An utterly irresistible offer.

Representative *Atandthefairendwear
of the agreement there are three options: i) pay the optional final payment and own the vehicle; ii) return the vehicle: subject to excess mileage
and tear, charges may apply; or iii) replace: part exchange the vehicle. With Solutions Personal Contract Plan. 18s+. Subject to availability

5.3% APR
and status. T&Cs apply. Offer available when ordered by 2nd April 2018 from participating Retailers. Indemnities may be required. Offers are not available
in conjunction with Scrappage upgrade scheme or any other offer and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Accurate at time of publication. Freepost
Volkswagen Financial Services. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown £33,325 RRP.
Official fuel consumption in mpg (litres/100km) for the Volkswagen Tiguan range in mpg (litres/100km): urban 31.0 (9.1)
– 49.6 (5.7); extra urban 44.1 (6.4) – 67.3 (4.2); combined 38.2 (7.4) – 60.1 (4.7). Combined CO2 emissions 170 – 123g/km.
Information correct at time of print.
 CONTENTS
News | New Cars | Features | Tests | Products | Buying cars | Sport

Newsweek
COVER Mégane RS driven 8
Has Renaultsport created the new hot hatch king? We reveal all
COVER SEAT’s electric hatch 12
Exclusive images of EV. Plus more details as Cupra goes it alone
COVER Peugeot 4008 14
Coupé version of 3008 is coming, and we have the details
Ford’s self-driving pledge 16
New boss claims firm will be a leader in autonomous cars
Major MoT overhaul 18
New rules explained – and what they mean for you

Features
Record-breaking roads 22
The most amazing routes you could ever hope to drive

New cars
COVER Honda Jazz Sport 26
8 It looks sensational, but what’s the new Mégane RS like to drive? We find out Range-topping version of revised supermini driven
Honda Civic diesel 28
Family hatch gets 1.6 engine from CR-V and HR-V
Ford EcoSport 31
Is updated diesel a match for crossover class leaders?
Subaru WRX STi 33
Final Edition special takes rally-bred legend out in style
Nissan e-NV200 Combi 35
New 40kWh battery boost for electric seven-seater

Road tests
COVER Small SUV shoot-out 36
36 Kona faces C3 Aircross and CX-3 12 New SEAT electric hatch for 2020 New Hyundai Kona faces Citroen C3 Aircross and Mazda CX-3
Q7 e-tron vs XC90 T8 46
Audi tackles Volvo in plug-in hybrid battle
Our cars 52
Updates on Nissan Micra, Merc-AMG E 63 S and Peugeot 3008

Products
Hot kit 59
Smart battery chargers from Ring, plus your questions answered
New on the shelves 60
‘Virtual reality’ remote control car leads our kit round-up

26 First drive verdict on new Jazz... 28 ...plus new 1.6 Civic diesel rated DAB adaptors rated 62
Which is the best solution to get digital radio in your car?
Camera locators 64
Online thisweek
Our pick of the devices and apps that will keep you safe

Buying cars
E-Class buyer’s guide 68
Previous-generation Merc is now a bargain used from £7,000
Great estates 70
We take our pick from Kia, Volkswagen and Skoda wagons
New car prices 72
46 Plug-in Q7 and XC90 battle it out All the info you need before you head to the showroom

All-new A-Class revealed

Regulars
Consumer news 20
AT long last, the wait is over for the new Watchdog solves your problems, plus you have your say
Mercedes A-Class. You’ve seen the interior, Get Auto Express every week 54
spy shots and teaser images, but this week How to net a great deal on your favourite magazine
the covers finally come off the Mk4 hatch.
We know the next A-Class will be based
Sport 80
Bathurst 12 Hours preview, plus all the latest news
on a new platform and that plug-in hybrid
technology will be made available for the
Back chat 82
Mike Rutherford on Brits eyeing World Car of the Year glory
first time – but for the full details, head
14 Peugeot planning new 3008 coupé to www.autoexpress.co.uk from Friday.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 5

 THISWEEK
Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars new

The difficulty that comes

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Editor: Graham Hope
Deputy editor: John McIlroy

with creating an icon 8

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Products editor: Kim Adams UP! GTInew

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Living the dream e Phantom
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Leaked imagesfor a ride PLUS Best-v

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t full story
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209bhp Toyota is a genuine
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 TOPSTORY
Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates

● New 1.8-litre turbo engine for Renault Sport thriller

● Manual or dual-clutch auto boxes; Sport or Cup chassis
Jonathan Burn
Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk
and kits the RS out with redesigned
hydraulic shock absorbers and torque
Essentials
@Jonathan_burn
vectoring on the front axle.
IT feels as if we’ve had to wait a long Opt for the Cup chassis, which
Renault Mégane RS
Price: £29,000 (est)
time for a new Renault Mégane RS. should set you back around £1,500
Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl turbo petrol
The standard hatch was launched to £2,000, and Renault throws in a
Power/torque: 276bhp/390Nm
back in 2015 and from that point mechanical limited-slip differential and
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch auto,
the question on everybody’s lips 10 per cent stiffer dampers. At the end front-wheel drive
has been: “When is the RS coming?” of the year the company will launch a 0-62mph: 5.8 seconds
A little over two years on and it’s more potent Trophy version of the car, Top speed: 155mph
finally here, wading into a hot hatch which promises 296bhp and 400Nm Economy: 40.9mpg
market brimming with talent; the Honda of torque from the same motor. CO2: 155g/km
Civic Type R, Hyundai i30 N and VW Golf Our first drive, in Sport-chassis
GTI are only a handful of the capable spec with a dual-clutch gearbox, ONSALE April
cars the Mégane RS has to face up to. reveals that in Comfort or Normal
The newcomer also has big shoes to mode you’d be hard pressed to tell the
fill because of the success, popularity difference between a standard Mégane
and value offered by its predecessor. and the RS in terms of refinement. It’s
Key to that model’s success was its quiet, smooth and incredibly compliant.
relative simplicity; it was lightweight, As the road tightens, toggling
front-wheel drive, had a snappy manual through Sport and Race modes makes
gearbox and a willing 2.0-litre engine. everything a little more aggressive. The
On paper, at least, a lot of the engine note is synthetically pumped
previous Mégane RS’s values have through the cabin’s speakers, but it
filtered through to the new model. sounds convincing, while crackles
Sure, it’s more powerful, thanks to a and bangs erupt from the exhaust EQUIPMENT All models come
new 276bhp, 390Nm 1.8-litre turbo. when shifting down gears. with metal pedals as standard, as
But in the car we’re driving here it’s The six-speed dual-clutch auto well as sat-nav. Volcanic Orange
hooked up to a new six-speed dual- reacts immediately to your every is a new colour option on the RS
clutch automatic gearbox. A manual command; the box is able to jump
transmission is also available, though. gears on the way down through the
What’s also new to the RS (and
a first in a hot hatch) is four-wheel
ratios if you pull and hold the left
paddle in Sport or Race mode. It’s DRIVEN

We dr
steering, which Renault calls 4CONTROL. a shame the paddles don’t operate
It’s designed to increase agility at low with a satisfying click, though; instead
speeds and stability at high speeds. they’re a bit soft and mushy.
But it also adds about 30kg of weight; The steering isn’t brimming with feel,
the RS tips the scales at 1,430kg, which but it’s sharp, and combined with the
makes it heavier than the Type R. Mégane’s four-wheel steering, it gives
As before, two chassis set-ups are this hot hatch gymnast levels of agility. PRACTICALITY Bucket seats feature
available: Sport and Cup. You can spec Below 62mph in Race mode, the rear as standard up front, but they eat into
either with a manual or auto gearbox.
The Sport chassis is the standard set-up
wheels turn in the opposite direction
from the fronts to boost turn-in; you can
legroom in the back. You’ll also struggle
to seat three grown-ups across the rear
FIRST VERDICT

RIDE
Renault Sport badges
hint at potential, but
hatch is impressively
refined on the road

8 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Renault Mégane RS driven TOPSTORY

rive 276bhp Mégane RS

Behind the wheel of long-awaited Renault hot hatch, with clever four-wheel steering

STYLING
There’s an array of
RS touches inside and out,
plus powerful Brembo brakes

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 9

 TOP STORY Renault Mégane RS driven

“Below 62mph in Race

mode, rear wheels turn
in opposite direction from
fronts to boost turn-in”

feel the rear end begin to swing round

and the nose tuck into a corner. INTERIOR
Initially it turns in so quickly that it RS is set apart
from regular
almost catches you off guard. But when
hatch’s cabin
you get on the throttle, because the by Alcantara
Sport chassis only has torque vectoring steering wheel,
rather than a proper diff, you can feel but some cheap
the RS scrabbling away at the asphalt. materials let
It doesn’t seem as fast as the Type R things down
off the mark, nor as punchy when you get
going, but with a 40bhp and 50kg deficit
over the Honda that’s to be expected. The
engine itself pulls strongly and smoothly
from 2,000rpm up to around 6,000rpm
where most of its work is done. Renault
claims a 5.8-second 0-62mph time for
the RS – one tenth down on the Civic.
Where the Mégane really excels is
its ability to cover bumpy and rutted
ground at speed with real composure.
The hydraulic compression stops fitted
to all shock absorbers allow the RS to
absorb road undulations without any
limited-slip diff. Add in the sweet and
precise manual gearbox and it feels
it a sense of occasion. But the carbon
fibre-effect door fabrics, and some of
Verdict
fuss. The body control is superb. like a proper Renault Sport product. the dash plastics, look and feel cheap. THE new Mégane RS is composed at
We did get a brief taste of the firmer Visually, the RS also cuts a striking Interior space is fair at best. There’s speed and incredibly nimble – and
Cup chassis and a manual gearbox, but shape on the road, its squat stance decent headroom for those in the back, yet this version feels like a car that
only for three laps on track. More time emphasised by bulging arches housing but the deep bucket seats steal a fair has more to give. Our brief taste of
on the road is required, but it’s already beautiful 19-inch alloy wheels. bit of knee room. So while you can sit the Cup chassis suggests that it will
clear it’s the better flavour of Mégane; The cabin is more patchy; there are three in the back (unlike the Type R, be a serious rival for the Civic Type R.
power is put down cleanly and the front
end finds more bite thanks to the
enough RS flourishes, like the Alcantara
steering wheel and bucket seats, to give
which only has two rear seats), you
probably wouldn’t want to for long. ★★★★★
10 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk
 NEWS SEAT pure-electric hatchback

First SEAT EV to be Leon ● Exclusive images of EV hatch

EXCLUSIVE
John McIlroy
John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk ● Due in 2020, on MEB platform DESIGN
@johnmcilroy Our images
SEAT’S forthcoming pure-electric car
will match the Leon hatchback on
has said will cost the same as a well-
specced diesel Golf – around £25,000.
preview look
of new electric IMAGES
SEAT, which is
size, but offer much more cabin space, He also confirmed that SEAT plans to likely to be a
the firm’s head of R&D has revealed. offer its MEB hatchback with two power hatch with a
The Spanish brand will launch its outputs, but suggested that additional higher floor
first product based on the VW Group’s performance could be offered because and roof to
pure-electric MEB platform in 2020. the platform will give SEAT the chance allow batteries
to be fitted
SEAT hasn’t confirmed the bodystyle, to introduce over-the-air subscriptions
but Auto Express understands that for services and updates.
it’s likely to be a hatchback with a The research boss said: “We haven’t
slightly raised floor and roofline decided exactly what services we will
to accommodate the batteries. offer, but I think they will be software-
Our exclusive images show how based rather than hardware.
the manufacturer’s first EV could look. “If, for example, we already installed
SEAT’s vice-president for research heated seats on 90 per cent of our cars
and development, Dr Matthias Rabe, as an option, then we could add in the
has now told Auto Express where the extra 10 per cent and offer buyers the
vehicle will sit in the company’s line-up. chance to subscribe to having heated
“The first MEB car will be smaller seats in the winter. However, if you
than our big SUV that’s coming soon,” only have those seats on 10 per cent of
he said. “It will be more the size your cars, there’s no business case.
of the Leon – very close, in fact, in “Either way, I think we’ll end up
length. But the interior space will offering over-the-air items in weekly,
be much greater because of the monthly or permanent upgrades. And Avarvarii
packaging advantages of MEB.” additional performance is one option.”
This characteristic follows the same Rabe described the car as “95 per
pattern as VW’s forthcoming I.D., the cent finished” with the fixed points –
first car to use the MEB platform, which wheelbase, width and chassis length –
will be almost the same length as the now decided. “It’s a really good-looking
next generation of Golf, but use a much- car, because it looks distinctive and yet
extended wheelbase to offer cabin it’s clearly a SEAT,” he added.
space similar to that of the larger Passat.
Rabe added: “I think in price terms
our car will be around the same as an
Ateca.” This could place the model in
a similar bracket to the I.D., which VW

12 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 SEAT pure-electric hatchback NEWS

n-sized, with more space

And it’s go, go, go
for hot Cupra brand
SEAT has also issued first official
confirmation that it intends to spin
off its Cupra performance division
into a separate brand in its own right.
As Auto Express revealed in Issue
1,486, the marque plans to expand
the line-up of faster vehicles and
badge them purely as Cupras. The
firm released a teaser video this
week showcasing the same logo
(below) which we reported SEAT
had applied to register last year.
A release accompanying the
video said the new brand – “Cupra
as its own entity” – will be revealed
in full on 22 February. Significantly,
the logo uses a copper colour similar
to that seen on some details of the
recent limited-edition Leon Cupra R.
The next model to carry the Cupra
badging will be the Ateca SUV, likely
to appear at March’s Geneva Motor
Show. But SEAT’s board member
“It’s a really good-looking POWER with responsibility for research and
car, because it looks Spanish brand
is planning two
development, Dr Matthias Rabe,
has previously admitted he could
distinctive and yet outputs, but
owners could
see hybrid Cupras in future.
“Cupra and electrification is not
it’s clearly a SEAT” get more power
a contradiction,” he said. “I could
by downloading
DR MATTHIAS RABE updates to the see a Cupra as an electrified car –
Vice-president, car’s software and we have something in mind.”
R&D, SEAT
“The firm released
a teaser video this
week showcasing the
same logo which we
reported on last year”

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 13

 NEWS Peugeot 4008

Peugeot’s 4008 coupé-S

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES
Our images give an idea of what the
Peugeot coupé-SUV could look like
when it arrives in two years’ time

“A more elegant profile would

allow the 4008 to offer an edge
over less style-focused SUVs“
René Demarets

Lambo eyes V12 hybrid flagship Land Rover firmly

in WCOTY running
LAMBORGHINI is set to embrace LAND ROVER has two cars in the
electrification in its next-generation running for the 2018 World Car
flagship supercar, which will arrive of the Year awards, which will
early in the next decade, the be revealed at the New York
company’s tech boss has revealed. Motor Show at the end of March.
Speaking to Auto Express ahead of The final shortlist includes
the UK debut of the new Urus SUV, the Land Rover Discovery and
Lamborghini research and development Range Rover Velar – although
boss Maurizio Reggiani said that a the two models have SUV rivals
replacement for the firm’s current V12 such as the BMW X3, Mazda
range-topper, the Aventador, will arrive
in the early 2020s with hybrid power.
OFFICIAL CX-5, VW T-Roc and Volvo XC60.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia,
“The next-generation supersport Boss says replacement for Aventador will arrive in 2020s with hybrid power Kia Stinger, Nissan Leaf and
car will be based on plug-in hybrid Toyota Camry also feature on
technology,” said Reggiani, adding of a supersport car. We are sure that only, because of the complexity of the list, drawn from the views
that the firm will pair plug-in tech with one of the things you must offer engineering a V12 petrol engine for of over 80 jurors worldwide,
a trademark naturally aspirated V12. on a supersport car is a V12 both electrified and conventional use. including Auto Express’s Steve
“The value of our brand is based on naturally aspirated engine.” “The car needs to be engineered for Fowler and Mike Rutherford.
our top-end product,” he added. “It Reggiani said that the new hybrid or not for hybrid,” he said. “The PAGE 82: Rutherford’s view
must be really the pure interpretation model will be offered as a hybrid supersport cannot be a compromise.”

14 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Peugeot 4008 NEWS

SUV is shaping up news

inbrief
● Exclusive images preview sleek 3008-based newcomer

Automedia
Lawrence Allan
Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk
@LobAllan
would be “other things” to come from platform. However, engineers are
PEUGEOT is looking to build on the its SUV range. “Remember when we said aiming to make the 4008 more
strong success of its 2008, 3008 two years ago we would launch five new engaging to drive than its siblings
and 5008 SUVs with a sportier, sleeker SUVs in the coming two years? We did it: with a unique suspension set-up.
fourth model. Likely to be named 4008, three in Europe and two more in China,” The engine range will kick off with
it’ll offer a more coupé-like design to he told us. “It’s time to come back to the three-cylinder PureTech turbo
take on cars such as the Toyota C-HR,
and will arrive early in 2020.
our DNA, and then we will maintain the
growth of our SUV range in the future
petrol engine, plus 1.6 and 2.0-litre
four cylinder BlueHDi diesels. The DS’s new Audi Q2
The new Peugeot, previewed by our
exclusive images, will be inspired by the
because the market is strong.”
Imparato also insisted that all
1.6-litre THP engine from the DS 7
Crossback will also transfer over.
rival caught cold
success premium German brands such Peugeot models would feature the Two plug-in hybrid variants will OUR spies have caught the sister
as BMW have enjoyed in the coupé- company’s innovative i-Cockpit, with support the range, too. Both will use car to the DS 7 Crossback on test
SUV sector and will be based on the high-set digital instruments and a the 1.6-litre THP engine, with one (above). We published exclusive
existing 3008. As a result, we small steering wheel. The 4008 would using a single front-mounted electric images of the SUV, set to be called
can expect the ‘3008 coupé’ therefore adapt the 3008’s cabin with motor to make around 240bhp. The DS 3 Crossback, in Issue 1,498,
to have a curvier exterior, a lower, sportier driving position. second, likely to be dubbed GT instead and now the Audi Q2 and MINI
with a sloping roofline and Despite the roofline, the 4008 is set of GTi, will feature electric motors on Countryman rival has hit the road.
reduced side glass area. to be offered in full five-seat form. As both axles for four-wheel drive, and When it arrives early next year,
It’s set to feature a number with the 3008 and 5008, the car will could produce up to 300bhp. it’ll be one of the first cars to use
of unique styling details, sit on PSA’s latest EMP2 modular P57: Latest on our Peugeot 3008 PSA’s new CMP platform, and looks
including blade-shaped set to mix DS 3 design cues with
LED running lights, a more the DS 7 Crossback’s newer look.
aggressive grille and a
distinctive single-piece
light bar at the rear. The
Variable limit cams
more elegant profile “always working”
would allow the 4008
to offer an edge over less DRIVERS breaking 70mph speed
style-focused mainstream limits on smart motorways when
SUVs, while competing no variable limit is in place can
with high-end crossovers. still be ticketed by speed cameras,
Speaking exclusively to an investigation has found.
Auto Express, Peugeot CEO Derbyshire Police told the
Jean-Phillipe Imparato said there Derby Telegraph cameras on the
M1 between Junction 29A and
Sloping roofline will give 4008 a more Tibshelf services are always on,
sporty profile than other Peugeot SUVs adjusting to limits and catching
speeders even when no variable
limit is in place. The cameras
caught 8,382 drivers in 2017.
(From left) I.D. Buzz microbus,
I.D. hatch, I.D. Crozz all on way Revived 8 Series
looks back on form
THE first official, unmasked
image of the new 8 Series has
been issued by BMW, although
the teaser (below) gives only a
shadowy glimpse of the Mercedes

VW’s I.D. family is ready to grow

S-Class Coupé rival’s rear end.
BMW says the 8 Series is still
undergoing intensive assessment,
but is on course for a 2018 release
and cars now in engineers’ hands
VOLKSWAGEN won’t let up on its all- shape of the I.D. Crozz with a more the saloon class, which is still big are “close-to-series prototypes”.
electric assault, and has been busy conventional crossover design. business for VW globally, especially in
trademarking potential names for Speaking to Auto Express late last China, where the EV market is booming.
the next members of the I.D. family. year, VW’s design boss Klaus Bischoff As a marker of the saloon segment’s
The brand registered ‘I.D. Freeler’ said two I.D. SUVs will be in showrooms success, the Jetta – now discontinued
and ‘I.D. Cruiser’ towards the end of last by 2020, with one of them fulfilling this in the UK – was Volkswagen’s second
year. A likely arrival under one of those more conventional role alongside the biggest-selling model in 2016, with
names will be another I.D. SUV concept, production I.D. Crozz. It’s likely the firm 968,135 deliveries. That puts it behind
which moves away from the coupé-like could also steer the I.D. range towards only the Golf in terms of popularity.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 15

 NEWS Ford’s self-driving future

Boss: Ford to be tech leader

● Hackett wants brand to be first in driverless revolution ● ‘Level 4’ vehicle offered by 2021

OFFICIAL

I’m not forecasting people giving up cars and

driving; the joy of driving is too important
JIM HACKETT Ford CEO

Jonathan Burn the recent Detroit Motor Show, he

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk expressed his desire to see Ford as a
DRIVERLESS
@Jonathan_burn Ford autonomous
market leader in this segment, despite tech has been on
FORD CEO Jim Hackett says he its position as a mainstream brand. test in Mondeo
wants the company to become a “Look at the history of computing,” mule; it’s set to
leader in the world of autonomous he said. “It’s why Steve Jobs [former make production
vehicles – and to make the cutting-edge Apple CEO] came later and won; it’s debut in 2021
technology available to everyone. because he made computing accessible
Ford will be one of the first makers to in ways that you just couldn’t have
market with a ‘Level 4’ fully autonomous imagined. And it’s my desire to
vehicle. It will be launched in 2021 into have Ford lead in that way in terms won’t come at the expense of Ford’s strategy to put electrification
“commercial operation” and be used for of how autonomy is translated.” conventional cars. The brand recently into some of these popular models.”
three specific purposes: ride-sharing, Hackett also sees the technology announced it would be ‘electrifying Hackett also played down rumours
ride-hailing and delivering goods. helping small businesses, which he iconic nameplates’ with a Mustang- that Ford would follow General Motors
Hackett, who took over as CEO last claims have “been falling by the inspired electric SUV set to arrive in 2020. and leave the European market. “Europe
May, is in the midst of transforming Ford wayside because they can’t compete “I’m not forecasting people giving up is too big and an important market for
from an automotive brand into a mobility with the logistics of these big retailers”. cars and driving; the joy of driving is too us,” he said. “We’re a recognised brand
company. Speaking to Auto Express at However, these driverless ambitions important,” Hackett told us. “We have a and we’ve made a big commitment.”

567bhp SVRs at the double in Velar and F-Pace

LAND Rover is planning to unleash a SPIED
hot Range Rover Velar SVR this year,
and new spy shots show the car being
given a going-over by engineers.
It’s the first time we’ve spotted the
BMW X6 M rival on the road, and tell-tale
SVR touches include larger air intakes and
a rear diffuser, plus huge performance
brakes. A licence plate check confirms the Spy shots show Velar SVR
SVR’s big air intakes and brakes,
disguised Velar has JLR’s supercharged plus diffuser; our image (below) previews F-Pace SVR
5.0-litre V8 – the same unit used in a
number of sporting models including the SVR, the Velar will feature a unique launched at around the same
be lau
recently revised Range Rover Sport SVR. chassis and steering set-up to time a as sister brand Jaguar’s F-Pace
The V8 produces 567bhp in that car, provide a more engaging drive.ve. SVR, previewed in our exclusive
and we’d expect a similar output in the Given the P380 starts at image (left). This will use the same
ima
Velar. It would be a significant upgrade £70,000, we expect the Velarr pow
powertrain as the Land Rover, and
over the current flagship P380 model’s SVR to approach £90,000 co
could be even faster, but is likely
375bhp supercharged V6. Being an when it goes on sale. It will to be up to £20,000 cheaper.
Avarvarii
16 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk
 NEWS MoT test overhaul

MoT test revamp gets

● New rules for test announced Barlow, head of MoT policy for the Driver ALL CHANGE
● Shake-up to start on 20 May and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Stricter MoT rules on
told Auto Express they would “help diesels and new defect
Hugo Griffiths motorists do the right thing, ie, not categories will come
Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk drive away from a garage”. into force on 20 May
@hugo_griffiths
Barlow clarified the DVSA would
THE MoT test is due for a major be “changing the wording on the
shake-up on 20 May this year, certificate”, adding that penalties for
when tough rules for diesel cars and driving dangerous cars, and laws from
new defect categories come into force. the Road Traffic Act, could be highlighted
Faults will be classified as Minor, on test reports for failed cars.
Major and Dangerous from that date, One example of the new criteria, set
with Major and Dangerous issues out in a draft DVSA MoT guide, concerns
causing an automatic failure. Cars with steering. A steering box leaking oil
Minor defects will be allowed to pass would get a Minor fault, while if the oil
the test, but faults will be recorded on is leaking enough to be dripping, that
their MoT certificate and online MoT would constitute a Major defect, leading
record, just as advisories are now. to a test failure. If the steering wheel
Diesels will also have to meet strict itself, meanwhile, is so loose it is “likely
new rules to pass their MoT. Any car to become detached”, that would be a
fitted with a diesel particulate filter Dangerous failure, and the certificate
(DPF) that emits “visible smoke of any would flag this up with greater urgency.
colour” during metered tests will be Eric Smith, Kwik Fit’s MoT scheme
given a Major fault, and fail its MoT. manager, said the changes would bring
Testers are also being instructed to test terminology in line with the Road
check more carefully to see if DPFs have Traffic Act, because “a Dangerous item
been removed or tampered with, and means that vehicle should not be
must refuse to test any car where the driven away from the garage, and
“DPF canister has clearly been cut open driving a vehicle in a dangerous
and re-welded” unless the owner can condition is a criminal offence”.
prove this was done “for legitimate However, RAC spokesman Simon
reasons, such as filter cleaning”. Williams added: “Rather than MoT
The new Minor, Major and Dangerous failures simply being black and white,
categories will be applied to all cars, the new system creates the potential
and are being brought in to meet a new for confusion because testers will have
EU directive, dubbed the European to make a judgment as to whether faults
Union Roadworthiness Package. Neil are Dangerous, Major or Minor.”

“Any car fitted with a DPF that emits ‘visible smoke

of any colour’ during metered tests will fail its MoT“

New measures to make smart motorways safer

CONCERNS over safety have prompted “comparable levels of safety to
Highways England to start building traditional motorways”, but said more
more refuge areas on smart motorways, refuge areas would be built “in order to
and extend a system that automatically provide greater reassurance to road
detects broken down cars in live lanes. users”. A previous AA survey found 80
The Government-owned company – per cent of drivers felt they were more
responsible for the country’s motorways dangerous than traditional motorways.
and major A roads – will build future Further safety measures for smart
refuges every mile “where practicable”, motorways include the national roll-out
instead of the current 1.5 miles. of a stopped-vehicle detection system,
Highways England will also install which will alert authorities if a motorist
more refuge areas in locations “with breaks down in a live lane. This follows
the highest levels of potential live successful trials on the M25.
lane stops” and paint them orange Highways England has reduced “non-
“to increase consumer confidence”. compliance with red-X signals” to about
In a letter to the Transport Select eight per cent, but a significant number
Committee, Highways England chief of motorists are still using closed smart
executive Jim O’Sullivan claimed motorway lanes. The offence is likely to
all-lane running motorways deliver incur fines and penalty points this year. More refuge areas will be built on smart motorways to allay safety worries

18 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 MoT test overhaul NEWS
W
WS

tough on diesels
Latest emissions tests still
have their flaws, says Merc
James
Batchelor
James_Batchelor@dennis.
James_
Jam co.uk
es Batchelor@dennis.co.u
.ukk
@JRRBatche
@JRRBatc
tche
helor
helo
@JRRBatchelor

Videowatch
AT youtube.com/Autoexpress
this week, we drive the all-new
Nissan Leaf, as well as Toyota’s
208bhp Yaris GRMN hot hatch.

First drive report on

THE new WLTP/RDE (World Harmonised Light
Vehicle Testing Procedure/Real Driving
TEST ALERT Nissan’s new Leaf
New WLTP/RDE
Emissions) tests for fuel economy and emissions tests will still
coming into effect this year are still unlikely to not deliver true
match real-world figures, according to Mercedes. real-world figures,
The company’s chief of Certification of according to
Emissions and Consumption in the EU, Dr Mercedes exec
Christoph Höhmann, told Auto Express:
“It [the new test] is better than the old one.
But if the expectation is that everything will
be fixed, then in that respect it’s not right.” WHILE many car makers are falling
Dr Höhmann gave an example of how the over themselves to launch an electric
new RDE tests – which include on-road analysis car, Nissan is already on version 2.0.
of emissions – could still be flawed. “The The new Leaf has some big boots
framework [for RDE] does not say when you have to fill, but it’s crammed with cutting-
to shift gears or whether you should be using edge tech to make owning an EV easy.
items like the air conditioning during the test,” Will this be enough to tempt people?
he said. “The air-con could have a huge effect, Steve Fowler gives his verdict.
but you don’t have to turn it on [in the test] and
you will probably have it on in the real world.”
Behind the wheel
of hot Yaris GRMN

Sleek new Santa Fe aims to tease

Next-generation Hyundai is
set for public debut at the
Geneva Motor Show HOT Toyotas don’t come along very
often, and the latest will probably
be one of the most exclusive ever.
The UK will get only around 100
examples of the Yaris GRMN, at nearly
£27,000 each, but as Steve Sutcliffe
finds out, it’s no normal Yaris. Tuned
up and boasting 208bhp, it’s going
to be a very special collector’s item.
HYUNDAI has teased the fourth Skoda Kodiaq rival, which is expected looks smaller, with a less upright
generation of Santa Fe ahead to go on sale by the end of this year. roofline and a shoulder that kicks You can watch
of the car’s debut at the The front headlights appear upwards to the C-pillar. any of our videos
Geneva Motor Show in March. slimmer than the current model’s, Expect the new Santa Fe to get an on your phone
The profile silhouette shows a while a distinct styling line runs the updated diesel engine, but hybrid
Simply scan
more angular and sleek shape for the length of the side. The glasshouse technology is also likely to feature.
this QR code.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 19

 WATCHDOG
We get behind all the motoring stories that affect you

Alison’s Toyota
was still in good
condition, apart
from rust she
had arranged to
have repaired
Martin
Saarinen
Connected cars are nearly
here, but who will control
the data they generate?
HOW much do you think
your car knows about you?
An odd question, but you might
be surprised to learn that there
won’t be much you can keep
secret from it in the future.
The term ‘connected car’ is used a
lot, but what motorists need to start
understanding is that a connected
car isn’t just one that speaks to the
next set of traffic lights to determine
whether to slow down or speed up;

Warranty ‘fix’ leaves

it’s a car that will speak to everyone.
In two years’ time, 98 per cent
of new cars sold will be connected,
so they will not only receive
information, but also transmit it.

Yaris in worse state

What kind of information are they
sending out? Speaking to Otonomo,
an analytics company that works
with a number of manufacturers
in capturing, processing and then
selling their data, there are hundreds
of different bits of knowledge your
■ CASE STUDY Owner’s shock as bodyshop returns Toyota with more faults than it goes in with car can send to the world.
Take your windscreen wipers –
Julie Sinclair turn them on and weather stations
PROBLEMS
IF you book your car in for a warranty When car was nearby will be told that it’s raining.
repair, you expect it to come back looking returned from If your traction control or ABS kicks
better, not worse. But that’s exactly what bodyshop, the in, the roads could be slippery
happened to one Toyota Yaris owner, after bootlid was and warnings can be shown on
her car developed a rust patch inside the misaligned, motorway info boards. All positive
bootlid, and several failed attempts to among raft of data which will benefit road users.
repair it resulted in even more damage. other issues Then there’s the information
Alison Ware, of Wolverhampton, West that’s more private. What kind of
Midlands, told Auto Express she’d owned music we listen to, the kind of apps
her 14-plate Yaris since new, and aside we use, the shops, restaurants and
from a small scratch on the bumper and cafes we visit and so on. This is all
this rust patch, it was in great condition. information that manufacturers
But that all changed after its first trip have and currently sell. Legal experts
to the repairer last July to fix an area of have already raised questions about
corrosion Toyota admits has appeared “After an inspection by enough, and contacted Auto Express. We the data protection laws that apply
in some models built that year. called Toyota for an explanation, and its to the automotive sector. And this
Alison’s dealer, Charles Clark Toyota a field engineer, Toyota spokesman said: “I can only apologise. is something that will increase in
in Wolverhampton, sent her car to local
bodyshop BodyKraft for a repair and
agreed that the repairs This should have been a straightforward
repair, but it simply wasn’t done
importance in the coming years.

respray. But it returned with obvious were unacceptable” properly. That’s being taken up with Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk
flaws, including a misaligned bootlid, the dealer and the bodyshop involved.” @AE_Consumer
mismatched paint, patches of bare The dealer offered to trade in Alison’s
metal, some overspray and misplaced came back with even more paint car for a new one. But that would have
decals. She said: “I was staggered it problems. A third attempt by BodyKraft’s involved her taking out fresh debt, which “There are hundreds
had actually got through the garage’s Dudley branch made matters worse. she wasn’t keen on. The spokesman
own quality assurance checks!” Alison said the car came back with confirmed: “We’re now trying to find her of different bits of data
After an inspection by a field a broken demister, a mix of matt and a much newer, 16-plate replacement your connected car can
engineer, Toyota agreed the repairs gloss paint and dirt chips in the finish. Yaris, which is not affected by the same
were “unacceptable” and the car went She added: “The car now needs a full rusting issues, and has similar mileage send out to the world”
back to BodyKraft. But Alison told us it respray.” Alison decided enough was and a matched or improved spec.”

20 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Inbox
Increase in speeding
convictions blamed
for rise last year Your views

Contact Hugo Griffiths

Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis

Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP

HOT TOPIC A-Class’s hi-tech dash

FROM: Gavin Simmonds WE are used FROM: Asif Farooqui IT will probably be
to seeing big-car tech trickle down beautifully made with fantastic build
to smaller models, but Mercedes quality, but there’s so much going on
has really pushed the boat out by the overall impression is of a messy

Record 1.4m drivers

adapting the E-Class interior for the design. The worst offenders are the
A-Class. It looks ace. How will E-Class colour-changing air vents, though;
owners feel about this, though? those will date like yesterday’s news.

sit retraining course

■ Police net £54m for putting offenders on schemes in 2017
Hugo Griffiths
A RECORD 1.4 million people DRIVING
attended driver retraining courses LAWYER
in the UK last year, with police Anton Balkitis
forces collecting an estimated Traffic and transport We revealed posh
£54million as a result. law specialist
look of new A-Class
www.keepmeontheroad.co.uk
According to figures from the interior in Issue 1,501
National Driver Offender Retraining
Scheme, 1,413,598 motorists sat LAST year there were some major
a driver retraining course after changes to motoring laws, especially Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk
being caught by the police for a surrounding the use of hand-held ■ “Has Mercedes ■ “If driving when using ■ “This looks beautiful.
motoring offence in 2017. That’s devices while driving, as well as confirmed if you can a phone will land you in The design means the
a rise of two per cent from 2016. speeding fines and L-tests. take this indoors to use trouble, is such an array A-Class gets my vote
The nine different courses are There were also a number of as a games console?” of distraction legal?” over the Audi A3 now.”
frequently offered in lieu of penalty landmark industry rulings, some Leftfootbrake Jack Lewis Joshua Lee
points and a fine for various identifying big gaps in current driving
driving infringements, and cost laws and regulations that could point
motorists between £80 and £200. to where transport legislation needs Flying the flag is a Buyer beware after
While the courses are run by
private companies, constabularies
to head in 2018 and beyond.
Following the introduction of drug- step too far for MINI used history lesson
are compensated for the expenses driving laws in 2015, Department for FROM: Paul Soave I AGREE with FROM: Douglas Kent GOOD to see your
involved in catching offenders. Last Transport figures show motorists Graham Hope’s comments (Issue feature on dealers withholding car
September the amount police receive under the influence of drugs are now 1,506) regarding the facelifted MINI’s histories (Issue 1,505). I just viewed
for each driver attending a course just as likely to be convicted as drunk Union flag rear lights. I’m as proud a 12,000-mile one-year-old car, but
increased from £35 to £45, earning drivers. There’s also an urgent need to be British as I am Scottish, but found out its road tax had lapsed six
forces around £54million in total. for testing kit that can identify drivers there should be an option to have months previously. It had probably
The record number of courses using ecstasy; it would be no surprise standard lights. I will be buying my been driven hard for six months, then
has been partly attributed to the to see further laws in this area. fifth MINI this year; it will be my last. left for its mileage to ‘normalise’.
number of drivers caught speeding Last year there were major police
in 20mph zones doubling from campaigns on phone use at the wheel Blame Government Modern lights make
17,139 in 2016 to 34,471 in 2017.
Yet not all offenders are offered
as well, plus the doubling of penalties
for the offence. But studies have shown for rise in emissions signals hard to read
courses. RAC Foundation director that even hands-free mobiles can FROM: Paul Baker I WAS unsurprised FROM: Tony Hyatt MODERN light
Steve Gooding said: “What might distract drivers, so time will tell if to read about the rise in UK carbon design is making it increasingly hard
perplex drivers is how the number we’ll see further legislative change. dioxide emissions (Issue 1,506). to determine if a car is indicating
of drivers sent on speed awareness Finally, some of our current road The Government’s changes to the when its headlights are on at night.
courses differs hugely by force. In rules for cycling go back to 1861, but VED system have largely removed There seem to be no restrictions over
2016, 80,235 drivers were offered this year the Government will conduct emissions-based charges, meaning how close the indicator can be to the
the courses in Avon and Somerset. a review on whether there’s a need to there is now little incentive for buyers main headlamp, especially on cars
In neighbouring Wiltshire, nobody create new offences for two wheels. to purchase a less polluting vehicle. with single-cluster front lights.
was given that option.”

Useful
THE following provide help Legal Used car inspections Car registration/history Problems with dealers Problems with makers
with motoring problems. AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) AA: 0800 056 8040 HPI: 01722 422422 The Motor Ombudsman: The Motor Ombudsman:
RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) RAC: 0330 159 0720 AA: 0800 316 3564 0345 241 3008 0345 241 3008
Some services are free, Consumer Ombudsman:

Contacts
Which?: 01992 878329 Technical advice DVLA: 0300 790 6802 Financial problems
others charge a fee or RAC: 0330 159 0364 www.consumer- Financial Ombudsman:
Citizens Advice Consumer AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) ombudsman.org
operate on premium-rate helpline: 03454 040506 Traffic information RMIF: 0845 305 4230
0800 023 4567
lines (p), while some offer Driving licences AA: 0906 888 4322 Safety concerns/recalls
Local Trading Standards Scottish Motor Trade
Local Citizens Advice Bureau DVLA: 0300 790 6801 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Assoc. 0131 331 5510 DVSA: 0300 123 9000
advice for members only (m)

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 21

 INSIDESTORY
A different take on the world of motoring

Jam
James Wilson
James
James_Wilson@dennis.co.uk

IT doesn’t matter if you drive a £250,000

Lamborghini or a £250 Austin Allegro; as a
motorist, you rely heavily on roads. The majority
of them simply get drivers from A to B, but there
are a select few which stand out as something more.
So we’ve put together a list of roads that hold
various Guinness World Records, ranging from the
longest on the planet – circumventing Australia – to
the coldest stretches of tarmac in the depths of Russia
where temperatures plunge below -60 degrees Celsius. Coldest road
We’ve also included a road that deserves an honorary
mention despite its absence from the official record
books. All roads may share the same purpose, but
Road of Bones
they certainly don’t look, or feel, the same. (or M56), Russia
Key fact: Temperatures have been
recorded as low as -67.7 degrees Celsius

THE chillingly named ‘Road of Bones’ is more

formally known as the M56, and runs through
the far east of Russia. Its name comes from the
Gulag prisoners who died (and were consequently
buried under the road surface) when they were
constructing the 1,258-mile highway. What’s
more, even if your vehicle’s heater manages to
keep going in temperatures which have been
recorded as low as -67.7 degrees Celsius, there is
Longest road a real and serious risk of being mauled by a bear.

Highway 1, Australia
Key fact: It’s an incredible 9,000 miles long

HIGHWAY 1 in Australia is the longest continuous road

in the world. It circumnavigates the entire Australian
mainland, and lasts for roughly one service interval of
the average car (9,000 miles). The mammoth circuit
connects major cities such as Melbourne, Sydney
and Perth, along with a huge number of smaller
towns. More remote sections contain mile upon mile
of smooth and empty tarmac for motorists to enjoy.

RECO
Most southerly road
Between McMurdo
Station and Amundsen-

BREA
Scott Station, South Pole
Key fact: The road is unpaved,
and made from graded ice

ROAD
THERE is a route between the McMurdo Station and
Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole that’s made
Tallest road bridge of flattened, graded ice, and stretches for 900 miles. No
road goes further south, and it takes a fully prepared
Millau Viaduct, France snow truck 40 days to pull its sleds of fuel and supplies
from end to end. While this could be reduced in smaller
Key fact: At its tallest, the viaduct vehicles, it goes to show the harsh conditions at the
From the longest bridge in
stands 244.96m (803.67ft) high South Pole – a place where plane trips are often tricky.
twistiest road, as well as the
THE Millau Viaduct crosses France’s Tarn Valley, and is
the world’s tallest bridge, standing 244.96m (803.67ft)
“It takes a fully prepared out the amazing stretches
from the ground at its maximum. Designed by UK firm snow truck 40 days to made it into the Guinness
Foster and Partners, the 2,460m-long bridge is part of
the motorway connecting Paris with the Mediterranean
pull sleds of fuel and
region. The £272million project took 11 years to finish. supplies end to end”
22 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Record-breaking roads INSIDE STORY
CONCRETE CITY
Huge 33.5 miles of road Longest road bridge
bridge make up the Hang
Na Expressway in Bangkok Hang Na Expressway, Bangkok
Key fact: Complex construction is 33.5 miles long

THE Bang Na Expressway in the Thai capital of Bangkok is the

longest road bridge in the world. Spanning a total of 33.5 miles,
the bridge required a colossal 3.84 million tonnes of concrete
(equivalent to around 15 Wembley Stadiums) and cost an eye-
watering £770million to complete. Construction started back
in 2000, with the intention that the new bridge would alleviate
some of the city’s congestion problems. It opened five years later.

RD-
KING
S
the world to the
Widest road
Monumental Axis, Brasilia
Key fact: 12-lane expressway is 250m wide
Oldest road
Via Appia, Italy
Key fact: Some parts date back to 312 BC

highest, we check MONUMENTAL Axis takes the ‘widest road’ prize. POTHOLES, faded markings and overgrown hedges
Found in the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, the 12-lane are all signs of a dilapidated road which may, at some
of tarmac that have road is 250m (820ft) wide, runs for 1.8 miles and point, have been a glorious stretch of tarmac. There
Book of Records joins together two Plazas. Many Government buildings are old roads and then there is the Via Appia, in south
are situated on the stretch. The road is defined by a east Italy. Parts of it can be dated back to 312 BC and
huge central reservation that separates the two six- are still in use today. The road was originally made by
lane sections, home to a park and a radio tower. the then Roman Censor, Appius Claudius Caecus.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 23

 INSIDE STORY Record-breaking roads
Twistiest road
Lombard Street, “Over its
San Francisco, US 400-metre
Key fact: It takes in 1,440 degrees slope, you
of turns in a 400-metre slope
face a 27
LOMBARD Street was supposedly made to allow per cent
access to the buildings surrounding it back in the
twenties – the previous road there was simply gradient
too steep for cars of the time. Over its 400-metre and eight
slope, drivers face a 27 per cent gradient and eight
180-degree twists, all with a 5mph speed limit. 180-degree
twists, plus
a 5mph
limit”

Steepest road
Baldwin Street,
Dunedin, New Zealand
Key fact: It has a max gradient of 1:2.86

BALDWIN Street is the world’s steepest paved road

over a continuous distance of more than 10 metres.
Running for roughly 350m (1,148ft), the road rises by
69.2m (227ft), resulting in an average gradient of 1:5
– and a maximum gradient of 1:2.86, or 35 per cent.

Longest road tunnel Lowest road Highest road

Laerdal Tunnel, Norway Route 90, Israel Bolivian roads
Key fact: You spend 15.2 miles underground Key fact: It’s 393m (1,289ft) below sea level surrounding Uturunku
THE Laerdal Tunnel in Norway sits on the main MEANDERING along the western Israeli shores of the Key fact: It’s about 5,790m (19,000ft) high
road between Bergen and Oslo. At 15.2 miles, it is Dead Sea is Route 90. The road plunges to 393m
the longest road tunnel in the world by nearly four (1,290ft) below sea level and is the lowest in the WHILE there is no Guinness World Record holder for
miles and cost a reported $113.1million (£85.35m) to world. If you’re planning a coastal road trip for scuba the highest road, the Bolivian tracks surrounding
complete. Even though it is dwarfed by the longest rail diving, this is maybe one to miss, mostly because the Uturunku (a dormant volcano) in the Andes stake a
tunnel (Switzerland’s 35.5-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel), Dead Sea has such a high salt concentration that both good claim. At nearly 5,790m (19,000ft) above sea
this is arguably the place to go to in a loud sports car. fish and aquatic plants simply cannot survive. level, there is a distinct lack of tarmac – and oxygen.

24 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

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 NEWCARS
Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives
28 NEW CIVIC DIESEL
We try out the diesel
version of one of our
favourite hatchbacks.

Honda Jazz FIRST DRIVE Sport trim gives supermini

a warm-hatch makeover. We give it a go
Andy Pringle claims fuel economy of 47.9mpg,
Andy_Pringle@dennis.co.uk with CO2 emissions of 133g/km.
@AndyMoshPringle
It all amounts to a £17,155 list price,
IT may seem at odds with the Honda making the Sport the most expensive
Jazz’s practical image, but a new version of the Jazz, which is already one
Sport trim level has been added at the of the more expensive superminis in this
top end of the facelifted car’s range. class. So is it worth the extra money?
Intended to inject a bit of zest into Well, what you certainly do not get is
the Jazz, it gets sporty new front and a hot hatch – not even close. At a time
rear bumpers which now have more when the motors in the Volkswagen Polo
than a hint of the Civic about them. GTI and forthcoming Ford Fiesta ST are
The Jazz Sport makes some attempt to knocking out the best part of 200bhp,
NEED
TO KNOW
ape the Civic Type R, too, with a thinner the 128bhp output of the Jazz Sport Jazz ranked in the
front splitter below the grille that has a looks distinctly modest in comparison. middle of the pack
bit of red trim on it. There are also black Instead, it’s best to think of it as just in our Driver Power
alloy wheels, side skirts and a rear a relatively warm hatch that rivals the 2017 new-car
spoiler, while the headlights are posh likes of the Fiesta ST-Line, Polo R-Line satisfaction survey,
full-LED units. Inside, meanwhile, the and SEAT Ibiza FR. What the Sport finishing 49th
seat upholstery has a pinstripe pattern, lacks in outright performance, the
there’s leather trim on the steering engine makes up for with a willingness
wheel and gearlever, and the finishing to rev and, although peak torque only
touch is orange stitching throughout. arrives at a lofty 4,600rpm, there’s
Yet this is no mere cosmetic revamp. just enough pull at low revs to ensure
While the rest of the range continues you’re not embarrassed when the
with the familiar 101bhp 1.3-litre petrol lights turn from red to green.
engine, this new flagship Jazz comes In fact, that basic nippiness, allied
with a 128bhp 1.5-litre unit. Honda to the car’s size, sweet gearchange

26 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

31 FORD ECOSPORT
Small SUV gets third
facelift in four years.
33 SUBARU WRX STi
An emotional farewell
as we drive Final Edition
35 NISSAN e-NV200
Van turned MPV blends
electric power and
We give our verdict. of rally-inspired legend. practicality to good effect.

Essentials
Honda Jazz 1.5
i-VTEC Sport
Price: £17,155
Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol
Power/torque: 128bhp/155Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual,
front-wheel drive
0-60mph: 8.7 seconds
Top speed: 118mph PRACTICALITY The Jazz has always STYLING Hot hatch looks spice up the
been among the best in class for space Honda’s humble image. Black 16-inch
Economy: 47.9mpg
and practicality, with lots of headroom alloy wheels are standard, alongside
CO2: 133g/km
and a 354-litre boot with seats in place sporty, Civic Type R-inspired bodykit
ONSALE Now
Otis Clay

“This is a surprisingly big

small car, with more space
Running costs
47.9mpg (official) inside than many models
£49 fill-up
from the class above”

and light steering, means it’s actually revs at a fast cruise and making a fair
quite good fun around town. old din. As a result, a long journey
It even has a suitably rorty and sporty could well end up being pretty tiring.
note to its exhaust when you accelerate The Jazz can entertain on the right
hard. The one downside is that the ride roads, then, but there are more
is a little firmer than on other versions complete warm superminis available
of the Jazz, but it’s never unbearable. that are more engaging to drive.
Once you get out of town, however, At least you don’t lose what is
that relative lack of torque low down most appealing about the Jazz in the
in the rev range is more obvious. You
soon instinctively start dropping down
Sport: its space and practicality. This is
a surprisingly big small car, with more
Verdict
a gear to keep the revs up, which is space inside than many models from
when the engine is working at its best the class above; you could happily carry THERE’S a certain endearing
and responds most keenly. This four adults inside, and even five at a quality to the new Jazz Sport,
trait could both entertain and frustrate, push. Excellent visibility also makes with its willing and rev-hungry
depending on your preference. it easy to park and place in town. petrol engine on top of the
To make matters worse, once the However, all of those advantages sporty new look. However, it
initial exhaust rortiness subsides, it are also available in cheaper versions all comes at a relatively high
begins to sound quite coarse. You might of the Jazz, and we can’t help thinking price. For us, it makes more
expect to be able to escape the noise on that those models will continue to sense to buy one of the cheaper
the motorway, but thanks to the short make rather more sense for more versions, all of which still
gearing, the engine is still pulling high people than the Sport does. come with the qualities that
are sure to appeal most to
“What Sport lacks in outright performance the Jazz’s target market:
its space and practicality.
it makes up for with a willingness to rev”
★★★★★
www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 27
 NEWCARS Honda Civic diesel

Essentials
Honda Civic
1.6 i-DTEC
Price: £20,120
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl
turbodiesel
Power/torque: 118bhp/300Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual,
front-wheel drive
0-62mph: 10.5 seconds EQUIPMENT Diesel model is hi-tech RIDE Civic remains a composed drive
Top speed: 125mph and features touchscreen infotainment. in i-DTEC form, with good handling and
The system is a little dated, however, a mature ride. Our European-spec test
Economy: 80.7mpg
and some menus aren’t that easy to use model was fitted with black alloys
CO2: 93g/km

ONSALE Now

Otis Clay

With 300Nm of torque available, diesel-engined Civic provides plenty of pulling power from low down in the rev range
Hond
FIRST DRIVE We lov
Andy Pringle commands a sizeable premium of welcome lack of vibration through the
Andy_Pringle@dennis.co.uk £1,300 over the 1.0-litre petrol. controls at all times, while the added
@AndyMoshPringle NEED
But if you’re buying through Honda’s diesel torque means that the engine TO KNOW
UNTIL now the latest Honda Civic finance, prices start at £249 per month pulls strongly from low revs. It’s smooth, Six-speed manual
has been a petrol-only affair, but on a three-year deal with 5.9 per cent predictable and easy to drive. is only choice right
that’s about to change. A heavily revised APR representative. That’s about £50 Overtaking in the diesel is a breeze, now, but a nine-
version of the 1.6-litre diesel engine that more than the equivalent 1.0-litre petrol too. Admittedly, the engine does get a speed auto arrives
currently features in the CR-V and HR-V car, which may be easier to square with little noisy towards the upper end of in the summer.
Claimed 80.7mpg
SUVs arrives under the bonnet for 2018. the potential fuel savings. Furthermore, the rev range, but the pull is so strong
means diesel has
With tweaks to the pistons and the the lower CO2 emissions will mean that at low revs that you never really need to a theoretical range
exhaust system, the end result is a it won’t cost company car users much go that far in most everyday situations. of 800-plus miles
claimed 80.7mpg and CO2 emissions of more in Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax. What was clear from our time with on a tank of fuel
93g/km. Those figures are up with the The other advantage over the petrol, it was that the way the Civic drives
best in the class, and better than the and many of its direct rivals, is its higher hasn’t suffered from having a diesel
equivalent engines in the Volkswagen torque output. Whereas the 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet. It remains
Golf, SEAT Leon and Renault Mégane. diesel in the Golf and Leon puts 250Nm balanced and composed, combining
What’s more, the engine achieves all at the disposal of its driver’s right foot, assured handling with excellent high-
this without any external help; there’s the Civic’s engine produces 300Nm. speed stability and a mature ride.
no need to use an AdBlue urea additive. Our time behind the wheel of a Inside, there’s no change to the
The 118bhp developed by the unit European-spec model revealed a Civic’s basic recipe, and in every other
is average, but it’s the least powerful
engine in the Civic range, sitting below
the two existing petrol options, the
“The way the Civic drives hasn’t suffered
127bhp 1.0 litre and the 180bhp from having a diesel under the bonnet”
1.5-litre. True to diesel form, though, it

28 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Honda Civic diesel NEWCARS

PRACTICALITY Civic’s 624-litre boot

capacity is generous when compared
with its rivals in this class. Cabin space
is generous, too, although headroom
in the rear seats is a little bit tight

a Civic i-DTEC Performance

0-62mph/top speed
10.5 seconds/125mph

ve the petrol Civic, so how will the new diesel model compare?
Running costs
80.7mpg (official)
£63 fill-up

respect, the diesel Civic is just

like its petrol-engined siblings.
It comes with the same choice of
trim levels as the 1.0-litre car, so
equipment levels are strong, while
there’s plenty of space for families.
There’s also a generally hi-tech feel to
the cabin, although the infotainment
system looks a little dated and some Verdict
of its menus are a little fiddly to use.
All in all, the Civic remains a very WE’RE already fans of the
attractive car and the introduction of the sharp-looking, sweet-driving
diesel engine just adds another string and well-equipped Civic, and
to its bow. The excellent economy the diesel engine is a fine
alone – not to mention the relaxed addition to the range. True,
way it goes about its business – will the excellent 1.0-litre petrol
certainly make it appeal even more will be a better choice for most
strongly to drivers with high mileages. buyers, but drivers who cover
However, we’d recommend that any higher mileages and anyone
potential buyers do their sums carefully keeping a close eye on their
to see if the diesel version of the Civic fuel economy should certainly
makes more long-term financial sense consider the new engine choice.
than the very tempting petrol-engined
editions of the Honda hatchback. ★★★★★
www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 29
 Ford EcoSport NEWCARS
Essentials
Ford EcoSport
1.5 TDCi Titanium
Price: £20,345
Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl diesel
Power/torque: 99bhp/215Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual,
front-wheel drive
0-62mph: 14.0 seconds
Top speed: 99mph
Economy: 68.8mpg
CO2: 107g/km

ONSALE Now

Ford EcoSport Performance

0-62mph/top speed
14.0 seconds/99mph PRACTICALITY A height-adjustable
boot floor has been introduced, but
FIRST DRIVE Can a third update in four Running costs
68.8mpg (official)
space is still scant for the class at
334 litres. The unhelpful side-hinged
years give small SUV the boost it needs? £64 fill-up tailgate remains unchanged

Chris Knapman
SINCE arriving in 2014, the Ford
EcoSport hasn’t matched the success
of the brand’s bread-and-butter Fiesta
and Focus. As a result, this 2018
facelift is an extensive one. Alongside
the obvious styling tweaks, the marque
claims that 2,300 parts are new.
The highly acclaimed 1.0-litre
EcoBoost turbo three-cylinder petrol
engine will account for the vast majority
of sales, but diesel isn’t off the menu.
In the summer you’ll be able to buy
an EcoSport with Ford’s new 1.5-litre
EcoBlue four-cylinder diesel, delivering
123bhp and 300Nm of torque via a new
NEED
four-wheel-drive system – another first TO KNOW
for Ford’s previously front-wheel-drive- Upgraded cabin
only baby SUV. Until then, those after a is much improved
diesel EcoSport must choose an older, over old model
less powerful four-cylinder unit. and gets SYNC 3 EQUIPMENT The new EcoSport
With 99bhp and 215Nm of torque, infotainment gains contrasting roof colours for
this 1.5-litre Duratorq motor offers only Titanium and ST-Line models, as well
leisurely performance, as indicated by a as the option of 18-inch alloy wheels.
Interior gets soft-touch materials
0-62mph time of 14 seconds. It’s three
seconds slower than the EcoBlue unit,
and more than a second behind the
(almost £1,000 cheaper) 1.0-litre petrol. Verdict
A claimed 68.8mpg should, in theory,
mean the Duratorq engine is at least amount when you corner quickly. Still, the seat in front. What’s more, the 334- THE updated EcoSport is closer
cheap to run, but we managed no more the EcoSport’s steering is both well litre boot is on the small side for the to the rest of the crossover pack
than 50mpg as you have to work the weighted and pleasingly direct, and class, and it retains its awkward side- than before, but it still doesn’t
engine harder than you’d expect. On the upgraded interior is much better hinged door and a parcel shelf that pose much of a threat to the
the motorway, where diesels should than before. There are more soft-touch you have to lift and drop manually. class leaders. This 99bhp
excel thanks to their mid-range torque, materials, a neat TFT display for the trip Ultimately, it’s these small details TDCi model is too sluggish
you’ll often find yourself needing to computer sits between the dials and that leave the EcoSport lagging behind to recommend. If you’re dead-
drop from sixth gear to fifth just to Ford’s new SYNC 3 touchscreen with established crossovers such as the set on an EcoSport, wait for the
keep up with the flow of traffic. its crisp graphics and slick interface. Renault Captur, not to mention impressive new EcoBlue diesel, or go for the
There’s a lot of wind noise above What hasn’t changed is the cramped new contenders in the form of Citroen’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol version.
60mph, the ride on 17-inch wheels
is fussy and the body leans a fair
rear that’ll see any passenger close to
six-foot tall with their knees pressed into
C3 Aircross (tested on Page 36), which
is over £1,000 cheaper spec for spec. ★★★★★
www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 31
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 Subaru WRX STi NEWCARS
Subaru trails modern rivals
on refinement and feels cheap
Essentials
inside, but has its own charm
Subaru WRX STi
Price: £33,995
Engine: 2.5-litre 4cyl petrol
Power/torque: 296bhp/407Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual,
four-wheel drive
0-60mph: 5.2 seconds
Top speed: 158mph
Economy: 25.9mpg
CO2: 252g/km

ONSALE Now

Otis Clay
SubaruWRX
Performance
0-60mph/top speed EQUIPMENT Multitude of modes
5.2 seconds/158mph make driving experience adaptable.

STi Final Edition

New electronic centre differential
Running costs can be tweaked via a switch
25.9mpg (official)
£72 fill-up

FIRST DRIVE Special spells end of era for rally-bred legend

James Batchelor
James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk
@JRRBatchelor

FOR many people, the Subaru

badge means one thing: a flash of
metallic blue through a copse of trees, PRACTICALITY Subaru’s cabin
gold wheels and the names McRae, is dated, but the space on offer is
Burns or Solberg on the back windows. on par with the biggest hot hatches,
But unfortunately, this is a side of the and 460-litre boot is competitive
brand that we’re unlikely to see again.
The car driven here is that era’s
final curtain. As the name implies, the
WRX STi Final Edition is the very last
roadgoing offspring of a gold-plated
world rallying dynasty that first started
Heated front seats and DAB radio
back in 1994 with the Impreza Turbo.
mark out the Final Edition WRX STi
Happily, Subaru isn’t going to quietly
kill off its halo car without a last hurrah. also included. Standard kit has been though. The 296bhp 2.5-litre flat-four
The limited-run WRX STi Final Edition boosted with a reversing camera and engine feels old-fashioned – you need
gets standard blue paint, new 19-inch DAB radio, but, strangely, not sat-nav. to rev it to get the best out of it – but it STYLING Final Edition brings new
wheels housing larger six-pot Brembo The four-wheel-drive system has got comes alive above 4,000rpm in a way 19-inch wheels hiding yellow Brembo
brakes, tweaks to the damping and a new electronic centre differential. It hot hatches such as the VW Golf R don’t. brakes to the WRX STi mix, as well as
little ‘Final Edition’ badges on the front allows you to adjust how aggressive you The pantomime makes it feel faster and revised bumpers and updated grille
doors, plus a revised bumper design. want it to be via a rocker switch next to more exciting, but it’s a lot less refined.
Inside, the ‘Final Edition’ is repeated
on the centre console, while part-leather
the drive select modes. It can distribute
torque faster between the axles, too.
Turn into a corner and you’re struck
by the STi’s light steering, although it’s
Verdict
and Alcantara heated bucket seats are Elsewhere, it’s the same old WRX STi, pleasingly responsive and claws at the
road tenaciously, while the four-wheel- THE WRX STi may look outdated
drive system is astonishingly adept. compared with the current crop
With an uncompromising ride and of highly talented hot hatchbacks,
cheap-feeling, dated interior, the WRX but its departure – signalled by
STi seems quite a few steps behind its this Final Edition – is cause for
rivals. But the Subaru demands more sadness. It brings to an end nearly
of the driver’s attention, and rather 25 years of heritage, and it closes
than coming across like a fast version the book on a Subaru model that
of a run-of-the-mill hatchback, it petrolheads love. For this reason
drives like a genuine rally special. we have no doubt all 150 Final
Edition cars will be snapped up.
You can’t miss the distinctive blue
paint, but WRX needs lots of revs ★★★★★
www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 33
 Nissan e-NV200 NEWCARS
Coming soon
KIA CEE’D
2018
Proceed shooting
brake concept (left)
previewed the look
of the all-new Cee’d
hatch. Final car makes
its debut at March’s
Geneva Motor Show.

SUPERMINIS Hyundai Kona N 2019

Audi A1 2018 Infiniti QX50 2018
Ford Fiesta ST summer 2018 Jeep baby SUV 2019

Pete Gibson
Honda Jazz facelift early 2018 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 2020
MINI facelift spring 2018 Lamborghini Urus spring 2018
Peugeot 208 early 2019 Land Rover Defender 2019
Renault Clio late 2018 Lexus RX L 2018
SEAT Mii X-Perience 2018 Mercedes G-Class late 2018

Nissane-NV200
Vauxhall Corsa 2019 Mercedes GLA 2019
Volkswagen up! GTI early 2018 Mercedes GLB 2019
FAMILY CARS
Mercedes GLE late 2018
Alfa Romeo large saloon late 2018 Mercedes GLS 2019
Audi A3 2019 Mercedes-Maybach SUV 2019
Audi A6 spring 2018 MINI small SUV 2021
Audi A6 Avant summer 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross early 2018
FIRST DRIVE Boost in range for van-turned-MPV Audi A6 Allroad
BMW 1 Series
late 2018
late 2019
Mitsubishi Outlander
Mitsubishi Shogun Sport
2020
early 2018
BMW 3 Series late 2018 Nissan Juke 2018
Ford Focus spring 2018 Peugeot 2008 2018
Porsche Cayenne early 2018
Steve Fowler Kia Pro_cee’d Shooting Brake 2019
Porsche Cayenne Coupé 2019
Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk Mazda 6 facelift 2018
Mercedes A-Class 2018 Porsche Macan facelift 2018
@stevefowler Range Rover Evoque late 2018
Mercedes CLA 2018
Mercedes CLS summer 2018 Range Rover two-door 2019
IF you’re ready to take the plunge Peugeot 508 summer 2018 Rolls-Royce Cullinan 2018
SEAT Ateca Cupra 2018
into the world of EVs, but your family SEAT Leon 2020
SEAT large SUV 2018
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 2019
circumstances mean seven seats are a VolkswagenArteonshootingbrake 2018 Skoda coupé-SUV late 2018
Skoda Karoq vRS 2019
must, your choice is rather limited. It’s Volkswagen Golf Mk8 2019
Skoda Kodiaq vRS mid 2018
Volvo S60 mid 2018
either a Nissan e-NV200 Combi or, apart Volvo V40 2019
Skoda small SUV late 2019
from a pricey Tesla Model X, that’s it. SsangYong XAV 2019
SPORTS CARS Subaru XV early 2018
The good news is that, as with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupé 2019 Volkswagen T-Roc R 2018
Alpine A110 early 2018 Volkswagen Polo SUV late 2018
brilliant new Nissan Leaf (driven in Issue Aston Martin DB11 Volante 2018 Volkswagen Touareg mid 2018
1,508), this van-based MPV has just been Aston Martin V8 Vantage summer 2018 Volvo XC40 spring 2018
updated with Nissan’s 40kWh battery Aston Martin Vanquish summer 2018
PICK-UPS
Aston Martin Valkyrie 2019
pack. That means a handy 60 per cent Renault Alaskan spring 2018
Aston Martin 488 GTB rival 2020
Audi A9 2019 CABRIOLETS
increase in range; judged by the new,
Audi RS4 Avant early 2018 Bentley Continental GTC 2018
more realistic WLTP testing procedure Audi TT facelift mid 2018 BMW Z4 2018
Nissan claims an average of 125 miles, Audi TT Sportback 2018 BMW 8 Series Convertible late 2018
Audi TTQ 2019 TVR Griffith convertible 2020
which could rise to as much as 188 Bentley Continental GT early 2018 McLaren 720SSpider late 2018
miles in the city. Plenty for a week’s Bentley Barnato 2019 LUXURY CARS
BMW M3 2019 Audi A7 early 2018
worth of school drop-offs and pick-ups. BMW M5 early 2018 BMW 8 Series 2019
It’s not the most sophisticated MPV, BMW M8 2018 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé 2019
Honda S2000 2019 Infiniti Q80 2018
though. The driving position is typically
van-like and very upright. And although Nissan e-NV200 Hyundai i20 N
Jaguar XE SVR
2019
2018
Lexus LF FC
Lexus LS
2020
early 2018
the rear doors slide, there’s not a huge Combi Lambo Aventador Performante
Lexus LC F
2018
2018
Rolls-Royce Ghost 2019
amount of space in row two and only Price: £25,000 (est) Maserati Alfieri 2020 ELECTRIC/PLUG-IN/FUEL CELL
McLaren 570 LT mid 2018 Audi e-tron 2018
small sliding windows, while row three Battery: 40kWh Bentley EV 2019
McLaren BP23 late 2018
chairs are awkward to fold and get to. Power: 108bhp Mercedes-AMG GT four-door 2018 BMW i5 2021
Mercedes-AMG Project 1 2018 BMW i8 Roadster 2018
The ride gets bumpier the further Transmission: Single-speed auto, BMW X3 EV 2019
Polestar 1 2019
back you go, too; there’s no hiding the front-wheel drive Dacia EV 2020
Porsche 911 2019
0-62mph: 14.0 seconds Ford Mustang hybrid 2020
fact the e-NV200 works best as a van. Renault Mégane RS early 2018
Honda Clarity 2022
Toyota Supra 2018
However, it is in a class of one and NEED TO Top speed: 76mph
TVR Griffith late 2018 Honda Urban EV 2019
you can still enjoy the silent (if not so KNOW Range: 125 miles (WLTP) Vauxhall Insignia GSi early 2018
Jaguar I-Pace
Kia Stonic hybrid
2018
2019
swift in this model) driving, while you As a van, the CO2: 0g/km SUVS Lexus EV 2020
e-NV200 gets Alfa Romeo large SUV 2019 Mercedes-EQ SUV 2019
can get a decent smattering of luxury
a 4,191-litre load
ONSALE Spring Aston Martin DBX 2019 MINI EV 2019
kit, too. The dash is appealingly car- Audi Q3 2018 McLaren EV 2023
bay that will Audi Q4 2019 Nissan Leaf early 2018
like and although plush plastics are
swallow two Audi Q8 2018 Nissan Leaf Nismo 2019
nowhere to be seen, build quality is
Verdict
Audi SQ2 2018 Porsche Mission E 2019
Euro pallets Audi SQ8 late 2018
good and if Leaf owners are anything Skoda Vision E 2020
Audi RS Q5 2018 Range Rover PHEV early 2018
to go by, the chances of you having anyy Bentley Bentayga Speed 2018 Range Rover Sport PHEV early 2018
reliability problems are slim. NISSAN might just have pulled
NISSA BMW X2 early 2018 Tesla Model 3 2019
BMW X3 M 2019 Tesla Pick-up 2019
More goodood news is that, off a bi
bit of a masterstroke with BMW X4 2018 Tesla Model Y late 2019
although prices and specs the new
ne e-NV200 Combi. It’ll BMW X5 late 2018 Volkswagen I.D. hatchback 2020
BMW X7 2018 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz SUV 2020
have yet to be confirmed, prove popular with parents who Citroen C5 Aircross late 2018 Volkswagen I.D. Scirocco 2020
-NV200 may
the new e-NV200 are wanting
wa to go electric and Dacia Duster mid 2018 Volkswagen I.D. Microbus 2022
DS 3 SUV 2018 Volkswagen Phaeton EV 2019
not cost much more than taxi firms
firm for short journeys. It’s
the old one, which not the best MPV to be driven
ll-electric
makes this all-electric in, but iit is the only EV MPV. Have your say: What
van-cum-MPV PV look like
something of a bargain. ★★★★★
★★ is your car like to own?
www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power

www.autoexpress.co.uk
express.co.uk 31 January 2018 35
 ROADTESTS
Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives
46 HYBRID SUVS
New diesel plug-in Audi
Q7 e-tron meets petrol-
electric Volvo XC90 T8.

Best of both
Hyundai
d i iis th
worlds
the llatest
t tb brand
d tto offer
ff SUV appeall iin a supermini-
sized package.We test its Kona against Citroen and Mazda rivals
WITH SUV sales booming and superminis
continuing to be best-sellers in Britain, it’s no
wonder car makers are bringing the two together.
Hyundai is the latest brand to join the fray, with
its new Kona, and thanks to its outlandish looks,
this car is bound to draw attention. Yet the real
battle it’ll need to win will be fought on equipment,
price, the practicality of its interior, and comfort.
That’s because the Kona is taking on our class
leader, the Citroen C3 Aircross. Like so many Citroens,
it’s quirky, but it doesn’t compromise, and that has
really impressed us since it arrived late last year.
Then there’s the Mazda CX-3. Despite being the
oldest car here, it makes a strong case
with its sharp styling and handling.
This is a tough class, so if you
want a small SUV read on to
find out which of these
makes the most
compelling
case.

Testers’ notes
“All three cars make a style statement. The Kona’s distinctive Hyundai Kona
design is unusual among the brand’s otherwise plain-looking 1.0 T-GDi Premium
range, while the Aircross fits in with Citroen’s brand image. Price: £18,795
The Mazda is the oldest car here, but it still looks good.” Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl petrol, 118bhp
0-60mph: 10.1 seconds
Se
Sean Carson Chief reviewer Test economy: 42.0mpg/9.2mpl
CO2: 125g/km Annual road tax: £140

36 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

52 NISSAN MICRA
Our time with supermini
is up, and it’s clear that
55 MERC-AMG E 63 S
Sizzling new 604bhp
estate makes instant
57 PEUGEOT 3008
Crossover has piled on
the miles, so it’s already
the class has moved on. impression on fleet. time for its first service.

Pictures: Otis Clay

Location: Bullring Shopping
Centre, Birmingham

Citroen C3 Aircross Mazda CX-3

PureTech 130 Flair 2.0 SkyActiv-G SE Nav
Price: £18,490 Price: £18,695
Engine: 1.2-litre 3cyl petrol, 128bhp Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol, 118bhp
0-60mph: 10.6 seconds 0-60mph: 9.4 seconds
Test economy: 40.3mpg/8.9mpl Test economy: 34.0mpg/7.5mpl
CO2: 119g/km Annual road tax: £140 CO2: 137g/km Annual road tax: £140

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 37

 ROAD TESTS Hyundai Kona vs rivals
MODEL TESTED: Hyundai Kona 1.0 T-GDi Premium
PRICE: £18,795 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 118bhp

THE Hyundai Kona we’re testing uses a 1.2-litre three-cylinder, nor as responsive and fun
downsized 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine to rev as the Mazda’s 2.0-litre petrol engine. It has a
with 118bhp, which is designed for economy, sweeter manual gearshift than the Citroen, although
as well as good performance around town. It both are way behind the Mazda’s shift.
costs from £18,795 in Premium trim (the car The Kona performed well in our tests, accelerating
in our pictures is an SE), which makes it the from 0-60mph in 10.1 seconds despite heavy rain.
most expensive model in this test, although That was quicker than the more powerful C3, which

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only by £100 over the Mazda CX-3. struggled for traction off the line. The Hyundai was
also a match for the naturally-aspirated Mazda
in-gear, despite having half its engine capacity,
Design & score

4L
thanks to that wide spread of turbocharged torque.

engineering 3.7
IT’S a little late to the small SUV Practicality score
party, but the Kona certainly makes
an impression with its bold styling. The split THE Kona’s 334-litre boot is a good size
3.7
headlight design is similar to that of the Citroen and shape, but isn’t as useful as the C3’s
C3 Aircross, but the bonnet scoop and heavy plastic minimum 410-litre capacity, especially as
cladding give the Hyundai a more rugged image. the Aircross’ rear seat slides forward to create extra
Unlike many cars in this class, including the space. The Hyundai isn’t as spacious as the 350-litre
C3 Aircross and CX-3, the Kona is not based on CX-3, but its wider aperture makes it easier to load.
its supermini sibling, in this case the i20. Instead Raised-up seats in the Korean car mean it’s easy to
it uses a new platform that’s engineered to allow get in and out of, and there’s a good level of leg and
four-wheel drive on higher-spec diesels, although headroom in the rear. The Citroen is more spacious,

Hyunda
our 1.0-litre petrol is front-wheel drive only. but the Hyundai is comfortable enough for four
The four-wheel-drive models also get a multi- adults, which is still better than the cramped Mazda.
link rear suspension set-up, but the front-wheel- Roof rails are standard on the Kona in Premium
drive car we’re testing here features a less complex spec, which could be useful for bikes or a roof box,

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and cheaper torsion beam system. All models feature but they’re mainly meant as a style add-on.
MacPherson struts at the front. Similarly, petrol
versions use a six-speed manual only, while the
It’s got some catching up to
diesel gets a seven-speed dual-clutch box instead. Ownership score and turbo power help new
The Kona sits in between its rivals in terms
of overall size; it’s 4,165mm long and 1,565mm HYUNDAI finished a respectable 10th
4.0
!
high. It’s the widest of the three models here, in both the manufacturer and dealer
which helps with shoulder room inside. categories in our Driver Power 2017
For £18,795 the Kona Premium comes with satisfaction survey. That beat Citroen in both
18-inch alloys, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android areas, but Mazda came fifth in the makers’ chart.
Auto, DAB radio, rear parking sensors and a All Konas get plenty of safety kit, including six Braking Running costs
reversing camera, so is very well equipped. airbags, downhill brake control, driver attention 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 42.0mpg (on test)
There’s good scope for personalisation, too, with alert, hill-start assist and lane-keep assist. You can 63.7/39.7/10.5m £61 fill-up/£140 or 24% tax
coloured accents around the cabin. These spruce also opt for a £235 Safety Pack that adds autonomous
things up, because the standard grey finish looks emergency braking to that list. The Korean crossover

4L
plain. Yet the quality of the materials isn’t as good as scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP’s crash test.
in either rival. Plus, the Mazda feels better built, and

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the Citroen has a much more interesting design.
Running costs score
3.8
Driving score THE Kona returned respectable fuel

DESPITE its new platform, the

3.4 economy of 42.0mpg during its
time on test. This puts it ahead of
Hyundai can’t match either rival the Citroen and Mazda, which managed
for dynamic ability. The Kona’s steering 40.3mpg and 34.0mpg respectively.
is well weighted and it resists body roll while Yet predicted residual values for the Hyundai aren’t
cornering, but it’s best described as safe to drive as good as its rivals’, according to our experts. A figure
rather than fun. The Mazda is genuinely great of 40.4 per cent means the Kona will lose £11,202 over
behind the wheel and much more engaging. three years and be worth £7,593. The C3 has a forecast Six-speed manual gearbox offers smooth shifts
Keen drivers won’t be enticed by the Kona residual of 42.3 per cent, so it’ll lose less (£10,669),
then, but that could be easily forgiven if it was retaining £7,821. The Mazda’s 42.8 per cent prediction
as comfortable as the C3 Aircross, which trades means it’ll be worth £8,000; a loss of £10,695.
engagement in return for a more supple ride. That’s
not the case with the Kona; it deals with most roads
acceptably, smoothing out smaller ripples, but Testers’ notes
potholes and large bumps crash into the cabin. “The Kona is one of only a few small SUVs to be
The 1.0-litre engine is a good unit, with a offered with four-wheel drive. Other options in this
maximum 172Nm of torque spread wide from class include the Suzuki Vitara and SsangYong Tivoli,
1,500 to 4,000rpm, which means it’s easy to but two-wheel drive is adequate and cheaper.”
get the best out of it, especially around town.
It’s reasonably refined, with a pleasant three- Sam Naylor Senior reviewer
Sa
cylinder engine note when you build up the revs.
Sadly, it’s neither as characterful as the Citroen’s On rougher roads, the Kona’s ride can be crashy

38 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Hyundai Kona vs rivals ROAD TESTS

Rear offers lots of head and legroom, but

boot is smallest here with seats up or down

On the road
Steering is well weighted and
Kona resists body roll well, but it’s
not as much fun to drive as Mazda

ai Kona
o do, so can dramatic looks
baby shake up the market?

Performance Practicality
0-60mph/30-70mph Boot (seats up/down)
10.1/9.5 seconds 334/1,116 litres

THROUGH THE RANGE

Which trim level might suit you?

THIS 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol Kona

is available in four main trim levels: S,
SE, Premium and Premium SE, plus
Two-Tone Roof versions of the latter two.
Entry-level S cars get 16-inch alloys,
cruise control, Bluetooth and USB. On a
36-month PCP contract limited to 10,000
miles per year and with a £2,000 deposit,
payments will be £238 a month.
Move up to SE and that increases to
£245, adding 17-inch alloys, roof rails and
a seven-inch touchscreen with smartphone
connectivity. Premium models (£265 a
month) come with an eight-inch display
and there’s also a KRELL stereo and
wireless phone charging on this version.
Premium SE adds electric heated seats,
a heated steering wheel and front parking
sensors to the spec for £321 a month.

Our choice:
Kona 1.0 T-GDi SE
Grey finish in our car looked a bit plain; colour accents are available. But material quality trails other models here NEXT CAR

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 39

 ROAD TESTS Hyundai Kona vs rivals
MODEL TESTED: Citroen C3 Aircross PureTech 130 Flair
PRICE: £18,490 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 128bhp

CITROEN’S C3 Aircross is partly a successor to seconds. This torque is also useful because it means
the old C3 Picasso model. But it’s also partly a you don’t have to work the six-speed manual gearbox
replacement for the C4 Cactus, which has recently as hard. That’s a bonus because it’s by far the least
been updated and repositioned as more of conventional enjoyable transmission of our three contenders.
hatchback than an SUV. The C3 Aircross definitely It’s vague and feels oddly heavy, and is particularly

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occupies the small SUV space, and our PureTech 130 unpleasant after hopping out of the precise Mazda.

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model costs from £18,490 in Flair trim.

Practicality score
Design & score 4.2
engineering 4.1 THE Citroen’s cabin is much more
spacious than either rival’s, thanks
THE C3 Aircross might be an all-new to a clever design that prioritises a
Citroen, but unlike the Kona, it’s not feeling of space and light inside.
based on a fresh platform. Instead it sits on the firm’s The C3 Aircross doesn’t just feel bigger, it also
PF1 architecture, used for many years to underpin has the most rear legroom, as well as the most boot
lots of different models, including the C4 Cactus. space thanks to a sliding rear bench seat that folds
With its chunky styling and focus on practicality, 60:40, too. Even with the seats all the way back,
the C3 Aircross has the least sporty design of the three there’s 410 litres of boot space; and getting items
cars here, but the body cladding does at least mean it in and out is easy as well, thanks to a low loading lip.
looks like an SUV. Although it’s noticeably taller than Moving the seats forward improves space up to
its rivals, it’s the same width as the Mazda; both are 520 litres, which is way more than in either rival.
narrower than the Kona. The C3’s longer wheelbase Despite this gain in capacity, comfort in the back is
boosts interior space, but short overhangs mean acceptable, because there’s still enough legroom.
the Hyundai and Mazda are both longer overall. Fold down the seats completely and there is a total
Here we’re testing the 128bhp 1.2-litre petrol, which of 1,289 litres of space, which is also the most of all
comes with a six-speed manual transmission; the three models here. The Kona has 1,116 litres available

L4 Citroen C
108bhp version of the same engine has a five-speed in two-seat mode, and the Mazda offers 1,260 litres.
box instead. The C3 Aircross uses a similar suspension
set-up to the Kona and CX-3, with MacPherson
struts at the front and a rear torsion beam. Ownership score
Unlike with the Hyundai, the French crossover
isn’t available with four-wheel drive at all. However, STANDARD safety equipment
3.8
Citroen’s £400 optional Grip Control changes the in Flair trim includes six airbags,
drivetrain settings to better cope with conditions. lane-departure warning, speed-limit Our current champ is a fine
There are Snow, Sand and All-Road modes available, recognition, a tiredness warning system
while hill descent assist is added to match the Kona. and autonomous emergency braking.
Not only can you have a more powerful engine in Shelling out £600 on the Park Assist Pack
the C3 for similar money to its rivals, you can also get adds blind spot monitoring, park assist, front Running costs Performance
a top-spec Flair car featuring standard sat-nav, DAB, parking sensors and a reversing camera. 40.3mpg (on test) 0-60mph/30-70mph
£55 fill-up/£140 or 22% tax 10.6/9.8 seconds

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Bluetooth, climate control and parking sensors. Citroen didn’t fare too well in our Driver Power
2017 survey, coming in a disappointing 26th in the
makers’ chart. That was second from bottom and
Driving score

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well behind its rivals here for customer satisfaction.

AS with many of Citroen’s cars, the

3.8
C3 Aircross delivers comfort from its Running costs score
driving experience over and above
sharp handling. That’s no bad thing, because THANKS to its small petrol engine, the
4.0
since the car has no pretence of sporty handling, you Citroen was impressively economical on
can settle down into the enjoyably soft suspension. test, returning 40.3mpg on our mixed route.
There’s room for improvement, because the model That means C3 owners covering 12,000 miles will
still lacks control over some bumps, but it’s by pay £1,651 a year in fuel, while those running the
far the most comfortable car of our test trio. Kona (42.0mpg) will have to stump up less, at £1,586.
It’s at the other end of the scale to the sporty The Mazda’s 34.0mpg was poor in comparison with Six-speed box’s vague shifts let Aircross down
Mazda CX-3, which will be more of a hit with keen its rivals’ figures, and means a £1,957 annual fuel bill.
drivers, but many motorists will love the fact that All three cars are affordable to insure: while the
the Citroen is at its best when driving gently. Kona was the cheapest at £397 a year for our sample
It’s the most powerful car here, with 128bhp, driver, the Citroen’s £423 quote wasn’t far behind.
but it’s the 230Nm of torque available from just Even the 2.0-litre Mazda’s quote was only £464.
1,750rpm that gives the 1.2-litre three-cylinder
petrol turbo unit its punchy character.
Due to a lack of traction in the slippery conditions, Testers’ notes
the C3 Aircross was the slowest car from 0-60mph, “You have to pay extra for a two-tone roof on
taking 10.6 seconds. But in-gear the extra torque the Kona, but it’s free if you go for a C3 Aircross
worked in its favour: it went from 30-50mph in in top-spec Flair trim. You can have the roof in the
third in just 3.8 seconds. This was a second quicker same colour as the body at no cost if you prefer.”
than the CX-3 and eight tenths faster than the Kona.
Similarly, the French model covered 50-70mph Sean
Se Carson Chief reviewer
in fifth gear in 7.5 seconds, which was well ahead
of the Hyundai’s 10.0 seconds and the Mazda’s 9.0 Top-spec Flair trim gets distinctive 17-inch alloys

40 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Hyundai Kona vs rivals ROAD TESTS
Ride
Citroen is tuned for
comfort rather than
driving fun, although
the soft suspension
could still deliver
better control

Legroom and boot space is best on test,

with sliding rear seat boosting versatility

C3 Aircross
all-rounder. We see if it can stay on top

Practicality Braking
Boot (seats up/down)
410-520/1,289 litres
70-0/60-0/30-0mph
51.6/40.6/10.7m
!
THROUGH THE RANGE
Which trim level might suit you?

THERE are only two versions of the Aircross

to choose from with this higher-powered
1.2-litre PureTech engine, as entry-level
Touch cars are not available with this unit.
Choose the Feel model and you’ll get
Bluetooth, DAB radio, air-conditioning
and a seven-inch colour touchscreen with
phone connectivity as standard. There’s
no sat-nav, but you can use your phone’s
built-in apps for this, so for many people
this will be the more attractive and more
affordable trim level. Put down a £2,000
deposit and Citroen will add £500 to that,
resulting in a £241 monthly payment over
a three-year deal limited to 10,000 miles.
If you think you’ll need sat-nav, you can
go for Flair trim (£279 a month), which
also adds climate control, keyless go,
parking sensors and a sliding rear seat.

Our choice:
C3 Aircross PureTech 130 Flair
Dashboard design is interesting and quality of materials is better than Hyundai’s, but not up to CX-3’s standard NEXT CAR

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 41

 ROAD TESTS Hyundai Kona vs rivals
MODEL TESTED: Mazda CX-3 2.0 SkyActiv-G SE Nav
PRICE: £18,695 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 118bhp

WE’RE testing the 118bhp 2.0-litre petrol you might expect as well. There’s less body
version of Mazda’s CX-3 crossover, which costs roll than in either rival, and the Mazda feels
£18,695 in entry-level SE Nav trim (although our composed even when cornering aggressively.
images show an SE-L Nav) with a six-speed manual It’s certainly the enthusiast’s choice here, but it
box. It’s the only car here with four-cylinder engine doesn’t exclude itself from a wider range of buyers,
and it’s twice the capacity of the Kona’s, despite because the chassis remains comfortable over most

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having the same power output. Is it still a good choice? road surfaces. It doesn’t thump into potholes like the
Kona does, so while it’s not as soft as the Citroen, the

4L
Mazda still beats its Korean rival for ride comfort.
Design & score
engineering 4.1
Practicality score
THE CX-3’s 2.0-litre engine is
unusual in this company, as it doesn’t THE Mazda’s 350-litre boot is a little
3.6
use a turbocharger. Instead, Mazda larger than the Hyundai’s, but it feels
has focused on weight saving and clever engine smaller in the real world because the CX-3’s
tech to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. sportier shape restricts access. It’s also nearly as
At 1,155kg it’s the lightest car of the three, which big as the Citroen inside with the seats folded
has big benefits to handling and performance, too. down, at 1,260 litres, but the load bay is a more
It uses MacPherson strut front and torsion beam even shape, so it’s more versatile overall.
rear suspension just like its rivals here, but Mazda’s The roofline in the Mazda also means that rear-
engineers have tuned the set-up to deliver a more seat headroom is limited and it feels much more
engaging driving experience than the other models. cramped in the back than in either of its rivals here.
Part of that tuning includes the subtle G-Vectoring There’s also not much legroom if you’re sitting
Control system. This is a clever set-up that can limit behind a tall driver, so if you’re using the rear
engine torque to the front wheels to improve seats often then the Citroen will be a better pick.

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handling response and driver comfort by
reducing the steering effort required.
The CX-3’s sharp exterior styling was updated to Ownership score On the road
keep it fresh last year, and it’s the sportiest-looking
model of the three here, while also having a more SAFETY equipment on the SE Nav
4.1 CX-3 suffers less body roll than
either rival here, and even when
conventional design than the Hyundai or Citroen. model includes six airbags, hill hold pushing hard, it feels composed
The interior has a different feel to the French assist and emergency brake assist, but as
crossover’s airy cabin, because it’s fairly dark inside, it’s an entry-level car some kit is missing.

Mazda C
but the driving position is much more comfortable, Higher-spec models are available with lane-
visibility is still good and the material quality is departure warning, AEB, LED lights, a blind spot
better. It feels more solidly built than its rivals, too. monitor with rear-cross traffic alert and traffic sign
At this price point you’ll be looking at an entry- recognition. But this kit isn’t offered on SE Nav,
level SE Nav version, but there’s still plenty of kit. which is disappointing and means the CX-3 lags
You get sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB, cruise control behind its rivals despite having achieved a five-
CX-3 is still the driver’s choice,

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and a seven-inch display screen as standard. star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested in 2015.
However, Mazda did well in our Driver Power
2017 satisfaction poll, finishing fifth overall in the
Driving score

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makers’ chart, the highest of these three brands.

WHILE there’s no turbo to boost

4.0
the CX-3’s engine, the extra capacity Running costs score
helps it to produce more torque than
the Kona’s 1.0-litre turbo unit. There’s a THE CX-3’s 34.0mpg figure on test was a
3.7
maximum of 204Nm, but because it’s delivered bit disappointing, but stronger residuals
further up the rev range at 2,800rpm you need help it claim some of that money back.
to work the engine harder to make progress. Yet the Mazda is also the most expensive model
However, along with the low kerbweight, this here as a company car; CO2 emissions of 137g/km
means the CX-3 is quicker than its rivals in a direct put it into the 26 per cent Benefit-in-Kind bracket.
sprint: it was the fastest car from 0-60mph, taking A standard-rate taxpayer will pay £959 a year to run
9.4 seconds, and from 30-70mph through the gears, the CX-3, but the cleaner Kona (125g/km) and C3
clocking 9.0 seconds. The Kona did the latter test in Aircross (119g/km) will cost £892 and £804 a year Six-speed manual box is slick and precise in use
9.5 seconds, while the Citroen managed 9.8 seconds. respectively. The CX-3’s servicing costs are the
Rev the naturally-aspirated Mazda motor hard same as the Kona’s: £499 for three years. Citroen
and you’ll get the best out of it. The engine is very offers a pack for the same period for £400, though.
responsive and fun to use, especially thanks to
the slick and precise six-speed manual gearbox.
However, the lack of low-down torque was Testers’ notes
more apparent in our in-gear tests. It was the “The Mazda CX-3 looks great in any colour, but the
slowest from 30-50mph in third and matched the £670 Soul Red Metallic option is superb. Our car’s
Kona at 6.6 seconds in the same test in fourth. Arctic White finish is a no-cost option; the CX-3 isn’t
The Mazda split its rivals from 50-70mph in quite as visually customisable as its rivals, either.”
fifth and sixth gears, taking 9.0 and 13.0 seconds
respectively, behind the torquier Citroen. Sam
Sa Naylor Senior reviewer
With well-weighted steering, the CX-3 inspires
confidence in corners, and there’s more grip than SE Nav specification features 16-inch alloy wheels

42 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Hyundai Kona vs rivals ROAD TESTS

Rear seats feel cramped, yet when they’re

folded boot space isn’t too far off Citroen’s

Performance Running costs

0-60mph/30-70mph 34.0mpg (on test)
9.4/9.0 seconds £59 fill-up/£140 or 26% tax

!
Braking
Brakin Practicality
70-0/60-0/30-0mph Boot (seats up/down)
53.5/40.9/9.4m 350/1,260 litres

CX-3
but can it see off challenge of new rivals?

THROUGH THE RANGE

Which trim level might suit you?

THERE are three variants on offer if you

want a 2.0-litre petrol CX-3 with a manual
gearbox: SE Nav, SE-L Nav and Sport Nav.
The entry-level SE Nav we’re testing
here will cost £251 a month, because
Mazda is offering a £1,500 contribution.
That’s based on a £2,000 deposit on a
36-month PCP deal limited to 10,000
miles per year. SE Nav is well equipped
inside, with sat-nav, DAB and Bluetooth,
but misses out on some key safety gear.
Move up to an SE-L Nav for emergency
braking tech, heated seats and climate
control, and you’ll pay £276 a month;
despite a higher list price than its rivals’,
Mazda’s PCP deals mean this is the one to
go for. Sport Nav trim will cost £297 per
month, and for that you get keyless go, a
Bose stereo and LED lights as standard.

Our choice:
CX-3 2.0 SkyActiv-G SE-L Nav
Mazda’s interior is dark, but there’s no faulting the higher-grade materials used compared with its rivals’ NEXT CAR

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 43

 ROAD TESTS Hyundai Kona vs rivals
Infotainment Which multimedia system is best for music, sat-nav & connectivity?

Hyundai
Kona
8-inch touchscreen sat-nav Standard
Key features: Sat-nav, phone connectivity
score
4.1
4L Citroen
C3 Aircross
Citroen Connect Nav Standard
Key features: Nav, smartphone link
score
3.9
4L Mazda
CX-3
7-inch Colour touchscreen Standard
Key features: Sat-nav, control wheel
score
3.8
4L
WHILE the SE model uses a seven-inch display EVERY C3 Aircross powered by this engine has a MAZDA’S seven-inch display is technically a
screen, the Premium-spec car we’re testing here seven-inch touchscreen display as standard, and in touchscreen, and using it as such is easy enough,
comes with an eight-inch unit that includes Flair trim you also get sat-nav. The screen impresses apart from the fact it’s a significant reach over
sat-nav as well as other standard features fitted. at first, because it looks sleek and the unit is big. from a natural driving position.
That system shares its design and menu layout Dig deeper and it’s disappointing, though, because However, you never actually need to touch the
with the smaller unit, including the standard Apple the interface can be annoying to navigate through, screen, because there is a rotary dial on the centre
CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. It works and the sometimes unresponsive screen makes using console that can be used for everything. That means
very well on the screen, and while the display looks it on the move much more difficult than it needs to be. it’s much easier to operate on the move than either
tacked on to the dash and the buttons around it feel The best way to control it is through Android Auto rival’s set-up, and the interface is more intuitive than
cheap, the touchscreen is responsive and easy to or Apple CarPlay, with their simpler, cleaner interfaces the Citroen’s and about on par with the Hyundai’s.
use, particularly with a smartphone plugged in. and useful voice control functions. You still have to There is no smartphone connectivity, though,
The graphics are clear and the on-screen icons are use the screen to adjust the car’s climate controls, so you have to rely on Mazda’s own sat-nav. That’s
big enough that they don’t feel fiddly. It’s not as easy though, which is always a frustrating experience. not a problem as it’s generally very good. There’s
to use on the move as the Mazda’s rotary dial-based At least you get plenty of features: there’s also also an app for Internet radio, along with the
system, but it’s snappier and more intuitive than the DAB radio and Citroen’s Connect Box Emergency standard Bluetooth, DAB radio and USB media
Citroen’s frustrating screen, and the menus are easy and Assistance System that can automatically options. Plus, on higher-spec models you get a Bose
to understand. Wireless charging is also included. contact the emergency services after a crash. sound system, but it’s not available on SE Nav cars.

Display Graphics are clear and the screen Screen Citroen’s infotainment looks Connection There’s no Apple CarPlay or
is responsive. DAB radio is included, as are good, but is let down by a display that can Android Auto, so you must use the built-in
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so the be unresponsive. Phone connectivity, DAB nav. Bluetooth and DAB radio are standard,
unit will link up well with your smartphone radio and sat-nav help make up for it and there are various USB media options

FOR AND AGAINST FOR AND AGAINST FOR AND AGAINST

Smartphone connectivity, Satellite navigation is standard, big Dial makes it easy to control on
responsive screen, easy to use screen, smartphone integration the move, intuitive menu design

Cheap-feeling buttons, not that Sometimes illogical menus, No smartphone connectivity, hard-to-
well integrated into dashboard unresponsive screen reach touchscreen, low-res graphics

44 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Hyundai Kona vs rivals ROAD TESTS
RO
Figures Citroen
C3 Aircross
PureTech 130 Flair
Maz CX-3
Mazda
2.
2.0 SkyActiv-G
SE Nav
-G
Hy
Hyundai
1.0 T-GDi
Premium
Pr
Kona
ona

On the road price/total as tested £18,490/£21,320 PRICE £18

£18,695/£18,695 £18,795/£18,795 RESIDUALS
Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) £7,821/42.3% THE Citroen is the £8,000/42.8% £7,593/40.4% THE Kona is
Depreciation £10,669 cheapest model £10,695 £11,202 predicted to
here, but it’s also retain the lowest
Annual tax liability std/higher rate £804/£1,608 a top-spec car,
£959/£1,918 £892/£1,784
percentage of its
Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) £1,651/£2,752 so it’s loaded £1,957/£3,262 £1,586/£2,643 list price of these
Insurance group/quote/road tax cost 16/£423/£140 with standard 17/£464/£140 10/£397/£140 three cars, losing
Cost of servicing £400 (3yrs) equipment. £499 (3yrs) £499 (3yrs) the most money
after three years.

Length/wheelbase 4,154/2,604mm 4,275/2,570mm ENGINE 4,165/2,600mm

THE CX-3’s 2.0-litre
Height/width 1,637/1,765mm 1,535/1,765mm 1,565/1,800mm
engine is both
Engine 3cyl in-line/1,199cc 4cyl in-line/1,998cc responsive and 3cyl in-line/998cc
Peak power/revs 128/5,500 bhp/rpm BIGGEST BOOT 118/6,000 bhp/rpm fun to use. It 118/6,000 bhp/rpm
Peak torque/revs 230/1,750 Nm/rpm A SLIDING rear 204/2,800 Nm/rpm relishes revs in a 172/1,500 Nm/rpm
way turbocharged
Transmission 6-spd man/fwd seat in the C3 6-spd man/fwd 6-spd man/fwd WARRANTY
Aircross allows units in rivals don’t.
Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 45 litres/space saver 48 litres/repair kit 50 litres/space saver HYUNDAI offers
an increase in a long five-year
Boot capacity (seats up/down) 410-520/1,289 litres boot space – but 350/1,260 litres 334/1,116 litres
warranty that
Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 1,188/607/840kg even without that 1,155/535/1,200kg 1,233/542/1,200kg also includes
Turning circle 10.8 metres the car has the 11.4 metres 10.6 metres breakdown cover.
biggest load DRIVER POWER
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (60,000)/1yr 3yrs (60,000)/3yrs MAZDA scored 5yrs (unltd)/5yrs It’s a top selling
capacity on test. point for the Kona.
Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. 26th/14th 5th/23rd well in our Driver 10th/10th
NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 85/82/64/60/5 (2017) 85/79/84/64/4 (2015) Power 2017 survey, 87/85/62/60/5 (2017) EURO NCAP
PERFORMANCE beating both rivals IN latest Euro
CITROEN’S 1.2-litre here with a strong NCAP tests, the
0-60/30-70mph 10.6/9.8 secs petrol engine
9.4/9.0 secs top five result in 10.1/9.5 secs
Kona scored
30-50mph in 3rd/4th 3.8/5.2 secs is torquey and 4.8/6.6 secs the makers’ chart. 4.6/6.6 secs well, picking up
50-70mph in 5th/6th 7.5/9.7 secs delivers strong 9.0/13.0 secs So the CX-3 10.0/13.5 secs five stars, although
in-gear figures. It should be good
Top speed/rpm at 70mph 124mph/2,600rpm 119mph/2,500rpm 112mph/2,500rpm both rivals share
was quickest from to live with. the same rating.
Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 51.6/40.6/10.7m 30-50mph in third.
53.5/40.9/9.4m 63.7/39.7/10.5m
Noise outside/idle/30/70mph 63/43/59/68dB 58/42/58/69dB 60/42/57/67dB
Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range 40.3/8.9/399 miles 34.0/7.5/359 miles 42.0/9.2/462 miles
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 44.8/60.1/53.3mpg 38.2/57.6/47.9mpg HIGH CO2 44.8/56.5/52.3mpg
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 9.9/13.2/11.7mpl 8.4/12.7/10.5mpl THE 2.0-litre 9.9/12.4/11.5mpl
Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket 162/119g/km/22% 192/137g/km/26% engine in the 155/125g/km/24%
Mazda will be
costlier to run
Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Six/yes/yes/£600* SAFETY KIT Six/yes/no/no for company Six/yes/yes/yes
Auto box/stability/cruise control/AEB No/yes/yes/yes AEB is included No/yes/yes/no No/yes/yes/£235*
car buyers, due
as standard, and
Climate control/leather/heated seats Yes/no/yes the C3 Aircross is
Air-con/no/no to the higher Yes/no/no
CO2 emissions.
Metallic paint/LED lights/keyless go £520/no/yes the only car here £550/no/yes £565/no/yes
Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth Yes/yes/yes/yes with this feature Yes/yes/yes/yes Yes/yes/yes/yes
Wireless charging/CarPlay/Android Auto £650*/yes/yes to improve safety. No/no/no Yes/yes/yes

Results CITROEN
THE Citroen brings
together all the elements
that are really important
1st MAZDA
IT’S by far the most
entertaining car to drive,
2nd
but that’s not the only reason the
HYUNDAI
COMPARED with its
rivals, the Kona is
3rd
ultimately lacking a clear direction.
for a small SUV like this. It’s distinctive, CX-3 scores well. The car also rides It’s not as comfy as the Citroen, but
comfortable and incredibly practical, smoothly, offers enough usability and not as good to drive as the CX-3, and
which means it’ll fit in with buyers’ is also tempting on Mazda’s attractive rides more harshly than either. It has
everyday lives best. It’s not hugely PCP deals. While it’s not practical or the best infotainment system here
fun to drive, but it delivers good in- efficient enough to win this test, the and gets plenty of standard kit, but its
ROADTEST gear performance and the long list of CX-3 is still reasonably spacious and drab interior and driving experience
standard kit means the C3 Aircross suffers the least from depreciation, so count against it, while the smallest
★★★★✩ is the best-value car in this test. running costs should be acceptable. boot seals its fate in third place.
CITROEN

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

C3 AIRCROSS
JAN 2018

AEB = autonomous emergency braking. *Part of option pack. In red = equipment fitted to our test car. Insurance quotes from AA (Tel 0800 107 0680
or www.theAA.com) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Residual values provided by CDL VIP Data.

NEW: SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI FR USED: MINI Countryman Cooper

Same PRICE: £19,895 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp 500 ENGINE: 1.5 3cyl, 134bhp
PRICE: From £18,500

price THE SEAT Arona FR is a little le pricier than its three rivals
oice. The sporty
here, but it’s still a fine choice.
tainment
looks and top-notch infotainment
IF you’re prepared to buy used, you could get into a nearly
ne
sam
yman for around the
new MINI Countryman
same price as the cars in this test.
help it stand out, and it’s also The MINI rivals the CX-3
X-3 for
Other options for good to drive, practical and d dri
driving enjoyment, boasts
similar money... economical. Look out for goo
good residual values and
the decent PCP deals. a chic, upmarket image.
mage.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January
ry 201
2018
8 45
 ROAD TESTS Audi Q7 e-tron vs Volvo XC90 T8

HEAD-TO- HEAD TEST

Q7 vs
XC90 Audi and Volvo slug it out to be our
luxury plug-in hybrid SUV champ
ELECTRIFICATION is a trend sweeping the
industry, and in a bid to boost the efficiency
of their bigger models, such as SUVs, car makers
are turning to batteries and electric motors; these
supplement combustion engines and help cut CO2.
Audi’s Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid bucks the trend
by teaming its electric motor with a diesel engine,
but the question is, has the brand backed the right
horse here? In some ways it’s incidental, because
the Q7 isn’t offered with a petrol choice in the
UK to electrify – unlike the Volvo XC90.
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in uses a petrol
engine assisted by an electric motor and battery
set-up, and is a different solution to the same
problem. Which best combines its two methods of
propulsion as our favourite big plug-in hybrid SUV?

Audi FIGURES WHAT WE LOVE

Q7 e-tron Audi Q7 3.0TDI

quattro e-tron
Price: £67,560
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel/electric motor
V6 diesel-electric drivetrain promises strong mix Power/torque: 369bhp/600Nm
of performance and efficiency. Is it a hit in SUV? Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive
0-60mph/top speed: 6.4 seconds/143mph
Test economy: 47.2mpg
BASED on Audi’s MLB Evo platform, the Q7 was designed with a CO2/tax: 48g/km/£440 Refinement
plug-in hybrid powertrain in mind. So this e-tron variant, which Options: 20-inch alloy wheels (£1,200), Matrix Q7 is beautifully constructed
combines a torque-rich V6 turbodiesel engine and a punchy LED headlights (£950), extended LED interior inside. The smooth and quiet
electric motor, delivers a surprising level of performance light pack (£280), Tour Pack Advanced (£2,800), powertrain means refinement is
Technology Pack (£1,195), Trailer Pack (£1,300),
and claimed efficiency, even in a car this big and heavy. Bang & Olufsen stereo (£6,300) simply incredible at high speed
However, these two traits aren’t necessarily accessible at the
Length/wheelbase: 5,051/2,994mm
same time, while it’s not all good news for the Q7, because there are
Height/width: 1,741/1,968mm
some drawbacks to the plug-in hybrid e-tron, which we’ll come to.
Boott (7/5/2
(7/5
7/5 seats): N/A/650/1,835 litres
Neither SUV is perfect, but can the diesel-electric Audi
di topple the
tric XC90?
Volvo, or will this PHEV have to defer to the petrol-electric

FOR AND AGAINST

For: Refinement, effortless performance,
impressive cabin quality and technology

Against: Not as efficient as Volvo, no third

rd
row of seats, battery eats into boot space

46 31 January 2018
 Audi Q7 e-tron vs Volvo XC90 T8 ROAD TESTS

Volvo XC90 T8 FIGURES WHAT WE LOVE

Twin Engine Volvo XC90T8Twin

EngineAWD Inscription
Price: £66,055
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl supercharged/turbocharged
Volvo plug-in hybrid SUV uses turbocharged andnd petrol/electric motor

supercharged petrol power. We see if it’s better Power/torque: 401bhp/640Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive
0-60mph/top speed: 5.9 seconds/140mph
AS with the Q7, the XC90 uses a large car platform; here it’s Test economy: 57.6mpg Efficiency
Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture, or SPA. This also underpins CO2/tax: 49g/km/£440 Plugging in maximises what can
the smaller XC60 SUV, plus the S90 saloon and V90 estate cars. It was Options: Xenium pack (£750), Blindspot be extracted from the XC90’s
designed from the outset to work with plug-in hybrid technology, assist with cross traffic alert and rear powertrain; we achieved 57.6mpg
collision mitigation (£500), Bowers and
and offers a clever packaging solution for a big SUV with a battery. Wilkins stereo (£3,000), laminated windows compared with 47.2mpg in the Q7
This T8 Twin Engine model uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged and (£750), smartphone integration (£300)
Length/wheelbase: 4,950/2,984mm
supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor –
Height/width: 1,776/2,008mm
a different solution to the same question answered by the Audi. But
Boo (7/5/2
Boot (7/5
7/5 seats):
a ) 397/775/1,951
397/775/1,951 litres
397/775/ litres
which combines
com its combustion engine and electric motorr better
delive low running costs, decent pace and an upmarket
to deliver ket feel?

FOR AND AGAINST

Fo Efficiency, no real loss of practicality over
For: ver
the standard car, performance and technology gy

Ag
Against: ortable as
Droning engine note, not as comfortable
he move
Q7, infotainment can be difficult to use on the
 ROAD TESTS Audi Q7 e-tron vs Volvo XC90 T8

1st Volvo XC90 T8 ROADTEST

★★★★✩
Stronger practicality and efficiency give petrol-electric Swede the edge in this shoot-out VOLVO
XC90 T8

L4
JAN 2018

VOLVO announced a major electrification DRIVING

push last year with a strategy that will see score Volvo’s box kicks down on
all of its models offer some form of battery
power from 2019. But leading the charge at
4.0 full throttle, so we couldn’t
record in-gear figures. But
the moment are cars such as the brand’s first going up through the ratios
petrol-electric plug-in hybrid, the XC90 T8. from 30-70mph, the XC90
The 2.0-litre petrol and electric motor serve took 4.8 seconds; the Q7
up a combined 401bhp and 640Nm of torque, posted a time of 6.8 seconds.
which meant the XC90 outperformed the Q7 in
our track tests. The Volvo went from 0-60mph
in 5.9 seconds, which is impressive for a BRAKES Both cars use
2,256kg SUV. You feel the 87bhp electric motor’s their electric motors to
influence off the line, helping fill any holes in slow down and harness
the 316bhp combustion unit’s power delivery. energy that would be
It isn’t as potent as the Audi’s electric motor. wasted otherwise. Volvo’s
Rated at 240Nm, it doesn’t quite have the Q7’s pedal is firm and lacks
punch in EV mode, but there’s still enough feel, making it hard
performance, especially when in urban traffic. to stop smoothly.

L4
Yet with both power sources delivering drive
on twistier roads, the XC90’s engine drones
more than the Q7’s smoother V6 TDI. RUNNING
The gearbox is adept at picking the right ratio score COSTS
and managing changes smoothly, but unlike the
Q7, it doesn’t respond as well in manual mode.
4.0 According to our experts, the
XC90 will retain 54.5 per cent
On top of that, the ride isn’t as good as the of its list price (£36,000). The
Audi’s. The Volvo’s air-suspended chassis (a Q7 will hold on to only 48.8
£2,150 option on Inscription trim) feels firmer per cent (£32,990), so it’ll lose
and harsher, plus doesn’t offer the plush control £4,515 more over three years.
over the body and wheels’ vertical movements,
meaning over rough surfaces it jars a little.
Still, the firmer-feeling set-up and 189kg SERVICING The electric
weight saving ensure the XC90 is marginally elements of these cars
more agile. It resists roll better and doesn’t feel shouldn’t need attention,
quite as heavy or cumbersome as the e-tron. so servicing won’t be too
Despite this sportier side, comfort is more of different to a regular XC90
a priority, while efficiency also plays a big part in or Q7. Insurance will be
what a plug-in hybrid should deliver. At £66,055 similar, too; they’ll be
– a premium price tag by any standard – so does costly to run as a result.

L4
equipment, and the Volvo scores well.
You get a nine-inch touchscreen sat-nav,
climate control in all three rows, keyless entry PRACTICALITY
and go, adaptive cruise with semi-autonomous score Even in seven-seat form the
driving for motorways, heated leather seats and
safety tech, including Volvo’s City Safety system
4.3 Volvo offers a useful 397
litres of boot space. If you
with autonomous braking. Oncoming Lane intend to tow, you can pull
Mitigation helps you swerve to avoid a head-on up to 2,400kg, although the
crash and there’s a device that prepares the car Q7’s 3,500kg limit (the same
for an impact if it senses you straying off road. as the diesel’s) trumps this.
The XC90 set the template for Volvo’s
current-era cabin design, and while everything
is nicely integrated and the ergonomics are VERSATILITY The T8
good, material quality isn’t quite as classy Twin Engine’s battery pack
as in the Audi. Still, it’s really not far behind. is mounted in the spine
of the chassis, unlike the
Q7’s, which sits underneath
the boot floor. This means
VERDICT ★★★★★ the car doesn’t lose the
standard XC90’s third row
THE XC90 T8 has fewer drawbacks and of seats, giving it an edge
delivers far better economy. It’s not as over the Audi when it
comfortable as the Q7 and trails in terms comes to usability. It’s easy
of quality inside, but it’s as good to drive, enough to get into the
even more practical and will be much back, because the two
cheaper to buy and run. It’s a hybrid that outer seats in the middle
doesn’t demand much compromise. row slide and fold forwards
for respectable access.

48 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Technology
R-Design cars have
a 12.3-inch digital
display with four
modes. Nine-inch
infotainment screen
doesn’t get Apple
CarPlay or Android
Auto compatibility
as standard, though

Transmission Materials
Eight-speed box is smooth in auto Lots of leather and metal give a
mode, picking the right ratio, but it premium feel to the XC90; it’s just
trails the Q7 for response as a manual not quite as classy as the Audi’s cabin

Running costs
57.6mpg
£61 fill-up/£440 or 9% tax
score
4.1
4L INTERIOR &
TECHNOLOGY
XC90’s cabin is more versatile, but it’s
not quite as nicely crafted here. While
material quality is good, it lacks the
Q7’s air of luxury. There’s lots of leather
and metal details, and plenty of tech.
THROUGH
THE RANGE
Which trim level suits you?

THE T8 powertrain is available on

every XC90 model in the range,
so starting with Momentum –
which gets all the kit you’d want,
INFOTAINMENT All XC90 T8 including sat-nav and all the safety
Twin Engines get Volvo’s 12.3-inch tech – with a £7,000 deposit based
digital dash display. Nine-inch on a 36-month PCP deal limited
Performance infotainment screen isn’t quite to 10,000 miles per annum, the
0-60mph/top speed as easy to use on the move as entry-level model will cost £711
5.9 seconds/140mph Audi’s rotary wheel-controlled per month. There’s no deposit
landscape system, but resolution contribution from Volvo.
and functionality are similar. Stepping up to R-Design spec
increases this to £767 per month

4L
and adds a 12.3-inch dash display,
sports seats and 20-inch alloys, but
Practicality
Boot (7/5/2 seats)
OWNERSHIP score
these do affect the ride quality.
The top-of-the-range Inscription
397/775/1,951 litres Both cars have a three-
year/60,000-mile overall
4.3 version we’ve tested here will cost
£804 per month and features all of

!
warranty, while the battery the equipment we’ve previously
packs are also covered for eight listed, highlighting it’s still good
years or 100,000 miles. Audi claims value compared with the Q7.
a 10 to 30 per cent decrease in battery However, the much cheaper
Braking capacity over this period is normal. Momentum model is the one
70-0/60-0/30-0mph to go for at this price.
45.3/31.6/10.7m
SAFETY XC90 has more standard
safety kit, and you can add blind spot Our choice:
monitoring, cross traffic alert and XC90 T8 Momentum
AEB that works in reverse for £500. NEXT CAR

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 49

 ROAD TESTS Audi Q7 e-tron vs Volvo XC90 T8

2nd Audi Q7 e-tron

Powertrain is clever, but fuel thirst and lack of seven-seat capability ultimately cost Q7 here

4L
LIKE any plug-in hybrid worth its asking DRIVING
price, the Q7 e-tron’s greatest trick is
score Q7’s blend of performance
making what is an incredibly complex and 4.0 and refinement is good, but
detailed engineering set-up simple to use. the battery is depleted too
Under the bonnet there’s a 3.0-litre V6 TDI quickly; we didn’t get the
engine driving an eight-speed automatic claimed 34-mile EV range. It
transmission that sends power to all four manages the switch between
wheels as part of Audi’s famous quattro package. power sources well, though.
Integrated into this transmission is an electric
motor that can drive the gearbox with the
engine off for all-electric running, while a MODES e-tron has a
clutch separates it, so the combustion engine Hybrid auto mode, which
can power the car exclusively if needed, too. manages the powertrain,
This all sounds very complicated, because it an EV mode and a Hybrid
is, but what you need to know is, with a fully hold mode. This reserves
charged battery, there’s a total of 369bhp and battery charge for when
600Nm of torque. This meant at our test track it’s needed most, such as
the Q7 sprinted from 0-60mph in a swift 6.4 in a low-emissions zone.

4L
seconds, despite its significant 2,445kg bulk,
which is partly due to its lithium-ion battery.
The big benefit is the 126bhp electric motor’s RUNNING
significant 350Nm of torque, which is 10Nm score COSTS
more than you get from an Audi A3 2.0 TDI
and is available instantly, filling in for the
3.8 Both models are in the lowest
nine per cent Benefit-in-Kind
diesel unit while it gets into its stride. (BiK) business tax bracket;
However, even with the combustion higher-rate taxpayers shell
engine off, there’s still plenty of performance. out £2,430 per year to run the
Audi claims the e-tron will hit 83mph in Q7. XC90 buyers pay £2,376.
electric mode, which we can vouch for, and
acceleration around town is brisk enough,
with only a faint whine from the motor. ECONOMY Heavier
On the road the e-tron is smooth and hushed, Audi also wasn’t as
cruising serenely in comfort due to the smooth economical on test. The
damping from the optional air suspension set- Q7 returned 47.2mpg
up – fitted as part of the Tour Pack Advanced compared with the XC90’s
or as a £2,000 standalone extra – which soaks 57.6mpg. As a result you’ll
up most imperfections a road can throw at it. pay £284 more per year
That weight means it’s not the most dynamic in fuel, at £1,433 in total.

4L
vehicle, but the Audi still steers sweetly and in
the sportier driving modes can be hustled along
at a respectable pace. Yet that’s not in keeping PRACTICALITY
with the hybrid ethos, so you’re better revelling score Q7’s battery means you lose
in the Q7’s comfort and cosseting refinement.
Standard kit on the e-tron includes LED
3.8 third-row seats. In five-seat
mode the 650-litre boot is
headlights, three-zone climate control and a still smaller than the XC90’s
sat-nav with connected services. A 12.3-inch 775 litres. This remains with
digital dial pack, keyless entry and go, cruise all seats folded, as Audi offers
control, DAB, leather trim, Bluetooth, Android 1,835 litres to Volvo’s 1,951.
Auto and Apple CarPlay also feature.
The drawback is the battery pack is under
the boot floor, which means, unlike the standard CHARGING The Q7’s
seven-seat Q7, the e-tron only has room for five. 17.3kWh lithium-ion
The XC90 T8 is a full seven-seater, however. battery takes eight hours
to fully charge using a
three-pin socket; this
drops to two and a half
VERDICT ★★★★★ hours with a wallbox and
will cost around £2.15 to
THE Q7 e-tron isn’t as versatile as the charge at home. The Volvo
XC90 T8. It’s smooth, refined and has a uses a smaller 10.4kWh
great mix of pace and comfort, but trails battery and will be around
the Volvo on efficiency, which counts 85p cheaper to charge.
double for a car of this type. It’s more A three-pin socket will
expensive and does without a third row recharge its battery in
of seats, even if it has a high-quality cabin. four hours; a wallbox
charge takes three hours.

50 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Technology
Q7’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit
gives details of charging and
how the hybrid system is
deploying the energy, along
with digital instruments

Transmission Materials
Eight-speed auto box has an Fit and finish is superb in the
electric motor built in, which Q7, making for a comfy cabin.
allows for all-electric running Equipment is also generous

Running costs
47.2 mpg
£93 fill-up/£440 or 9% tax
score
4.3
4L INTERIOR &
TECHNOLOGY
The Q7’s cabin is reserved, but quality,
ergonomics and tech are first rate. You
get an 8.3-inch infotainment set-up and
the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit gives info on
how the hybrid is deploying its energy.
THROUGH
THE RANGE
What options are available?

THE Q7 e-tron stands as a trim

level in its own right, and with
only one specification available
(the XC90 T8 offers a wider choice),
App Audi’s Connect e-tron your only decision is the optional
services allow you to check the extras you would like to add,
charging status and remaining rather than which model to buy.
Performance electric range of your car, as well as With a £7,000 deposit to match
0-60mph/top speed
setting charge timers. You can do that on our deals for the Volvo,
6.4 seconds/143mph
this on the Web or using a phone based on a three-year PCP finance
app. The XC90 offers a similar offer limited to 10,000 miles per
feature, called Volvo On Call app. year, the e-tron will cost you £792
a month, helped by a £2,000

4L
deposit contribution from Audi.
There are a number of extras
Practicality
Boot (7/5/2 seats)
OWNERSHIP score
you can specify, including the Tour
Pack to boost safety levels, which
N/A/650/1,835 litres Audi finished 11 places 4.1 will add peace of mind if this will
behind Volvo in our be a family vehicle. There are also

!
Driver Power 2017 makers’ adaptive dampers (£2,000) to
survey, in 18th place. Yet the Q7 further improve the ride, while
is a high-quality car and the e-tron the £995 Entertainment Mobile
tech has been thoroughly developed. adds two 10.1-inch touchscreens
Braking in the rear. You can team this
70-0/60-0/30-0mph
with a £1,100 digital TV set-up.
44.8/32.9/7.9m
SAFETY Q7 gets AEB
with pedestrian detection.
You can upgrade safety with Our choice:
£1,695 Tour Pack, which includes Q7 3.0 TDI quattro e-tron
adaptive cruise and lane assist.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 51

 OUR CARS Living with a Nissan Micra

Nissan Micra
FINAL REPORT Our time with supermini has shown how quickly the class moves on
Lawrence Allan when the Micra joined our fleet in its grown-up road manners and solid, grate after a long day in the office. A
Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk April, I settled into it with a real respect attractively designed interior. But problem with the gearbox alignment
@LobAllan
for how far Nissan’s supermini had as 2017 rolled on, new superminis also made third tricky to select for a few
APART from the tech industry, the come over the years. The design also including the Ford Fiesta and SEAT Ibiza weeks, although after Nissan took it in
automotive sector has to be one of struck a chord with friends and family, arrived; and thanks to those cars the for a fix, changing cogs proved a much
the fastest-moving product markets who more often than not commented Micra has dropped down the rankings. sweeter experience. Given the stop-
around. As we often find at Auto Express, on the styling or overt colour scheme. Driving the excellent Ford and start traffic around our office in central
a brand new car can be up among the Yet by the time of the Micra’s first SEAT back to back with my Micra London and how hard the Micra needs
class leaders at the start of the year, yet group test a few weeks later, the initial really illustrated the Nissan’s flaws: to be worked, a final economy figure
will be merely an also-ran by Christmas. shine was clearly starting to wear off. namely its tight, claustrophobic of just over 43mpg is pretty good, too.
Our Nissan Micra, unfortunately, is The supermini faced the ever-popular rear seats, dated infotainment It’s a pity the engine didn’t deliver,
one of those cars. It made a splash at the Volkswagen Polo and the funky new and disappointing performance. because despite newer rivals showing
2016 Paris Motor Show, taking over from Citroen C3 in the shoot-out, and finished The latter has been my biggest gripe. it up, I’ve enjoyed the Micra’s overall
its woefully dated predecessor with a close, but disappointing, third. The Renault-sourced 0.9-litre turbo blend of ride comfort and handling.
a sharp new look. And when we first Its appeal hadn’t diminished as much petrol engine offers decent pace once My commute takes in motorways and
drove it in early 2017 it impressed. Then in my eyes, though; I was still enjoying higher in the rev band, but a lack of country roads, where its high-speed
torque means it feels a bit wheezy refinement and accurate steering
“Driving the Micra back to back with next to other turbo superminis. made the daily grind less of a chore.
It doesn’t excel around town, Other, more minor gripes have
rivals has highlighted some of its flaws” either, where its boosty nature and come from rear-seat passengers,
inconsistent throttle response could particularly those who are as tall as

Performance Small-capacity 898cc turbo petrol means Micra struggles to keep pace, but the handling is sprightly

52 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 OUR CARS
Essentials

Pete Gibson/Otis Clay

Nissan Micra 0.9
IG-T 90 N-Connecta
On fleet since: April 2017
Price new: £16,415
Engine: 0.9-litre 3cyl turbo,
89bhp
CO2/tax: 99g/km/£140
Options: Energy Orange Character
Metallic paint (£575),
Vision+ Pack (£600), Bose
Personal Audio Pack (£500)
Insurance*: Group: 4/Quote: £555
Mileage/mpg: 7,300/43.2mpg
Any problems? Gearbox alignment issue
*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a
42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

WE LIKE The 360-degree

parking camera has been a
great feature for town driving.
Our Micra’s orange paint isn’t
for everyone, but we love how it
complements the sharp styling

Performance Practicality Running costs

0-62mph/top speed Boot (seats up/down) 43.2mpg (on test)
12.1 seconds/109mph 300/1,004 litres £50 fill-up

I am. On a camping trip with four

friends last year there were frequent
complaints, although some were due
to the boot being so full that things
were spilling over into people’s laps.
Still, there have been no issues from
up front, with a comfortable, easily
adjustable driver’s seat accommodating
my lanky frame. I’ve also really warmed
to the interior design; it’s not exciting, WE DON’T Tight back seats
but the contrasting colour scheme really are a hassle when transporting
lifts it. Similarly, the central screen’s Lawrence’s tall friends, and the
graphics look old-hat, but I found the underpowered engine doesn’t
button shortcuts make it easier to use on help matters when the car is full
the move than touchscreen-only systems.
The tech upgrades on our car have
proven welcome additions. The £600 Verdict
Vision+ pack was a highlight, because
it brought Nissan’s brilliantly useful AFTER its time on our fleet, the Micra
Interior Around View Monitor – perfect for still appeals with its stylish looks
Dash layout
the narrow bays of our office car park. and neat tech features, but it’s let
looks smart,
The punchy sound from the Bose down by its lacklustre powertrain
and shortcut
Personal Audio Pack (a £500 option on and cramped back seats. I bonded
buttons on
our car) with speakers in the headrests with the Nissan, but have now fallen
infotainment
also made commutes more enjoyable, for rivals that have come out since.
are handy to
operate the
system when
although we’d be tempted to try the
standard system before splashing out. ★★★★★
you’re driving
Second opinion
“The Micra is no class leader, but when the competition is this fierce, that
would be a tough ask. Although the Nissan is good to drive, the latest Ford
Fiesta and SEAT Ibiza are even more fun, and have better powertrains as well.”

Sa
Sam Naylor Senior reviewer

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 53

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 OUR CARS
Essentials

Otis Clay
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S
4MATIC+ Estate
On fleet since: December 2017
Price new: £91,290
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-
turbo V8, 604bhp
CO2/tax: 214g/km/£450
Options: Designo metallic paint
(£895), Premium package (£2,595),
Driving Assistance Plus package (£1,695),
ceramic composite brakes (£6,995),
AMG Night package (£795), AMG
performance exhaust (£1,000),
20-inch alloy wheels (£1,295)
Insurance*: Group: 47 Quote: £1,798
Mileage/mpg: 6,250/23.4mpg
Any problems? None so far
*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a
42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

Mercedes-AMG E 63 S
FIRST REPORT One of the world’s fastest family cars joins our fleet
John McIlroy Performance Running costs
John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk 0-62mph/top speed 23.4mpg (on test)
@johnmcilroy 3.4 seconds/186mph £80 fill-up

IT seems odd to say it, but in this up 604bhp and a walloping 850Nm of you quite a lot of play before it scoops
era of environmental concerns and torque between 2,500rpm and 4,500rpm. you up and reins things back in.
financial instability, one of the biggest Add a nine-speed automatic gearbox This is especially evident in
success stories in the car industry is and four-wheel drive, and you have anything other than Comfort mode, WE LIKE There aren’t many
AMG. The brand has been enjoying the recipe for a two-tonne estate to because the more focused settings estates out there that are faster
record sales, thanks to an expanding go from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. ramp up the gearshifts and firm than the E 63 S. Performance is
line-up that includes everything from The top speed is ‘limited’ to 186mph up the car’s standard air suspension, stunning thanks to four-wheel-
hot hatches (A 45 AMG) to sports cars because the E 63 S also gets the AMG giving it a more capable, but drive traction and a 604bhp
(AMG GT). It also has a hypercar on the Driver’s package as standard. slightly less tolerant character. V8 engine under the bonnet
way in the shape of the Project One. It is supercar fast. Such is the Cold winter mornings have also
AMG is known for its V8s, though; level of performance, in fact, that exposed the fact that the car’s high-
and even when faced with demands each E 63 S comes with a free driver performance Michelin rubber isn’t
for greater fuel efficiency, the firm’s training session at Mercedes’ at its best until it has warmed up;
engine wizards have found ways of impressive ‘experience’ and dealer that’s another reason why learning
keeping the legendary layout relevant. facility at Brooklands in Surrey. how to cope with slip, in controlled
And now we’re planning to see how When we arrived for our photoshoot, conditions on the track, is a good idea.
this science works out in everyday life, staff were preparing for half a dozen It’ll be interesting to see how the
because we’ve just taken delivery of an new AMG owners to get a briefing Mercedes-AMG E 63 S behaves in
E 63 S Estate for the next six months. and then some useful instruction. clogged-up traffic on my commute;
Under the bonnet lies AMG’s latest It makes perfect sense to us, because but we’ll also try to get a bit of track
twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, a motor our early experience of the car is that time, or even do a cross-continent WE DON’T Adaptive dampers
closely linked to that in the AMG GT. it is shatteringly rapid; and that, even journey, amid the everyday humdrum. let you choose how stiff you want
In our ‘S’ version the engine serves with four-wheel drive, it will allow This car deserves nothing less. the suspension. Even in Comfort
mode the E 63 S’ ride is too hard,
partly due to 20-inch wheels

Verdict
OUR first few hundred miles in the
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S have been
all about the performance. The
4.0-litre V8 is characterful and
delivers stunning acceleration,
with a bellow to match from the
sports exhaust. The next six
Infotainment Controller gives you months are sure to go by fast.
access to COMAND infotainment on
Mercedes’ 12.3-inch central display ★★★★★
www.autoexpress.co.uk 55 31 January 2018
 Living with a 3008 OUR CARS
Fleetwatch

Hot stuff
Ability to heat up the
cabin is great, and another
MINI joined ours at charge bay

MINI Countryman
SPECIAL contributor Tom Barnard was reminded of one of
the MINI Countryman PHEV’s most endearing features – its
preheating – during the recent cold weather. You can use the

Peugeot 3008 on-board computer to set a departure time, and the car will be
toasty inside as your neighbours work with their ice scrapers.
Warming the MINI while you’re plugged into the mains
electricity also means you’re not eating up the battery power,
saving it for propulsion rather than heating. But it only really
Update It’s time for our crossover’s first service works if you leave at the same time every day. If you need to
make a quick unplanned getaway the PHEV takes an age to
defrost and the battery-only range plummets. On a few frosty
Pete Gibson
Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk
Essentials mornings we’ve actually found the doors have been frozen shut!
The Countryman’s fuel savings have received a warm
welcome, though: it’s been doing fewer long trips recently,
OUR Peugeot 3008 does more miles Peugeot 3008 1.6 BlueHDi which has massively improved economy. We’re seeing over
than most cars on the fleet, because 120 S&S GTLine 70mpg thanks to the electric-only mode used on shorter hops.
I drive it all over the country to and from On fleet since: April 2017
our road tests, as well as in and out of Price new: £28,295
London to the Auto Express office. Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl diesel, 118bhp
Ourfleet
INDEX
So while many models leave us before CO2/tax: 104g/km/£140
they need servicing, the 3008 has already Mileage/mpg: 17,508/56.5mpg
been in for its 16,000-mile maintenance.
I went to my local dealer, Robins & Day in Check-up Dash Audi RS3
Chelmsford, Essex, with the mileage reading flagged up service Issue 1,507
16,343, although an icon on the i-Cockpit indicator, while Citroen C3
display had been reminding me to take dealer was great Issues 1,483, 1,497, 1,504
it in for a little while before that. Ford Fiesta
Issue 1,508
I booked the car in a week in advance,
which was too short notice for a courtesy
car to be available. So instead of leaving the
Audi RS3 Honda Civic
Issues 1,485, 1,500
Land Rover Discovery
3008 there, I opted to go for an early drop-off THE regret knows no bounds in the Issue 1,506
and waited until everything was finished. seconds after you’ve just skimmed Mazda CX-5
That turned out to be a fine choice, because the rim of an otherwise immaculate Issue 1,503
the free WiFi and coffee in the waiting area alloy wheel – as special contributor Mercedes-AMGE63S
meant I could get on with some photo editing Steve Sutcliffe recently found out. New arrival
in comfort while the work was carried out. Trying to avoid a pothole, our man MINICountrymanPHEV
I paid £247.62 for the service, including a accidentally scuffed our Audi RS3’s Issues 1,497, 1,503, 1,507
pollen filter change (£35.70). That seems like thanks to a free interior clean. The engine 19-inch front right alloy on a kerb Mitsubishi L200
acceptable value; the work was carried out seems to be freeing up with miles, and – although the damage wasn’t Issues1,452,1,461,1,482,1,504
quickly, and the staff were friendly and helpful. we’re now averaging 56.5mpg after the as bad as he’d initially feared. Nissan Micra
The tyres were checked, and I’m happy to service was carried out. That’s a big increase It looks as if someone has taken Issues 1,476, 1,494
report that the all-weather mud and snow over the 44.9mpg we were returning a few an industrial sander to the outer Peugeot 3008
rubber fitted to our GT Line 3008 is holding thousand miles ago. Lots of motorway trips edge of the mega hatch’s wheel, Issue 1,489, 1,506
up well. Plus, the car came back looking fresh, have no doubt helped improve this figure. and Steve is naturally gutted about Renault Grand Scenic
it. But luckily there are now loads Issue 1,508

Verdict of companies out there that will

be able to refurbish the alloy and
SEAT Ibiza
Issue 1,507
Skoda Kodiaq
restore it to showroom condition.
Issues 1,501, 1,508
OUR 3008 is dealing with life on the Auto At least it makes no difference
Suzuki Ignis
Express fleet admirably, soaking up miles to the RS3’s superb handling, Issues 1,479, 1,491, 1,505
without a problem. We’re impressed with performance and interior quality Volkswagen e-Golf
Peugeot’s dealer experience after the – three of the car’s best features. Issues 1,490, 1,504
car’s first service, and the SUV even Volkswagen up!
seems to be relishing the extra miles Issues 1,470, 1,486, 1,499
with its improving economy figure, too. HAVE YOUR SAY: Volvo S90

★★★★★
Waiting room Comfortable space with What is your car like to own? Issues 1,488, 1,503
www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power
WiFi and free coffee allowed Pete to work

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 57

 PRODUCTS
Visit autoexpress.co.uk for our extensive product archive

THISWEEK’S “Latest Ring chargers Kim

HOT KIT are similar in size to a
chunky smartphone”
Adams
Got a query?
products@autoexpress.co.uk
@AE_Consumer

Keeping hood mould at bay

Q I LOVE my cabriolet, but have ended up with
mould on the hood after parking under lime
trees. Which products do you recommend to
remove this and prevent it from returning?
Jonathan Stevenson, E-mail

A
AUTOGLYM won our 2015 test of these

TINY CHARGERS GIVE treatments, but its product is now called the
Convertible Soft Top Clean & Protect Complete
Kit. It comprises a cleaner and a proofer that

BIG BATTERY BOOST leaves a water-repellent finish. Regular

washing to prevent the build-up of deposits
and retreating should keep the mould at bay.

NEW PRODUCT
Ring smart battery chargers Must I change all four tyres?
Prices: From £39.99 Contact: 0113 213 2000, www.ringautomotive.co.uk
Q MY garage says I need to change four tyres
on my xDrive BMW even though it is only
IS your battery struggling this winter? Ring may the fronts that need replacing. Staff say it is
have the answer with its new smart charger range. Smart to do with the 4WD system. Are they right?
Long gone are linear chargers the size of toasters; RSC704 is James Willis, E-mail
these new products work around twice as fast, but the mid-range

A
have the dimensions of a chunky smartphone. model in new ALL BMWs with xDrive and some other 4WD
There are three new models plus a monitor, line of smart models have this problem because the
and all the units are compatible with the kind of chargers. The system can’t cope with more than a 2mm
batteries found on today’s cars: lead acid, gel, 4A unit works difference in tread depth between front and
AGM (absorbent glass mat), EFB (enhanced with engines rear. Replace all four tyres then make sure
flooded battery) and calcium. They also work up to a capacity you swap front to back on the same side
with the increasing number of stop/start cars. of 2.0 litres after a few thousand miles to even up wear.
Kicking off the range is the £39.99 RSC701 1A
Smart Maintenance charger, designed to be put
on rarely used cars to keep the battery topped up.
Assessing driving ability
Next is the more versatile RS704 4A smart
charger, at £44.99. It’s a one-touch device to Q I’M aged over 70 and am still driving, but
switch between slow and fast charging, and its Charger my family is urging me to stop. I think my
electronics automatically adapt to battery type Entry-level driving is fine. Is there somewhere that
and size. It’s good for engines up to 2.0 litres. RSC701 model I can go to settle the argument?
Top of the range is the more powerful £59.99 kicks off the Terry Walker, E-mail
RSC706 6A Advanced Smart Battery Charger. This smart charger

A
has a cold weather mode, plus an eight-stage range and costs IAM RoadSmart runs Mature Driver Review
charging and reconditioning cycle. It can work £39.99. It can courses (£49, www.iamroadsmart.com)
with lithium batteries and up to 3.5-litre cars. be used to top which assess your driving. You do it in your
The £14.99 RSCBM monitor works with all up batteries on own car on roads near you and you can take
three of the new units and provides a handy rarely used cars a friend or relative along. A qualified expert
traffic light-style indication of battery level. will assess your driving and give advice on
any areas that may need improvement.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 59

 PRODUCTS New on the shelves

CAMERA PUTS YOU IN THE news,

DRIVING SEAT OF R/C CAR deals&
FIRST TEST events
Revell VR Racer IN VIEW
Price: £99.99 VR Racer comes
Rating: ★★★★★ with a headset
that you can
Contact: www.revell.de/en
insert your
phone into for
IF you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s
a virtual reality
like to pilot a remote control car from the experience
‘driver’s seat’, then the new VR Racer
from Revell allows you to do exactly that.
With the help of a smartphone, you
can drive this off-road buggy with the
handset slipped into a set of VR goggles
X-Class loads up for
or simply via your phone’s screen. Of caravanning market
course, you can also drive it as you
would a conventional R/C car. MERCEDES used the Caravan, Motor,
The kit is ready to run and suitable for Touristik show in Stuttgart to display
ages eight and up. Just ensure the 6.4V two X-Class camper concepts. The
LiFePo (lithium iron phosphate) battery is first is a demountable camper body
charged and you have a 9V PP3 battery (above) by coachbuilder Tischer
for the controller. While the buggy is light, that offers three berths, a full
it’s tough with good ground clearance, kitchen, a bathroom and toilet.
so it can run in most domestic gardens. A sliding kitchen unit from VanEssa
The camera is mounted on the roof and that fits discreetly into the stock
automatically sets up its own WLAN truck was also on display. Neither is
hotspot for your phone. Download confirmed for production, but Tischer
the app and you’re ready to go. already builds camper bodies for
The two-motor, rear-wheel-drive VR other pick-ups for around £25,000.
Racer is lively enough, and the controls
are proportional, but it’s hard to apply
just a small amount of steering, so the
UK drivers failing
truck tends to lurch from side to side. tyre pressure test
This makes driving via the camera
problematic, as the view rapidly sweeps A SURVEY by Michelin and Kwik Fit
left and right. The picture is good has revealed that motorists aren’t
enough, despite some occasional checking their tyre pressures. An
lag, but the tricky steering means VR inspection of over 500 vehicles found
driving is very difficult. It’s a shame 27 per cent had at least one tyre with
because the concept is good and it’s ‘dangerously low’ pressure – 7-14psi
fun taking the buggy to places that under the recommended level – while
can only be seen via the camera. 12 per cent had at least one ‘very
dangerous’ tyre over 14psi below.
Underinflation harms safety, tyre
“It’s fun taking the wear and economy. The companies
recommend fortnightly checks of tyres’
buggy to places that pressure, condition and tread depth.
can only be seen
via the camera” Download an app and you get a live feed from VR Racer’s rooftop camera VWs of all shapes
and sizes in Shrops
NEWPRODUCT VOLKSWAGEN fans can head to
Ring RAC660 Dual Power Telford International Centre in
Preset Tyre Inflator Shropshire on 11-12 March for the
Price: £79.99 Contact: www.ringautomotive.com
UK’s largest indoor VW Group event.
Ultimate Dubs covers Volkswagen,
THE maker of our test-winning mini compressor, Ring, has Audi, SEAT and Skoda models, with
launched a new version with both 12V and mains power. award-winning show cars and other
The RAC660 Dual Power Preset Tyre Inflator can be used displays from more than 60 car clubs
wherever you are with quicker inflation if you have access to from across Europe. A selection of
mains power. Plug into your car’s cigar lighter socket, and trade stands will also be there.
it can inflate a 13-inch tyre from flat to 35psi in two minutes; Tickets cost £17.50 for a full
run it off 230V mains and this takes 10 seconds less. weekend pass if booked online
In addition, the inflator has digital presets with a backlit at www.ultimate-dubs.co.uk.
LED display that automatically stop the compressor when you
reach the desired pressure. It also has a bright LED light and an Know an event coming soon?
eight-piece adaptor set is included for sports kit and inflatables. Inflator runs off 12V or mains and has digital presets Contact products@autoexpress.co.uk

60 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 PRODUCTS DAB radio adapters
Mini test books,
NEW PRODUCT games & apps
Nextbase Adapt DAB 250
digital radio adapter Rover V8 – the
Price: £79 Rating: ★★★★★
Contact: 0345 504 5353, www.halfords.com story of the engine
THE Nextbase DAB250 is a chunky black James Taylor (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk)
plastic unit with a clear, info-packed 2.4- Price: £30 Rating: ★★★★★
inch LCD screen and a row of station
preset buttons along the top. It comes AN interesting and informative
with a stick-on windscreen aerial with book about one of the most
a magnetic earth tab designed to slide important engines ever.
on to the inside of a metal roof panel, The Rover V8 has powered
which can sometimes be tricky to fix. everything from muscle cars
There are three wires going to the unit to the Range Rover, and so
when using direct audio connection; if there’s plenty to write about.
you connect wirelessly to the FM band, Decent pictures back up the
you only need to press the ‘FM Trx’ informative, if slightly dry,
button for it show a suitable frequency. text, and it’s a good read.
Tuning DAB stations and pre-setting
was easy. Reception performance was
good but not outstanding. An external Ford GT40 MkII:
aerial would work better in areas with
poorer signals, so it’s our runner-up here. The remarkable
history of 1016

Can new DAB adapter

Mark Cole (Porter Press, porterpress.co.uk)
Price: £30 Rating: ★★★★★

THIS book isn’t as in-depth

call our champ’s tune?

as entries in Porter Press’
‘Great Cars’ series, so
even at half the price
it doesn’t feel as good
value as those titles. Yet
Martyn Williams production values are still
NEXTBASE won our Issue 1,489 perform? As with our champion, the top-notch. There are some excellent period photos
dash cam test, and the firm has now DAB 250 is the cheaper of two models throughout, and the car’s race career is told well.
entered the DAB adapter market. available and lacks Bluetooth calling. “Both bring
Its two offerings bring digital radio via We tried both on a varied test route,
the auxiliary socket or an FM transmitter, evaluating them on weaker stations, digital radio Recharge RC
plus music streaming. The DAB 350 has aerial performance and ease of fitting. via the AUX Available for: iOS, Android
Bluetooth calling, too. Both undercut our The Pure has the edge with its better
reigning test Best Buy, the Pure Highway tuner performance and integration.
socket or FM Price: Free Rating: ★★★★★
400, by some margin, but how do they But the Nextbase is a good option. transmitter”
NOT for the casual
gamer, Recharge RC
TEST WINNER is at its best if you pay
Pure Highway 400 to unlock its features,
Price: £115 Rating: ★★★★★
which becomes
Contact: 01923 623099, www.pure.com
pricey. The base
game has lots to
EXCELLENT tuner sensitivity and a neat recommend it, with great
controller head have kept the Highway physics, fun user-generated tracks and a local
400 at the front of the pack, and it’s still multiplayer mode. Yet disabling Free Roam without
holding its own against newer models. a purchase is a cost-cutting measure too far.
The unit is small, with its own battery,
and has a dedicated wireless data link.
The white-on-black display offers high
visibility without excessive glare at night.
App of the week
Sound quality, particularly when used Be Avalanche Aware
with an audio cable connection, is great.
Available for: iOS, Android
DAB sound can also be transferred by
Price: Free Rating: ★★★★★
transmitting to the FM band. But fixing
the tuner/antenna’s magnetic ground
connection to the roof panel through the DRIVERS heading to Scotland to
edge of the windscreen headlining can hike or ski will benefit from this
be fiddly, and reception quality will be app. It uses Scottish Avalanche
reduced if it isn’t connected properly. Information Service data to
Yet while it’s pricier, the better tuner show avalanche risk across
performance secures the win for Pure. the country. Niche, but useful.

62 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.ukk

 PRODUCTS Camera locators tested

Locators
Road Angel Pure
CAMERA LO
We nam
name the devices – and apps –
Price: £249.99 (pre-orders taken now for March delivery)
y)
Subscription: £99 (one year)
Contact: 0330 123 9479, www.roadangelpure.co.uk PRODUC
PRODUCTGROUP TEST
Rating: ★★★★★
31|1|2018
31|1|2
BEST BUY THE new Pure is the
priciest locator here, but it more than Every week, we extensively test all the latest
justifies the cost. It has the biggest and car kit from tyres
tyre to trim cleaners.
best display and was the most accurate Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk
www. to look
at spotting cameras. We like the way it through ourr hug
huge online test archive
shows the current limit and warns you if you exceed
eed
it. Camera alerts were accurate, and it impressedd by
ignoring cameras on the opposite side of the road. It can
recognise average speed cameras and work out your average, too. The Road Angel app
(iOS and Android) enabled us to change settings quickly and easily, and the built-in WiFi allows
over-the-air updates. While the subscription is pricey, you get real-time alerts from other users.

Snooper 4Zero Elite BT

Price: £179.99 (deliveries start February)
Subscription: Free
Contact: 01928 579579, www.snooper.co.uk
Rating: ★★★★★

RECOMMENDED AS with our test winner (above), the

brand new 4Zero features the possibility of easy camera
location updates thanks to built-in Bluetooth and mobile le
phone integration. The sleek device showed us our speed d
accurately, but unlike the Road Angel it didn’t show the limit.
We were impressed by the Snooper’s accuracy: it passed all of
our fixed-location tests and distinguished between cameras eras
monitoring traffic on the other side of the road and those e facing
our direction of travel. But on one occasion it falsely warned
arned
us of a laser camera. Still, the free subscription is a big plus.

Cheetah C550 Black

Price: £159.99 Subscription: £19.99 (three years)
Contact: 0131 608 0059, www.speedcheetah.com
Rating: ★★★★★

OUR previous test winner had to settle for

third place this time round. The Pure and 4Zero
ro
came with slightly more accurate alerts, whilee
the Cheetah C550 beeped a warning as we passed
a camera facing in the other direction. The other
ther
locators also feature more intuitive screens, with
the Cheetah’s menus and options harder to access.
However, where this unit excelled was in its voice warnings. It had accurate alerts
that went as far as saying there was a “camera by the petrol station on the right”. This meant Martin Saarinen
we didn’t spend as much time glancing at the C550 as we did our test winner. Still a worthy buy. NO matter what some drivers think, speed cameras are in
place to keep us safe on the road. They ensure motorists stick to
the limit and highlight accident hotspots. Even so, if you’re driving
Inforad K3 Deluxe Speed Camera Locator on an unfamiliar road or in heavy traffic, it’s easy to pick up a fine.
Price: £69.99 Subscription: Free To stay safe and protect your licence, camera locators provide
Contact: 020 3808 5212, www.gpsinforad.co.uk alerts and help you monitor your speed. Current devices can pick
Rating: ★★★★★ up anything from fixed cams to police laser guns, as well as red
light cameras. For those on a budget, smartphone apps tap into
THE Inforad is here to show that not all speed camera locators have to cost speed camera location databases to provide a similar service.
over £100. As a budget option, there’s plenty to like about the K3 Deluxe. It’s To see which is best, we tested four locators and four apps.
the smallest standalone device of the four on test and was the easiest to set

How we tested them

up; you can mount it anywhere within your line of sight, then when it needs
recharging, just plug it into an in-car USB socket (or 12V
with the supplied adapter). Yet we were less impressed by ACCURACY was key, and we looked for well-timed, accurate alerts.
the alerts. It would accurately tell us about a fixed speed Locators that highlighted cameras outside our route, or pointing in
camera, and the lights would switch to red, but the device the other direction, were penalised. Another priority was ease of
didn’t make a sound as we neared a second camera 300 use, as was the overall experience. Price was the final factor.
metres later. It also missed a red light camera on our route.

64 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Camera locators tested PRODUCTS

OCATORS Locator apps

TomTom Speed Cameras
– you can rely on to stay safe
Available on: Android Price: Free
Rating: ★★★★★

BEST BUY SPEED Cameras comes

with a very intuitive interface and was
the most accurate of all the smartphone
apps we tested. It uses the excellent map
database that powers TomTom’s sat-nav
line-up to locate fixed speed cameras and
alert drivers to their whereabouts. On top of
that, a five million-strong community of drivers ensures
mobile speed camera alerts are also accurate. It was the
only app to recognise cameras on our test route that were
only intended for our direction of travel. The app is also
capable of warning drivers when they are in an average
speed zone and can calculate your speed through it.

Sygic Speed Cameras & Traffic

Available on: iOS, Android
Price: Free (premium £3.59 for a year; £8.59 lifetime)
Rating: ★★★★★

RECOMMENDED WE liked the integration

of Google Maps traffic flow into the Sygic app,
which allowed us to see congestion as well as
cameras on our test route. The software comes
with a free trial that can be extended, but we’d
opt for the Pro version that shows the speed
limits on the road and can integrate its alerts to
some sat-nav maps such as Google Maps. Sygic’s alerts
were accurate as it only alerted us to cameras that could
have caught us speeding. However, the red light alerts were
less successful, giving us one false alarm during the test.

Radarbot
Available on: iOS, Android Price: Free (Pro £4.99)
Rating: ★★★★★

THIS app comes with an intuitive menu and layout. Upgrade

to the Pro version, which costs £4.99, and Radarbot will
operate in the background, allowing users to access other
apps like sat-nav while driving. The speed camera alerts
were accurate, although we would have preferred an
earlier warning like those provided by the TomTom
(above). Some junctions had the RadarBot confused,
as we were warned of red light cameras that weren’t
pointing in our direction. The traffic alerts are a neat

Verdict feature, but again they weren’t always accurate,

while the in-app ads can become a little annoying.

THE hi-tech new Road Angel Pure is our favourite

standalone speed camera locator; it offers accurate Speed Cameras
warnings and has the best user interface. The new Available on: Android Price: Free
Snooper is also accurate, and has a free subscription, Rating: ★★★★★
but isn’t quite as good to use. Motorists who want to
use their smartphones instead should download the AN out-of-date database of camera locations immediately put
TomTom Speed Cameras app for the best results. Speed Cameras on the back foot in our test. The app failed to
spot red light cams on our route and missed two fixed-location
Speed camera locators speed traps as well. The app interface wasn’t as intuitive as
1. Road Angel Pure those of Sygic and our test winner TomTom, and it was blighted
2. Snooper 4Zero Elite BT by irritating ads when we opened it. The voice alerts weren’t
as good as our test winner’s, either. A positive is that the
Speed camera locator apps software can run in the background while you access other
1. TomTom Speed Cameras driving apps. Thanks to its integration with Google Maps,
2. Sygic Speed Cameras & Traffic Speed Cameras doubles as a sat-nav, although we prefer
Google’s own set-up as it’s slicker and more responsive.

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 65

 BUYINGCARS
New and used buying advice from our team of experts Sponsored by

36th Hugo
YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS PLACE
Griffiths
Got any car queries?
Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk
@AE_Consumer

45p ring brings £500 bill

Q I’VE just had a £500 bill following the failure
of a 45p O-ring in the power-steering pump
in my car that’s just out of warranty. Is this a
common fault, and can I recoup my losses?
Jonathon Thomson, E-mail

A
BIG bills caused by the failure of small,
inexpensive parts do happen on occasion. In
this case, the labour associated with accessing

Toyota Prius Mk4 and stripping down the pump explains the
final bill. You could pay for an independent
inspection of the O-ring and pump, but there’s
no guarantee this would find in your favour.
YOU TELL US Big-selling hybrid is cheap to run, but trails on infotainment
GOOD NOT SO GOOD
Is cambelt a lifetime part?
2017 Results “IT is smooth to drive, “SAT-nav is hard to Q MY Skoda Citigo is due for its five-year
Prius Factfile both when accelerating
and cruising.”
programme and route
guidance is unclear.”
service, which Skoda UK says should include
a cambelt change. But I’ve read elsewhere
that this is a lifetime part. Should I change it?
Years: 2016 to present CO2: 70g/km “I regularly see 70mpg, “The rear is squashed Mike Lynn, E-mail
Fuel economy: 94.1mpg (Active) which is exceptional when the front seat is

A
Best options: Keyless go, heated seats, for a car of this size.” set up for a tall driver.” WE’D recommend following your dealer’s
blind spot warning, head-up display advice and changing the cambelt. Skoda’s
“I really like the “The infotainment fixed-price servicing deals mean this should
Used prices: From £17,000 cutting-edge styling.” system won’t connect cost £389. Although it’s a big bill, if the belt
to my new phone.” snaps you could have to fork out thousands
“Insurance, road tax, in repairs for a new engine. Any extended
OVERALL SCORE Bars show where model petrol and servicing “I don’t like the white warranty wouldn’t cover the repairs, either.
finished out of 75 vehicles costs are super-low.” dashboard plastic.”
89.76% in our 2017 new car survey.
The longer the bar the better
“The build quality “The central storage Sponsored by Warrantywise
inside is impressive.” bin only opens on
Engine and gearbox
75 1
the driver’s side.” Insight from the industry
“It has all the latest
Exterior safety tech, like “Base of the back
Interior and comfort
Q
radar cruise control.” seats is too firm.” I HAVE had to replace my battery twice in
Practicality and space the past six months. On both occasions the
Ride and handling “Our dog loves looking “To me, it has less car was slow to start before totally failing.
out of the lower-glazed interior storage Could I have bought a faulty battery, or is
Safety features portion of the boot.” than the old Prius.” there a more serious underlying problem?
MPG and running costs
Reliability and build quality
A
IT is far more likely you have a problem
Have your say: What with your alternator. Take your car to the
Infotainment, connectivity is your car like to own?
and electrics garage, explain the issue and ask staff to
www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power
investigate. A battery should last for four
or five years before needing replacement.

WORRIED ABOUT EXPENSIVE CAR REPAIR BILLS?

*(7 $ 4827( :,7+ 7+( 8.·6 %(67 86(' &$5 :$55$17<

WWW.WARRANTYWISE&28. 0800 121 4770 warrantywise.co.uk/autoexpress

www.autoexpress.co.uk 31 January 2018 67

 BUYING CARS Mercedes E-Class Mk4

BUYER’SGUIDE: Mercedes E-
FROM £7,000 Heavy depreciation makes previous executive model a strong choice as

Thanks to Imperial Car Supermarkets in

Tha
Hampshire
Ham (imperialcarsupermarkets.co.uk)
for the loan of the E-Class in our pictures

Engines Seating Wheels

SOME diesels can FOLDING rear
re seats DIAMOND-cut alloys
suffer from faulty are optional in the can suffer corrosion
injectors. Feel for saloon, so look out under the lacquer;
misfiring and look for these. They expect to pay £100
for black smoke significantly boost per wheel getting
from the exhaust. the car’s usability. them refurbished.

Richard Dredge estate in January 2010, with the same parking sensors front and rear, trims, superb build quality, strong image
EVER since Mercedes started engines as the saloon. A cabriolet model Bluetooth, heated front seats and relatively high purchase prices.
making cars, it has been a pioneer. was launched in March 2010. and climate control, as well as a
With a focus on build quality, luxury The E300 Bluetec hybrid was unveiled multifunction steering wheel, artificial Verdict
and performance, the brand’s values are in November 2012, four months ahead leather trim and 16-inch alloy wheels. EXEC cars are costly to buy new and tend
typified by the E-Class executive saloon of a facelifted E-Class with significantly Avantgarde specification adds to be dear to run, so often depreciate at
and estate, first seen in 1985 when the revised exterior styling, extra equipment 17-inch wheels, real leather and a greater rate than smaller alternatives.
now-classic W124 was launched. – including lots of new driver assistance bi-xenon headlights. The Sport has The E-Class is no exception, which is
Since then the bar has been raised tech and a DAB radio – cleaner engines 18-inch wheels, a styling kit, quicker why it’s so easy to recommend second-
ever further, with more technology, and SE or AMG Sport trims in place of steering and upgraded front brakes. hand: it can represent tremendous value
safety and comfort features crammed the previous SE, Avantgarde and Sport. and it’s one of the most desirable
into each successive generation. An all-new, fifth-generation E-Class Alternatives family cars available at any price.
The fourth take on the E-Class came range was introduced in 2016. IF you’re buying an estate, the Volvo Yet electronics problems can crop up
in 2009 and it was more accomplished V70 offers lots of space for relatively and can be tricky to fix, so before buying
than ever, with a great range of petrol Which one? little cash, combined with decent build make sure everything works correctly.
and diesel engines. Later there was the IF you buy a rare manual E-Class, you’ll quality and excellent safety. However, Also pin down exactly what options
E300 Bluetec diesel-electric hybrid, too. struggle to sell it on. It’s the same with running costs tend to be high. are fitted, because some cars are much
petrol cars, apart from AMG V8s, but as The Jaguar XF secured an impressive more highly specified than others, with
History buyers desert diesel, this might change. third-place finish in our Driver Power items such as upgraded multimedia,
THE Mk4 E-Class arrived in saloon and Each trim level has a different chassis 2017 used car satisfaction survey, posher trim and a panoramic roof all
coupé forms in June 2009. There were set-up. The SE majors on comfort, the and comes in saloon or estate adding to the Mercedes’ desirability.
E200, E250, E350 and E500 CGI petrol Sport is stiffer, but the best balance is forms, so it’s a fine all-rounder. Be careful when buying, because
saloons, and E200, E220, E250 and offered by the high-spec Avantgarde. Yet it’s the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 abused cars aren’t uncommon. Prices
E350 CDI diesels. The 525bhp E63 AMG All E-Classes are well equipped as that are the Mercedes’ closest rivals, also vary, but if you can travel for the
arrived in August 2009 and a spacious standard; the entry-level SE comes with offering a wide range of engines and right model, you might bag a bargain.

68 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 Mercedes E-Class Mk4 BUYING CARS

-Class

Values courtesy of Glass’s Guide

Running costs
56mpg (E220 CDI)
Performance
0-62mph/top speed
How much?
£73 fill-up 8.9 seconds/137mph
16 14 62 60 09
2016 2014 2012 2011 2009

a family car Model

E350 CGI Avantgarde auto N/A N/A £17,595 £14,150 £11,650

Interior E200 CDISport auto

E220 CDISE auto
N/A N/A £10,350 £8,750 N/A
£22,250 £17,995 £11,250 £9,350 £7,850
NEED TO THERE isn’t much flair in the dash design, but it’s logically laid out E250 CDISE auto £22,295 £18,895 £11,795 £9,875 £8,150
KNOW and the quality is superb, plus the seats are comfy and supportive. E350 CDI AMG/Sport Auto N/A £22,995 £15,795 £12,450 £10,195

ALL facelifted Cabin space is generous for five, and the estate has a seven-
automatics have seat option. Boot capacity is great at 540 litres for the saloon EXPECT to pay at least £7,000 for a Mk4 E-Class. This
seven speeds; and a class-leading 1,950 litres for the estate. The dash may nets an early E220 CDI with around 150,000 miles; an
before this, look button-heavy, but some people will find that easier to use. equivalent E350 CDI costs an extra £1,000. Cap the
four-cylinder mileage at 70,000 and you can buy a 2009 E220 CDI
auto E-Classes

Tom Wood
saloon for £9,000, or an estate for £10,000.
got five speeds.
Virtually all available cars are automatic diesels. A
few petrol E-Classes have four or six-cylinder engines,
but most are V8s, especially the AMGs, which are
priced from £18,000 for a 100,000-mile example.
There’s a reasonable number of hybrids to choose
from; E300s start at £13,000 for a 100,000-mile car.

Running costs
Fuel CO2 Annual
economy emissions road tax

Insurance group
Model
E200 petrol 32-36 39mpg 165-172g/km £190-£220
E350 petrol 40-43 32-41mpg 161-205g/km £190-£305
E200 diesel 29 54-55mpg 143-145g/km £135-£150
E220 diesel 32-38 53-56mpg 116-144g/km £30-£135
E250 diesel 37-43 53-56mpg 128-144g/km £115-£150
E350 diesel 40-43 40-47mpg 154-186g/km £190-£280

ALL E-Classes need attention every 15,500 miles or

12 months. Services alternate between minor and
major, priced at £260 and £350 regardless of engine,
except the AMG V8 models, which cost more.
Motors Auto gearboxes need fresh fluid (£284) every four
FOUR-cylinder years or 31,000 miles. Chain-driven engines mean
engines are quick there are no cambelts to replace, but air-con needs
enough, but can be to be checked every service; regassing costs £149.
a bit harsh; the six- Brake fluid should be replaced every two years
cylinder units are www.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower (£90) and the coolant every 15 years or 150,000
much smoother. miles (£390). Mercedes offers maintenance payment
OUR VIEW plans starting at £35 a month to help with budgeting.
FIFTH place overall in our Driver Power

Partwatch
2017 used car satisfaction survey shows
Expert’s how talented the E-Class is, and first for
safety is no surprise. It achieved top 10
verdict rankings virtually all the way across the Dealer price Independent price
poll, scoring impressively in every area
from trade insider Part
aside from a surprisingly low 11th for
Quentin Willson practicality, plus 45th for running costs.
Front brake pads (axle set) £71.99 £43.99
Front brake discs (pair) £140 £103.98
Door mirror glass (electric) £81.60 £8.99
THE E-Class combines lots of practicality YOUR VIEW Front wiper set £40 £29.49
with a high-quality interior, equipped CALLUM Rainsford, from Bridgnorth,
Prices for a 2013 E220 CDI. Dealer prices supplied by Mercedes-
with plenty of technology. It may be Shropshire, owns an E250 CDI. “It’s an Benz Cheltenham, Glos (mercedes-benzofgloucester.co.uk).
built for comfort rather than outright impressive car with comfort, space and Independent prices from Euro Car Parts (www.eurocarparts.com).
driving pleasure, but if you’re in the efficiency, and feels like it’ll last forever,” *Price from www.carwingmirrors.co.uk.
market for an executive saloon, the he told us. “High-speed refinement is
Mercedes is well worth considering. excellent and so is boot space. While the
running costs are high and there’s been
Recalls
Common faults a recurring electrical fault, I still love it.” SIXTEEN recalls so far is hardly cause for celebration.
ELECTRICS pose the biggest area of The first came in October 2010 for possible leaks from
concern with the E-Class, and repair the power-steering system. The most recent was in
bills typically range from £500-£1,000.
Contacts March 2017 due to potential electrical short circuits.
Official
Warranty price: £33 www.mercedes-benz.co.uk In between were campaigns for airbag and power-
Prices start from £33 per month with Warrantywise
steering failures, the engine stalling or failing, fuel
Forums
and oil leaks, the front seats working free and the
www.mercedesforum.com
www.benzworld.org self-levelling rear suspension not working properly.
Sponsored by www.mercedesclub.org.uk

31 January 2018 69
 BUYING CARS Used triple test

Kings of the load?

We weigh up three top used estates for buyers wanting to carry the family and all their luggage

Kia Optima Sportswagon Volkswagen Passat Estate Skoda Superb Estate Verdict

1 VW Passat
★★★★★
IT’S hard to look past the
value the Passat Estate
offers on the second-hand
market. It’s the most
expensive car new, but it’s
Sportswagon comes loaded with kit Top-quality interior sets Passat apart Superb is our reigning Best Estate Car easy to find as a high-mile
bargain in the classifieds.
Optima SW Passat Estate Superb Estate

2 ★★★★★
GT-Line S 1.7 CRDi SE Business 2.0 TDI SE L Exec 2.0 TDI Skoda Superb
Years: 2016 to date Engine: 1.7-litre 4cyl, 139bhp Years: 2015 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Years: 2015 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp
Ins group: 20 Official econ/CO2: 61.4mpg/120g/km Ins group: 19 Official econ/CO2: 62.8mpg/119g/km Ins group: 19 Official econ/CO2: 60.1mpg/122g/km
Why? Sharp looks mean the Optima Sportswagon Why? VW is the high-quality choice here, and with Why? The most practical buy and also named best THE Superb Estate was
stands out in a rather conservative class. many available used, it’s the cheapest to buy, too. car to own in our Driver Power satisfaction poll. the overall winner when
we tested these cars new,
Prices from: £15,000 Prices from: £10,790 Prices from: £12,600 serving up Passat-like
THE Kia Optima Sportswagon is newer VOLKSWAGEN’S Passat Estate is the THE Passat’s closest relative is the capability for less. On
than both the Passat and Superb Estate, most expensive car to buy new out of Skoda Superb Estate. While the Czech the used market, this
so second-hand prices for the Korean this trio, but it’s a bit of a bargain on the model isn’t quite as polished in terms is no longer the case.
station wagon are still relatively high. used market, with lots of high-mileage of cabin quality and how it feels to drive,
Looks are a subjective matter, but it’s
arguably one of the most eye-catching
estates on sale today. Sadly, the rakish
examples advertised from low prices.
From behind the wheel, the Passat
is a strong all-rounder; its versatile
it is the most practical option of these
three, offering a large 660-litre boot.
It’s not as sharp as the Passat, but it
3 ★★★★★Kia Optima

design comes at a cost; the Optima characteristics make it better to drive is marginally more comfy with a more IT’S sharp-looking and well
Sportswagon only has a 552-litre boot. than the Optima and Superb. On paper, forgiving ride. According to owners, you equipped, but the Optima
Still, Kia customers are a happy bunch it’s the most economical choice, too. won’t find anything better on the road: it SW is still expensive on the
with the South Korean brand finishing The Passat came 32nd in our Driver was the overall winner in our Driver Power second-hand market. It’s
third in the manufacturers’ chart of our Power 2017 new car survey, with VW new car survey last year. And Skoda was also not as good to drive
Driver Power 2017 satisfaction survey. 14th in the manufacturer standings. the second best performing brand. as either VW Group car.

70 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

 SPORT
All the action from the world of motorsport

DAWN
RAID
Stunning Mount
Panorama track
promises close
racing for the
Bathurst event

Big grid for Bathurst 12 Hours ● 57 cars contest classic event

Stephen Errity Max Buhk and Max Goetz sharing joining young French driver Come
Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● Supercars stars out in force with the Portuguese former McLaren Ledogar in the YNA Autosport car.
factory driver Alvaro Parente. BMW and Porsche also have a strong
A TOTAL of 53 cars will take to the Audi, sharing an R8 with Kelvin van der Elsewhere, the Mercedes-AMG factory presence down under, with DTM
iconic Mount Panorama circuit in Linde and Fred Vervisch, while a second GT run by SunEnergy Racing features drivers Augusto Farfus, Philip Eng, Timo
Australia this weekend for the annual car sees Brit Stuart Leonard team up single-seater racers Tristan Vautier Glock and Marco Wittman turning out in
Bathurst 12 Hours endurance race. with Dutchman Robin Frijns and Belgian and Raffaele Marciello alongside M6 GT3s for the former. Double Le Mans
The top GT3 class features a string Dries Vanthoor. An all-factory R8 driver another Australian star, the multiple winner Earl Bamber, as well as Laurens
of manufacturer entries, including two line-up of Christopher Mies, Christopher Supercars champion Jamie Whincup. Vanthoor, Romain Dumas, Dirk Werner,
new Bentley Continental GT3s, with Hasse and Markus Winkelhock is also McLaren is also calling on a mixture Kevin Estre and Fred Makowiecki,
Brits Steven Kane and Guy Smith being fielded in another entry. of Australian and international talent form a very strong line-up for Porsche.
among the six-strong driver line-up. The British outfit Strakka Racing is aboard the 650S GT3s entered for the A live stream of the race will run at
Elsewhere, Australian Supercars running a pair of Mercedes-AMG GTs race, with Supercars regulars Shane www.bathurst12hour.com.au – the flag
ace Garth Tander is turning out for at the event, one featuring works drivers Van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes drops at 6:45pm UK time on Saturday.

Bernhard joins Race

Formula E debuts in Chile of Champions line-up
MAHINDRA Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist LE MANS winner and World Endurance champion Timo
leads the Formula E points standings Bernhard has been added to the list of drivers who’ll
ahead of this weekend’s third round contest this year’s Race of Champions event, which
of the electric series’ 2017-18 season. takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this weekend.
The Chilean capital of Santiago is the The exhibition race has shifted from its usual pre-
venue for the event. This is Formula E’s Christmas slot and also has DTM champion Rene Rast,
debut in the South American nation, World Rallycross champion Johan Kristofferson and
with a track that runs along the city’s European Le Mans Series champion Memo Rojas on
Avenue Santa Maria before crossing the bill, alongside the likes of David Coulthard, Juan
the river Mapocho and taking in the Pablo Montoya, Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg.
Plazza Baquedano and Forestal Park.
Rosenqvist’s closest challenger BEST OF
in the points is DS Virgin’s Sam Bird, THE BEST
who’s scored 50 to the Swede’s 54. had a title partner. Series organisers Bernhard will
SUPER SWEDE join champions
Away from the track, Formula E has also say they’re no longer seeking a Rosenqvist holds
recently announced a title sponsorship replacement for the cancelled double- from other
the advantage motorsport
agreement with the Swiss-Swedish header round in Montreal, Canada, at for the Indian disciplines
industrial firm ABB – the first time an the end of July, meaning this season will squad Mahindra for the RoC
FIA single-seater championship has now conclude in New York on 7-8 July.

80 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk

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WHO built the best cars in the world

week 116
PAGE
DRIVEN SPECIAL
over the last decade or so? Germany and ISSUE
Japan, I’d argue. Nobody’s pretending they’re
perfect – both have produced a few automotive
abominations over the years. But, credit where
it’s due, they have got their cars right far more
frequently than they’ve got ’em wrong.
Between 2006 and 2016, Audi, BMW,
Mercedes and VW won the World Car of the
Year title for Germany seven times. During Judgement day
the same period, Lexus, Mazda and Nissan
claimed it for Japan on four occasions. for BMW’s new X2
This was nothing to do with coincidence,
luck or bias. Instead, it was everything to Mike Cool crossover looks good, but can
it deliver on the road? We reveal all
do with the German and Japanese brands
being superior on the automotive front
Rutherford
Motoring’s most outspoken
to rivals based in other nations. and opinionated columnist
Things had to change. And they did. It was sounds off
the end of an era for the ‘two best’ car-building
countries last year when Britain, Jaguar, its
Land Rover just did the
workers and its F-Pace lifted the 2017 World
Car of the Year title. And the Brits could unthinkable by taking
be in line for another great year because two Top 10 places in the
Land Rover is the statistical favourite to
World Car of the Year TESTED
win the coveted WCOTY prize in 2018.
For a company to get one contender into Final, with the Velar VW T-Roc vs rivals
the WCOTY Final 10 is a major achievement. and Discovery New Golf-sized SUV head-to-head
Even Audi and Mercedes weren’t good with Audi Q2 and MINI Countryman
enough to do that this year. Yet Land Rover just did the unthinkable by
occupying a pair of Top 10 positions, thanks to its Discovery and Velar. SPECIAL REPORT
So, could it be two WCOTY wins in a row for Britain in 2017 and 2018?
Possibly. Would this mean the UK could then join Germany and Japan as
one of the ‘best three’ car countries on Earth? Probably. And if Sweden and
Volvo continue to build fine all-new cars, it might be the fourth member
of this elite global club. South Korea, blessed with Hyundai-Kia and the
rising star that is Samsung Motors, is another that’s itching to join.
Undoubtedly, Germany is on the back foot, and to a lesser extent so is
Japan. The WCOTY champion of 2010, VW’s Polo, has fallen at the first hurdle
this year, as the all-new version has just been eliminated by the jurors in the
first round of voting. This says much about products going out of fashion:
The inside story
the Polo badge is now 43 years old, and tired. But it says more about the on Skoda’s Karoq
current state of Volkswagen, which still has an awful lot of Dieselgate A 32-page in-depth special that
headaches to shed, and crippling legal and other fees and fines to pay. charts SUV’s journey to showroom
The German auto industry still struggles to see off the Japanese, while at the
same time having to cope with stronger-than-ever product challenges from ●
the Brits, Swedes and Koreans. It’s hardly game over for Germany and Japan. News l Product tests
But, deep down, they know they’re being caught – and may even be overtaken. Drives l Features & Sport

Do you agree with Mike?

Have your say at facebook.com/autoexpress @The_Rutherford
onsale
Wednesday 7 February
82 31 January 2018 www.autoexpress.co.uk
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