Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i What Car?

‘Banning the sale of the cleanest hybrids from 2035 is the wrong call’ The recent announcement that sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK from 2035 understandably attracted a lot of headlines. However, a related but still hugely significant policy change received less attention: the removal of the exemption for the cleanest hybrids. The original statement was ambiguous about their fate, and when What Car? rang to get clarification, the government representative we spoke to couldn’t provide any answers. It was only several hours later that they confirmed hybrids would no longer be part of the solution. I can’t help thinking that this suggests minimal thought was put into the decision.And having recently driven two of the latest plug-in hybrids (see p62), I’m convinced…

WHETHER YOU’RE PICKING up a new car or looking to watch an Oscar-winning movie, now is a good time to go Korean. One of the country’s latest exports is the new Kia Sorento, and if the e-Niro electric SUV and Picanto city car before it are any indication, it’ll be a strong contender for leadership in the large SUV market. As well as having strikingly refreshed looks, the Sorento is based on all-new underpinnings, so it should be better to drive than before.The new model is just 3.5cm longer than its predecessor, but interior space promises to be significantly increased, notably in the second row of seats, where knee room grows by up to 9cm. As with the outgoing model, UK cars will come with seven seats as standard and…

IT TAKES GUTS to admit you were wrong. Which Porsche hasn’t done, exactly, but in producing a six-cylinder Boxster GTS, it certainly appears to have made a spectacular U-turn. After telling us emissions-busting smaller-capacity four-cylinder turbocharged engines were the way forward, the consensus is that, in the real world, they aren’t any more efficient and ruin the Boxster experience – sounding like a washing machine spin-drying ball bearings. Happily, then, we’re back to 4.0 litres, six cylinders and natural aspiration, courtesy of the latest Boxster Spyder’s engine. It has been detuned for the GTS but still produces 49bhp more than the 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Boxster S. The GTS also has bigger brakes, sports suspension (20mm lower) and sportier styling. So, does that make it worth around £10,000 more than the…

EVER SINCE THE first generation was released in 2002, the RS6 has stood proud as Audi’s unofficial halo model, mixing supercar-baiting performance with exceptional practicality. In that respect, this fourth-generation model is no exception. Under the bonnet lurks a tweaked version of its predecessor’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, now producing a mighty 592bhp and 590lb ft of torque. That immense power is fed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, an effective combination that results in the kind of acceleration that feels like you’ve been rear-ended by an express train. The sprint from rest to 62mph is over in just 3.6sec and the top speed is as high as 189mph if you’ve specified the optional carbon-ceramic brakes on a high trim level. Fit the RS sports exhaust system as…

THE HONDA CIVIC Type R is as good as hot hatchbacks get. It’s thrilling yet practical, involving yet comfortable; little wonder, then, that it’s been our Hot Hatch of the Year for three years running, with not even much more powerful and expensive rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG A35 and BMW M135i being able to depose it.To strengthen its grip on this market, though, Honda is giving the Type R updates to not only improve its performance but also make it appeal to a wider audience. Key to the latter objective is the addition of new Limited Edition and Sport Line variants. The Limited Edition – described as the most extreme Type R yet – features lightweight components, a stripped-out interior (with the air-con and infotainment systems removed to save…

THE ZOE HAS been the best-selling electric car in Europe since it launched eight years ago and is a serial winner of What Car? awards, so it makes sense that Renault has effected a number of headline-grabbing updates for this new model, rather than reinventing it. The most notable change is a jump in official range, from 186 to 245 miles, thanks to a larger battery. What’s more, there’s now the option of CCS rapid charging at a rate of up to 50kW, so you can get a full recharge in 70 minutes. The interior has been redesigned as well, gaining a much more premium look, thanks to a reshaped dashboard, a larger infotainment touchscreen – now with smartphone mirroring – and seat fabric made from recycled plastics. Can this…

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Mileage 6820 List price £18,930 Target Price £16,525 Price as tested £21,085 Test economy 54.3mpg MY CIRCLE OF friends includes an accountant, a vehicle dynamics engineer, a sound engineer and a motoring journalist. I’m hoping that doesn’t make me the dumb one. But whose opinion would you most value regarding the ride quality of a car? Really? Wow. Okay, fine, I’ll tell you what Ben thinks about my Skoda Scala.When I went to pick him up from the station recently, it took only a few minutes for him to start complimenting his Czech counterparts’ work.“The ride is smooth as butter and bumps are hardly noticeable,” he said.“It’s hands down the comfiest and most relaxing low-cost car I’ve been in.” I’d better not tell you who he works for, then. For…

£14,000-£16,000 Skoda Fabia Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £15,520 Target Price £12,961 MPG 51.4 CO2 123g/km For Roomy interior, reasonably well equipped and a sprightly engine. Against There are too many hard plastics inside and the ride is firm in town. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Rio Our pick 1.0 T-GDi manual ‘2’ List price £15,955 Target Price £15,085 MPG 48.7 CO2 132g/km For Turbo engine is a fine performer and there’s lots of kit as standard. Against It’s fidgety in town and the handling and security ratings are average. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Swift Our pick 1.0 Boosterjet SZ-T List price £15,059 Target Price £12,436 MPG 51.4 CO2 136g/km For Nippy engine can keep up on the motorway and interior space is good. Against Some rivals ride…

LESS THAN £60,000 Land Rover Discovery Our pick 2.0 Sd4 SE List price £54,660 Target Price £50,965 MPG 33.6 CO2 220g/km For Decent finance deals, cheaper than rivals as a company car and a gutsy engine. Against Rivals handle better and the touchscreen is sluggish to respond. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volvo XC90 Our pick B5 Momentum List price £53,635 Target Price £49,726 MPG 44.1 CO2 167g/km For Big, classy interior, with seating for seven and lots of standard equipment. Against The ride isn’t as smooth as you’d expect and the suspension is noisy. WHAT CAR? SAYS BMW X5 Our pick xDrive30d xLine List price £57,640 Target Price £53,030 MPG 37.2 CO2 199g/km For Punchy, smooth engine; super-supple air suspension; excellent infotainment. Against Seven seats costs extra and the boot isn’t…

LESS THAN £30,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE Technology List price £24,940 Target Price £24,217 MPG 44.8 CO2 143g/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. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Passat Our pick 1.5 TSI Evo SE Nav List price £26,430 Target Price £20,640 MPG 45.5 CO2 141g/km For Spacious, plush interior, comfortable and refined at high speeds. Against Less versatile than hatchback rivals, despite the big boot. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon Our pick A180d Sport auto List price £28,735 Target Price £25,557 MPG 64.2 CO2 115g/km For Comfortable, attractive interior, comfortable ride, good infotainment. Against Rivals handle better and have bigger boots, rear head room is…

LESS THAN £35,000 Renault Zoe Our pick R135 GT Line List price £32,120 Target Price £29,706 Official range (WLTP) 238 miles CO2 0g/ For Very low running costs, easy to drive, longer range than many price rivals. Against Unsettled low-speed ride, tight rear head room. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Mii Electric Our pick 36.8kWh List price £22,800 Target Price £22,800 Official range (WLTP) 162 miles CO2 0g/km For Easy to park; comfortable ride, one of the cheapest electric cars to buy. Against Tight rear-seat space and small boot, lacks modern safety kit. WHAT CAR? SAYS MG ZS EV Our pick Excite List price £28,495 Target Price £25,995 Official range (WLTP) 163 miles CO2 0g/km For Lots of room for passengers; large boot; plenty of standard equipment for the money. Against…

LESS THAN £23,000 Ford Fiesta ST Our pick ST-2 Performance Pack 3dr List price £22,395 Target Price £20,958 MPG 40.4 CO2 136g/km (NEDC) For Strong, characterful engine, engaging handling, fun at all speeds. Against It’s easily upset by bumps and the interior feels a bit low-rent. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Swift Sport Our pick 1.4 Boosterjet List price £18,999 Target Price £17,249 MPG 47.1 CO2 135g/km For You get plenty of equipment as standard, plus it’s relatively quick and cheap to run. Against It’s not the bargain that the previous one was and not as much fun to drive. WHAT CAR? SAYS Abarth 595 Our pick 1.4 T-Jet 145 List price £16,960 Target Price £16,960 MPG 39.2 CO2 162g/km For Exquisite design details; straight-line performance; nimble on twisty roads. Against…

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 HYUNDAI i20 small hatchback has been reinvented. Much like the transformations that have changed the fortunes of Peugeot and Volvo in recent years, Hyundai has treated the i20 to much more than a simple nip and tuck for its third generation. Instead, the i20 has been to the gym, seen a plastic surgeon and finally visited a trendy fashion house for a new wardrobe. In short, it has gone funky. First up, the new i20 is a mild hybrid, meaning the sole 99bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine on offer in the UK has a small electric motor that can help the car to coast when the engine isn’t needed, leading to fuel and CO2 emissions savings of up to 4%. Despite having a wider and longer body than the outgoing…

JUST AS YOU wouldn’t wear trainers to a business meeting or brogues at the gym, cars tend to feel most at home in a particular role. However, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a better multitasker than most – probably because it has traditionally combined its agile handling and lively performance with looks that are almost as understated as any other Golf’s. So, is it the same story with this new, Mk8 version? Well, it pushes things a little farther than usual by adding a gaping front bumper vent to the twin exhausts and red front grille piping that we’ve come to expect. But overall its appearance is still more Russell & Bromley than Reebok. In fact, in some areas it looks more subtle than ever, with a wheel design reminiscent…

IF YOU’RE THE kind of person who values large armchairs, fluffy cushions and leather slippers over archery or rambling, the Citroën C3 has been designed with you in mind.This is a small hatchback that prioritises comfort over agility. Its suspension, for example, is softer than what you’ll find elsewhere in this class, with the aim of allowing it to glide over imperfections in the road. For this facelifted version, Citroën has given the C3 a new face inspired by 2016’s Cxperience concept car, with a different front grille and tweaked lights. Buyers now have more ways to personalise their C3, too, with new paint colours and new 17in alloy wheel designs. Inside, Citroën’s Advanced Comfort seats are designed to make long journeys easier by offering more padding than rivals’ and…

READERS OF MAGAZINES like Hello! and OK! will be used to the idea of a facelift. Every so often, an ageing celebrity will reinvent themselves with a bold new look in the hopes of keeping pace with younger rivals. This brings us neatly to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the current model of which is a grizzled veteran next to its luxury car contemporaries, including the Audi A6 and our reigning champion (and former Car of the Year), the BMW 5 Series. Like so many Hollywood celebrities, then, the E-Class has been nipped, tucked and re-presented to the world with a fresh face. Aside from a new front grille, all E-Class models now come with LED lights as standard and there’s a new bumper at the rear, along with redesigned light clusters.…

IF IT’S RETRO charm you’re after, there aren’t many new cars on sale that come close to the Fiat 500. More than a decade on from its launch, it remains one of the best-selling city cars, despite the fact that it’s well behind most of its rivals in terms of technology, safety, practicality and driving manners. The regular 500 is due to be joined by an all-new, fully electric 500e later this year, but in the meantime, it’s been treated to a dose of electrification with the introduction of a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine featuring mild hybrid technology. This is now the only engine option you can get in the 500. With a tiny electric motor and battery to share the effort, this new engine promises improved acceleration and…

Use your phone to scan the code by the car you like, or search for it on whatcar.com and click the ‘Get best price’ button. We’ll alert dealers in your area so they can compete for your business, but they can’t see your details until you’re ready to buy. You can request quotes on as many cars as you like, and your ‘My offers’ page lets you view them all in one place. While our Target PCP price allows direct finance comparisons, you can also request personalised finance quotes.…

Buying a new car is usually a reasonably safe prospect; if anything goes wrong, the chances are the cost of getting it fixed will be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Step outside of the new car market, though, and the risks are higher. The majority of warranties last for only three years, and most owners stop paying out for franchised dealer servicing once cars are four or five years old. So, if you don’t choose carefully, you could buy a car that hasn’t been well maintained and might suffer a costly fault. However, you can significantly reduce the chances of buying a money-pit used car by choosing a reliable make and model.The best older cars suffer almost no faults at all, even when they’re up to 15 years old, and…

Jaguar XE 2.0 D180 SE R-Dynamic AWD auto Mileage 2840 List price £39,475 Target Price £36,693 Price as tested £47,410 Options fitted Technology Pack (£1470), Drive Pack (£1000), Park Heat with remote control (£1000), split-spoke gloss black alloy wheels (£900), Caesium Blue metallic paint (£600), Meridian sound system (£600), Matrix LED headlights (£500), Cold Climate Pack (£445), electric bootlid (£400), Exterior Black Pack (£350), privacy glass (£325), aluminium trim finisher (£175) and heated 12-way electric front seats (£170) Test economy 40.8mpg Official economy 46.4mpg (WLTP)…

TALK ABOUT TOUGH acts to follow.The outgoing Audi A3 was the motoring equivalent of Floyd Mayweather, winning our overall Car of the Year award back in 2013 and remaining the undisputed king of premium hatchbacks throughout its entire seven years on sale. In fact, if you twisted our arm and asked us to name the greatest car from the past decade, we’d have to give it to the A3. That might seem like a slightly pragmatic choice in a period that saw the launch of real game-changers such as the fully electric Tesla Model 3 and the ultra-trendy Volvo XC40. But when you consider fitness for purpose and all-round brilliance, the A3 was as close to perfect as cars get, making even the mighty Volkswagen Golf of the era seem…

IT’S FAIR TO say that Volvo has been one of the driving forces behind the plug-in hybrid. Not only was its diesel-electric V60 one of the first of its breed to be sold in Europe, but the introduction of this XC40 Recharge T5 also means the Swedish brand is the first to offer a plug-in version of every model in its line-up. This XC40 is rather different from its larger range-mates, though. For a start, the engine is smaller, at 1.5 litres and 178bhp, but the main difference is that you won’t find an electric motor powering the rear wheels. Instead, an 80bhp motor is attached to a new dual-clutch automatic gearbox, giving the Recharge T5 a total of 258bhp and making it front-wheel drive only. With company car tax…

YOU CAN THINK of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé as the 1 Series hatchback’s attractive cousin. The two cars are extremely closely related and differ only really in looks and the space on offer in the rear and in the boot. Under the skin, the only notable change is a slightly softer suspension tuning, to cater for the North American and Asian markets where the 1 Series isn’t offered. The difference in ride quality, though, is slight, which means the 2 Series Gran Coupé offers a firm but very well-controlled ride that always stays on the right side of comfortable. It helps to make the car very stable on the motorway, too. It handles with the same precision as the 1 Series, with excellent body control and alert, direct…

GIVEN THAT YOU can’t buy an estate version of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the CLA Shooting Brake is the closest thing to one. Based on the CLA four-door coupé but with a longer roof and a tailgate, the Shooting Brake balances practicality with a big dollop of style. In 220d guise, the Shooting Brake’s 2.0-litre diesel engine is among the class best for refinement and feels strong on the road, picking up smartly from low revs. At the same time, real-world fuel economy of more than 50mpg is perfectly achievable. That’s thanks in part to a standard eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that shifts smoothly and swiftly between gears and drops engine revs nice and low at a cruise. Like the regular CLA, the Shooting Brake handles tidily enough, with reasonable grip…

WITH AN EVER-INCREASING number of small, affordable cars turning to electricity to reduce or even eradicate carbon emissions, Toyota must be feeling pretty smug with itself. That’s because since 2012, you’ve been able to buy a hybrid version of its Volkswagen Polo-sized Yaris that emits well under 100g/km of CO2. After eight years of fettling, though, it’s time to say goodbye to the third-generation Yaris and hello to an all-new, fourth-generation model, driven here in late prototype form. When we say ‘all-new’, we really do mean it. For a start, it’s built on Toyota’s latest underpinnings designed specifically for small cars, and it’s powered by a brand new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. The battery is smaller, lighter and yet more powerful than before and there’s tonnes of new safety kit.…

JAGUAR’S F-TYPE SPORTS car has a new look and a new engine option. The 5.0-litre V8 P450 slots into the line-up between the 2.0-litre P300 and the range-topping 567bhp V8 R. With 444bhp and 516lb ft of torque, the P450 is a brute, seeing off the 0-60mph dash in just 4.4sec in both rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive guises. The engine makes a thunderous noise under acceleration, and performance is strong enough to pin you firmly to your seat. Even with all that power sent to the rear wheels alone, accelerating out of a corner is entertaining rather than scary, thanks to tweaks to the traction control. But while twisting B-roads are fun in the P450, it’s not blessed with great handling finesse. Adjustments to the steering have added a little more…

With exceptionally strong performances by the hybrid CT family hatchback and RX luxury SUV, Lexus claims the top spot as the most dependable used car brand. Suzuki and Honda aren’t far behind, buoyed by the durability of the Swift, Jazz and Civic. When we looked at the reliability of newer cars (up to five years old), Mitsubishi lingered just outside the top 10 in 13th place, but it fares better as its models mature, with owners of models such as the ASX family SUV reporting few issues. Another brand that scores better for its older cars is Nissan. It was in 28th place for the reliability of its newer cars, but those between six and 15 years old appear to be more durable.The Leaf and Juke both have a reliability…

Does my new tow car need to be a diesel? I am looking to buy a nearly new car in the next few months, and I’m also planning on buying a caravan. The choice of caravan isn’t yet fixed, but I do know it will be between 1400kg and 1500kg maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM, or the entire weight of the caravan and all its contents). I would like a Skoda Karoq, and I assume that to tow a caravan of the weight mentioned, a diesel would be the way to go. Should I go for a 2.0-litre diesel model, or would a 1.6 be up to the job? My other option is a 2.0-litre diesel Volkswagen Tiguan, which I know is more than gutsy enough for the task.…

Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost 125 mHEV Titanium List price £20,845 Target Price £19,916 The top-spec Puma is our Car of the Year; can the entry-level model impress us just as much? Renault Captur TCe 100 Iconic List price £19,095 Target Price £18,548 Based on the Clio, the second-generation Captur has clever rear seats and a keen price. Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 115 SE List price £19,935 Target Price £17,421 Roomy, comfortable and good value, the Kamiq is a strong contender in mid-range guise.…

We’ve long said that BMW’s infotainment system is the best in the business, and the X5 doesn’t change our mind one bit. It’s controlled by a rotary dial between the seats or via the 12.3in touchscreen and comes with sat-nav, DAB and wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, but not Android Auto. The menus are easy to navigate, the graphics are crisp and it responds promptly to inputs. At 9.0in, the XC90’s touchscreen is much smaller than the X5’s and nowhere near as responsive to commands. In addition, some of the icons are quite small, making them tricky to hit on the move, while the menus can be confusing.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are packaged as a £300 option, but they’re displayed only on the bottom half of the screen, so…

Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI Sport (Plus Pack) List price £21,335 Target Price £20,207 Audi’s smallest model has plenty in common with the VW Polo, but that’s no bad thing. Mini 5dr Cooper Exclusive (Comfort Pack) List price £21,835 Target Price £20,464 Five-door version of the popular Mini can still turn heads, but is it a good buy? Peugeot 208 Puretech 100 GT Line List price £20,700 Target Price £19,257 New 208 has impressed against mainstream rivals, but can it compete with premium options?…

In production 2016-present Price from £8000 Our favourite 1.5 TSI 150 SE Technology FOR SOME, AN EXECUTIVE car is all about an impressive premium badge, but there are those for whom space and value for money are more important factors, and in both of those departments, nothing can hold a candle to the Skoda Superb. It’s certainly huge inside – in the front seats, the back seats and the boot. And the good news is that the Superb delivers in most other areas as well. It sits on a stretched version of the Volkswagen Golf’s underpinnings and comes with a broad range of excellent engines, with a choice of six-speed manual and DSG automatic gearboxes. Initially, smooth 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engines producing 123bhp or 148bhp propped up the range, but…

LESS THAN £11,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick TCe 90 Essential List price £8695 Target Price £8616 MPG 46.3 CO2 134g/km For Lots of space for the money, decent to drive and a fair amount of standard kit. Against The engine is unrefined and the interior is comparatively basic. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Sandero Stepway Our pick TCe 90 Essential List price £9895 Target Price £9804 MPG 45.6 CO2 141g/km For Reasonably well equipped, rides better than its sibling and it’s pretty good to drive. Against The interior uses cheap-feeling materials and the engine is too noisy. WHAT CAR? SAYS Citroën C1 Our pick VTi 72 3dr manual Touch List price £10,525 Target Price £10,525 MPG 52.2 CO2 109g/km For Competitively priced, cheap to run and there are personalisation options. Against…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Kamiq Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £19,135 Target Price £16,653 MPG 49.6 CO2 129g/km For Spacious inside, with a big boot, comfortable ride and low running costs. Against Driving position isn’t very SUV-like; height-adjustable boot floor costs extra. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen T-Cross Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £19,245 Target Price £18,693 MPG 48.7 CO2 135g/km For Good balance between ride and handling, plus a spacious, flexible interior. Against Pricier than many rivals, and you’ll want to add a few options. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 Dualjet SHVS 2WD SZ5 List price £15,759 Target Price £14,532 MPG 54.1 CO2 117g/km For Real-world economy is excellent; spacious and practical; lots of standard kit. Against Unsettled ride; noisy on…

LESS THAN £40,000 Volkswagen T-Roc R Our pick 2.0 TSI 300 4Motion DSG List price £38,450 Target Price £36,236 MPG 32.1 CO2 197g/km For Bombastic performance; stunning agility; decent practicality; well equipped. Against Hard dash plastics; Cupra Ateca has more rear leg room and a bigger boot. WHAT CAR? SAYS Cupra Ateca Our pick 300 List price £37,365 Target Price £36,129 MPG 32.5 CO2 197g/km For Huge performance and impressive practicality for a very reasonable price. Against Doesn’t sound very exciting and isn’t as sharp to drive as the T-Roc R. WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi SQ2 Our pick TFSI quattro S tronic List price £37,370 Target Price £35,564 MPG 33.2 CO2 192g/km For Exceedingly rapid in a straight line, grippy handling, classy interior. Against The T-Roc costs only a bit…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £16,685 Target Price £14,062 MPG 52.3 CO2 122g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estates; SE trim adds air-con and a touchscreen. Against So-so handling and could do with more supportive seats. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Ceed Sportswagon Our pick 1.0 T-GDi 2 List price £19,850 Target Price £18,470 MPG 49.6 CO2 130g/km For Gutsy enough performance for most buyers; lots of kit; boot is big and practical. Against Ride is restless and there’s quite a bit of tyre noise on the motorway. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Logan MCV Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Comfort List price £11,195 Target Price £11,091 MPG 45.6 CO2 134g/km For Lots of space; low running costs; plenty of equipment…

LESS THAN £25,000 Mini Convertible Our pick Cooper Classic Comf/Nav List price £21,885 Target Price £20,406 MPG 45.6 CO2 141g/km For Fun to drive, good resale values and a quality interior. Against Ride is a bit choppy, rear seats are cramped and option packs make it pricey. WHAT CAR? SAYS Fiat 500C Our pick 1.2 Lounge List price £16,755 Target Price £16,080 MPG 49.6 CO2 114g/km For Engine is perfect for town driving, and there’s minimal buffeting with the roof down. Against Lots of wind noise; not as classy as the Mini; little space inside; so-so rear visibility. WHAT CAR? SAYS Smart Fortwo Cabrio Our pick EQ Prime Premium (22kW charger) List price £23,335 Target Price £21,126 Official range (WLTP) 73.9 CO2 0g/km For Truly agile around town; very cheap…

LESS THAN £30,000 Mazda MX-5 Our pick 1.5 Skyactiv-G 132 SE-L List price £23,795 Target Price £23,442 MPG 44.8 CO2 142g/km For Great to drive, with a wonderful chassis, a slick gearbox and just enough power. Against It doesn’t have the classiest interior, nor much space for people or luggage. WHAT CAR? SAYS Toyota GT86 Our pick GT86 List price £27,830 Target Price £26,026 MPG 33.2 CO2 191g/km For Light weight and classic sports car layout make the GT86 fun. It gets decent kit, too. Against The engine is gutless and noisy; the interior feels cheap and its design is dated. WHAT CAR? SAYS Subaru BRZ Our pick SE Lux List price £27,065 Target Price £27,065 MPG 33.3 CO2 191g/km For Brisk, despite its modest power, and has sharper handling…

LESS THAN £60,000 Mercedes-AMG A-Class Saloon Our pick A35 4Matic Executive List price £38,615 Target Price £36,471 MPG 36.7 CO2 173g/km For Incredible performance, plush interior, and sublime handling. Against Shame the engine doesn’t sound more tuneful; ride could be more compliant. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-AMG C-Class Coupé Our pick C43 4Matic List price £53,455 Target Price £50,886 MPG 29.4 CO2 218g/km For Smooth, powerful V6 engine, responsive nine-speed gearbox and masses of grip. Against Road and wind noise at speed; not the most entertaining handling. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Stinger Our pick 3.3 T-GDi GT S List price £40,575 Target Price £40,575 MPG 27.7 CO2 233g/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…

STAR RATINGS Outstanding Above average Average Below average Poor TARGET PRICE The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for a new car and is set by our mystery shoppers. It’s updated each month and our approved dealers guarantee to match it. However, in a lot of cases, they can save you even more: just visit whatcar.com/new-car-dealsor call 03302 216207 between 9am and 5pm (standard network fees apply). All Target Prices are correct at the time of going to press. TARGET PCP The Target PCP is a fair monthly fee if you’re taking out a personal contract purchase (PCP) finance deal, also set by our mystery shoppers. Most are over 48 months with a 15% deposit and an 8000-mile annual limit.Those marked with an asterisk are over…