Innholdsfortegnelse for Awards 2023 i What Car?

FAMILY SUV Honda CR-V The next generation of Honda’s Mazda CX-5 rival will stick with hybrid power in every version, but a plug-in hybrid is unlikely. You can expect it to be more spacious than the current car, though, with a brand new infotainment system in line with the much-improved set-up in the latest Civic family car. Price from £36,000 (est) SMALL AND FAMILY SUVS BYD Atto 3 Summer 2023 Small electric SUV promises a 261-mile range and nippy performance thanks to 201bhp. Jeep Avenger June 2023 Electric small SUV has up to 248 miles of range and the option of four-wheel drive. Mini Countryman Summer 2023 Shares engines with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, including 322bhp plug-in hybrid. Smart #1 Spring 2023 Small electric SUV has an official range of…

TESTING PROCESS TYRE GAUGES COME in various forms: analogue or digital, and from keyring-sized to glovebox-sized. To find out which type is best, we tested them on a variety of different wheels – old and new – to check how easily they fitted to different tyre valves, and we tried them in both daylight and at night. Our verdicts are based on ease of use, build quality, the tyre pressure range that each gauge can test and any additional features they might offer, as well, of course, as value for money. 1 Draper tyre pressure gauge 69924 Price £11.94 Buy from Amazon Pressure range 5-100psi This is a super-smart gauge with solid metal fixtures. Its analogue pressure dial is very easy to read, thanks to simple, clear graphics, and it’s…

Be honest: at some point in your life you’ve thought about buying a classic VW Campervan. Maybe the thought was fleeting, and it possibly wasn’t serious, but there’s something about the iconic van’s simple, joyful nature and the idea of driving to a beach on a sunny day (perhaps with a surfboard on the roof) that you’d need to have a heart of stone not to be seduced by. The trouble is, owning any classic car has serious drawbacks. Original Type 2 vans from the 1950s and 1960s are now expensive to buy and maintain, and they aren’t exactly a safe option for carrying your family around. And that’s before we come to the lack of modern creature comforts and a driving experience that makes a present-day tractor seem sophisticated.…

1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SR WE LIKE Spacious inside Lots of equipment Runs on electricity at lower speeds Magic Seats give very useful flexibility Slow depreciation RATHER THAN BEING one of the more popular and outgoing kids at school who draws all the attention, the Honda Jazz is the quieter child who casually surprises everyone with their ability to face any task. Indeed, with its range of talents, it’s top of the class if you’re looking for a new small car. The Jazz’s mini-MPV shape gives it one of the most spacious interiors in its segment. There’s plenty of room for six-footers in the front and rear seats, but if no one needs to sit in the back, you can flip up the bases of the Magic Seats to make room…

BEST FOR VALUE SKODA SCALA 1.0 TSI 110 SE You could say we’re spoiled for choice in the family car class, especially when Skoda alone gives us two strong options to pick from. The Scala and Octavia both offer more interior space than most rivals, and even the smaller Scala can accommodate four six-footers and their kit with ease. Indeed, we managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases in the boot. The interior doesn’t feel as swish as the Honda Civic’s, but it is well built. Likewise, while our favourite 1.0-litre petrol engine is punchy and efficient enough, the Civic’s clever fuel-sipping hybrid tech makes it much quieter around town. Still, what really makes the Scala stand out here is its competitive price. In our preferred trim level (SE), it undercuts…

1.0 TSI 110 Life WE LIKE Comfortable ride Well equipped in entry-level Life trim New, smarter interior Generous boot by class standards High-set driving position A GOOD FOOTBALL coach knows exactly how to build on a player’s strengths, and Volkswagen’s coach is clearly one of the best. It saw that the T-Roc – an otherwise formidable striker – let itself down in a few aspects of its game and gave it a gentle push in the right direction. And as a result, Volkswagen has found itself leapfrogging its rivals to lift the small SUV league trophy. As part of the re-skilling programme, the T-Roc’s exterior was tweaked, its trim levels were revised and it finally gained the interior quality it needed. In fact, the T-Roc now has the kind of…

BEST FOR VALUE SKODA KAROQ 1.0 TSI 110 SE Drive With car prices rising seemingly day by day, finding affordable examples that still represent value for money can be a challenge.We’re not suggesting that the Kia Sportage doesn’t offer that, but if you’re on an even tighter budget, the Skoda Karoq is the family SUV we’d happily recommend. It’s spacious and practical, with a large boot, and the entry-level version is usefully cheaper to buy outright than the Sportage and Nissan Qashqai (although the latter costs less each month on PCP finance). It comes with fixed rear seats rather than the sliding and removable VarioFlex ones on some trims, but you can add them for £745 if you want to. With the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine, the Karoq isn’t as…

450h+ Premium Pack WE LIKE Good to drive Long electric range Low company car tax Plush, user-friendly interior Efficient petrol engine IF YOU HAVE a house with a thatched roof, you wouldn’t call just anyone in to repair it; you’d enlist a specialist. Follow that logic into the world of cars – especially if you’re after a battery-assisted one – and you’ll most likely end up looking at Lexus, because almost everything in this brand’s line-up (other than the V8-powered LC and RC models) is electrified in some way. Having said that, it’s only relatively recently that the brand has embraced plug-in hybrids, with the NX 450h+ being the first of them. Yet it’s an exceptionally good one, which is why it was our favourite plug-in hybrid last year too.…

BEST FOR THE CITY FIAT 500 ELECTRIC 42kWh Considering the fact that the Italians (specifically Alessandro Volta) invented the battery, it should come as no surprise that the Fiat 500 suits electric power to a tee. The instant response of the 117bhp motor helps you nip in and out of traffic with ease, and the 500’s tiny dimensions and light steering make it more suitable for quick manoeuvres and squeezing into tight spaces than the bigger MG 4.A smart, modern interior and a relatively high driving position help its cause, too. A 201-mile official range means you won’t have to top up the 500’s battery as frequently as you would in a Honda E or Mini Electric. Granted, this figure will drop to more like 140 miles in real-world use,…

Reliability rating 98.4% HOW OUR SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED The latest What Car? Reliability Survey is based on information gathered from 24,927 car owners. Their responses gave us an insight into the dependability of more models than ever: 248 cars from 32 different brands. With sales of used cars booming and the secondhand values of many models hitting an all-time high, we decided to increase the length of time we asked owners about, from one year to two. For all vehicles that went wrong in the previous 24 months, we collected data on which parts were affected, how long they took to repair and how much the owner had to pay. We used the last two criteria – which are the most important in determining the effect on owners’ daily lives…

BEST PLUG-IN HYBRID MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS C300e AMG Line While aTesla Model 3 will be cheaper for company car drivers, not everyone is ready to go fully electric just yet. That’s where a plug-in hybrid like the Mercedes-Benz C300e comes in. The C300e has a bigger battery than most rivals, and its official electric range of 69 miles will enable many to tackle daily commutes without using a drop of petrol. Also, despite the extra weight of its battery, the C300e is barely any less agile than the regular C-Class; its standard rear air suspension helps with body control in fast corners. It isn’t as much fun as the BMW 330e, but then it is more comfortable over urban bumps and potholes. While the C300e looks glitzy inside, key executive rivals…

1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 4WD Premium WE LIKE All seven seats have space for adults Generous equipment levels in all trims Cheaper than most rivals Hyundai’s excellent reliability record THERE WAS ONCE a club in Rotherham that was so small that it had room for just seven people – including the DJ. But what makes the Hyundai Santa Fe special is not the fact that it could take them all home at the end of the night, but that you’ll want it for more than just its practicality. For a start, its interior is anything but minibus-like; in fact, it’s reasonably upmarket. You get heated leather front seats and lots of gadgets, including a 10.3in infotainment touchscreen, wireless phone charging and adaptive cruise control even with the cheapest trim, Premium. That…

2nd SMART #1 The Smart #1 demonstrates that it is possible to make an affordable small electric car that is also safer than many larger models. It scores almost as well as the Tesla Model Y for adult protection (96%), and it betters that car for child protection with a score of 89%. This is a significant achievement; small cars have to work harder than larger ones to get top safety scores, because they’re lighter and there’s less metal to absorb an impact. With an 88% score, the #1 also does well in the safety assist tests, and that means there’s less likelihood of the car being involved in a collision in the first place. 3rd MERCEDES-BENZ EQE The EQE is an extremely safe place for adults and children in the event…

RWD Premium WE LIKE Competitive price Comfortable ride Attractive, plush and user-friendly interior Quieter than rivals Great infotainment system GENESIS IS STILL a newish brand in the UK, and it’s fair to say we weren’t expecting that much from the GV60. But how wrong we were. With its very first electric SUV, the South Korean brand has nailed it – creating a truly game-changing car. Sure, it got a head start by basing it on parent company Kia’s formidable EV6, but this is no ‘badge-engineered’ special. Take the interior, for example. You won’t find any fiddly haptic controls or a touchscreenonly infotainment system; almost everything is controlled using proper dials and buttons. Quality feels a couple of steps up from that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and EV6, especially if…

BEST PETROL TOYOTA YARIS CROSS 1.5 Hybrid Design Things move fast in the automotive world, as you’ll have witnessed as electric cars continue their rise to power. That makes it even more impressive that theToyotaYaris Cross – last year’s True MPG winner – remains the most efficient petrol car we’ve ever tested. This hybrid small SUV not only averages 60.1mpg – the best we’ve ever seen – but can also eke out an astonishing 103.3mpg around town, travelling on electric power alone for extended periods. What’s more, its 1.5-litre hybrid setup helps to keep CO2 emissions to a minimum – and that’s good news for company car drivers, because it means lower benefit-in-kind tax payments. KEY FACTS List price£26,530 Target Price£24,911 Target PCP £291* Engine 3cyl, 1490cc, petrol, plus electric…

4.0 GTS WE LIKE Engaging, beautifully balanced handling Wonderful six-cylinder engine Sweet-shifting manual gearbox Great interior IT WAS ALBERT Einstein who once said: “There’s nothing known as perfect.” While we’re not going to argue with a genius, we’re pretty sure he’d have agreed that the Porsche Cayman GTS comes pretty close to sports car perfection. In fact, it speaks volumes that it has claimed our Sports Car of the Year award for three years in a row. How has it held onto the throne for so long? Well, where its rivals are specialists in one or two areas, the Cayman manages to be a master of all things, especially in GTS guise. This version discards the usual – and somewhat disappointing – 2.0-litre turbocharged flat-four engine for a glorious 4.0-litre…

BEST FORTHRILLS PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPE GTS If you asked us to choose a sports SUV based purely on driver appeal, we’d pick the Porsche Cayenne Coupé GTS quicker than you can say ‘driving thrills’, because nothing else comes close in this respect. With a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine pumping out 453bhp, the GTS is outrageously fast, sprinting from 0-62mph in 4.5sec. It’s not just a one-trick pony, though; the GTS is equally good at going around corners. In fact, with optional active anti-roll bars added, it displays superb body control and allows for great precision through corners; it’s incredibly agile for a car that weighs 2.2 tonnes. And when you’ve finished having more fun than you have any right to expect in an upmarket SUV, it reverts to being a…

420i M Sport (Pro Pack) WE LIKE Sharp handling Comfortable ride on adaptive suspension Classy interior Surprisingly practical User-friendly infotainment THE BEST CONVERTIBLE should allow its driver to enjoy open-top thrills when the weather permits, but still be comfortable and engaging on those occasions when the sun isn’t playing ball. Thankfully, the BMW 4 Series Convertible is truly a car for all seasons. Sharing its underpinnings with the class-leading 4 Series Coupé, the drop-top is far more than just a boulevard cruiser. With terrifically precise steering and little of the body flex that can afflict some convertibles along uneven roads, it feels more agile and pleasurable to drive than four-seat rivals such as the Ford Mustang Convertible and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class cabriolets. And when it’s equipped with the adaptive…

BEST FOR VALUE BMW M240i xDrive Performance cars are usually pricey toys, but while the BMW M240i isn’t exactly cheap, it does give you an awful lot of pace for your money. Whether you buy it outright or on a PCP finance deal, you’ll save thousands compared with the other cars here.And yet the 369bhp 3.0-litre straight six under its bonnet manages to make every mile feel epic, rocketing you to 62mph in just 4.3sec. That’s not only quicker than the rival Audi TTS but barely any slower than the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Plus, the engine in the M240i emits a soulful howl that’s obviously missing from the latter. It’s easy to make the most of the M240i’s savage performance, too, because it’s distributed to all four wheels via…

FIND FREE CHARGERS “There are still a surprising number of free charge points to use around the country, although numbers are dwindling,” says Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and chief operating officer of Zap-Map, a free EV charging point app.“They can be located using the‘free to use’ filter on zap-map.com and are typically located at hotels, B&Bs and retail outlets,” she adds. It’s worth bearing in mind that some of these chargers might be available only to customers, but if you’re planning a road trip, a night away or a meal out, it’s worth investigating which free chargers you could use at the same time. There are also free chargers at a large number of train station car parks – handy for commuters. You’ll still have to pay for parking, but at…

NEW Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years List price £48,095 Target Price £48,095 Limited edition marks two decades of Volkswagen’s go-faster division with more power than the regular Golf R and the promise of sharper responses NEW Honda Civic Type R 2.0 VTEC Turbo List price £46,995 Target Price £46,995 Latest incarnation of the Type R has more power than its predecessor and a raft of other small improvements, but is it special enough to be worth the huge hike in price? COMPARISON If you’re a cycling fan, you’ll no doubt have heard I of marginal gains theory. Implemented by Sir David Brailsford when he became performance director of British Cycling, the theory goes that if you can make 1% improvements in a whole host of areas, the cumulative gains are…

These VWs may have similar silhouettes, but they’re very different cars aimed at very different buyers. Picking a winner here is a bit like deciding if a kettle is better than a toaster: it depends what you’re trying to do. Nevertheless, we reckon the Buzz has much broader appeal than the Multivan. For anyone who’s weighing up such models as the BMW iX3, Jaguar I-Pace or Tesla ModelY but wishes those electric SUVs were a bit bigger and more family friendly, the Buzz is a brilliant alternative – and a slightly cheaper one at that. The fact that you’ll be the envy of every parent at the school gates and get to finally scratch that‘camper’ itch only sweetens the deal. Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals Volkswagen ID Buzz For Hugely…

BEST FOR VALUE DACIA SANDERO 1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Expression You might recognise the Dacia Sandero as a regular holder of the‘cheapest car in the UK’ crown, but there’s a lot more to like about this low-cost small hatchback. Fortunately, the days of‘cheapest’ and ‘low-cost’ meaning a car so basic that you have to put up with unpainted bumpers and window winders have long gone. In our preferred trim, higher-spec Expression, the Sandero comes with plenty of kit, including an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control and air conditioning. It can’t match the Honda Jazz for rear seat versatility, but it does have a bigger boot, with space for one more carry-on suitcase. It isn’t far behind for front and rear occupant space, either. There’s more. Our preferred Bi-Fuel engine runs…

1.6 T-GDi WE LIKE Sweet handling with loads of grip Enthusiastic engine Great value next to other hot hatches Easier to live with than Ford Fiesta ST THERE WAS A time when hot hatches existed as a cheap alternative to sports and performance cars. For the most part, those days are gone, because while cars like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S and Volkswagen Golf R are monstrously capable, you certainly pay for that privilege. The Hyundai i20 N is an exception to that rule, harking back to those old hot hatches by keeping costs low and enjoyment high. But don’t go thinking that we love it just because it’s one of the most affordable hot hatches on sale. Far from it; the i20 N has many more merits. To start, there’s…

BEST INTERIOR AUDI Q2 35 TFSI S Line Lots of small SUVs score well in the key disciplines of comfort, practicality and efficiency, but the Audi Q2 is the small SUV that feels most special from behind the wheel. The Q2’s approach isn’t to go over the top with glitz but to use really smart materials in all the right places. And these are set off by subtle, classy trim highlights and neat details, such as the knurled finish on the air-con controls and rotary infotainment controller. And it becomes even more appealing inside if you opt for S line trim, with aluminium pedals, a perforated leather-covered steering wheel and matching sports seats. The downside of this trim level is that it brings a bigger set of alloy wheels; while…

IF YOU WANT to know the scale of the Kia EV9’s victory here, consider this: it gathered more than three times as many votes as our second-placed car, showing just how big the appetite is for this all-electric SUV. It helps that the EV9 looks like it could have driven straight off the set of Star Trek, with angular lines, razor-thin LED lights and tough plastic cladding around its lower edges. That design isn’t expected to change on the road to production, although the concept car’s door-mounted rear-view cameras are expected to be dropped in favour of conventional side mirrors. Underneath, the EV9 is closely related to last year’s Car of the Year, the Kia EV6. But while the EV6 uses a 77.4kWh battery, the EV9 gets a larger, 100kWh…

BEST FOR LUXURY RANGE ROVER SPORT P440e Dynamic SE It’s understandable that the headlines for this version of the new Range Rover Sport focus on its impressive 70-mile official electric range and ultra-low 5% company car tax band, but those aren’t the only reasons why we love it. More than any other car here, you’ll choose the Sport for the way it makes you feel when you sit inside it and drive it. The handsome-looking interior is robust and full of the same high-quality materials you’ll find in the full-fat Range Rover. The 20-way electric front seats are supremely comfy and place you in a commanding driving position that allows you to see over everything.Add in low noise levels and a plush, well-controlled ride and the Sport is an effortless…

Style WE LIKE Exceptional practicality Drives more like an SUV than a van Fantastic resale values Surprisingly affordable PCP finance rates Comfortable ride VOLKSWAGEN IS LIKE Disney in that it loves a reboot. First, there was the ‘new’ Beetle of the late 1990s, then the Scirocco coupé returned in the 2000s, but there hasn’t been a do-over of the much-loved Type 2 Microbus. Until now. There could be many reasons for this delay, but it’s likely due to Volkswagen not having the right building blocks. You see, the Beetle and Scirocco were based on the Golf, but the only way to have made a modern Type 2 until recently would have been to base it on a van – a far from ideal solution. Thankfully, the car that we now…

2nd TOYOTA Reliabilityrating 97.2% Proving that you don’t have to buy an expensive hybrid to get top reliability, Toyota scores almost as highly as its premium offshoot, Lexus. The Aygo city car and other affordable petrol models did just as well as its larger hybrid models. Only 6% of Aygos went wrong, and all were fixed within a week at no cost to owners. No wonder it gained a reliability rating of 99.1%, making it the most dependable small car you can buy. Petrol and hybrid versions of the Auris and Corolla fared well too, scoring more than 97%. The highest-scoring Toyota of all was the RAV4, with a near-perfect 99.5%. 3rd MITSUBISHI Reliability rating 97.0% Many Mitsubishi owners were devastated when the brand renowned for rugged 4x4s announced its withdrawal from…

1.5 TSI 150 SE L WE LIKE Competitive price Enormous boot Huge amounts of rear leg room Very well equipped Comfy cruiser IF YOU’RE TRYING to bang a nail in, you use a hammer. A screwdriver can’t be beaten for driving in screws. And if you need to carry four adults and a big stack of luggage from place A to place B, nothing is better suited than the Skoda Superb Estate. It’s the right tool for the job. The Superb beats three extremely talented nominees to the Best Estate Car title, simply because it’s the best at being an estate. If you’ve elected to buy one instead of a saloon or hatchback, you’re likely to have made that decision on the basis of practicality, and the Superb beats all…

BEST FOR VALUE DACIA JOGGER 1.0 TCe 110 Expression The Dacia Jogger is shocking. No, really: when we saw the price of this practical MPV, we were genuinely shocked. It’s the cheapest seven-seater you can buy new in the UK by around £10,000, yet it still fulfils the brief of getting you and six passengers from A to B. The third-row seats aren’t as roomy as those in some rivals, but average-height adults will be happy enough on short trips, and there’s plenty of space for six-footers in the second row. When you’re not using the rearmost seats, they drop down for a generous 565 litres of luggage room. We recommend paying a bit more to step up to mid-spec Expression trim, because it adds some useful gadgets, including an…

P440e Dynamic SE WE LIKE Fantastic range in quiet electric mode Commanding driving position Feels like a proper Range Rover at a much lower price HOW WOULD YOU define luxury? Well, for us, the Range Rover Sport is a rolling elucidation of that word. Let’s start with comfort. The Sport pampers its driver with a 20-way adjustable seat, and affords them a view more imperious even than the one you get from the wheel of a Bentley Bentayga. Naturally, the driver’s seat is heated – as are three of the passenger seats. You’re surrounded by plush materials, too, most of which are shared with the full-size Range Rover – impressive given the sizeable price gap between the two models. And you’ll be impressed by the attention to detail, from the…

BEST FOR LONG DISTANCES BMW iX xDrive50 M Sport If the BMW iX were a plane, it would be the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.Why? Well, by using lightweight carbonfibre-reinforced plastic – as the Dreamliner does – this big electric SUV saves on weight and can carry your crew for hundreds of miles in total comfort. The iX xDrive50 has an impressive official range of up to 382 miles (or London Luton Airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and back).The standard-fit air suspension delivers a turbulence-free ride, and 0-62mph takes just 4.6sec. Such serenity makes it easier to enjoy the in-flight entertainment. From our chosen entry-level M Sport trim and up, that includes a curved panel made up of a 12.3in driver display and a 14.9in infotainment touchscreen, with a very easy-to-use…

420i M Sport (Pro Pack) WE LIKE Sharp handling High-quality interior Comfy ride on adaptive suspension Relatively practical User-friendly infotainment IT’S A BMW tradition to take a saloon, remove two doors, squash the roofline and call it a sportier coupé version. And on the face of it, the 4 Series Coupé fits that mould: you could mistake it for nothing more than a sleeker, more expensive 3 Series. Take a closer look, though, and you’ll see that there’s far more to the 4 Series to justify its billing as a model in its own right. True, it shares the brilliant underpinnings of its saloon sibling, but it’s also wider and has retuned suspension for better handling. BMW’s efforts have succeeded; the 4 Series will tackle any corner more enthusiastically than…

BEST FOR VALUE MAZDA MX-5 1.5 Skyactiv-G Exclusive-Line It’s one thing for a car to have a cult following, but it’s another for it to keep that following throughout multiple generations.And key to the MX-5’s enduring popularity is this: there’s nothing else for this kind of money that gives you the true sports car experience. Following the same tried and tested formula since 1989, the MX-5 puts you in control of a peppy, responsive little engine that’s attached to one of the nicest manual gearboxes in the business. The highlight of the MX-5, though, is most definitely its handling.True, it won’t go around corners as quickly as the much more powerful Porsche Cayman, but it still promises its driver a whale of a time, thanks to well-weighted steering that serves…

BEST FOR VALUE FIAT 500C ELECTRIC 42kWh These days, being thrifty is fashionable, so it makes sense that one of the cheapest convertibles on PCP finance is also one that’s dripping in style. Indeed, rock-solid resale values mean the 500 Convertible is tempting whether you pay for it in monthly instalments or outright. There’s a lot more to the 500 than just keen pricing and Instagrammable looks, though. It’s better to drive than rivals such as the Mini Convertible and Volkswagen T-Roc Cabrio, and although the rear seats are more cramped than those of the BMW 4 Series Convertible, that car will cost you far more to buy. Punchy acceleration from the 117bhp electric motor allows you to keep pace with the cut and thrust of urban traffic easily, while…

‘THIS IS A CAR YOU CAN BUY WITH YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART’ Style AS YOU’VE ALREADY read, the Volkswagen ID Buzz is a hugely impressive car. Of course it is; like our other category winners, it triumphed only after proving itself better than all of its direct rivals, and therefore a fantastic buy. But while we had high hopes for most of those other victors before we drove them, the Buzz’s brilliance came as a bit of a surprise. Why? Well, put simply, there’s so much affection for the Buzz’s retro design that Volkswagen could easily have penny-pinched on the engineering and still sold as many as it could make. But instead, it has clearly thrown everything at the car, with this resulting in something that combines the practicality…

The real winner here is the used car buyer, who can pick from either of these two excellent electric cars without having to pay excessively for the privilege. If interior space isn’t everything for you, we’d go for the Zoe: it’s more sophisticated on the road, cheaper to buy and will go farther on a full charge. The caveat is that we’d be careful to seek out a Zoe that features the full complement of safety features, like our car here does. However, if you need more space, the ZS EV is a great alternative and more reliable, too. It’s a fine runner-up. 1 Buy this car at whatcar.com/usedcars Renault Zoe For Better to drive; much longer range; better infotainment system; smart interior Against Cramped rear seats; some versions don’t…

SCAN FOR A GREAT DEAL ON THIS CAR SAVE £2555 Audi A4 WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 35 TDI Technik List price £37,405 Target Price £34,850 Target PCP £413 The Audi A4 has long been in battle against the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, fighting for the executive car crown. In its current form, the A4 is a brilliant all-rounder, with a high-quality interior, a smooth range of engines and a very comfortable ride. This entry-level Technik trim gets you loads of standard equipment, too. SAVE £1013 Peugeot 208 WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 1.2 Puretech 100 Allure Premium+ List price £22,740 Target Price £21,727 Target PCP £306 This stylish small hatchback stands out from the crowd with a comfy ride and a smart-looking, high-quality interior. Although you can get more…

SCAN FOR A GREAT DEAL ON THIS CAR BEST BUY Cupra Born 58kWh V1 List price £36,475 Target Price £36,475 Options we’d add Beats Audio System (£470), panoramic glass roof (£470),Tech (M) Pack (£450), Cargo Pack (£340) Total cost of options £1730 The Cargo Pack (£340) adds a false boot floor that gives you somewhere to store charging cables without cluttering up the main load area. The pack also includes a three-pin cable for charging the battery (very slowly) via a domestic socket, if you can’t use the standard Type 2 cable or a CCS public rapid charger. The £450Tech (M) Pack adds useful features such as intelligent vehicle networking. This allows your car to communicate with other similarly equipped cars to share updates on things like road works and…

The R20 feels sharper and more exciting than the standard Golf R, while retaining its supreme day-to-day usability. Fast yet cosseting, it’s an appealing proposition if you’re looking for a grown-up hot hatch. But for us, hot hatches are mainly about having fun, and in that regard, the Type R is in another league. With an engine and handling that make it feel like a road-legal racer, few cars are as thrilling as this, yet it remains practical enough for everyday use. The catch is that, despite the premium price tag, the Type R is already sold out, and we can’t fully endorse a car that you can’t readily buy. Still, it’s a clear winner here, and the lucky few who do score one won’t be disappointed. Honda Civic Type…

2.0 e:HEV Sport A GREAT FAMILY car needs to be as versatile as the right pair of kids’ trainers. It should be tough enough to deal with everything they can throw at it, but also comfortable and practical enough for everyday use. And more than 50 years on from the original Civic’s launch, this 11th generation car ticks more boxes than ever. We’ll start with the most obvious change, which is found under the bonnet. All Civics except the searingly hot Type R performance version now have fuel-saving hybrid technology to minimise running costs and reduce emissions. In our tests, that delivered a very impressive real-world fuel efficiency figure of 49.9mpg – comfortably beating the mild hybrid Seat Leon eTSI and running the 1.8-litre Toyota Corolla (also a hybrid) extremely…

BEST FOR EVERYDAY USABILITY VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R 2.0 TSI 320 While we love a hot hatch that feels like a mini racing car, that can get pretty tiresome when you’re stuck in a rush hour traffic jam, in the rain, and just want to be home. That’s where the Volkswagen Golf R comes in.You see, while it’s happy to dispatch 0-62mph in just 4.7sec or go around corners with near-endless grip, it manages to retain all of the usability that the regular Golf has long been praised for. That’s especially true with the optional adaptive suspension (DCC) fitted and flicked into Comfort mode, when the Golf R becomes a supple, quiet cruiser that’s more forgiving over rough roads than the firmer Hyundai i20 N.There’s also enough space inside for five…

1.6 T-GDi 3 LIKE MAX VERSTAPPEN on his way to the 2022 Formula 1 drivers’ title, the Kia Sportage has been unstoppable in the past 12 months – and obviously we’re not talking about its braking performance here. As you’d expect, we’ve tested it extensively in various guises – the hybrid version going up against the rival Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson, and the regular petrol version taking on first the Mazda CX-5, then the Skoda Karoq and Vauxhall Grandland. And the Sportage has emerged victorious every time, confirming that it’s now the best family SUV you can buy. While you also can get the Sportage in 48V mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises, we favour the non-electrified entry-level petrol version, because that’s where the best value lies. The 1.6-litre…

2nd VOLVO EX90 As its name suggests, the EX90 is the electric successor to today’sVolvo XC90 luxury SUV, but while it’s swapping petrol for protons, it’s keeping its predecessor’s seven-seat practicality. The first versions to go on sale will have two electric motors producing a whopping 510bhp, yet they also promise a range of up to 373 miles. The EX90 is super-smart, too; bidirectional charging means it can power your house during the day, before charging its own battery at night when the cost of electricity is cheaper. And don’t worry about losing your keys, because your smartphone can unlock the EX90 as you approach. 3rd LOTUS ELETRE For a small car maker like Lotus, there are still plenty of new things to try, and the Eletre is not only the British…

SE SPOTTING A GAP in the market can be the key to the success of a new product. So, when you consider the strong demand for electric cars and the fact that they can be quite expensive to buy, the MG 4, with its very keen price tag, is the right car at the right time. How keen are we talking here? Well, the MG 4 is similar in size to the Cupra Born, Renault Megane E-Tech and Volkswagen ID 3, but it undercuts those cars by up to £10,000. In fact, it’s cheaper than smaller electric hatchbacks such as the Peugeot e-208 and Renault Zoe. Surely this means the MG 4 is inferior in other ways, though? Incredibly, that’s largely not the case. Our preferred version, the entry-level SE,…

BEST FOR LONG DISTANCES MERCEDES-BENZ EQE 350 AMG Line Premium While you have to sacrifice some range for the ID Buzz’s distinctive shape, this isn’t an issue in the Mercedes-Benz EQE. This luxury saloon is so slippery through the air that it can go farther between charges than almost any other electric car on sale – not just the ID Buzz, but also the far pricier BMW i7 and every Tesla available in the UK.And that’s despite having a smaller battery than the i7 (which means you’ll spend less time waiting for it to charge on long journeys). The EQE also impresses with a plush ride and low levels of wind and road noise on the motorway. Less admirable is the quality of the interior; the cheaper BMW i4 feels…

RWD WE LIKE Low company car tax Lots of standard kit Strong, instantaneous performance Great practicality Access to Tesla’s charging network WELL, IT’S HAPPENED. Every election campaign has strategic targets; if you can win key constituencies, those around them will bow to your party before long. And now that the Tesla Model 3 has taken the prized Executive Car of the Year trophy from the mighty BMW 3 Series, there’ll be no stopping it. Among the master strokes in its quest for leadership, the Model 3 has delivered on certain fiscal promises specifically addressed to company car drivers. While the 3 Series demands that they pay benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax at a rate of at least 12%, Model 3 drivers need hand over only 2%. And Tesla’s cause is helped by…

BEST ELECTRIC OPTION MG 5 EV Long Range SE We all need a bit of healthy competition to force us to raise our game, right? Well, not in this case: the MG 5 has delivered a winning performance with precious few rivals snapping at its heels. When we say‘precious few’, we actually mean ‘one’: the PorscheTaycan Sport Turismo. Now, that’s a very good car, but it also costs £45k more than the 5 yet can’t haul as much luggage. As you’d expect, the Porsche has more than a slight edge when it comes to driver appeal, but our winner is pretty quick for one so practical. Its 7.3sec 0-60mph time eclipses that of the Skoda Superb Estate 1.5 TSI 150, for example. However, like that car, its handling is more…

BEST INTERIOR BENTLEY BENTAYGA V8 S At almost twice the price of the Range Rover Sport, the Bentley Bentayga doesn’t win the luxury category outright. However, if money’s no object, this regal SUV deserves your attention. Fans of seriously supple leather and fine-grain woods will be in their element in the Bentayga S; most visible surfaces are covered in one or the other, from the sun visors and rooflining to the trim covering the windscreen pillars. As a result, stepping into a Bentayga is like being inside the Bodleian library: all rich aromas and peerless craftsmanship. It isn’t like stepping back in time, though. You get a digital instrument cluster that also serves as a night vision display, and there’s an easy-to-use infotainment system with all the latest smartphone…

RWD WHEN THE FIRST electric cars appeared on the scene, one of their major selling points was that they’d save you money on running costs. Despite what the naysayers might have you believe, the Tesla Model 3 proves that can still be true. Assuming you charge at home at the current energy price cap of 34p/kWh, the Model 3 RWD’s efficiency of 4.0 miles/kWh means it’ll cost you significantly less to run than even the best petrol and diesel cars we’ve put through our scientific True MPG tests, at 8.5p per mile. That real-world efficiency figure was achieved when we took the Model 3 to our private test track (to remove variables such as traffic), fully charged the battery and then drove a simulated route at varying speeds until it…

BEST FOR VALUE AUDI TT 40 TFSI Sport Edition It speaks volumes about the Audi TT that it’s one of the most decorated cars in What Car? Awards history. In essence, that’s because it consistently balances important coupé qualities with a relatively affordable price. With the entry-level 40 TFSI engine, it’s brisk, sprinting from 0-62mph in 6.6sec, yet it’s efficient enough to keep your running costs down.What’s more, it handles better than any other coupé at this price point without compromising comfort. True, it’s not perfect, missing out on the BMW 4 Series’ ability to carry four adults in reasonable comfort (although the hatchback boot is surprisingly practical). However, you’ll find that the TT makes up for the shortage of rear seat space with a classy, well-built interior that’s full…

1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack WE LIKE A hoot to drive Surprisingly practical, with a clever boot Much cheaper than rivals Sweet gearshift Lots of kit YES, WE HEAR you: how on earth can the cheapest car in the sports SUV class (by far) really take down titans such as the Aston Martin DBX 707, Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne Coupé? Well, rather like when David went up against Goliath, the small yet mighty Ford Puma ST has vanquished all comers again this year, because it can do a fair percentage of the things that those rivals can do and more, but for a fraction of the price. In fact, you’ll struggle to have as much fun in any other sports SUV when the road starts to get tight and…

2nd MERCEDES-BENZ Digital Light The Digital Light system on the Mercedes-Benz EQE electric saloon doesn’t just help you see at night; it warns you of potential dangers too. Using projectors, it can place guide lines right onto the road in front of you, to make sure you don’t wander out of your lane, or symbols to warn you about potential hazards in your vicinity – a school, for example, or pedestrians in your path. As well as these projections, the lights themselves are able to wrap around oncoming traffic, giving you maximum visibility while making sure you don’t dazzle other drivers. 3rd PORSCHE Variable Light Control While other manufacturers, including BMW and McLaren, already offer buyers the ability to darken their glass roofs electrically rather than with a traditional blind, Porsche’s Variable…

4S TO SAY THAT the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is an outstanding performance car that just happens to be electric is to do it a disservice, because there’s so much more to it than just the absence of a combustion engine. You see, the electric nature of the Cross Turismo isn’t just used to serve up driving thrills; it enhances them. In a petrol-engined performance car, there’s often a slight delay between pressing the accelerator pedal and the car reacting. In the Cross Turismo, it’s as fast as flicking a switch. Indeed, you’re likely to need to give your passengers a warning before you bury your foot to the floor, such is the force that pushes you back into your seat. But epic performance is about more than just point-to-point…

Mileage 4507 List price £40,150 Target Price £40,150 Price as tested £38,390 Test range 232 miles WHEN VOLKSWAGEN REBOOTED the Beetle in 1997, the designers had the genius to bring back the dashboard-mounted flower vase that featured in Bugs in the 1950s. Now, no one really needs a flower vase in their car, but it sure did make people go“Ooh! Cute! I want one.” And the Cupra Born’s door mirrors have a similar effect on me. In practical terms, they get ⅗ (they’re not huge, so the rear view they give is pretty average), but they have a funky way of twisting up and inwards when you lock the car or turn a knob on the driver’s door. Maybe I’m being fanciful, but there’s something of the supercar scissor doors…

Price today £19,000* MG ZS EV Exclusive List price when new £30,495 Available from 2019-present On paper, the MG stacks up well; you get lots of standard kit and metal for your money Renault Zoe R135 GT Line List price when new £32,120 Available from 2020-present One of the pioneers of modern electric cars, with an impressive official range Price today £18,000* *Prices today are based on a 2020 model with average mileage and full service history and are correct at time of writing MG ZS EV RENAULT ZOE MG ZS EV RENAULT ZOE SUCH HAVE BEEN the challenges of the past three years that the average punter not only has less disposable income to play with, but they’ll also have to pay more for the second-hand car they were…