Innholdsfortegnelse for 1542 i Auto Express

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● OFFICIAL THIS is the SEAT Tarraco, a new flagship SUV for the Spanish brand that’s designed to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Edge and Skoda Kodiaq. Unveiled this week ahead of a public debut at October’s Paris Motor Show, the Tarraco (named after the city of Tarragona) is based on the longest version of the VW Group’s MQB platform, called A2. It’s 4,735mm long – so around four centimetres longer than a Kodiaq or Tiguan – and will be offered in both five and seven-seat editions. The new car’s styling is an evolution of SEAT’s existing look, but design boss Alejandro Mesonero claims it’ll influence future models. “It delivers a feeling of proudness,” he says, “thanks to its assertive front end…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths “Owners of qualifying cars could get free or discounted access to current or future low-emission zones” GREEN number plates could be fitted to low-emission cars, vans and taxis, acting as a “badge of honour” to encourage drivers into cleaner vehicles. The Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) have launched a public consultation which aims to “seek views on whether green plates could work in the UK, and if so, what they should look like”. The “eye-catching” plates could potentially arrive in “the next few years”. While details of how clean cars would have to be in order to get a green plate have not been defined, OLEV classifies an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) as a car that emits up to 75 grams…

MUCH closer to showrooms than the iNEXT (above) are these two new additions to BMW’s performance SUV line-up. The X3 and X4 M will go on sale in the middle of next year. Bosses confirmed the two models are currently under development and official shots of disguised prototypes give us our first official look at the new SUVs. “The X3 M will give the firm a direct rival for the Porsche Macan Turbo” The X3 M will be the first model of its kind from BMW because a fully-fledged M version of the mid-sized SUV has never been developed before. It will give the manufacturer a direct rival for the Porsche Macan Turbo. The cars in the official images wear heavy masking, but the sculpted and extended bumpers and quad-exhaust…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor We take a Reborn E-Type for a spin THIS may look like a sixties Jaguar E-Type (above), but it’s just four months old and is one of Jaguar Land Rover’s new ‘Reborn’ E-Types. These are ground-up restorations of original cars, and I was the lucky chap to get behind the wheel for this first UK drive of a modern classic. Five of the best EVs you can buy today ELECTRIC cars are everywhere at the moment, with new models coming out seemingly every month. Some have 300-mile ranges, some are SUVs and others are hatchbacks; some are really pricey and some are more accessible. But which is best for you? We’ve tested all the latest EVs, so watch our top-five video. You can watch any of our videos…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ SUVS are eating into the territory of traditional executive saloons, but the premium four-door market isn’t dead yet. Certainly not according to Audi, because the level of development and tech the firm has committed to this fifth-generation A6 makes it the most advanced yet. And it’s very good indeed. The car still sits on the VW Group’s MLB evo platform – although it’s been reworked, naturally – while there’s a fresh engine, too. In line with Audi’s new naming structure for its powertrains, this 40TDI model denotes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 201bhp and 400Nm of torque. It drives the front wheels through a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox; there’s no quattro four-wheel drive or manual option available with this motor yet. That’s no great shame, because…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 67.3mpg (official) £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.7 seconds/109mph WE’VE been pretty impressed with the new range of van-based MPVs from the PSA Group – the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Rifter – but now it’s time to try the third model in the line-up: the Vauxhall Combo Life. The car must perform two roles for the British company. It must draw new customers to Vauxhall, as well as give drivers of the now-defunct Zafira Tourer a reason to stick with the brand. Vauxhall will offer the Combo Life in two lengths, each with two possible seating configurations. There’s the regular edition, with five or seven seats and up to 2,126 litres of boot space. But the longer-wheelbase model, called the Combo Life XL, brings up to…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE new-car market may be vital for Britain’s economy, and the latest models offer cutting-edge tech and lower running costs than ever, but with more than eight million used cars changing hands in the UK last year, second-hand forecourts are around three times busier than new-car showrooms. To find out what long-term life is like with second-hand models, our Driver Power used car survey polled thousands of owners of vehicles aged between three and six years old. That generated results for 100 models, 75 of which we’ve analysed in detail over the following pages. We polled owners to determine how their cars are faring in day-to-day life. We asked for feedback in nine key areas, enquiring into your cars’ reliability and practicality, whether they still deliver where driver…

YOU’VE read our rundown of the 75 best used cars to buy, and seen which you should investigate if there’s a specific type of car you’re interested in. But if you want your next car to have the finest interior, offer the lowest running costs or provide the most space, our category winners should prove enlightening. In compiling the category rankings for our Driver Power used car survey, we ask a series of granular questions, enabling us to paint a comprehensive picture of how each model performs. It’s easy, for example, to talk broadly about how good a car is to drive, but we want to be more precise. Therefore, our ride and handling category asks how responsive a vehicle’s brakes are, how sharp its steering is, how well it…

MODEL TESTED: Mercedes C 220 d SE PRICE: £35,690 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 191bhp WE’VE got an affordable Mercedes C220 d SE model for this test. This features the brand’s newer 2.0-litre turbodiesel, because diesel power is still popular in a sector where owners often cover high miles. How does the C-Class fare elsewhere? Design & engineering THE latest C-Class is still based on Mercedes’ MRA Modular Rear-wheel drive Architecture, which is a good platform to begin with and didn’t require any major changes. The older car’s rattly 2.1-litre diesel has been replaced by a slightly smaller 2.0-litre engine that made its debut a few years ago in the larger E-Class saloon. Producing 191bhp, this motor makes the C-Class the most powerful choice on test. However, its torque output of 400Nm…

Mercedes C-Class Audio 20 Standard Key features: Sat-nav, hi-res screen COMPARED with the small screen in the old C-Class, with its grainy graphics, this sharp 10.25-inch unit is a big step up, and retaining the familiar console-mounted controller means it’s easy to navigate. Satellite navigation is fitted as standard, but the brand’s upgraded COMAND Online system that brings much of the connected technology isn’t available on SE trim. It’s no great shame because the screen is the thing that really sets this off. The Mercedes display responds quickly, is logical to use and makes this the nicest, fastest and most responsive infotainment system in this test. It might lack a little functionality and some features might be optional – CarPlay and Android Auto are part of a £295 pack, for…

Alfa Romeo Giulia IT’S amazing how the smallest details can make all the difference. Our Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce has a wonderful driving position, with a great range of adjustment. This means the moment you drop behind the wheel you feel at ease, comfortable and in the perfect position to enjoy this sporty saloon car’s abilities on the road. Our model also comes with a pair of lovely aluminium shift paddles that are optional on other versions in the Giulia range, but these do mean the steering wheel trim is a bit frustrating. The wheel is a nice diameter; nothing wrong there. It’s mostly wrapped in soft leather; nothing wrong there, either. But where you hold the three-spoke wheel in the crook of your thumbs, there are two nasty patches…

SINCE we last tested this size of winter tyre, we’ve changed the way we select a winner. To better reflect UK driving conditions, we changed the split between snow, wet and the other tests. Snow performance now counts for 20 per cent of the overall score, with the wet-weather tests and additional assessments making up 40 per cent each. The heart of the calculation is still the same, with all results converted to percentages. Our top performer in each test is awarded 100 per cent, with the rest scored relative to this. The only weighting we apply is to ensure each test counts around the same to the overall result. This ensures there’s no unfair advantage to a tyre winning a test with a big gap between the best and…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Preparing a car for a lay-up I AM heading abroad for work for the next six months and need to lay up my car in my garage during that time. What preparations should I make before I go away? Jo Hart, E-mail A IF you don’t want to offer the car to a friend to use in your absence, get an oil and coolant change, inflate the tyres to the correct pressure and connect a trickle charger to the battery. Use chocks instead of the handbrake, plus get the car washed and put a cover on before you go. Have the car inspected when you return. Q What’s causing window woe? ALL four electric windows in my car have stopped working.…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk “Channel 4 will screen highlights packages plus the British Grand Prix in full live” UK viewers will be able to watch the British Grand Prix live on terrestrial TV next year, following a deal agreed between Channel 4 and Sky Sports. Sky has exclusive rights to broadcast Formula One live in the UK from 2019 until 2024, while Channel 4’s agreement to broadcast selected races live runs out at the end of the current season. From next year, Channel 4 will screen Sky Sports highlights packages plus the British Grand Prix in full live. Viewers who want to watch the remaining races live will need to sign up for Sky Sports. Formula One’s live online streaming service, F1 TV, will be unavailable in the UK until at least 2025,…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “You’re being cynically and cruelly fleeced if you have the temerity to drop off or pick up loved ones at some of Britain’s airports” THE overwhelming majority of Brits become motorists. Having ‘qualified driver’ status for decades is the norm. Being a motorist for half a century or more is not uncommon. Tommy Rutherford, my old man, has just retired from driving after more than 70 accident-free years behind the wheel of Italian, then German, cars. We all know and fully accept we have to pay our fair share every step of the way. And we’re generally content to stump up hundreds of thousands of pounds during our long driving lives for licences, lessons, tests, vehicles, VED, insurance, fuel, oil, servicing, MoTs,…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Hi-tech pure-electric SUV has intentionally conventional shape ● Sits between Q5 and Q7; 80 per cent charge in under 30 mins “You can see influences from the Q8, as well as unique touches such as a flush grille and cameras that replace the regular mirrors” THE Jaguar I-Pace has grabbed the headlines since it hit the roads earlier this summer, but one of its main rivals has just been revealed. This is the Audi e-tron, a pure-electric SUV that’ll arrive in January as a competitor for the British car and the Tesla Model X. The first pure-electric Audi, the e-tron is a 4.9-metre SUV that’s designed to sit between the Q5 and Q7. You can see influences from the likes of the Q8, but there are unique e-tron…

THIS is the Renault EZ-PRO Concept: a series of electric, autonomous pods which can be customised to deliver a wide range of goods and services in built-up areas. The study, which was revealed at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany, is designed to replace large vans and lorries in urban environments in the process. It consists of a ‘leader pod’, which is followed by fully automated ‘robo pods’. The lead vehicle has seating for a human concierge, and features a joystick to allow manual control of the vehicle. However, the leader pod can also operate autonomously. With the concierge’s focus removed from the task of driving for extended periods, Renault claims they can instead focus on more important tasks; planning delivery itineraries or offering a more personalised customer…

HONDA will show a production version of its Urban EV pure-electric concept car within the next 12 months, Auto Express has learned. The retro-styled supermini (above), which is expected to have a range of around 200 miles, starred at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Now a senior Honda source has revealed that an evolution of the car will be unveiled at the Geneva show next spring, before the roadgoing version makes its debut in the autumn. Sales will start before the end of 2019.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE Government has announced its intention to make the UK a world leader in low-emission cars and electric vehicles, with £106million in central funding, over £500million investment from industry and 1,000 new jobs. Prime Minister Theresa May told the first-ever international Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Summit, hosted in Birmingham, she wants Britain “leading from the front” in the development of environmentally friendly transport. Announcing the funding boost, the PM said one in five EVs sold in Europe is made in Britain, claiming “our batteries are among the best in the world”. A number of automotive companies echoed May’s confidence. Aston Martin confirmed a further £50m in funding for its St Athan plant in Wales, with the site becoming the hub of its future EVs. These include the all-electric,…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Audi Q8 driven FROM: Matt Massey ONE of these days a car maker will manage to produce a model that is all chrome and front grille, and we have Audi to partly thank for this trend. I’m sure the Q8 is well built, good to drive and practical, but does it have to be so ostentatious? FROM: Ben Rees I AM not ashamed to say I like SUVs – they’re great family cars – and I like the Q8, too. The Q7 has never really done it for me – it’s a bit ‘blocky’ looking – but the Q8 is sleek yet still has huge presence. I’ll take mine in ‘Dragon’ orange,…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn LAMBORGHINI can be credited with creating some of the most iconic cars in history. The Miura, Countach and Murciélago are all poster cars of their eras – wedge-shaped supercars, powered by enormous mid-mounted V12s draped in sharp Italian suits. On the surface, at least, it’s difficult to say the same about the new Urus. It’s Lamborghini’s second crack at an SUV following in the footsteps of the cult-classic LM002, which was initially designed for the military back in the eighties. The Urus now has the job of doubling Lamborghini’s sales and inflating the firm’s bank balance. In the UK, it expects to sell up to 400 per year. With the Urus, Lamborghini has put its position as part of the VW Group to good use. The SUV is…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE Grandland X has been doing quiet business for Vauxhall for over a year now, giving the brand a viable family SUV at a time when it seems almost everyone wants one. The car – based on the same underpinnings as the capable and fashionable Peugeot 3008 – is now being offered with a more potent diesel engine, and we’ve driven it on British roads. This 1.5-litre unit replaces the old 1.6, as part of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group’s rollout of more efficient engines across its range. It produces 128bhp (a gain of around 10bhp) but emits as little as 108g/km of CO2. “New 128bhp 1.5-litre engine does feel like a fair improvement over the old 1.6” The good news is that the engine does feel like a…

ANTON Hart owns a 2013 IS 300h F Sport, for which he has nothing but praise. “I’m semi-retired now, but my daily commute used to be 100 miles, so I needed a safe, reliable car,” he says, adding that in three years and 50,000 miles, his IS has never let him down. “I like the angular styling. It looks right, and feels right; it’s solid and handles well,” he says. Anton has his car serviced at Lexus Milton Keynes and says it does an “outstanding” job. He pays around £60 a month for a maintenance package, which gives two main-dealer check-ups a year – necessary due to his previously high mileage. “Road tax is just £10 a year, and I average around 50mpg, which is good for a relatively heavy…

1. Lexus 90.56% WITH three models from its eight-car line-up finishing in our used cars top 10, it’s no wonder Lexus heads our manufacturers’ table. 2. Jaguar 90.51%  3 Mercedes 87.25%  4. Volvo 86.72% 5. Skoda 86.64% 6. Honda 86.01% 7. Mazda 85.70% 8. Land Rover 85.65% 9. Toyota 85.42% 10. MINI 85.30% 11. BMW 85.22% 12. Alfa Romeo 85.21% 13. SEAT 84.42% 14. Kia 84.31% 15. Ford 84.20% 16. Volkswagen 84.00% 17. Hyundai 83.94% 18. Renault 83.89% 19. Fiat 83.54% 20. Audi 83.47% 21. Nissan 83.12% 22. Peugeot 82.61% 23. Citroen 82.58% 24. Suzuki 82.32% 25. Vauxhall 80.97% 26. Dacia 80.90% 27. Chevrolet 76.53%…

MODEL TESTED: Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.2 Turbo Diesel 190 Speciale PRICE: £36,990 ENGINE: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 187bhp A REVAMP for the Alfa Romeo Giulia range has seen the trim levels on offer with the higher-output diesel engine cut to one: Speciale. It’s this £36,990 model we’re testing here (an older Super is pictured). Design & engineering MECHANICALLY, the updates to the Alfa Romeo Giulia aren’t quite as extensive as they are to the Mercedes C-Class. The engine is the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, but it gets a 10bhp increase to 187bhp. Torque remains at 450Nm, which is the most here. The car also has the lowest kerbweight, at 1,465kg, due to extensive use of lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre for the driveshafts and aluminium for some chassis parts and the…

Otis_Clay@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.5 seconds/125mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 579/1,795 litres Running costs 37.0mpg (on test) £78 fill-up/£140 or 36% tax WHEN you first get into any car, it always takes a certain amount of time to find where everything lives, whether it’s the trip computer buttons, the bonnet release or the climate controls (especially as some manufacturers, such as Renault, hide them within various sub-menus). All these things you generally figure out without too much difficulty and relatively quickly. But the problem I have with our Renault Koleos is that even after a while behind the wheel, I’m still none the wiser about where all the power is when I put my foot down. Looking at the specifications of the car doesn’t help much, because on paper my…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issue 1,534 AudiA7 Sportback Issues 1,529,1,536, 1,539 Citroen C3Aircross Issues 1,526,1,532, 1,537 Kia Stinger Issues 1,533, 1,537 Mazda 6 New arrival MINI Cooper5-door Issue 1,538 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross New arrival Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Peugeot 5008 Issues 1,523, 1,531, 1,539 Renault Koleos Issue 1,530 Skoda Karoq Issue 1,536 Suzuki Swift Sport Issues 1,532, 1,541 Toyota C-HR Issues 1,527,1,535 Vauxhall Grandland X Issues 1,536, 1,540 Volkswagen Arteon Issues 1,520,1,530,1,536 Volvo XC60 T8 Issues 1,541…

WE’RE not sure what Bridgestone has done to its LM001 tyre for this EVO version, but it isn’t enough, particularly in the wet and on snow. Meanwhile, Falken made a solid debut in our tests, although it struggled in the wet conditions. The next four tyres were very closely matched; Nokian’s WR D4 had the edge in the snow, but fared less well in the wet. Dunlop’s Winter Sport 5 was inconsistent, with some decent results and some poorer ones. We couldn’t split the Pirelli and Goodyear. The Cinturato Winter had the edge on the snow, while the UltraGrip Gen-1 proved easier on the pocket. Yet again Hankook showed it has found something when it comes to snow performance, but it couldn’t repeat that in other conditions. It’s rare that a…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler DS may be playing the long game in its pursuit of Audi, BMW and Mercedes, but its second bespoke model in the space of a year will break cover at October’s Paris Motor Show, in the shape of the new DS 3 Crossback. Like its bigger brother, the DS 7, the DS 3 gains the Crossback name to signify its SUV styling – although in truth, it is also a replacement for the DS 3 hatch, which won’t get a direct successor. The Crossback is still compact, at 4,118mm long – 178mm longer than the DS 3 hatch – but it gains rear doors and fresh tech thanks to the PSA Group’s new compact Common Modular Platform (CMP) that’ll underpin everything from the new Peugeot 208 hatch to…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods KIA has revealed its all-new ProCeed family car. Previously the name was reserved for the three-door hatchback, but now it takes the proportions of a sleek shooting brake and will slot between the regular hatch and the Sportswagon estate in the line-up. And in an effort to highlight its sporty credentials, it’ll only be offered in GT-Line and GT trims. The new ProCeed is 5mm longer than the Sportswagon, but is 43mm lower. Viewed head-on, it looks like any other member of the Ceed line-up, as all design changes are found in the roofline and the rakish rear quarters. The tailgate has a full-width LED light bar, rounded off with a new hatch-lid spoiler and an angular lower section for the rear bumper. All cars get twin exhaust…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods BMW has given another glimpse into its electric future with the new Vision iNEXT concept, which will morph into a new EV SUV intended to headline the firm’s i range from 2021 onwards. Head of development Klaus Fröhlich says that the Vision iNEXT will be BMW’s technology flagship, describing it to Auto Express as an “identification car” for a string of next-generation i models. At just over five metres long, the Vision iNEXT is a large, two-box SUV in profile, riding on 24-inch wheels and boasting no B-pillar, thanks to a set of rear-hinged back doors. There are also cues from the X7 in the tall, upright vents at the corners of the front apron. The ‘streamflow’-style window line, previously seen on the iVision Dynamics concept (set to…

Mercedes’ Vision of 2030 transport MERCEDES Vans has unveiled the Vision Urbanetic concept (above). Bosses claim that this fully autonomous design study shows what city transportation could look like in 2030. It has interchangeable bodies to cater for different demands. The box-shaped cargo body has a volume of 10 cubic metres, for example, while the passenger cell provides room for 12 occupants. Ex-JLR boss takes lead role at Lotus FORMER Jaguar Land Rover executive Phil Popham has been appointed as Lotus vice-president of commercial operations. Popham will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the sports car marque after spending nine years at JLR and a stint managing Sunseeker, the luxury yacht company. Lotus is now owned by Chinese car manufacturing group Geely. Hybrid GR Sport boosts Yaris range TOYOTA…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram RANGE anxiety: a subject so taboo, it continues to dissuade buyers from even considering an EV as their next new car purchase. But with many mainstream manufacturers now offering at least one fully electric vehicle as part of their line-up, has the tipping point finally arrived? Can the average motorist live with an EV and, crucially, can an electric powertrain rival a petrol or diesel engine when you want to cover mega miles? To find out, we put the Hyundai Kona – crowned Affordable Electric Car of the Year at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2018 – to the toughest test of all: an endurance rally across the length and breadth of Britain. Our aim? To cover as many miles as possible in 12 hours, charging as…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the biggest-selling plug-in vehicle in the UK; indeed, it’s held that title in Europe for the past three years. We’ve got the updated 2019-model-year car in the UK for the first time. The petrol engine expands from 2.0 to 2.4 litres, and now runs two modes: Atkinson for greater efficiency, and Otto for more conventional performance and torque. It uses the electric motors to smooth the transition between the two. The raw stats look promising enough. The engine now produces 133bhp (up from 119bhp), and more torque (211Nm compared with 190Nm). Mitsubishi has also upgraded the electric components. It is half a second quicker from 0-62mph (taking 10.5 seconds) as a result. There are chassis tweaks, too. Weld improvements mean it’s more rigid,…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE fast-and-furious i30 N has transformed Hyundai from a bit-part family car maker into a serious performance contender. Keen to capitalise on its success, the brand has just launched this: the i30 N Line. Positioned beneath its flagship stablemate, the N Line is a semi-skimmed rival to Ford’s ST Line cars and Volkswagen’s R Line alternatives. It blends sporty styling with more modest engine options, for lower running costs and more affordable insurance premiums. The i30 is the first Hyundai to get the N Line treatment. There are two trim levels and two gearbox options, linked in every case to a 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine. Here, we’re testing the pricier dual-clutch transmission in top-spec N Line+ specification. Visually, there’s no denying the N Line tweaks give the…

CITY CAR Fiat Panda Mk3 83.91% THE third-generation Fiat Panda steals the used city car crown from last year’s winner, the Kia Picanto. You tell us the Panda’s engines and gearboxes are slightly better than the Kia’s, plus you prefer its looks, practicality and handling. While the Picanto was felt to be slightly more reliable, you favour the Fiat’s interior. SMALL CAR Honda Jazz Mk2 85.97% PROVING that good (and practical) things come in small packages, the Jazz finishes 15th overall, and is the top-rated small car. You say it offers decent interior comfort, well above-average storage space and strong reliability. If you’re not a Jazz fan, look to the Renault Clio; it came second in this class, and you reckon it’s nicer to drive. PREMIUM SMALL CAR MINI Mk2…

MODELTESTED: Jaguar XE 20d SE PRICE: £34,065 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 178bhp THE world had waited a long time for a baby Jag, and when the brand launched the XE in 2015, it shot straight to the top of the class. There have been updates, but have they been enough to keep it there? To find out, we test the £34,065 20d SE auto, although our pictures show a higher-spec 25d Portfolio. Design & engineering THE XE ushered in a new era for Jaguar. The firm has plenty of history with aluminium construction, but this car was the first to be based on the iQ[Al] modular platform. This features double-wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear, giving the XE its trademark balance and agility. With Jag’s…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE Auto Express Audi A7 was pressed into service recently with one of the toughest jobs it’ll face during its time on our fleet. I took command of the five-door coupé ahead of my brother’s wedding, where the A7 was initially used to pick up supplies for the big day. Its 535-litre boot easily swallowed 45 candlesticks, some table runners and a set of delicate glass decorations for the reception, all of which were kept protected by the supple air suspension set to comfort mode. While the Audi was superseded by an Aston Martin Rapide for the happy couple’s transportation duties on the big day, the A7 did become a chariot for the ushers, whisking us to and from rehearsals on the trip from Sheffield to Derbyshire. With…

products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer YOU don’t need to wait until the first snowflakes fall to decide that it’s a good idea to switch to winter tyres. Even if there’s no snow, winter tyres perform better, particularly in the wet, than the UK default ‘summer’ tyre when temperatures drop below around seven degrees Centigrade. You can guarantee we will have conditions like that this winter, and the colder it gets, the bigger the advantage winter tyres have. All-season designs may be the SUVs of the tyre world, with makers rushing to add them to their ranges or updating existing designs, but for the ultimate performance throughout the year, switching rubber for the seasons is the way to go. So which should you fit to make it through this winter unscathed? To find out, we…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 33rd PLACE 2018 Results Focus Factfile Years: 2011 to 2018 CO2: 109g/km Fuel economy: 58.9mpg (EcoBoost 100) Best options: Metallic paint, cruise and climate control, parking sensors Used prices: From £3,000 Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2018 new car survey. The longer the bar the better GOOD “BRAKES are excellent, ride is smooth. It’s an enjoyable car to drive.” “Cabin cools quickly. Best ventilation system I have come across.” “Standard stereo sounds great and is easy to operate.” “Driver’s seat is firm and supportive with plenty of adjustment.” “My car has been as I expected: fun to drive, practical and reliable.” “Our Focus Estate has to be one of the most practical cars around.” “Gearbox is really enjoyable to…

Dear James, I’m after an SUV with fewer than 50,000 miles on it, but I’d like something interesting. What can I get for £15,000? Mark Tenisson, E-mail Contact: James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk THE CLASSIC CHOICE Land Rover Defender FOR: Classic appeal, off-road ability, value could rise AGAINST: Poor on the road, economy, theft potential IF you’d like a 4x4 for actual off-roading, then look no further than the iconic Defender. It’s antiquated to drive on the road, will be costly to run and can be a target for thieves, but is a genuinely interesting car. Classic appeal means it could be a shrewd purchase, too; an all-new Defender arrives next year, and the original model is likely to appreciate on the back of it. At this price, short-wheelbase 90 models are the ones…

NISSAN has bought a stake in the e.dams Formula E team, originally founded by four-time F1 champion Alain Prost and Dams Racing boss Jean-Paul Driot to support Renault’s entry into the series in 2014. It was always likely that e.dams would run Nissan’s entry when the brand announced it would take over from alliance partner Renault at the start of season five, but the investment signals a strong commitment. “It makes sense to partner with e.dams and to be able to draw on their race and championship-winning experience,” said Nissan’s Roel de Vries.…