Innholdsfortegnelse for 1590 i Auto Express

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor ● We drive concept EV that recalls sixties special based on the Beetle MEET the Volkswagen ID. Buggy. It marks the return of the classic VW beach buggy of the sixties, and, just like that famous car, this new one promises to offer the same heady mix of open-air thrills and fun driving charm. The model this concept pays tribute to was never actually a VW creation. Californian engineer Bruce Meyers shortened a Beetle chassis and bolted on a fibreglass body, creating the Meyers Manx. He offered it in kit form first, then as a production car, but by 1971 the original company had folded. Fast-forward to 2019 and we’re driving a car that’s supposed to evoke the spirit of the Manx. There’s the same bug-eyed front end,…

Interior of electric Cupra concept teased CUPRA has released a second teaser image of its next concept (above). The as-yet-unnamed model from SEAT’s performance arm is expected to be an all-electric SUV, and the latest photo gives a first glimpse of the interior. It maintains the current Cupra theme of copper-coloured trim elements, but here it’s mixed with carbon fibre, which Cupra says will be used in ‘swathes’ inside. The new model will be revealed in full at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Citroen slims down revised C3 range CITROEN has revised the trim structure for its C3 supermini range, slimming down the previous six models to only three. The brand’s Ford Fiesta rival now kicks off with the £15,860 Feel, which comes as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning and…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor We hit road in VW’s reimagined buggy YOU’LL no doubt have read about my drive in the new Volkswagen ID. Buggy (Page 12), but now you can watch the video. Here I battle against the surprisingly chilly Californian air to drive this special EV concept car – one that could be built. I find out what it’s like on the road. Icy blast in MX-5 gives Batch a topless treat CONTRAST the smooth coastal roads of California with the snow-covered tracks of Northern Europe. Visit our YouTube channel to watch me take an Mazda MX-5 on an epic road trip through Sweden, Finland and Norway up to the North Cape, the most northerly point in Europe that’s accessible by car. You can watch any of our videos on…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m) Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Which?: 01992 878329 Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods YOU can’t accuse Audi of taking things easy with the newly facelifted A4, now on sale in the UK. The car’s styling has been altered quite drastically; the surfacing is transformed, and the look of the grille, front bumper, headlights and tail-lights has changed, too. The alterations give an altogether sportier feel than before, and are linked to the larger and newer A6 and A8. Get on board and you’ll spot some differences, too. The infotainment has moved away from the rotary-knob system to a strictly touchscreen affair. Even the entry-level Technik gets the new 10.1-inch central display complete with navigation, as well as the brand’s latest Virtual Cockpit digital dash display – still the best in the business. Sport versions build on the base level of equipment…

MODEL TESTED: Audi e-tron 55 quattro PRICE: £72,310 POWER: Dual-electric motors, 95kW battery, 402bhp THE Audi e-tron is £2,300 cheaper (£72,310) than our EQC test car in AMG Line Premium Plus trim. But if you want the same amount of equipment, you’ll need to add extras to the Audi. Design & engineering JUST as the EQC uses parts shared with Mercedes’ GLC, the e-tron is based on Audi’s MLB architecture. It’s been heavily adapted to accommodate the batteries under the floor, and an electric motor on each axle, but the e-tron does share parts with the the German brand’s Q5 and Q7 SUVs. The motors deliver a total of 402bhp and 664Nm of torque, and as with the Mercedes, the e-tron has a single-speed automatic gearbox. Both cars also feature…

Jaguar I-Pace EV400 HSE PRICE: £74,995 ENGINE: Twin e-motors, 90kWh battery THE Jaguar I-Pace is one of the best EVs around. It’s one of very few models that are genuinely fun to drive as well as fast in a straight line. The Brit also offers a hi-tech and interesting cabin, a comfortable ride and plenty of equipment as standard. Tesla Model S Long Range PRICE: £78,050 ENGINE: Twin e-motors, 100kWh battery IF SUVs aren’t your thing, a Tesla Model S might be the right choice. It’s a range king, as the name implies, because it can cover 375 miles on a single charge (WLTP figures). It’s spacious inside, with a minimalist feel to the interior and lots of tech.…

MODEL TESTED: SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115 Xcellence Lux PRICE: £23,230 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp THE Arona is one of the best crossovers currently on sale, with the packaging and personality – not to mention the powertrain – to match those of the Renegade. While our pictures show an FR, we’re testing a top-spec £23,230 Xcellence Lux with the 1.0 TSI 115 engine. Design & engineering WE’VE previously tested the Renegade against larger cars such as the Nissan Qashqai, but with the recent swing away from diesel towards petrol power, the addition of the 118bhp three-cylinder Jeep means it now has to fight off competition from smaller crossovers boasting similar power, such as the Arona. In fact, while the engines make similar outputs, the dimensions are also incredibly close. The…

NEW: Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI 150 SE L PRICE: £25,905 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE Karoq shows how relatively pricey the Jeep is. For just a little more (and probably less a month) you can get a similarly specced, much more practical and more powerful family SUV with up to 588 litres of luggage room. USED: Mazda CX-5 2.0 SE-L Nav+ PRICE: £24,995 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 163bhp THIS budget will get you into a nearly new CX-5 in well equipped SE-L Nav+ trim. As with the Karoq, it’s more premium and practical, and for this budget it will have covered hardly any miles. It won’t be as efficient, but it drives sweetly.…

Otis_Clay@dennis.co.uk Running costs 53.0mpg (on test) £64 fill-up/£145 or 28% tax Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.5 seconds/112mph BEING in my early thirties now, I like to feel that I am slightly more measured when it comes to buying alcohol, and that the days of wishing I hadn’t spent too much money on booze are behind me. Sadly this is not the case, and now that my partner and I have decided to throw a massive party for a couple of hundred friends and family (we’re getting married), I have been forced to channel the not-so-distant past, hop over to the continent and set my bank card alight in preparation for the big day. Luckily my task was made easier thanks to the Auto Express Dacia Duster, with its impressive 478-litre boot,…

Pete_Baiden@dennis.co.uk @PeteBaiden UNTIL recently, the easiest way to transport more than five people around would have been in an MPV, but the rapid rise of SUVs means it’s now possible to get seven people into a car that’s both more stylish and better to drive. One of the main areas in which large SUVs suffer compared with MPVs is the lack of space at the very back, with the rearmost seats often only suitable for children. To find out whether the criticism is justified, I headed to Wales in our SEAT Tarraco to visit my brother John and, over a long weekend, our combined families put the SUV’s people-carrying ability to the test. On arrival, everybody quickly crowded around the Tarraco and the reception was mostly positive. They all liked…

Cops and Robbers: The Story of the British Police Car Ant Anstead (William Collins, www.harpercollins.co.uk) Price: £20 COP-car aficionados will enjoy these 400 pages of quality content, but the poor-quality, black-and-white imagery disappoints. We’d prefer it if this were presented with better-framed and captioned colour photos. Pub2Pub Ben Coombs (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £14.99 COMBINING a 25-country road trip, two pubs and an unreliable British sports car was always going to be a recipe for an interesting read. This book charts Coombs’s journey from the world’s northernmost to southernmost pubs in a TVR Chimaera. It’s exciting, funny and in places very deep. An inspirational read. Fearless Wheels Available for: Android Price: Free A DIFFERENT take on the side-scrolling racer, this adds individual tilt-control buttons for finer airborne movements as well…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Sticking to service rules MY Audi A1 is due its first service. Will the warranty remain valid if I use an independent garage, providing genuine parts are used and it is serviced to schedule? H Morris, E-mail A AS long as these conditions are met, and all work is carefully detailed, your warranty should remain valid. However, if you bought the car on finance it’s worth checking the terms of the contract. Some PCP deals mandate franchised dealer servicing, as a service history without one can have an effect on residual values. Q Can dodgy MoT be queried? A USED car I bought in May came with a new MoT. After two months and 1,000 miles, a service found rusted, snapped suspension. I…

Dear Luke, I’m retiring and want the best sports car I can get for £60k. Its ride can’t be too unforgiving, though. Dave Gander, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • THE STYLISH CHOICE Aston Martin Vantage FOR: Rorty V8 soundtrack, gorgeous styling AGAINST: Jerky automatic box, steering lacks feedback THE V8 Vantage was the entry point into Aston Martin’s range when it was launched in 2006. On sale up until 2018, it was frequently revised to keep it competitive. Many would say the Vantage is the prettiest car of this trio and, because of its age, it’s relatively good value for money. Early, high-mileage cars can be had for £25,000, but your budget will get you a 2016 Vantage with less than 10,000 miles. The trade-offs are a slightly harsh ride and…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Surprise surprise, such on-board tech enables the exact location of these vehicles to be pinpointed. Problem? What problem?” I RECENTLY had dinner with the understandably twitchy sales boss at a German car firm whose registrations are, like his annual bonus, desperately down. The poor soul confided that his stressful work life is now tougher than ever – not least because of the cheap-as-chips leasing rates arch rival, Mercedes, is daring to offer on some of its modest models. In short, my man argues that they’re unreasonably low. But he would say that, wouldn’t he? Because he and his company struggle to match them with their equivalent models. A Mercedes A-Class at around £2,000 a year, £170 a month, £39 per week is…

● First verdict on 600bhp-plus battery-powered saloon – on road and track ● Delivers zero-emissions driving combined with traditional Porsche performance WE’RE sliding around Porsche’s Weissach test track as if it’s better to look out of the passenger window than the windscreen. The cornering forces are so strong that we’re wondering whether we’re about to be reacquainted with our breakfast. But we’re not in a twin-turbocharged 911; instead, this is Auto Express’s introduction to the all-electric Porsche Taycan. Engineer Christian Wolfsried gives us a rude awakening by demonstrating the Taycan’s launch control. He starts with both feet on the pedals, but as he lifts his left foot he says, “Careful!”. Barely three seconds later, the speedo hits 100kph (62mph). A few years ago, the idea of a pure-electric Porsche, with…

THE Hyundai Kona N has been given the green light for production, Auto Express understands – and it should make its public debut before the end of next year. In May 2018, we revealed that Hyundai’s head of R&D, Albert Biermann, had told engineers to build a prototype fast Kona to give management a chance to evaluate it for production. Senior figures have now told Auto Express that the project, previewed by our image (right), has been granted approval – and the Kona N has been bumped above a mooted Tucson N in the model pipeline. Assuming the vehicle stays on schedule for a reveal before the end of 2020, it could tally with the mid-life facelift for the Kona range, which first appeared in 2017. It’s likely that the…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson ● 1.3-litre turbo plus 101bhp electric motor offered on A-Class and B-Class THIS is our first look at the new plug-in hybrid Mercedes A-Class: the A 250 e. The powertrain comprises a turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 15.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and a 101bhp electric motor. This is connected to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the total system output stands at 215bhp and 450Nm of torque. As a result, the A 250 e has a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds, a top speed of 146mph, and a claimed pure-electric range of between 37 and 42 miles. Its official economy figure is 188.3mpg, and it’ll emit between 33 and 34g/km of CO2. The A 250 e saloon has a slightly slower 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds, but…

@AE_consumer HYDROGEN cars run by Transport for London (TfL) are used significantly more than equivalent petrol and diesel models, new research has revealed. And electric vehicles (EVs) run by TfL and the Metropolitan Police are covering far fewer miles than those with internal-combustion engines (ICEs). The organisations use 25 hydrogen Toyota Mirais and 109 pure-electric cars and vans between them. Freedom-of-Information data shows TfL is covering 47.51 per cent more miles in its Mirais than in its ICE cars, with the Met’s ones used a fifth less than its petrol and diesel vehicles. But the organisations’ EVs are being used significantly less than petrol and diesel vehicles. Toyota told us it was “pleased but not surprised” with the Mirai’s performance, adding hydrogen is a “viable and practical solution offering the familiar…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram SSANGYONG’S Korando has undergone a transformation during its 36-year life. Starting out in 1983 as a re-modelled Jeep CJ-7, the second-generation model took its place as a quirky 4x4, 13 years later. The Mk3, launched in 2011, took a more modern SUV approach, and it’s a recipe the Korean brand has kept for 2019. While the formula is the same, this model is all new: there’s a new platform under the car’s skin, accommodating new mechanicals and tech. But the Korando has a daunting task on its hands. It’s in a category that’s packed with choice; the Nissan Qashqai remains the big seller, while our favourites, the Skoda Karoq and Peugeot 3008, are impressive all-rounders. There’s also the prospect of its compatriots, the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.…

TIGHTER regulations, environmental trends and growing customer demand are forcing car makers to get serious when it comes to their electric vehicle strategies. And Mercedes is the latest manufacturer to launch a new all-electric model. The new EQC is a premium electric SUV that offers a range of just over 200 miles, which puts it firmly in the same category as another recently launched model, the Audi e-tron, which we’re testing it against here. Looking at the two models side by side, it’s clear that these premium manufacturers have made the decision that the upmarket SUV class is the best place to begin their new EV product offensives, because the economies of scale aren’t yet in place for smaller models to be profitable. However, customers who are looking to spend…

Mercedes EQC MBUX Standard Key features: Twin screens, phone link THE EQC has two 10.25-inch display screens, stretching out from behind the steering wheel into the centre of the dash. The driver’s screen displays the dials, but can also show a huge amount of other info, including nav directions and driving data. Our AMG Line Premium Plus model also has augmented reality, which uses a front camera to display the road ahead, with nav directions overlaid to make following them easier. The left-hand touchscreen can also be controlled using a trackpad on the centre console, or by the steering wheel buttons. These interfaces aren’t great for use while on the move, and since the touchscreen is harder to reach from the driver’s seat than in the Audi, the EQC is…

Jeep Renegade 8.4-inch touchscreen Standard Key features: Nav, connectivity IT’S a good job that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard fit on the Jeep, because the infotainment system that’s included isn’t as good as the SEAT’s. The graphics are acceptable, but the resolution for the standard mapping seems to be a little low, while a lot is controlled through the touchscreen – including functions such as the heated seats – so you have to move between menus and away from your desired screen for simple tweaks. At least there is a shortcut function for this. There’s no full digital dash, but the Renegade does get a seven-inch colour display between the rev counter and speedo to show extra information. Connected services are included, too. It’s close to being a…

Latest Skoda app will help you find ‘lost’ car SKODA’S latest Connect app helps drivers avoid the pain of forgetting where they parked their car by logging ‘Last Parking Position’. Drivers can also remotely honk the horn and flash the lights to pinpoint the car’s exact position. This is in addition to the Connect app’s standard features, which allow owners to remotely lock and unlock connected cars, check fuel range and driving data, and send destination and navigation info directly to the vehicle. The Skoda Connect app is available for most of the manufacturer’s range, and can be downloaded from both the iPhone and Android app stores. Huawei set to launch own mapping service A US ban on Huawei smartphone sales means the Chinese tech giant is now developing its…

IF you’ve got a cherished classic or weekend sports car, you’ll want to keep it in the garage for safety. However, it’s not as safe as you’d think; apart from the obvious dangers of being bumped and banged by bikes, lawnmowers and trips to the freezer, it’s under attack from the scratchy particles contained in dust, as well as humidity, and possibly inquisitive pets. Even UV rays can fade paintwork if your garage has a window or skylight. All this makes a good car cover a wise investment. It should protect against moisture ingress, but at the same time be breathable to prevent damp building up on the paintwork. Ideally, it should also be thick enough to offer some bump protection without being too cumbersome to fit and remove; layer…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● First electric rally car launched ● One-make series for Germany VAUXHALL’S German sister brand Opel will reveal a fully electric Corsa rally car at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the roadgoing Corsa-e, the Corsa-e Rally is believed to be the first pure-electric rally car in the world to be offered for customer competition. Rally teams or drivers can purchase a Corsa-e Rally for £46,000. The competition model produces the same 134bhp as the road car, but the suspension has been upgraded for rally competition, and it also features a hydraulic handbrake, a welded safety cage, underfloor protection for the electric motor, a built-in fire extinguisher, quick-release fasteners for the bonnet and tailgate, and a motorsport data-logger system. Opel says 15 examples will be used to run an…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● New models and old favourites to be all-electric ● Range will start with e-tron compact hatchback AUDI is fast-tracking an electric vehicle programme that will see the German firm launch 20 fully electric cars by the middle of the next decade. A range of never-before-seen EVs is in the pipeline, but some of the brand’s best-known models will also make the switch to electric power. While Audi’s focus will initially be on launching EVs at the upper end of its product range, where greater profits can be made, one of the most significant models to arrive will be a compact hatchback that will be priced from around £30,000. A rival for the forthcoming Volkswagen ID.3, as well as the Tesla Model 3, it will act as Audi’s…

THIS is the new Mercedes GLE Coupé, unveiled ahead of a public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new model gets the brand’s latest straight-six diesel engines, with either 268bhp (350 d) or 326bhp (400 d). There will also be an AMG petrol variant, called the GLE 53 4MATIC+. This mixes a 429bhp straight-six with up to 22bhp of electric assistance, for a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds. The new GLE Coupé should arrive in showrooms next spring.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Chevy Corvette FROM: Stu889 OPINION seems to be split on this. I think it looks amazing on the outside. Inside, I would like to see how it feels to sit behind the wheel. The big selling point for me is the fact that it’s right-hand drive. But how will it cope with UK roads? FROM: LeeMints I’VE tried hard and I was really looking forward to this car, but it looks like a Ferrari F430 styled by Cadillac. It’s far too fussy and simply way behind the game. The sub-$60k price tag redeems it somewhat, but, overall, it’s a no from me. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Interior is one…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs 55mpg (est) £52 fill-up THREE new SUVs in three years: Skoda’s recent push into the crossover market is bang on trend with customer demand. And following the debut of the Kodiaq in 2016 and the Karoq 12 months later, this year sees the company line up another newcomer to the range. It’s the arrival of the brand’s smallest and possibly most important SUV: the Kamiq. Pronounced ‘Ka-mick’, this is a rival for the SEAT Arona and upcoming Nissan Juke in the small SUV market. Instantly recognisable as a Skoda SUV, the Kamiq inherits the Kodiaq’s split headlights, clamshell bonnet and V-shaped grille. It’s based on the MQB A0 platform that underpins the Scala family hatch, and Skoda insists it offers all the flexibility and ‘Simply Clever’…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler WITH Jeep sales doing well in the UK, the iconic US brand could be forgiven for making hay while the sun shines. So surely its latest model, a Wrangler-based pick-up, would be a success on our shores? For now, Jeep won’t commit to bringing the Gladiator to the UK. But with right-hand drive models confirmed for other markets – and a V6 diesel arriving in 2020 – the omens are good. So should Jeep UK lobby for the Gladiator? We headed to the US to find out. The Gladiator has just gone on sale in the States, and judging by our experience, it already has a cult following. Americans aren’t shy about their views – and we had plenty of positive comments and people wanting to take a…

MODEL TESTED: Mercedes EQC 400 AMG Line Premium Plus PRICE: £74,610 ENGINE: Dual electric motors, 402bhp THE Mercedes EQC is closely matched with the e-tron, because they both have the same power output and a similar useable battery capacity. The two models are close on price as well; in AMG Line Premium Plus form, the EQC costs £74,610. Design & engineering THE EQC has an 85kWh battery on board, and 80kWh of it is usable (this helps prolong its life), while the e-tron has a 95kWh battery with a usable capacity of 84kWh, so they’re closer in reality than it might look on paper. Both also use a dual-motor layout, with one on each axle, which combine to provide these cars with 402bhp and four-wheel drive. However, one area where…

CHARGING THE Mercedes’ charging port is located on the offside rear panel, and it’s much like any filler cap on a fueled car. But the Audi has a more versatile set-up. There are two charging ports, one on each front wing, and they open at the touch of a button (there’s a manual opener for emergencies). The driver’s side port supports AC and DC charging, while the passenger-side port is AC only. WHEELS THE e-tron comes as standard on 20-inch alloys, but our car was fitted with 21-inch rims. These are fitted as standard on the higher-specification Launch Edition. The EQC we tested was also fitted with 21-inch wheels, which are standard on AMG Line Premium Plus. Smaller 19 and 20-inch items are fitted to lesser models. They improve the…

MODEL TESTED: Jeep Renegade 1.0 GSE T3 Limited PRICE: £25,145 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 118bhp THIS GSE T3 120 aligns the Renegade with a group of more affordable, lower-powered petrol rivals than before – so how does the £25,145 Limited model compare with the SEAT Arona? Design & engineering WHILE the Renegade’s Fiat-derived platform is the same as before, it’s the new 118bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine – also shared with Fiat models such as the 500X – that’s important here. Alongside that power output, it produces 190Nm of torque, meaning it’s 5bhp up but 10Nm down on the SEAT. These two cars aren’t necessarily about total performance, though. A rounded blend of ability attracts buyers in this class, and while our test car’s six-speed manual transmission only sends power to…

STYLE LOOKS are important in this lifestyle sector. The Arona is sleeker and sharper, whereas the Jeep, with its bigger, bluffer front, is more obviously a chunky SUV, despite its diminutive dimensions. In fact, those new LED running lights give it a look similar to the Mercedes G-Class’s. The upright windscreen and slab sides won’t be to all tastes, but they help to give the Renegade its personality. OFF-ROAD JEEP is synonymous with offroad ability, and while most owners will use crossovers such as these only on tarmac, it’s nice to know a Jeep works off it. Even this Renegade 4x2 will go further than rivals like the Arona for occasional light off-roading; as a lifestyle vehicle, that’s a genuine possibility. The Renegade can be had with four-wheel drive, but…

Kim_Adams@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer THERE was a sense of déjà-vu when I picked up our brand-new Musso from SsangYong’s UK headquarters in Luton. That wasn’t down to the many trips I’ve made to the airport, but rather the Musso’s interior. After running a long-term SsangYong Rexton for six months last year, it all looked pretty familiar. And so it should, because the two models share a fair bit of equipment. Regional aftersales manager Adrian Ryan took me through the truck’s features. Our Musso Saracen is not quite as well equipped as my old Rexton ELX, but it’s still pretty good for a commercial vehicle – although few people will want to bring grubby overalls or muddy work clothes into the smart, leather-trimmed interior. I was pleased to see the included 9.2-inch infotainment…

Audi e-tron Issue 1,579, 1,585 BMW 3 Series Issue 1,576, 1584 Citroen Berlingo XL Issue 1,579 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564, 1,572, 1,575, 1,583 Ford Focus Issue 1,582, 1,589 Honda CR-V Hybrid Issue 1,576, 1584 Hyundai Santa Fe Issue 1,575, 1,580, 1,587 Jaguar I-Pace Issue 1,588 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569, 1,580, 1,589 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567, 1,577, 1,582 Mazda MX-5 Issue 1,573, 1,585 Renault Mégane R.S. Issue 1,581 SsangYong Musso New arrival SEAT Tarraco Issue 1,574, 1584 Skoda Fabia Issue 1,572, 1,582 Volkswagen California Issues 1,578, 1,583, 1,586 Volkswagen Touareg Issue 1,580, 1,585…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Picking a gift that lifts MY son has just got his first car and plans to do simple maintenance himself. I want get him a jack for his birthday. What would be a good one for somebody starting to work on cars? Paul Healey, E-mail A THE choice is the same, whether you’re starting out doing car maintenance or have been at it for years. A trolley jack is the easiest to use, and our test winner is the Wolf Black Jack 2.25T Low Profile (above, £43.94 www.ukhs.tv). Also invest in a pair of axle stands to support the car when it’s off the ground and he’s working on it. Q Winter tyre choice dilemma I’M thinking ahead to winter and changing tyres for…

WHILE 12V compressors are more powerful than ever, they’re still no match for a mains-powered airline. If you lack the budget or access to mains power, but still want to cut the time a 12V unit takes to do the job, there are high-powered versions – and Michelin has just launched a new one. We tested it against our current highpower favourite – the veteran RAC900 from Ring. To find our winner, we compared hoses, leads and accessories, plus looked for accurate gauges, presets and air-release valves. To assess the pumps we used a special wheel and tyre fitted with twin valves, and timed how long it took to inflate from 20-30psi. The final consideration was price. The Ring remains our high-power favourite but the new Michelin has a lot…