Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i What Car?

‘Your car’s value can drop all too quickly if you pick the wrong model’ The other day, while collecting my daughter from school, I overheard one of the other parents say that the trouble with buying a new car is that it will lose half of its value as soon as you drive it out of the showroom. The good news is they were either exaggerating for effect or just plain mistaken. The bad news is your car’s value can still drop by more than 65% over three years if you pick the wrong model. In fact, depreciation is usually the biggest single cost of running a car privately. It pays to choose carefully, then, and that’s why we always include resale values in the data section at the back…

Lawrence.Cheung@haymarket.com IT’S A FAIR bet that more junior footballers on the school playing field aspire to play for Premiership Manchester United than for League One Accrington Stanley. Like those kids, Mazda certainly knows how to score a goal, and with the new CX-60 it’s out to prove that it can compete at the top of the game. Not only does Mazda’s biggest SUV have the Toyota RAV4 in its sights, but it also seeks to tread on the toes of premium players such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. And this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version – Mazda’s first – takes the first kick. Propelled by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, the CX-60 can call upon a total of 323bhp. That’s good for a 0-62mph time…

Will.Nightingale@haymarket.com IN CASE YOU hadn’t heard, the Porsche Macan is going electric. Yes, from next year you’ll be able to buy a fully electric version. But this isn’t it. Nope: the Macan T is a new variant of the current generation – no charging cables, not even any mild hybrid technology, just good old-fashioned petrol power. The T is based on the entry-level Macan, and for a premium of £5000 you get a reasonable selection of visual upgrades. The usual twin rectangular exhausts have been replaced by quad round tailpipes, plus there’s agate (also known as grey) detailing on the rear spoiler, door mirrors and the doors themselves. The 19in alloy wheels have also been swapped for dark grey 20s. Inside, you’ll find more supportive seats (very similar to those…

Steve.Huntingford@haymarket.com PICTURE A STRETCHED SUV and the first thing that comes to mind is probably something brash imported from America, with a hen or stag party going on in the back. However, the new Bentley Bentayga EWB could hardly be more different. Featuring 2500 new parts, the EWB (for Extended Wheelbase) is 180mm longer than a ‘regular’ Bentayga between the front and rear axles, but it disguises its extra bulk well. Indeed, the biggest visual giveaway that you’re looking at an EWB when one wafts past is the fact that the front grille swaps the usual Bentley mesh for vertical bars. It’s a design detail taken from the discontinued Mulsanne saloon, which the Bentayga EWB indirectly replaces at the top of the company’s range. Meanwhile, the interior is said to…

Max.Adams@haymarket.com SOMETIMES ALL YOU need to improve your self-confidence is a slight alteration to your look. The Audi A8 – our favourite money-noobject luxury limo since it arrived in late 2017 – has received some subtle nip ’n’ tuck styling tweaks to maintain its footing against the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and other rivals. Thankfully, there haven’t been any major changes to the engine range, so you still get an efficient 286bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, a sparkling 335bhp 3.0-litre petrol, a high-performance V8-powered 563bhp S8 and a 456bhp plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that combines the V6 petrol engine with an electric motor. The PHEV now gets a slightly bigger battery, increasing its official electric-only range to 37 miles (from 29). Performance is very much business as usual, and the V6 petrol offers…

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COUNCILS AND ROAD authorities across Britain paid out more than £12 million in compensation to motorists between 2018 and 2021 for damage caused by poor road surfaces and potholes. The figure was revealed following a What Car? investigation, which also showed that motorists logged more than 145,000 compensation claims for vehicle damage caused by poorly maintained roads during that period. Of those claims, 37,366 (25.7%) were successful, with authorities paying £12,991,216 in total compensation. That works out as approximately £347 per successful claim. By comparison, the average cost of filling a pothole has been estimated at £47. What Car? also surveyed 470 motorists, with 23.6% reporting their vehicle has sustained damage from hitting a pothole in the past 18 months. Two-thirds of respondents were aware they could claim for the…

Depreciation is often overlooked when people are deciding what car to buy. But while other running costs, such as fuel consumption, servicing and road tax, are important, they rarely add up to as much as the amount a new car loses in value over the first few years of ownership. True, depreciation isn’t all bad news; if you’re buying used and choose carefully, it can allow you to get a lot of car for your money. Just bear in mind that a car that loses a lot of value initially is likely to continue depreciating faster than rivals. Here, then, we’ve used our latest resale value data to reveal the 10 models that are expected to retain the highest percentage of their value in the first three years – and…

Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 125 ST-Line List price £24,605 Target Price £23,561 Our current favourite small SUV serves up a great blend of practicality and driving fun NEW Volkswagen Taigo 1.0 TSI 95 Life List price £23,155 Target Price £22,700 Sleek sister to the T-Cross and T-Roc certainly looks the part, but does it have the substance to back up its style? Small SUVs are hot property right now, and with their chunky presence and assured practicality, it’s easy to see why they’re such a huge hit with buyers. Generally speaking, though, there’s not a lot of difference between them in terms of shape; the majority of them follow a rather boxy and functional blueprint. The coupé-styled Volkswagen Taigo, however, seeks to set your heart aflutter with its eye-catching…

John.Bradshaw@haymarket.com Mileage 2655 List price £31,510 Target Price £29,726 Price as tested £33,050 Test economy 39.9mpg I RECENTLY TOOK a road trip that represented a homecoming for my Qashqai – and a bit of a pilgrimage. I took it to the Nissan factory in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, where the Qashqai is among the models built, and from where it is exported to points all over the globe. More than 3.5 million Qashqais have been built in Sunderland since the first version went on sale in 2007, and that vast number means that this family SUV has accounted for one in every five cars manufactured in the whole of the UK since then. That’s pretty astonishing, but from what I can see in mine, the workforce certainly doesn’t throw these…

Mileage 3806 List price £31,485 Target Price £31,024 Price as tested £34,010 Test range 152 miles A SHORT BREAK in Surrey put paid to any concerns that the Fiat 500 Convertible is too much of a compromise when it comes to practicality. The boot’s opening may be narrow, but the fabric roof doesn’t encroach on its capacity when lowered, and there was easily room for two overnight cases. Arriving at the hotel, I noticed that the 500 makes a purry sort of noise at low speeds. This is to alert pedestrians to its presence, I presume, and it got me wondering what other electric vehicles (EVs) sound like. My EV-driving colleagues tell me the Skoda Enyaq emits a gentle rumble and the Audi E-tron hums like a flying saucer. In…

Price today £20,000 Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI 190 quattro Sport S tronic List price when new £38,005 Available from 2017-present The A5 Sportback builds on the A4 saloon’s talents of quality, comfort and economy, with added élan Price today £20,000 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 420d xDrive Sport List price when new £37,335 Available from 2014-present Being based on the previous-gen 3 Series should make the Gran Coupé great to drive SO, YOU WANT a sporty coupé but are having trouble selling the idea to your family and friends? Well, if five doors, five seats, a sizeable boot and a reasonable price will seal the deal, then you’re in luck. What we have here is a used Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé – a duo…

1 Mercedes-AMG A45 MAKE NO MISTAKE: our 2022 Hot Hatch of the Year is more than just a one-trick pony. Yes, it’s ballistically quick in a straight line, belting from 0-62mph in just 3.9sec, but it’s also agile and entertaining through corners. You can adjust the four-wheel drive system to send the majority of power to the rear wheels only to allow you to slide it (on a track). The ride is firm, though, and you’ll need deep pockets to afford one. Our pick S Plus List price £58,650 Target Price £58,650 MPG 31.1 CO2 206g/km For Savage performance; immense grip; engaging handling; quick-shifting automatic gearbox Against Very expensive to buy and run; firm ride; not as quiet or easy to live with as the rival Audi RS3 WHAT CAR? SAYS…

1 Hyundai Santa Fe THERE’S LOADS TO like about the latest Santa Fe, including its huge boot and practical interior with seating for up to seven adults. The regular hybrid version that we recommend offers the best tradeoff between price and running costs, and even entry-level Premium trim comes with many of the luxuries that are available only on high-end versions of the closely related Kia Sorento, making it fantastic value for money. Our pick 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 4WD Premium List price £42,685 Target Price £40,921 MPG 40.4 CO2 159g/km For User-friendly interior with seven seats suitable for adults; huge boot; loads of standard kit; long warranty Against Performance is only average; some wind noise at motorway speeds; top trim is expensive WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Kia Sorento Our pick 1.6…

Prices don’t include £1500 government grant for cars costing less than £32,000 1 Tesla Model 3 THE MODEL 3 balances range, performance, price and technology better than every other car in its class. It was already hugely compelling, both as a private buy and a company car, but a refresh for 2021 made it even better. Factor in access to Tesla’s unbeatable charging network and the Model 3 is an incredibly desirable yet thoroughly sensible choice. It’s the best argument yet for switching from fossil fuels. Our pick Long Range List price £54,990 Target Price £54,990 Range 374 miles CO2 0g/km For Dependable, fast charging network; well priced; stuffed with tech; surprisingly practical; enjoyable to drive Against Firm town ride, pricey finance deals; interior is better than it was but could…

1 BMW X5 WHEN CHOOSING A plug-in hybrid, it goes without saying that you want economy and cost-effectiveness, but if you don’t want to compromise on the finer things in life, the X5 xDrive45e is right up your street. It offers the same fantastic interior as any other X5, and is even more refined. Yet it’s cheaper to run than rivals, not least because it can travel a whopping 54 miles on electric power. Our pick xDrive45e M Sport List price £71,310 Target Price £69,726 MPG 217.3 CO2 29g/km For Superb ride and handling balance; excellent infotainment; big pure electric range; low company car tax Against No seven-seat option in our preferred plug-in hybrid form; boot isn’t as big as you’d expect WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 BMW X7 Our pick xDrive40d M…

1 BMW 4 Series Coupé ITS LOOKS MAY be divisive, but whether or not you’re a fan of this 4 Series’ aggressive styling, you’ll love what’s underneath. This is one of the most rewarding driver’s cars in the class and, if you opt for the Pro Pack’s adaptive suspension, it’s also a very comfortable everyday car. In addition, the 4 Series benefits from a wonderful interior with supportive seats and class-leading infotainment. Our pick 420i M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £43,300 Target Price £41,836 MPG 42.2 CO2 151g/km For Rewarding handling; no longer so derivative of 3 Series; high-quality interior; composed ride Against Looks won’t be for everyone; some rivals have larger boots; you hear wind and tyre noise at speed WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Audi TT Our Pick 40 TFSI…

1 Porsche 718 Cayman IT’D BE EASY to write off the Cayman as a poor man’s 911. It can be bought for as little as half the money, so it must be half the car, right? Well, actually, no; in the ways that matter most, the Cayman is the best sports car on the planet. The only caveat is that you need to go for the GTS model, because this swaps the uncouth engines of lesser versions for a glorious 4.0-litre flat six. Our pick GTS 4.0 List price £68,665 Target Price £68,665 MPG 25.9 CO2 247g/km For Brilliant handling; rich, soulful naturally aspirated six-cylinder GTS engine; classy interior Against Lacks the level of standard kit you’d expect of such a pricey car, both in terms of luxuries and safety WHAT…

George.Hill@haymarket.com ONE WAY OF catching people’s attention is to get a topic trending on social media. So, perhaps that’s why the all-new Smart #1 has been given a hashtag-style name. After all, this electric SUV is meant to kick off a new era for the brand, and that’s something it wants people talking (or tweeting) about. Designed by Mercedes-Benz but engineered with the help of Chinese firm Geely, the #1 is the first new Smart to be launched since the Fortwo EQ city car two years ago, and the brand’s first SUV. Its closest rival is the Peugeot e-2008, but non-electric small SUVs including the Audi Q2, Mini Countryman and Volkswagen T-Roc are also in its sights. Beyond the name, another way the #1 is looking to stand out is…

Neil.Winn@haymarket.com IF YOU PREFER your performance car to be served with a dose of fresh air, the new BMW M4 Convertible will be a sight for sore eyes, because your choice of super-quick four-seat drop-tops is severely limited. Earlier this year Mercedes-AMG killed off its V8-powered C63 Cabriolet, and it’s been more than five years since Audi last offered an RS5 Cabriolet. And while we’d be remiss not to mention the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, its six-figure price makes it a very different financial proposition. Perhaps the shortage of models in this class is down to the fact that, for many drivers, a high-performance drop-top is an oxymoron. Convertibles tend to have less structural rigidity than coupés, so if you’re after a rewarding driving experience, why would you pick the version…

George.Hill@haymarket.com “IF YOU CAN’T beat ’em, join ’em” is a wellworn phrase, but it can mean something different in the car world, where brands sometimes join forces to improve products and reduce costs. This is what Volkswagen has decided to do with its new Amarok pickup truck, because it’s been co-developed with Ford. The latter makes some of the best commercial vehicles in the world, including the Ranger, our reigning Pick-up of the Year. Due to be offered in single-cab or double-cab forms, the new Amarok is longer and marginally taller than the previous model, but slightly narrower. And while the distance between the front and rear axles is longer, the front and rear overhangs are shorter. This allows better approach and departure angles for tackling uneven terrain and steep…

Lawrence.Cheung@haymarket.com THE LATEST KIA Sportage is on a roll. In its regular hybrid and petrol-powered guises, its all-round talent has seen it beat rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 in our group tests in the short time it’s been on sale. And now there’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version that adds another dimension to this family SUV’s repertoire: appeal among company car drivers. With an official electric range of 43 miles, it can go farther on a charge than the equivalent Ford Kuga (39 miles) and Tucson (38 miles), helping it to attract a lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rating than those rivals (8% versus 12%). That’s a hefty saving in salary sacrifices for company car drivers. And the good news continues. The Sportage PHEV’s combination of a…

THE DEPARTMENT FOR Transport has confirmed some of the changes that it intends to make to The Highway Code in an effort to ensure that autonomous cars are used safely. Under the plans, when the vehicle is in control, the person behind the wheel will be permitted to view content that is not related to driving – for example, television programmes or movies – on built-in display screens. However, it will still be illegal to use a mobile phone, because doing so is deemed to pose a greater risk of distraction and therefore might prevent a driver from noticing that the car requires them to take over. This decision has been welcomed by Matthew Avery, chief research strategy officer for Thatcham Research, the organisation responsible for independent Euro NCAP safety…

SAVE £1321 Skoda Karoq WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 1.5 TSI SEL List price £29,435 Target Price £28,114 Target PCP £317 If you need a car with exibition hall levels of interior flexibility, the Skoda Karoq SEL could be a good option; its clever rear seats slide, recline and fold very easily. Plus, they’re split into three fairly even sizes, and flattening all three gives you a barn-sized boot. The Karoq is also very comfortable, with a smooth ride that’s great on longer journeys. SCAN FOR A GREAT DEAL ON THIS CAR SAVE £13,695 BMW X4 M Competition WHAT CAR? SAYS Model xDrive X4 M Competition List price £88,185 Target Price £74,490 Target PCP £778 If you can’t decide between a sports car, an SUV and a coupé, how about a…

SCAN FOR A GREAT DEAL ON THIS CAR BEST BUY Land Rover Defender 110 D300 X-Dynamic S List price £62,390 Target Price £62,390 Options we’d add Off-Road Pack (£1170), Secure Tracker Pro (£520 for a 36-month subscription), Cold Climate Pack (£455), Interior Protection Pack (£295) Total cost of options £2440 ✓ The Off-Road Pack (£1170) amplifies the Defender’s traction over tricky terrain by adding a set of off-road tyres and an electronic ‘active’ rear differential – which controls the difference in speed between the wheels. These are crucial to off-road adventures yet don’t compromise the Defender’s comfort or practicality. ✓ Adventures in the British countryside can be mucky affairs, especially if you’ve got children or a four-legged friend in tow. To avoid making a mess of your Defender’s carpets, you’ll…

TESTING PROCESS THE phone holders were fitted to the horizontal air vent slats of a car – or simply stuck on the dashboard – then used over a set driving route. We assessed how easy each holder was to fit and how securely it held a smartphone on the move. We also considered how compatible each model was with various handset brands, how easy the phone was to reposition once it was in the holder, how quickly it charged the phone, and whether it had features to protect the device from overcharging or overheating. 1 MPOW CA148A Car Phone Mount Price £21.99 Buy from Amazon Maximum charging speed 10W The MPOW mount has a clamp that fixes securely to a vent, and can also be attached to the dashboard with…

BMW iX xDrive40 Sport List price £69,905 Target Price £69,905 This entry-level version of BMW’s electric flagship gives you a seriously plush interior and all the latest tech that BMW has to offer NEW BMW iX3 M Sport Pro List price £63,970 Target Price £63,970 The iX3 is based on a combustion-engined model, but it shines as an electric car and has just been updated inside and out In the fictional Pokémon realm, Mewtwo is a creature that has been genetically engineered to be the best – a species designed from the ground up to specialise in fighting. Conversely, most other species in the realm weren’t born to fight; they evolved and became moulded by their trainers, becoming fighters over time. A niche reference, but relevant here, because the BMW…

Darren.Moss@haymarket.com Mileage 2082 List price £34,850 Target Price £34,850 Price as tested £40,005 Test range 190 miles WHETHER IT’S RUNNING down the street with a bag over your head to avoid the rain, or cancelling your lost debit card, having given up on ever finding it, there are plenty of examples of so-called ‘last resort’ measures. And when you drive an electric vehicle (EV), a last resort means using a three-pin plug to charge it up. This is something, I’ve found, that very few EV owners regularly do. After all, it’s painfully slow; a full charge in this way takes around 27 hours for my Skoda Enyaq, adding range at a snail-like eight miles per hour. Compare that with the nine hours the same charge takes using a 7.4kW wallbox…

Mark.Pearson@haymarket.com FASHION, ACCORDING TO Coco Chanel, is whatever goes out of fashion, but the fashion for family SUVs seems to have no end date. It’s hardly surprising; here is a class of car that offers practicality, comfort and sensible running costs, often combined with decent driving manners and rugged off-roader looks. I get to drive many of them, but it was a recent test of a Peugeot 3008 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that ignited the thought that this is very much the sort of car I’d like to have on my driveway. On the face of it, this 3008 was fashion piled upon fashion; not only are family SUVs on-trend, but PHEVs are too. A facelift last year has left the 3008 looking even more attractive, with its fetching sabretoothed tiger…

Neil.Williams@haymarket.com Mileage 3432 List price £44,406 Target Price na Price as tested £50,670 Test economy 37.2mpg SO FAR, THE only real downside I’ve discovered to running a Volkswagen Transporter is that I’m now all too popular among those who need to move house or take bulky items to the tip. Compared with even a big estate car (and I’d know, having previously run quite a few of those), the Transporter laughs in the face of any “Can you move this?” challenge. And that’s in the short-wheelbase form that I’ve gone for; I can’t imagine what you’d need to be transporting (no pun intended) to require the long-wheelbase model. My van’s rear seats offer as much leg room as your average limousine, yet the cargo area behind is still an enormous,…

1 Honda Jazz THE JAZZ IS the small car to beat for passenger space, and its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to its practicality. It’s neither the most fun car in the class (that’s the Ford Fiesta) nor the most comfortable (that’s the Peugeot 208), but with excellent visibility, it’s definitely easy to drive. Hybrid power also makes it really cheap to fuel, and slow depreciation helps make up for high prices. Our pick 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SR List price £21,925 Target Price £21,139 MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km For Remarkably spacious, with great seating flexibility; strong performance; lots of standard kit; holds value well Against Pricey by small car standards; not the quietest cruiser; disappointing infotainment system WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Skoda Fabia Our pick 1.0 TSI 95…

1 Ford Puma THE PUMA IS a joy to drive, because it’s super-nimble for a small SUV, while the steering gives you a real sense of connection with the front wheels. These are things you’ll appreciate no matter what type of road you’re driving on. True, rear seat space is only so-so, but the Puma is still surprisingly practical, thanks to a huge boot with a heightadjustable floor. It’s also well equipped, strong on safety and very fuel-efficient. Our pick 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line List price £25,345 Target Price £24,279 MPG 50.4 CO2 126g/km For Great fun to drive, yet rides bumps well; remarkable blend of performance and economy; big, clever boot Against Space in the back is adequate rather than outstanding; over-theshoulder visibility could be better WHAT CAR? SAYS…

1 BMW 3 Series THE HYBRID BMW 330e slickly integrates the latest tech with the long-held wants and needs of executive car drivers. It’s easy to live with, has a high-quality interior and is great to drive, yet it’s also cheap to run. When charged, it can officially cover 37 miles on electricity, and it remains fairly frugal when running on petrol power. The resulting low emissions yield huge tax savings for company car drivers. Our pick 330e M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £45,935 Target Price £45,935 MPG 188.3 CO2 34g/km For Great to drive; low emissions and good electric range; high-quality interior; class-leading infotainment Against Smaller boot and petrol tank than regular 3 Series; sporty suspension setup won’t be to all tastes WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Tesla Model 3 Our…

1 Kia EV6 OUR 2022 CAR of the Year sets the standard for this new era of electric motoring, with one of the longest ranges in the business and ultra-fast charging capability. On top of that, it’s hugely spacious and practical, as well as exceptionally refined. When you combine all that with competitive pricing and a seven-year warranty, there are few cars – electric or otherwise – that get close to the EV6’s breadth of talents. Our pick RWD GT-Line List price £44,695 Target Price £44,695 Range 328 miles CO2 0g/km For Long range; ultra-fast charging; seven-year warranty; exceptionally quiet; loads of rear leg room Against Shallow boot; ride is firm at low speeds; no version qualifies for the Government’s electric car grant WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Skoda Enyaq iV Our pick…

1 Volkswagen Touran THE TOURAN MATCHES the flexibility of huge MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy, with its independently sliding middlerow seats. And despite being a far more compact car, adults fit in all three rows. What’s more, the Touran feels much like a normal hatchback from behind the wheel, thanks to tidy handling and a supple ride. So yes, it exists to offer an abundance of functionality, but that doesn’t define the way it drives at all. Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE List price £32,725 Target Price £31,134 MPG 43.1 CO2 149g/km For Compact outside yet spacious inside; seats seven; Isofix child seat mounts on all rear seats; tidy to drive Against Rivals offer more economical engines and more third-row space; automatic gearbox can be hesitant WHAT CAR? SAYS…

1 BMW 4 Series Convertible LIKE THE COUPÉ on which it’s based, the 4 Series Convertible feels wonderfully balanced, and combines agile handling with impressive comfort if you specify the Pro Pack’s adaptive suspension. It’s also refined with the roof up or down, and surprisingly practical for a car of this sort, offering space for four adults and a good-sized boot. Throw in an upmarket and well-equipped interior and you’ve got a drop-top that’s hard to fault. Our pick 420i M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £48,100 Target Price £44,302 MPG 40.4 CO2 160g/km For Agile and precise handling; comfortable ride; user-friendly infotainment system; classy interior Against Some visibility issues; rear seats fold flat but don’t split; adjustable lumbar support costs extra WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Fiat 500 Convertible Our pick Icon…

Max.Adams@haymarket.com BUYERS AFTER A seven-seat electric car have so far only had the choice of the Tesla Model X (which isn’t available new in the UK at present) or something in the shape of a van, such as the Mercedes-Benz EQV. The introduction of the EQB seems like great timing, then, because it’s based on Mercedes’ large seven-seat SUV, the GLB, but swaps the combustion engines for two electric motors that drive all four wheels. There’s a choice of power outputs: 225bhp in the EQB 300 and 288bhp in the EQB 350. Whichever version you choose, you get a battery with a 66.5kWh usable capacity that delivers an official range of 257 miles in entry-level AMG Line trim, or 250 miles if you go for top AMG Line Premium. The…

George.Hill@haymarket.com EYE-CATCHING WATCHES are a mainstay of luxury culture, but while a mechanical Rolex was once the height of wrist-based oneupmanship, now the tech-heavy Apple Watch is muscling into the crowd. The new BMW i7 is all the evidence you need that luxury cars are going the same way; it aims to offer all the comfort and refinement you’d expect from a traditional range-topping model, with the added benefit of electric car technology. Arriving first in xDrive60 form, the i7 is powered by front and rear-mounted electric motors that together produce 537bhp and 549lb ft of torque – enough for a 0-62mph time of just 4.7sec. Power is drawn from a 101.7kWh battery, giving the i7 an official range of up to 388 miles. That’s significantly more than the Audi…

Dan.Jones@haymarket.com WHEN DIRE STRAITS took a five-song demo to Radio London in 1977, a single song from it got them noticed. It became a fan favourite and ultimately propelled them to a level of fame that had them playing at Live Aid in 1985. Not all debuts go down quite as well as Sultans of Swing did, though, and just like Mark Knopfler when he was writing that song, we imagine that Genesis will be hoping for a hit as it unveils its first dedicated electric car. On the face of it, things look promising. As Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis has been able to hit the ground running, building on the success of both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the closely related Kia EV6 – our 2022 Car of the…

Tom.Evans@haymarket.com THERE’S LITTLE TO top the Aston Martin DBX if you want to have fun behind the wheel of a luxurious SUV, but what if you crave even more power – enough to take on the mind-bogglingly fast Lamborghini Urus? Well, that’s where this new, range-topping DBX707 comes in. Clocking in at £31,000 more than the standard model, the DBX707 uses a fettled version of the same 4.0-litre V8 engine, with its power output increased to 697bhp from 542bhp. That’s enough to add 12mph to the standard car’s 181mph top speed and brings the 0-62mph time down from 4.5sec to just 3.3sec. For reference, that makes it 0.2sec quicker than the Urus and puts it 1.2sec ahead of the Bentley Bentayga S. And somehow, despite its hefty 2245kg weight, the…

VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WILL be forced to sell an increasing number of electric cars and vans from 2024, as the UK Government pushes to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. The proposals would mean 22% of vehicles sold in the UK must be electric from 2024, with the proportion then ramping up each year. The outlined schedule would require 52% of cars sold to be fully electric by 2028 and 80% by 2030, when the sale of new non-electrified petrol and diesel cars is due to banned. Thereafter, only fully electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles will be allowed to be sold; the Government is still to confirm which hybrids will qualify, although it is expected to demand any such car can travel a significant distance on electric power alone.…

Kia Soul EV Time: 8.15am Distance since start: 18 miles Battery level: 92% Indicated range: 260 miles Distance to destination: 102 miles Road: A12 Essex Chris.Haining@haymarket.com IT MIGHT NOT feel like it, but most of us make long car journeys pretty rarely. Generally, our driving follows a predictable, repetitive pattern: kids to school, daily commute, trips to visit friends or family. In fact, the Department for Transport says the average UK car journey in 2019 was just 8.4 miles – an absolute cinch for any electric vehicle (EV) you can buy. On the other hand, not everyone follows such a well-rehearsed pattern, and some need to travel a few hundred miles every day. So, to what extent would you have to change your lifestyle to go electric? How long will…

NEW Vauxhall Grandland 1.2 Turbo 130 Design List price £25,820 Target Price £25,003 The Grandland has been around for a few years now, but a tweaked interior and new trims promise to give it a new lease of life Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2 List price £26,745 1.6 T-GDi 2 List price £26,745 NEW Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI 110 SE Drive List price £26,255 Target Price £25,488 Recently facelifted, the Karoq is the car the others have to beat, having set the benchmark at this price point since 2017 Ding, ding, ding: round three. Earlier this year the fifth-generation Kia Sportage, in hybrid guise, stepped into the family SUV ring and gave both the closely related Hyundai Tucson and the Ford Kuga a bloody nose. It was a convincing victory…

Chris.Haining@haymarket.com PARTING WITH MY Kia Soul EV got me thinking about the last days of steam. It’s known that grown men wept, fearing that train travel would no longer arouse the senses in quite the same way. The shriek of the whistle, the aroma of burning coal, the rhythmic left-right, left-right pulsing of the pistons… all would be consigned to sepia-tinted memory, living on only in protective reserves such as the wonderful East Anglian Railway Museum. But, of course, the early diesel and electric trains that replaced them weren’t just more efficient and infinitely cleaner; they went on to attract a nostalgic following of their own. And similarly, the Soul EV has me reassured that moving on from petrol to electric power in our cars is far from a heartbreaking…

Mileage 4515 List price £34,995 Target Price na Price as tested £37,270 Test range 185 miles TAKING PART IN our recent winter range test of 10 electric cars really helped to put my Volkswagen ID.3 into perspective. Although the ID.3 wasn’t among those being put through their paces, I’d driven mine up to our Bedfordshire test track and felt surprisingly happy to get back into it for the drive home. This was a surprise because I’d not felt all that upbeat about the ID.3 of late, tending to focus on its shortcomings and struggling to feel a sense of attachment. However, after a long day of lapping our test route in convoy, jumping from one car to the other until each one ran out of juice, the ID.3 immediately felt…

Steve.Huntingford@haymarket.com FROM JOHN WAYNE to Samuel L Jackson, the history of Hollywood is littered with actors who became typecast. And it can be the same story in the car world, with certain brands strongly linked to particular traits. True, this isn’t always a bad thing; there are plenty of performers who aren’t strongly associated with a specific type of character who would happily swap careers with the aforementioned stars. And the fact that BMW is still commonly known for its ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ slogan 16 years after it officially dropped it certainly hasn’t stopped it attracting a lot of customers. However, just as Mr Jackson might find the offers no longer came in if people tired of watching films featuring a wisecracking badass, so BMW finds itself playing catch-up now…

1 Seat Leon AS A FAMILY car, the latest Leon gets the basics right by offering a big boot and even more space for passengers than the gigantic Skoda Octavia. But it also serves up a very welcome slice of fun and costs less to run than you’d think. Don’t go thinking that the Leon feels even remotely hairshirt, either. It’s every bit as smart inside as the more expensive Volkswagen Golf, while its infotainment system is more user-friendly. Our pick 1.5 TSI Evo 130 FR List price £25,545 Target Price £25,039 MPG 50.5 CO2 127g/km For Great handling; smart, spacious interior; punchy yet frugal petrol engines; generous standard spec Against Ride is on the firm side; more wind and road noise than some rivals; very few optional extras available WHAT…

1 Volvo XC40 IT MAY HAVE been a few years since we voted Volvo’s most affordable SUV our overall Car of the Year, but it remains a hugely desirable product that’s backed up by real substance. The XC40 blends generous passenger space and a practical boot with a quality interior and the sort of top-notch safety you expect from the brand. Plus, our recommended plug-in hybrid version has plenty of poke and promises to be cheap to run. Our pick Recharge T4 Plus (Dark Theme) List price £42,250 Target Price £41,214 MPG 134.5 CO2 47g/km For Stylish, high-quality interior; big and clever boot; supple ride on most versions; comprehensive safety kit Against Fiddly infotainment system; lacks the rear seat flexibility of some rivals; body sways around a bit WHAT CAR? SAYS…

1 Lexus NX IN ITS LATEST iteration, this upmarket large SUV is not only the first Lexus to be offered as a plug-in hybrid but also represents a leap forward for the brand in terms of ride and handling, as well as usability. It’s more practical than the rival Audi Q5, with a classy and wellequipped interior, and it has a relatively long electric range. The NX isn’t just a Lexus you’d buy for its reliability; it’s the best car from the brand in decades. Our pick 450h+ F Sport List price £58,200 Target Price £58,200 MPG 256.7 CO2 25g/km For Impressive electric range; strong performance; high-quality interior; Lexus’s reliability record Against Petrol engine isn’t the smoothest; choppy ride at high speeds; Takumi versions are pricey WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Audi A3…

1 BMW 5 Series OUR FAVOURITE LUXURY car for the past four years still offers the very best traits of this class. Take the interior, for example: it’s virtually identical to that of the pricier 7 Series and just as well made, despite the 5 Series costing far less. As a bonus, the 530e plug-in hybrid variant can complete many journeys on electric power. And even when its petrol engine does fire up, the car is quiet enough to shame full-on limousines. Our pick 530e M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £55,865 Target Price £50,941 MPG 188.3 CO2 33g/km For Fast and fun, yet comfortable and refined; low running costs, particularly as a company car; superb interior Against You need to add adaptive suspension (part of the Pro Pack) for the…

1 Skoda Superb Estate SPACE IS THE name of the game when you’re looking at wagons, and the Superb Estate has been our favourite for six years, striking the sweet spot of practicality, comfort, low running costs and value more accurately than any rival. In fact, with masses of load space for flat-pack furniture or suitcases and palatial comfort for passengers, it’s one of the most impressive family holdalls in any class of car. Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE L List price £34,235 Target Price £31,151 MPG 55.9 CO2 132g/km For Comfortable ride; limo-like rear passenger space; huge boot with lots of practical touches; well priced Against Some rivals are more fun to drive on twisty roads; automatic gearbox can be a tad jerky in traffic WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Skoda…

1 Ford Puma ST UNTIL RECENTLY, BUYING a sports SUV required a sizeable outlay, but the Ford Puma ST changes that. And don’t think the fact that it costs far less than the competition means it’s far less fun. Even the mighty Porsche Cayenne has to bow to the Puma’s incredible agility, while its greater driver engagement and less extreme acceleration mean there’s far more chance to enjoy yourself on public roads. Our pick 1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack List price £31,045 Target Price £29,905 MPG 41.5 CO2 155g/km For Hugely entertaining handling; tuneful and punchy engine; relatively cheap to buy and run Against Occasionally bouncy ride; infotainment system could be slicker; Volkswagen T-Roc is bigger in the back WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Porsche Cayenne Coupé Our pick GTS List price £94,450…

1 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo THE ALL-ELECTRIC Taycan rewrote the performance car rulebook in 2021, and now the Cross Turismo has raised the bar even higher. It brings greater versatility, courtesy of a bigger boot and roomier rear seats, plus raised suspension that seems tailor-made for battered British roads. Our preferred 4S version is more than fast enough and comes with the larger of the two batteries (a pricey option on the equivalent regular model). Our pick 4S List price £88,325 Target Price £88,325 Range 281 miles CO2 0g/km For Massive and instantaneous performance; remarkably agile; gorgeous interior; more practical than the regular Taycan Against Charging network isn’t as good as Tesla’s; range could be better WHAT CAR? SAYS 2 Audi E-tron GT Our pick quattro List price £82,865 Target Price £82,044…