Carbuyer magazine

ELECTRIFICATION is going to play an increasing part in our motoring lives in years to come, with hybrids the perfect stepping stone on that journey. You only need to look at the latest Nissan Qashqai (see p8) for proof of that; every version has some kind of hybrid technology under the bonnet. Brands need to lower emissions, and are finding clever ways to do this before all buyers are driven to fully electric vehicles (EVs) by default. In the interim, hybrid will be the norm. It’s not something to be afraid of; the technology is proven, and should reduce emissions and costs – and most hybrids drive the same as petrol and diesel cars. Whichever type of car you’re after, we’re here to help you buy with confidence by guiding…

ESTABLISHED in 2010, Carbuyer.co.uk is like no other motoring website out there – it makes choosing your next new car easy. We look at everything from the buyer’s perspective to provide the clearest real-world verdicts on the cars that matter to UK motorists. We’ve filmed, photographed and rated many hundreds of new cars, with our testers driving thousands of miles to bring you a comprehensive picture of the market. From boot space to parking sensors and from folding seats to road noise, our tests are all based on real-life, everyday criteria. ● You can watch over 750 video reviews designed to help you decide which new car suits you best. ● You’ll find details on every make and model, with pics, prices and specs for all cars on sale in…

CARBUYER’S crystal-clear road tests are like no other. We put ourselves in your shoes to deliver easy-to-understand verdicts on cars that matter. Our reviews are divided into sections on engines, running costs, interior, practicality, safety and reliability, so you can look beyond the headline overall score to see where a certain model’s strengths and weaknesses really lie. Our scores are weighted appropriately – so family cars aren’t penalised for being outperformed by supercars! We’ve also conducted huge customer satisfaction surveys, compared warranty periods and service intervals, and searched for safety-related recalls. Finally, we analyse a car’s pricing, equipment and running costs to judge value.…

CAR manufacturers have adjusted pricing of several fully electric models in response to changes in the government Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG), which were announced as part of the most recent Budget. Previously, buyers of zero-emissions cars with a list price of up to £50,000 were eligible for a £3,000 grant. This is applied for by the supplying dealer and so effectively reduces the car’s on-the-road price. Now the threshold for eligibility has been reduced to £35,000 and the maximum amount of each grant cut to £2,500. Some electric models, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E (from £41,330), Polestar 2 (from £39,900) and Tesla Model 3 (from £40,990) are now completely ineligible but in other cases, only more expensive trim levels have increased in price. Manufacturers also made price and trim-level…

CITROEN has announced the C5 X, a new model that it says combines elements of a large estate car, a crossover SUV and a luxury saloon to offer an appealing blend of comfort, style and practicality. It’s set to arrive in the UK in early 2022 and will be priced from around £27,000, offering a choice of both petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Under the metal, it has much in common with the Citroen C5 Aircross but is promising ‘unparalleled roominess’ inside, with a boot larger than that of the Peugeot 508 SW estate – another sister model. The C5 X’s styling is inspired by the C-Xperience concept car shown at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. We’ve seen touches from that car on a number of recent Citroens, namely the…

There’s both a new dashboard design and a new multifunction steering wheel, along with a ‘floating’ infotainment screen in a variety of sizes, depending on the trim level selected. The Full Link system, which enables wireless Android and Apple phone connectivity, has also been added, while both models get the SEAT Connect system, which allows users to remotely access their vehicle’s data, including driving details, parking position and anti-theft alerts.…