Innholdsfortegnelse for 1479 i Auto Express

WELCOME to our annual celebration of the very best new cars on the market – the Auto Express Awards 2017. We’ve driven more miles and tested more cars more thoroughly than anyone else to bring you the definitive list of the greatest cars you can buy today – or just dream of buying! We’re continually blown away by the huge advancements in technology the car industry presents us with – from more efficient modes of power to cars that are on the verge of driving themselves. It’s an industry that’s presenting us with more variety and more choice than ever before, and making us raise our game when it comes to testing these new models and delivering a verdict you can trust. For anyone who loves cars like you and…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan SMART’S dinky ForTwo Cabriolet ED is a world first: it’s the only massproduced electric drop-top ever built. This is the second generation of the brand’s electric convertible, and there have been several key improvements. Firstly, it’s considerably wider – allowing for a more accommodating cabin – yet it’s still just 2.69 metres long, allowing savvy owners to legally stick theirs nose-on into parallel parking spaces. It also retains the sub-seven-metre turning circle which makes it an absolute breeze to manoeuvre in tight spots around town. Smart has also replaced the old Boschsupplied motor and installed its own threephase synchronous version, which delivers 81bhp and a healthy 160Nm of torque. This is linked to a 17.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, fitted under the seats, that Smart claims enables a 96-mile…

WHY IT WON SEAT has knocked sister firm Volkswagen off the top spot in the supermini sector for 2017. The all-new Ibiza is the first supermini from any VW Group brand to use the automotive giant’s full-on MQB underpinnings – and to great effect, because the car offers impressive ride quality and refinement, decent practicality, a choice of efficient engines and sharp styling. Scaling down the design that made the larger Leon so successful has worked in the Ibiza’s favour; SEAT has delivered a striking supermini statement. But there is so much more to the car than good looks. Under the bonnet is a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, available with either 94bhp or 113bhp. We’d go for the 94bhp version because it offers more than enough performance to…

WHY IT WON THE regular Skoda Octavia is already the most practical car in its class, so it’s little surprise to see that the Octavia Estate is our pick if you’re in the market for a proper load-lugger. Revised only this year, with refreshed front-end styling and improved infotainment, the Octavia Estate continues to offer enormous load capacity. In fact, it has 610 litres of space with the rear seats in place, and a massive 1,740 litres if you fold them down. That’s more than enough for this car’s load bay to embarrass those of plenty of models from the class above. The Skoda is so much more than a big box on wheels, though, as the rest of the package is equally strong. Nearly all models in the range…

OUR CHOICE Mercedes S 350 d SE L(£70,470) IT might be the ‘entry-level’ version, but SE L has all the kit you’ll need, with leather, air-suspension and sophisticated infotainment. The V6 diesel mixes muscular performance with refinement and economy, while the incredibly spacious and beautifully crafted cabin keeps its occupants fresh. WHY IT WON ONCE again the Mercedes S-Class scoops our Luxury Car of the Year award. It was a close-run category in 2017, with updates to the Bentley Mulsanne and an all-new Porsche Panamera arriving, but the S-Class’s fantastic mix of imperious ride quality, cosseting comfort and dazzling levels of technology means it still sits at the top of the class. This all comes at a relatively affordable price compared with rivals, too, with the S 350 diesel starting…

WHY IT WON THE mid-size SUV category is one of the most hotly contested classes around, with the standard improving every year – and for 2017 it’s the Peugeot 3008 that takes the crown as our favourite. Core to that is the brand’s 1.2-litre PureTech threecylinder petrol turbo. Given all the bad press surrounding diesel power recently, a convincing petrol alternative is likely to prove crucial in the future – and here the 3008 offers one of the best engines around, with CO2 emissions of 117g/km and a claimed 55.4mpg. It’s a willing performer, too, with a good spread of torque in the mid-range that means you needn’t rev the unit too hard. This helps refinement; the 3008’s strongest trait. Modern design is another strength, and inside the 3008 things…

WHY IT WON LAND Rover evolved the Discovery for this all-new fifth-generation model, taking the iconic seven-seat SUV even further upmarket by adding more tech, refinement, practicality and efficiency. This British success story arguably marks one of the biggest steps in the Disco’s 28-year history. Not only has the styling moved on dramatically to give the car a much more modern look, while retaining some typical Discovery characteristics such as the stepped roof and clamshell bonnet, but you can now get the model with a 237bhp twin-turbo version of Land Rover’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine. This makes the Land Rover more efficient than ever, thanks in part to a new monocoque chassis that uses plenty of aluminium to shave up to 480kg off the old car’s kerbweight. Slashing bulk…

OUR CHOICE Audi A5 Coupé 2.0 TFSI quattro Sport (£40,570) SOPHISTICATED Audi suits the smooth and extremely punchy 249bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, while quattro four-wheel-drive transmission delivers secure and engaging handling. Sport specification brings all the equipment you’ll need and won’t break the bank to buy. WHY IT WON IF you ask what most buyers want from a great coupé, then ‘head-turning style’ is probably at the top of their list. However, any contender to the crown in this category needs much more than a pretty face to succeed – and that’s where the Audi A5 scores so highly. Based on an all-new platform, the handsome A5 follows the same template as its successful predecessor by providing similarly sleek lines, surprising practicality and an interior that oozes premium appeal. But…

WHY IT WON OUR Best Performance Car of 2017 has been more than half a century in the making. The latest GT3 version of the 911 traces its roots back to Porsche’s sixties original, and has evolved into one of the greatest road racers ever. Designed to showcase the brand’s considerable motorsport success, it delivers undiluted driving thrills and unrivalled performance, yet undercuts far less talented rivals. At the core of the Porsche’s appeal is its rear-mounted 4.0-litre flat-six, carried over lock, stock and cylinder barrels from the brand’s Carrera Cup racers. This incredible engine delivers a heady 493bhp and revs to a dizzying 9,000rpm. Yet what these figures can’t get across is the incredible soundtrack that accompanies them. Squeeze the throttle and you’re treated to a hard-edged growl, while…

WHY IT WON NEW large vans aren’t launched very often, so when a fresh model does arrive it will almost certainly cause some upset. With the latest Volkswagen Crafter, the category has a new leader. As with the newly introduced VW Transporter that won last year’s Best Van award, the Crafter delivers the kind of kit that always makes VW’s products so appealing. Autonomous braking and Bluetooth are standard, while lane keeping, park assist and trailer assist are all available to make driving this full-size van as easy as possible. VW has also paid special attention to cabin and seat comfort, to ensure that if you’re behind the wheel all day you won’t be enduring a back-breaking slog. What’s more, there’s plenty of space for you and your passengers, as…

WHY IT WON AN Auto Express Car of the Year must raise the bar, innovate and offer something new in its class. The Land Rover Discovery does exactly that. It pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the premium SUV sector, providing additional technology, a cosseting cabin with more than enough space for seven, sophistication and a level of comfort that’s unmatched at this price. Land Rover has also pushed the boundaries when it comes to styling. The Discovery’s looks won’t be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no denying its imposing stance. It’s a similar story inside, where the smart rising centre console and first-rate construction mix solidity and quality. With V6 turbodiesel and supercharged petrol motors sitting alongside the twin-turbo Sd4, there are plenty of options in the engine…

NEW PRODUCT Pioneer AVH-X7800BT head unit Price: £499.99 Contact: www.pioneer-car.eu PLENTY of people are desperate to upgrade their older cars with the latest infotainment systems – that’s why there are so many great double-DIN touchscreens out there. But if you have a single-DIN system, your options are more limited; so Pioneer’s latest head unit could be the ideal solution. The AVH-X7800BT is a single-DIN set-up with a slick, flip-out seven-inch touchscreen. It’s not cheap, but has a long list of features: there’s a CD/DVD player, and it includes aux-in, USB and SD card inputs, plus Bluetooth connectivity. All of this is accessed via the touchscreen, and also bundled in is Apple’s Siri Eyes Free technology – clever voice recognition software that allows you to keep both hands on the steering wheel…

ALFA Romeo has had a lot of false starts over the years, but the Giulietta wasn’t one of them. Although it was outclassed by rivals when it was first launched, here was a car that injected some brio into the small hatch sector. Distinctively designed with a luxurious cabin and some zesty engines, the Giulietta isn’t the best driver’s car in its class, yet in 2013 it notched up a top 10 placing in our Driver Power satisfaction survey. Just as impressively, in 2010 it was rated as the safest compact model ever tested by Euro NCAP. So while this Alfa isn’t the best overall in its class, it’s a car that you can buy with your heart as well as your head. History THE Giulietta arrived in July 2010,…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FORMULA One bosses and the FIA have agreed on the sport’s 2018 calendar, much earlier than has usually been the case in previous seasons. The 21-round schedule announced last week includes the return of the French Grand Prix, which was last held at Magny- Cours in 2008, but will now take place at the Paul Ricard track near Marseille in the south of the country in late June 2018. Malaysia is absent from the line-up after the race promoter there elected to withdraw from hosting a Grand Prix following this year’s race, while the Azerbaijan Grand Prix moves to an earlier slot in the calendar. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place on 8 July, which will be third of three race weekends in a row following…

NEW research into the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits at reducing accidents could result in low-speed zones being introduced across the UK. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health have launched the largest ever study on low-speed zones. They aim to discover whether slowing drivers down to 20mph in cities and residential areas will reduce road accidents in the UK. The study will run until 2020 and researchers will evaluate whether traffic accidents and injuries are lower in Edinburgh and Belfast, where 20mph zones were introduced in some areas of the cities. It will also assess whether motorists are likely to abandon cars in favour of public transport or cycling, plus local residents will get a chance to voice their opinion. Dr Ruth Jepson,…

“Original Range Rover was never disguised in testing, but it wore Velar badge – Spanish for covered or disguised” James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor WE’RE causing quite a stir at the Land Rover Show at Dunsfold in Surrey. Standing in the middle of a lush field in Surrey, the sight of an original deep green 1969 Range Rover parked next to a sleek new Range Rover Velar is raising a few eyebrows among the 4x4 fraternity. These two Range Rovers are a world away from the rows of enthusiasts’ workhorse ‘Landies’ in the next field, but the real reason for their interest is that these are no normal Range Rovers. For the first time ever, the original Range Rover Velar has squared up against the new model – and we joined them for…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.8 seconds/125mph Running costs 40.4mpg (official) £70 fill-up JUST when you thought there weren’t enough rivals for the evergreen Nissan Qashqai, along comes another. This is the all-new Eclipse Cross, and it doesn’t just fill the Qashqai-shaped gap in Mitsubishi’s range; the maker says it’s the start of something new. The car is said to be a rethink on how the brand approaches its cars, not least because Mitsubishi is actually part-owned by Nissan now. Whether Mitsubishi can steal sales from rivals depends on what the new car is like – and we’ve had an early drive to find out. The Eclipse Cross fits into the range between the ASX and the Outlander, and features a brand new 1.5-litre petrol engine, with a 2.2 diesel…

WELCOME THE relentless pace of development in the new car market has continued over the past 12 months, with manufacturers launching a thrilling array of new contenders in all classes. From city cars to supercars, the automotive landscape is changing, especially as more and more tech creeps in. It’s never been a more exciting time to buy a new car as a result, but at Auto Express we know it’s not an easy decision. That’s why our vastly experienced team has analysed every single model introduced over the past year to find out which should top your shopping list. Over the next 53 pages we name the class champions in our annual New Car Awards.…

WHY IT WON THE evergreen Golf is back with a bang. After giving best to the Vauxhall Astra and its close cousin, the SEAT Leon, the refreshed and revitalised VW has battled its way to the top of this fiercely fought class. This success hasn’t been achieved with one major change, but a host of small, perfectly targeted tweaks for this Mk7.5 model that address the previous Golf’s few weaknesses. Upgraded engines, a new infotainment system and revised trim levels all feature, as does added safety kit. Yet the core of the car remains unchanged, so it still sets the standard for comfort, refinement and upmarket appeal. It’s practical, too, with more than enough space for most families, plus numerous thoughtful touches that make living with the Golf so easy.…

WHY IT WON THE Jaguar XE remains our favourite compact executive car for the third year running, despite strong competition from established German rivals and the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia. While others excel in one area, none can match the baby Jag’s breadth of talent. It’s great to drive, is packed with kit and the relatively refined 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel is fast and frugal. Recent additions to the engine range have only confirmed the car’s standing as our top compact exec, too. Buyers are offered options spanning the fleet-friendly, lowemissions diesel to the sports car-baiting supercharged petrol – with anything and everything in between. The lightweight aluminium architecture gives the XE an edge in this class and makes it feel impressively agile. The standard rear-wheel-drive layout and well weighted steering…

WHY IT WON AS our reigning champion in the people carrier class, the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso faced a tough challenge in 2017 from the all-new Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic, but for the fourth year in a row the sevenseater takes the Auto Express Best MPV award. Despite the rise in popularity of family SUVs, this class of the market still presents big business, and if you need to ferry your brood around, the Grand C4 Picasso is still the seven-seater of choice after a facelift over the past 12 months. Any MPV has to be family friendly, and with the roomiest seats in the third row, plenty of space in the second row and the big windscreen providing lots of light up front, the Citroen leads the way…

OUR CHOICE Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 150 DSG SE 7 Seat (£28,115) A LARGE family SUV like the Kodiaq is at its best with a torquey diesel under the bonnet, and the 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI offers the strongest compromise of performance and price, while the DSG is cheaper than the manual, which only comes with four-wheel drive. The engine is refined and claims 50mpg-plus, too. SE trim provides lots of kit and is top value. WHY IT WON AS sales of traditional MPVs are on the wane, large SUVs offering space for seven have picked up the mantle as practical, affordable and efficient methods of transport for large families. The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the newest on the scene, and thanks to its impressive mix of ride and handling,…

OUR CHOICE Mitsubishi L200 2.4 Double Cab Warrior manual (£28,859 incl. VAT) ALL L200s get the same 2.4-litre diesel, so your choice boils down to how much kit you want. The 4Life is designed with work in mind, while the Barbarian and SVP models feature plenty of trinkets to boost their appeal. The Warrior is nearly as well equipped and costs that little bit less, so it’s the one to go for. WHY IT WON WE’RE in the midst of a pick-up truck boom, with newcomers from Fiat, Isuzu and Volkswagen being launched in the past 12 months. However, it’s still the Mitsubishi L200 that ticks all the right boxes, and so it takes our award for the third year running. With its powerful diesel, a long list of standard…

WHY IT WON THE Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet sets a new benchmark in the convertible class, with its luxurious cabin, superb refinement and stylish looks. It drives well, too, and its efficient range of engines means there’s no need to sacrifice fuel economy and emissions in this desirable drop-top. With beautiful build quality, tidy dynamics and numerous specs and powertrains, the breadth of the range caters for fans looking for anything from a frugal drop-top to a more performance-focused AMG model. Standard kit includes 17-inch alloys, a reversing camera, LED lights and sat-nav, while the cabin is trimmed in Artico artificial leather – not that you’d know, as it’s just as sumptuous as the real thing. The roof opens in 24 seconds and at up to 30mph, so C-Class Cabriolet owners…

WHY IT WON BMW has made some significant improvements to its i3 baby EV over the past 12 months. Range is a critical factor in an electric car, and thanks to a new, larger-capacity 94Ah battery, the i3 can now go further between charges. It promises a real-world range of over 120 miles – or more than 200 in the i3 Range Extender that uses a small petrol engine to charge the battery pack on the move. That’s a good couple of commutes for the average British motorist, so you could conceivably charge up every other evening – or even more rarely, if you have access to charging points away from home. Meanwhile, the rest of the i3 remains as appealing as ever. Its cabin feels smart, clever and sophisticated,…

“BMW is one of the innovators, offering the most convincing execution of plug-in models across the car market” WHY THEY WON THE pace of technology has ramped up yet another notch in 2017. As manufacturers place a greater emphasis than ever on hi-tech powertrains and cutting-edge features in new cars, this year it’s BMW that wins this category, showing a window to the future with its all-conquering technological revolution in the field of plug-in hybrids. When it comes to electrified cars, the German brand is one of the innovators, offering the most convincing execution of battery-supported plug-in models across the whole spectrum of the car market. The hybrid i8 supercar looks the part, and drives like its supercar styling suggests, sprinting from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds. Its powertrain was ahead of…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk HAVING previously run a VW Passat Estate and had a brief stint in a Citroen C4 Picasso, I thought it might be fun to downsize. But switching to the Suzuki Ignis isn’t all about me seeing if I can live without the big load capacities to which I’ve become accustomed. It also gives me the perfect opportunity to teach my 17-year-old son George to drive in a more sensibly sized car. Over the coming months George will also be reporting on how he finds his driving experience in the pocket-sized Suzuki – just not for a little while yet. He needs to complete 10 lessons before he’s allowed behind the wheel of the Ignis. I was as excited as him about trying the car. I’m a big fan of…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 28 | 6 | 2017 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. Sealey Jump Starter Power Pack SL65S Price: £89.11 Rating: Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk BEST BUY PINT-sized, 495g Sealey coped with all five starts, maxing at 192A, then still showed 100 per cent charge on the easy-to-read display. Its clamps were strong and the 42cm cable was the joint longest on test. The USB sockets were usefully 2.1A and 1A, but had no covers, plus the thin, nylon pouch wouldn’t offer much protection and the module’s green LED was a bit weak. Still, price, performance and a two-year warranty made it unbeatable. Draper Expert Lithium Jump…

“Customisation plays a big role, with SEAT claiming 68 colour combinations for the car’s lower and upper body” Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn SEAT has doubled its SUV portfolio with the introduction of the all-new Arona. It joins the Ateca in the brand’s SUV range, which will grow again next year to include a seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq rival. Prices for the Arona are expected to start from around £15,000 when sales begin in October. The Arona enters the small SUV market that has recently become flush with new arrivals; the Citroen C3 Aircross, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic have all appeared within weeks of one another. The Nissan Juke and Renault Captur continue to set the benchmark in this market. Under the skin, the Arona is based on the same MQB AO platform…

REPAIRS are never welcome on a relatively new car, but even less so when they’re needed just after a service and run into thousands of pounds. Alistair Griffiths of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, contacted us after his 12-plate Audi Q5 racked up massive repair bills over a two-week period in January this year. “An engine warning light came on and when I took it to local dealer Walton Audi, staff said they needed to fix something to do with the emissions,” Alistair told us. “I had the car fully serviced at that point, too, and it all came to around £1,000, which I paid.” Just two weeks later, the same light appeared on the dash, and when Alistair took the car back to his dealer, a much worse problem was revealed. He…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy RENAULT already has a successful family SUV on its books, with the Kadjar. Now the manufacturer is aiming higher with that car’s more spacious and luxurious stablemate, the Koleos. The new model is based on the same platform as the Nissan X-Trail – except that Renault has chosen to keep the car as a fiveseater and focus on cabin and boot space, instead of offering a third row of seats. There are six models in the line-up, with a choice of two diesel engines. The entrylevel motor is Renault’s 1.6-litre dCi unit, producing 129bhp; it comes with frontwheel drive only, and a six-speed manual box. Emitting 128g/km of CO2, it’s the most efficient option in the range. Step up to the 172bhp 2.0-litre diesel and you get four-wheel…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.9 seconds/155mph Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE division responsible for developing RS models has a new boss and a new name – Audi Sport – and this secondgeneration RS5 is the first major product to emerge from the restructured brand. It certainly has a fight on its hands if it is to tempt people away from the ballistic BMW M4 and frantic Mercedes-AMG C 63, while a switch from a burbling V8 to a downsized 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 is only going to make that a bigger challenge. It’s not just the engine that’s shrinking, because the new model is also 60kg lighter than before. That bodes well but, unfortunately, as we discovered, the Audi RS5 is still going to struggle to match its rivals for driving thrills. The new…

IF you wanted a car with rugged ability, conventional wisdom always told you to buy something complex and expensive. At least, it did until Dacia came along with its Duster. Priced from £9,495*, this robust, no-nonsense alternative has ripped up the rulebook in its class – just as Dacia has been doing across the new car market. Thanks to its winning combination of solid build, simplicity and off-road credentials, the Duster was voted Best Car for Winter 2017 by the experts at Auto Express’s sister site, Carbuyer. But the sturdy, practical design ensures it can take any terrain in its stride all year round. And the Duster just got even simpler to use, as Dacia is now offering the car with its Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automatic gearbox. The six-speed…

OUR CHOICE Volkswagen High up! 1.0 75 5dr (£12,135) WE’VE gone for the higher-powered 74bhp engine in top-spec High up! trim. This model delivers style and substance, with attractive features available such as climate and cruise control, and autonomous braking. You can also add sophistication, safety and space to that list, while even in five-door form in this trim the up! remains affordable. WHY IT WON A FACELIFTED version of the Volkswagen up! hit the market towards the end of 2016, and although the company didn’t alter its successful formula drastically, there was an important addition to the refreshed range that’s helped the up! climb to the top spot in the city car sector for 2017. VW introduced an 89bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged engine to the line-up, offering buyers even more…

OUR CHOICE S?oda Superb 2.0 TDI SE Technology (£23,520) GIVEN the Skoda Superb’s mile-munching brief, the punchy and frugal 2.0-litre TDI diesel is a perfect match, while SE Technology trim comes with all the kit you’ll ever need. Highlights include the latest infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav and adaptive cruise control. WHY IT WON THREE is the magic number for the Skoda Superb, which has notched up a hat-trick of victories in our Family Car category. Despite the challenge from talented new arrivals such as Vauxhall’s Insignia Grand Sport, the spacious Czech machine never looked like loosening its grip on the title it had already secured twice. At the heart of the Superb’s success story is its vast interior, which swallows everything a growing family can…

WHY IT WON THINGS move quickly in the executive market. The all-new 5 Series has reclaimed its crown as the class champ thanks to its winning blend of style, refinement and technology. Based on a new platform, the BMW adopts much of the technology from the larger and more expensive 7 Series, but packages it into a cheaper proposition, while offering a much more involving drive at the same time. Among the 5 Series’ talents are a new auto parking system that allows the saloon to be moved in and out of tight spaces using an optional digital key fob. A new Driving Assistant Plus pack also lets the car accelerate, brake and steer itself on the motorway at speeds of up to 130mph. It will even change lanes and…

WHY IT WON INSTEAD of playing it safe with the design of its small SUV, Citroen took a gamble with the C4 Cactus, and it paid off. It entered a crowded market in 2014 with a car offering quirky looks and a sense of fun missing from so many rivals, and in our view the model is still the best small SUV you can buy today. Citroen has resisted the temptation to give the C4 Cactus a hard ride in a bid to make it feel sporty, and while none of its rivals is likely to set your hair on fire in corners, none is as comfortable as the Citroen on rough British roads, either. These features give the car a genuine link to classic Citroens, and as with those…

WHY IT WON VOLVO’S XC60 not only edges ahead of last year’s overall Car of the Year, the Jaguar F-Pace, it also tops a brand-new category for 2017. The premium SUV market is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK, and Volvo has nailed it with this second-generation XC60. The Swedish company has scaled down what made the excellent XC90 so amazingly successful and rolled all its know-how into a desirable, well proportioned and practical five-seat SUV body. As with any Volvo, the XC60 comes loaded with all the latest safety kit, making it a great family car, while the luxurious interior and its raft of advanced equipment gives the SUV premium appeal to rival the likes of the F-Pace, Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5. The XC60 offers a…

WHY IT WON THE hot hatch class is one of the most varied and competitive out there, but as some rivals have moved to four-wheel drive and dual-clutch transmissions, Honda has stuck with oldfashioned front-wheel drive and a manual box – and it has served the new Civic Type R very well. The car has already smashed the lap record for a frontwheel- drive production model at the Nürburgring race track in Germany, and at £30,995 it’s a bit of a bargain. Unlike some competitors, the Type R has no clever tricks up its sleeve such as a drift mode; it simply has to rely on first-class engineering to make it as exciting and entertaining as a hot hatch can be. It’s based on new chassis, has a more sophisticated suspension…

WHY IT WON MAZDA has perfected the roadster formula with the new MX-5, and the latest ‘Retractable Fastback’ version that joined the range this year adds an extra touch of versatility by offering buyers even more choice. All of the iconic two-seater’s best features remain, but the RF’s folding hard-top means it’s refined and comfortable when the weather’s less than perfect. The soft-top MX-5’s sharp looks have been enhanced by the RF’s buttresses and elegant folding roof. Its striking front end is unchanged, but the RF boasts a classier look and is even more distinctive with the top up or down. Speaking of which, the electrically operated roof folds in 13 seconds. With it down the RF delivers a deliciously addictive sense of fun, with the wind in your hair…

WHY IT WON THE Auto Express Design Award is decided by you, our readers, via a poll on our website – and now the votes have been counted we can reveal that the car you consider the most stylish to be unveiled over the past 12 months is Jaguar’s all-electric concept, the I-Pace. It beat some seriously tough competition to win, which is extremely encouraging for the British brand as it prepares to launch its first pure EV. The I-Pace is a radical design departure for Jag, but keeps just enough DNA to display its heritage, with cues from the F-Type sports car and F-Pace SUV. The all-electric powertrain is a first for the firm, and allowed designers to take a fresh set of ideas and create a brand new…

NEW PRODUCT Firestone Roadhawk tyre Price: £58.90 (205/55R16) Contact: www.firestone.eu PERFORMANCE when worn is a key target for Firestone’s new Roadhawk tyre. Launched as part of owner Bridgestone’s continued revival of the brand, the Roadhawk has been designed to brake better than mid-range rivals when new and after 20,000km (12,427 miles) of wear. As a result, all tyres in the line-up come with a top A grade for wet grip in EU tyre label ratings. Independent assessments by testing body TUV SUD – commissioned by Firestone – also showed it retains strong braking performance in the wet down to when it’s worn compared with rivals from Uniroyal, Kleber and Fulda. At its launch we rated it against the Uniroyal Rainsport 3 worn to less than 3mm tread depth. In aquaplaning…

YOU TELL US... SUV is good to drive and great inside, but costly to run 2017 Results Q3 Factfile Years: 2011 to present CO2: 119g/km Fuel economy: 61.4mpg (2.0 TDI Sport) Best options: Sat-nav, park assist, hill hold, lane assist, LED interior lighting, heated seats Prices: From £10,950 OVERALL SCORE 91.87% Bars show where model finished out of 75 cars in our 2017 survey. The longer the bar the better GOOD “THIS is my first automatic, but I couldn’t be happier. The gearchange is smooth and always well timed.” “One of the easiest cars I’ve ever driven.” “There’s decent storage space inside and the boot is big enough for my family.” “For a crossover, the Q3 handles very well. The ride is smooth, too.” “A lovely interior; it’s stylish and…