Innholdsfortegnelse for 1707 i Auto Express

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● New practical SUV sits alongside C-HR ● Available only with hybrid powertrains, 4WD will be offered TOYOTA was one of the trailblazers in the world of SUVs with its original RAV4. But the Japanese company still believes it has gaps in its line-up – and it’s about to fill a significant one with this new model, the Corolla Cross. The Corolla Cross is designed to sit alongside the C-HR in Toyota’s range, although each vehicle will have its own distinct approach. The C-HR has always been focused more on style than outright practicality – to the point where it is almost considered as a Nissan Juke competitor – whereas the Corolla Cross’s upright stance and pragmatic shape reflect its positioning as a full-blown family SUV, a rival…

Luke_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson ● Four new concepts point to firm’s future ● Lead car previews Nissan’s Leaf replacement NISSAN has become the latest car manufacturer to announce its plans for full electrification with its Ambition 2030 strategy. It will see the brand spend around £13billion over the next five years to push new EV and hybrid models to market. By 2030, the Japanese maker plans to have 23 new electrified vehicles in its line-up, of which 15 will be pure-electric. The brand is also planning an aggressive short-term push, launching 20 new electrified or pure-electric vehicles in the next five years. Nissan has teased its future plans by unveiling four new electrified concept cars, all based on the CMF-EV platform and using the brand’s e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive electric powertrain. They’re called the…

Duncan Dollimore Cycling UK Head of Campaigning IN FAVOUR “NEARLY three-quarters of crashes involving cyclists take place at junctions, and there are 14 Highway Code rules meant to deter drivers from overtaking, cutting in and running into pedestrians and cyclists crossing side-road junctions. “This simple change clarifies the rules at junctions, and is a major step towards embedding a custom that could make a huge difference to cyclist and pedestrian safety. “It would also give highway designers the confidence to make better cycling and walking infrastructure such as cycle lanes and cycle paths that go across the mouths of side-roads, making them simpler, safer and more efficient for everyone.” Neil Greig Policy Director, IAM RoadSmart AGAINST “IAM RoadSmart is concerned the new Highway Code will increase conflict on the road…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk RENAULT’S next family SUV will be called Austral, with the new model replacing the firm’s Kadjar crossover when it goes on sale towards the end of next year – and it’ll remain a combustion-engined car. The brand says that the new name for the SUV “claims the French origins of the manufacturer and evokes the colours and warmth of the southern hemisphere”. The 4.5m-long five-seat SUV will appear in the spring, and our exclusive images show how it could look, inspired by the smaller Mégane E-Tech Electric with its styling cues, such as the LED lights and the sharp, aerodynamic front end. However, Auto Express understands that unlike the Mégane, the Austral will retain combustion engines. Underpinned by the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s latest CMF-C platform – the same architecture used…

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) 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: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Problems with…

WHEN searching for a new electric vehicle, I like to think I know what I’m looking for. Having led the development of the Nissan Leaf nearly 15 years ago, arguably the world’s first mass-market electric car, I knew I wanted an EV that would be robust, reliable and raise the occasional smile. Naturally, I thought about the Leaf, but having a platform that first came to market more than a decade ago, there are perhaps more advanced options out there now. Like many car buyers, I spent hours thumbing magazines (mostly this one!) and watching endless YouTube videos to gauge the opinions of experts, and not-so-experts, on what the latest addition to my garage should be. Eventually, I settled on your Volkswagen ID.3. Mr Brandstätter, this is a brilliant car.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk GIVEN that all 765 examples sold out within minutes of their announcement, McLaren must have been tempted to play it simple with the £310,500 765 LT Spider. In other words, to grab the money and run. Woking’s engineers could have quite easily installed the excellent folding hardtop roof system from the 720S Spider into the 765 Coupé, and basically left it at that. The resulting car would still have been very good, and all 765 examples would still have sold out. But in the event McLaren went an awful lot further than it probably needed to with the “Longtail” 765 Spider, equipping it with a new titanium exhaust, new suspension settings, a revised steering rack and a range of styling and aerodynamic upgrades to make it look different, sound…

NEW: Hyundai i20 N PRICE: £24,995 ENGINE: 1.6l 4cyl turbo, 201bhp IF the thought of going topless is just a little too extreme, then the lairiest of the small hot hatches might be a better fit. The Hyundai i20 N Is a snarling, agile, little hooligan of a car that’s still great fun on a track, yet benefits from the practicality of five doors, a roomy boot and a solid roof. USED: Lotus Elise 111S PRICE: £26,000 ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 156bhp THE Seven is derived from a Lotus classic, and these days the Hethel brand offers a more modern track-day option, too. A used second-generation Elise costs similar money to these two sports cars, and combines a stunning chassis and a level of refinement that falls between the two.…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk BACK in late September when the UK was gripped by fuel panic, with queues forming at petrols stations up and down the country, I was lucky enough to take delivery of a brand-new Toyota RAV4 PHEV. A few days later most garages were dry, so with a full 46-mile EV charge and half a tank of fuel, I set off down to Toyota’s Motorline Gatwick dealership to get the inside line on how to squeeze the most out of the plug-in hybrid. I met with Parminder Randhawa, general manager of Motorline, who, unsurprisingly, enthused about the RAV4. “With my current car, I’ve done 1,800 miles and only filled it up once, with about a quarter of a tank still left,” he said. It turns out that Parminder’s commute is…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Shine a light on Core torch I TOOK a fancy to the Core CLH200 headtorch you reviewed (Issue 1,702), but your contact has no listing for a CLH200 (above). Where can I get one? Mark Pattison, E-mail A WE got our wires crossed with this headtorch, because it came from our Coast contact. A call to 01858 410551 will provide details of stockists and online suppliers. When checking pricing we used charlies.co.uk and torchdirect.co.uk. Q Why no Nokian in tyre test? HAVING just purchased a set of Pirelli Cinturato SF2 tyres, I was a little disappointed to find that they were not ranked more highly in your all season tyre test. I did also consider the Nokian Season proof when buying – perhaps you can…

FOR those wanting the convenience of a cordless tyre inflator without the cost, the new breed of compressors little bigger than a drinks can are worth considering. Multiple 12V and rechargeable inflator test winner Ring launched its own version in 2021 and we’ve now had the chance to test it. Car tyres are at the upper end of these diminutive inflators’ range, but can they still do the job? To find out, we timed how long each compressor took to inflate a 13-inch wheel and tyre from 20-30psi. We repeated the test four times to ensure the batteries would be able to tackle all the tyres on a car, plus looked at what you got for your money and the ease of use. Ring had a clear advantage over the…

+FOR Smart looks and plenty of standard equipment, while low prices mean it’s the most affordable to buy -AGAINST Underpowered engine is the biggest bugbear, alongside its cramped interior and outdated infotainment RENAULT beat its rivals to the punch with the Captur, which first appeared in 2014. Based on the firm’s fourth-generation Clio supermini, it’s smartly styled and features tried-and-tested mechanicals. It certainly feels more assured on the move than the Fiat, with more precise handling and a slightly less unsettled ride, although it can’t match the nimble and composed SEAT. The Renault’s biggest weakness is its 89bhp 0.9-litre engine, which has much less power than its rivals’, meaning the Captur finishes a distant third in all of our performance tests. Matters don’t improve inside where, despite having a larger…

All the action from the world of motorsport Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk FORMULA E has issued the first teaser images of its upcoming third generation car design, which will make its competitive debut at the start of the championship’s ninth season, set to kick off in late 2022 or early 2023. The series is pitching the ‘Gen3’ as “the world’s most efficient racing car”, promising that at least 40 per cent of the energy it deploys during a race will have been produced by the regenerative braking system. It’ll also have no conventional hydraulic brakes on the rear axle, a 470bhp electric motor, a top speed of 200mph and be lighter and smaller than the ‘Gen2’ car. The Gen3 pictures were issued as testing ahead of the upcoming eighth season – the last…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk ● DfT cites overwhelming support for right-of-way changes, after Cycling UK mobilises mass action ● New rules from 29 Jan, but DfT has no plan for advance campaign to raise awareness DRIVERS must forget long-established rules of the road from 29 January next year, as the Government enacts a raft of Highway Code changes establishing new rights of way for cyclists and pedestrians. The changes aim to deliver a cycle-friendly environment, as found in many European cities. Three key elements include a new Hierarchy of Road Users (Rule H1), in which drivers will be seen as the most responsible party in collisions with cyclists. The new code also calls for drivers to give way to pedestrians wishing to cross the road before they turn into or out of junctions…

Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: Tony K THIS is a positive design move. The previous Niro was a good car that looked extremely bland and boring. This new design won’t be universally popular, but it stands out and looks undeniably modern. I’d rather have something with character. FROM: Royale431 KIA’S styling team has clearly lost the plot. Fresh from ruining the Sportage, they now give us this. The overall shape is quite appealing, but the messy details make it look as though it’s been subject to a half-hearted repair. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Nice interior, and front end is modern. Rear detailing needs work – two-tone look is bad.” Ritchie Cusack ■ “More interesting than the current model, but I think that the stripe is a useless…

FIRST of all, thank you very much for choosing Volkswagen! I am absolutely delighted that, following so much careful research, you concluded that the best electric vehicle for you is our class-leading ID.3. The ID.3 represents a bold and innovative move from Volkswagen. It is symbolic of a fundamental shift at our company, with a strategy focused clearly on net carbon neutrality, full connectivity and, in the future, fully autonomous driving. You may remember when the I.D. concept car was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2016? The image behind the car showed it lined up next to the Beetle and Golf Mk I. This was a clear visual message to demonstrate just how significant the ID.3 – and all other EVs based on the MEB architecture – is…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 156.9mpg (official) 11% BiK tax Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.5 seconds/124mph IT’S a case of if it wasn’t broke then don’t fix it in many areas with the newly updated 2022 Jeep Compass. Customers of the pre-facelift car loved the way it looked, so the company’s designers have only tweaked and spruced the new car’s styling, with a wider, lower grille as part of a more aggressive-looking front bumper. There are also now full-LED headlights fitted as standard across the entire range, but there are fewer changes elsewhere, with the Compass’s profile and rear end remaining relatively untouched. There were plenty of elements of the previous Compass’s interior that weren’t up to scratch, so Jeep has gone through the cabin and treated it to a thorough overhaul. There’s…

MODELTESTED: Caterham Seven 170R PRICE: £26,385 ENGINE: 660cc 3cyl turbo, 84bhp Running costs 58.3mpg (WLTP) £49 fill-up/£155 or 26% tax Practicality Boot capacity N/A Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.9 seconds/105mph THE entry point to the Caterham Seven range comes in at similar money to an everyday compact crossover: £22,990. That figure is for the car delivered in kit form to build yourself; on the road, it costs £26,385. The R pack adds £1,000 to that figure, and after options the car seen here totals £34,000. Design & engineering EVER since Caterham bought the rights from Lotus to build the Seven, the tiny British sports car maker has made incremental improvements to the formula. In the case of the engines, the original Lotus twin cam made way for Ford, Vauxhall and Rover…

COLOUR CATERHAM offers a huge amount of customisation options to owners, and that extends to the colour chart. Not only are there 20 exterior shades to choose from – plus an unpainted finish, which trims off a few extra grams to reveal the bare aluminium and composite panels – but there’s also a huge array of decals, racing stripes and contrasting-finish options for the nose cone, bonnet and roll cage, too. It’s even possible to bring out the ‘7’ logo in the grille insert with any of those 20 exterior colours. Throw in an optional black pack for the windscreen surround and headlamp pods, plus optional carbon-fibre body panels, and you’re unlikely to ever come across two identical Sevens. The Mazda has fewer paint options – six in total –…

FIRST TEST Hive EV charging Price: £599 after Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) grant Rating: Contact: hivehome.com HIVE is among the latest entrants into the increasingly competitive home wallbox market. It’s not alone in allowing users to monitor their charger via an app, but here it integrates into a wider ecosystem, which also includes smart heating, lighting and security, meaning one app can quickly and efficiently control multiple functions. The wallbox comes in tethered or untethered configurations and is a solid feeling and discrete unit, roughly the size of a piece of A4 paper. It can be bought online and installation is included in the price, which follows an in-depth in-person or remote video consultation to ensure the property and its electrical infrastructure are suitable. Installation by a qualified British…

Auto Erotica Jonny Trunk (FUEL, www.fuel-design.com) Price: £24.95 Rating: A GORGEOUSLY designed book bringing together a snapshot of Britain’s car market through car brochures and ads. It will appeal to petrol heads, nerds, and design buffs. The carefully curated ad selection leaves out all the boring ones on purpose, too. It’s a great conversation starter as a coffee-table book. The Science of Supercars Martin Roach, Neil Waterman and John Morrison (Mitchell Beazley, octopusbooks.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating: THIS is a very well written book, presenting technical details in a way that’s accessible to all levels of skill and understanding. It charts developments in the supercar chronologically, explaining important breakthroughs in excellent depth. Contributions from knowledgeable figures, such as Adrian Newey, Gordon Murray and Christian von Koenigsegg, help make this well worth…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Why is a resurfaced road left covered with stones? THE road I live on has recently been resurfaced, and lots of small stones have been left all over it. It’s impossible to drive along it without these flying up and I’m worried about getting chips in my car’s paintwork. Why has it been left like this? Ben Walker, E-mail A WHAT you have encountered is known as surface dressing, where stone chippings are applied to bitumen on a newly resurfaced road to improve skid resistance and waterproofing. This should only be a temporary measure lasting a fortnight or so. You may notice a temporary speed limit has been implemented to reduce the risk of paint chips. If in doubt, call up the local council…

+FOR Agile handling, plus sparkling performance and low running costs, while roomy interior is packed with tech -AGAINST Ride is the firmest of the three cars here, plus stronger retained values mean it costs more to buy HAVING made its debut in 2018, the SEAT is the newest of our rivals. And it only takes a few miles behind the wheel to confirm it’s also the best car to drive. With quick steering and taut handling, it’s genuinely fun, and while the trade-off is a firmer ride, it’s far from uncomfortable. Its eager turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder also gives the strongest performance, sprinting from 0-60mph 9.0 seconds. The SEAT backs up its dynamic advantage with a stylish and spacious interior. Its 400-litre boot is the biggest here, plus there’s more head…

HYUNDAI has tested its new Rally1-spec i20 N rally car in wintry conditions ahead of its debut at January’s Monte Carlo Rally. Drivers Ott Tanak and Oliver Solberg both sampled the car on the test, which took place in western Germany and just over the border in the French Alsace region. Thierry Neuville was also scheduled to drive, however increasingly heavy snow saw his time postponed to a later date. Like all of the new-for-2022 World Rally Championship machinery, the i20 N is a hybrid. It has been designed by Christian Loriaux, who earlier this year moved to Hyundai from his long-time position of technical director at M-Sport, where he was responsible for a succession of Ford WRCs. Toyota and Ford have also been testing their cars in recent weeks,…

THE new Sportage is available in the UK with petrol, diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid power and in five trims depending on the powertrain: 2, 3, 4, GT-Line and GT-Line S. Prices start from £26,745 for the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol manual model in 2 trim. It features 17-inch alloy wheels, CarPlay and Android Auto as part of an eight-inch touchscreen, cruise control and a good level of safety tech. Models in 3 spec add 18-inch wheels and a pair of 12.3-inch displays, heated front and rear seats, keyless go, smart cruise control and privacy glass – for £4,200 more. GT-Line is based on 2 trim, but adds the 12.3-inch panels and sportier looks, with prices starting from £29,745. Top GT-Line S costs from £38,445 and adds ventilated seats and a…

THE existing Corolla hatchback and C-HR crossover are to get updates to help keep them roughly in line with the likes of the new Corolla Cross. From next year, both models will be available with Toyota’s new eight-inch infotainment system. It’ll come as standard on all versions except the entry-level Icon, while further tweaks for the Corolla line-up include a set of new 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and an updated colour palette, which now features Platinum White Pearl and Silver Metallic choices. The 2022 C-HR gets fresh 18-inch alloys and a new Deep Amethyst paint colour, which can be specified in a two-tone finish on the GR Sport trim level.…

Suzuki to use Toyota tie-up for EV future? JAPANESE brand Suzuki has announced that it will launch its first electric car by 2025. The company’s president, Toshiro Suzuki, confirmed it would turn to full electrification, and the move could be made possible by the brand’s partnership with Toyota. Suzuki already sells the Swace and Across (above), which are rebadged versions of the Toyota Corolla and RAV4 respectively, and could do the same with the forthcoming bZ4X electric SUV. Untaxed vehicles pursued for £119m DVLA data suggests 719,000 vehicles in the UK are being used untaxed. This compares with 634,000 vehicles (excluding motorcycles) estimated in 2019. The potential lost tax revenue to the Government is £119million. Chief executive of the DVLA Julie Lennard said offenders will be pursued via “the use…

LEXUS has teased a possible further extension to its brand – and some novel hydrogen fuel technology – with an off-road buggy concept, called ROV. Described by Lexus’s European boss Spiros Fotinos as a car designed to “unlock a new kind of off-roading adventure for our customers in a true Lexus way”, the ROV Concept is a small two-seat buggy with chunky off-road tyres. At just 3.1 metres long and 1.7 metres wide, its appearance has little in common with Lexus’s conventional cars. The ROV uses a hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine (to reduce cost and complexity) whose main emission is water, just as with a hydrogen fuel cell.…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram Electric motor Power/range 288bhp/250 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.0 seconds/99mph SLOWLY but surely, Mercedes is going through its entire range of combustion-engined cars and electrifying them. We previously revealed (Issue 1,692) the brand’s plans to unveil 19 new models by 2024 – almost all of which will have a plug. The EQA, EQC, EQV and EQS are already paid-up members of the Mercedes EV club, and next in line is the EQB – a seven-seat, 250-mile-range family SUV based on the petrol and diesel-powered GLB. The visual similarities are clear to see; like the GLB, its EQ sibling has more than a whiff of baby G-Wagon about its styling, with a high roofline and a boxy silhouette. There’s the same excellent quality inside, too, and a familiar dual-screen…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.1 seconds/118mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 262/1,075 litres HALO models like Hyundai’s i20 N draw buyers to the brand, yet if you want the looks of the brand’s hot supermini but don’t quite want the firmer ride or to pay the higher price tag for the performance model, cars like this i20 N Line are a great option. It brings the sportier styling of the N with a flavour of the hot hatchback’s sharper drive, without sacrificing comfort or usability – or at least that’s the theory. For your £22,395 outlay, in N Line trim you get a 118bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine assisted by 48-volt mild-hybrid tech, just as you do in the regular car. However, start it up and there’s a relatively throaty…

MODELTESTED: Mazda MX-5 Sport Tech PRICE: £28,970 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 181bhp Running costs 40.9 mpg (WLTP) £62 fill-up/£155 or 36% tax Practicality Boot volume 130 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.5 seconds/136mph THE world’s best-selling sports car faces off against one of the purest, but can the MX-5 hold its own against such a thrilling machine? Here it’s tested in Sport Tech trim which, once the cost of the striking Soul Red paint is added (an £800 option), weighs in at £29,780. Design & engineering WHILE the Caterham’s design can be clearly traced back to a decades-old Lotus design, the Mazda’s lineage is merely inspired by an old Hethel classic instead. The Mk1 MX-5 of 1989 borrowed its ethos of a simple, small, lightweight drop top – not to mention many…

1st MAZDA ONCE again Mazda has proved that it has nailed the small sports car formula for the masses. Although the Caterham is ultimately more fun to drive, the crucial winning blow that the MX-5 strikes is that, for someone stepping out of a regular family car, it really is no less refined or difficult to live with every single day. It remains a fantastic, yet affordable, sporting all-rounder. 2nd CATERHAM FOR 99 per cent of buyers, the Seven will prove to be too impractical, too unrefined and too raw to use as an everyday vehicle. For that final one per cent – or for those who just want to have fun on track – then little else comes close to the 170R’s driving experience for the money. Throw in…

@PeteBaiden Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 504/1,441 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.5 seconds/123mph YOU may have seen the new Nissan Qashqai advert on TV. It features the new crossover in all its glory, with forked lightning flashing everywhere and the tagline “electrified with mild-hybrid power”. Impressive as the advert looks, in reality mild-hybrid systems provide minimal electrical assistance – not even enough to drive a car on electric power alone. So why is Nissan using it as a major selling point? With no diesel options available, Nissan has staked everything on mild-hybrid tech. The Japanese brand believes it boosts the efficiency of the Qashqai’s solitary engine – a 1.3-litre turbo petrol in two states of tune – enough to appease those who would have previously gone down the diesel route. However,…

SEAT and Audi opt for Falken rubber JAPANESE producer Falken has won two VW Group original equipment listings for its 205/55R16 ZIEX ZE310 Ecorun tyres. It’s one of Falken’s best selling designs, and will now appear on the SEAT Leon from the factory with an A-marque designation. Audi’s A3 will also get the ZE310 Ecorun in the same size but with its AO-marque rating. If you’d like to fit the Falken ZE310 to your car, the design is available in 106 sizes covering 14-19 inch rims. Find out more at falkentyre.com. VW’s winter health check for your car WINTER can be tough on cars, but Volkswagen might have the answer with its winter health check. For £20 your VW dealer will conduct a 34-point check to ensure the car is safe…

ONE of the best ways to bring high-octane, hands-on racing thrills into your home is with a slot car set. There are a wide range of options available, from hi-tech digital layouts with multiple game modes, right down to simple solutions aimed at young kids, so there’s something suitable for any age of budding racer to find under their Christmas tree. We’ve put eight sets to the test to see which one takes pole position this Christmas. How we tested them WE tried out each set by putting them together and taking them apart multiple times, testing different track layouts and, of course, clocking up hundreds of laps. We liked a track that clicks together confidently and comes apart without too much effort, because few sets will be left in…

CO2 /tax 158-165g/km £155 Running costs 44-47mpg (xDrive30d) £121 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.5 seconds/143mph WHEN BMW launched the original X5 in 1999, it proved that it was possible to build a full-sized SUV that was as good to drive as a decent estate car. Until that point, buying an SUV meant settling for (usually significant) dynamic compromises, but not here. Maybe that’s why BMW didn’t call the X5 a sports utility vehicle; instead it reckoned that it was an SAV, or a sports activity vehicle. BMW would come up with two sequels before launching the fourth-generation X5 that you see here, and as you would expect, the newest model is the most accomplished yet. With a focus on refinement and comfort, the X5 Mk4 impresses on many levels, including performance,…

+FOR Styling still turns heads, plus the funky interior is practical and the turbocharged engine delivers strong pace -AGAINST Soggy handling and unsettled ride mean it’s not fun to drive, while running costs are the highest here FIAT has cashed in on the huge success of its 500 city car to create the larger and tougher-looking 500X. The transformation has largely been successful, however, and the Italian machine rivals the SEAT for style. The Fiat’s turbocharged 1.0-litre engine is the most powerful here, with 118bhp, and it’s a smooth and punchy unit that delivers the strongest in-gear acceleration. It’s let down by a vague gearshift, though, while the car’s soft suspension means it doesn’t handle as precisely as either rival, and the ride can become bouncy over rough surfaces. Inside,…

THE motor industry establishment officially calls them ‘standard’ or ‘slow/fast’ public chargepoints. Exciting they ain’t. But they’re vital in car parks, on streets, at supermarkets and elsewhere. These are the humble machines and the modest places that really could make or break EVs for the masses. But we’re not seeing enough of such chargers. They’re needed in far greater numbers… sharpish. Fact is, the network of standard public chargepoints in the UK is nowhere near keeping up with the rise in sales of electric or electrified vehicles. Therefore the ‘system’ is less able to cope today than, say, a year ago. Shockingly, in 2021 there are far fewer slow/fast chargers per plug-in vehicle than there were in 2020. Over most of southern England and much of the north, almost 50…

156 PAGES CHRISTMAS SPECIAL MASSIVE DOUBLE ISSUE +REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2021 ● News ● Tests ● Drives ● Sport 156 pages packed with all your favourites plus festive goodies • DRIVEN Cupra Born Behind the wheel of sporty brand’s first electric vehicle on British roads • TESTED Forty years of Corsa We mark hatchback’s landmark by driving Vauxhalls old and new • REVEALED 20 Best used SUVs Our pick of the top second-hand models on forecourts right now on sale Wednesday 15 Dec…