Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2019 i What Car?

‘The best hybrids, both conventional and plug-in, now need no excuses’ With all the predictability of a washed-out bank holiday, the Government’s decision to scrap its plug-in hybrid car grant at the end of last year has led to a 34% drop in sales. And yet, in many ways, hybrid buyers have never had it so good. Until recently, you see, most of these models forced you to put up with compromised refinement or practicality and fell massively short of their official economy figures in the real world. But no longer. Whether you’re looking at conventional ‘self-charging’ hybrids, which mix petrol and electric power for the best efficiency, or plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles before burning a drop of fuel, the best now need no excuses. Plus, the…

IT’S PREDICTED THAT 24 million new cars will be bought in China this year – eight million more than in the whole of Europe. Yet despite the kaleidoscope of Chinese brands being able to win many of those sales from European,Asian and American firms, you don’t see any Changan or Dongfeng cars on the road in the UK. Now, though, Lynk&Co is ready to start the influx. Owned by China’s biggest car maker, Geely, which also presides over Lotus and Volvo, Lynk&Co made its debut at the 2017 Shanghai motor show with a futuristic family SUV, aptly named the 01.This shares many parts, including its underpinnings, with the Volvo XC40, a former What Car? Car of the Year. As a starting point, then, you couldn’t get much better. ‘The 01…

CALLING A CAR the Superb is a bit like christening a ship the Unsinkable. And yet the current version of Skoda’s executive car has shown itself to be fully worthy of the moniker, so how do you try to improve it? The answer, it seems, is by introducing a plug-in hybrid variant: the Skoda Superb iV. The first of a range of electrified, iV-branded models that Skoda will launch over the next few years, it allies a 1.4-litre petrol engine with a 114bhp motor for a combined output of 215bhp. CO2 emissions of less than 40g/km should make it particularly appealing to company car drivers. Plus, official WLTP tests suggest the Superb iV can travel up to 34 miles on electric power alone. Three petrol and three diesel engines are…

‘The new Corsa isn’t dramatically larger, yet it has more space for passengers and luggage’ THE NEW VAUXHALL Corsa may be a small hatchback, but it represents a giant leap into the mainstream for electric cars.That’s because this model that sells in huge numbers will, for the first time, be offered with battery power as well as petrol and diesel engines. Indeed,Vauxhall sees the electric variant as so important to the Corsa’s future that it has chosen to reveal it ahead of the combustion-engined models. Called the Corsa-e, it uses a 134bhp motor and a 50kWh lithium ion battery that’s good for a range of 211 miles between charges on the official WLTP test cycle.That matches the figure of its sister car, the Peugeot e-208 (due to go on sale…

AUDI DIDN’T START with a clean sheet of paper for this redesign of the A4, but it has still made some significant changes in a bid to keep the car competitive with our 2019 Executive Car of the Year, the BMW 3 Series. For starters, the three turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engines that will be offered when sales start this autumn (with outputs ranging from 148bhp to 241bhp) feature mild hybrid technology to boost efficiency. Shortly after launch, these will be joined by two mild hybrid 2.0-litre diesels producing 134bhp or 161bhp. Even the S4 performance model ditches today’s turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 for a 342bhp mild hybrid 3.0-litre diesel, although it can still dispatch the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in 4.8sec. Most models come with an automatic gearbox as standard, the…

THERE’S A LOT of controversy surrounding the latest advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These are able to monitor a vehicle’s surroundings to provide drivers with warnings and assist with accelerating and braking. The most sophisticated can also give steering inputs to guide a car away from a potential incident. However, some people wrongly think ADAS enable cars to drive autonomously so they no longer have to concentrate on the road ahead, while others regard the interventions when danger is detected as unwanted or even hazardous over-reactions. But there are differences in the hardware and capabilities of the systems used by each car manufacturer, so it’s important not to write off all ADAS on the experience of using just one. That’s why we invited What Car? readers to try the active…

It’s now possible to check online to see whether a car you’re interested in has a valid MOT certificate and to view its test history.All you need is the car’s registration number.This means you can find what faults a potential purchase has had and if they’ve been rectified before travelling to look at it, making it easier to weed out less well-maintained examples. You can get a copy of an MOT test certificate online, too. In 2018, more than 636,000 duplicate certificates were issued by the DVSA; that’s around 2% of the tests conducted each year.With this in mind, the government body has just launched a service that allows car owners to view and save their car’s MOT certificates as PDFs and print them out. It’s free to use, and…

THE UK’S CHANGING car market is posing a whole new set of challenges for those whose job it is to repair or recover them if they break down. Standard breakdown service trucks can only tow vehicles weighing 2.2 to 2.5 tonnes, but cars are becoming larger and heavier due to the popularity of SUVs and the growing uptake of hybrid and electric cars with weighty battery packs, and a growing number are now too heavy to be towed. According to the RAC, around 10% of vehicles can no longer be towed by a standard recovery truck. There are additional issues with electric cars if they run out of charge or suffer other problems. Patrols need extra knowledge of electronics to work on them, and many car makers state that they…

Audi Q7 45 TDI quattro S line List price £57,565 Target Price £51,869 Our long-time favourite luxury SUV returns to defend its seat at the head of the table. Land Rover Discovery SD4 SE List price £54,660 Target Price £51,889 We’ve tested the V6 diesel; does this cheaper four-cylinder engine make more sense? Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d 4Matic AMG Line 7 Seats List price £57,705 Target Price £53,776 The brand new GLE is tested here in entry-level form with its optional third row of seats.…

Mileage 9830 List price £42,857 Target Price £42,857 Price as tested £47,040 Test economy 26.8mpg THERE COMES A point in every one of my cars’ lives when they must face the same enormously daunting task – a task that only the best of cars can come through unscathed.Yes, they must travel to deepest, darkest south-west England, to a place called ‘Cornwall’.This annual trip home enables me to thoroughly test cars in challenging terrain, on tight and twisty roads, usually in awful weather. I’m pleased to report that the Amarok was impressive in pretty much every respect. On the long drive down, it was surprisingly relaxing; I’m still in love with the V6 diesel engine, which is disarmingly quick. It has so much torque that there’s always plenty in reserve, and…

LESS THAN £10,000 Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 SZ2 List price £9004 Target Price £9004 MPG 58.8 CO2 99g/km For It has a practical interior with a DAB radio and the engine gives adequate performance. Against The interior feels cheap, resale values are weak and infotainment options are limited. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai i10 Our pick 1.0 S List price £9900 Target Price £9200 MPG 50.4 CO2 117g/km For The three-cylinder engine is refined and the interior is surprisingly roomy. Against This entry-level trim doesn’t give you much kit and the engine struggles out of town. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Up Our pick 1.0 60 Take Up 3dr List price £10,080 Target Price £9663 MPG 55.4 CO2 101g/km For Fun to drive, with a comfortable ride and an upmarket interior.…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £16,325 Target Price £15,394 MPG 51.4 CO2 105g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estates; SE trim adds air-con and a touchscreen. Against So-so handling and could do with more supportive seats. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Ceed Sportswagon Our pick 1.0 T-GDi 2 List price £19,600 Target Price £18,332 MPG 47.1 CO2 120g/km For Gutsy enough performance for most buyers; lots of equipment; boot is big and practical. Against Ride is restless and there’s quite a bit of tyre noise on the motorway. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Logan MCV Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Comfort List price £11,300 Target Price £11,195 MPG 45.6 CO2 121g/km For Lots of space; low running costs; plenty of equipment…

LESS THAN £22,000 Ford Fiesta ST Our pick ST-2 Performance Pack 3dr List price £21,625 Target Price £20,452 MPG 40.4 CO2 136g/km For Strong, characterful engine combined with engaging handling makes the ST fun at all speeds. Against It’s easily upset by bumps and the interior feels a bit low-rent. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Up GTI Our pick 1.0 115 3dr List price £14,320 Target Price £14,320 MPG 50.6 CO2 110g/km For Pretty nippy and handles well; relatively practical; cheaper to buy than its rivals. Against Could be more exciting; intrusive traction control; contrived engine noise. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Swift Sport Our pick 1.4 Boosterjet List price £18,504 Target Price £17,504 MPG 47.1 CO2 125g/km For You get plenty of equipment as standard, plus it’s relatively quick and cheap…

The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for your new car and is set by our team of mystery shoppers. Every day they haggle to see what discounts are available across the UK. And all What Car?-approved dealers will at least match Target Price. In a lot of cases, however, you can save even more by using our New Car Buying service. Just head to whatcar.com/new-car-deals and select the car you’re interested in, and dealers will compete for your business. It’s all done through our website, so they won’t see your details until you’re ready.…

‘The 1 Series is now front-wheel drive, but BMW insists it’s as sporty as ever’ PREVIOUSLY, THE BMW 1 Series stood out among family hatchbacks like a punk rocker at a ballet recital, because in a room full of front or four-wheel-drive rivals, it offered playful, sporty rear-wheel drive. Not any more, though, because the new, third-generation 1 Series has donned a metaphorical tutu and joined the front-wheel drive ranks. But despite losing its unique selling point, BMW insists that the 1 Series will be as sporty as ever. Available only as a five-door this time around, it’s wider and taller than today’s car but slightly shorter, and its front and rear axles are closer together. Don’t think that means there’s less space inside for your family, though; there’s actually…

WE’VE BEEN VERY impressed with the latest BMW X3. It holds a five-star road test rating, putting it on an equal footing with its chief rival, the Audi Q5, and a whole star ahead of the Land Rover Discovery Sport.And now BMW is broadening its appeal to green-minded drivers, because it’s launching a plug-in hybrid version. Dubbed the xDrive30e, the model was revealed at this year’s Geneva motor show and will go on sale early next year. It’s powered by a combination of a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, together producing 248bhp. With a 0-62mph time of 6.5sec, this X3 is already reasonably rapid, but an extra 40bhp is temporarily available by utilising all of the electric motor’s reserves – a boost that should make overtakes a breeze.The…

Hyundai Ioniq 1.6 GDi Hybrid Premium List price new £21,795 Price today £16,000 Available from 2016-present The best version of the Ioniq is good to drive, well equipped and affordable. Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i Hybrid Business Edition List price new £24,195 Price today £19,000 Available from 2016-present Well made and very efficient but will cost you more to buy than the Ioniq. Price today is based on a 2016 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing…

IF YOU HAVE any lingering doubts about whether electric cars really are the future, or at least a big part of it, the fact that the big premium brands are now in on the action should serve as something of a crystal ball. The new Mercedes-Benz EQC is actually a little late to the party, because this pure battery-powered luxury SUV joins a class that already includes the Audi E-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. It isn’t the first fully electric Mercedes, but it is the German brand’s first dedicated electric car, by which we mean there isn’t a petrol or a diesel version on offer as well. It isn’t cheap – prices start at around £65,000 – but assuming it’s within your reach and an electric car will…

IF YOU’RE A petrolhead and can’t wait for summer to arrive, be warned: what we’re about to tell you might have you wishing the season away before it has even begun. Come September, deliveries of the new Ford Focus ST begin, and Ford does hot hatchbacks like Prue Leith does pies: tastily.And after a passenger ride at Ford’s proving ground in Belgium, you could say we’ve had a nibble. We’re focusing on the 276bhp 2.3-litre turbo petrol hatchback, although a diesel and estate are available too.All versions get ST-bespoke steering and suspension, but only the petrol models get a limited-slip differential, to help transfer power to the road. The best suspension arrangement, with continuously variable dampers, is reserved for the hatches. Ford claims this conveys both a comfortable ride and…

THE GOVERNMENT HAS no intention of reinstating its grant for plug-in hybrids, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed. The grant of £2500 was introduced in 2011 and withdrawn in October last year.This leaves only buyers of fully electric cars benefiting from a government grant, which now stands at £3500 – £1000 less than previously. Speaking to our sister title,Autocar, transport minister Jesse Norman said:“We have to spend the taxpayers’ money in a way that reflects the changing market.The evidence was very clear: owners of plug-in hybrids weren’t plugging them in, negating the environmental benefits and undermining the incentives.” Norman added that the Government will push electric cars from now on, the reason being that those offer the biggest benefits. Sales of plug-in hybrids dropped this April by a massive…

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING This uses camera and radar to track the vehicle in front. If it’s not moving and the driver hasn’t noticed, it will apply the brakes. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL Sensors track the vehicle ahead and slow your car down so that it maintains a safe distance. STEERING SUPPORT This advanced version of lane-keeping assistance detects if you aren’t tracking correctly around a corner and adjusts the steering if necessary. OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE Even with the ADAS activated, the driver should be able to easily take full control of the steering to swerve around a pothole.…

1. Lights and indicators 29.5% Includes blown bulbs and incorrectly aligned headlights. 2. Suspension 20.2% Broken or corroded suspension springs are the main culprit, caused by Britain’s poor roads and cold, wet weather. 3. Brakes 17.2% Covers worn-out brake pads or brake discs and leaks in the braking system. 4.Tyres and wheels 10.9% Tread depth below the legal limit is the main issue, followed by bulges or cuts in tyre sidewalls and damaged wheels. 5. Driver’s view 8.7% Includes any items that obscure the view forward and cracks in the windscreen. 6. Fuel and exhaust 5.4% Cars aren’t allowed to emit any visible smoke, plus emission levels are checked. A locking fuel filler cap and a fuel tank in reasonable condition are also required.…

Engine problem on a used Volkswagen Golf I have a 2013 Volkswagen Golf 1.2 TSI S that I’ve owned from new and which has done about 45,000 miles. I’ve never had any problems with it at all until recently, when the EPC [electronic power control] light came on and it suddenly started to judder as I was driving on the motorway. I was able to drive to the next service station, where the car refused to restart after I’d turned the ignition off.The recovery service patrol said the problem was probably a faulty coil pack, although his diagnostic computer indicated that the compression was low in cylinder four of the engine. So the car was towed to my local garage, where the mechanic changed the coil pack and spark plugs.However,…

Seat Arona 1.0 TSI 95 SE Technology List price £18,075 Target Price £16,629 The Arona is our current Small SUV of the Year in this very trim, so it’s here to defend its title. Suzuki Vitara 1.0 Boosterjet SZ-T List price £18,999 Target Price £18,180 A mid-life facelift for Suzuki’s practical small SUV brings a new entry-level 1.0-litre engine. Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 SE List price £19,555 Target Price £19,134 Closely related to the Arona, so we’re expecting great things, although it’s pricier, like for like.…

A LONG-TIME STALWART of families and company car fleets, the Ford Focus has found a home with millions of motorists in the UK since it first went on sale in 1998. But is this because it’s easy to live with or just because it’s the default choice? To find out, I’m going to be spending the next six months with the latest-generation car. But while What Car? recommends a 1.0-litre turbo petrol model, I’ve opted for a 1.5-litre diesel, because I cover around 20,000 miles per year, mostly on the motorway. With some cars, it’s easy to rack up the cost with optional extras, but many of the £2350 worth of additions to my Focus feel like really good value. The Ford Pass Connect wi-fi connectivity system and app, for…

LESS THAN £15,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Essential List price £8800 Target Price £8720 MPG 45.6 CO2 123g/km For Lots of space for the money, decent to drive and a fair amount of standard kit. Against The engine is unrefined at most speeds and the interior is comparatively basic. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ford Ka+ Our pick 1.2 Ti-VCT 70 Studio List price £11,300 Target Price £11,051 MPG 48.7 CO2 117g/km For Comfortable ride and room for four adults; even Studio trim has a DAB radio and Bluetooth. Against Engine is gutless, the interior looks cheap and the boot is rather small. WHAT CAR? SAYS MG 3 Our pick 1.5 Excite List price £11,395 Target Price £11,122 MPG 42.3 CO2 140g/km For Cheap to buy and insure, with…

LESS THAN £22,000 Dacia Duster Our pick 1.5 Blue dCi 115 4x2 Essential List price £13,700 Target Price £13,572 MPG 57.6 CO2 115g/km For Roomy inside, reasonably comfortable and incredibly cheap compared with rivals. Against Interior is decidedly low-rent and there isn’t much standard safety kit. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ssangyong Tivoli XLV Our pick Ultimate petrol List price £19,745 Target Price £19,371 MPG 37.2 CO2 169g/km For You get leather-trimmed seats and sat-nav; there’s loads of room in the back and boot. Against The engine is noisy, the steering is vague and emissions are relatively high. WHAT CAR? SAYS Nissan Qashqai Our pick 1.3 DiG-T 140 Visia List price £20,000 Target Price £20,000 MPG 41.5 CO2 121g/km For Comfortable ride with surefooted handling and a smooth, punchy engine. Against Stingy…

LESS THAN £30,000 Renault Zoe Our pick R110 ZE40 Dynamique Nav List price £21,920 Target Price £19,177 Official range (WLTP) 186 miles CO2 0g/km For Very low running costs; quiet and easy to drive; longer range than most electric cars. Against So-so performance; brakes are inconsistent in feel; interior isn’t exactly plush. WHAT CAR? SAYS Smart Fortwo Coupé Our pick EQ Prime Premium (22kW charger) List price £21,195 Target Price £19,649 Official range (NEDC) na CO2 0g/km For Dinky dimensions are a boon for parking; proper electric cars don’t come any cheaper. Against Poor to drive; real-world range is disappointing; not exactly practical. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen e-Up Our pick e-Up List price £23,150 Target Price £23,150 Official range (WLTP) 83 miles CO2 0g/km For Great to drive, well equipped…

LESS THAN £50,000 Kia Stinger Our pick 3.3 T-GDi GT S List price £40,575 Target Price £40,575 MPG 27.7 CO2 221g/km For Nicely balanced handling, with strong pace from purposeful-sounding V6 engine. Against Tight in the back for tall adults; not quite as classy inside as its German rivals. WHAT CAR? SAYS Alfa Romeo Giulia Our pick 2.0 Turbo 280 Veloce Ti List price £46,005 Target Price £43,430 MPG 33.6 CO2 160g/km For Amazing steering; Quadrifoglio styling; great suspension set-up; well calibrated gearbox Against The four-cylinder engine isn’t the most refined and interior quality is disappointing. WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi S3 Saloon Our pick TFSI 300 quattro S tronic List price £39,015 Target Price £36,277 MPG 34.4 CO2 158g/km For Fast, whatever the weather, and you’ll be cocooned in a…

Editorial Media enquiries Andy Bothwell Tel 07825 703505 Meet the team Editor Steve Huntingford Editorial director Jim Holder Deputy editor Darren Moss Reviews editor Will Nightingale Managing editor Allan Muir Consumer editor Claire Evans Used cars editor Mark Pearson Deputy reviews editor John Howell New cars editor Alan Taylor-Jones Video reviews editor Doug Revolta Reviewer Becky Wells Used cars reporter Max Adams Digital reviews editor Chris Haining Sub-editor Kris Culmer Group art editor Stephen Hopkins Brand art editor Chee-Chiu Lee Chief photographer John Bradshaw Senior photographer Will Williams Junior photographer Max Edleston Picture editor Ben Summerell-Youde Designer Rebecca Stevens Prepress manager Darren Jones Head of video Mitch McCabe Videographer Dan Wrenn Video apprentices Oli Kosbab, Tej Bhola SEO manager Jonathan Cook SEO executive Oliver Hayman Social media manager Louis Shaw…

NOT TOO LONG ago,Alfa Romeo didn’t do SUVs in the same way that Prada doesn’t do construction materials.Times and tastes change, though, so having proven there’s an appetite for Alfa-badged SUVs with the Stelvio, the Italian brand is returning for another slice of this big-volume pie with the smaller Tonale. It’s expected to become Alfa Romeo’s best-selling model, not least because it will also be its first plug-in hybrid, employing a similar system to the one that’s soon to become available in sister brand Jeep’s Renegade. Alfa Romeo hasn’t confirmed how much power the Tonale will have, but the Renegade’s turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine and electric motor produce a combined 237bhp – enough for 0-62mph in about seven seconds.The hybrid Renegade also has a 31-mile electric-only range and emits less…

‘With a three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, it emits 45g/km of CO2’ It may look similar to the outgoing car, but the new Land Rover Discovery Sport brings a significantly upgraded interior, new mechanicals and hybrid power Price from £31,575 WHILE THE DISCOVERY Sport has always been more capable off road than its prestige SUV rivals, it’s now tackling new ground by going electric. Specifically, buyers can choose from mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, with the latter due to go on sale late this year and offer a zero-emissions driving range of at least 30 miles. It will be powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor and is said to have a CO2 output of just 45g/km. First, though, we’ll get the mild hybrids, wherein…

Alfa Romeo GTV 2021 Aston Martin DBX 2021 Audi A6, A6 Avant Summer 2019 Audi A7 Sportback Summer 2019 Audi A8 Summer 2019 Audi Q5 Summer 2019 Bentley Flying Spur 2020 BMW 3 Series June 2019 BMW X1 Early 2020 BMW X5 Late 2019 Citroën C5 Aircross 2020 Cupra Formentor 2021 DS 7 Crossback 2019 Honda Civic, Civic Type R 2021 Honda Jazz 2020 Jeep Compass 2020 Jeep Renegade 2020 Kia Ceed 2019 Kia Sportage 2019 Land Rover Defender 2020 Maserati Alfieri 2020 Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte 2020 Maserati Granturismo/Grancabrio 2020 Maserati Levante 2020 McLaren 570S replacement 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT 4dr Coupé 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2019-2020 Peugeot 508, 508 SW Autumn 2019 Peugeot 3008 Autumn 2019…

LIKE SOME KIND of automotive Victor Frankenstein, Toyota seems fixated on bringing back cars from the dead at the moment. First there was the Corolla’s revival, then the Camry returned and now we have the resurrection of the Supra after an absence of 22 years. Because profit margins on sports cars are so thin nowadays, Toyota shared the development costs of the new GR Supra with BMW. That means that many oily bits are shared with the Z4 M40i convertible, while the infotainment system is a lightly made-over version of the German maker’s market-leading iDrive. Although the Supra can charge from 0-62mph in a scant 4.3sec, thanks to its 335bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six, it’s not outright performance that was Toyota’s goal. Like the class-leading Alpine A110, the Supra was…

ELECTRIC CARS Honda E Late 2019 Retro small hatch will do 125 miles per charge. Mercedes-Benz EQA 2020 Sleek new battery-powered equivalent to the A-Class will have a range of at least 250 miles. MG ZS EV Autumn SUV undercuts Nissan’s Leaf yet can go farther. Mini SE Autumn 3dr hatchback offers a 160-mile range for £30k. Polestar 2 Early 2020 Saloon-shape hatch will rival the Tesla Model 3. Porsche Taycan Late 2019 Luxury four-wheel-drive saloon will offer 450, 550 or 650bhp, plus a range of around 270 miles. Renault Zoe Late 2019 Mk2 small hatch promises a range of 250 miles. Volvo XC40 Electric 2020 Five-star family SUV broadens its offering. SMALL AND FAMILY SUVs Audi Q3 Sportback Late 2019 Sporty, coupé-styled version of excellent SUV. Ford Puma Early…

FOR MANY MOTORISTS, putting your car through its annual MOT test is one of the most nerve-wracking days of the year. Once you’ve delivered the car to your local garage or dealer, you keep your phone next to you, waiting as anxiously as an expectant parent for the call to say if your car has passed and, if not, how much it’s going to cost to rectify the problems. The MOT test is required every year for cars between three and 40 years old. But a car won’t necessarily sail through the test each year just because it’s relatively new, especially if you don’t check its basic items regularly. According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), nearly 50% of all faults found during MOT tests could have been…

THE AUDI A1 is the smallest car its maker sells. It’s a rival for everything from the Mini hatchback to the Volkswagen Polo; indeed, it shares many of its mechanical parts with the latter, as well as the Seat Ibiza. And both of those cars are excellent starting points for the A1. Go for our recommended 30 TFSI model and you’ll have a peppy 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine at your disposal, while our favourite Sport trim gives you a decent amount of equipment, adding 16in alloy wheels, cruise control and rear parking sensors to the entry-level SE. There are still some options worth adding, though. Best buy Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI Sport List price £20,045 Target Price £19,374 Options we’d add Metallic paint (£575), front centre armrest (£150), Technology…

Check if a vehicle has been recalled gov.uk/ check-vehicle-recall New car, service, repair and warranty issues themotorombudsman.org Citizens Advice Bureau citizensadvice.org.uk Check a car has a valid MOT test certificate gov.uk/check-mot-status What Car? New Car Buying whatcar.com/ new-car-deals Trading Standards nationaltrading standards.co.uk Financial Conduct Authority fca.org.uk Check car crash safety ratings euroncap.com Motability motability.co.uk What Car? advice whatcar.com/advice…

In production 2011-2019 Price from £10,000 Our favourite 2.0 TD4 SE Tech IF YOU EVER wanted proof that style sells, look no further than the first-generation Range Rover Evoque. Launched back in 2011, at just the right time to capitalise on the huge rise in demand for SUVs, the compact Evoque hit the ground running and soon became Land Rover’s best-selling model, with buyers drawn to its chunky good looks and premium badge. They also liked its clear potential for off-road high jinks, a corollary of the clever tech it inherited from its larger Range Rover siblings. Although a 237bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine was available, the majority of Evoques were powered by diesel. To begin with, there were 2.2-litre units with 148bhp (eD4 in front-wheel-drive form, TD4 with four-wheel drive)…

LESS THAN £20,000 Kia Ceed Our pick 1.0 T-GDi 2 List price £18,600 Target Price £17,400 MPG 50.4 CO2 122g/km For Decent performance; seven-year warranty; good build quality; large boot. Against Not the most comfortable ride or driving position; engine can sound coarse. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Leon Our pick 1.0 TSI SE Dynamic List price £19,050 Target Price £15,594 MPG 47.9 CO2 112g/km For Strong yet economical petrol engine with low running costs; good to drive. Against Some of the plastics feel cheap and some rivals are more practical. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai i30 Our pick 1.0 T-GDi Blue Drive SE List price £19,170 Target Price £17,747 MPG 45.6 CO2 126g/km For Supple ride; good driving position; lots of room in the front; logical dash layout. Against Conservative looks;…

LESS THAN £25,000 Mini Convertible Our pick Cooper Classic Comfort/Navigation List price £21,885 Target Price £20,458 MPG 45.6 CO2 127g/km For Fun to drive, good resale values and reasonably refined. Against The pedals are offset, rear seats are cramped and it isn’t as cheap as we’d like. WHAT CAR? SAYS Fiat 500C Our pick 1.2 Lounge List price £16,565 Target Price £15,665 MPG 44.8 CO2 118g/km For Engine is perfect for town driving, and you’re well protected from the wind with the roof down. Against Lots of wind noise; not as classy as the Mini; little space inside; rear visibility isn’t great. WHAT CAR? SAYS Smart Fortwo Cabrio Our pick EQ Prime Premium (22kW charger) List price £23,335 Target Price £21,706 Official range (WLTP) 70.2 CO2 0g/km For Truly agile…

LESS THAN £30,000 Mazda MX-5 Our pick 2.0 Sport Nav+ List price £25,095 Target Price £23,747 MPG 40.9 CO2 156g/km For Great to drive, with a wonderful chassis, a slick gearbox and just the right amount of power. Against It doesn’t have the classiest interior, nor much space inside for people or luggage. WHAT CAR? SAYS Toyota GT86 Our pick GT86 List price £27,325 Target Price £25,557 MPG 33.2 CO2 196g/km For Light weight and classic sports car layout give the GT86 real agility. It gets decent kit, too. Against The engine needs to be worked hard and is noisy, while the interior design is dated. WHAT CAR? SAYS Subaru BRZ Our pick SE Lux List price £27,065 Target Price £26,185 MPG 33.3 CO2 196g/km For Quick, despite its modest…