Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i What Car?

THE STONIC IS Kia’s smallest SUV, sitting beneath the larger Niro, Sportage and Sorento in the brand’s range. The styling is similar to that of the Rio hatchback upon which it’s based, and buyers will be able to choose from 20 different two-tone paint combinations, with five colours for the car’s roof. Most of the Stonic’s engines are shared with the Rio. The range kicks off with a 118bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit; above that are 1.25-litre and 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrols, and there’s a 1.6-litre diesel for higher-mileage drivers. The Stonic will offer front-wheel drive only at launch, with a choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Inside, the Stonic is very similar to the Rio both in terms of layout and kit, which includes a 7.0in…

AUDI’S RS RANGE is equivalent to BMW’s M or Mercedes’ AMG, but it has always been underpinned by one principle those others have lacked: quattro four-wheel drive. This new RS5 – a performance version of the A5 coupé – is no different in that respect, but its 444bhp no longer comes from a 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine; instead, it has a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6. The theory? It’s lighter and pulls harder. The practice? The RS5 blasts from 0-62mph more quickly than before, in just 3.9sec. The pairing of quattro and the new V6 gives impressive cross-country performance, with superb traction out of slow corners and junctions, although the standard eight-speed automatic gearbox can be slow to react from rest. It gels with the engine far better on the move, though.…

COME ON, WHO wants an estate car in 2017? Aren’t they old-fashioned, now shown up by small SUVs? Not quite. Try to dissociate the word ‘estate’ from the image of a squarer-than-square beige 1990s Volvo and you might be surprised at what you’re presented with. In fact, estates are experiencing something of a resurgence, with sales having slowly increased since 2014, thanks in no small part to well-equipped, frugal, roomy and dynamic smaller models such as the Skoda Octavia Estate and Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. Joining that list is this new Hyundai i30 Tourer. To be competitive, it’s £1500 cheaper than its predecessor in entry-level form, and even then it comes packed with a comprehensive suite of technology and safety kit. Engines are shared with the i30 hatchback, so there’s…

THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS has always been stratospheric in the sphere of luxury limos. Arguably Bentleys and Rolls-Royces edge it for badge kudos, but the S-Class is always the car at the vanguard of technical innovation. And so it continues with this facelift. Let’s begin with the engines, which mark a return to straight sixes over the previous V6 motors. A new 3.0-litre petrol comes with either 362bhp or 429bhp, and uses a 48-volt electric compressor plus an electric motor to boost response and make it respectably clean and frugal. Meanwhile, a new 2.9-litre diesel can be ordered with 282bhp or 335bhp, but despite showing efficiency gains over the previous diesels, a BMW 730d still returns better economy and lower emissions. There’s also a range of higher-powered V8s and V12s. The…

Mini with a nasty engine rattle I bought a new 1.5-litre petrol Mini Cooper nearly three years ago, having paid a £4000 deposit on a PCP finance deal. I specifically added all the extras I wanted, including the Pepper Pack, white silver paintwork, LED lights, cream lounge leather, heated sports seats, a black electric sunroof and the TLC service pack. The car is in as-new condition and has covered only 18,000 miles. My original intention was to keep it as a second car after the four-year finance deal finished. However, over the past year it has suffered a long list of problems. It has had three separate issues with water getting into the boot, a fault with the horn, a door handle falling off and window seals falling out. In…

IF YOU OWN a caravan, trailer or horsebox, you’ll need to choose the right car to tow it. But that’s not easy. While you can test drive a car before you buy it, your average dealer demonstrator is unlikely to have a towbar. And you can’t assume that because a car performs well in regular driving, it will be just as able with one and a half tonnes of caravan attached. That’s where the Tow Car Awards come in. Since 2007, What Car? has teamed up with Practical Caravan and The Camping and Caravanning Club to help buyers choose the right tow car. We know that even the keenest caravanner is likely to spend many more miles driving without their home-from-home in tow, so each car is first assessed as…

It’s possible to get a lot of driving done over a weekend in Barcelona. From the winding rural roads around Mt Tibadabo to the hyper-urban streets of Barceloneta, it’s the perfect place to find out what a car’s really made of. This time, the car in question is the new 2017 SEAT Ibiza, and the people putting it through its paces are Gaynor Thorpe from Leeds and Rav Jagdev from Birmingham: two enthusiastic fans of previous generations of SEAT’s hot hatch. “I’ve always liked Ibizas,” says Gaynor. “They’re a bit more sporty, so I’ve definitely got a love for them.” Rav echoes her thoughts: “It’s a brilliant car,” he says. “I was looking for something sporty and something that stands out a bit.” The new 2017 SEAT Ibiza does exactly…

Add up the star ratings and it’s clear that the Q5 is the easy winner – a true five-star car. Even tested here on perhaps the worst suspension option for demonstrating its key asset (a comfortable ride), it’s hardly a bone-shaker. We were also surprised at just how well it compares with the Macan to drive on a fast, twisty road. It’s easily the most practical, too. These days, there’s no doubt that Volvo is a major player in the premium market, and the XC60 is an immensely stylish car. So, it grabs your attention and impresses with its rear seat space, driving position and safety kit. However, it can’t match the Q5 in several key areas, including costs, handling, boot space and infotainment. Finally, the Macan. While PCP finance…

The Qashqai is a former What Car? Car of the Year and remains very likeable, thanks to its cushy ride and low CO2 emissions and generous roster of luxuries. However, the latest updates aren’t enough to put it back on top of the small SUV class. Instead, it’s the Ateca that wins this test, because it’s more practical, has a better infotainment system and is more enjoyable to drive. That you can add a couple of choice options and still pay less than you would for the Qashqai merely seals the deal, although we would recommend going for the 1.4-litre petrol model instead of this diesel if you’re buying privately, because it’s even cheaper and has punchier performance.…

Mileage 7111 List price £25,455 Target Price £22,163 Price as tested £28,080 Test economy 50.8mpg To achieve the ‘concept car’ look of the Scénic, some compromises had to be made. Most noticeable is the high floor, which forces rear passengers to sit in an awkward position with their knees higher than their hips. Combined with a heavily sloping roofline, this means it takes just a few minutes for taller people to start grumbling. Plus, Renault’s efforts to reduce drag and in turn improve fuel economy mean that in heavy rain at speed, the air streaming down the sides of the car make a vortex of water on the windows, rendering the door mirrors useless. I admit this is not an effect limited to just the Scénic, but never before have…

Mileage 778 List price £22,845 Target Price £20,542 Price as tested £25,480 Test economy 39.2mpg I’VE BEEN LIVING with our Astra Sports Tourer estate for a short while now, but I am still adjusting to a few things in my day-to-day life with it. In particular, it’s quite long, so I can forget about parking in the sort of snug spaces that my previous car, a Suzuki Baleno small hatchback, could easily be squeezed into. The upside of that length is the boot, which is not only big but also very versatile. Its retractable cover is sturdy enough to rest objects on, so all the stuff that goes with family life can go in the cavernous boot space and I can put a suit bag or some dry cleaning above.…

Frankly, you’ll be happy with either of these cars. Both have class and comfort in spades, are impressively efficient and are pleasant enough to drive. Of the two, though, it’s the A6 that makes less sense. It’s pricier to buy and run and also has a worse reputation for reliability, and while the margins are small in these areas, it does seem that the Audi will be the more expensive car of the two. True, it does have a smarter interior, and it’s better equipped. And if the features it comes with as standard, such as sat-nav and split-folding rear seats, are ones you value, perhaps it’s the right car for you. But of the two, we’d still pick the 5 Series. Yes, it has slightly less flexible performance, due…

LESS THAN £19,000 Vauxhall Astra Our pick 1.6 CDTi 110 Design List price £18,195 Target Price £16,896 MPG 78.5 CO2 95g/km For Low emissions make it an ideal company car; it’s also decent to drive, with a practical interior. Against Entry-level trim is a little sparse and some rivals are even better to drive. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Octavia Our pick 1.0 TSI SE List price £18,500 Target Price £17,260 MPG 58.9 CO2 110g/km For Strong, refined engine, low running costs, excellent practicality, classy interior. Against Standard equipment is a little sparse and it’s comparatively pricey to insure. WHAT CAR? SAYS Nissan Pulsar Our pick 1.2 DIG-T Acenta Tech Pack List price £17,070 Target Price £15,974 MPG 56.5 CO2 117g/km For There’s plenty of room for occupants and their luggage,…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £15,440 Target Price £14,304 MPG 64.2 CO2 101g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estate cars, and SE trim adds air-con and a touchscreen. Against The ride is unsettled over poorer surfaces and the dashboard looks a little dull. WHAT CAR? SAYS Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Our pick 1.0i Turbo 105 Design List price £18,505 Target Price £17,144 MPG 65.7 CO2 100g/km For There’s plenty of room, equipment is generous and the engine is a willing performer. Against The boot isn’t that flexible and some rivals are better to drive. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Logan MCV Our pick 0.9 TCe Lauréate List price £10,495 Target Price £10,495 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For Lots of space,…

LESS THAN £26,000 Mazda CX-5 Our pick 2.2d 150 SE-L Nav 2WD List price £25,695 Target Price £24,614 MPG 56.5 CO2 132g/km For Good to drive, with tidy handling and a flexible engine, plus lots of standard kit. Against Firm ride and it’s pricey to lease compared with rivals. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Kodiaq Our pick 1.4 TSI 125 SE 7st List price £24,490 Target Price £24,490 MPG 47.0 CO2 140g/km For Value for money, with a classy and spacious interior and good driving manners. Against Unsettled ride and the smooth 2.0-litre diesel (below) is more recommendable. WHAT CAR? SAYS Nissan X-Trail Our pick 1.6 dCi Visia 2WD 7st List price £25,710 Target Price £24,690 MPG 57.6 CO2 129g/km For Comfortable, with a spacious interior and a large boot with…

ONCE YOU’VE FINISHED reading this sentence, close your eyes and think of a Range Rover. Now you’ve opened them, what did you see? Chances are it was a big, imposing SUV stuffed to the ceiling with leather and capable of crossing the most inhospitable terrain without batting a windscreen wiper. Of course, times change and so has the Range Rover. While you can still get the full-size model, it was joined by the smaller Sport back in 2004 and the baby Evoque in 2011. The trouble is, nearly £30,000 separates the base Evoque from the entry-level Sport. The answer? Make a fourth model: the Velar. Named after the prototypes of the original Range Rover created in the late 1960s, the Velar is a five-seat SUV that combines rakish looks, a…

THE LATEST MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Cabriolet has a lot to live up to. In its previous incarnations, it has been regarded as the archetypal four-seat convertible, with the original 300CE of 1991 having earned a reputation for being able to transport four adults with the top down in comfort and luxury, with more than a little panache. Slotting in between the smaller C-Class and larger S-Class convertibles, the new drop-top E-Class is really in a class of one, because while the C-Class has direct rivals from Audi and BMW, no other brand has a soft-top in the same size or price bracket as the E-Class. Entry-level engines are a 191bhp 2.0-litre diesel (in the E220d) and a 242bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit (E300), and above those are two 3.0-litre V6s: a…

THE POWER OUTPUTS of hot hatches have skyrocketed in the past few years. Where once 200bhp was the benchmark in a front-wheel-drive performance car, it’s now more like 300. Not that Peugeot is getting caught up in this power war. It may have added new engines to the regular 308, but the GTi keeps its 266bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, along with a six-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential to boost cornering traction. The 308 GTi isn’t as rapid as the Honda Civic Type R, then, but it’s more potent than the Volkswagen Golf GTI. In addition to being quick, it builds power smoothly all the way to its redline. It’s a pity that the gearbox isn’t that pleasant to use. There’s lots of grip but not much adjustability…

UNTIL WE GET a new Fiesta ST hot hatch early next year, the new Fiesta range is crowned by this 1.0-litre, 138bhp ST-Line variant. It’s a trim level that offers customers a sportier look and set-up, while retaining the Fiesta’s everyday usability and reasonable running costs. The ST-Line gets 10mm lower sports suspension, sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, 17in alloy wheels and a plethora of small sporty visual upgrades that make the car look more muscular than the previous ST-Line. Any worries that the larger wheels and sports suspension might have corrupted the day-to-day driveability of the Fiesta are soon put to rest. The clutch is easy to operate, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine has impressive performance and the ride, although firm, is a world away from the stiffly sprung…

Next to its rivals, the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class (right), the Audi A8 is beginning to look like a grandfather clock in a digital world. So, to stay at the sharp end of technological advancement, Audi is launching this new model. The new A8 is marginally longer and taller than its predecessor, with more space between its front and rear axles. That equates to more space inside for both people and luggage, although it still lags behind its rivals with a 505-litre boot. As before, the A8 can also be specified with a 130mm longer wheelbase, in which case it’s badged as the A8L. Passengers in the A8L get more head and leg room, as well as the option of a special reclining seat that includes a warming…

‘Around 80% of new cars are now bought on personal contract purchase deals’ A RECORD 2.69 million new cars were registered last year, so if you’re considering a new motor, you’re in good company. A car is a significant purchase, though, and one you won’t want to get wrong, because if you’re like most people, you’ll keep it for around four years and use it almost every day. Therefore, there’s a lot to think about before you actually head into a showroom or out onto the road for a test drive. But if you get the preparation right, you’re much more likely to get a car that suits you and your wallet. WHAT TYPE OF CAR DO YOU NEED? Note down a list of your most important requirements to help…

Obviously, you can’t just choose any old car, specify a towbar, hitch your caravan up and hit the road. First, you need to know some facts about the car you’re buying and the weight of what you’ll be towing – and you’ll have to check your driving licence. And as well as legal requirements, there are some guidelines you’d do well to follow. The 85% guideline and the law The Camping and Caravanning Club and the National Trailer and Towing Association recommend that newcomers to towing should pull a caravan or trailer weighing no more than 85% of the kerb weight of their tow car. For experienced tow car drivers, it’s considered acceptable to tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 100% of the car’s kerb weight. Whether you’re…

GAYNOR THORPE Performance stood out to Gaynor. “It was so smooth to drive,” she says, “and there was a lot of power with it, even though it’s a one-litre. It was really punchy.” And compared to her other four SEAT Ibizas? “I think they’ve really moved up a step in terms of technology inside the car” RAV JAGDEV “It’s a brilliant car,” says Rav. “It’s very different to the old one.” The looks appeal, he says. “The way it’s been designed is incredible, really. You look at the body lines and the interior – it’s just a great looking car.” The car’s front assist technology was a winner as well,“Especially driving around the city.”…

In last place, it’s the Mazda 6. Yes, its engine is strong and impressively frugal, but it is otherwise disappointing to drive and the least practical of our contenders, and it will cost the most to run as a company car, albeit by a small amount. Credit has to go to Vauxhall for keeping the Insignia Grand Sport’s price so low while still offering plenty of kit. It’s the cheapest of our trio to run as a company car, and it has the smoothest ride and the most economical engine. Sure, rear head room could be better and it could be sharper to drive, but it’s still one of the better cars in the class. However, the Skoda Superb remains top of the pile. It’s the most enjoyable to drive…

 Mileage 1966 List price £33,865 Target Price £31,631 Price as tested £40,585 Test economy 39.2mpg ‘The S90’s seats are fantastically supportive, and the suspension puts comfort first’ SAFE. SENSIBLE. SQUARE. SWEDISH. There are a lot of ‘S’ words that people associate with Volvo, but stylish and sexy aren’t among them. Or at least, they haven’t been traditionally. The new S90, however, shows just how dramatically the company’s design department has changed direction, because it’s one of the best-looking luxury saloons on sale today. I remember seeing the Concept Estate that Volvo displayed at the 2014 Geneva motor show and thinking that as striking as it was, that was largely down to it being wider than it was long, so it could never go on sale. And yet the front end…

Mileage 13,198 List price £24,185 Target Price £23,491 Price as tested £26,160 Test economy 46.9mpg The driving position is good in the Ioniq, but the roofline slopes dramatically towards the rear to make the car as aerodynamic as possible, and this means the roof encroaches into the rear window. As a result, on motorways all I can see in the rear-view mirror is the grille of the car behind. The fact that a bar runs across the window, splitting it in two, further compounds the issue. And while the absence of a rear wiper isn’t a problem for the top half of the screen (because the airflow helps to clear it), the bottom half gets covered in grime in bad weather. On the upside, forward visibility is good, decent-sized door…

 In production 2013-present ‘Because of the Golf’s ubiquity, it will be easy to find the perfect model to suit your needs’ Price from £5500 Our favourite 1.4 TSI 125 Match VERY FEW CARS have the classless appeal of the Golf, and with this seventh-generation model, Volkswagen managed to come up with a car that’s not only as multi-talented as its predecessors but also improves on them significantly. And it shows in the sales figures: the Mk7 Golf is one of Britain’s most popular cars, winning praise for its efficient engines, classy interior and impressive comfort. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The Golf offers a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, all of which give punchy performance yet impressive fuel efficiency. To drive, the Golf is very slick. It’s comfortable and stable…

LESS THAN £10,000 Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 SZ2 List price £7499 Target Price £7259 MPG 65.7 CO2 99g/km For It has a spacious, practical interior, you get a DAB radio and the engine is a willing performer. Against Engine noise, the dash is old-school and it has a three-star NCAP crash safety rating. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai i10 Our pick 1.0 S List price £9540 Target Price £8995 MPG 60.1 CO2 108g/km For The three-cylinder engine is peppy and refined and the interior is surprisingly roomy. Against This entry-level trim doesn’t give you much kit and the engine struggles out of town. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Mii Our pick 1.0 SE 3dr List price £9795 Target Price £8099 MPG 64.2 CO2 102g/km For The Mii feels remarkably grown-up to…

LESS THAN £25,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology List price £23,520 Target Price £21,703 MPG 68.9 CO2 108g/km For Masses of standard kit, huge rear leg room and boot space, and a comfortable ride. Against Some other executive cars are more fun to drive and have stronger resale values. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Passat Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 S List price £24,435 Target Price £22,662 MPG 67.3 CO2 106g/km For Drives very well, with a good ride and refined diesel engine; the interior is smart. Against Some rivals are more practical, while the dashboard design is a bit dull. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ford Mondeo Our pick 2.0 TDCi 150 Zetec (Nav) List price £24,545 Target Price £21,950 MPG 65.7 CO2 112g/km For You get a…

LESS THAN £22,000 Volkswagen Golf SV Our pick 1.2 TSI S List price £19,905 Target Price £16,517 MPG 56.5 CO2 116g/km For Good to drive, with a smooth engine, quality materials inside and good resale values. Against The rear seats aren’t as clever as those in rivals, and entry-level ‘S’ trim is a bit basic. WHAT CAR? SAYS Citroën C3 Picasso Our pick 1.6 BlueHDi Edition List price £18,180 Target Price £18,180 MPG 72.4 CO2 101g/km For The interior is spacious and the boot is big; ride comfort and refinement impress. Against Some rivals are cheaper and the diesel engine could be more refined. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Carens Our pick 1.6 GDI ISG 2 List price £20,700 Target Price £18,807 MPG 45.6 CO2 143g/km For Competitively priced; seven seats…

LESS THAN £50,000 Volvo XC90 Our pick D5 Momentum List price £48,655 Target Price £45,904 MPG 49.6 CO2 149g/km For Big, classy interior, refined diesel engine, lots of standard equipment. Against The ride isn’t as smooth as you’d expect and there’s plenty of suspension noise. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-AMG GLC Our pick GLC 43 List price £49,005 Target Price £47,580 MPG 34.0 CO2 189g/km For Ridiculously fast, with a sweet-sounding engine. Just as practical as the regular GLC, too. Against Extremely thirsty and loses its value quicker than an Audi SQ5 or Porsche Macan. WHAT CAR? SAYS Porsche Macan Our pick Diesel S List price £48,844 Target Price £48,844 MPG 46.3 CO2 164g/km For Very good to drive, with precise steering, an excellent auto ’box and a strong engine. Against…

LESS THAN £17,000 Mini Cooper Our pick 1.5 3dr List price £16,200 Target Price £15,310 MPG 62.8 CO2 105g/km For Fun to drive, with good performance and refinement. It’s well built, too. Against Equipment is fairly basic without the option packs and space is on the tight side. WHAT CAR? SAYS Renault Twingo GT Our pick TCe 110 List price £14,085 Target Price £11,794 MPG 54.3 CO2 115g/km For Characterful engine, sprightly performance for city driving and the dashboard is funky. Against Power delivery is less than smooth, steering is too light and it’s noisy at speed. WHAT CAR? SAYS Abarth 595 Our pick 1.4 T-Jet 145 List price £15,160 Target Price £15,160 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For Small hot hatches don’t get any more stylish, and the Abarth is…

‘The Insignia’s boot is now bigger and is of a uniform shape with a low load lip’ WHAT’S IN A name? Rather than call its new Insignia load-lugger an estate, Vauxhall has retained the far more exciting-sounding Sports Tourer name. No doubt it’s designed to evoke thoughts of mountain bikes and surfboards rather than shifting a chest of drawers, but this car could potentially be good for both, given that it has a bigger boot than its predecessor. The Insignia’s engine range kicks off with a 1.5-litre petrol unit with either 138bhp or 163bhp. A 1.6-litre diesel with 108bhp or 134bhp is up next, followed by a 2.0-litre diesel with 168bhp. At the top of the range is a 256bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol model that comes with an automatic gearbox…

‘The designers have been bold, taking their inspiration from the F-Type sports car’ JAGUAR MAY HAVE been slow to enter the SUV market, but its first effort, the F-Pace, has since taken more than half of the brand’s sales. Like most late bloomers, then, Jaguar is keen to make up for lost time, with this smaller E-Pace the first of three additional SUVs on the way. The E-Pace will cost from £28,500 when it goes on sale later this year, which means it will go head to head with the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. However, while those cars closely resemble the bigger SUVs in their respective ranges, the designers of the E-Pace have been bolder, taking their inspiration from Jaguar’s F-Type sports car. This…

TIME IS A cruel mistress. Just five years ago, we named the second-generation BMW X3 as our Large SUV of the Year, and then, one year later, we did it again. From then onwards, though, the X3 was surpassed by stronger competition, most recently in the form of the Audi Q5. The old X3 became an also-ran – a very credible one, but no longer a class leader. Understandably, BMW now wants another shot at the title. Say hello, then, to this all-new X3. It’s due to go on sale in November, when it’ll face competition from the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60, as well as the Q5. This X3’s styling is an evolution of the old car’s and its dimensions remain broadly the same. That’s…

IT MIGHT NOT seem so at first glance, but yes, Skoda has facelifted the Citigo for 2017. There are new bumpers, a new grille, a reprofiled bonnet and new tech inside. What you won’t find, though, are any mechanical changes. The biggest change is the infotainment set-up; the Citigo is no longer available with a touchscreen or inbuilt sat-nav, even optionally. Instead, there’s a phone cradle atop the dashboard with a USB port. You then download Skoda’s Move & Fun app on your smartphone and use this as your infotainment system. It can make and receive calls hands-free and control your music, and it provides sat-nav. While this saves you a few hundred quid, there are a couple of issues. Its usability depends on the size of phone you have;…

WHEN TOYOTA LAUNCHED its luxury sister brand, Lexus, in 1990, it didn’t take long for it to join the mainstream. However, the same idea hasn’t yet borne fruit for Nissan’s Infiniti. Citroën’s offspring, DS, currently relies on its hatchback, the 3, but it aims to truly emulate Lexus with this new 7 Crossback SUV, which it says “combines the latest technological innovations with Parisian luxury know-how”. Features include Active Scan suspension, which analyses the road ahead and then prepares accordingly – a system until now unique to the Mercedes S-Class luxury car – and Active LED lights with six adaptive modes. Inside, DS claims lots of space, high-quality materials and an “obsession for detail”. A choice of three petrol and two diesel engines will be offered when deliveries begin at…

If you can’t find what you need among our five main class winners, we’d recommend one of these: Best ultralight tow car Hyundai i30 1.4 T-GDi 140 Premium It may be small, but as a tow car the i30 punches above its weight. Best budget 4x4 Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.4 Boosterjet Allgrip SZ5 auto The SX4 S-Cross is well equipped and affordable to buy and run for a 4x4. Best petrol tow car Audi A4 Allroad 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic Stunning performance, strong stability and great practicality from this rugged estate. Best MPV Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi 180 Titanium Great to drive with or without a caravan attached, and a practical seven-seater. Best pick-up truck Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI 224 4Motion Aventura auto The ideal weekday workhorse and weekend…

BMW should be commended for going above and beyond in its attempt to build the ultimate urban runabout; the i3 is fast, energy efficient and well put together. However, for a vehicle designed from the ground up to be all-electric, it’s also surprisingly compromised. The i3 suffers from a poor low-speed ride, while its rear seats are cramped and it can’t cover quite as much distance between charges as the e-Golf. The e-Golf succeeds because it works brilliantly as an electric car, yet it doesn’t compromise on practicality, equipment or driving dynamics. It may not excite you as much as the i3, but at least it doesn’t over-promise and under-deliver.…

Mileage 4398 List price £23,755 Target Price £20,724 Price as tested £24,280 Test economy 40.6mpg THE CONTINUING POPULARITY of small SUVs has led to a freefall in sales of MPVs. So, Peugeot’s decision to move its 3008 further down the SUV route in this second generation is quite understandable. This pits it against some hugely popular opposition, including the Audi Q2, Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca, but I think the 3008’s butch styling, with its exaggeratedly bulbous bonnet and chunky sills and bumpers, makes it stand out from those rather samey rivals. My 3008 has a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which on paper looks like a reasonable alternative to a diesel, with official average fuel economy of 55.4mpg. So far I’ve managed around 50mpg on my daily commute, which is…

Mileage 2072 List price £41,085 Target Price £38,615 Price as tested £45,050 Test economy 40.2mpg SURELY THERE’S NO better way of getting to know your new car than by bundling some friends and luggage into it and setting off on holiday. A 292-mile trip from Twickenham to Porthcurno in the far reaches of Cornwall would give me a perfect opportunity to test our Q5 on motorways, dual and single carriageways, and the thin, twisty country roads that Cornwall specialises in. With two friends aboard and the boot bursting with suitcases, props and costumes – the practicalities of doing amateur dramatics at the Minack Theatre – we set off. Audi’s MMI infotainment and sat-nav system was immediately put to the test, getting us through the worst of London’s traffic and out…

LESS THAN £16,000 Suzuki Vitara Our pick 1.6 SZ4 List price £14,999 Target Price £14,176 MPG 53.3 CO2 123g/km For Good to drive; practical interior; SZ4 trim brings enough equipment. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and the diesel engine can be noisy. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 GDi 1 List price £14,310 Target Price £13,356 MPG 43.5 CO2 152g/km For Spacious interior; ‘1’ trim gives you air-con and DAB; decent to drive. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and the steering feels lifeless. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 SHVS Allgrip SZ5 List price £14,249 Target Price £13,705 MPG 60.1 CO2 106g/km For Very good value for money, it’s fun to drive and you get lots of kit as standard. Against The ride is…