Innholdsfortegnelse for Awards 2019 i What Car?

‘We’ve whittled down almost 4000 car variants to the best in each class’ From jeans to breakfast cereals and TV subscriptions to schools, we’ve never had more choice. But while this increases the chances of us being able to have exactly what we want, it can also make life horribly confusing.That’s why our annual What Car? Awards issue is so important. There are almost 4000 variations of around 400 cars listed in the data section at the back of this magazine, but after 12 months of testing, we’ve whittled them down to the best in each class, with one of those standing out above all the others as our 2019 Car of the Year. No matter what your priorities are, we’re confident you’ll find something that’s ideal for your needs.…

AFTER THE E-TRON and E-tron Sportback SUVs, the next phase of Audi’s electric car roll-out is the E-tron GT, a four-door coupé that will go on sale in 2021 as a rival to the Tesla Model S. Unveiled in concept car form at the 2018 Los Angeles motor show, it’s about the same size as Audi’s current A7 Sportback and will be the flagship of the brand’s electric car line-up. Power is sent from a 96kWh battery pack to a motor on each axle, giving the E-tron GT four-wheel drive.Together, they produce 582bhp, so the 0-62mph sprint takes a mere 3.5sec – quicker than most versions of the Model S. The E-tron GT can travel for up to 248 miles between charges, according to the new WLTP test.That compares with…

IT’S VERY RARE these days that a new car sticks out like a sore thumb, but Citroën has managed just that with its new C5 Aircross large SUV. Underneath that cartoonish styling is the same platform as the Peugeot 5008, our current favourite car in this class. Petrol engines are 128bhp 1.2-litre and 181bhp 1.6-litre units, while the diesels are a 128bhp 1.5 and a 178bhp 2.0, all of them driving the front wheels. What’s more, plug-in hybrid power – up to 300bhp of it – will be offered from 2020. Citroën says the C5 Aircross is more practical than any of its rivals, evidenced by individually sliding and reclining rear seats and a boot 74 litres larger than the Mazda CX-5’s. Tech is also key, with an 8.0in infotainment…

THESE CARS DON’T require some long-winded introduction, do they? Surely they’re as familiar as Cheddar cheese yet, thanks to bags of badge cachet, still as desirable as a ripe and creamy Camembert. But each has recently been updated, so let’s take a look at what’s new. Everything, in the case of the BMW 3 Series. This latest model is bigger than its predecessor and comes with more tech, including a new version of the brand’s iDrive infotainment system. Plus, BMW promises that this is the sportiest executive saloon you can buy. The changes to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are more subtle; this is a facelift of the car that arrived in 2013. Like the 3 Series, it has a new infotainment system, plus a more refined and efficient engine. The Audi…

It’s make or break time for the XC40 as our reigning champion, because the new Q3 puts up a strong challenge on a number of fronts. Its greater agility will appeal to keener drivers, while its superior fuel economy and more versatile rear seats are also very welcome. The trouble is that there are also some niggles.The hesitant gearbox is frustrating when you’re trying to zip into gaps in traffic and the ride is equally irritating if the roads on which you usually travel are poorly surfaced.Then there’s the interior quality, which just isn’t up to the standard we’ve come to expect from Audi. So, that leaves the XC40 on top. Not only is it more practical, thanks to its greater rear leg room and well thought out boot, but…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £12,000 Dacia Sandero 0.9 TCe 90 Essential NO NEW RIVAL to the Sandero has gone on sale in the past 12 months, so it retains its position as the best small car for less than £12,000. But that doesn’t make it in any way less than exceptional. For starters, the Sandero remains Britain’s cheapest new car in entry-level form. And while we think the mid-level Essential trim lives up to its name, bringing creature comforts such as air conditioning and a DAB radio, this still represents amazing value. Then there’s the space that the Sandero gives you. Its tall, boxy body ensures there’s loads of room for the driver and front passenger. Plus, six-footers can fit in the back without feeling cramped and the boot is…

We could start by saying:“For the price, the Octavia is a very impressive proposition”, but regardless of cost, it offers everything you could reasonably want in a family car. The Octavia’s biggest selling points, of course, are its massive boot and roomy interior, making it much more practical than our other contenders. The temptingly priced Ceed and luxurious A-Class may be outstanding in their own ways, but neither can match the Octavia’s remarkable bang for the buck.What you’re looking at here is the very definition of the ideal family car. Save at least £1827 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £18,000 Dacia Duster Blue dCi 115 4x2 Essential TAKING A WIDE-EYED second look at a list price is commonplace with supercars, but at the other end of the scale, we wouldn’t blame you for doing a double take at the Dacia Duster’s. The Romanian manufacturer has proven time and again, though, that its cars are more than just cheap; they have plenty of substance, too. The Duster has plenty to offer buyers in this segment. It’s a family SUV with loads of room inside and a good boot. Pick this 1.5-litre diesel model and you’ll get a punchy engine that’s capable hauling a full car around with ease, and in Essential trim it has, naturally, the essentials covered, including a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and USB…

This category is another in which almost nothing has changed, with three strong contenders continuing to stand out. But the Mazda CX-5’s progress and the Audi Q5’s continued brilliance can’t persuade us not to give overall victory to the Peugeot 5008 again. Our reasoning hasn’t changed: the 5008 has most of the quality, technology and driving manners you get from the Q5 yet is cheaper to run and even more practical. So, although it’s a shame that it isn’t as cheap as it used to be, the 5008 is still the go-to choice for larger families. Save at least £1357 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £60,000 Audi Q7 45 TDI quattro S line CAN A CAR costing nearly £60,000 really be called ‘good value’? We think it emphatically can, because the Audi Q7 is so much more than just a big SUV with a posh badge. Not only does it ride like a limousine, accelerate like a hot hatch and accommodate people and luggage better than most MPVs, but it also delivers a level of cruising refinement that some cars costing twice as much can’t match. Stand next to our chosen 45 TDI model as it ticks over at rest and you may be able to guess that it’s a diesel, but the 3.0-litre V6 engine is so smooth and muted on the move that you’re barely aware it’s running at…

Winner Honda Urban EV JUDGING BY THE crowds that packed Honda’s stand at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, the Urban EV was a popular car from its very first outing – so popular, in fact, that Honda confirmed a production version of the concept before the dust had even settled. What Car? readers clearly can’t get enough of it, either, because the Urban EV garnered almost eight times as many votes as our second-placed car. Put simply, it’s by far the car you’re most excited about seeing in 2019. And so you should be, because the Urban EV is shaping up to be a true game-changer for Honda. It’s the brand’s first electric car to be sold in Europe, and with it being shorter than its Jazz stablemate yet potentially…

If you want a pick-up that can put in a hard shift during the week and then be family transport at the weekend, look no further than the Amarok. It rides better than the Ford Ranger, even if it doesn’t handle quite as well, plus it has a far smoother engine and isn’t far behind in terms of off-road capability. The Ssangyong Musso is quite a bit cheaper, but the Amarok has a superior load capacity, better infotainment and far slower depreciation. So, the Amarok excels in every area, just as a modern pick-up should. Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

The Skoda Superb is cavernous, cosseting and great value, but it won’t set your heart alight when you’re at the wheel, while the Audi A3 Saloon looks the part and is fun to drive but isn’t all that roomy. The new BMW 3 Series, on the other hand, offers outstanding handling and a great engine, making it scintillating to drive, yet also rides well enough and can be fuel efficient on the motorway.That plus a comfy, spacious interior and brilliant infotainment equals a car that encapsulates all of the attributes required in this market – and then some. Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £20,000 Toyota Yaris Hybrid Icon THE YARIS HYBRID remains a unique proposition in the small car class, mixing a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a small electric motor, a combination that allows you to cruise around town partly on electric power. Aside from the emissions benefits that brings, this is also the most comfortable Yaris to drive. Toyota has counterbalanced the hybrid’s increase in weight over the regular car by fitting stiffer suspension; as a result, it soaks up bumps well while controlling body movements better than the more floaty conventionally powered alternatives. Like all Yaris models, the hybrid has light controls and a tight turning circle, making parking in town or negotiating narrow streets a doddle, while the petrol and electric power sources interact so smoothly…

What separates the Volvo XC90 from the BMW 5 Series and Hyundai Ioniq is the breadth by which it stands out from its class rivals. So, while both of our other price point winners will save you money on fuel and tax, the Volvo adds an extra dose of practicality. Keeping seven seats and a big boot in the plug-in hybrid transition is impressive – and it’s a trick rivals can’t match – but what seals the win for Volvo is that the XC90 also remains good to drive, has a luxurious interior and is still one of the safest cars of its type. If you want a practical plug-in hybrid, it’s the best there is. Save at least £5032 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

Finalist Audi virtual door mirrors THE UPCOMING AUDI E-tron electric SUV will be the first production car to come (optionally) without door mirrors. Instead, it will have two cameras that will feed their views onto small screens inside the car. Cameras have long been included on concept cars, but they are usually among the first things to be taken away as the concept becomes production-ready. Not so with the E-tron. Not only do the ‘mirrors’ look suitably 22nd century, but you can also use touch controls to adjust each camera to, for example, zoom in so that vehicles appear larger on the motorway, or change the angle of the camera when turning. Each camera also features a kerb view to aid parking and an indicator view that extends the field…

From its exceptional ride comfort to its luxurious and spacious interior, the S-Class Cabriolet is an utterly fantastic drop-top. Contrary to the Mini Convertible, it shows practically no sign of its reduced rigidity, and unlike smaller drop-tops, it has enough space inside to allow three passengers to lounge and bring all their things. Add in performance that rivals sports cars, one of the smoothest engines there is and exceptional refinement and you can easily see why the S-Class Cabriolet is our favourite convertible. Save at least £15,180 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £30,000 BMW 2 Series 218i Sport THE AUDI TT has dominated this price point for years, but we weren’t able to drive the facelifted model in time for it to be considered for the 2019 awards. Don’t think this means the BMW 2 Series wins by default, though. Our preferred 218i Sport model, with its turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, has more than enough power to make motorway cruises comfortable and responds eagerly when you put your foot down. What’s more, the 2 Series is rear-wheel drive, which helps to give it an entertaining handling balance. It remains neatly controlled at all times, yet it’s still great fun to drive, whether you’re making the most of a quiet B-road on a Sunday afternoon or simply using it on…

Alpine may have lain dormant since 1995, but its reborn A110 is a real triumph. By focusing on engagement over outright ability, it’s a car that entertains its driver at sensible speeds. Sure, the MX-5 does that rather well too, but where that car can lose composure when you’re pushing on, the A110 just gets better the harder you try. Yes, the McLaren 570S is more at home on a racing track thanks to its stiffer suspension and grippier tyres, but ask yourself this: how often can you use all that performance on the road? With that in mind, the most intoxicatingly brilliant B-road assassin, the A110, has to win. Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

The BMW 3 Series would have made a worthy overall winner, having overcome a former Car of the Year to take class honours, while the Citroën Berlingo and Cupra Ateca were also strong contenders. However, those cars have had the misfortune to be launched in the same year as Kia’s game-changing e-Niro. Put simply, the e-Niro beats its rivals via knockout rather than on points, because it’s the first sensibly priced electric car that can fit into most people’s lives. Its huge real-world range helps, allowing you to get to where you’re going without any fear that you’ll end up stranded by the roadside. But it also makes a very practical family car, comes loaded with luxuries and strikes just the right balance of comfort and composure. In short, the…

Mileage 21,864 Price when new £43,990 Value now £27,416 Test economy 38.2mpg The run-up to the What Car? Car of the Year Awards invariably requires us to try lots of new models that are in contention (yes, I know, it’s a tough job and all that).As a result, I went more than a week without using the Stelvio. But it only took the briefest of journeys – the 4.9-mile run between our offices in Feltham and Twickenham – to remind me what a joy it is to drive. I didn’t exceed 50mph at any point and much of the trip was done at 30mph or less, yet still the sharp steering and tightly controlled ride stood out, making the car feel reassuringly precise. The Stelvio hasn’t sold in huge numbers…

THE BMW M135i was our favourite money-no-object hot hatch for years, thanks to its sublime combination of huge power and rear-wheel-drive thrills mixed in with comfort, practicality and a classy interior. The even faster M140i has since superseded it, but a used M135i is still a remarkably tempting proposition. Here, we’re pitting a two-year-old example against a barnstorming Ford Focus RS of a similar age. Despite having a smaller engine, the hottest Focus pumps out more power (345bhp versus 322bhp) and delivers it to all four wheels, rather than just one pair, for better traction. The downside is that it will cost you a lot more to buy at this age than the M135i, but so delicious is it that we still think this is a hot hatch match not…

LESS THAN £15,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Essential List price £8795 Target Price £8695 MPG 45.6 CO2 123g/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 Ford Ka+ Our pick 1.2 Ti-VCT 70 Studio List price £12,295 Target Price £10,991 MPG 48.7 CO2 117g/km For Comfortable ride and room for four adults; even Studio trim has a DAB radio and Bluetooth. Against Engine is gutless, the interior looks cheap and the boot is rather small. WHAT CAR? SAYS MG 3 Our pick 1.5 Excite List price £11,395 Target Price £11,122 MPG na CO2 140g/km For Cheap to buy and insure, with…

LESS THAN £60,000 Audi Q7 The Q7 is so much more than your typical luxury SUV. Not only does it ride like a limo, offer the straight-line performance of a hot hatch and accommodate like an MPV, but it also delivers sublime refinement. The Q7 also has one of the greatest SUV interiors on the market, thanks to a modern, minimalist dashboard design and Audi’s fantastic MMI infotainment system. Our pick 45 TDI quattro S line List price £56,745 Target Price £52,634 MPG 33.6 CO2 178g/km For Very well equipped, with a wonderful ride and a smooth, powerful engine. Against Expensive to buy and run, while some rivals have more third-row leg room. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volvo XC90 Our pick D5 Momentum List price £52,410 Target Price £47,445 MPG 36.2…

LESS THAN £25,000 Hyundai Ioniq Most buyers considering a low-emissions car don’t want to go fully electric straight away, which is why hybrids continue to make a lot of sense. The Hyundai Ioniq is the most polished, being more practical, better equipped and smarter inside than Toyota’s Prius. It combines modest ownership costs with a reassuringly normal driving experience, switching seamlessly between electric and petrol power. Our pick Hybrid Premium List price £23,590 Target Price £21,886 MPG 62.8 CO2 84g/km For Good-quality interior; low running costs; good to drive; well-integrated power sources. Against Poor rear head room; unsettled ride around town; not as efficient as Toyota Prius. WHAT CAR? SAYS Toyota Yaris Our pick Hybrid Icon List price £17,975 Target Price £16,703 MPG 58.8 CO2 84g/km For Generous standard kit;…

WHEN IS A Seat Ateca not a Seat Ateca? When it’s a Cupra Ateca, of course. If you’re wondering what the difference is, may we introduce Seat’s new and even sportier sister brand. Like AMG to Mercedes-Benz, Cupra will initially produce performance versions of Seats, but it will eventually have models of its own, too. But let’s concentrate on the present for now. The Cupra Ateca is essentially a Seat Ateca that has swallowed a Volkswagen Golf R; that means a 296bhp petrol engine driving all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Using launch control, we managed 0-62mph in a seriously rapid 4.7sec, making this SUV quicker than the Honda Civic Type R. It’s not the most raucous-sounding engine, missing an addictive roar from the exhaust pipes and…

SOFT-TOUCH SURFACES and a central armrest. That’s what owners said they wanted for the Suzuki Vitara. And they’re just two of the many upgrades that this revised model has received. Notably, there’s a new 109bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre engine under the bonnet, replacing the old non-turbo 1.6 as the entry-level unit. Four-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox are optional alternatives to the standard front-wheel drive and manual ’box. The outgoing 1.6-litre engine was punchy enough, but you always needed to rev it quite hard to get the best from it. Not so with the new 1.0-litre turbo, which, despite its smaller size, has loads more muscle at low revs. Getting up to motorway speeds is no drama at all, although the three-cylinder engine sounds a little thrummy when you push…

1 BMW 5 Series Touring 520i M Sport auto List price £42,005 Target Price £38,211 Saving £3794 A larger boot brings even more practicality to BMW’s excellent 5 Series. It’s refined and great to drive plus it has the best infotainment system around. 2 Audi Q2 35 TFSI S line (Tech Pack) List price £29,355 Target Price £27,787 Saving £1568 Audi’s smallest SUV model has a classy interior and offers tidy handling. It should hang on to its value well, too, especially in high-end S line form. ‘The Q2 should hang on to its value well, especially in high-end S line trim’ 3 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 180 SE Tech List price £37,945 Target Price £35,536 Saving £2409 SE Tech versions of the Discovery Sport come with lots…

Mercedes has improved the C-Class markedly since its launch, and this facelift maintains that momentum. It now rides well, even in sporty AMG Line trim, and feels better put together, while its upgraded infotainment system is more user-friendly. It doesn’t quite do enough to beat its rivals here, but it isn’t far off. That’s all the more impressive when you consider just how polished the Audi A4 is. Sure, it might look a little staid, but you won’t find a better-made car in this class, nor a better-riding one (if you add adaptive dampers). In fact, it remains consistently good across the board. Not quite good enough, though, because it has been beaten by the fantastic new 3 Series. BMW has succeeded in its aim of making the best-handling car…

WHY DO PEOPLE buy SUVs? We’d suggest there are two main reasons: a lofty driving position and the idea that your shiny new motor could cross the Sahara, even if the reality is that it’d struggle to free itself from a muddy car park. But some people just want the moon on a stick, also demanding sports car-shaming performance from their practical two-tonne family 4x4. That’s led us to create a new category for such machines: sports SUVs. Yes, we know that, technically, that stands for ‘sports sports utility vehicle’, but you have to admit the condensed version trips off the tongue rather nicely. One of our favourite sports SUVs is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S. It’s powered by a thunderous 503bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, making it the quickest SUV…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £9000 Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ2 NO OTHER CITY car offers so much for so little. Let’s start with the engine: the 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit packs a modest 67bhp, but because the Celerio is light, it’s plenty gutsy enough for city work and doesn’t even feel too out of its depth on the motorway. Drive sensibly and the 57.8mpg we saw in our real-world True MPG testing is genuinely achievable. The way the Celerio rides and handles should also be commended. True, it isn’t quite as supple or agile as rivals such as the Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Up, but it’s close enough, and remember that both of those rivals cost considerably more to buy. Inside, the Celerio offers genuine space for four adults and the weekly…

The Sandero is a staggering amount of car for your money, but its cost-cutting demands compromises. Meanwhile, the A1 is a fine all-rounder, but it doesn’t really do anything better than the Polo, despite carrying a hefty price premium. So, it’s the Polo that’s the best small car you can buy. It sets the standard for comfort and refinement, while its frugal 1.0-litre petrol engine and strong resale values make it a good long-term buy, and Volkswagen has kept the pricing sensible. There are no weaknesses in the Polo’s armour. Save at least £1210 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dualjet SHVS 2WD SZ5 LAST YEAR’S TRUE MPG Award winner, the Suzuki Ignis 1.2 SHVS 2WD, remains the most frugal car we’ve tested; the surprisingly spacious and practical city car-sized SUV’s electrically assisted 1.2-litre petrol engine returned an outstanding figure of 59.6mpg. But don’t think that efficiency comes at the price of performance, because the Ignis is quicker than the larger Renault Captur, with its 90bhp engine pulling willingly from low revs and providing plenty of in-gear zip. Admittedly, the Ignis doesn’t handle or steer quite as well as its French rival and leans a fair bit on roundabouts and twisting roads. But on the plus side, you can actually specify it with four-wheel drive. The cheapest version of the Ignis is…

Last year’s Car of the Year retains its position as the very best family SUV you can buy. The Dacia Duster is incredibly cheap, but put it next to the Skoda and Volvo and you’ll notice a gulf in quality and driving dynamics. The Karoq, meanwhile, impresses with its polished interior and versatile seating, but even that car is beaten by Volvo’s ultra-smooth, refined and plush XC40, which also gets outstanding safety kit. The new additions to the XC40 line-up ensure that it continues where it left off, leading the pack of family SUVs. Save at least £1298 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £40,000 Cupra Ateca 300 AS THE FIRST model from Seat’s freshly spun off performance brand, the Cupra Ateca needed to be special. Sure enough, it has what marketing folk call a ‘unique selling point’, because no other sports SUV offers anywhere near as much pace for less than £40,000. The reason it’s so fast, reaching 62mph from rest in just 5.2sec, is a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which it shares with Volkswagen’s Golf R flagship hot hatch. Indeed, the Cupra Ateca will out-accelerate anything from the Honda Civic Type R to the Porsche Macan, which costs £10,000 more. Don’t think Cupra has created a car that’s quick only in a straight line, either. Even in standard, Seat form, the Ateca is one of the best-handling…

If you’re assuming the Q7 wins simply because it’s the cheapest candidate, you’re wrong. On merit, especially as an all-rounder, this seven-seat behemoth outshines the go-anywhere Land Rover Discovery and even the extravagant Bentley Bentayga. How so? Well, the Q7 rides more plushly than either of those cars, has a significantly better infotainment system and better keeps noise out of its sumptuous interior. Indeed, the fact that it racks up more stars in our test criteria than any other car on sale today means it isn’t just the best luxury SUV, but one of the best cars full stop. Thanks to: Two Bridges Hotel,Yelverton, Dartmoor Save at least £4111 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

Space is the name of the game in the estate car class, and so the Skoda Superb Estate wins for the fourth year in a row. With masses of storage room and palatial comfort for passengers, it’s one of the most impressive family cars you can buy. Even if it is a bit niche, the Skoda Fabia Estate remains an excellent budget choice, while the BMW 5 Series Touring is better to drive and has a plusher-feeling interior. Still, it’s the Superb Estate that strikes the sweet spot of practicality, comfort, low running costs and value. Save at least £873 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

Finalist Audi Q3 AS A FAMILY SUV, the Audi Q3 competes in one of the most popular car classes. More than 1.1 million have been sold since the first-generation car went on sale in 2011, so the latest model looks set to sell well and in doing so will help to improve road safety. The latest Audi Q3 gained the second-highest overall score of 2018 in Euro NCAP tests. For a start, it has very good passive safety to protect occupants in a crash, and it gained the year’s highest score in the Safety Assist test, which measures the ability of a vehicle to avoid a crash in the first place. Active safety systems that come as standard include blindspot monitoring and a lane-keeping system that steers the vehicle back…

With an overall score of 90%, the A-Class gained the highest marks of all the cars Euro NCAP tested in 2018, in what were the toughest test procedures to date. As well as gaining very high scores for adult and child occupant protection, the A-Class was the highest scorer when it came to protecting vulnerable road users, gaining 92%. It performed strongly in impacts involving pedestrians’ heads, upper and lower legs, and its AEB system was effective at spotting pedestrians and cyclists.The optional Driver Assistance Package is very capable at supporting the driver on motorways, too. The previous A-Class was a top 10 seller in the UK and this model is likely to be as popular, so it’s likely to have a significant effect on overall road safety.…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £40,000 BMW 5 Series 520d SE OUR 2017 OVERALL Car of the Year is still impressing, a full two years on from that success, and that’s despite some serious new competition being available. This year, it has faced challenges from Mercedes-Benz’s updated E-Class and an all-new Audi A6, yet it’s still numero uno – which goes to show how far ahead of the pack the 5 Series was when it was launched. Powered by a punchy yet frugal 2.0-litre diesel engine, it will swoosh along pretty much any road more calmly and quietly than its rivals, and if you factor in its impeccable driving position, piloting a 5 Series is as relaxing as a Swedish massage. Speaking of which, massaging seats are on the options list,…

Most buyers considering a low-emissions car don’t want to go fully electric straight away, and that’s why hybrids continue to make a lot of sense, especially when they feel like conventional cars to drive.That’s where the Ioniq shines. While both the Toyota Yaris and Honda CR-V hybrids offer the low running costs and tax advantages that will entice buyers, it’s the Ioniq that presents the most polished package. It remains the best choice for those who want to switch to low-emissions motoring without breaking the bank. Save at least £1704 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £30,000 Renault Zoe R110 Dynamique Nav OUR 2017 ELECTRIC Car of the Year remains a compelling proposition two years on – and that’s some achievement, given the pace at which things are moving in this class. Chief among the Zoe’s appeal is still its low price. But unlike other sub-£25k pure electric options, such as the Smart Fortwo EQ, you don’t have to put up with a feeble range. In fact, in our Real Range tests, the Zoe outperformed many much pricier options by managing 146 miles on a full charge. You can opt to buy the Zoe outright (that’s the ‘i’ model), but we reckon you’re better off buying just the car and leasing the battery from Renault. Why? Well, you’ll pay a much smaller…

Having created an electric car that can travel farther than rivals that cost more than twice as much, Hyundai could have shut down its hydrogen fuel cell development and concentrated on one technology rather than two. But it hasn’t; instead, it has reached the point where it claims it can lower the price of its fuel cell vehicles by at least 30% by 2025, making them competitive with equivalent petrol and diesel models. So Hyundai wins for not only building the EV with the greatest real-world range we’ve tested so far, but also for developing technology that could one day offer car buyers greater electric range without the hassle of recharging a battery.…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £22,000 Ford Fiesta ST ST-2 Performance Pack 3dr THE PREVIOUS-GENERATION Fiesta ST will forever be written in the annals of history as a mega pocket rocket, and in 2018 Ford had to come up with its successor. When this car arrived and went head to head with the new Volkswagen Polo GTI, it didn’t just win; it won by a huge margin. Why? Well, the Polo had slightly more outright pace, but when it came to sharp accelerator response and purposeful midrange welly, the Fiesta had it covered. Then there’s the fruity parp from its three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine that makes your hair stand on end; the Polo’s anodyne-sounding motor won’t. And while the Polo has an efficient dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the ST’s tactile manual ’box adds…

There’s been a big shake-up in the coupé category this year, even though it’s another Audi that takes over from the TT as class champion. The DB11 hogs some of the limelight with its power and excitement, and the 2 Series offers practicality and style, but the A5 offers the best of both. It’s sleek, fast and good to drive, plus it offers usable rear seats and plenty of boot space. The A5’s competitive company car tax rates make it an even more compelling package. Overall, it offers everything a coupé buyer could possibly want. Save at least £3199 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £50,000 Kia Stinger 3.3 T-GDi GT S IF YOU’RE LOOKING for maximum bang for your buck, it’s hard to look past the Kia Stinger GT S, which has the more affordable end of the performance car category pretty much sewn up at present. With 365bhp from its twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine, straight-line pace is never anything other than mesmerising; the run from 0-62mph takes just 4.7sec. That’s quick enough to keep pace with out-and-out sports cars such as the Porsche 718 Cayman. The rear-wheel-drive Stinger combines that performance with tactile, adjustable handling that makes the car feel alive beneath you on twisty country roads, without being in any way intimidating. Its handling prowess makes sense when you remember that the chassis was tuned by the…

AS THE TWO teenage boys approached my car and raised their hands to make a gesture at me, I expected the worst. But, to my surprise, I got a thumbs-up and an appreciative head nod. Clearly, driving a coupé-like Volkswagen Arteon is improving my street cred no end. This is surprising for a Volkswagen, because while its cars are, pound for pound, some of the best around, they tend to be very conservatively styled. However, the Arteon is undoubtedly an exception. With car buyers flocking to high-riding SUVs, I guess Volkswagen bosses felt something radical had to be done to entice people to keep buying more traditional types of cars. And if public reaction is anything to judge by, it has worked. I’ve never had so much attention in a…

Mileage 4087 List price £32,890 (before £3500 government grant) Target Price £32,069 Price as tested £34,555 Test range 124 miles The Leaf’s climate control timer has been coming in handy in recent weeks to pre-warm and demist the interior in advance of me setting off to work each morning. At first, I wasn’t sure whether it would work unless the car was connected to a charging point, but it turns out that the interior can be warmed up either via the mains or the high-voltage drive battery – the latter for no more than 15 minutes and at the expense of chopping a few miles off the range. This is on top of the effect the winter weather has had, reducing the realistic range to little more than 100 miles,…

Mileage 3322 List price £17,630 Target Price £16,532 Price as tested £24,820 Test economy 36.6mpg IN SOME CASES, smaller is better, and one situation in which that adage proves accurate is when you’re trying to park for free in central London. Many would say that phrase is a contradiction in terms, but hear me out. If you frequent the West End as often as I do, you begin to notice that a lot of the streets with parking – often running parallel to or directly behind the rows of theatres – become free to use after 6.30pm.You also notice that the spaces available are bleedin’ small.Too small for, say, the Mazda CX-5 that I ran earlier this year, or the Audi Q5 I had before that. But in a Mini?…

Either one of these hot hatches will do any keen driver proud. Both are huge fun, albeit for different reasons.The hardcore Ford Focus RS has much higher handling limits and can devour twisting country roads at an incredible rate. It’s firmer and much wilder in nearly all situations than the BMW M135i, but the driver feedback it offers more than makes up for its unyielding ride and slightly compromised driving position. The less highly strung M135i can’t quite keep up through the corners, but it offers a more engaging driving experience at normal road speeds. It’s comfier, too, with a softer ride, a classier interior and a much more flexible driving position.Aided by a strong, characterful engine that emits a more sporting sound and delivers its power more smoothly, it…

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 £20,000 Citroën Berlingo The beauty of the Berlingo is that it offers so much for so little; you’ll be hard pressed to find anything more cavernous for the money. But it isn’t just spacious and cheap; it also rides more comfortably than many larger MPVs, so you’ll find the Berlingo a relaxing place in which to travel. Although the interior quality isn’t anything special, the Berlingo is about the most practical car you can buy. Our pick Puretech 110 Feel M List price £19,095 Target Price £17,232 MPG 42.4 CO2 119g/km For Comfortable and relaxing to drive, with a vast amount of space and storage inside. Against Wallowy handling; laggy infotainment system; cheap-feeling plastics. WHAT CAR? SAYS Peugeot Rifter Our pick Puretech 110 Active List price £19,909 Target…

IN THE SAME way that the aspirational middle classes might one day begin shopping at Waitrose rather than Sainsbury’s, Mazda is hoping that its new 3 family hatchback will move in the same circles as the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, rather than with mid-priced alternatives such as the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. Marginally shorter, wider and lower than today’s 3, the new car features a more rounded design, inspired by the well-received Kai concept car of 2017, with a larger grille, a boot-mounted spoiler and thinner headlights. There’s no word on whether the new dimensions have liberated more space inside, but the boot should be big enough for at least your shopping haul or a set of golf clubs. Mazda hasn’t made many changes to…

IF WE WERE to ask you to list some lap record holders for Germany’s infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, we doubt we’d hear any mention of a diesel-powered SUV. However, the new Skoda Kodiaq vRS is the fastest seven- seater to be timed around the 12.93-mile track, zipping around in a respectable 9min 29.84sec. Although we suspect a tidily driven Audi SQ7 would decimate that time, outright speed isn’t really what the Kodiaq vRS is about, despite its bragging rights. It remains a sensible SUV, but it just so happens to be rather brisk, able to get from 0-62mph in just 7.0sec. Look under the bonnet and you’ll see the source of this extra performance. While there’s still a 2.0-litre diesel engine, an extra turbocharger raises its power from 188bhp to…

MERCEDES DOESN’T LIKE to miss out on a niche; just look at the CLS and GLC Coupé, for example. And yet the German manufacturer has never had an entry-level hot hatch on its books. Where Volkswagen has the Golf GTI, Audi the S3 and BMW the M140i, the only performance version of the previous A-Class hatchback was the über-expensive AMG A45. That’s where the new A35 comes in, having been conceived to plug the gap between the A250 and the future 400bhp A45. Under its bonnet lies the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine as that of the A250, but uprated to 302bhp and driving all four wheels, rather than the front pair alone. That sounds like a potent combination, and it proves to be so. Even on wet roads, the…

ELECTRIC CAR MG eZS MG’s first electric car is a variant of its existing small SUV, the ZS, which we give three stars. Visually unchanged apart from a charging port hidden in its front grille, the eZS uses a 48kWh battery to power a 148bhp motor on its front axle. This gives it an official (NEDC) range of 268 miles, which should equate to around 200 in reality, plus it’s capable of an 80% charge in just 30 minutes. Inside, an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system is standard. Price £25,000 (est) LARGE SUV Borgward BX7 German brand Borgward folded in 1961, but it was revived in 2008 with Chinese funding, and UK sales of its SUVs will begin in late 2019. These are the Audi Q3-sized BX5 and Q5-sized BX7, which…

IT HAS BEEN a rosy 12 months for the Volvo XC40. The D4 diesel version won our overall Car of the Year Award back in January 2018 and has since successfully defended its position as our favourite family SUV against a host of new and refreshed rivals. Not that the XC40 can put its tyres up and relax, because here it faces potentially its toughest test yet. After what seemed like an eternity on sale, the Audi Q3 has been replaced with an all-new model that’s more practical, better equipped and loaded with the latest technology. For this particular contest, we have sporty Q3 S line and XC40 R-Design trims, along with turbocharged petrol engines and automatic gearboxes. It should be quite the contest. DRIVING Performance, ride, handling, refinement Although…

There’s an awful lot to like about the GLC. You’ll love the throbbing V8, regardless of how quickly you’re going, and the GLC is the classier car inside. But while it handles well up to a point, the harder you push it, the less composed it feels. The Stelvio is the opposite, with more playful, better-balanced handling that lets you attack a challenging country road with confidence, while its stonking performance will put an even bigger grin on your face. The Stelvio is more than just a thrilling car to drive, too; it’s also spacious inside for passengers and has a bigger boot, making it a better bet for family life. Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV For Entertaining handling; more rear seat space; bigger boot; cheaper to run Against Engine could…

Keen readers will have noticed that the 2019 city car contenders are the same as last year’s crop, and that’s a testament to the strength of all three back then. The Picanto, then, had to take the title again, with the same great recipe of space, performance, comfort and equipment. The lengthy spec list and high-quality interior also help to seal the deal for the Picanto over the Skoda Citigo and Suzuki Celerio, justifying its higher price point by offering a more complete package overall and making it the best combination of car for the money. Save at least £608 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £20,000 Kia Ceed 1.0 T-GDi 118 2 LAST YEAR, the Kia Ceed lost out by a whisker to the Seat Leon in our lowest price point. However, this all-new Ceed is a much more convincing package, especially in entry-level 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol form. The three-cylinder engine is smoother and more refined than that of the equivalent Leon and gives more than enough power for everyday driving, while it will take on motorway miles without any fuss. Inside, the Ceed gets a smarter interior and a better infotainment system than any rivals at this price, even if some of the top-spec infotainment and safety features are available only on the more expensive trims. We wouldn’t bother to upgrade; the Ceed makes far more sense at the lower…

It may be a small SUV, but the Arona has a large number of things going for it. It dwarfs the Ignis, so it has much more rear head room and boot space, and it’s far better to drive, with a more settled ride and far tidier cornering manners. The T-Roc represents stiffer competition, being closely related to this Seat model, but despite having a considerably higher list price, it isn’t dramatically more practical or better to drive. Surprisingly, it’s no classier inside, either. For the second year running, then, the brilliant Arona continues to be this class’s benchmark. Save at least £1594 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £28,000 Mazda CX-5 2.0 Skyactiv-G 165 2WD SE-L Nav+ MAZDA HAS TWEAKED its large SUV since the lower-powered 2.2-litre diesel model emerged as our pick in the middle price point at last year’s awards, improving standard equipment and giving the range-topping diesel more power and standard four-wheel drive. The diesels remain refined and gutsy, but it’s the cheaper 2.0-litre petrols that now stand out as the best value, with a starting price of less than £25,000, even though they produce less low-rev grunt than the diesels. What hasn’t changed is the CX-5’s superb interior, which looks and feels really smart and is extremely well equipped, even in entry-level SE-L Nav+ form. As with all other large SUVs in this price point, such as the Citroën C5…

Price is far from the be all and end all in this class, but it’s what gives the Ateca the win, because Cupra has managed to produce a car that’s just as much fun to drive as the BMW X3 M40i and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, despite undercutting them by more than £16,000 and £33,000 respectively. Okay, both of its rivals for the title have sweeter-sounding engines, plus the X3’s interior feels classier. But in terms of smiles per pound, the Cupra is unsurpassed, and it actually has the comfiest ride of the trio, so it’s easiest to live with on a daily basis. Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

The Berlingo offers so much for so little.You’ll be hard pushed to find something more cavernous for the money. That said, it isn’t just spacious and cheap. With a ride that’s softer than the Touran’s and similar performance to that and the Galaxy, you’ll find the Berlingo a relaxing place in which to cover miles. Yes, the interior plastics are hard, but you can be sure they’ll be hard-wearing, while a few colourful details help to lift the overall ambience. Put simply, cars don’t get much more practical than this, especially for such a low price. Save at least £1863 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £25,000 Ssangyong Musso 2.2 EX auto SURPRISE, SURPRISE: A Ssangyong is our pick in the lowest price point of the pick-up category. Surely that’s just because the new Musso is cheap and cheerful? Well, if those thoughts are currently running through your head, can we advise you to park your preconceptions at the door, because the new Musso is a great pick-up regardless of price. For starters, it’s massive inside, offering more head and leg room than any of its immediate rivals; the Nissan Navara feels positively cramped by comparison. And because it’s based on the Rexton SUV, the Musso benefits from an interior that puts those in more expensive offerings, such as the Mitsubishi L200, to shame; it features soft-touch plastics, well-damped switches and a…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £25,000 Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology ALL THE JOKES and puns about nominative determinism have already been made, but that doesn’t stop the Skoda Superb from being exactly what its name suggests. That’s because it represents lot of car for the money. Nothing else in this class offers as much space, whether that’s up front, in the back or in the boot. It’s truly limousine-like. But don’t write the Superb off as just another sensible load-lugger; there are plenty more strings to its bow. Sure, the Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6 are more fun to drive, but the Superb still offers a silky smooth ride, and our favourite 2.0-litre diesel engine delivers decent performance while remaining impressively frugal. Few rivals have an interior that…

It would be easy to give this to the Audi A8; it is one of the most luxurious cars on the planet.The 6 Series GT, too, is a car with exceptionally good pampering techniques. Yet the 5 Series is just as good in so many ways, and we can find no area in which it drops the ball. The interior is virtually identical to the 6 Series’ and just as well made, but for a comparatively bargain price. The infotainment system is the same, too, and you can, if you want, spec it up with nearly every luxury feature that the A8 offers. It’s the supreme luxury package without the exclusive price tag. Save at least £3384 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £30,000 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid Premium WE ALREADY THINK the Ioniq is the best hybrid car you can buy, but the truth is that it’s also among the best plug-in hybrids – especially if you can charge it up at home or at work. In fact, if your regular commute is a round trip of less than 31 miles, you can get the whole way to the office and back again without spending a penny on petrol. When the Ioniq’s 1.6-litre petrol engine joins in on longer journeys, it generates barely more than a background thrum. It’s slightly irksome that even when you’re travelling in EV mode, the engine starts up if you call for anything other than gentle acceleration, but this is something that also…

Uncompromised electric car ownership has, so far, been the privilege of those able to afford a Tesla, which is why the e-Niro is such a game-changer. While the Zoe deserves praise for offering a decent range for less than £30k and the I-Pace for giving well-heeled buyers a better option, we think Kia’s success in making a long-range electric car that’s within the reach of many deserves the most credit. The winds of change are blowing fiercely in the land of electric cars, so we can’t say how long the e-Niro will be on top. But right now, that’s exactly where it sits. Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £25,000 Mini Convertible Cooper Classic Comfort/Navigation IF YOU WERE to design the ideal drop-top for the UK, you’d probably end up with something resembling the Mini Convertible. Small enough to fit down tight B-roads yet large enough to carry four adults in relative comfort, it’s little wonder Mini has managed more sales of the car here than anywhere else. Of course, there’s more to the Convertible’s success than just its size. The Mini brand has a reputation for premium interiors, and this car truly lives up to that, with plenty of soft-touch materials on the dashboard and solid-feeling knobs and switches. Combined with retro touches, such as a rocker starter switch and a ring around the infotainment system that’s reminiscent of the old central speedometer, it’s…

We love the Fiesta ST’s feistiness and the i30 N’s sweet-natured charm, but no other current hot hatch comes close to matching the accessible thrills of the Civic Type R. Put it on a race track with some supercars and it’s capable of producing even higher cornering speeds, yet it’s not so hardcore that it makes for a compromised road car; far from it. When you’re done having your fun, you can simply soften off the suspension and the Type R becomes a regular, perfectly civilised Civic again. It’s going to take a truly exceptional car to topple it. Save at least £2639 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

BEST BUY LESS THAN £30,000 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Nav+ WITH OUR CONVERTIBLE category now focusing on four-seat drop-tops, the MX-5 has been reclassified as a sports car. It’s certainly a natural fit, because it’s how this car drives that is key to its appeal. And while we sang its praises last year (and the two years before that), our tune is even more joyous in 2019. A facelift introduced an upgraded version of the 2.0-litre petrol engine to get it through the latest emissions regulations. While that sounds a trifle dull, Mazda cunningly used it as an excuse to boost power to 181bhp at a heady 7000rpm. Don’t think that having to spin the engine so hard is a chore, either. It has a seriously rev-happy nature and cheeky…

It’s often said that getting to the top is easier than staying there. So by that reckoning, the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s second Car of the Year category win is arguably a greater success than its first. But it should be no surprise. We’re talking about a comfortable, spacious, well-equipped saloon that’s more fun to drive than the cheaper but less involving Kia Stinger GT S and almost as fast as the nearly £40,000 more expensive Mercedes E63 S Estate. That it can’t quite match our other contenders for quality hardly matters; you’ll be having too much fun to care. Save at least £1817 on this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals…

Mileage 25,214 Price when new £70,235 Value now £50,600 Test range 200 miles IF YOU WERE searching for proof that I’m still an electric car novice, you need look no further than my original plan to simply charge my Model S up from the three-pin socket in my garage each night. “Oh, no,” said a colleague. “You won’t want to do it like that.” On a three-pin plug, you see, it would take more than 20 hours to charge up the battery pack from empty. I made the point that I’d never let it get that low, but I was warned that not having a proper wall charger would still become rather tedious. So it was that, a couple of weeks later, I was on the phone to Chargemaster, arranging…

Mileage 13,229 List price £17,830 Target Price £16,302 Price as tested £17,830 Test economy 47.8mpg IF YOU’VE READ the results of this year’s What Car? Awards, you’ll know that the Arona was named Small SUV of the Year for the second year in a row. And having lived with one for the past six months, I can’t say I’m surprised. In fact, during the time I’ve had it, my Arona has defied all my attempts to find any significant flaws with it. From the off, I didn’t fear my commute with the car’s 95bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It’s sufficiently responsive, muscular and tractable to keep up with motorway traffic, and a welcome surprise was an impressive average economy figure of 47.8mpg, recorded perhaps 90% on the motorway. The handling,…

LESS THAN £10,000 Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 SZ2 List price £8999 Target Price £8999 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 £9895 Target Price £9195 MPG 50.4 CO2 117g/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 £8941 MPG 55.4 CO2 101g/km For Fun to drive, with a comfortable ride and an upmarket interior.…

LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 Dualjet SHVS 2WD SZ5 List price £14,509 Target Price £12,801 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 na CO2 140g/km For An 8.0in…

LESS THAN £40,000 Cupra Ateca Price is far from the be all and end all in this class, but it’s a large part of the reason why the Cupra Ateca is our Sports SUV of the Year. With a 0-62mph time of 5.2sec and a 153mph top speed, no other SUV offers as much performance for less than £40,000, and it’s as much fun to drive as the much pricer BMW X3 M40i and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Yet its ride is no firmer than a regular Ateca’s. Our pick 300 List price £35,900 Target Price £35,900 MPG 34.0 CO2 168g/km For Unbeatable bang for the buck in this class; handles very well; still very practical. Against Doesn’t sound very exciting and isn’t as sharp to drive as a hot…

LESS THAN £40,000 BMW 5 Series No matter how hard we try, we can’t really find any areas in which the 5 Series drops the ball. Take the interior, for example: it’s virtually identical to the 6 Series’ and just as well made, but it comes for a comparatively bargain price. The infotainment system is the same, too, and you can spec it up with nearly every luxury feature that the 7 Series offers. It’s the supreme luxury package without a price tag to match. Our pick 520d SE List price £38,585 Target Price £35,201 MPG 52.3 CO2 117g/km For Spacious, well-appointed interior; great to drive, with a quiet, economical engine. Against You need to add adaptive dampers for the best ride quality. WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi A6 Our pick…