions.These are based on a three-year/36,000-mile contract, excluding maintenance and VED. For quotes, call Wessex Fleet Solutions on 01722 322888. Target Price The Target Price is a fair price for your new car, based on research by What Car?’s team of mystery shoppers, and the maximum you’ll pay if you use…

THERE AREN’T MANY cars on sale today that you’d truly call a style icon. The Mini is definitely one. The Fiat 500 also deserves the title and the Porsche 911 probably does, too. But we’d be tempted to add another name to that list: the Range Rover Evoque. The original model, launched back in 2011, changed Land Rover forever. Before then, its SUVs were handsome enough but in quite a functional, boxy sort of way. Then along came the Evoque and suddenly the brand was as much about fashion and glamour as old money and off-roading. It’s hardly surprising, then, that Land Rover has chosen to be pretty sympathetic to the original design with this second-generation model; it would be daft not to be, given the car’s success in the…

MEET THE MOST exciting new car of 2019 – as crowned by What Car? readers at our most recent Car of the Year Awards. In fact, the Honda Urban EV, as it was then known, garnered almost eight times as many votes as the second-placed car.This latest development of Honda’s upcoming rival to the BMW i3 and Renault Zoe, named the E Prototype, is 95% production-ready. While it mostly keeps the modern, minimalist styling of the original Urban EV, the E Prototype sports five doors, instead of three, to make it more practical. It’s still a small car, though, being shorter than the Honda Jazz but taller than the Mini hatchback, so it has seating for only four people. What’s more, the boot isn’t very big, so don’t expect to…

ARE YOU A member of the following fraternities: windsurfing, mountain climbing or paragliding? Then you’re clearly that active person in the archetypal SUV advert and, according to the hype, ridiculously ripped, permanently happy and smiling through teeth the colour of a snowman’s tan. The reality, however, is often a little less Californian; for those of us who’d barely contemplate cycling to Waitrose, the SUV is less of a lifestyle vehicle and more of a cry to drive something just a little bit different. That’s where this new Ford Focus Active comes in. It doesn’t have four-wheel drive and it probably isn’t capable of swallowing your windsurfer whole, but it does have some rugged-looking black plastic body adornments and chunky tyres to help it stand out. In addition, the ride height…

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE stealing all the headlines at the moment – just look at our 2019 Car of the Year, the Kia e-Niro, for evidence of that – but hybrids are also rapidly becoming more popular. Take the Honda CR-V; diesel used to be the fuel of choice for large SUVs, but this latest iteration of Honda’s model will be sold only in petrol and hybrid forms. We’ve already tested the four-wheel-drive CR-V Hybrid and were sufficiently impressed to put it at the top its price point in the 2019 Awards. However, this front-wheel-drive model is £3000 cheaper, like for like, and can be had in lower-spec S trim (unlike the 4x4 version). It should cost less to run, too. The CR-V Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine…

IT’S HARD TO keep track of how many start-up companies have announced an electric car with awesome performance, range and price claims but almost no real prospect of fruition. Tesla, needless to say, isn’t one of them; the American firm has been selling its cars in the UK for a decade now.And nor will be Polestar. That’s because the Swedish brand is owned by Geely, alongside Volvo, providing it with the requisite funding, hardware, technology and newly built factory (in China) with which to establish itself as a standalone car maker. Deliveries of the Polestar 1, a very expensive high-performance plug-in hybrid coupé, are about to begin. But the 2, which will go on sale in early 2020, is far more significant, because this electric car will be the first…

HONDA WILL CLOSE its factory in Swindon in 2021, blaming “unprecedented change in the global automotive industry”. The closure of the Wiltshire plant, which currently produces 150,000 examples of the Honda Civic annually (a long way short of its 250,000 capacity), will result in the loss of 3500 jobs. Honda insists the decision has nothing to do with Brexit, saying instead that it needs to concentrate on electric cars and restructuring its global operations. It’s also closing its Civic-building factory in Turkey. Honda has been slow to react to the increased global demand for electrified vehicles. It launched its latest hybrid, a variant of the new CR-V large SUV, last year, but it won’t have an electric car in its line-up until the production version of its E Prototype arrives…

CARS ARE SMARTER than ever. Many can now let you do everything from dictating text messages to helping you find available parking spaces as you approach an unfamiliar city. There’s a potential downside to all this technology that you might not have considered, though: as soon as you use the sat-nav or Bluetooth or link your smartphone to your car, you’re automatically sharing a lot of information with it. And that information could be open to abuse or theft. Many new cars are also ‘connected’, which means they’re fitted with technology that uses the internet to allow you to access a wide range of information and control functions from your smartphone. There are already more than two million connected cars in the UK, and research by Statista suggests this number…

VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY (VED) on most new and used cars is set to rise from 1 April this year, as part of a government plan to pay for the majority of future road repairs and upgrades through taxes levied against motorists. As announced in the Budget in autumn 2017, VED is now linked to inflation via the Retail Price Index (RPI). For most drivers, the annual cost will go up by £5. However, existing owners of older, more polluting cars will be charged up to an additional £15 per year, while some new car buyers will be hit with an extra £65 charge on first-year VED. Ministers said the RPI-linked increase would “ensure that VED receipts are maintained in real terms and that motorists continue to make a fair contribution…

IF YOU’RE TRAVELLING between Devon and Hampshire, you’ll want to take the A35, which conveniently links the two. Hang on, hang on: before you start thinking we’ve gone to DEFCON Boring and turn the page, we mention this because the road serves as an apposite analogy to describe its namesake, the new Mercedes-AMG A35. AMG’s newest hot hatch also spans two points, between mainstream A-Class models and the all-singing, all-dancing second-generation A45, which is due this autumn. The A35 is the brand’s new ‘budget’ performance model, designed to give buyers a cheaper route into the AMG world. Its 302bhp is some way shy of the 400bhp-plus that its big brother is reputed to be getting, but it follows the A45 formula in other ways, with its standard four-wheel drive and…

Mileage 8101 List price £33,525 Target Price £32,725 Price as tested £33,525 Test economy 33.4mpg COMMUTING ON THE motorway five days a week is beginning to take its toll on my Civic Type R. It recently sustained a stone chip in the windscreen that needs fixing before it turns into a crack. Plus, the bonnet badge has been hit, leaving a nasty hole in one edge and a few smaller scratches; it’s a shame this highly visible emblem isn’t more hard-wearing. On top of this, the car needed a service recently. As it approached six months old, a large warning light flashed up on the dashboard, indicating that an engine oil change was needed within the next 1000 miles. Given that I cover around 500 miles a week, I got…

Mileage 21,868 List price new (2017) £43,990 Price new with options £46,235 Value now £35,340 Test economy 37.2mpg ‘CHECK ENGINE’. The words suddenly flashed up in the instrument cluster of our 18-month-old Stelvio, accompanied by a bong from behind the dashboard and a sinking feeling in my stomach. While the car didn’t go into limp-home mode or show any other signs of being on the verge of mechanical failure, I heeded the warning and called Alfa Romeo’s roadside assistance hotline. The auxiliary water pump was blamed, and the Stelvio was back from the service centre after just a couple of days. But a few weeks later, there was the message again: ‘Check engine’. This time I was told there had been a misdiagnosis previously and that an under-reading temperature sensor…

IT’S FUNNY HOW living with a car can change your perceptions drastically. When I first drove an Audi A4 Allroad back in 2016, it seemed like an exceedingly niche choice. Sure, it was a little bit more comfortable than the regular A4 Avant and well equipped, but the four-wheel drive system didn’t do the running costs any favours and it was a lot pricier to buy. Even so, there was something strangely appealing about the idea of a slightly jacked-up A4 estate with some tough-looking plastic body cladding. Indeed, there was enough of a draw that I couldn’t get the car out of my mind and eventually gave into temptation last summer. My 3.0 TDI 218 diesel may not have been the top of the range (that would be the…

Mileage 5232 List price £28,525 Target Price £27,145 Price as tested £29,885 Test economy 36.3mpg MAYBE I’M JINXED, but for the second time in less than a year, a new car has let me down just as I’ve started singing its praises. Little more than minutes after I took to social media to declare the 5008 the finest family car I’ve ever had the privilege to run, the boss between its steering wheel and steering column developed a loud squeak. It’s at its worst when you make turn after turn – in a car park, for instance. At first, it was amusing (it sounds a bit like a mouse celebrating discovering a particularly large bit of cheese), but now it’s very irritating. ‘After just 7000 miles, the steering boss has…

LESS THAN £60,000 Audi Q7 The Q7 is so much more than your typical luxury SUV. Not only does it ride like a limo, offer the straight-line performance of a hot hatch and accommodate like an MPV, but it also delivers sublime refinement. The Q7 also has one of the greatest SUV interiors on the market, thanks to a modern, minimalist dashboard design and Audi’s fantastic MMI infotainment system. Our pick 45 TDI quattro S line List price £56,745 Target Price £52,634 MPG 33.6 CO2 178g/km For Very well equipped, with a wonderful ride (on air suspension) and a smooth engine. Against Expensive to buy and run, while some rivals have more third-row leg room. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volvo XC90 Our pick D5 Momentum List price £52,410 Target Price £48,209…

LESS THAN £30,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology List price £24,525 Target Price £23,697 MPG 53.3 CO2 113g/km For Masses of standard kit; lots of rear leg room and boot space; comfortable ride. Against Some other executive cars are more fun to drive, while the engine is a little gruff. WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi A3 Saloon Our pick 35 TFSI Sport List price £26,060 Target Price £24,358 MPG 42.8 CO2 123g/km For Handles well, the engine is strong and the interior is beautifully built. Against Costs more than the A3 Sportback, despite having a less practical boot. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mazda 6 Our pick 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150 SE-L Nav+ List price £25,795 Target Price £25,348 MPG 55.4 CO2 117g/km For Smart interior; smooth and flexible engine;…

LESS THAN £40,000 Audi TT The TT is one of our favourite coupés, and a facelift for 2019 has only confirmed its status as the best of its breed. As well as having a gorgeous, high-tech interior, the TT is quick and great to drive. It’s even relatively practical, thanks to an easy-to-access boot, even if its rear seats are cramped. When you consider how well priced it is and how well it’ll hold its value, the TT is actually something of a bargain. Our pick 45 TFSI quattro Sport S tronic List price £36,455 Target Price £35,045 MPG 35.3 CO2 160g/km For Fabulous interior design and quality; crisp handling; easy to live with. Against Rear seats are seriously cramped, and you’ll want to add a few options. WHAT CAR?…