Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i What Car?

Citroën Berlingo Our MPV of the Year can also be had with a third row of seats Our pick BlueHDi 130 Feel XL List price £24,170 Target Price £20,927 Target PCP £308 MPG 54.2 CO2 137g/km For Comfortable and relaxing to drive, with a vast amount of space and storage inside. Against Wallowy handling; interior plastics feel cheap; laggy infotainment system. WHAT CAR? SAYS IT MAY BE the five-seat version of the Citroën Berlingo that’s our reigning MPV of the Year, but if that’s not enough, the good news is that it also comes in longer XL form with an extra pair of seats. Whether you need to take the family on holiday or an entire weekend’s worth of DIY refuse to the local tip, you’ll find the Berlingo has…

THE NEW RANGE Rover Evoque P300e plug-in hybrid is as good a poster child for electrification as it’s possible for a car to be right now. Not only does it carry our coveted five-star rating – as well as a What Car? award – but it also happens to be in a class that’s going nowhere but up, as more families choose high-riding SUVs over traditional hatchbacks. With an official range of up to 41 miles between recharges, it’ll take you farther on electric power than rivals such as the Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge and upcoming BMW X1 xDrive25e. If you start in the centre of London, you’ll reach Toddington services on the M1 motorway before you need to charge up again. In other words, you could safely cover the…

WHILE MOST MANUFACTURERS seek to pack as much punch into their engines as possible, Volkswagen has taken the step of re-evaluating the need for high horsepower numbers. That’s why the revised Up range (not including the standalone Up GTI hot hatch and fully electric e-Up models) offers just one engine, with a mere 59bhp at its disposal. There’s still enough pep for the urban driving that the little Up suits so well. However, when faced with a steep hill on the motorway, you’ll need to shift down a gear or two to maintain momentum, while getting up to speed with any urgency in the first place requires you to rev the car hard. This makes it all the more noticeable that its three-cylinder engine isn’t as smooth as the four-cylinder…

PICK OF THE MONTH: SMALL SUV SAVE £1346 Ford Puma WHAT CAR SAYS Model 1.0 Ecoboost 155 mHEV ST Line List price £22,685 Target Price £21,339 Target PCP £242 This isn’t just the best small SUV on the market; it’s the best new car of 2020 full stop. The Ford Puma scooped our Car of the Year accolade in January by being every bit as practical and good to drive as you could want, but also by adding fuel-saving mild hybrid tech to lower your fuel bills. PICK OF THE MONTH: FAMILY CAR SAVE £1221 Skoda Scala WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 1.0 TSI 115 SE List price £18,930 Target Price £17,709 Target PCP £181 Here’s a five-star, award-winning family hatchback for significantly less than £200 per month. Yet…

REPLACING THE CAR that defines your brand will never be an easy task, especially when that car in question is the Defender. It needs to appease the die-hard fans who loved it and helped forge the foundations upon which your reputation stands, yet also appeal to a raft of potential new customers to be a success. In order to achieve both tasks, Land Rover has drizzled the all-new Defender with design details that hark back to the old model, including a side-hinged rear door complete with spare tyre, and Alpine windows in the cove of the roof. On top of that, there’s a solid helping of hardcore off-road technology that promises to make the new Defender the most capable Land Rover yet. It also has all the very latest equipment…

We take our hats off to Lexus for the extremely high level of satisfaction it provides for customers with cars of all ages. It tops the rankings in all of our franchised dealer tables, while Lexus owners are almost as happy if they go independent instead. In many cases, servicing satisfaction depends on the make and age of the car, and having a premium brand is no guarantee that you’ll get top-notch service. So, whether you change your car every few years or keep it for a decade or more, it’s worth checking out its brand satisfaction rating. If your brand’s franchised service department is at the bottom of the chart, you might be happier to switch to an independent service agent. However, if it’s a brand that keeps owners…

Although it’s been around for ages, the Qashqai is still a good car – and buying a six-month-old example means you’ll avoid some of the heavy depreciation that blights Nissan’s best seller. It’s the better option here if you regularly need to carry more than one tall passenger, and its plethora of visibility and safety aids puts its new rival to shame. Nevertheless, the Puma is a much better all-rounder and will work out significantly cheaper in the long run, despite costing you slightly more initially. It’s more fun to drive than the Qashqai, more comfortable, has a bigger boot and even comes with a few big car luxuries. Ford Puma For More agile and fun; more comfortable ride; bigger boot; better fuel economy; much cheaper in the long run…

TIME WAITS FOR no man. Or, more accurately, time waits for no man, woman, beast nor machine; it isn’t discriminatory. So, in this battle of new versus used, we’re pitting a 2018 Audi Q7, which in its day racked up the most points of any car we’ve ever tested, against a brand new Land Rover Discovery Sport. Has time looked favourably on the Q7? Does it still have what it takes to usurp the heavily updated Discovery Sport that arrived only last year? As they say, time will tell. What are the specifics? Well, this Discovery Sport is our favourite version: the D180 with a 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine. It’s tested here in top-level HSE trim. Meanwhile, the Q7 comes with a 268bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, and it’s in the…

Both cars have very different strengths and there are valid reasons for choosing either. If you mostly do short journeys and have a driveway on which to install your own charging point, the GTE is a great buy – especially if you want something nippy that’s genuinely fun to drive. Indeed, if it weren’t for the Golf’s worrying reliability record, it might have even won this match-up. But the Corolla is not only likely to prove much more dependable but will also cost you a lot less to own in the long run and is a jolly good all-rounder too. Toyota Corolla For Impressive economy; bigger boot; comfier ride; better for safety and reliability Against Sluggish performance; rowdy engine; dim-witted infotainment system Volkswagen Golf GTE For Rapid acceleration; sharper handling;…

Mileage 4190 List price new (2019) £37,795 Price new with options £41,765 Value now £28,000 Test economy 39.1mpg WHAT’S IN A NAME? Quite a lot, it seems, if that name is Alfa Romeo. People love the looks of my car, and when you tell them it’s an Alfa Romeo, they grow giddy with excitement. Indeed, my young nephew wanted to rush out to buy one there and then when he first saw it, so great was his ardour. Clearly the firm’s reputation for building exotic and charismatic cars has won out over its reputation for building rusty and unreliable ones. One month and 1000 miles into my ownership of the Giulia and my love affair is blossoming. I’ve already mentioned how much I love its quick and responsive steering –…

AS FAR AS I’m concerned, every Alfa Romeo should be painted scarlet, every Land Rover olive green and any sports car something very vibrant. By the same token, I think I made the right choice with the ‘solid’ Meteor Grey of my Skoda Scala, no matter how much I wanted metallic Rallye Green (perhaps better dubbed depreciation sauce). I say that because it’s a family hatchback that’s as understated as they come and fades into the traffic quite happily. If you’re a typical new car buyer, you’ll appreciate how it’s quietly competent in all the important areas. In my four months with the car, I found no area in which it really stands out from its competitors; the Ford Focus has better handling, the Honda Civic is a tad more…

Mileage 4286 List price £39,475 Target Price £36,597 Price as tested £47,410 Test economy 40.6mpg IT’S TEMPTING TO lay the blame entirely at Tesla’s door, but, in truth, touchscreens were already being fitted to lots of cars by the time the electric vehicle specialist introduced its Model S, complete with a gigantic, iPad-style interface that attracted almost as much attention as the car’s long range and outrageous acceleration. I do think, though, that the sheer wow factor that the Tesla’s screen delivered convinced those manufacturers who were already going in this direction to double down, while also persuading many who’d been sticking with buttons and knobs to think again. And so we now find ourselves in a world where most cars rely on touchscreens, despite the fact that these are…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Kamiq Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £19,135 Target Price £18,266 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 £19,285 Target Price £18,733 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 £15,749 Target Price £15,749 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 £30,000 Toyota Corolla The Corolla is a big step in the right direction for Toyota, proving to be not just a great hybrid but a great family hatchback full stop. On our Test MPG cycle, the Corolla returned an impressive 60.6mpg, a figure that will actually improve around town. Racking up the miles shouldn’t be a hardship, thanks to a good driving position and comfortable ride, while Toyota’s reliability record is excellent. Our pick 1.8 Hybrid Icon Tech List price £25,240 Target Price £23,781 MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km For Plenty of safety kit, an excellent reliability record and a comfortable ride. Against Rear leg room is tight, while the engine is noisy and the infotainment is clunky. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai Ioniq Our pick Hybrid Premium List price…

LESS THAN £23,000 Ford Fiesta ST Our pick ST-2 Performance Pack 3dr List price £22,715 Target Price £21,278 MPG 40.4 CO2 158g/km 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 Volkswagen Up GTI Our pick 1.0 TSI 115 5dr List price £16,135 Target Price £15,774 MPG 53.3 CO2 121g/km For Gutsy little engine; grippy and surefooted; super value. Against Rivals are more involving to drive; weak infotainment; poor safety rating. WHAT CAR? SAYS Abarth 595 Our pick 1.4 T-Jet 145 List price £17,010 Target Price £17,010 MPG 39.2 CO2 162g/km For Exquisite design details; straight-line performance; nimble on twisty roads. Against Rivals are more involving to drive; odd driving position; expensive to…

Our pick D240 110 SE 7 Seat List price £57,985 Target Price £57,985 Target PCP £654 MPG 31.4 CO2 236g/km For Accomplished on road and exceptional off it; class-leading resale values; spacious. Against Pricey after options, while fuel economy and CO2 emissions are poor. WHAT CAR? SAYS UNDERSTANDABLY FOR AN automotive icon, thousands were watching when the covers were finally taken off the new Land Rover Defender late last year, and thousands more waited for the first verdicts to roll in. Fortunately, the wait was worth it, because the new Defender is an altogether more sophisticated machine than the car it replaces: in short, it’s not just for mud-plugging any more. For a start, despite being even more capable off road than the old Defender, the new one is far…

PUT VERY SIMPLY, the new BMW M235i Gran Coupé is the compact performance car you might buy if you found its hot hatchback sibling, the M135i, a bit too function-over-form. While it looks significantly less workaday than the M135i, the M235i uses the same 302bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in a pleasingly urgent 4.9sec – level pegging with the elegant Mercedes-AMG CLA 35, the M235i’s closest conceptual rival. The engine pulls hard from low revs all the way to the red line, and the eight-speed automatic gearbox swaps ratios far more smoothly and promptly than the dimwitted ’box of the CLA 35. The M235i is an effective cross-country machine. Okay, its steering isn’t alive with…

HAVING YOUR CAR serviced is a necessity, and can be a pleasure or a chore depending on how well you’re treated and how hard it hits you in the wallet. To find out which brands were the best and worst for servicing satisfaction, we asked more than 18,000 car owners to tell us about their most recent trip to the garage as part of the annual What Car? Reliability Survey. Owners were asked to consider three areas: politeness of staff, quality of work and value for money, rating the garage as very good, average, bad or very bad. Those given a better rating gained a higher score than those rated badly, and the weighted results were used to create a unique satisfaction index for 29 car brands. Although most owners…

Lexus takes the top spot for newer car servicing satisfaction; its customers can hardly fault the brand for the politeness of its staff and the quality of its work. Hyundai and Honda came next, with strong scores in all three categories. Peugeot and Volvo complete the top five, with the French brand posting one of the highest scores for value for money, and the Swedish one second only to Lexus for its quality of workmanship. It seems that Suzuki dealers aren’t as good at keeping newer car owners satisfied as it is at looking after those with older vehicles, though; the brand scores 89.7% for cars up to three years old and 91.3% for older ones. Propping up the bottom of the table, Porsche and Audi’s poor showing can be…

The Skoda Superb Estate is nothing short of a marvel. Not only is it more spacious than your average house, but it’s also supremely comfortable and there’s an engine to suit everyone, whether you’re looking for petrol, diesel or even plug-in hybrid power. Little wonder, then, that it’s racked up multiple What Car? award wins over the years. Here’s how to add more luxury to our favourite SE Technology trim. BEST BUY Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 CR SE Technology List price £27,485 Target Price £26,686 Options we’d add Electric tailgate with sliding load cover (£480), heated windscreen (£310), variable boot floor (£155), fold-flat front passenger seat (£105) and boot-mounted rear seat release levers (£95) Cost of options £1145 1 Let’s imagine that you’ve taken an especially adventurous trip…

PATIENCE IS A virtue.That flash new car that you liked the look of when we first tested it may have been too expensive at the time, but while you’ve been off driving something else, there’s a good chance it’s edged into your price range, thanks to the irresistible force of depreciation. Indeed, if the only consideration here was the amount of metal you could get for your money, buying used would definitely be the answer. But it’s not that simple.The latest tech, better fuel economy and a long warranty could easily swing things back the other way. So, here we take four popular classes and answer the big question: new or used?…

WE TRY TO avoid hyperbole here at What Car?, but with a surge of manufacturers flooding the market with new battery-powered models, 2020 really was shaping up to be the year of the electric vehicle (EV). Things, of course, have slowed somewhat due to a certain global pandemic, but if you allow us to look to the positive for a moment, we’ve already seen some appealing, relatively attainable EVs hitting the market this year, including the Mini Electric, Vauxhall Corsa-e and our current favourite, the Peugeot e-208. The electric version of Peugeot’s latest small hatchback offers buyers an official range of more than 200 miles, rapid charging and impressive luxury, all for a very reasonable price. However, even competitively priced new EVs like the e-208 start to look a whole…

Comparing new and used cars often makes the used car look better value, but that doesn’t guarantee it’s a better buy.Time marches on and lifts standards, so the trade-off for lower costs can be deficits elsewhere. But the Q7 was so brilliant back in 2018 that, even by today’s standards, it’s an utterly compelling package: so quiet, so comfortable and so classy that it simply has to take the spoils, especially when it’s no more expensive to own. Yet if the idea of someone else’s cast-off makes you wince, the Discovery Sport is a great new alternative. It’s an easy car to drive and surprisingly competitive against the bigger Q7 when it comes to practicality. Audi Q7 For Punchy and smooth engine; ultra-quiet at speed; supple ride; interior quality; space…

DARE TO BE different. It’s a mantra that gets played out a lot in our lives these days, as we seek to make the point that no one has to conform to a rulebook. But who wants to be different if it involves making compromises? Not so long ago, Volvo fell very much into that camp. It claimed to make cars that rivalled the Audi/BMW/Mercedes-Benz hegemony with a Swedish twist, but in reality it was churning out vaguely intriguing cars that were priced against the Germans but relied on discounts to steal sales from the mid-market rivals that were a closer match in terms of ability. Now, of course, it’s different. Operating with a certain freedom and flair under a different (and generous) owner, few car companies can match the…

Mileage 3242 List price £34,950 Target Price £33,921 Price as tested £35,605 Test range 168 miles FORGIVE ME FOR coming across as both obsessive and compulsive, but can we talk about dust? Specifically, the dust that rapidly accumulates on my car’s dashboard. When my Hyundai Ioniq was new, the so-called piano black plastic that covers much of its central dash looked shiny and exciting, but it’s proved to be a devil to keep clean. A new layer of dust settles every few days, making the car look uncared for. I’ve even taken to carrying a small microfibre cloth specifically to clean away the fingerprints. It makes me feel like I’m getting rid of DNA evidence from a crime scene. I know this kind of black plastic has become fashionable in…

FASHION IS A fickle mistress. First came the saloon car, before a whole new world was opened up to families, dog owners and sales reps alike with the arrival of the estate, which blended the driving dynamics of saloon siblings with unparalleled practicality. However, fast-forward to today and the venerable estate car is something of a dinosaur. Buyers in their droves have migrated to SUVs, with their raised driving positions and chunky, funky good looks. Unlike estate cars of old, however, the sharp-looking Mk8 Volkswagen Passat is far from dowdy, and there is one area where this particular GTE version is bang on trend: it’s a plug-in hybrid. Reintroduced as part of the latest round of tweaks to the Passat range last year, following a year off the price lists,…

LESS THAN £35,000 Audi TT THE TT HAS dominated this class for years, and this latest version is no different. For starters, it’s beautifully put together and thoroughly contemporary inside. The TT is also quick and great to drive, as well as relatively practical, thanks to an easy-to-access boot, even if its rear seats are cramped. When you consider how well priced it is and how well it’ll hold its value, the TT is an absolute bargain. Our pick 45 TFSI Sport List price £34,190 Target Price £31,307 MPG 39.8 CO2 161g/km For Fabulous interior design and quality; crisp handling; easy to live with. Against The rear seats are seriously cramped, and you’ll want to add a few options. WHAT CAR? SAYS BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé Our pick 218i…

LESS THAN £35,000 Audi TT Roadster Our pick 40 TFSI Sport S tronic List price £34,235 Target Price £31,348 MPG 39.8 CO2 160g/km For Brilliant to drive, plus it has a sumptuous interior and a fast-acting hood. Against Small boot; rearward visibility is poor with roof up; some essential kit is optional. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mazda MX-5 Our pick 1.5 Skyactiv-G 132 SE-L List price £23,795 Target Price £23,324 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 £26,155 MPG 33.2 CO2 191g/km For Light weight and classic sports car layout make the…

Peugeot 5008 Stylish, comfortable and inexpensive to run, this has been our favourite large SUV for three years running Our pick Puretech 130 Allure List price £30,375 Target Price £28,170 Target PCP £330 MPG 46.0 CO2 136g/km For Quiet cruiser with a comfortable ride, a practical and plush interior and a big boot. Against Optional glass roof harms rear head room, while infotainment system is fiddly. WHAT CAR? SAYS THINK OF THE Peugeot 5008 as being the automotive equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, because no matter what situation you’re in, the chances are it will have you well covered. Need to transport seven people? The 5008 has reasonable space in the third row, even for adults, plus three individual middle-row seats that slide and recline for maximum versatility. Need…

‘Although it’s a very heavy car, the Taycan hides that fact well in corners’ OVER THE PAST decade or so, we’ve seen the development of electric cars that are brutally quick (the Tesla Model S luxury saloon, for example), affordable (Peugeot e-208 and Renault Zoe hatchbacks) and so well rounded that we’d happily consider one over a conventionally powered alternative; Kia e-Niro family SUV, take a bow. However, none has been truly rewarding to drive – until now. The Taycan is Porsche’s first electric car – a luxury saloon rival for the Model S. As you probably know, the German brand has a reputation for making outstanding driver’s cars – the Macan S is our reigning Sports SUV of the Year, for example – and the Taycan promises to be…

ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT not look it at first glance, the Range Rover P400 represents a cleaner, greener era for this luxury SUV. Now, let’s not get carried away here – there’s still a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine under the bonnet – but the addition of a mild hybrid system means it’s faster and more fuel-efficient on paper than the V8 diesel alternative. Despite being a hybrid, it’s still in the top (37%) benefit-in-kind company car tax bracket; you’ll need the slightly cheaper P400e plug-in hybrid if you want to minimise your CO2 emissions or tax bills. But for those who just can’t plug one in, or for whom company car bills aren’t a concern, could the mild hybrid P400 be the pick of the range? Well, although it isn’t…

WHEN THE UK went into lockdown in March, many of the thousands of talented people in the car industry didn’t simply stay at home; they began working on innovative ways to make a difference during the crisis. From designing and producing breathing apparatus to donating cars and personal protective equipment to frontline workers, here’s a round-up of some of the ways they’ve helped in the fight against Covid-19. STEPPING UP TO THE VENTILATOR CHALLENGE A group of around 30 UK companies, a third of which are from the automotive sector, stepped up when the Government called for 20,000 new ventilators to supplement the 8000 the NHS had at the beginning of the pandemic. These companies formed the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium. Those involved include Ford, Rolls-Royce, Vauxhall and UKbased Formula…

SMALL AND FAMILY SUVs Alfa Romeo Tonale Early 2021 Majors on style, with plug-in hybrid power. Ford Puma ST December Our Car of the Year gets a 197bhp engine, lower, stiffer suspension and sportier looks. Hyundai Tucson October Promises to be more stylish and better to drive. Mercedes-Benz EQA December Sleek new battery-powered equivalent to the GLA small SUV will manage at least 250 miles. Nissan Qashqai December New look, new engines and a far nicer interior. Vauxhall Mokka X Early 20201 Revolutionary exterior design, new petrol and diesel engines and a 200-mile electric version. LARGE AND LUXURY SUVs BMW iX3 Late 2020 Electric X3 is set to exceed 250 miles’ range. Ford Mustang Mach-E Spring 2021 Promises range of up to 370 miles, spirited handling and a 15.5in touchscreen…

FROM THE HIGHWAY Code to Acts of Parliament, there’s plenty of scripture to dictate the rights and wrongs of driving in the UK. But as any driver will know, there are conduct and etiquette conventions followed by many motorists that won’t be found in any rulebook or guide. The question is, could you get into trouble by following them? To answer that, we not only dug out our copy of the Highway Code but also spoke to Neil Greig, director of policy and research at road safety charity IAM Roadsmart. From flashing your lights to clearing the inside lane, we’re here to break down, expose and discuss the unwritten rules of UK motoring. Flashing your lights in thanks or to let someone go Let’s start with one of the most…

Are car dealers open? ALTHOUGH CAR SHOWROOMS closed in March, many staff have been working from home, reverting to selling cars online. You don’t have to visit a showroom to view a potential purchase; the majority of dealers will be happy to send you a video with a virtual walkaround of the car. Modern car dealers are tech-savvy and are likely to be able to chat with you on FaceTime, Skype or WhatsApp, as well as via text and email. Many car makers have created online portals, where you can trade in your old car, buy a new one and have it delivered by a franchised dealer, without the need to leave your home. You can also buy a new car via What Car?’s New Car Buying service. You can…

IF YOU HAVEN’T heard, the new Ford Puma is our 2020 Car of the Year. To sum it up, it’s a brilliant all-rounder and a better buy than any of its small SUV rivals, including the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Skoda Kamiq. But what if you were to spend the same money on a nearly new alternative? A six-month-old Nissan Qashqai, for example, could be yours for roughly the same cash, and you’d be getting an altogether larger car. The Qashqai also happens to be a former Car of the Year, winning the award back in 2014, so it’s hardly a lemon. To find out if new or used is the better buy here, we’ve lined up the Qashqai in popular 1.3 DIG-T 140 N-Connecta spec. The nearest match…

While it’s impressive that the i3 still feels contemporary, thanks to its high-quality interior, striking design and punchy performance, this used example is trounced by the e-208 in many of the areas that will matter to the majority of EV buyers, including range and refinement. And although the e-208 isn’t a bespoke EV, being based on the regular 208, this actually works in its favour, because it benefits from that car’s practical interior, plush ride and tidy handling. It may cost a little more than a used i3, but it’s worth every penny. Peugeot e-208 For Longer range; faster charging ability; plush ride; more composed handling Against Driving position won’t suit all; small rear door openings; sluggish infotainment BMW i3 For High-quality interior; stronger acceleration; excellent infotainment Against Unsettled ride;…

SO, YOU HAVE a budget of £25,000 to spend on a fuel-sipping family hatchback and want a few creature comforts; what are your options? A quick flick through the classifieds soon uncovers a tantalising proposition: a 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTE in range-topping Advance trim with a mere 17,000 miles on the clock and the option of extending the warranty for the major mechanical components. But for similar money, after discounts, you can pick up a brand new Toyota Corolla in our preferred Icon Tech trim. Not only is it our reigning Hybrid of the Year, but you also get a whole five years (or 100,000 miles) of warranty cover and, of course, your own choice of colour, wheels and options. Besides, who doesn’t love that new car smell? DRIVING Performance,…

A CLASS-LEADING FAMILY car needs to wear multiple hats. It must don the Trilby of feeling at home in the city and the baseball cap of entertaining on the open road, while all the time being ready to rock the balaclava of comfortably ferrying a full complement of passengers and their luggage. The 118i proved equally adept in all three situations. As a city car (my primary use), it offered a happy medium between usable space and compact dimensions, making it a better urban companion than the larger 3 Series, but not being so small as to cripple its long-distance credentials. What’s more, its iDrive infotainment system was sensational: simple to use, elegant and efficient. I can’t think of a better setup, especially in combination with BMW’s ‘Live Cockpit Professional’…

Mileage 2240 List price £32,495 Target Price £30,128 Price as tested £32,745 Test economy 26.6mpg I’M ALTERNATELY AMUSED and annoyed by the fact that a shortcut to activate the launch control function – part of the £250 Performance Pack fitted to my car – pops up in the instrument cluster every time the car comes to a standstill.The implication is that ST owners make a habit of blasting away from every set of traffic lights as quickly as they possibly can. Although you have to press a button on the steering wheel to actually engage the launch control, the continual flicking from one thing to another on the screen between the dials can be distracting in stop-start traffic. Considering how often I’m likely to use this function on the road…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Scala DESPITE ITS KEEN price, the Scala excels in areas where many of its rivals are complacent, particularly interior space and comfort, with amazing rear seat room and a vast boot. It handles in a tidy manner and its ride, on standard suspension, is among the most cosseting in this class. The interior looks a bit cheap in places, but overall the Scala is a remarkably complete car for the money. Our pick 1.0 TSI 115 SE List price £18,930 Target Price £17,709 MPG 51.4 CO2 125g/km For Spacious rear seats and a big boot; comfortable ride; cheap to buy and run. Against Interior feels a little cheap; not as good to drive as a Ford Focus. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Ceed Our pick 1.0 T-GDi…

LESS THAN £25,000 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 £20,910 Target Price £18,123 MPG 43.5 CO2 147g/km For Comfortable and relaxing to drive, with a vast amount of space and storage inside. Against Wallowy handling; laggy infotainment system; cheap-feeling interior plastics. WHAT CAR? SAYS Peugeot Rifter Our pick BlueHDi 130 Allure List price £24,110…

LESS THAN £40,000 BMW 5 Series OUR FAVOURITE LUXURY car for the past three years still offers the very best traits of this class. 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 almost every conceivable feature. It’s the supreme luxury package without a price tag to match. Our pick 520d MHT SE List price £39,530 Target Price £32,911 MPG 56.5 CO2 131g/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 40 TDI Sport S tronic List…