Indholdsfortegnelse for Awards 2022 i What Car?

George.Hill@haymarket.com SUPERSIZING AN EXISTING product can be a great way to drive sales. Take McDonald’s Grand Big Mac, for example: the larger, limited-edition Big Mac quickly sold out in the UK. So on that basis, the new Toyota Corolla Cross family SUV – a bigger version of the already popular Corolla – should do well. So, what’s it like? Well, the Corolla Cross shares the family car’s underpinnings but has more rugged styling and a higher driving position than its hatchback, estate and saloon siblings. It has similar styling themes to the smaller Yaris Cross, with a bold black grille, flared wheel arches and chrome detailing. Size-wise, it sits midway between the C-HR and RAV4 in the Toyota range, with dimensions that place it at the larger end of the…

Ayisha.Gharu@haymarket.com IT’S FAIR TO say that Sir David Attenborough is a British icon. Whether you’re a fan or not, you’ll be familiar with him – and the same goes for the Vauxhall Astra. The latest Astra has really shaken up the formula, though, and this new version of the Sports Tourer estate is just as striking. For example, the tail-lights mirror the shape of the headlights, which are incorporated in a single panel that runs the full width of the nose. Like its hatchback sibling, the latest Astra Sports Tourer shares engines and other parts with the Peugeot 308 SW. It’s the first Vauxhall estate to be offered as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), combining a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for up to 222bhp and around 35 miles…

Dan.Jones@haymarket.com A FILLET STEAK and crème brulée might be nice when the latter follows the former, but you wouldn’t want to have both on your plate at the same time. However, in the car world, putting opposing flavours together can result in something really tasty. Four-door coupés such as the Audi A5 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz CLA blend the style and excitement of a coupé with the practicality of an executive car, and BMW’s latest 4 Series Gran Coupé follows a similar recipe, using ingredients borrowed liberally from both the 3 Series saloon and the two-door 4 Series Coupé. This includes the engines. On the menu is a choice of two 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrols (badged 420i and 430i), a 2.0-litre four cylinder diesel (420d) and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol for the…

SMALL ELECTRIC CAR Ora Cat Feathers will fly when Chinese brand Ora releases its first UK-bound model. Expected to undercut such electric car pigeons as the MG 5 and Nissan Leaf, the Cat’s cutesy bodywork conceals a 161bhp electric motor and a 48kWh or 63kWh battery for an official range of up to 261 miles. Price from £25,000 (est) SMALL AND FAMILY SUVs Alfa Romeo Tonale Early 2022 Sporty little brother to the Stelvio. Honda HR-V Early 2022 Adopts coupé-like looks and hybrid power. Kia Niro and e-Niro Autumn 2022 Reborn hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric family SUVs look more radical inside and out. Nissan Ariya Early 2022 Electric sister to the Qashqai will offer a choice of three power levels Smart SUV Late 2022 Promises a range of more…

Claire.Evans@haymarket.com My partner and I are building a house and have come across a planning condition that requires us to have a charging point for an electric vehicle (EV) installed. The condition says we must fit a unit that terminates with a three-pin socket or a “BS EN 62196 Type 2 electric vehicle charging point”. We don’t own an electric car and probably won’t buy one for a couple of years, but we appreciate the importance of getting the infrastructure in place now. However, not knowing anything about EVs, we would appreciate your feedback on whether the planning requirements sound sensible, what type of charging unit we should install and any key features or characteristics the charging point should have. Also, is it possible to get a unit that has…

You sometimes hear people say that there’s no such thing as a bad car any more. But while it’s true that standards have risen massively over the years, the gap between the best and worst performers remains enormous, making the annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards as important as ever. Celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2022, they are the culmination of 12 months of testing, during which we’ve driven hundreds of new or updated models. To be eligible, a car has to have been tested back to back with its rivals – both on UK roads and at our private test track – and it has to be available to order now. Plus, we’ve looked at everything from comfort to costs, practicality to performance, and refinement to reliability.…

Is there a bigger compliment for a hot hatch than setting an early morning alarm just to go for a drive? How about finding absolutely any excuse at all to take it out? Well, that’s what the highly addictive A45 S does to you from the very first time you sit behind the wheel. For one thing, there’s the headline figure that’ll wake you up with more vigour than a cup of coffee ever could: 0-62mph in 3.9sec. That’s ridiculously quick. So quick that it’ll worry a Porsche 911 Carrera S and leave rivals such as the BMW M135i for dust. It’s all thanks to a motorsport-derived 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that rewards your right foot inputs with 415bhp – another figure that was reserved for sports and performance cars not…

If you want to judge the scale of the new Range Rover’s victory here, consider this: despite every car in our readers’ award receiving equal promotion, it garnered more than 10 times as many votes as the car in second place. Clearly, people are seriously excited about this car, which has been designed from the outset with electrification in mind. The technical specifications of the electric Range Rover are still under wraps, because it won’t arrive until 2024, but we’d expect it to offer a range of at least 250 miles, making it competitive with rivals such as the Audi E-tron and BMW iX. From launch, though, you’ll be able to specify petrol and diesel engines that feature mild hybrid systems to help you save fuel. Plus, two plug-in hybrid…

Whether it’s electric cars (EVs) or building rockets that can land themselves, sometimes coming at things from a different angle is the best way to break new ground. The Tesla Model 3 is a perfect example of this, throwing the established rulebook on how to build a car out of the window and then coming up with its own. Even so, the Model 3 Long Range’s biggest strength is making life with an EV easier, staving off range anxiety with an official range of 360 miles. That’s around 30 miles more than you’ll get from a Polestar 2 and 60 miles more than the Hyundai Ioniq 5. What’s more, when you do need a top-up, you have access to Tesla’s reliable Supercharger network for stress-free charging. Plugging into one of…

When people are asked to nominate the definitive rock band, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd and dozens of other names tend to come up, all with a valid claim to the title. Each band has its loyal followers, for whom it can do no wrong. The same is true of the Skoda Superb Estate, but its right to be billed as the definitive estate car is surely beyond debate. When it comes to carrying capacity, the Superb turns it up to 11… carry-on suitcases, that is. In other words, enough luggage for all the band members on tour, or space for a massive guitar amp. Our favourite SE L trim level gives you a convenient electric tailgate too, and if you add the optional folding front seat, you’ve got…

Being a parent is hard enough, so it’s good to know the Volkswagen Touran will take everything in its stride so you can concentrate on important family stuff – things like sorting out packed lunches, helping out with homework and picking up the kids from school. In fact, while similar-priced rivals such as the Vauxhall Combo-e Life will accommodate four children, every Touran can seat six of the little darlings. Those seats are highly flexible too, just like in the larger, pricier Ford Galaxy. The middle row separates into three individual perches that can be slid and folded as you require, allowing you to provide more leg room for those in the third row – helpful when the grandparents come to stay. You also get Isofix points on all five…

One of the dictionary definitions of luxury is “A state of great comfort and ease, typically involving great expense”. But what makes the BMW 530e so brilliant is that you get the first two things without the last one. Yes, there are more opulent saloon cars if you’re prepared to spend a lot more, but the 530e’s interior is still spacious and beautifully finished, plus it’s equipped with the most user-friendly infotainment system around. And while luxury and low pollution rarely go together, no matter what certain preachy celebrities might tell themselves, there’s no need to feel guilty about the ambience you’re enjoying in the 530e because, as a plug-in hybrid with an official electric range of 36 miles, it can complete many journeys without needing to emit any CO2…

Drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) can often feel like second-class citizens at service stations, having to queue up for a couple of units that are stashed wherever there’s a bit of space. Now, though, Gridserve is changing that, because it has created the first service station in the UK dedicated solely to EVs. The site in Braintree, Essex, is called the Electric Forecourt and can handle the charging of up to 36 EVs at a time, so you’re unlikely to have to wait for a charger to become free. The site offers connections for every type of EV, so whether you drive an Audi or a Tesla, or even an electric motorbike or HGV, you’ll be able to hook up. The chargers are fast, too; with 12 units able to…

Sports SUVs used to be brutish things, offering plenty of power and four-wheel drive to launch you out of bends, but little in the way of finesse. However, the Ford Puma ST delivers a very different and more rewarding experience. Key to this is its low weight compared with rivals, making the car feel nimble and easy to place. And while the Puma ST sends all of its power to the front wheels, if you lift off the accelerator pedal mid-corner, the back end will pivot around gracefully to help you tighten your line or position the car perfectly for the exit. Add in weighty yet precise steering and the sticky Michelin tyres you get as part of the optional Performance Pack and you always feel in complete control. The…

Choose any of our 2022 award winners and you’ll be getting an absolutely fantastic car that’s better than all of its direct rivals. However, the overall Car of the Year award is reserved for the model that has moved things on the farthest in the past 12 months. And this year, that’s the Kia EV6. The electric car market is a particularly exciting one at the moment; sales are booming, prompting all of the major manufacturers to respond by launching new models. But the great news for car buyers is that the heat of competition has inspired car makers to really up their games, and none has done more so than Kia. For starters, the EV6 combines a huge real-world range with the ability to charge at speeds that even…

John Bradshaw@haymarket.com IN THE WAKE OF the coronavirus pandemic and the enforced working from home it has brought for many, there’s been a lot of talk about getting your work/life balance right. After all, if you work from home, there’s a real risk that tasks might bleed through from office hours to personal time, as you seek to ‘clear the decks’ before a fresh day rolls around. Well, I’m hoping that my new Ford Puma ST will help me tip the balance back to where it should be. Being What Car?’s chief photographer, there is, of course, no way that I can work from home, because I have to be out and about shooting cars. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t still have some fun on my way to and…

Darren.Moss@haymarket.com MAGIC IS THE ART of misdirection. You get people to watch something that you’re doing in one hand while, out of sight, your other hand performs the trick. It’s all about creating an illusion, and regularly entertains thousands of show-goers. However, I reckon some people at Honda have found a way to perform genuine magic. It’s the only way I can explain the Jazz – specifically, how such a small hatchback offers so much interior space. No matter what I tried to fit into the car – people, luggage, bedroom furniture or, sometimes, a combination of all three – it never seemed to fill up. The so-called magic rear seats, the bases of which can be folded up like those in an old-school cinema, are a particularly handy feature,…

Louis.Shaw@haymarket.com Mileage 823 List price £30,645 (not including £2500 gov’t grant) Target Price £29,686 Price as tested £32,045 Test range 110 miles WHEN ALMOST EVERYONE does a particular thing the same way, it’s generally because it’s the best way. And yet I still find myself falling for things that are a bit different, even knowing they’ll probably make my life more difficult. In the case of my Mazda MX-30, it’s the quirky, rear-hinged back doors that have me questioning my own sense of logic. You see, I really like them. I think they’re a wonderfully distinctive feature that helps distinguish the MX-30 from almost everything else on sale. I get a kick out of them every time I squeeze their tactile mechanical latches to release them. And as a big…

Lawrence.Cheung@haymarket.com IT’S A BRAVE television producer who gambles with viewing figures by fiddling with proven formats. Today, Kia is that producer. Its Sportage family SUV has always attracted big audiences, but it might have had some viewers wondering if there was something a bit more interesting on another channel. So, for this new series, the Sportage looks more dramatic (its styling reflects the EV6, Kia’s flagship electric car) and promises more compelling content to help in a ratings battle against such primetime favourites as the Nissan Qashqai, Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq, not to mention sister brand Hyundai’s Tucson. Big news is that plug-in hybrid power will be offered, and a conventional hybrid is available from the beginning. There’s also a 134bhp diesel engine, which has an automatic gearbox plus…

Dan.Jones@haymarket.com UNTIL RECENTLY, COUPÉ SUVs were large, sleek cars reserved for people with expensive tastes, but the new Volkswagen Taigo (pronounced ‘tie-go’) is here to change that. It aims to offer all of the style of the bigger and pricier BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé but with more compact measurements. In terms of size, it falls between Volkswagen’s existing small SUVs, measuring 150mm longer than the T-Cross and 37mm shorter than the T-Roc. That puts it in the unenviable position of having to prove itself against those two while also fending off competition from rivals such as the Audi Q2, Citroën C4 and Ford Puma. So, what does the Taigo bring to the table? Well, in terms of power, you have three petrol engines to choose from. There’s an…

whatcar@haymarket.com AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH about electric cars is that, while they’re cheap to run, they can be rather expensive to buy. The ZS EV electric SUV stands out from the crowd by being a notable exception, and now MG hopes to capitalise on that fact with this refreshed version. Among the changes, it now offers a bigger battery that promises a longer range, yet it still undercuts the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro and Peugeot e-2008 on price. It even costs less than the much smaller Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe hatchbacks. Performance is good; it never feels like you need any more zip, even on faster A-roads. The fact that the Kona Electric is even quicker will probably have most buyers simply shrugging their shoulders. From here on in,…

Max.Adams@haymarket.com THERE’S a winged badge on the nose of the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake (SB) that gives it a passing resemblance to a Bentley, but it’s a red herring: Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand, and this is the estate version of the G70 saloon. All G70 SBs are rear-wheel drive with eight-speed automatic gearboxes and come with one of two 2.0-litre petrol engines, or the 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel we’ve tested. With rivals including the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, it’s got a fight on its hands if it’s to succeed as an executive estate. And unfortunately, in diesel form, it’s not up to it. Performance isn’t the problem, and it has plenty of pull when required. No, the problem stems from the engine’s coarse…

Claire.Evans@haymarket.com WHILE MANY other things in life have become more expensive as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, car insurance premiums for British drivers have actually been going down, due to the lower number of claims that have been made as a result of people driving fewer miles than before. The average price paid for comprehensive motor insurance in the third quarter of 2021 was £429, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). That’s 7% lower than for the same period in the previous year, and the lowest it’s been for five years. Car owners who tend to stick with the same insurer year after year might not have found this trend to be the case for them, though. In the past, customers who haven’t shopped around…

At 74 years of age, I’m starting to think about what will be my last or second-to-last car, and trying to decide whether to replace my current car now or hold on to it for three years. I bought a new Jaguar I-Pace HSE in May 2019 for around £79,000 and it now has 6700 miles on it. I’m considering exchanging it for a new Kia EV6 GT Line S AWD, which has a list price of £54,000. I’ve been offered a discount of £3500 and a delivery date of March 2022. The Kia dealer would rather not take the I-Pace in part-exchange, but I’ve checked some selling options online and it seems I should be able to get around £50,000 for it. I’d like your opinion on whether I’d…

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In the same way that the mighty Disney corporation brings a lot of great entities together under one banner to form something magical, the Honda Jazz is good in so many individual areas that it makes a fantastic overall package. This is a small car that feels like a big one, not only in terms of comfort but also because of the sheer amount of interior space on offer. Put simply, it dwarfs just about anything else in this class in this regard. Rear seat passengers are treated to more head and knee room than they’d get in any rival, and while you’ll fit more luggage into a Seat Ibiza, the Jazz’s boot will still handle your holiday suitcases. And should you need to carry a bicycle or anything else…

Sponsored by The hat-trick gets its name from the headwear cricketers used to be awarded after taking three wickets in consecutive balls – a rare and outstanding achievement. And the Ford Puma has now managed the automotive equivalent by winning this category for a third year in a row. Like many Fords, it’s great to drive, and feels super-nimble whether you’re flying down your favourite country lane or merely scooting around town. Crucially, though, you don’t pay the price for that with a bone-shaking ride. Yes, you’re more aware of lumps and bumps than you would be in a Skoda Kamiq, but the upside of this firmer edge is that the Puma is unlikely to leave your passengers feeling queasy as you drive along undulating roads. If you go for…

If your cat’s stuck up a tree, there are plenty of superheroes who can save it: Superman, Wonder Woman – or, more realistically perhaps, Bob with the big ladder from next door. Likewise, there’s no shortage of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to rescue drivers who are attracted to zero-emissions motoring but are not ready to go fully electric. However, the one we’d recommend calling on is the Lexus NX. It’s a large SUV that can officially travel 42.2 miles purely on electric power – further than its Audi Q5 50 TFSIe and BMW X3 xDrive30e rivals. In real-world driving, 30-35 miles should be possible just on electricity – in other words, enough for most commutes. If you’re a company car driver, the NX’s official electric range translates into a lowly 7%…

If 2021 told us anything, it was that the age of the electric car is upon us, but hybrids will be part of the picture for a few years yet. And the Toyota Yaris Cross’s record-breaking fuel economy is one of the key reasons why. Toyota’s new small SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a battery big enough to allow it to cover longer distances on electric power alone than many older hybrids. The battery is replenished on the move by the regenerative braking system, which harvests energy when you slow down. Because the petrol engine is dormant for much of the time in low-speed driving, the Yaris Cross achieved an astonishing 103.3mpg on our True MPG town cycle – easily…

It’s easy to see why pick-up trucks have become so popular in the UK. They offer much of the road presence of a large or luxury SUV but at a much lower price, and they’re well suited to an active, outdoorsy lifestyle. What’s more, while these beasts of burden were once crude, rattly machines much better equipped for work than play, these days that’s far from the case. And the Ford Ranger is the very best of them. Despite beefy suspension that enables it to carry payloads of more than a tonne, the Ranger rides in a far more civilised manner than its Isuzu D-Max, Ssangyong Musso and Toyota Hilux rivals, whether lightly laden or loaded up with cargo. What’s more, despite its considerable heft (it’s longer, taller and wider…

In the same way that something simple like cutting out carbs can help you lose weight, Hyundai has made a small tweak to the Santa Fe recipe that has made all the difference. You see, when it was first unveiled, you could only get it with a diesel engine, but since its overhaul in 2020, that’s been joined by hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol alternatives. Combining the lower emissions that hybrid tech brings with some useful additions to the standard spec adds up to a very impressive package. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times that even large SUVs are turning to hybrid power, but in this case there’s no reason not to choose one over the diesel unless you plan to tow. Around town, our preferred regular hybrid Santa…

You know those movies like Back to the Future in which someone travels through time and creates a paradox that alters reality in the present day? Well, we have a sneaking suspicion something similar must have happened to leave us with the BMW X5 xDrive45e. Luxury SUVs were once so reviled for their thirst and high emissions that they seemed doomed, but now this plug-in hybrid example is among the most efficient cars on the road. It’s potentially one of the cheapest to run, too. Even by the standards of other upmarket plug-in hybrids, the 45e’s fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures are spectacular. This X5 emits just 29g/km of CO2 and consumes petrol at a rate of 217.3mpg officially (although that will only be achievable if you charge it…

When you take a hugely popular executive car, whip off two of the doors and charge more for it, you have to do something pretty special to make it a hit – and with the 4 Series Coupé, BMW has done just that. The 4 Series Coupé has the bulletproof underpinnings of the 3 Series, but with a sexier silhouette, a stiffer structure, retuned suspension and a wider rear. In other words, what you lose in practicality, you gain (big time) in aesthetic appeal and driving pleasure. We’ll let you judge the looks for yourself, but what we can tell you is that this is no sheep in wolf’s clothing. Twisty roads are the 4 Series’ natural habitat, and it devours corners with greater enthusiasm than the rival Audi A5…

Last year, the Porsche Taycan proved that electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to be just as rewarding and usable as the best petrol-powered machines by clinching our Performance Car of the Year award. It was something of a watershed moment, because it changed the way we perceive and interact with EVs. You’d understand, then, if Porsche’s engineers decided to put up their feet and take a well-deserved rest. Well, fortunately for us, that’s not how they operate. Within six months, Porsche released a new variant of the Taycan called the Cross Turismo – essentially a five-door ‘shooting brake’ version of the Taycan four-door coupé – and in one fell swoop broadened the versatility of an already highly accomplished performance car without compromising in other areas. In our favoured 4S…

Allan.Muir@haymarket.com GIVEN THE CHOICE, you’d rather be comfortable than uncomfortable, right? Unless you happen to be into camping (in which case all bets are off), comfort is a state that we all strive to achieve, whether you’re talking about your lifestyle, the bed you sleep in, the clothes you wear or the car you drive. But in the automotive world, true comfort can be hard to come by, unless you can afford a full-on luxury car. A surprising number of cars have trouble coping with typical British roads, forcing us to put up with a firm, unsettled or crashy ride and excessive road noise, and none of this makes for a very relaxing way to travel. The Citroën e-C4 is a notable exception, though, as I’ve come to appreciate during…

Chris.Haining@haymarket.com I’M TYPING THIS while relaxing on a 1962 G-Plan rocking chair and listening to a 1977 Pink Floyd record that’s spinning on a Sharp Optonica turntable that was made in 1980. Yet I’ve just used my Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone – which I’ve had for three years and would be lost without – to tell my new Kia Soul EV to start charging. Yes, the Soul has got me excited about adopting a new way of doing things, and it’s rare that something comes along that has me changing my age-old habits. I mean, MP3s briefly distracted me from CDs and vinyl, but ultimately I rejected the format and, right now, I don’t have a single track stored on my phone. So, what’s behind this sudden willingness to move…

Mark.Pearson@haymarket.com In production 2014-present Price from £30,000 Our favourite 75D FROM MIXED AND occasionally controversial early reviews, Tesla has grown to be the world’s most valuable car manufacturer, with a market value of a trillion dollars – not bad for a firm whose first model didn’t appear until 2008. If you want a slice of this American pie, a great way in is via the Model S, which is now the cheapest Tesla to buy used. The only trouble is, it’s difficult to keep count of the many motor, battery capacity and driven wheel options it’s been offered with over the years. In short, the 60 models had the smallest battery capacity (60kWh), and the 100 models had the biggest (100kWh). If the number stands on its lonesome, the car…

STAR RATINGS TARGET PRICE The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for a new car and is set by our mystery shoppers. It’s updated each month and our approved dealers guarantee to match it. However, in a lot of cases, they can save you even more: just visit whatcar.com/new-car-deals or call 03302 216207 between 9am and 5pm (standard network fees apply). All Target Prices are correct at the time of going to press. TARGET PCP The Target PCP is a fair monthly fee if you’re taking out a personal contract purchase (PCP) finance deal, also set by our mystery shoppers. Most are over 48 months with a 15% deposit and an 8000-mile annual limit. Those marked with an asterisk are over 36 months and those with…

Charlie.Martin@haymarket.com BOB THE BUILDER doesn’t drive a real-life pick-up truck, but if he did, we think it’d be a Ford Ranger; it’s just as versatile as he is, offering a solution to seemingly every problem you can throw at it. And with the promise of a more sophisticated interior and better driving manners, the next Ranger should be better than ever. More practical, too; a tailgate with integrated clamps to which you can mount a flat workbench and new lights to illuminate the load bed add to the Ranger’s already impressive utility. Inside, greater use of soft-touch plastics should boost the impression of quality. Infotainment will be provided by a portrait-orientated touchscreen measuring either 10.0in or 12.0in, depending on which trim level you choose, and running Ford’s Sync 4 software,…

Lawrence.Cheung@haymarket.com IF YOU LIKE to find ways to unlock a product’s hidden potential rather than using it just ‘out of the box’, Mountune’s upgraded Ford Puma ST could be for you. The small Essex-based tuning company takes the five-star-rated sports SUV and adds some extra kit and technical know-how to improve its performance. So, what does Mountune’s m260 upgrade involve? Well, first off, it increases the 1.5-litre engine’s power output from 197bhp to 256bhp by reprogramming the engine control unit with its mTune SMARTflash app (£675). Then it adds a new induction kit, an alloy intercooler, associated piping and other parts (£953). The result is a car that – thankfully – still drives like a Puma ST, but one charged up on caffeine after several months of protein shakes. The…

Dan.Jones@haymarket.com HAVE YOU EVER felt like your achievements are overshadowed by a sibling’s? Well, then you can probably identify with the Volkswagen Polo. It has long been one of the best small cars out there, yet has never had quite the same recognition as the bigger Golf. Could that be about to change, though? After all, the Polo has grown up significantly over the years, and the most recent facelift looks to lessen the gap between it and the Golf even further. More importantly than its sibling rivalry, though, it also has to remain competitive in a class that’s filled to the brim with tough rivals, including the Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz, along with the closely related Audi A1, Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabia. So, what exactly does the…

George.Hill@haymarket.com SOME CARS NEED a clear gimmick to stand out. They might look outrageous, feature some far-flung futuristic technology or even come with a coffee machine built in. The Skoda Karoq doesn’t need any of that; it goes about the business of being a practical family SUV with all the quiet efficiency of a palace butler, and is all the better for it. Even so, the Karoq has been treated to a round of updates to keep it competitive. From the outside, you might notice some minor changes, including new headlights, a wider and bolder grille, and some optional aero-styled alloy wheels. At the back, there’s a slimmer LED tail-light design and a new rear spoiler. Inside, all Karoqs now come with digital instruments, as well as some enhanced LED…

Use your phone to scan the code by the car you like, or search for it on whatcar.com and click the ‘Get best price’ button. We’ll alert dealers in your area so they can compete for your business, but they can’t see your details until you’re ready to buy. You can request quotes on as many cars as you like, and your ‘My offers’ page lets you view them all in one place. While our Target PCP price allows direct finance comparisons, you can also request personalised finance quotes.…

In 2020, the average annual mileage of private car owners in the UK dipped to 6700 miles, according to data from the Department for Transport. This is due to lifestyle changes – including the increased adoption of working from home – brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, and means many more people now classify as low-mileage drivers (covering no more than 6500 miles a year), and should pay less for car insurance a result. By Miles is one mileage-based car insurance product that bases premiums on the number of miles travelled. If our 20-year-old driver covered only 3500 miles a year, he’d pay £574 up front on a By Miles policy, and then £43 a month to cover his expected 291 monthly miles, for a total cost of £1096 –…

I’m on the hunt for a luxury SUV that can comfortably accommodate me and my tall family. I’m 6ft 6in, my 15-year-old son is already 6ft 4in, my 13-year-old son is 6ft (and both are still growing) and my wife is 5ft 11in. We have visited several showrooms and sat in some of the largest models available, but have not found anything big enough yet. Not even a Range Rover had enough space in the back after I put the driver’s seat into a comfortable position for me. Cars that I’d consider include the Audi Q7, Land Rover Defender 110 and Volkswagen Touareg. I could also be persuaded to consider an MPV rather than an SUV, although this idea is less popular with my family. Which car do you think…

TESTING PROCESS A GOOD ALLOY wheel cleaner should dissolve tough dirt without agitation and allow it to simply flow away when water is introduced. In other words, it should be effective on the areas you can’t reach easily. To find the best on sale, we tested nine off-the-shelf products that ranged in price from just £5 to a whopping £14.95. They clean wheels using a range of methods – some are more traditional acidic cleaners, for example, while others rely on the caustic cleaning of alkaline chemicals. WHAT CAR? BEST BUY ALLOY WHEEL CLEANERS 1 Bilt Hamber Auto-Wheel Price £12.95 Buy from bilthamber.com Volume 1 litre Since 2007, Essex-based Bilt Hamber has quietly established itself as a car care tour de force, formulating home-grown – and frequently class-leading – products that…

Like James Bond, a good family car needs to be able to turn its hand to just about anything, and for the second year in a row the Seat Leon does that more convincingly than anything else you’ll spy in this category. Practicality is the first item on the Leon’s long list of attributes. It may look shorter than the rival Skoda Octavia (it’s no illusion), but there’s just as much space inside for passengers, with generous leg room for those in the rear seats, while the boot is easily large enough for all their cargo. The 128bhp version of the VW Group’s ubiquitous 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine feels stronger and quicker than the claimed 0-62mph time suggests, pulling harder from low revs than similarly powerful units found in the…

Sponsored by Parents have to do an awful lot. Whether it’s fixing clothes, running a taxi service or serving up restaurant-quality food (or not), they must be Jacks and Jills of all trades. The car those parents drive should be just as versatile – and that’s where the Volvo XC40 comes in. It’s a true all-rounder, with an interior that almost matches the Range Rover Evoque’s for quality and some of the best seats you’ll find in any family SUV. Those seats offer a wide range of adjustment, and once you’ve found your ideal driving position, you get a great view of the road ahead. The view out of the back isn’t as good, but every version comes with rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera is an inexpensive option.…

Born is an appropriate name, marking the arrival of Cupra as a maker of fully electric cars. And as entrances go, taking our Small Electric Car of the Year award at the first try is a big one. Admittedly, it had a bit of a head start; the Born shares its structure and systems with the Volkswagen ID.3, which lifted the title last year. That means the Born makes a good family car, with a big boot, an interior that’s spacious for four adults, plenty of storage space and a generous level of kit on all models. However, the Born eclipses the ID.3 in the way it drives. Choosing a Cupra typically means a bigger focus on driver appeal, and the Born certainly delivers. It feels more eager to turn…

Every school has one: a supernaturally talented kid who’s in the top set for every academic subject, yet is also artistic and a sports wizard, while being universally loved by teachers and other students alike. Makes you sick just thinking about it. Well, the BMW 3 Series has been making other executive cars sick for decades, through the simple expedient of doing almost everything exceptionally well. And the 330e M Sport is the best of the best. Let’s start with its prowess in economics. Its efficient 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine works alongside an electric motor and a substantial battery that, if you keep it charged, officially provides up to 35 miles of near-silent electric running. That’s far enough to cover the daily commutes of many, and company car users will…

‘YOU GET GREAT SAFETY IN A RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE FAMILY SUV’ The Qashqai takes the top spot this year for a number of reasons, not least because its overall Euro NCAP safety score is among the best of all the cars tested in 2021. And the fact that such safety comes in a relatively affordable family SUV is great news; it’s likely to be a huge seller, and that gives it the potential to bring the latest safety technology, along with improvements in road safety, to many drivers. The Qashqai gained the year’s highest Euro NCAP score for Safety Assist: 95%. That’s because all trim levels come with a suite of very effective active safety systems, including AEB and lane-keeping support. Its emergency lane-keeping system is one of the best; it…

‘OF THE FEW CARS THAT DID SUFFER A FAULT, THE MAJORITY WERE FIXED FOR FREE’ If you’re a gambler looking for a safe bet, putting your money on Lexus topping the annual What Car? Reliability Survey is about as good as it gets. Toyota’s luxury brand has now finished first in our chart for newer models for five consecutive years, with Lexus owners telling us their cars suffered hardly any faults. Meanwhile, those that did surface were fixed swiftly and cheaply. Overall, just 6% of the Lexus models aged up to five years old that we were told about went wrong, and 65% of those were put right in a day or less. Most of the remaining cars had their faults rectified in less than a week. Just as positive…

The Cayman – as we’re sure you’ll spot when you turn the page – isn’t the only Porsche to feature as a winner in this category. So have we given the overall award to this one merely because it’s significantly cheaper than the 911 GTS? Absolutely not. True, picking the Cayman GTS over the 911 will save you a significant chunk of change, but that just highlights what amazing value it offers, especially when you consider how well it performs in comparison with its bigger sibling. Indeed, too few tenths of a second separate their 0-62mph times to bother all but the most performance-hungry driver. That’s in part due to the Cayman being smaller and lighter, and those qualities also allow it to run rings around the heftier Jaguar F-Type…

To take a step forwards, sometimes you have to take a step backwards, and BMW’s decision to replace the complex folding hard-top of the previous-generation 4 Series Convertible with a more traditional fabric roof has resulted in a car that’s better than ever. For starters, the new roof is much lighter than the old one. This lowers the car’s centre of gravity when it’s up and ensures the weight is more evenly distributed when it’s down, with both of these things contributing towards sharper handling. What’s more, it has allowed BMW to make the new 4 Series bigger, more spacious and more luxurious without it becoming overly bloated. And it has improved usability, because the boot is no longer full of roof when you’re making the most of the sun.…

Jim.Holder@haymarket.com Mileage 3748 List price £58,300 Target Price £54,419 Price as tested £65,440 Test economy 50.1mpg LET’S TALK ABOUT the elephant in the room: my plug-in hybrid (PHEV) V90’s near-£60,000 price tag prior to me ticking a single option box. In simplistic terms, and acknowledging that this is a large, premium estate car that will always command a high-end price, it’s evident that the plug-in hybrid part of the equation is adding a lot of cost to the bill. Some will say you can’t put a price on the environmental benefits of zero-emissions miles, especially because so many of those are done in town. I get that, but I also can’t ignore the fact that the electric range has so far been good enough to help me average a decent…

Mark.Pearson@haymarket.com Mileage 2220 List price £36,130 Target Price £35,77 Price as tested £36,605 Test economy 36.9mpg A RECENT FAMILY holiday gave my Cupra Leon its first big test: could it take all of us and our luggage? After all, there’s not much point in having the smartest hot hatch on the block, wearing the flashiest badging to boot, if you have to leave one of your children at home when you go away. Luckily, the Leon has plenty of room for four inside and just enough space for everything they require for a week away. I should add the caveat here that teenage daughters don’t pack light, so it was perhaps no surprise that the interior was littered with the extra bags we couldn’t fit in the boot. The first…