Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i What Car?

IF NEITHER THE Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback nor the A-Class Saloon floats your boat, the new CLA might be for you. This sporty four-door coupé is a big car, being longer than its predecessor, the A-Class Saloon and even the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé from the class above. It’s wider and lower than before, too, while its wheels are all set farther apart – something that Mercedes claims will combine with a lower centre of gravity and thicker anti-roll bars to improve the handling. That extra space has also liberated more room for rear seat passengers (a criticism of the original CLA), especially for their elbows, but boot space has actually shrunk slightly, down to 460 litres.That’s still more than you get from the hatchback and saloon versions of the…

THE MERCEDES-AMG RANGE can be confusing. There are coupés with two and four doors, an estate that’s styled like a coupé and three different models with ‘GT’ on their rumps. The GT Coupé and GT Roadster – low-slung, two-seat supercars – have been around since 2015, but now, for the few who want those looks and performance in a more practical package, there’s the imaginatively named GT 4dr Coupé. Despite sharing a name and a number of design flourishes, they’re like chalk and cheese under the skin; the two-doors sit on a bespoke platform, while the four-door shares a lot with the E-Class and CLS saloons. Don’t see it as just a lazy restyling, however, because it’s not only longer than both but also has a more practical hatchback. Practical…

SOME PEOPLE WILL happily spend a lot of money in the pursuit of stylishness. Others will instead gladly save the pennies and slip into their bargain-priced, eight-year-old khaki trousers, complete with detachable legs to seamlessly convert them into shorts. The Kia Proceed is absolutely not for the latter. It’s one of three bodystyles in which you can buy the Ceed; there’s the five-door hatchback, the estate (called the Sportswagon) and this, the more stylish, more expensive shooting brake. It’s 5mm longer than the Sportswagon but 43mm lower, and it rides 5mm closer to the ground. Three engines are available: a 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol, a 134bhp 1.6-litre diesel and a 201bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol in the automatic-only GT, the highest of three plush trim levels. The Proceed is a strong…

Do plenty of research to find the best deal and a legitimate leasing company.You can find accredited firms at bvrla.co.uk and fla.org.uk. Choose a car with good resale values to counter the cost of depreciation to the lessor. This should mean lower repayments than a car with poor residual values. Be realistic about how far you expect to travel each year so you don’t end up paying an excess mileage fee. Look after the car as if it were your own. Clean it and check for damage regularly. Keep servicing and MOT records and receipts for any replacement parts. Before you hand the car back, get it inspected – the AA or RAC can help – and have any damage repaired to avoid any excessive bills from the lessor.…

Tell me more about electric car batteries As a prospective electric car buyer, I was very pleased to read your guide to electric cars in the December 2018 issue. However, I’d like to know about electric cars’ batteries in greater detail. I would therefore be grateful if you could answer the following questions to help me narrow down my choice of vehicle: • Which car makers sell the batteries outright with the cars and which lease them? • If they are sold, what is their life expectancy and how much will they cost to replace? • If they are leased, what is the charge for this, over what period is the lease and what is the procedure if you buy one of these cars? • Are the batteries covered by…

Citroën C5 Aircross Puretech 180 Flair EAT8 List price £28,352 Target Price £27,094 Bold-looking, all-new C5 is based on our favourite large SUV, the Peugeot 5008. Honda CR-V 1.5 VTEC Turbo AWD SE CVT 5st List price £31,265 Target Price £29,913 No diesel option for new CR-V, which also promises improved space and interior quality. Mazda CX-5 2.0 Skyactiv-G 165 2WD Sport Nav+ auto List price £30,295 Target Price £28,318 One of our favourite large SUVs, with agile handling and a classy, lavishly equipped interior.…

With its stylish interior and roomy rear seats, the S90 has lots of showroom appeal. It’s seriously fast, too, but it lacks the handling skills to back up all that performance. Given that it’s also significantly more expensive on everything but PCP finance, the S90 has to lose out to the 530e.The latter is sharper to drive, quieter inside and more comfortable most of the time. There’s a large ‘but’, though.Yes, you’ll save a lot in company car tax, but unless you charge your car regularly to make the most of their electric range, a 2.0-litre diesel 5 Series will drink far less fuel.With that in mind, the 520d is still our pick of the range. BMW 5 Series For Sharper handling; cheaper to buy and run; excellent infotainment system…

In production 2014-2018 Price from £30,000 Our favourite version M3 DCT ONCE UPON A time, you could buy a BMW M3 in either two-door or four-door form. A few years ago, though, BMW changed course, and if you wanted a two-door model you had to buy what is now called the M4. The M3 saloon carried on until new emissions legislation temporarily put paid to it last year. Anyone looking for a seriously quick and astonishingly capable used sporting saloon should look no further. Under its purposeful bonnet is a fire-breathing 425bhp twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, and you can choose between a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The latter gives lightning-quick changes and can get the car from 0-62mph in a mere 4.3sec. On top of that, there’s…

Jaguar F-Pace 3.0d V6 300 S AWD with Glacier White paint (£675), 22in alloy wheels (£1600), sliding panoramic roof (£1500), Memory Pack (£1000), adaptive LED headlights (£875), park distance control (£780) and perpendicular parking system (£450) Porsche Macan S Diesel with SportDesign Package (£2987), LED headlights (£1814), air suspension (£1788), 20in alloy wheels (£1457), sat-nav (£1052), park assist (£834), adaptive cruise control (£834), Connect Plus (£801) and Sport Chrono Package (£729)…

LESS THAN £20,000 Kia Ceed Our pick 1.0 T-GDi 2 List price £18,295 Target Price £17,203 MPG 50.4 CO2 122g/km For Decent performance; seven-year warranty; good build quality; large boot. Against Not the most comfortable ride or driving position; engine can sound coarse. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Leon Our pick 1.0 TSI SE Dynamic List price £19,045 Target Price £15,839 MPG 47.9 CO2 112g/km For Strong yet economical petrol engine with low running costs; good to drive. Against Some of the plastics feel cheap and some rivals are more practical. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai i30 Our pick 1.0 T-GDi Blue Drive SE List price £19,165 Target Price £17,834 MPG 45.6 CO2 126g/km For Supple ride; good driving position; lots of room in the front; logical dash layout. Against Conservative looks;…

LESS THAN £28,000 Mazda CX-5 Our pick 2.0 SE-L Nav+ List price £25,595 Target Price £24,328 MPG 38.2 CO2 146g/km For Classy interior; well equipped even in this entry-level trim; class-leading handling. Against The petrol engine feels weedy at lower revs and the ride is firm. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Kodiaq Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE 7 seat List price £26,750 Target Price £25,262 MPG 37.2 CO2 147g/km For Value for money, with a classy and spacious interior and good driving manners. Against Ride is unsettled at low speeds, and the 2.0-litre diesel copes better with heavy loads. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ford Kuga Our pick 1.5 Ecoboost 150 Titanium Edition List price £26,610 Target Price £23,374 MPG 34.4 CO2 164g/km For Promises excellent reliability, and generous discounts make it…

LESS THAN £25,000 Mini Convertible Our pick Cooper Classic Comfort/Navigation List price £21,880 Target Price £20,506 MPG 45.6 CO2 127g/km For Fun to drive, good resale values and reasonably refined. Against The pedals are offset, rear seats are cramped and it isn’t as cheap as we’d like. WHAT CAR? SAYS Fiat 500C Our pick 1.2 Lounge List price £16,210 Target Price £15,292 MPG 44.8 CO2 118g/km For Engine is perfect for town driving, and you’re well protected from the wind with the roof down. Against Lots of wind noise; not as classy as the Mini; little space inside; rear visibility isn’t great. WHAT CAR? SAYS Smart Fortwo Cabrio Our pick EQ Prime Premium (22kW charger) List price £23,335 Target Price £21,706 Official range (WLTP) 70.2 CO2 0g/km For Truly agile…

The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for your new car and is set by our team of mystery shoppers. Every day they haggle to see what discounts are available across the UK. And all What Car?-approved dealers will at least match Target Price. In a lot of cases, however, you can save even more by using our New Car Buying service. Just head to whatcar.com/new-car-deals and select the car you’re interested in, and dealers will compete for your business. It’s all done through our website, so they won’t see your details until you’re ready.…

THE CLIO IS Renault’s best seller worldwide, and this all-new version is the most advanced model yet, with semi-autonomous driving systems, a high-tech interior and the option of plug-in hybrid power.That sounds impressive, and it has to be if it’s to compete with rivals such as the sales-leading Ford Fiesta and our current class champion, the Volkswagen Polo. Sitting on the same underpinnings as the three-star Nissan Micra, the new Clio is slightly shorter and lower than the current model, with a similar look to that of the larger Mégane. Notable features of its body include aerodynamic air deflectors in its front wheel arches to boost fuel economy. Despite its more compact dimensions, the new Clio is more spacious inside than its predecessor. Official boot capacity is 391 litres –…

MOTORISTS ARE BEING warned about a new scam that could rob them of thousands of pounds. The scam involves drivers being sent a text message, supposedly from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), saying that a road tax payment has failed. The message then prompts the recipient to update their bank details online or face a fine of up to £1000. The link included in the text leads to a seemingly legitimate website that prompts you to enter your bank details – giving criminals access to your money and personal details. The DVLA has clarified that it never sends text messages with links to sites that ask you to confirm personal details or payment information. It advises you not to open the message and delete it from your phone.…

ALTHOUGH IT’S LIKELY to be many years before fully autonomous vehicles become a common form of transport on our roads, car makers are already working on systems that can assist us, and not only intervene when necessary to avert collisions but also decide when it’s necessary to take control by monitoring the driver. From projecting useful information onto the windscreen to beaming a digital avatar of your partner into the passenger seat to keep you company, research is developing some really creative solutions that aim to keep motorists safe and make journeys more enjoyable. Here, we’re looking at three of the latest innovations. 1 Nissan Invisible-to-Visible Nissan has developed technology that helps drivers “see the invisible” by combining the real world with the virtual to create what it calls the…

Check if a vehicle has been recalled gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall 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…

Consistency is key here. Even in a relatively expensive trim, with a petrol engine that’s weaker than its rivals’, the CX-5 is still strong in most areas and excels in some, being very well equipped and good to drive. If you’re reluctantly opting for an SUV because of a growing family and would like something in which you can have at least some fun, it’s a great shout. Citroën is known for avant-garde designs, and the C5 Aircross ticks that box, both inside and out. Broadly speaking, it also succeeds in emulating another classic Citroën trait: if you spend a lot of time on motorways, it’s supremely supple and very quiet. It’ll be relatively cheap to run, too; just don’t expect much in the way of dynamic sparkle. Practicality is…

Jaguar XE 2.0 240 R-Sport Mileage on arrival 9950 List price new (2017) £40,125 Price new with options £57,809 Value now £32,000 Selected options Road Technology Pack (£2720), Pro Navigation Pack with 825W Meridian sound system (£2545),Advanced Parking Assist Pack with surround camera (£1610), black 19in wheels (£1255), Power Convenience Pack (£1125), 14-way electric front seats (£1050), adaptive dynamics (£840), climate front seats/heated rear seats (£804), 10.0in dual-view touchscreen (£625), Lane Keep Assist/driver condition monitor (£480), Cold Climate Pack (£455) Test economy 36.6mpg Official economy 33.2mpg (WLTP) Contract hire £465 per month Insurance group 32 Typical insurance quote £849 per year…

Mileage 5423 List price £33,525 Target Price £30,886 Price as tested £33,525 Test economy 34.1mpg MY HOT CIVIC can be hard work to drive around town, because its clutch is on the stiff side, its steering is fairly heavy and, while the ride is much better than most rivals’, it can still get a bit crashy over pockmarked urban roads. Once you get away from the city, however, the Type R really comes into its own, as it reminded me when I drove my daughter from London to the Thruxton race track in Hampshire. Any reservations I might have had about living with the Type R vanished on that run along dual carriageways and country lanes. It ate up the miles with the utmost finesse, remaining perfectly poised while passing…

LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 Dualjet SHVS 2WD SZ5 List price £14,859 Target Price £12,867 MPG 54.1 CO2 98g/km For Real-world economy is excellent, it’s fun to drive and you get lots of kit as standard. Against The ride is unsettled, refinement isn’t good at speed and there are only four seats. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 GDi 1 List price £14,725 Target Price £14,149 MPG na CO2 152g/km For Spacious interior; decent to drive; 1 trim gives you air conditioning and a DAB radio. Against Ride is overly firm; steering gives no indication as to what the front tyres are doing. WHAT CAR? SAYS MG ZS Our pick 1.5 Excite List price £14,045 Target Price £13,705 MPG 41.5 CO2 140g/km For An 8.0in…

LESS THAN £22,000 Ford Fiesta ST Our pick ST-2 Performance Pack 3dr List price £21,420 Target Price £20,258 MPG 40.4 CO2 136g/km For Strong, characterful engine combined with engaging handling makes the ST fun at all speeds. Against It’s easily upset by bumps and the interior feels a bit low-rent. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Up GTI Our pick 1.0 115 3dr List price £14,315 Target Price £13,708 MPG 50.6 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 Suzuki Swift Sport Our pick 1.4 Boosterjet List price £18,499 Target Price £17,499 MPG 47.1 CO2 125g/km For You get plenty of equipment as standard, plus it’s relatively quick and cheap…

LESS THAN £30,000 Mazda MX-5 Our pick 2.0 Sport Nav+ List price £24,795 Target Price £23,463 MPG 40.9 CO2 156g/km For Great to drive, with a wonderful chassis, a slick gearbox and just the right amount of power. Against It doesn’t have the classiest interior, nor much space inside for people or luggage. WHAT CAR? SAYS Toyota GT86 Our pick GT86 List price £27,285 Target Price £25,390 MPG 33.2 CO2 196g/km For Light weight and classic sports car layout give the GT86 real agility. It gets decent kit, too. Against The engine needs working very hard and is noisy, while the interior design is dated. WHAT CAR? SAYS Subaru BRZ Our pick SE Lux List price £27,025 Target Price £26,145 MPG 33.3 CO2 196g/km For Quick, despite its modest power,…

LET’S CUT TO the chase: the Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance, despite its name, is a little short on performance. Fact. Just look at our favourite hot hatch, the Honda Civic Type R; it can fire off a salvo of 316bhp, which makes the Performance’s 242bhp seem paltry. And Volkswagen knows this, because as the current Golf moves into its twilight months (a new one is due later this year), this special-edition GTI TCR has arrived to see it off. Aping the Golf Touring Car Racer (hence TCR), this adds another 44bhp, taking the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine to 286bhp, and a fraction more torque. To administer that, the TCR’s brakes have been upgraded, as has its suspension, if you add one of two optional packs. Both gain you adaptive dampers…

NEW CARS ARE getting better all the time; as technologies advance and the methods of packaging improve, so too does cars’ fitness for purpose. But that also means prices continue to rise.And with the next-generation Volkswagen Golf (due this year) expected to start at close to £20,000, a space has appeared below for sister brand Skoda to introduce a hatchback that will replace the unpopular Rapid.That car is the Scala. Based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen T-Roc and Seat Ibiza, both of which are well regarded in their respective classes, the Scala was previewed by the Vision RS concept car last October. Sitting below the Octavia in the Skoda line-up, it will challenge big-selling models such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra when it goes on sale…

AS ANYONE WHO has tried to reinvent an icon will tell you, it’s a process that takes a long time.That goes some way to explaining why the road to reinventing the Toyota Supra has been so very long. Toyota showed an early conceptual version back in 2014, and rumours of a new range-topping sports car stretch back far further than that. But it’s finally here and about to go on sale, vying for your affections alongside the Alpine A110, Porsche 718 Cayman and new BMW Z4 roadster. That last rival is important, because the Z4 and Supra were co-developed and therefore share many of their components. It’s why you’ll find some curiously BMW-like appointments inside, not least the rotary dial controller between the seats for the 8.8in infotainment screen, which…

IF YOU BUY into the notion that size matters, you’re going to love the latest BMW 7 Series. Not only is the largest saloon in the brand’s range now longer than ever, but it has also been given a front grille that’s so big it probably joins the Great Wall of China on the list of man-made objects that can be seen from space. There are more subtle design changes, too, such as slimmer headlights, vertical rather than angled side vents and a rear light strip that runs the full width of the car. Inside, the instrument dials are now fully digital, a wireless phone charger has been added and you get a Siri-style personal assistant that is awoken by you saying “Hey, BMW” and then – in theory –…

Make no mistake: the new Tarraco is a good car. Its balance of ride comfort and handling is well judged for a large SUV, finance deals are competitive and it has the best interior we’ve seen yet from the Spanish brand. But despite all of that, the Tarraco has to go down as a missed opportunity – especially when you consider the brilliance of Seat’s other SUVs. Despite being cheaper to buy, own and run, the 5008 has more safety kit and is even classier inside and more practical – particularly when it comes to third-row seating space.And although you’d think its tiny 1.2-litre engine would be no match for the Tarraco’s larger motor, the 5008 actually delivers better performance in every situation. In short, it’s an absolutely cracking buy,…

LESS THAN £20,000 Dacia Duster Our pick 1.5 Blue dCi 115 4x2 Essential List price £13,695 Target Price £13,567 MPG 57.6 CO2 115g/km For Roomy inside, reasonably comfortable and incredibly cheap compared with rivals. Against Interior is decidedly low-rent and there isn’t much standard safety kit. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ssangyong Tivoli XLV Our pick EX petrol List price £19,745 Target Price £19,377 MPG 37.2 CO2 169g/km For Comes with leather seats and sat-nav, despite low price; loads of room in the back and boot. Against The engine is noisy, the steering is vague and emissions are relatively high. WHAT CAR? SAYS MG GS Our pick 1.5 TGI Excite List price £17,595 Target Price £17,124 MPG na CO2 139g/km For Surprisingly quick and much more spacious inside than the Duster; the…

LESS THAN £30,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology List price £24,525 Target Price £23,697 MPG 53.3 CO2 113g/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, while the engine is a little gruff. WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi A3 Saloon Our pick 35 TFSI Sport List price £26,060 Target Price £24,421 MPG 42.8 CO2 123g/km For Handles well, the engine is strong and the interior is beautifully built. Against Costs more than the A3 Sportback, despite having a less practical boot. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mazda 6 Our pick 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150 SE-L Nav+ List price £25,795 Target Price £25,348 MPG 55.4 CO2 117g/km For Smart interior; smooth and flexible engine;…

LESS THAN £30,000 Renault Zoe Our pick R110 ZE40 Dynamique Nav List price £21,920 Target Price £20,063 Official range (WLTP) 186 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 Smart Fortwo Our pick EQ Prime Premium (22kW charger) List price £21,195 Target Price £19,753 Official range (NEDC) na CO2 0g/km For Dinky dimensions are a boon for parking; proper electric cars don’t come any cheaper. Against Poor to drive; real-world range is disappointing; not exactly practical. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen e-Up Our pick e-Up List price £23,150 Target Price £22,419 Official range (WLTP) 83 miles CO2 0g/km For Great to drive, well equipped and…

LESS THAN £50,000 Kia Stinger Our pick 3.3 T-GDi GT S List price £40,535 Target Price £40,535 MPG 27.7 CO2 221g/km For Nicely balanced handling, with strong pace from purposeful-sounding V6 engine. Against Tight in the back for tall adults; not quite as classy inside as its German rivals. WHAT CAR? SAYS Alfa Romeo Giulia Our pick 2.0 Turbo 280 Veloce Ti List price £45,990 Target Price £42,967 MPG 33.6 CO2 160g/km For Amazing steering; Quadrifoglio styling; great suspension set-up; well calibrated gearbox Against The four-cylinder engine isn’t the most refined and interior quality is disappointing. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-AMG CLA Our pick CLA 45 4Matic Night Edition List price £46,785 Target Price £44,656 MPG 30.4 CO2 193g/km For Great fun to drive, with plenty of grip and performance to…