Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i What Car?

‘The Qashqai has been the best car of its kind – until now’ All eras come to an end. Few champions retire undefeated – and yet as shocks go, the Seat Ateca beating the Nissan Qashqai (p60) is right up there with James ‘Buster’ Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson. Nissan is so synonymous with the small SUV class that other manufacturers who enter it are often described as ‘trying to build a better Qashqai’. This is partly because the Qashqai started the trend for such cars and partly because it sells in huge numbers. It has also been the best car of its kind – until now. Seat, by contrast, has never built an SUV before, but you’d never guess it given how impressive the Ateca is. As we explain…

Skoda takes the SUV plunge after successfully testing the waters with the Yeti Verdict An early drive, but the Kodiaq has the potential to top its class IT MAY HAVE a name that makes it sound like a type of camera film, but the Kodiaq is actually the first in a new generation of Skoda SUVs. With enough space for seven seats, it’s bigger than the brand’s seven-year-old Yeti SUV, and a direct rival to the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Nissan X-Trail. However, it could also steal sales from more prestigious models such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Volkswagen Tiguan. Depending on which engine you choose, there will be a choice of front or four-wheel drive and manual or automatic gearboxes, while in…

CITROËN’S MARKETING PEOPLE would like us to believe that the new C3 was inspired by upmarket furniture and travel, but in reality it has far more in common with the French marque’s C4 Cactus SUV. Like that car, the C3 has slim daytime running lights above its main headlights – an arrangement that gives it a rugged look. It also has the distinctive door-mounted Airbumps pioneered by the Cactus, which are designed to protect bodywork from runaway shopping trolleys and the like. The new C3 is a rival for small hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. It’s therefore smaller than the C4 Cactus, despite the two cars sharing many of their underlying mechanical parts. This suggests that the C3, like its sibling, is likely to have a…

Premium hatchback gets a minor facelift. Is it now more appealing when compared with its German rivals? Verdict A likeable alternative to the norm, but falls short in too many areas to be a class leader ‘The engine is quiet even at speed, and offers plenty of punch from low in its rev range’ THE VOLVO V40 is a frequent sight on our roads. Pitched as a slightly left-field alternative to the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, it has sold well since its launch in 2012. Four years is an age in the car industry, though, so the V40 is ripe for a mild facelift. Externally, there are eight new alloy wheel designs, five new body colours and a new grille displaying the newly refreshed Volvo badge. Most noticeably,…

LESS THAN £12,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick 1.2 Ambiance List price £6795 Target Price £6764 MPG 48.7 CO2 130g/km For Lots of space for the money, plus a proven four-cylinder petrol engine from Renault. Against The interior and equipment list are basic, while the low-speed ride is lumpy. What Car? says Suzuki Swift Our pick 1.2 SZ3 3dr List price £10,749 Target Price £10,160 MPG 56.5 CO2 116g/km For Lots of equipment as standard and a smart cabin. It’s also fun to drive. Against The engine is noisy and a little gutless at motorway speeds. What Car? says Seat Ibiza Our pick 1.0 EcoTSI 95 SE 5dr List price £13,975 Target Price £11,447 MPG 67.3 CO2 98g/km For Rides and handles well and it has a generous standard kit list…

LESS THAN £20,000 Citroën C3 Picasso Our pick 1.2 Puretech Edition List price £16,225 Target Price £12,119 MPG 56.5 CO2 115g/km For The interior is spacious and the boot is big. Ride comfort and refinement impress. Against Some rivals are cheaper and the engine feels a bit weedy on faster roads. What Car? says Renault Grand Scénic Our pick 1.2 TCe 130 Dynamique Nav List price £22,695 Target Price £16,180 MPG 43.5 CO2 145g/km For It’s good to drive, well equipped, there’s room for seven and dealer discounts are huge. Against Interior quality could be better and the middle row of seats is heavy to lift out. What Car? says Ford B-Max Our pick 1.4 90 Zetec List price £14,995 Target Price £12,943 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For The engine…

LESS THAN £25,000 Seat Leon SC Our pick 1.4 EcoTSI 150 FR List price £20,225 Target Price £18,410 MPG 57.6 CO2 114g/km For It’s quick, agile, economical and excellent value. There’s good space for people and bags. Against A few bits of cabin trim feel low-rent and there’s too much wind noise at speed. What Car? says BMW 2 Series Our pick 218d SE List price £25,100 Target Price £23,215 MPG 62.8 CO2 119g/km For It rides and handles well, and the diesel engine is punchy and economical. Against The rear seats are cramped for adults and the engine is noisy. What Car? says Volkswagen Scirocco Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 GT List price £25,580 Target Price £23,272 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For Good to drive, with quick steering and…

All-conquering premium hatchback gets a technology-packed mid-life update Verdict Still the best in its market, despite its age compared with rivals ‘The A3 handles as tidily as ever, with good grip in corners’ THE AUDI A3 has proved a huge success over the last 20 years; in fact, it’s the German brand’s biggest-selling car. It’s easy to understand why, because it’s always had a classy interior, strong engines and enough practicality for almost any scenario. Now, after four years on sale, the current A3 has gone under the knife to keep it well ahead of newer rivals, such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series. At first glance, the A3 looks much the same as it did, but for new head and tail-lights, a broader front grille, and new…

New Coupé version of the GLC five-seater SUV has a more squat stance Verdict Level with its rivals, but less practical than the regular GLC ‘It deals with rough roads well and gives a cushioned ride on the motorway’ BMW DIVIDED OPINION but found success with its X4 and X6 SUV coupés. Now, Mercedes is getting in on the act. First, it launched a coupé version of the big GLE, and now it’s done the same for the smaller GLC. The GLC Coupé is based on the C-Class saloon, but shares much of its front end with the regular GLC. However, the Coupé is lower to the ground, slightly longer and has a more raked rear roofline than the GLC, all for an injection of style. The Coupé is available…

New hybrid is a serious challenger to the Toyota Prius’s market dominance Verdict Compares well with the Prius, but not diesel-powered family cars ‘It’s comfy in and out of town and mostly quiet at motorway speeds’ IF YOU’VE EVER hired an Uber taxi, chances are it was a hybrid that turned up. Specifically, it was probably a Toyota Prius, the current market leader. However, Hyundai will launch its challenger for that throne this October: the Ioniq. The Ioniq is unique in that it is the first car to be offered with a choice of three different electric powertrains, but all under the same body. There’s a pure electric EV version capable of 174 miles on a single charge, the HEV petrol-electric hybrid we’re driving here and a plug-in hybrid, due…

Cayman joins the new Boxster in the 718 range, with a major mechanical and a minor cosmetic update Verdict Still the best two-seat sports car, despite the new smaller engine YOU HAVE TO feel for Porsche’s engineers. Time and again they have been tasked with improving beloved icons that have often been deemed almost flawless. Their latest effort is the Porsche 718 Cayman, a heavily facelifted version of the previous model. The Cayman has long been a class-leading sports car with great handling and a wild engine note. We’re driving the hot Cayman S version here, which has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine instead of the old 3.4-litre six-cylinder one. In 2016, emissions and fuel consumption targets rule the roost. The new engine does, though, have 25bhp more than the…

‘If you buy via a broker you can save money without having to do any haggling’ THE INTERNET HAS changed the way people buy cars. You can now buy a new or used car from the comfort of your own home, but should you? Buying a new car used to involve visiting a dealership and haggling with a salesman, while used buyers would flip through the classifieds before heading off to hand over their cash. That’s all changed. Buyers can now purchase a car via their computer. Here’s how it works and what to be aware of. If you’re buying a new car online, you may choose to buy through a broker because they often offer big discounts on list prices. Brokers buy dozens of cars at a time and…

So, we’ve named Britain’s best tow cars. How do you know which is right for you? To answer that question you’ll need to know a few facts about your potential tow car, the weight of the caravan or trailer you’ll be towing – and you’ll have to check your driving licence. The 85% guideline The Camping and Caravanning Club and the National Trailer and Towing Association Ltd recommend newcomers to towing should pull a caravan or trailer weighing no more than 85% of the kerb weight of the tow car. For experienced tow car drivers, it’s considered acceptable to pull a caravan or trailer weighing up to 100% of the kerb weight. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, you’ll want a car that’s heavy enough to abide by whichever…

LESS THAN £16,000 Vauxhall Astra Our pick 1.0T 105 Design List price £15,995 Target Price £15,233 MPG 65.7 CO2 99g/km For Good to drive and well equipped, with a comfortable, roomy cabin. Against The steering assistance is too light and lumbar adjustment costs extra. What Car? says Nissan Pulsar Our pick 1.2 DIG-T Visia List price £13,995 Target Price £12,775 MPG 56.5 CO2 117g/km For There’s plenty of room for occupants and their luggage, and there’s lot of equipment. Against Several rivals have stronger resale values and lower running costs. What Car? says Seat Leon Our pick 1.2 TSI 110 SE List price £17,700 Target Price £15,998 MPG 57.6 CO2 114g/km For The engine is refined, running costs are low and S trim has a decent amount of equipment. Against…

LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Vitara Our pick 1.6 SZ4 List price £13,999 Target Price £13,056 MPG 49.4 CO2 123g/km For The Vitara is good to drive, has a practical interior and SZ4 trim brings lots of equipment. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and the steering weight is too light. What Car? says Renault Captur Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Dynamique Media Nav List price £15,675 Target Price £14,173 MPG 56.5 CO2 115g/km For It’s refined, well equipped and roomy for four adults. The sliding rear bench is practical. Against The interior plastics feel hard and cheap, while the engine is underpowered. What Car? says Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 CRDi 134 Connect List price £16,600 Target Price £14,763 MPG 58.8 CO2 128g/km For The interior is spacious, Connect trim…

What’s the difference between contract hire and leasing? ‘Leasing’ is a catch-all term that includes finance lease and lease purchase, as well as contract hire, which is a form of leasing. Should I go for contract hire or a PCP arrangement? Although monthly payments are often similar, at the end of the deal a PCP gives you the flexibility to own the car for an extra lump sum, or put a deposit down on another deal. If you have to terminate the deal early, contract hire often carries a penalty of 50% of the outstanding rental; the penalties on a PCP are much smaller. With contract hire, VAT-registered users can reclaim VAT on some of the finance and maintenance costs. Does it make sense to take out a ‘with maintenance’…

Fresh styling and a turbocharged engine are designed to boost the city car’s appeal Verdict A willing performer, although the non-turbo car is still mighty fine ‘Stick with the standard 15in wheels for the best ride quality’ THE VOLKSWAGEN UP has proved a popular little car since its introduction in 2012. Although it’s spacious, handles well and is one of the more comfortable city cars, you’ve always had to work its engine hard to make decent progress at motorway speeds. Not any more, though, because the Up is now available with a new turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre petrol engine. It has the same capacity as the current unit, but the new turbocharger boosts power and adds much more pulling power at lower revs. Regardless of which engine you choose,…

Audi’s first small SUV adds a premium badge to this near-saturated market Verdict Quiet and practical, but pricier than larger alternatives ‘The Q2 strikes a good balance between tidy handling and comfort’ THE Q2 BREAKS new ground for Audi: this is the smallest SUV it has ever built. Sitting below the Q3 and above the A3 Sportback in the Audi range, the Q2’s closest rivals are the pricier Mercedes-Benz GLA and the less expensive Mini Countryman. It might be affordable for an Audi, but the Q2 is still more expensive than the bigger Nissan Qashqai. An entry-level 1.0-litre petrol-engined Q2 will cost £20,230, but a powerful four-wheel drive quattro model is more than £30,000. If you’re after optimum fuel economy, your best bet is the 1.6-litre diesel we’re testing here,…

‘Porsche’s traditional instrument cluster is replaced by two 7.0in displays’ New version of the luxury grand tourer targets the Aston Martin Rapide and Mercedes-Benz CLS On sale November Price from £88,700 THE WORLD OF luxurious performance cars is strange indeed. Here, practicality is often left out in the cold in favour of technology, speed and – crucially – style. The previous Porsche Panamera delivered on most fronts. It handled beautifully on the road, had plenty of space for four people plus their luggage and accelerated fast enough to keep pure sports cars honest. We weren’t big fans, though, because the Audi A7 did everything the Porsche could for a fraction of the price. The same went for the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 6 Series Grand Tourer. The new Panamera, however,…

Ford attempts to give the sixth-generation Fiesta an almighty send-off with one last stoked-up ST model Verdict Fantastic, but not a big enough improvement over standard STs to warrant the price hike ‘Such is the ST200’s charm that you soon forget any usability qualms’ CAN YOU IMPROVE on perfection? Theoretically not, but that hasn’t stopped Ford from having a really good go. In driving terms, the Fiesta ST-2, our 2016 Hot Hatch of the Year, is as near perfect as it gets. However, a new Fiesta is coming in 2017, so before the current model finally goes off sale, Ford thinks it can go one better with this 197bhp Fiesta ST200, which has had its engine, suspension and gears tuned for more performance. At £22,745, it’ll be the flagship model…

New car, service, repair and warranty issues www.motorcodes.co.uk Citizens’ Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk Check a car has a valid MoT test certificate www.motinfo.gov.uk Check if a car has outstanding finance www.whatcar.com/historycheck Trading standards www.tradingstandards.gov.uk Financial Conduct Authority www.fca.org.uk Check if a vehicle has been recalled www.gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-recalled Check car crash safety ratings www.euroncap.com Your car loan questions answered www.whatcar.com/car-news/carloanfaqs…

Cycling has become more extreme these days. Cyclists can go pretty much anywhere: all they have to do is choose the right machine. Versatility via good design means that one bike can do it all. It’s the same with mobile phones. A phone used to be something you shouted into. With luck, somebody might answer. Now, talking to someone is the least of a smartphone’s talents. Versatility through good design again. Nobody’s come up with a ‘smart vehicle’ class yet, but based on this concept of designed-in versatility, Mitsubishi’s Outlander Diesel will go straight into the top echelon when they do. The Outlander Diesel is an SUV that can seat up to seven people – but that’s just the start. In the latest version, every Outlander virtue has been magnified…

LESS THAN £10,000 Skoda Citigo Our pick 1.0 60 SE 5dr List price £9485 Target Price £8972 MPG 62.8 CO2 105g/km For It’s economical, reasonably practical, solidly built and feels grown-up to drive. Against It’s not as classy as the Volkswagen Up and the 59bhp engine can struggle at speed. What Car? says Seat Mii Our pick 1.0 SE Technology 3dr List price £10,210 Target Price £9677 MPG 62.8 CO2 105g/km For The Mii feels remarkably grown-up to drive, and is cheaper than the near-identical VW Up. Against It’s not as well finished inside as the Up and this version can feel slow on faster roads. What Car? says Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 Dualjet SZ3 List price £8499 Target Price £8119 MPG 78.4 CO2 84g/km For It has a…

LESS THAN £25,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Business List price £22,555 Target Price £20,356 MPG 68.9 CO2 108g/km For Masses of standard kit, a huge amount of rear leg room and boot space, and good to drive. Against Other executive cars are more fun to drive and have stronger resale values. What Car? says Volkswagen Passat Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Business List price £25,015 Target Price £22,698 MPG 67.3 CO2 106g/km For Drives very well, with a good ride and refined diesel engine. The interior is top notch. Against Some rivals are more practical, while the dashboard design is a bit dull. What Car? says Audi A3 Saloon Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 Sport List price £25,035 Target Price £22,904 MPG 68.9 CO2 107g/km…

LESS THAN £18,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.2 TSI 90 SE List price £14,765 Target Price £13,416 MPG 60.1 CO2 107g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estate cars around and SE trim brings 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 105 Turbo Design List price £17,285 Target Price £15,963 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 Kia Cee’d Sportswagon Our pick 1.4 CRDi 89 1 ISG List price £17,395 Target Price £16,058 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For…

LESS THAN £25,000 Mazda CX-5 Our pick 2.2d 150 SE-L Nav 2WD List price £24,995 Target Price £23,125 MPG 61.4 CO2 119g/km For Lots of space and kit for a good price, while CO2 emissions and economy are impressive. Against Firm low-speed ride, and wind and road noise can intrude at speed. What Car? says Nissan X-Trail Our pick 1.6 dCi Acenta 2WD 7-seat List price £26,545 Target Price £24,492 MPG 57.6 CO2 129g/km For It’s comfortable, has a spacious and classy interior, a large boot and lots of equipment. Against Body control is sloppy and the diesel engine is noisy. What Car? says Honda CR-V Our pick 1.6 i-DTEC 120 SE List price £26,060 Target Price £23,612 MPG 64.2 CO2 115g/km For The engine is economical and powerful, while…

LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Swift Our pick 1.6 Sport 3dr List price £14,149 Target Price £13,575 MPG 44.1 CO2 147g/km For Loves to be thrashed, thanks to a rev-hungry engine and snappy gearchange. Against The cabin is plain, so there’s none of the ‘wow’ factor that hot hatch buyers crave. What Car? says Seat Ibiza SC FR Our pick 1.4 TSI 150 List price £16,245 Target Price £13,671 MPG 60.1 CO2 109g/km For Gutsy engine, low running costs, plenty of equipment and a spacious interior. Against Some rivals are more fun to drive and the cabin plastics feel cheap. What Car? says Fiat 500 Abarth Our pick 595 List price £14,610 Target Price £14,610 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For Small hot hatches don’t get any more stylish and the Abarth…

A BROKER CAN SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW BMW X5 SOONER THAN MY LOCAL DEALER CAN. Is this possible? The broker might have pre-ordered one on the basis he’d be able to find a buyer, or he may have a cancelled order. Ask to see proof, though, and get the delivery date in writing, too. A BROKER IS CHARGING ME A FINDER’S FEE OF £1000. Is this right? Shop elsewhere. There is nothing to stop brokers charging finder’s fees, but, as a general rule, most reputable brokers earn their commission from the dealer, not the customer. IS IT SAFE TO PAY THE BROKER BEFORE I’VE TAKEN DELIVERY? The safest options are to pay the dealer directly, or into an ‘escrow’ holding account until the car is ready for delivery. Always…