Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i What Car?

‘CO2 emissions of new cars in the UK rose for the first time since 2000’ In April, sales of new diesel cars fell by almost a quarter year on year, while demand is down by more than 31% for the year to date. It doesn’t matter that tests prove the best modern diesels often emit less NOx than petrol cars; politicians seem to think all diesels are bad, so they continue to announce anti-diesel policies. The result: last year, average CO2 emissions of new cars sold in the UK rose for the first time since 2000, as people started switching to petrol.Yet there seems to be zero chance of a reversal in government policy. So, is there a third way, particularly if you’re looking to buy something that’s ill-suited to…

IN THE SAME way that Peugeot reinvented its 5008 MPV as a large SUV last year, sister brand Citroën has transformed the C5 from a family saloon into this new C5 Aircross family SUV. So where once its rivals included the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia, the C5 now has to contend with the popular Nissan Qashqai and class-leading Skoda Karoq. The C5 Aircross, which is based on the same platform as the latest Peugeot 3008, is considerably longer and taller than those rivals. And, as with all of Citroën’s latest cars, it has Airbump plastic cladding on its lower edges, designed to prevent scrapes in car parks and to enhance the muscular look. Buyers will have four engines to choose from: 128bhp 1.2-litre and 178bhp 1.6-litre Puretech petrol units…

FOR ANYONE WHO considers luxury SUVs such as the Audi Q7, Range Rover and even the Bentley Bentayga to be just so… common, there’s now another option to consider, and it comes from Rolls-Royce. Named after the largest diamond ever discovered, the Cullinan is 200mm longer than the Bentayga and 90mm taller and 350mm longer than the Range Rover. It’s very heavy, too, weighing in at 2660kg. To aid passengers’ entry, the Cullinan lowers itself by 40mm when unlocked. As with other Rolls-Royce models, it has rear-hinged rear doors that present wide apertures and can be closed electrically at the touch of a button. Buyers can opt for one of two seating layouts for the rear of the Cullinan.The Lounge option is a conventional three-seat layout, while Individual brings two…

THE LUXURY CAR class seems to have all bases covered. The BMW 5 Series is the compelling all-rounder, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the comfortable cruiser and the Jaguar XF is the driver’s choice. So it’s a tough job for the new Audi A6 to muscle back into this segment. To reinvigorate it, the fifth-generation car has had a comprehensive rework, highlights of which are a line-up of ‘mild hybrid’ enhanced engines and some A8-inspired technology and styling. At launch, there are two trim levels to choose from (Sport and S line) and three engines: an entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel unit (badged 40 TDI), a 3.0-litre diesel V6 (50 TDI) and a 3.0-litre petrol V6 (55 TFSI). Just like in the previous A6, all the engines are quiet at low revs…

FEW BRANDS HAVE capitalised upon the SUV revolution quite so triumphantly as Volvo. Its XC90 seven-seater remains a big seller, as does its smaller XC60, while its latest effort, the XC40, won our 2018 Car of the Year Award. But estates are a mainstay for the brand, and its latest is this new V60, which it claims will be a leader in terms of space, luxury, tech and safety. Indeed, it has a bigger boot than any rival, while its interior is plusher than its predecessor’s and features a new infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument display. Lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking are standard, with more safety systems as options. From the off, the V60 will offer a 247bhp petrol engine and diesel units with 148bhp and 187bhp. A plug-in…

TO HELP YOU choose the most dependable brand, we’ve looked at the number of faults owners told us about for 31 manufacturers, ranging from Dacia to Porsche. For every brand where we have enough data, we’ve split the faults between petrol and diesel models so you can see which is best. Japanese brands dominate the top five, with Lexus the best of all; only 10% of owners reported a fault on petrol models, making Lexus top of the league for this fuel type, too. Joining Japanese car makers in the top five is Renault sub-brand Dacia, with 19% of its models having a fault; these results relate mostly to diesel cars, making Dacia the strongest-performing brand for this fuel type. Other strong performers include Hyundai and Kia. Both had fewer…

Diesel cars may be more frugal than their petrol cousins, but that doesn’t necessarily make them better to live with, because they suffer more faults. Our survey data reveals that 33% of diesels had a fault, compared with 27% of petrols.And while the biggest difference was for non-engine electrics (6% versus 4%), diesel cars also had marginally more problems in a number of significant areas, including the engine, exhaust and fuel system. Other areas in which diesel cars had more faults include bodywork, interior trim, steering and suspension. In fact, battery, brakes, engine electrics and gearbox were the only areas in which diesel and petrol cars had roughly the same percentage of faults. If you’d like to help us empower the UK’s car buyers to pick the most durable models,…

Check if a vehicle has been recalled gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-recalled New car, service, repair and warranty issues themotorombudsman.org Citizens Advice Bureau citizensadvice.org.uk Check a car has a valid MOT test certificate gov.uk/check-mot-status What Car? New Car Buying whatcar.com/new-car-deals/ Trading Standards nationaltradingstandards.co.uk Financial Conduct Authority fca.org.uk Check car crash safety ratings euroncap.com Motability motability.co.uk What Car? advice whatcar.com/advice/…

Mileage 9940 List price £37,775 Target Price £35,200 Price as tested £42,815 Test economy 47.0mpg SALES OF SALOONS are on the slide as more and more people are seduced by SUVs. But do these butch, high-riding hatchbacks really offer more practicality, or are the best four-doors as good at coping with family duties as they are at soothing their drivers on the daily commute? Over the past eight months, we’ve been finding out with the help of the latest BMW 5 Series. If any car was going to advance the saloon’s case, it would be this one, because it’s quieter, classier and comfier than any rival. We chose the 520d diesel model, because it’s the most popular version with the company car drivers who make up the bulk of 5…

Mileage 7080 List price £26,660 Target Price £24,927 Price as tested £28,490 Test economy 36.6mpg OH DEAR. I’M only a month into my time with the Grandland X – the largest of Vauxhall’s SUVs – and a couple of things have gone wrong. First, the button to operate the panoramic roof stopped working, and then the sensors that control the adaptive cruise control became clogged, rendering the system inoperable for a while – although it turned out this latter problem could be fixed simply by giving the front of the car a good wash. My confidence in the Grandland X may have been shaken a little, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from testing cars over the past 20 years, it’s not to judge them too quickly. And Vauxhall…

LESS THAN £10,000 Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 SZ2 List price £7999 Target Price £7352 MPG 65.7 CO2 99g/km For It has a practical interior with a DAB radio and the engine gives adequate performance. 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 £9695 Target Price £8995 MPG 60.1 CO2 108g/km For The three-cylinder engine is 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 Volkswagen Up Our pick 1.0 60 Take Up 3dr List price £9325 Target Price £9155 MPG 64.2 CO2 101g/km For Fun to drive, with a comfortable ride and an upmarket interior.…

LESS THAN £26,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology List price £24,210 Target Price £23,042 MPG 65.7 CO2 112g/km For Masses of standard kit, lots of rear leg room and boot space, comfortable ride. Against Some other executive cars are more fun to drive and the engine is a little gruff. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Passat Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 S List price £25,130 Target Price £20,097 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For Drives well, with a good ride and refined diesel engine, while the interior is smart. Against Some rivals are more practical and the dashboard design is a bit dull. WHAT CAR? SAYS Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport Our pick 1.6 Turbo D Ecotec 110 Tech Line List price £21,695 Target Price £20,656 MPG 70.6 CO2…

LESS THAN £30,000 Renault Zoe Our pick Q90 ZE40 Dynamique Nav List price £23,670 Target Price £15,170 Official range 230 miles CO2 0g/km For Very low running costs; quiet and easy to drive; longer range than most electric cars. Against So-so performance; brakes are inconsistent in feel; interior isn’t exactly plush. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai Ioniq Our pick Electric Premium List price £29,845 Target Price £24,104 Official range 174 miles CO2 0g/km For Quick off the line; easy to drive around town; spacious and well-equipped interior. Against Battery pack robs boot space and rivals are better to drive. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen e-Up Our pick e-Up List price £25,640 Target Price £20,328 Official range 99 miles CO2 0g/km For Great to drive; well equipped; easy to manoeuvre and park in…

AT THE START of every year, What Car? asks its readers which upcoming model they’re most excited about. And the winner this January, with more than eight times as many votes as anything else, was the Jaguar I-Pace. It’s easy to see why, too. As a fully electric car and an SUV, it competes in the two fastest-growing sectors of the new car market. But just as key to its appeal is the fact that it looks like it’s driven straight off the set of a sci-fi movie. True, an electric SUV isn’t a new idea; Jaguar was beaten to it by Tesla with its Model X. However, the Model X has a starting price of £75,850, whereas I-Pace prices kick off at £63,495, with both cars being eligible for…

LUXURY SUV-COUPES have become a significant market for premium car makers, as the success of models such as the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé and Range Rover Velar attests.Their popularity stems from the fact that they combine rakish, coupé-like looks with the class and most of the practicality of a conventional luxury SUV. However,Audi has never had a car to compete in this segment – until now. The Q8 is Audi’s new flagship SUV, sitting above the Q7 – our 2018 Luxury SUV of the Year – in the firm’s line-up. It’s Audi’s most imposing SUV yet, with a sloping roofline, an aggressive new front end, larger-than-usual wheels and even hints of the influential Quattro sports coupé of 1980 in its styling – notably the bulging wheel arches. Other highlights…

WHILE IT WOULD have been easy to write some antique dealer-based introduction to the new Volvo V60 estate, based around that fella whose name begins with ‘L’ and ends in ‘ovejoy’, that’s an awfully crass way to introduce a car this shapely. Out of date, too, for a brand that shed its fuddy-duddy image years ago. These days, Volvo is all about contemporary chic. Yet, don’t think Volvo has discarded the other half of its DNA: safety. Sure, Euro NCAP hasn’t yet crunched the V60 into a wall, but word on the street is this car could end up being the safest in its class – partly down to its array of active safety systems that swaddle occupants in a ball of high-tech cotton wool. Volvo claims the V60 is…

NO ONE WANTS to buy a car that’s regularly stricken by faults that could be costly to repair. So wouldn’t it be great if you knew what to look out for when checking out potential purchases That’s why we asked more than 14,200 British car owners to tell us about any faults with their vehicles in the past year. To quantify their answers, respondents told us which of 15 areas each fault related to: air-con and cooling system, battery, bodywork, brakes, engine, engine electrics, exhaust, fuel system, gearbox and clutch, interior trim and seats, non-engine electrics, steering, suspension, wheels and tyres, and other. Results from the survey reveal that by far the most common area for faults was non-engine electrics, which accounted for nearly 20% of all problems reported. Of…

If your top priority is reliability, electric could be the way forward, because many of these cars had hardly any faults.The best performers were the Nissan Leaf (9% had a fault) and BMW i3 (11%). Problems with the Leaf related to bodywork, brakes and electrics, while i3 issues included the battery, charging system, electrics and suspension. The Renault Zoe hasn’t proved as durable. More than 30% of cars had at least one fault and areas of concern included air-con, bodywork, electrics and charging system. Splashing out doesn’t necessarily buy you a dependable car, though, as Tesla Model S owners found. More than 33% of cars had at least one fault, ranging from bodywork to the electric motor.…

A lot of myths are bandied about in the automatic versus manual debate, the main one being that auto gearboxes are more prone to problems, making them more expensive to own. To investigate that myth, we analysed the information owners gave us about their cars; 61% of the cars featured in the survey had a manual ’box, with the remaining 39% being autos. We found that 30% of manual cars had a fault, compared with 28% of auto ones. Drilling down further, 3.3% of manuals had a gearbox/clutch problem, while 2.7% of autos had the same issue. So it seems there is little difference between the dependability of the two gearbox types.…

Mileage 29,200 List price £26,055 Target Price £23,669 Price as tested £26,600 Test economy 41.6mpg An Italian executive saloon may not be a natural rival to a Korean estate, but driving the former recently helped me appreciate the latter all the more. You see, it was while I spent some time in an Alfa Romeo Giulia we had in for testing that I realised how helpful all the excellent storage compartments are in the Optima Sportswagon.The Giulia is simply far more stingy on storage. Up front in the Optima SW, both doors get massive storage bins – enough to fit a 750ml bottle, as well as my sunglasses and any other odds and sods knocking around. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the dashboard, there’s loads of space for a phone…

Mileage on arrival 8620 Mileage now 11,145 Price when new (2017) £32,865 Value now £24,500 Test economy 39.6mpg IF YOU WANT to be en vogue on the school run, the type of car to be seen in is a premium SUV, and for years the most fashionable of these was the Volvo XC60. Such was its popularity that the first-generation model sold better in its last year of production than in any year before. Now, however, there’s a new one, and naturally everyone wants one of those instead. The only trouble is that it costs rather a lot of money. But if you do as we have done and opt instead for a nearly new example of the original model, you can put one on your driveway for the cost…

Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 150 Titanium List price when new £25,045 Price today £13,000 Available from 2014-present Slightly more expensive than the Superb, but spacious and good to drive. Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Business List price when new £23,290 Price today £12,500 Available from 2014-present Exceptional value for money both new and used, with acres of space inside. Price today is based on a 2015 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing…

LESS THAN £15,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick 0.9 TCe Ambiance List price £8595 Target Price £8502 MPG 57.6 CO2 109g/km For Lots of space for the money, decent to drive and a fair amount of standard kit. Against The engine is unrefined at most speeds and the interior is comparatively basic. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Fabia Our pick 1.0 95 SE List price £14,790 Target Price £13,217 MPG 64.2 CO2 101g/km For Spacious interior, good to drive and relatively cheap to run. Against Hard interior plastics and low-speed ride could be better. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Swift Our pick 1.2 Dualjet SZ3 List price £11,999 Target Price £11,459 MPG 65.7 CO2 98g/km For Good to drive, with sharp steering and fine body control, and it’s fairly well equipped. Against Interior…

LESS THAN £20,000 Seat Ateca Our pick 1.0 TSI Ecomotive 115 S List price £18,675 Target Price £16,214 MPG 54.3 CO2 119g/km For Excellent handling, with a spacious interior, a smooth engine and good resale values. Against The ride might be a bit too firm for some and the interior looks a bit bland. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Karoq Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE L List price £24,520 Target Price £23,631 MPG 51.4 CO2 125g/km For Very well equipped, rides and handles well, and flexible rear seats boost practicality. Against The engine and suspension are a bit too noisy and there’s a step in the boot floor. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Ateca Our pick 1.4 EcoTSI 150 FR List price £25,690 Target Price £23,053 MPG 52.3 CO2 123g/km For…

SINCE 2003, THE Volkswagen Touareg has offered buyers of luxurious large SUVs a less blingy alternative to premium-brand models. At least, it has until now. Never mind; look past the new car’s imposing chrome grille and it still promises to be a very sensible and capable 4x4. This third-generation Touareg is based on the same platform as the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, so it’s bigger than its predecessor in every way, but it remains a five-seater only. And although the Touareg doesn’t have the same kind of firepower as its pricier relatives, it still offers a 3.0-litre diesel V6, while a 3.0-litre petrol V6, a 4.0-litre diesel V8 and a plug-in hybrid powertrain are on the way. But this isn’t just a top-end SUV with all the good stuff…

THE CAYENNE E-HYBRID is Porsche’s answer to those who want a sporty, luxurious SUV without being heavily taxed for it. There have been hybrid Cayennes before, but now there are more rivals to beat: the Audi Q7 e-tron and Range Rover P400e. Power comes from a 3.0-litre petrol V6 and a 100kW electric motor, which together serve up 456bhp and 516lb ft of torque. However, the numbers of most interest are 27 and 88. The first is how many miles the E-Hybrid can travel on electric power alone and the second is official economy – although we got just 34mpg on a long, varied drive with a charged battery. That said, along with official CO2 emissions of just 78g/km, this should still be the cheapest Cayenne to tax. The E-Hybrid…

RIFLE THROUGH OUR 2014 Car of the Year Awards issue and you’ll find a shower of superlatives for the then-new Ford Fiesta ST. We stopped short of describing it as an all-time hot hatch great, but if we had done so, we sure wouldn’t be red-faced now. And that heaps pressure and anticipation onto its successor, which you see here. First off, the engine has been downsized from a 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit to a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder one. But don’t be put off. The new engine is more potent, with 197bhp and 214lb ft of torque, making the car 0.4sec quicker from 0-62mph and adding more ferocity to its already razor-sharp acceleration. And, less excitingly but just as importantly, the smaller motor is more fuel efficient. This is partly due…

PRIME MINISTER THERESA May has pledged to put the UK at the “forefront of a 21st century transport revolution” by investing heavily in the car industry. May said she wants to ensure that the UK leads the design and manufacture of electric vehicles and for all new cars to be capable of zero-emissions running by 2040. This echoes targets, outlined last year, which included a plan to ban the sale of conventional petrol and diesel-powered cars from 2040. May said the Government’s support for the car industry is fundamental to “creating good jobs across the country” – a particularly prudent point following recent job cuts at both Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan factories in the UK. Meanwhile, it has been reported that hybrids will also be barred unless they are…

Can I get a refund on a faulty car? I just bought a 2008 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi from a local car dealer. It was described on the advert as in superb mechanical condition. I had a short test drive before buying and it seemed okay.So I did a part-exchange with my Range Rover, for which they gave me £3750, and I paid another £2999 for the Focus. As I was driving the car home, I turned the heater on and was hit by an oily smell.When I got home, I could smell oil from the engine bay. I checked the dipstick and it revealed that the car had been overfilled with oil. I called the RAC to check the car over. When the man removed the engine cover, we…

Audi A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 125 S line Nav List price £20,895 Target Price £19,993 Getting long in the tooth, but no premium small car test would be complete without it. Ford Fiesta 1.0T Ecoboost 140 Vignale 5dr List price £21,295 Target Price £19,767 Not just a Fiesta;Vignale means more luxuries and even a one-to-one relationship manager. Mini 5dr Cooper Chili/Nav Plus List price £22,845 Target Price £21,519 The daddy of the premium small car brigade has been rearmed with a mild facelift.…

Mileage 3181 List price £28,510 Target Price £27,211 Price as tested £29,060 Test economy 35.4mpg WE USED TO call them 4x4s, but the trouble is, most modern SUVs don’t actually have four-wheel drive. Not that this puts people off buying them – quite the opposite, in fact, because it makes them cheaper to run. But what if you need something that can actually live up to its rugged looks? Well, the new Subaru XV could potentially be the answer. The XV may look like any other family SUV, but under its rakish bodywork is a permanent four-wheel drive system. And given that I live in the highest populated point of England’s North Downs (255 metres above sea level), where driving conditions become seriously treacherous as soon as the temperature dips…

‘It may be an MPV, but the Zafira Tourer is pretty game when it comes to corners’ In production 2013-present Price from £5000 Our favourite 1.4T SE NEED A PRACTICAL seven-seater for a low price? If so, the chances are your head will have been turned by the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. It is, in fact, the third generation of Zafira – although earlier models did without the ‘Tourer’ tag – and it’s a longer, wider car than those, thereby offering more interior space. The most popular engine options are a 138bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit, a 134bhp 1.6-litre diesel and a 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel. A six-speed automatic gearbox is available with the higher-powered diesel and the 1.4 petrol. The Zafira Tourer range kicks off with well-equipped Design trim, which features…

LESS THAN £18,000 Seat Leon Our pick 1.2 TSI SE Dynamic Tech List price £17,975 Target Price £14,692 MPG 56.5 CO2 116g/km For Strong yet economical petrol engine with low running costs, and you get lots of safety kit. Against Some of the plastics feel cheap and it can seem sluggish on the motorway. WHAT CAR? SAYS Vauxhall Astra Our pick 1.4T 16V 125 Design List price £17,870 Target Price £16,387 MPG 52.3 CO2 124g/km For Low CO2 emissions make it an ideal company car; decent to drive, with a practical interior. Against The steering feels numb and Tech Line trim adds more kit for only a little more money. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Rapid Spaceback Our pick 1.0 TSI 110 SE Tech List price £16,475 Target Price £13,799 MPG…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £15,520 Target Price £13,877 MPG 64.2 CO2 101g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estates; SE trim adds air-con and a touchscreen. Against Costs more than the hatchback and seats could do with more support. WHAT CAR? SAYS Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Our pick 1.4i 16v Design List price £18,470 Target Price £16,891 MPG 51.4 CO2 127g/km For There’s plenty of room and you get air-con, Bluetooth and auto headlights as standard. Against This is the least powerful engine in the range and the boot isn’t that flexible. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Logan MCV Our pick 0.9 TCe Lauréate List price £11,115 Target Price £11,012 MPG 57.6 CO2 109g/km For Lots of space, low running…

LESS THAN £20,000 Volkswagen Up GTI Our pick 1.0 115 3dr List price £13,755 Target Price £13,366 MPG 58.9 CO2 110g/km For Pretty nippy and handles well; relatively practical; cheaper to buy than its rivals. Against Could be more exciting; intrusive traction control; contrived engine noise. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mini Cooper Our pick 1.5 3dr List price £17,345 Target Price £16,349 MPG 56.5 CO2 114g/km For Fun to drive, 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 Abarth 595 Our pick 1.4 T-Jet List price £15,510 Target Price £15,510 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For Small hot hatches don’t get any more stylish. Very rapid. Against Not as involving to drive…