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WE keep hearing that it’s harder than ever to find a really good-value new car – and that a mixture of in-car technology and more efficient engines (not to mention electrification) is threatening to drive prices up further still. So we’re particularly pleased that this issue marks not only the debut of our new-format road test, but also a head to head between two cars that cost a smidgen less than £14,000. New. Starting with big-value cars from Dacia (the updated Sandero) and Citroen (the new C3 You!), our real-world test provides you with even more of the detailed info you need when the time comes to choose your next new car, and in a more easy-to-use format. We started by analysing what the most important factors are to you…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● New small saloon will be most affordable model in rejigged range ● MMA architecture is part of plan for increased profit margins MERCEDES will redefine the entry point to its line-up from 2024 with the arrival of an all-new compact luxury car. It will also mark the debut of a new platform and infotainment system for the brand. Based on the firm’s forthcoming MMA underpinnings, the new all-electric compact saloon will rival Tesla’s Model 3 as the most affordable model in the Mercedes range. Speaking to investors last year on the future of the company’s line-up, Mercedes boss Ola Källenius said: “The entry point to the Mercedes brand in the future will be a different one than it is today.” On top of this, a strategy presentation showed…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● New electric SUV on the road ● AMG version sampled too THE electric luxury SUV segment is moving fast, and aiming to not just challenge rivals but spearhead the market is this, the new Mercedes EQE SUV. First drives of the firm’s newest EQ model won’t happen until spring, so for now our experience is restricted to the passenger seat. Our first taste is of the 500 AMG Line, which packs a 90kWh battery for a range of 337 miles. The maximum charging rate is capped at 170kW, so a 10-80 per cent top-up takes just over half an hour. The EQE SUV is closer to the slightly smaller EQC in size than the EQS SUV, but our first impression is that it feels much more like…

● Fresh looks and uprated kit for large SUV’s mid-life update ● Facelifted model is due to arrive in showrooms later this year THE new Volkswagen Touareg is being put on ice – literally. In preparation for a refresh that will see it through the second half of its lifespan, the brand’s flagship SUV has come to Arvidsjaur in northern Sweden to undergo cold-weather testing, and we’ve joined the development team to get an early taste of what we can expect. The Touareg is more than two decades old as a model, and the current version was introduced in 2018 – so this is a relatively late facelift, by car industry standards. And on initial inspection it looks like a fairly mild tweak; there are presumably fresh bumpers beneath the…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Bespoke creations are based on existing Aventador ● Both have unique look, but share Ultimae’s engine LAMBORGHINI’S successor for the outlandish Aventador is said to be only weeks away from being revealed, but the Italian marque still wants to eke out a little more from its last purely V12-powered vehicle. These are the final instalments in the Aventador series: the Invencible coupé and the Auténtica roadster. The Aventador was launched way back in 2011, featuring the second-generation version of Lamborghini’s legendary V12. The firm says the two new bespoke cars will be the last equipped with this engine, because while the Aventador’s successor will feature a V12, it will have hybrid assistance. The Invencible and Auténtica are powered by the familiar 6.5-litre naturally aspirated unit, with 769bhp…

MAZDA has treated its 2 supermini to another refresh, aimed at keeping the model competitive against its rivals as it heads towards its 10th birthday. The changes to the exterior include a new front grille that’s better integrated with the headlights, more coloured detailing, reprofiled bumpers and fresh wheel designs. Inside, there’s a new fascia with more colour than before, and the infotainment has been upgraded to incorporate wireless Apple CarPlay. All versions now get navigation as standard, along with climate and cruise control. Alongside these changes, the revised 2 sticks with its well proven 1.5-litre engine, with a choice of three outputs: 73, 88 and 113bhp. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, and most versions with this unit also benefit from mild-hybrid assistance for improved fuel efficiency. Mazda…