Innholdsfortegnelse for 1514 i Auto Express

EVER hit a pothole that’s damaged your car? I have. It happened on a road near my home, ‘maintained’ by Buckinghamshire County Council, and cost me £113 for a new tyre. I’m not alone. Damage to tyres, wheels, suspension, exhausts and bodywork caused by potholes costs UK motorists around £730million every year. So what should you do if you suffer damage? Claim, as I did. But my claim has just been rejected under Section 58 of the Highways Act. It provides a defence if councils can prove they have taken reasonable care to properly maintain the highway. Bucks County Council says it inspected the road 10 days before the damage was caused by the pothole in the picture above, so Section 58 applies. Do you think that pothole appeared within…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan “Blistered wheelarches fill out the side profile, while the roofline slopes dramatically” FROM concept car to production car in one year: the new Mercedes-AMG GT four-door Coupé has finally been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Extending the AMG GT family to three models alongside the two-door Coupé and Roadster, the newcomer is called “the first four-door sports car from Affalterbach”. The sibling resemblance from the front is striking, with the four-door Coupé featuring the same long, low bonnet, vertically-slatted grille and three-part lower air intake. Blistered wheelarches fill out the side profile, while the roofline slopes dramatically to the tailgate, which again looks very similar to the two-door’s. A large, fixed rear wing and quad tailpipes housed in a rear diffuser also feature. Unlike the two-door AMG…

VOLKSWAGEN has revealed its fourth all-electric I.D. concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. Called the I.D. Vizzion, it’s a more distant glimpse of the brand’s future than other concepts in the I.D. family, previewing the technology breakthroughs VW believes are achievable by 2030. The new car moves the I.D. name into the saloon market, measuring just over five metres long, which places it in Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class territory. Under the skin is the company’s MEB platform, while a 111kWh battery pack sits flat in the car’s floor. The all-wheel-drive powertrain develops 225kW – the equivalent of 306bhp. Volkswagen claims a maximum range of 413 miles, a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.3 seconds and a 112mph top speed. There’s no steering wheel or pedals – it’s a Level…

UK cities are unlikely to issue a blanket ban on diesels similar to the one in Germany, a leading lawyer has told Auto Express. Last week the top German court ruled Stuttgart and Düsseldorf can stop heavily polluting cars from entering their city centres. Anna Heslop, a lawyer for ClientEarth, the consultancy that brought the case to the German courts, said: “It’s more likely that local authorities in the UK will introduce clean air zones, where polluting diesel cars will be charged to enter, than a blanket ban on diesels, as they will in Germany.” While both countries are under obligation to meet emissions targets as quickly as possible, Heslop said that recent Government proposals outlined clean air zones as the most efficient way of reducing pollution.…

“There are big changes under the bonnet, for the Auris gets a choice of electrified powertrains” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy TOYOTA has made a name for itself by offering hybrid power across its range – and the firm is going to ramp up its commitment to the technology with this new generation of Auris, which has made its debut at the Geneva show. This fresh rival for the VW Golf and Ford Focus is new from the ground up, because it’s the first Auris to be based on Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) chassis components, that also underpin the manufacturer’s existing Prius and C-HR crossover models. As such, Toyota is making bold claims that the latest Auris will address one of the outgoing car’s biggest weaknesses by offering “a more rewarding driving…

“Charging socket is behind a flap on the opposite side to fuel filler” OVER at Bentley, a plug-in hybrid powertrain has been added to the Bentayga range, making it the first electrified model in the British brand’s line-up. Under the skin of the Bentayga Hybrid is a new 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6, linked to an electric motor and generator. Bentley has yet to release any power or performance figures, but claims CO2 emissions of 75g/km and a 31-mile electric range. Recharging the battery takes 7.5 hours from a household threepin plug; the charging socket is located behind a flap on the opposite side of the car to the fuel filler. While the Bentayga Hybrid retains the same Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom driving modes, three new hybrid functions have been…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10 secs (est)/125mph (est) Dimensions Length/width/height 4,770/1,890/1,680mm Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan “The new car has taken on a more complex and modern shape” BIG family SUVs: if a mainstream manufacturer isn’t making one, there’s almost certainly a model on the horizon. It’s a segment that’s been enjoying growth for years, and Hyundai has more experience than many. While upstarts such as the Skoda Kodiaq (tested on Page 36) are fresh on the scene, the venerable Santa Fe is entering its fourth generation. To see what the latest car is like, we’ve been to Korea for an early drive of Hyundai’s global success story before it arrives in the UK towards the end of this year. Every new iteration of Santa Fe has taken a substantial leap forward in terms…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk THE rise of the SUV and diesel’s well-documented struggles would appear to have conspired against cars such as the Jaguar XF Sportbrake and its 3.0-litre V6. But the gap between perception and reality can be a big one. Although the XF launched in 2015, buyers needing extra practicality had to wait until late last year for the estate. We tested the 2.0-litre car against its rivals in Issue 1,513, but here we’ve got the Sportbrake in flagship S trim. It’s rearwheel drive – the XF’s AWD tech isn’t offered with this engine – and all models get rear self-levelling air suspension. But if you’re expecting a soft ride, think again. This model also has sports suspension and optional 20-inch wheels, so progress is firm. It’s not uncomfortable, but it…

MODEL TESTED: Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi GT-Line PRICE: £36,495 ENGINE: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 197bhp Running costs 43.0mpg (on test) £89 fill-up/£140 or 36% tax Practicality Boot (7/5/2 seats) 142/605/1,662 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 9.6 seconds/127mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 63.5/36.9/11.1m A LONG-TIME Auto Expresss favourite, the Kia Sorento is no longer the new kid on the seven-seat SUV block, so the Korean brand is hoping that this updated model – tested here in a new GT-Line trim level and with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox – can topple the Kodiaq. Design & engineering THAT new trim and powertrain combination costs £36,495, with the higher-spec GT-Line S pushing the Sorento past £40,000. But the notion of a Kia costing this much is nothing new, because the previous version and the recently launched Stinger GT-S…

Dimensions Length/width/height 5,285/1,815/1,780mm Running costs 25.4mpg (on test) £92 fill-up Practicality Payload capacity 1,050kg Kim_Adams@dennis.co.uk @cargadgetguru “Our fuel consumption was compromised by towing a trailer, so our 25.4mpg figure could be pessimistic for some” THE reports we run on the models on our fleet often feature cars hauling stuff to the dump or helping members of the team move home. But our Mitsubishi L200 pick-up must be the first to double as a store room. The arrival of hundreds of samples for our annual car care testing coincided with me painting my workshop floor. With storage fast running out, the pickup spent a week or so with dozens of waxes and cleaners stowed in the bed. Its spell as mobile storage typified its time with us: it was the perfect…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 2017 Results Astra Factfile Years: 2015 to present CO2: 102g/km Fuel economy: 64.2mpg (1.0 ecoTEC) Best options: Sat-nav, keyless entry, sunroof, adaptive cruise, Vauxhall OnStar Used prices: From £8,000 OVERALL SCORE 90.6% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2017 new car survey. 90.6% The longer the bar the better • GOOD “IT feels well balanced, blending involvement with refinement.” “The suspension smooths out pitted roads perfectly.” “The Astra is impressively quiet.” “This is the most economical car I have ever owned.” “The seats are very comfortable and highly recommended.” “It’s a genuinely handsome and modern-looking car.” “Build and interior material quality are both excellent.” • NOT SO GOOD “THERE is much more road noise than I was expecting.” “The USB connection…

HONDA has taken the wraps off the latest version of its Civic BTCC racer, based on the most recent iteration of the Civic Type R road car. The car broke cover at a pre-season test session at Parcmotor Castelloli circuit near Barcelona, Spain, where long-time Honda driver Matt Neal and new recruit Dan Cammish got the chance to put it through its paces. As in past years, Neal’s family Team Dynamics squad will run the cars, under the Halfords Yuasa Racing banner. Team manager James Rodgers said: “It’s been a massive effort to transition to the new Type R. The car provides an excellent platform to work with and we’re sure it’ll prove a potent package when it hits the track in anger at Brands Hatch. We’ll be sure to…

• First Jaguar pure EV gets 395bhp and 4.5-second 0-60mph time • Rakish SUV has 300-mile range and prices will start at £59k John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “There are electric motors on each axle, and driveshafts go through them, delivering the I-Pace’s low roofline without a raised boot floor” JAGUAR believes it has a car that’s capable of taking on Tesla with the I-Pace, the British brand’s first pureelectric vehicle, which is making its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The I-Pace is probably the most radical offering in the firm’s history. The new model – which will be produced by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria – sits on a bespoke aluminium platform and gets an all-new electric motor and Jaguar’s own battery technology, to steal a march on the likes…

SSANGYONG has previewed the next-generation Korando with an allelectric SUV concept called the e-SIV. The Korean brand says that the car showcases its future approach and commitment to electrified vehicles, connectivity and autonomous driving, while the design study itself is a sneak peek at the next Korando, due in 2019. As a result, some contemporary SsangYong design elements – such as the strong rear shoulder haunches – are in place. But overall the concept is quite a departure from anything the brand has released so far. The thick, angled C-pillar at the rear of the car joins up with a steeply raked back window, to give the e-SIV some coupé-SUV credentials. Inside, the dash is a full-width infotainment display, while the interior space is bright and airy, with four individual…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “Vision Concept will offer a 400-mile range, and can be fully charged in 15 minutes” THE Lagonda Vision Concept has been revealed in Geneva, previewing the Aston Martin sub brand’s autonomous and electric future. Aston says Lagonda is the “first luxury brand exclusively driven by zero-emissions powertrain technologies”. Its debut model is an autonomous all-wheel-drive limo that seats four. It’ll offer a 400-mile range, and can be fully charged in 15 minutes. The Vision Concept was created from scratch. Aston’s EVP and chief creative officer Marek Reichman said: “The electric revolution means there is no need for horse-and-carriage design.” The long and low body is complemented by a large glasshouse, while sharp creases give it a sporty look. The nose gets a Lagonda badge, and despite the lack…

“The front end of the M8 Gran Coupé is clearly related to the recently revealed 8 Series, but it’s more aggressive” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy BMW’S Geneva show-stopper is a high-performance four-door flagship that’s designed to rival everything from the Porsche Panamera to the new Mercedes-AMG GT four-door. The M8 Gran Coupé Concept is a close preview of a production car that we’ll see before the end of next year. BMW has confirmed that the vehicle in question will not only arrive in 2019, but will also sit at the top of the range of an additional variant based on the reborn 8 Series; so there will be ‘mainstream’ 8 Series Gran Coupés as well. However, the concept takes the vision of the car to extremes, with looks that Domagoj Dukec, vice-president…

“This isn’t a vehicle for the shy. It’s a lady or gentleman’s chariot – it has compelling proportions”GERRY McGOVERN Land Rover design boss Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ONCE upon a time, if you wanted a luxurious SUV a Range Rover was your only choice – it ruled the roost for more than 45 years. But now the age of the super-luxury SUV is upon us, with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga vying for millionaires’ money. So how does Range Rover react? With this: the limited edition, two-door, £240,000 SV Coupé. Only 999 examples will be produced, each hand built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. The car uses the Range Rover SV Autobiography as its base, with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine tweaked to produce 558bhp and 700Nm,…

VOLKSWAGEN has confirmed that a cabriolet version of its new T-Roc SUV will arrive in showrooms in 2020. This design sketch gives us a hint of what to expect from the Range Rover Evoque convertible rival; a folding fabric roof and two-door body can clearly be made out. SUVs are big business for VW; the T-Roc cabriolet will be part of a line-up of 20 SUVs from the firm by the end of the decade. CEO Dr. Herbert Diess said: “Volkswagen is evolving into an SUV brand.” Over €80million (£70m) has been invested into developing the new model, which will be built at the same VW facility in Osnabrück, Germany, as the Porsche Cayman.…

DRIVING instructors who enter into inappropriate relationships with young learners face removal from the instructor register, under new Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) rules. The DVSA reports that there were 109 investigations into instructor misconduct between April 2016 and March 2017, and the organisation’s approved driving instructor registrar, Jacqui Turland, says she will treat instructors having sexual relationships with 16 and 17-year-old students – consensual or not – as exploitative. The new rules mean instructors found to have had an inappropriate relationship with a young student face being removed from the approved driving instructor (ADI) register, effectively banning them from giving lessons. As well as barring instructors from sexual relationships with young students, the DVSA will investigate those accused by pupils of “inappropriate sexual behaviour”. This includes using sexualised…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer DRIVING past the barrier gate guarding the entry road feels like jumping through a time portal back to the thirties. Such is the level of preservation at Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire that you could mistake the 348-acre compound for the World War II RAF base it once was. Fire buckets still hang from the restored red-brick buildings, the underground bunkers remain hidden from onlookers, while classic and vintage cars from pre-war Bentleys to old MGs decorate the green lawns. Only the bombers and aircrew are missing. But it’s the classic cars we’ve come here for. Since taking over the site in 2013, Bicester Heritage has converted it into a true classic car hub. There are more than 30 historic vehicle businesses at the site, housed in small garages…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/155mph Running costs 32.5mpg (official) £79 fill-up Andy_Pringle@dennis.co.uk @AndyMoshPringle “You can get on the power quickly out of a corner, confident that there’ll be no wheelspin” CALLING a car a four-door coupé may sound like a contradiction in terms, but with the arrival of the thirdgeneration Mercedes CLS, it looks like the concept is here to stay. As well as its new look, the 2018 CLS brings a range of new engines and more kit, much of it inherited from its S-Class sibling. And while the latest version boasts of improved practicality – claiming to be the first five-seat CLS – it very deliberately looks like a member of Mercedes’ coupé family. The shape of this new CLS is much smoother than its predecessor’s. The sleek…

AS SUVs continue to dent sales of conventional cars, families are flocking to seven-seat versions in a bid to secure MPV practicality without compromising on style. Volkswagen is after a slice of this lucrative market and has turned to its versatile MQB platform to create the new Tiguan Allspace. It’s a seven-seat version of the brand’s Tiguan 4x4, but this class of car is far from a new trend. Another marque that’s ploughed this furrow for a while is Kia, with its Sorento. It’s a former Auto Express favourite, but a few years after its launch and with the arrival of newer models, it’s slipped slightly in the rankings. Still, the Sorento has recently been updated, featuring a new GT-Line trim level and an eight-speed automatic gearbox we’re testing here.…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 190 4x4 DSG Edition PRICE: £36,570 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp Running costs 44.7mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£140 or 32% tax Practicality Boot (7/5/2 seats) 270/560-765/2,005 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/129mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 54.9/43.6/10.2m IF you’re after a diesel-powered SUV with seven-seat capability, the Skoda Kodiaq is our current favourite choice, so it’s this car the Allspace has to beat. At £36,570 in 2.0 TDI 190 4x4 DSG Edition spec it has price on its side, but this class is about more than just affordability, so how does it fare? Design & engineering SKODA’S seven-seat family SUV is based on the same VW Group MQB underpinnings as the Tiguan Allspace, but there are some subtle differences. The Kodiaq’s wheelbase is a little longer, which…

@SamNaylor_AE Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.6 seconds/110mph Running costs 53.8mpg (on test) £52 fill-up/£130 or 9% tax Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk ELECTRIC cars are grabbing all the headlines at the moment, and it’s easy to see why. They offer rock-bottom running costs with the benefit of a great driving experience as well. But fully electric vehicles are still in their infancy, and they don’t provide enough range for most people to run one as their only vehicle. That’s where the latest addition to our fleet comes in. The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid combines its 45kW electric motor with a traditional 1.6-litre petrol engine, which means there’s no range anxiety; simply fill up with petrol as you would with a normal car, and you can drive the length and breadth of the country without the…

NEW PRODUCT Airbubbl Price: £295 (or £220 pre-order) Contact: www.airbubbl.com WE all know about air pollution on our streets, but according to tech company Airlabs, there could be many more pollutants actually inside your car. Gases such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), plus particulate matter from the exhaust of the car in front, are drawn into the cabin and hit dangerous levels in such a confined space. Airlabs claims the amount of NO2 in a car is on average 21 per cent higher than it is on the street and that the equivalent of two cigarettes’ worth of nitrogen dioxide can be inhaled by occupants sitting in traffic for an hour. “The company expects the filter to be effective for 800 hours of driving” While many cars have particle filters,…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THIS is the Skoda Vision X, a Geneva Motor Show concept that previews a new small crossover to rival the likes of the SEAT Arona and Volkswagen T-Roc. The show car also uses compressed natural gas (CNG) as a potentially cleaner fuel and features a mild-hybrid powertrain designed to offer four-wheel drive and limited pure-electric running. The Vision X – which is expected to reach production in 2019 and could carry the badge Amiq or Anuq – is more of a crossover than an SUV. It’s 4,250mm long and 1,800mm wide; longer and wider than the T-Roc and Arona. But the Skoda’s roofline is also lower than both of those vehicles’. Significantly, though, the Vision X’s wheelbase is 2,645mm – 55mm up on a T-Roc’s and 80mm clear…

THE all-new Kia Ceed Sportswagon has been unveiled in Geneva alongside the recently revealed family hatch. It’s the second of four new Ceed models, and will go on sale in the UK in the autumn. Designed in Europe, it takes much of its styling inspiration from the hatch and the sporty Stinger coupé. It gets a similar front end and ‘tiger nose’ grille, while the rear echoes the established Optima SW. Lower and wider than the old car, the new SW also has a longer rear overhang, helping disguise the more practical interior. The boot is 72 litres bigger than before, at 600 litres, while the 40:20:40-split seats fold flat. We’re told the estate is unlikely to use the hatch’s entry-level 1.4-litre engine, favouring more powerful turbo petrols and diesels.…

LEXUS has pulled the covers off its latest SUV at the Geneva show: the new UX crossover. The rival to the BMW X2 is expected to go on sale towards the end of the year. The UX has a growing crop of premium competitors, from the Jaguar E-Pace to the Volvo XC40 and Audi Q3. It should stand out, though, thanks to its bold styling, adapting the latest Lexus design language into a more compact shape. Familiar details are visible such as the gaping spindle grille, slim LED lights, rising shoulderline and sculpted bonnet. At the rear, a singlepiece LED light bar helps it stand out next to the larger NX, while inside is a more evolved dash design over the firm’s current models. LFA-style dash top switchgear and digital…

“Large U-shaped seat stretches around the cabin, with glass hatch used to enter and exit the EZ-GO” THIS is the Renault EZ-GO concept, a futuristic glimpse into how the brand thinks ride-sharing vehicles will look and work by the year 2030. Before then, around 2022, Renault will begin to introduce a fleet of robo-taxis for commercial use. The EZ-GO concept is fully electric, seats up to six people and is completely autonomous, with no vehicle controls to speak of. It’s as long as a Mercedes S-Class, at 5,200mm, and features Renault’s 4CONTROL rear-wheel-steering system to maximise agility. Underpinning the car is a new EV platform with a compact electric motor on the back axle to increase interior space. And because the EZ-GO is designed for city use, it has a…

PEDESTRIAN railings could be removed from roadsides in the future, after a new study found their absence leads to a significant fall in deaths and injuries. Research by Transport for London (TfL) analysed accident data from 70 crossings where railings had been removed, and saw a 56 per cent drop in the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured. That contrasts with serious pedestrian accidents across TfL’s entire road network, which declined by just 14 per cent over the same three-year period. Sam Wright, a TfL engineer behind the study, said the removal was likely to change driver perception, adding: “Railings can give drivers ‘tunnel vision’ and a feeling that pedestrians are safely tucked behind them. Without the railings people tend to cross in more locations on an ‘ad hoc’…

“Zurich, representing the lorry driver who’d written off Jeremy’s car, refused to pay the £5,454 bill” IF a crash forces your car off the road, it’s tempting to reach for the first vehicle hire solution available. But you should check your liability carefully. Reader Jeremy Wright of Romsey, Hants, contacted Auto Express after his 08-plate Saab 9-3 was written-off by a lorry driver who admitted liability. As Jeremy was not at fault, Admiral gave him a credit hire agreement for a rental car instead of its usual 21-day policy. But he was shocked when later he was asked to defend the final bill. Jeremy said: “I was referred to hire firm Auxillis, which offered me a MINI Cooper D Convertible. It said it was the only car available. As I…

Running costs 47.9 mpg (off icial) £48 fill-up Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram IN the UK, the Honda Jazz has always had an image problem. Young Americans lap up the US-badged Fit, but in Britain the practical supermini is the preserve of the older generation. To change that, Honda has given its smallest model a mid-life nip and tuck, along with an all-new 1.5-litre petrol engine and range-topping Sport trim. While it’s no hot hatch, the peppy motor brings the car closer to rivals such as Ford’s flagship 138bhp Fiesta EcoBoost. We first drove the updated Jazz back in January (Issue 1,509), but this is our first chance to try the Sport on UK roads. Our car is the higher-spec Navi version, which gets a seven-inch screen and a Garmin sat-nav. Other kit…

Running costs 44.0mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£140 or 32% tax Practicality Boot (7/5/2 seats) 230/700/1,775 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 8.4 seconds/130mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 54.9/43.6/10.2m MODEL TESTED: VW Tiguan Allspace 2.0 TDI 190 4MOTION DSG SEL PRICE: £37,730 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THE popularity of SUVs shows no sign of diminishing, so Volkswagen has developed the seven-seat Tiguan Allspace to fill a gap in its range. Here we test the higher-powered 2.0 TDI 4MOTION DSG SEL, which is the priciest car of our trio at £37,730. Design & engineering OUR test model uses a 187bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine sending drive to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. While VW has come under scrutiny following the Dieselgate emissions debacle, diesel power in large SUVs like this still makes sense due…

Running costs 38.5mpg (on test) £51 fill-up £140 or 19% tax Performance 0-60mph/30-50mph 9.3/8.4 seconds Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 292/1,093 litres Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 48.7/30.8/11.7m THE Ford Fiesta gets the supermini formula just right: it’s fun to drive, well equipped, economical and has plenty of space inside. Those virtues aren’t affected by the equipment this top-spec Vignale model benefits from, so it’s still a great car at its core. However, it does look pricey compared with the more premium MINI. The Fiesta’s best feature is its chassis, because the car is enjoyable to drive no matter where you are. It’s comfortable enough and rides smoothly over potholes and bumps around town or on a rutted B-road, but at the same time you can enjoy the slick six-speed manual box, well-weighted steering…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk I’VE taken over running the Volvo S90 on the fleet since our Ignis returned to Suzuki. It’s hard to imagine two more different cars, because the low, sleek Volvo feels massive after my time behind the wheel of the boxy baby SUV. Still, I’ve been making the most of the luxurious saloon by getting it out of city traffic and on to motorways whenever possible. The S90 excels on open roads, with its smooth ride and responsive acceleration from the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and automatic gearbox. We’ve taken several trips away in the big Volvo, including a recent long weekend on the Isle of Wight. The tech was impressive throughout; the sat-nav’s huge portrait-format display gave clear guidance, while the additional screen between the dials on the fully digital…

KIA had made huge progress in improving its image before the third-generation Sportage arrived just over seven years ago, but this car really allowed the brand to turn the corner. Showrooms and British roads were already awash with compact SUVs when the Sportage Mk3 appeared. Yet while many of them failed to stand out from the class crowd, the Kia’s concept car styling still looks sharp today. And it wasn’t just a pretty face, because it was also priced keenly and came with an industry-leading seven-year warranty. The Sportage’s success was assured, and seven years on it still makes an excellent used buy. History THE Sportage Mk3 reached showrooms at the end of 2010 with 1.6 or 2.0-litre petrol engines and 1.7 or 2.0 CRDi diesels. The smaller engines had…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FORMULA One teams lost almost a full day of test running last week as the snowy and icy conditions that affected much of Europe arrived at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. Only a handful of in and out-laps were completed on Wednesday, the third of four planned days for the week. Conditions improved on Thursday, however, allowing last year’s front runners Mercedes and Ferrari to show that they may still be the teams to beat. Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton’s quickest time of 1:19.333 was nearly a second clear of Sebastian Vettel’s 1:20.241 for Ferrari, suggesting there will be no upset of the established order when the racing season gets under way on the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, Australia, later this month. Elsewhere, fears that the Honda engine’s…