Innholdsfortegnelse for 1607 i Auto Express

Leaf offers improved value for money NISSAN has reduced the price of the 40kWh version of its Leaf EV (above) by £1,650 across the board. The entry-level Acenta now starts from £26,345, while the high-spec Tekna model is £29,345. This means that all variants of the 40kWh Leaf now fall within the sub-£30,000 P11D price bracket for company car drivers, as well as the zero per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax rating for electric cars due to be introduced in April 2020. One in 10 BMW X5s is hiding its real age THE BMW X5 is the most commonly clocked car in the UK. An analysis of 2.5 million vehicle mileages revealed 11.7 per cent of X5s showing discrepancies. Overall the Vauxhall Combo van was the vehicle most likely to display a…

THE big opportunity afforded to the Fiat brand by the merger is a chance to renew its model line-up without the expense of developing new platforms. The Italian company has struggled with the scale of investment required to develop a successor to its Punto supermini – especially given the increasing needs for ‘big-car’ features, not to mention electrification. Now Fiat has the chance to re-enter markets where it has been a strong player for more than 50 years. Expect it to fast-track a Punto replacement on PSA’s CMP architecture – and we wouldn’t be surprised if it also developed a family model (potentially an SUV) on the EMP2 platform. More than anything the merger gives Fiat a chance to save itself from being ‘just the company that makes the 500’.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk WOMEN are at significantly greater risk of injury and death in car accidents, according to recently revealed academic research and accident data. Some studies have even found that female occupants are almost twice as likely to be seriously injured in certain types of collision. The University of Virginia’s Center for Applied Biomechanics in the US, for example, estimates that a woman wearing a seatbelt is 73 per cent more likely to be seriously injured in a head-on crash when compared with a male counterpart. And while American-market cars are often held to offer less protection than European models, Swedish researchers have found women are thrown further forward in rear-end collisions due to their typically smaller frames, resulting in a higher risk of whiplash injuries. The issue is exacerbated by…

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

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk A NEW year and a new decade, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most transformational periods the automotive industry has ever seen. It’s not just the cars that will continue to evolve at an astonishing rate, but also the way we buy and use them. For now, 2020 kicks off the decade with the arrival of some all-new, never-before-seen cars, plus the return of some iconic nameplates, while another maker is having a crack at building a convertible SUV. The Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet will be one of the more controversial cars to arrive this year, while the Ford Puma, now a compact crossover, will be another to keep an eye on. Here, we tell you all you need to know about the biggest and most important…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk THERE’S no shortage of EV offerings coming this year, including three plug-in city cars from across the Volkswagen Group. We’ve already tried the VW e-up!, SEAT Mii Electric and Skoda Citigo-e iV abroad, but now we’ve had a chance to drive the Czech model on British roads – in the murky chill of a UK winter – to see how it stacks up. To recap, the three models are as similar in electric form as they have been for the past eight years fitted with a petrol engine. There’s a single mechanical set-up: an 82bhp electric motor with a 36.8kWh battery that can deliver around 161 miles of range on a charge. Even the pricing isn’t too different, with spec-for-spec models all costing £19-£20k after the plug-in car grant.…

MODEL TESTED: Nissan Juke 1.0 DIG-T 117 Tekna PRICE: £22,495 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 115bhp THIS is the second-generation Nissan Juke; the Japanese brand has taken its time with its replacement for the big-selling original. Here we have a 1.0 DIG-T model in Tekna trim, which costs £22,495. Design & engineering THE new Nissan Juke is one of the first models to use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-B platform, which has been developed to bring improvements to lots of areas of the cars that will use it. It’s also engineered to allow electric powertrains as well as the latest autonomous safety tech and driving aids. Another model that uses this architecture is the latest Renault Clio, which won its first group test against the well established Ford Fiesta and SEAT Ibiza. At…

Nissan Juke NissanConnect Standard Key features: Nav, smartphone link THE Juke is fitted with an eight-inch touchscreen display as standard on Acenta models and above, although you’ll need to move up to N-Connecta trim to get Nissan’s TomTom-based sat-nav. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come with the system, so you can use your phone’s sat-nav on lower trims. A reversing camera comes on Acenta models, too. Our Tekna Model has a 360-degree camera, too, but the resolution is so poor that it’s hard to see exactly what’s around you. This is disappointing because the tech looks good on paper, yet isn’t very useful in reality. The screen is reasonably responsive, but it can’t match the Skoda or SEAT systems for usability. The menus can be accessed using physical buttons,…

LIKE the Hilux, a ladder chassis underpins this new L200, and under the bonnet is a revised 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 148bhp and 400Nm of torque. This is less than its predecessor due to newer, tighter emissions requirements – but the L200 still has the measure of the Hilux for performance. The body is also new, with a much more angular look and a big, bluff front that means the L200 is as striking as it’s ever been. This is undoubtedly a welcome improvement, but the ride quality isn’t. On all kinds of roads the L200 judders and shakes over bumps and breaks in the surface. The damping is harsh and you can feel the flex at the points where the body is mounted to the chassis. It…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk “The only option fitted is Soul Red Crystal metallic paint, and I think it looks brilliant” Running costs 48.7mpg (official) £64 fill-up/£145 or 24% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 358/1,019 litres THIS week I said hello to my new fleet car, a Mazda 3 hatchback. It’s quite a big change from what I was running previously – a Volkswagen Touareg – so my motoring life is about to change significantly. In some ways, the 3 couldn’t be further from my old car: it’s a family hatch rather than an SUV, it’s petrol rather than diesel, and it’s manual rather than automatic. But that’s the beauty of running a fleet car for Auto Express: I get to try all sorts of models. My new Mazda 3, which I collected from…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Be prepared for Euro ski trip I’M planning a skiing trip to Europe in a month or two. I’ve already got all-season tyres fitted – is there anything else I need to take to stay legal?Frank Sootheran, E-mail A LEGAL requirements vary by country. As a minimum you’ll need a GB sticker if there isn’t one on your number plate, a warning triangle, and headlamp converters if your car has none. Some regions also require snow chains in certain circumstances. Our test-winning Ring RCT1 travel kit (£26.50) is a good place to start; just add any missing elements for countries you’ll go through. Q Taking a shine to exhausts MY car has large-bore exhaust tips which look great, but I don’t like the sooty mess…

VIOFO raised a few eyebrows last year by releasing a dual dash cam for less than £130. Plus, both units record in 1080p resolution and boast Sony Stavis sensors. To see if the spec matched performance we tried it against market leader Nextbase’s 422GW with its rear window camera option. First, we looked at what you get for your money, then headed out during the day and night, including into an underground car park. Footage was then reviewed on a desktop Mac, looking particularly for number plates to be legible. We checked clarity and smartphone connectivity, and considered online prices. The footage captured was very similar, with Nextbase better in daylight, and the VIOFO at night. The former is a more complete package and easier to use so remains our…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk ● Plug-in vRS hot hatch set to match petrol version for power ● 30-mile EV range will offer a unique feature in the class THE newly launched Skoda Octavia is poised to get its widest range of high-performance variants ever, Auto Express can reveal, because the family car’s vRS line-up will include a hybrid version for the first time. The Octavia has always had one of the most varied approaches to what constitutes a hot hatch. As well as hatchback and estate bodystyles, two and four-wheel drive, it’s also been offered with diesel power as a more efficient alternative to the conventional turbo petrol versions. Senior company sources have told Auto Express that this policy will continue with the new model, which was unveiled in November. But in the…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk ● Fourth largest maker created ● Comprises 14 different brands FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) – owner of Alfa Romeo and Jeep – and Groupe PSA – owners of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel/Vauxhall – have officially confirmed the merger of the two companies. It’s a move that creates the world’s fourth largest car manufacturer, behind Toyota, the VW Group and the Renault/Nissan Alliance, and it comprises 14 different brands. The move is advantageous for both firms: it provides PSA access to North American markets, while FCA would potentially be able to make use of PSA’s newer, and electrified, vehicle architectures and stronger presence in Europe. The scale of the future giant will also present new opportunities linked to autonomous and connected-vehicle projects. The new company, which didn’t have an official name…

ON paper, the deal means that Peugeot will now shelve, once again, its long-held ambition to re-enter the US market. FCA’s strengths there mean that there’s no need. But the merger does give Peugeot a potential answer to the quandary of what to do about its 108 city car. The French manufacturer will certainly want to have a good look at the work Fiat has been doing on an all-electric 500 – because that car’s mechanicals could provide a ready-made base for a successor to the 108 that is badly needed. Peugeot may also look to utilise spare capacity at the Polish factory that makes the Italian city car – again, helping to drive up economies of scale and allowing it to overcome the (considerable) challenges of making small cars…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk THIRTY years ago, Rover launched the 200 to the UK’s press. Codenamed R8, it was the first example of Rover, free from the shackles of British Leyland, fully making the most of its multi million-pound partnership with Honda. It had spent £400million renovating its Longbridge plant – equivalent to nearly £1billion today – with the clear intention of developing cars with superior levels of performance, handling and comfort. The 200 was the first car to emerge from a privatised Rover, and gone were the boxy lines of its predecessor. Here was a car that represented Rover’s ambition to cement itself as a new and better manufacturer, with a car that could compete with not just the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Escort, but also the ever-impressive Volkswagen Golf. To mark…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk THE Mazda 2 has been one of our favourite superminis for a few years – a stylish, fun-to-drive alternative to the class norms like the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 208. The current car is now five years old, so it has been treated to a refresh that includes a few interesting technical enhancements. The line-up has been rationalised as part of the revamp, allowing Mazda to focus on the engines and trims that have greatest appeal. So the 75PS (74bhp) entry point remains – available only in the most basic SE-L trim. It gets a reasonable amount of kit, with 15-inch alloys, LED headlights, climate and cruise control, and costs from £15,795. We’re testing the 90PS (89bhp) variant, which comes in SE-L Nav, Sport Nav and GT Sport Nav…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk MEASURING 5.2 metres long, 1.8 metres tall and 2.1 metres wide, the Mercedes GLS is bigger than most cars. It’s back for a third generation, and here to take on the latest incarnation of the Range Rover, as well as the new BMW X7. The GLS’s wheelbase grows by 60mm over the last model for even more interior space. Three rows and seven seats occupy the cabin, while the boot sizes up at 470 litres – even with the rearmost chairs in place. Fold everything flat (electrically, of course) and you’ll be presented with a vast and van-like 2,400-litre load bay. Inside, you’ll find the GLS feels very similar to the smaller GLE. However, the design is trimmed with some plusher materials as standard – much like how BMW…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 115 SE L PRICE: £21,980 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp THE Juke has a lot to live up to thanks to its well known name, but the Kamiq has an even tougher task: starting from scratch as a totally new car for Skoda. It’s got what it takes, as our current class favourite, though. In SE L form it costs £21,980. Design & engineering THE Kamiq sits on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB architecture in its construction, which the Arona also uses. This platform is used in many other models, including Skoda’s Scala, and allows the use of the group’s 1.0-litre engine, found in Audis, SEATs, VWs and Skodas. The three-cylinder motor is turbocharged and has 113bhp and 200Nm of torque, which is just below the…

PICK-UP trucks used to be workhorse alternatives to a van for tradesmen needing some off-road ability, but as SUVs have become more popular, manufacturers have refined their pick-up offerings to make them more usable on a daily basis. They also have some interesting financial incentives, as we’ll see later in our test. However, ability hasn’t been sacrificed and the pairing here are more capable machines than ever. Payload and load bed size will be big factors in deciding the winner, along with fuel economy (and how much it might eat into your profit margin), infotainment, kit and cost, while factors like refinement and ride also matter more than ever in this class. Toyota Hilux Refreshed version of long-running pick-up truck aims to be perfect for work and every-day use THE…

The Ford That Beat Ferrari John Allen and Gordon J Jones (Evro Publishing, www.evropublishing.com) Price: £90 A JUICY price tag for a title on a very well documented subject; there are no great revelations here, but this is a particularly brilliant telling of the tale. Beautifully presented and printed with the highest quality – as you’d expect for £90 – it’s a story that doesn’t get old. Nor do the cars, as evidenced by the large section at the back dedicated to surviving models. The American Dream: Chevrolet Impala Norm Mort (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £15.99 A WHISTLESTOP tour through the lifetime of the Chevrolet Impala from its inception in the fifties and onwards. It’s nice and succinct, and there’s a really interesting section at the end focusing on some…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Is a Takata airbag in my car? HOW can I tell whether my Rover has a defective Takata airbag (Issue 1,600) fitted? The firm is no longer in business, so I am unable to contact a dealer to find this out.D Godfrey, letter A WE contacted the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on your behalf, and it liaised with Joyson Safety Systems, which took over Takata’s holdings after it went bankrupt. Both Joyson and the DVSA have confirmed that Takata did not supply airbags to Rover, so your car is unaffected by the recall. Q Upgrading to DAB radio I WANT to upgrade my car’s stereo with a digital radio, and have been told this isn’t as simple as just slotting in a…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● F1 ace takes on off-road event ● Saudi Arabia is all-new venue DOUBLE Formula 1 world champion and double Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso begins his latest challenge this weekend: taking on the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with the works Toyota team. Fellow Spaniard Marc Coma will serve as navigator; he has won the Dakar in the motorbike category five times and is a six-time cross-country rally world champion. But the benefit of his experience will be limited by the fact that the 2020 rally is taking place in an all-new location: Saudi Arabia. After security concerns put paid to its original north and west-African route, the Dakar initially moved to South America in 2009, but will take place in the Middle East for the first time…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk TOYOTA is preparing a new small SUV that will give the company a rival for the likes of the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur – and it’s likely to arrive in British dealerships within the next 18 months, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. The as-yet-unnamed model is designed to sit below the C-HR, despite the fact that the futuristic crossover is already slightly smaller than the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008. Toyota believes that having a car closer to the 4.0-metre length of most superminis will appeal to customers put off by the C-HR’s higher price. Speaking to Auto Express, Toyota’s European Executive Vice-President Matt Harrison admitted the company was already considering expanding its SUV line-up at the smaller end of its range. “SUV segments in…

AS the most ‘emotional’ member of the new company’s brand line-up, Alfa Romeo stands to benefit hugely from the extensive investment made recently by PSA in its smaller vehicles. For now, expect Alfas to continue to be based on FCA’s current rear- and four-wheel-drive platform. But it’s hard to see how the newly formed company will be able to resist using PSA’s EMP2 architecture to create smaller models, such as a successor to the Giulietta hatchback. Even further ahead, it’s conceivable that PSA/FCA will increase Alfa’s brand reach further. A replacement for the MiTo may be a long shot, but a baby SUV based on the CMP platform with turbo petrol engines or pure-electrification? Given the success of the MINI Countryman and Audi Q2, we wouldn’t bet against it.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk Celebrating 30 years of the Discovery THERE were many car anniversaries in 2019, but one that might well have passed you by was the Land Rover Discovery turning 30 years old. In this exclusive video I tell you the story of how the SUV came about, how it saved Land Rover, and how it sold well over a million. One not to miss. We join round-the-world trip in Iceland WE meet a Kiwi couple in Iceland mid-way through their around-the-world adventure in a Jeep Wrangler. They’ve done 90,000 miles in 53 countries, taking in volcanoes, oceans, deserts and jungles. If you like to see 4x4s taking on tricky terrain, just as they should, you’ll love this video. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply scan…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Aston Martin DBX FROM: Jack Fisher THE Bentayga Speed has the highest top speed of any SUV, the Urus is the quickest from 0-62mph, and the Defender is likely to be the best off road. But with the front of a DB11 and the rear of a Vantage, the DBX has to be the best-looking! FROM: Steve Watson I’M sure it will sell well among the mega-wealthy, but I still struggle to understand SUVs at any price level. I met a VW dealer the other day who admitted he would rather have a Golf than a T-Cross R. But, hey, give people what they want. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “As…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk YOU don’t need us to tell you how popular SUVs are; one glance at the small crossover class will tell you that. But the Toyota C-HR has always stood out on account of its daring design, smart cabin and accomplished driving dynamics. Now, three years on from launch, it’s been given a little makeover and, in contrast to its rivals, it comes solely as a hybrid. With more than 400,000 sales to its name, the C-HR has been a hit for Toyota. Designed and engineered in Europe, it was built to tap into the insatiable demand for small SUVs, with 50,000 of those cars finding homes in Britain. While the Toyota RAV4 matured to become a more practical SUV, the C-HR – or ‘Coupé-High Rider’ – came in to…

MODEL TESTED: SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115PS FR Sport PRICE: £22,155 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp THE Arona has been a top car in this class since it was launched in 2017, and despite being the oldest model here it’s still a strong contender. In FR Sport trim the SEAT costs £22,155 with the 1.0-litre 113bhp engine and a manual transmission. Design & engineering THIS engine is shared with the Kamiq, so the Arona has the same 200Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. The Juke has an identical maximum torque figure, but in that car’s engine it’s delivered lower down, at 1,750rpm. The SEAT also has a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive – four-wheel drive isn’t available. At 4,138mm long and 1,780mm wide, the Arona is the smallest model here, but…

IT’S no surprise that both these pick-up trucks use ladder-frame chassis, because this is the best method of construction for vehicles that’ll carry big loads and will frequently be used off road. Although having such a chassis does mean some compromises to its on-road manners, the Toyota is the more settled machine of the two. The ride quality really is good and it gets better still once you load the bed up with some ballast. It means the back axle feels less bouncy, but even so, the Hilux absorbs bumps better than the L200, which shimmies and shakes on all but the smoothest road surfaces. The Hilux lost out in our straight-line speed assessments, partly due to its gearbox, because the Toyota’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine produces an identical 148bhp…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk Running costs Official range/tax 237 miles/£320 Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 660/1,725 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/124mph I THINK it was on a wet and windy Thursday evening that I saw the light and realised the true qualities of the Audi e-tron. The roads were drenched, the traffic was relatively heavy and I was squelching my way along the M3 motorway. The e-tron had the best part of a full battery and I was focused on one thing: getting home. Suddenly I thought to myself, “I couldn’t care less whether this car has a petrol engine, a diesel engine, a hydrogen fuel cell or a 95kWh battery. It’s just a good car.” And that, ultimately, is what I’ll take from six months living with Audi’s first pure-electric vehicle. I…

Limited-edition book honours Porsche 356 FOLLOWING the success of its Ultimate Porsche 911 book, Veloce Publishing will release a further collector’s edition. This time the volume is based around the Porsche 356 (above) and it will be limited to just 356 numbered copies, each one leather-bound and slip-cased. Such exclusivity comes at a price, which here is £356. The book promises incredible detail and ‘hundreds of stunning photographs’. To reserve or order your copy of the volume, head to www.ultimate356.veloce.co.uk. Go west for classic car show in February THE Footman James Great Western Classic Car Show will take over the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, on 8-9 February. Expect halls filled with parts suppliers and traders, plus an autojumble, as well as cars from owners’ clubs across the…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 02|01|2020 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 JUST about all of us carry phones in our cars, but holding a mobile behind the wheel is a serious offence, with penalties of up to six points and a £200 fine, plus an automatic ban for new drivers. A few pounds spent on an in-car holder makes a lot of sense, but which one? Despite the rise of wireless charging, not all of us have that facility, so here we’re testing dedicated holders only. There are three basic mounting positions, with the screen or dash generally best for easy viewing. Fitting in the air vent is popular but…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The time is right to turn our post-EU Britain into one of the truly great capitals of the world for electrified cars” AS 2019 was such a lousy, infuriating, politically driven year for most Brit-based manufacturers and motorists, I’m glad to see the back of it. I’ve high hopes for 2020, but honesty and realism are more important at this early stage than overconfidence. Let’s not get carried away, eh? It’d be all too easy for me to jump on the bandwagon and argue that 2020 will be THE year of the pure-electric car. It’s mere wishful thinking when industry insiders and others claim that, at last, the waiting is over and this year will be the turning point for pure-electrics. True,…