Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i What Car?

 Like death and taxes, car insurance is something there’s no avoiding. But its cost has become a much bigger problem in the past year, with premiums rising by as much as a fifth. Indeed, the last time they were higher, John Major was prime minister, Jurassic Park was breaking box office records and Ford had just replaced the Sierra with the Mondeo. ‘There are ways of getting your car insurance bill back under control’ Where the situation today differs most from that of the early 1990s is that it isn’t linked to an increase in car theft. And that is at least some good news, because it means that the sensational hot hatches tested from p54 are unlikely to become so expensive to cover that they’re priced off the road.…

Luxury pick-up truck aims to combine toughness and carrying capability with interior quality On sale Late 2017 Price from £34,500 A LUXURY PICK-UP truck might seem to be a contradiction in terms. After all, pick-ups are traditionally about transporting building materials across rough terrain, rather than keeping their occupants comfortable. However, Mercedes is aiming to do both with its new X-Class. The X-Class, which is based on the Nissan Navara, is claimed by Mercedes to be as at home in the city as it is traversing hills – although the Navara’s poor driving dynamics means this is a point that will need some proving – and the brand is pitching the car towards buyers who want the load-carrying ability of a pick-up truck without compromising on interior quality. The X-Class…

THREE HUNDRED HORSEPOWER. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? That’s the equivalent of two Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDIs, or more than three Nissan Micras. It’s also near enough the power output of the new entry-level Jaguar F-Type’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. This motor, which comes exclusively with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, can propel the F-Type from 0-62mph in a claimed 5.7sec. It has a CO2 output of just 163g/km, putting it several tax brackets below V6-engined F-Type models, and promises a 10.2mpg improvement in fuel economy. The smaller engine is also 52kg lighter. Even so, the car still weighs 1525kg, so performance isn’t as rapid as you might think. It picks up keenly enough from low revs, but you have to work it hard before it feels…

 THE ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM has undoubtedly aged gracefully during its 13-year reign, remaining supremely alluring for anyone who can afford to buy and run it despite the best efforts of the Bentley Mulsanne, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and long-wheelbase Range Rover. Age it has, though, which is why it’s being replaced. ‘The Phantom is said to be better to drive, with less body roll and more agile handling’ Looking at these pictures, it might take you a few minutes to realise that this Phantom is indeed new. But while little has changed in the exterior design, the car is based on an all-new platform that’s designed to make it even more quiet and comfortable. Small styling changes include a front grille that is now integrated into the bodywork, rather than mounted in front,…

THE NEW XV is an important step in Subaru’s efforts to make a bigger impact in the UK. It’s also our first chance to drive a car that’s built on the brand’s new platform, which promises improved handling and class-leading safety and will underpin a new wave of models, starting with the Impreza family hatchback. We were only able to drive the XV on a short track and off road, so we can’t yet judge its ride. However, we can say that it’s more agile and its steering is much improved, although rival small SUVs such as the Seat Ateca are still noticeably better to drive. The XV offers a choice of two petrol engines: a 113bhp 1.6 and a 154bhp 2.0, which have been revised to improve efficiency and…

KIA HAS BEEN in the UK for only 26 years, and the first car that it designed independently, the Mentor of 1994, was a pretty miserable budget saloon that lost out to the Ford Escort. But Kia has rapidly grown in ability and the Stinger shows it has the confidence to match. This sporty five-door coupé will face rivals such as the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé and Jaguar XE. Image is key here. The Stinger has a purposeful design outside and a plush, functional one inside. Rear and four-wheel drive are on offer, as are 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines, plus a 365bhp 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol in the hot Stinger GT. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard. Kia is placing a lot of…

Mileage 2868 List price £33,865 Target Price £31,548 Price as tested £40,585 Test economy 46.8mpg Since my last report on our long-term S90, it’s been a case of good news, bad news. A series of long motorway runs have helped to lift average fuel economy from 39.2mpg to 46.8mpg – a respectable figure for such a big, luxurious saloon. However, on one of those drives, the satellite navigation started to misbehave – to the extent that, when I got home, it still thought I had 72 miles to go. To make matters worse, it spent the last hour of the journey bonging at me to slow to 30mph on the motorway. Ever since then, the sat-nav has continued to think I’m many miles from where I actually am. It seems…

Mileage 1995 List price £20,340 Target Price £19,367 Price as tested £20,340 Test economy 38.6mpg I COULD EASILY harp on in these updates about the pros and cons of the Civic’s new three-cylinder engine, or people’s (mostly positive) reactions to its unorthodox and rather striking new look, or the greater driving ability and ride comfort conferred upon it by its lower centre of gravity, and in time I probably will. But what has been most pleasing so far is simply its boot. It’s not just a matter of size. Given that our Civic is more than 360mm longer than the Volkswagen Golf, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that it has more boot space. But because the Civic is low, lifting things in and out of it is relatively…

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 The interior feels cheap, resale values are weak and infotainment options are limited. 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 £8075 MPG 64.2 CO2 102g/km For The Mii feels remarkably grown-up to drive and…

LESS THAN £22,000 Volkswagen Golf SV Our pick 1.2 TSI S List price £19,905 Target Price £16,421 MPG 56.5 CO2 116g/km For Good to drive, with a smooth engine, quality materials inside and solid 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 £17,455 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, with seven…

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…

PICTURE A MODERN Volkswagen and something built from an almost purely logical perspective probably springs to mind. But with its latest model, VW is getting all emotional. Called the T-Roc, this new small SUV will sit below the Tiguan in the range and above an even smaller, Polo-based SUV that’s due next year. According to its maker, the T-Roc is a whole new kind of Volkswagen that can pull at your heart strings as well as your head. As such, VW expects it to steal sales from the likes of the Mini Countryman and Nissan Juke, although with a starting price of around £19,000, you could argue it’s actually more of a rival to the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. For reference, the Tiguan is priced from £22,395. The T-Roc…

IT’S FACELIFT TIME for the BMW 2 Series Coupé and Convertible. Outside, they get new standard LED headlights (adaptive ones are an option), a redesigned grille, new (optional) LED foglights and restyled front air intakes. Further to that, three new exterior paint colours and four new styles of alloy wheel are available. The interior has received a going-over, too. The dashboard is completely new and is now angled more towards the driver, and there’s a new instrument display, the latest iDrive infotainment system and new leather upholstery. A scattering of air vent, button and cupholder changes complete the list. There are no mechanical changes anywhere in the range. Hence, the 2 Series’ 2.0-litre diesel engine still fires to a smooth idle and, paired with BMW’s brilliant eight-speed automatic gearbox, always…

THE FORD FIESTA has been the best-selling car in the UK for the past eight years. But no manufacturer can afford to stand still – and so a new Fiesta is now with us. Here, we drive the model that Ford says is likely to be the best seller: the petrol 1.0-litre Ecoboost 100. The 1.0 Ecoboost is a peach of an engine and suits the car perfectly. Outright pace isn’t exactly mind-bending, but the power delivery from as low as 1400rpm is linear, making it satisfying to push the engine all the way up to its redline. It sounds a little strained at higher revs, but in normal use it’s nicely hushed. The engine even proves adept at longer motorway cruises, easily coping with getting to and maintaining higher…

IF IT’S A day of the week with a ‘y’ in it, chances are that diesels are in the news again, and not for their impressive fuel economy. Only some of the criticism is justified, but the fact remains that this ongoing bad press, combined with plans for increasingly stringent emissions laws, is having an impact on sales and residual values. So, what are the alternatives? Well, this Golf, with its new turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, looks pretty tempting, because it promises more than 55mpg. In addition, it features the larger (8.0in) infotainment touchscreen, more aggressively styled bumpers and LED lights that were introduced across the Golf range earlier this year. The 1.5 is available with either 128 or 148bhp; we’re driving the more powerful version. Its 0-62mph time of…

IN ITS CONTINUING quest to rival Europe’s car makers, Hyundai is branching out. It has already launched a luxury sister brand, Genesis, in the US and Asia. It’s also forging ahead with hydrogen fuel cell technology, and now it’s taking on top hot hatches. This i30 is the first model to come from Hyundai’s new N performance car division – best thought of as South Korea’s answer to BMW M or Mercedes-AMG. The i30N gets a lowered ride height and more aggressive bodywork than the regular car. Inside, there’s an N-badged steering wheel and an electronic display in the instrument cluster. The display includes LED shift lights that let the driver know when it’s the optimum time to change gear. Drivers can choose between five modes – Eco, Normal, Sport,…

‘In the old test, drivers often learned by rote on the same roads near the test centre’ DID YOU KNOW that the biggest killer of young men aged under 24 is car accidents? And what’s the biggest killer of women aged 17-24 in the UK? The very same thing. One in five newly qualified drivers will have a crash within six months of passing their test, and although 17-19-year-old drivers represent only 1.5% of the UK’s motorists, they are involved in 12% of accidents causing death or serious injury on our roads. To try to reduce these shocking statistics, the Government announced a shake-up in the format of the practical driving test and the skills it tests in April this year, coming into force from 4 December. Four changes are…

‘Changes introduced in April aimed to bring transparency at policy renewal time’ CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS have risen by at least 11%, or £48, over the past year to an average of £484, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers. If you look at other policy price trackers, the increases are even higher; the AA British Insurance Premium Index shows premiums up by nearly 20% compared with 2016 and at the highest level for 23 years. The price rise has been driven by a number of factors, including the doubling of Insurance Premium Tax from 6% to 12% in the past year. However, the main culprit is a change in the Government’s discount rate that applies to personal injury payments. The AA’s director of insurance, Michael Lloyd, explains: “For…

Mileage 4445 List price £14,249 Target Price £13,705 Price as tested £14,899 Test economy 45.6mpg SUZUKI APPEARS TO be suffering from a case of writer’s block. After reintroducing the Baleno name last year, the Ignis badge has now been retrieved from the bin and glued onto the back of a city car-sized SUV. Thankfully, while those in the naming department were scratching their heads, Suzuki’s designers were having a flash of inspiration. The Ignis is shorter than a Ford Fiesta, with rather cute looks, but there’s enough 4x4 styling cues to give it broad appeal. Suzuki buffs will even notice a few retro touches inspired by the brand’s iconic Whizzkid coupé of the 1970s. Our Ignis is a range-topping SZ5 model, which comes with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with…

Mileage 1768 List price £16,115 Target Price £15,477 Price as tested: £19,110 Test economy 40.8mpg Official boot volume figures tend to mean very little in reality, but a couple of trips to the garden centre and the tip proved that the Micra’s load area is good in the real world as well as on paper. The Micra took the 10 bags of compost and other garden sundries we bought – all without needing to fold down the rear seats. The fact that the hatch opening is wide adds to the practicality, but the load lip is quite high, so my mum – who is a smidge under five feet – found reaching in and lifting out these heavy items rather tricky. All in all, though, it is rather impressive for…

‘The C3 Picasso is easy to drive, with a comfortable ride and very good visibility’ In production 2009-2017 Price from £2500 Our favourite 1.6 VTi VTR+ DESPITE ITS RELATIVELY diminutive size (a smidgen over four metres long), the Citroën C3 Picasso is proof that you can almost squeeze a quart into a pint pot, because it’s remarkably roomy inside. Combine this with distinctive styling and easy-going road manners and you get a real winner that has proven very popular with owners. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The C3 Picasso is not an exciting car through corners, but it’s easy to drive, with a comfortable ride and very good visibility. The engine line-up consists of 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrols, both of which were replaced in 2015 with a 1.2-litre turbo, and a series…

LESS THAN £12,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick 0.9 TCe Ambiance List price £7995 Target Price £7923 MPG 57.6 CO2 109g/km For Lots of space for the money, decent to drive and a good amount of standard kit. Against The engine is unrefined at most speeds and the interior is comparatively basic. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Swift Our pick 1.2 SZ3 List price £10,999 Target Price £10,999 MPG 65.7 CO2 98g/km For Good to drive, with sharp steering and fine body control, and decent standard equipment. Against Interior materials and infotainment are disappointing and there’s wind noise at speed. WHAT CAR? SAYS Nissan Micra Our pick 1.0 Visia List price £11,995 Target Price £11,818 MPG 61.4 CO2 103g/km For Well-laid-out dashboard, comfortable driving position and spacious front seats. Against Room in…

LESS THAN £16,000 Suzuki Vitara Our pick 1.6 SZ4 List price £14,999 Target Price £14,212 MPG 53.3 CO2 123g/km For Good to drive with a practical interior. SZ4 trim brings enough equipment. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and resale values are only average. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 GDi 1 List price £14,310 Target Price £13,751 MPG 43.5 CO2 152g/km For Spacious interior, ‘1’ trim gives you air-con and DAB, and it’s decent to drive. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and the steering feels lifeless. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 SHVS SZ5 List price £13,249 Target Price £12,744 MPG 65.7 CO2 97g/km For Very good value for money, it’s fun to drive and you get lots of kit as standard. Against The…

 CONCEPT CARS ARE immovable and impractical sculptures created to showcase manufacturers’ future design directions, often featuring details and technologies that would render them unsuitable for road use. Viewed in that admittedly cynical way, it’s unsurprising that so few of these creations ever make their way into production. ‘To drive, it walks the tricky line between sports car and cruiser better than any rival’ And yet, when we first laid eyes on Porsche’s Panamera Sport Turismo concept at the 2012 Paris motor show, we knew straight away that this was one of those rare machines with the capacity to make it to showroom floor. With its effortlessly cool shooting brake shape, the question wasn’t if Porsche was going to put it into production, but when. SEATING SEMANTICS Five years on, the…

THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN Polo is one of those models that highlights just how much cars have grown. Never mind the original Golf of 1974; the Polo has expanded to such an extent that the latest version of this ‘small’ hatchback is bigger than the Golf you could buy in 2003. In some ways, this actually seems quite fitting; after all, a huge part of the Polo’s appeal has always been its grown-up, big-car feel. But while Volkswagen, unsurprisingly, wants to keep existing Polo customers happy, it’s also offering much greater scope for personalisation with the new version in an effort to attract younger buyers. For starters, there are 14 exterior colours, plus you can specify a contrasting roof, choose from numerous alloy wheel designs and opt for an R-Line trim…

 THESE DAYS, X marks the spot when Vauxhall launches an SUV, the Grandland X being the culmination of a recent offensive that has resulted in the introduction of the Crossland X and the renaming of the existing Mokka as the Mokka X. ‘The Grandland X has plenty of interior space and a bigger boot than the Ateca’ A bigger car than those models, the Grandland X is closely related to the Peugeot 3008, in the same way that the Crossland X is based on the Peugeot 2008. That’s a pretty good starting point, given that the 3008 earned our maximum five-star rating when we first group tested it and that other rivals for the Grandland X include the big-selling Nissan Qashqai and our 2017 Small SUV of the Year, the…

DO YOU REMEMBER the Ferrari 360 Modena? Introduced in 1999, this supercar had 395bhp, enough to fire it from 0-62mph in 4.5sec. That might sound impressive, but the latest Audi RS3 hot hatch matches its power and soundly thrashes it off the line. With launch control and quattro four-wheel drive, 0-62mph comes in a scarcely believable 4.1sec. Top speed is 155mph or, for an extra £1600, 174mph. The RS3 feels as fast as those statistics suggest. Its new 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine pulls hard from less than 2000rpm and will rev all the way to 7000. And it isn’t just acceleration from a standstill that’s impressive; the way it can overtake is even more shocking. Wet weather doesn’t hinder its acceleration, either; it just grips and goes. But the best performance…

ALONGSIDE LAUNCHING ITS updated Qashqai small SUV, Nissan has treated its larger X-Trail to a facelift. The changes begin outside, with a redesigned grille, bumpers and headlights, while new alloy wheels and colour shades are available, too. Next year, Nissan will also offer its ProPilot semi-autonomous driving technology. Inside, there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel with a redesigned button layout. The quality of the seats, as well as the door trims, have been upgraded. Interior quality is still off the pace of rivals, though, as is the infotainment system, which is displayed on a 7.0in colour touchscreen. The 175bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine in our test car is a willing unit, as long as you keep the revs around 2000rpm. Drop below that point in the wrong gear and it can feel…

I bought a second-hand 2012 Kia Rio 3 in March 2017. The car has a full service history with seven stamps from Kia Milton Keynes and is still under warranty. Unfortunately, the vehicle developed two faults: it became difficult to get into gear and went into limp-home mode. My local dealer, Kia Colchester, couldn’t look at the car for a month. I tried Kia Braintree and was advised to call Kia Milton Keynes to find out if additional work had been carried out. That was where I encountered the rudest person I have ever spoken to. He refused to tell me any information about the car for data protection reasons. He shouted at me down the phone before hanging up. When I called back, he started shouting again, then hung…

Mileage 1000 List price £7995 Target Price £7923 Price as tested £8640 Test economy 39.2mpg BEING A BUDGET car maker must be tough; your models have to be practical, easy to live with and cheap to buy – and all while being desirable enough to accrue sales. Dacia appears to have got the formula just right with its Sandero hatchback and the bigger Logan estate and Duster SUV; it has passed 100,000 sales in the UK in just five years. Not that the Sandero and I got off to the best start. When I first drove one a few years ago, in £5995 entry-level Access trim, I disliked the spartan interior and lumpy clutch action. But that was before Dacia facelifted it late last year and improved the drive at…

Mileage 13,026 List price when new (2016) £26,415 Value now £13,000 Test economy 48.3mpg THIS MONTH, OUR Insignia had a birthday. No, seriously. It’s a year old, according to the date of first registration written in its service book. I did buy it a cake, but I wasn’t sure how the engine would cope with trying to combust Victoria sponge, so I gave it a tank of premium diesel instead and ate the cake myself. The Insignia’s birthday treats didn’t end there, either. I also booked it in at Now Vauxhall in Richmond upon Thames for its first service. The oil life was down to 7%, according to the dashboard indicator, and with a 2000-mile road trip planned, it made sense to get it done sooner rather than later, especially…

LESS THAN £19,000 Skoda Octavia Our pick 1.0 TSI SE List price £18,500 Target Price £17,171 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 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, the engine is gruff and the low-speed ride is rough. 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…

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 seats could do with more support and it costs a lot more than the hatchback. WHAT CAR? SAYS Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Our pick 1.0i Turbo 105 Design List price £18,505 Target Price £17,144 MPG 62.8 CO2 103g/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 57.6 CO2 109g/km For Lots…

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 £24,313 MPG 45.6 CO2 141g/km For Value for money, with a classy and spacious interior and good driving manners. Against Unsettled low-speed ride and the 2.0-litre diesel (below) is more recommendable. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ford Kuga Our pick 1.5 TDCi Zetec (Nav) List price £24,890 Target Price £22,034 MPG 64.2 CO2 115g/km For Agile for an SUV, comparatively cheap as a company car and…

LESS THAN £18,000 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, low running costs and strong resale values. Against Equipment is fairly basic without the option packs and space is on the tight side. WHAT CAR? SAYS Renault Twingo Our pick 0.9 TCe 110 GT List price £14,085 Target Price £13,688 MPG 54.3 CO2 115g/km For 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 £15,510 Target Price £15,510 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For Small hot hatches don’t get any more stylish, and the Abarth is…