Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i What Car?

They have long been a staple of science fiction, but, as we explain from page 40, cars that can drive themselves are now becoming a reality. Their appeal is easy to understand, even if the technology behind them is anything but; autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to reduce traffic jams, improve road safety and make journeys both less tiring and more productive. Even as someone who loves driving, I like the idea of being able to hand over to my car on a boring motorway trip or when battling through a congested urban centre. But I do have concerns. Who, for example, will be responsible in the event of an accident or if the car collects a fine? And if AVs are ultimately proved to be safer, will insurance…

darren.moss@haymarket.com EX-FORMULA 1 DRIVER Nico Rosberg knows a lot about going fast, but since hanging up his helmet in 2016 he has dedicated himself to promoting environmental causes and sustainable living. And if he finds himself in the market for a new car, we reckon the new Skoda Elroq vRS might be right up his street. That’s because the vRS takes everything which we love about the regular Elroq – our reigning Family Electric SUV of theYear – and adds some serious punch. With two electric motors producing a total of 335bhp, it’s substantially more powerful than the existing Elroq 85. It should also be able to put all that power down without any trouble, because this is the only Elroq to get four-wheel drive. As a result, the Elroq…

lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com IN THE SAME way that you might watch your savings grow by a small percentage each year, it’s not unusual to see cars gain a modest power boost during their time on sale. But with the Range Rover Evoque, it’s gone the other way – for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, at least. What used to be the Evoque P300e has discreetly become the P270e, with the combined power output dropping from 305bhp to 265bhp (mainly so that it can meet more stringent emissions regulations). This results in a slightly slower 0-62mph time (7.2sec versus 6.4sec), while official fuel economy is much the same as before. The electric motor delivers the same 107bhp to the rear wheels when the car is running in pure electric mode. That’s fine for…

darren.moss@haymarket.com THE GLOBAL MARKET for pre-booked airport transfers is expected to reach a staggering £10.1 billion by 2030, and the Mercedes-Benz Vision V concept hints at the machine that might well ferry you to the terminal soon. Showcasing new underpinnings that will eventually be used on a new range of Mercedes vans (including replacements for today’s Vito and Sprinter models), the Vision V concept also previews the nextgeneration V-Class and EQV MPVs. Range is said to reach 311 miles on some EQV variants – a huge leap from the 213 miles promised by today’s model. The Vision V’s lines are softer than those of today’s car, in a bid to improve aerodynamics (and efficiency), but interior space is likely to be no less of a priority. To ensure first-class travel…

dan.jones@haymarket.com KARTING HAS LONG been one of the best and most affordable ways to dip your toe into the world of motorsport. Indeed, whether it’s just for a couple of hours or as part of a long-term journey to become the next Lando Norris, karts offer an approachable way to have some motorsport-inspired fun. And, clichéd as the metaphor might be, that kart-like feeling of approachable sportiness and fun has always been the promise of Mini models that bear the JCW (or John Cooper Works) badge. The racy JCW treatment is now offered on Mini’s Aceman small electric SUV, Cooper electric hatchback and Countryman family SUV, but its first appearance was on the original three-door Mini hatch 20 years ago. And the direct descendant of that car is what we’re…

whatcar@haymarket.com THE PORSCHE 911 range traditionally includes some pretty special variants, up to and including the mighty winged monster they call the GT3 RS. But it’s the more modest Carrera models that make up the bulk of the range – and the bulk of 911 sales in the UK. Of the various Carreras on offer, we’ve traditionally said that the entry-level model has all the go you could reasonably need, but that the lighter, manual-only Carrera T is the best of the bunch for the extra driver engagement it offers. Now, though, with the arrival of the Carrera S, do we have a new favourite? Certainly, its performance is categorically epic. As standard, it hits 0-62mph in 3.5sec, but option the Sport Chrono pack (£1796) and the S romps from…

eleanor.cooper@haymarket.com HYBRID CARS, INCLUDING such popular models as the Nissan Qashqai e-Power and Toyota Prius, could remain on sale until 2035, under new changes to the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. In addition, low-volume car makers – including sports car brands Aston Martin and McLaren – will be exempt from needing to achieve the current target of 80% electric car sales by 2030. The Government says it is backing British car brands – including Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Vauxhall – by making changes to the mandate. A relaxing of the ZEV mandate rules was teased back in November by business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who told a motor industry event that the previous EV policies “clearly aren’t working as envisaged”. According to the current mandate, 28% of new car sales…

THE DRIVER AND Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will introduce 10,000 extra driving test slots per month in order to cut the five-month-long waiting list for learners across the UK. According to DVSA figures, 57% of national test centres have an average waiting time of more than six months – a figure that almost doubled between February 2024 and February 2025. In that same time period, the average waiting time for a test increased from three and a half months to five months. In a bid to clear the backlog, transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the Government will introduce new measures including extra test slots, increased capacity for training new driving examiners and overtime incentives for existing examiners. “I am instructing the DVSA to take further action which will see thousands…

max.edleston@haymarket.com HERE AT WHAT CAR?, we focus our reviews on the areas of a car that our research tells us matter most to potential buyers. So, when we’re testing a sports car, we spend a lot of time discussing performance and handling, but when it’s an SUV we’re looking at, we’ll place far greater emphasis on comfort and practicality. It’s the areas that estate car owners have told us they most care about – boot space, driving position and interior quality – that align perfectly with my needs as an automotive photographer. Namely, I need lots of room for my kit, a supportive driver’s seat so I arrive at locations still feeling fresh, and an interior that’s not only hardwearing but also a lovely place in which to cover big…

steve.huntingford@haymarket.com LAST YEAR, A representative from the Chinese embassy visited What Car? and expressed a hope that one day Chinese car brands would be associated with more than just their country of origin and low prices. So, when I later interviewed BYD’s UK marketing manager, Mark Blundell, I was keen to hear what he wanted BYD to become known for. His answer: “We’re trying to carve out a brand that people associate with advanced technology, because we really are a tech company.” Then he backed this up by pointing out that BYD makes half of the world’s Apple iPads and that one in five smartphones use its technology. Blundell’s job of shifting perceptions should be made a bit easier by reports that BYD is planning to build a network of…

george.hill@haymarket.com IN PRODUCTION 2020-PRESENT PRICE FROM £38,000 OUR FAVOURITE VERSION 110 D250 S REINVENTING AN ICON can be like walking a tightrope. On one hand, you want to move your much-loved product into a new era and appeal to a wider audience, but on the other, you don’t want to alienate existing fans. It’s something that Amazon Studios will have to consider carefully now that it has control over the long-running James Bond franchise, and it’s a challenge that Land Rover has successfully navigated with the Defender. The modern interpretation of Land Rover’s classic 4x4 has been a box office hit. Last year it was the brand’s best-selling model worldwide, and it has outsold the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport since launch in 2020. As a result, plenty of…

1 LEXUS LBX Our pick 1.5 Premium Plus List price £34,845 Target Price £34,008 MPG 61.4 CO2 103g/km For High-quality interior; efficient hybrid system promises low running costs; very well equipped Against Fidgety low-speed ride; short on rear seat space; some wind and road noise at higher speeds WHAT CAR? SAYS THINK LEXUS MAKES only big, expensive cars? Well, think again, because the LBX is a small SUV with a comparatively small price tag. Yet despite this, there’s nothing cut price about how it looks, feels or drives. The interior is the classiest you’ll find in any small SUV, with plush materials and rock-solid build quality, even if it’s a little tight in the rear seats. Our recommended Premium Plus trim comes with plenty of standard equipment, including a head-up display…

1 TESLA MODEL 3 Our pick RWD List price £39,990 Target Price £39,990 Range 318 miles Battery size 57.5kWh For Class-leading efficiency; fast charging via Tesla’s own network; surprisingly practical; well priced Against Some fiddly controls; saloon boot opening can hinder access; windscreen pillars hamper visibility WHAT CAR? SAYS AS WELL AS being one of the best electric cars you can buy, the Model 3 makes complete sense for company car drivers, largely thanks to its lowly 2% benefit-in-kind tax rating and outstanding efficiency. Even the entry-level rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version we recommend has a long official range (318 miles), while the Long Range model promises 390 miles between charges (on 19in wheels). We know from our own tests that the Model 3 can go farther than most electric rivals in real-world…

1 RENAULT 5 Our pick 52kWh Techno List price £26,995 Target Price £26,995  Range 253 miles  Battery size 52kWh For Attractive pricing; smart and well-equipped interior; fine ride and handling balance; slick infotainment Against Rear leg room is tight for six-footers; no discounts available yet WHAT CAR? SAYS THIS MODERN INTERPRETATION of the original Renault 5 (R5) from the 1970s isn’t just a styling exercise; it has all of the key components that you’d want from a small electric car (EV). The R5’s interior looks and feels smarter than those of the Hyundai Inster and MG 4, with a pleasing variety of materials and lots of tech from Renault’s larger electric models, provided you go for our preferred mid-range Techno trim or higher. True, the R5 isn’t as roomy in the…

1 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Our pick 1.5 TSI eHybrid 204 Elegance List price £47,540 Target Price £39,113 MPG 731.1  CO2 9g/km For PHEV’s outstanding efficiency and electric range; hushed and comfy cruiser; vast boot; smart interior Against Pricier than some rivals; a few fiddly controls; not as good to drive as the BMW 3 Series Touring WHAT CAR? SAYS THE PASSAT MAY have been around for five decades, but the fact that the latest iteration ranks highest in this category shows how well the model has moved with the times. You can have it with mild hybrid petrol power, but it impresses most in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form. The version we recommend is the less powerful of the two PHEVs available; it has plenty of punch and a huge official electric range…

1 PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN Our pick GTS 4.0 List price £80,035 Target Price £80,035 MPG 25.9 CO2 247g/km For Sublime handling; GTS’s rich and soulful six-cylinder engine; smooth ride; high-quality interior Against Lacks the level of standard kit you’d expect of such a pricey car, both in terms of luxuries and safety WHAT CAR? SAYS IT’D BE EASY to write off the Cayman as a poor man’s 911. It can be bought for as little as half the money, so it must be half the car, right? Well, actually, no; in the ways that matter most, the Cayman is the best sports car on the planet. The only caveat is that you need to go for the GTS version, because this swaps the uncouth four-cylinder engines of lesser versions for a…

chris.haining@haymarket.com AUDI R8 2016-2024 The second generation of this mid-engined sports car made going fast ridiculously easy THE LADY IN front of you in the post office queue pioneered a surgical procedure that would go on to save hundreds of lives. The chap standing behind you swam the English Channel last week. To look at either of these people right now, you’d have no idea of their enviable prior achievements. You could say the same thing about Audi. Starring in the German car maker’s current model range is a cast of talented but sensible hatchbacks, SUVs, executive saloons and electric cars – none of which holds a rating of less than four stars in our data section. To think that, until recently, a top-rank sports car – the R8 –…

will.nightingale@haymarket.com FADS AND FASHIONS often come and go – so could the popularity of SUVs be due a downturn? It’s certainly reached saturation point, with only two out of the UK’s top 10 best-selling models so far this year being a different bodystyle. Regardless, if you don’t just want to follow the herd and buy a pseudo off-roader like most of your neighbours, an estate could be an equally practical and far less ubiquitous answer – and the new A6 Avant is the biggest in Audi’s line-up, sitting above the A5 Avant. Confusingly, there’s also an A6 Avant e-tron, which is similar in size but is an entirely unrelated fully electric car that went on sale earlier this year. The regular A6 Avant we’re focusing on here is available with…

lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com YOU MIGHT HAVE seen on social media that the latest BMW M5 has suffered from a bit of fat-shaming, with memes comparing its weight to all sorts of heavy objects, from military vehicles to the Moon. But why? Well, its move to become a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has resulted in a weight penalty, with this high-performance model now weighing around 2.5 tonnes. That means this new M5 Touring estate is more than 600kg heavier than the previous iteration. Still, with a total power output of 717bhp from its twin-turbo V8 petrol engine and electric motor, as well as four-wheel drive, the new M5 Touring is anything but slow. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 3.6sec, and the car accelerates with tremendous urgency at any speed, helped by the immediate response…

dan.jones@haymarket.com NISMO, NISSAN’S MOTORSPORT division, has spent the past 40 years building some of the most iconic Japanese performance cars. It’s a list that includes the likes of the Le Mans-themed Skyline R33 Nismo GT-R LM, monstrously quick Nismo GT-R and even the Skyline R34 Nismo Z-Tune, which is considered by many to be the pinnacle of all Skylines. But unless you count the brand’s Formula E racer, there hasn’t been a single electric car on that list – until now. That gives the new Ariya Nismo quite the challenge. The Nismo version of Nissan’s electric family SUV certainly looks the part, with a bespoke front bumper, a racing car-style ‘diffuser’ under the rear bumper, a ‘ducktail’ spoiler on the tailgate and new five-spoke, 20in wheels. These serve to improve…

elenanor.cooper@haymarket.com THE JEEP NAME is to SUVs what Hoover is to vacuum cleaners, but being synonymous for a whole category of car doesn’t mean the American brand can afford to rest on its laurels. Now, with fierce competition in the family SUV market, it’s up to the Jeep Compass to show the way forward for the marque. As before, the new Compass will sit above Jeep’s Avenger and Renegade models in terms of size, but it will now follow in the Avenger small SUV’s footsteps by being offered with fully electric power. Mild and plug-in hybrid options will also be available. The entry-level e-Hybrid is powered by a new mild hybrid 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 143bhp – up from the 128bhp of the previous 1.5-litre equivalent and slightly more…

oliver.young@haymarket.com WHETHER IT’S IN order to grab the best spot on the beach, or to get to Alton Towers before the admission queues build up, sometimes a family really needs to get a move on. And for those occasions when a large family is in a bit of a hurry, Skoda offers a very special version of its seven-seat Kodiaq SUV. Now in its second generation, the Kodiaq vRS is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine related to that of the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI. With 261bhp (19bhp more than before), the vRS is much nippier than any other Kodiaq; 0-62mph in 6.4sec is pretty sprightly for a seven-seater, even if it doesn’t actually feel particularly quick. To help add drama to the experience, the Kodiaq vRS has something…

eleanor.cooper@haymarket.com APPARENTLY STYLEDTO evoke the spirit of the art-deco-inspired ‘streamliner’ planes, trains and automobiles of the 1920s and ’30s, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 was already one of the most striking-looking electric cars out there, and this revised model looks sharper than ever. It’s identified by a restyled front bumper and new slim, split horizontal LED headlights, and does away with the previous prominent rear spoiler; instead, a new ‘ducktail’ spoiler integrates with its slender lines more neatly. Inside, the updated Ioniq 6 gets a redesigned steering wheel; it gains a third spoke at the bottom. Interior door materials have been swapped out for some more luxurious alternatives, and the climate control panel has been enlarged. This comes as good news; we found the climate controls in the outgoing car fiddly…

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chris.haining@haymarket.com “OOH, HASN’T HE grown!” – the squeal of many an aunt when confronted with a young nephew they haven’t seen for a while. I heard it a lot as a kid, along with “What do you sleep in: a grow bag?” and “Does your mother put Baby Bio on your breakfast cereal?”. And in this regard, I have some sympathy for the latest Mini Countryman. My neighbours, my parents, the postman and various friends and acquaintances all said “That enormous thing’s a Mini?” with incredulity in their voices when they first saw my car. And yes, it is a big car. On reaching the office car park, I occasionally parked next to a Volvo XC40 and was struck by how similar in size the cars were. If the Countryman…

james.tute@haymarket.com Mileage 3652 List price £32,850 Target Price £25,993 Price as tested £34,710 Test range 188 miles IF YOU’D BOUGHT a Buick Riviera in 1986, you’d also be getting your hands (or fingertips) on the first in-car infotainment touchscreen. It didn’t really catch on at the time, but today almost every new model features a screen on the dashboard – so if you’re considering getting a Peugeot e-208, you’re probably wondering whether its infotainment system is any good. Well… it’s a lot better when it’s working than not. Unfortunately, a couple of weeks after I took delivery of my e-208, the screen went blank while the car was charging. No amount of turning it off and on again would revive it. The heating stopped working, too. As a result, I…

mark.pearson@haymarket.com Mileage 3299 List price £54,305 Target Price £52,167 Price as tested £55,055 Test range 268 miles I’M STILL ENJOYING the upmarket ambience of my Volvo EC40’s interior, and I’m not the only one; a couple of passengers I carried recently commented, separately and unprompted, on how luxurious it all felt. The EC40 benefits from being closely related to Volvo’s petrol powered XC40 – a model that has one of the plushest interiors in the family SUV class. The XC40 costs a lot less than the EC40 in like-for-like spec, though, so the fact that my car still feels like it’s worth the £55k asking price is an impressive feat, and proof of Volvo’s expertise at making its interiors feel desirable right across the range. Plus, I appreciate that it…

1 TOYOTA COROLLA Our pick 1.8 Hybrid Icon List price £30,795 Target Price £28,430  MPG 64.1 CO2 100g/km For Frugal in real-world driving; comfy and good to drive; generously equipped; well built and reliable Against Tight for adults in rear seats; so-so infotainment system; instrument panel is fiddly to reconfigure WHAT CAR? SAYS THE COROLLA IS a car that will work for just about everyone in the market for a family hatchback. Being a hybrid, it can help you save money, because it can run partly on electric power to conserve petrol. You can expect an average of more than 50mpg in real-world use if you stick with our recommended 1.8-litre model (there’s also a punchier 2.0-litre version). True, it can’t go anywhere near as far on electric power as a…

1 KIA SPORTAGE Our pick 1.6 T-GDi 48V 3 List price £33,670 Target Price £31,810 MPG 44.1 CO2 146g/km For Smart-looking and spacious interior; large boot; good comfort/handling balance; generous warranty Against Very few options available; slightly unsettled low-speed ride; rear seating could be more flexible WHAT CAR? SAYS SOME PEOPLE MIGHT think they’re getting a superior car if they go for a premium-badged model rather than something more down to earth, but when a car is as well rounded as the Sportage, it’s really difficult to justify the extra outlay. As well as being good to drive and slightly comfier and more refined than the closely related Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage has a smart-looking and user-friendly interior, with loads of space for rear passengers and a large, practical boot. Although…

1 BMW X7 Our pick xDrive40i M Sport (Ultimate Pack) List price £114,160 Target Price £106,188 MPG 28.5 CO2 224g/km For Super-quiet and cosseting; hugely practical, with loads of room for seven adults; high-quality materials Against There are cheaper alternatives; feels its size and weight; looks won’t be to all tastes WHAT CAR? SAYS IT MAY BE an SUV, but the X7 is everything a luxury car should be, and more. As well as having a sumptuous and tech-laden interior, the X7 benefits from a commanding driving position and easily enough room to seat seven adults in complete comfort; these last two things are not available in saloon alternatives such as BMW’s 7 Series. Decked out in plush, high-quality materials, the X7’s interior has a real wow factor. And if you…

1 KIA EV3 Our pick Standard Range Air List price £33,005 Target Price £33,005  Official range 270 miles Battery size 55kWh For Entry-level model is attractively priced and has a competitive range; plush ride; well equipped Against Not particularly agile; some rivals have more versatile rear seats; relatively pricey on PCP finance WHAT CAR? SAYS BACK IN 2019, the Kia e-Niro was our overall Car of the Year, in part because it proved that electric vehicles didn’t need to cost a fortune to offer a long range and decent performance. Now Kia has moved the game on again with another cracking electric SUV. Although it’s a tad smaller than the current Niro EV, the EV3 is still a very practical car, with more space for rear passengers than in the rival…

1 BMW 4 SERIES Our pick 420i M Sport Coupé List price £45,195 Target Price £41,695 MPG 44.8 CO2 144g/km For Great to drive; comfortable ride on adaptive suspension; high-quality interior; decent space in rear seats Against Looks won’t be for everyone; some rivals have larger boots; some wind and tyre noise at high speeds WHAT CAR? SAYS ITS LOOKS MAY be divisive, but whether or not you’re a fan of this 4 Series’ aggressive styling, you’ll love what’s underneath. You see, this is one of the most rewarding driver’s cars in the class; it’s more agile and capable through corners than the Mercedes-Benz CLE in either coupé or convertible form. And as long as you specify the optional adaptive suspension, it’s more comfortable than most rivals and on a par…

1 BMW M3 TOURING Our pick xDrive Competition List price £91,775  Target Price £83,319 MPG 27.2 CO2 234g/km For Scorching performance; sharp and entertaining handling; practical boot; comfy cruiser; snappy gearbox Against Engine doesn’t sound all that inspiring; expensive to buy and run, and you’ll want to add options WHAT CAR? SAYS IT TOOK BMW 37 years to offer the M3 in estate form, but it was worth the wait. You see, much as we love the M3 saloon, the Touring is even more desirable, thanks to its extra versatility. The M3 Touring uses the same 503bhp twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol engine as the saloon, and it comes with traction-enhancing fourwheel drive as standard to help you make the most of all that power. As well as being incredibly quick (0-62mph takes…

stuart.milne@haymarket.com JUST AS LITTLE Simba took over from Mufasa to take the leading role in The Lion King, the all-new Lexus ES will take the place of the now discontinued LS luxury car to wear the crown in the firm’s saloon car line-up – and there’s a fully electric version for the first time. To fill the bigger shoes of the LS, the new ES has grown to be slightly larger than the BMW 5 Series that it has traditionally rivalled. Fittingly with this move upmarket, Lexus engineers are said to have concentrated on comfort. The new car’s styling is a departure for the brand, and you can expect to see cues from the ES in future electric Lexus models. Out goes the old, upright front end, and in comes…

oliver.young@haymarket.com FILMS LIKE NAPOLEON Dynamite and The Blair Witch Project go to show that something great can be achieved on a modest budget. The same goes for cars, with the new, all-electric Renault 5 (R5) being a perfect example. It’s brilliant, yet reasonably priced, with every battery and trim combination sitting below the £30,000 mark. Still, our favourite version, the 52kWh Techno, might be too rich for some buyers’ budgets, or you might not need such a long range if you’re mostly going to be sticking to city limits. In which case, the version with a smaller, 40kWh (usable capacity) battery and a lower power output (121bhp) could be an even better choice, especially because it starts at just £22,995 in entry-level Evolution trim. The 40kWh R5’s official range of…

lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com FORD WAS ONE of the earliest mainstream car makers to bring an electric SUV to the UK, with 2021’s Mustang Mach-E. That was joined late last year by the smaller but no less evocatively named Capri, and now it’s time to meet Ford’s smallest electric model yet. No doubt, the brand hopes that being based on the deservedly popular petrol-powered Puma small SUV will give the fully electric Gen-E version a leg up. It’s distinguished by its filled-in front grille and white ‘PUMA’ lettering on the tailgate, and by two bespoke paint colours: Electric Yellow and Desert Island Blue. With a 165bhp motor driving its front wheels, the Puma Gen-E has more power than most petrol Pumas, and it’s certainly nippy enough around town. What’s more, there’s more grunt…

stuart.milne@haymarket.com CONVERTIBLES ARE OFTEN to live music what coupés are to a compact disc. You know you’ll get a better sound from your home audio setup, but there’s nothing as visceral as seeing your favourite band live. The excitement and energy that comes from live music can’t be replicated elsewhere, and nor can the assault on the senses you get from a drop-top sports car. The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is no mere tribute act to the coupé, either. It was developed alongside the fixed-roof model, and that’s immediately apparent when you open and close a door with the reassuring thunk of something solid. Yet it’s even more apparent on the move, because – regardless of whether the roof is up or down – the Vantage Roadster feels magnificently taut,…

darren.moss@haymarket.com WHEN THE PRODUCTION version of the Genesis X Gran Equator goes on sale, it’s likely to spend more time in Surrey than the Sahara. But unlike most modern SUVs, it apparently will offer genuine off-road ability, with it being pitched as a rival to the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser. Bigger than today’s Genesis GV60 SUV, the X Gran Equator also has chunkier looks; its squared-off proportions are dressed with rugged roof rails and cladding around the sills and wheel arches to create a hardy off-roader impression. It sits on massive 24in wheels shod with all-terrain tyres. While this concept is being shown as an electric vehicle (EV), the production model will also be offered with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power. The Defender, meanwhile, is already available in…

darren.moss@haymarket.com HUMANS ARE GETTING bigger all the time. And whether the change is down to better nutrition, wider access to food or laziness, we’re growing both taller and wider with each passing generation. And for that reason, the arrival of a new Citroën C5 Aircross is timely – because it promises to be one of the most spacious family SUVs you can buy. Based on the same underpinnings as the latest Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland, the new C5 Aircross is larger than the outgoing model, with the distance between its front and rear wheels also being increased in an effort to boost space inside. The new model takes on a noticeably more muscular look than its predecessor, staying true to the bold conceptual version revealed late last year. It…

44% Increase in the risk of fatal injury to adults from being involved in a collision with an SUV or pick-up truck compared with lower-riding hatchbacks or saloons, according to new research in the UK. 14.5m Number of parking tickets expected to be issued this year, according to the RAC. This is more than double the 6.8 million tickets issued in 2018-19. 7.5% Drop in profits suffered by the VW Group worldwide at the start of 2025. It blames this on low profit margins on electric cars and the “global volatile economic situation”.…

stuart.milne@haymarket.com Mileage 2201 List price £63,475 Target Price £63,475 Price as tested £68,665 Test range 263 miles SOME PEOPLE DON’T know when to stop, or so the saying goes. But when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs), it’s more that some really don’t tell you how to stop. It’s not that the brakes in EVs don’t work – they mostly work very well indeed – but some can lack a positive feel, making it hard to judge how much braking force you’re applying. That’s not a criticism that can be levelled at my Audi Q6 e-tron, though. Indeed, when I need to lean on the Q6’s brake pedal, it provides plenty of granular information as to how hard the brakes are biting and how much more they have to give.…

john.bradshaw@haymarket.com Mileage 3963 List price £40,205 Target Price £37,437 Price as tested £41,820 Test economy 42.1mpg MY SKODA KODIAQ is starting to remind me of the BBC’s Saturday evening stalwart, Strictly Come Dancing. Every series brings a new array of contestants, and – when first divulged – their names are often met with“No way can they be a good dancer” comments from the social media masses. But sometimes they go on to confound expectations. Take Bill Bailey; he’s musically gifted, possessed of terrific comedic timing and evidently knows what he’s talking about when he appears in TV panel shows and documentaries. But a graceful dancer? After witnessing him on the boards for the first time, the judges ranked him second worst of the 10 dancers in contention. And yet, seemingly…

claire.evans@haymarket.com Mileage 6632 List price £39,820 Target Price £39,820 Price as tested £46,160 Test range 184 miles THE KEYLESS ENTRY system on my Astra SportsTourer Electric stopped working recently, so the car went in for it to be fixed. While it was gone, I was given an Astra Electric hatchback in GS trim to keep me mobile. This is a level down from my car’s Ultimate spec, and it was interesting to see the difference in equipment levels. The GS comes with a fair amount of the same kit, including a heated steering wheel, a 10.0in infotainment touchscreen and a 360deg parking camera. However, my car has some additional comfort and practicality features, such as heated front seats, hands-free tailgate opening and a heated windscreen that lets me demist the…

‘We’ve got Best Buys for every need’THE WHAT CAR? TEAM TARGET PRICE This is the maximum we think you should pay for your new car. It’s set by our team of mystery shoppers, who spend every day haggling with dealers to see what discounts are available across the UK. HOW WE RANK OUR TOP 10s Every year, we drive hundreds of new or updated models. We test them back to back with rivals. We look at everything from comfort to costs, practicality to performance, and refinement to reliability. Then, armed with all the facts, we can definitively name the best model in each class, plus its closest rivals (and the ones to avoid). No matter what your priorities are, you’ll find a car that’s ideal for your needs. KEY INFORMATION…

1 MERCEDES-AMG A45 Our pick S Plus List price £65,395 Target Price £59,395 MPG 30.8 CO2 208g/km For Savage acceleration; immense grip; entertaining handling; quick-shifting automatic gearbox Against Very expensive to buy; some hot hatches are comfier; infotainment controls could be easier to use WHAT CAR? SAYS YOU’LL HAVE NO need for an alarm clock if you own an A45, because you’ll want to wake up at the crack of dawn just so you can go for a blast in it. Not only is this 416bhp, four-wheel-drive rocketship absurdly rapid in a straight line, but it’s also agile and entertaining through corners. Although it isn’t quite as civilised as the similar-priced Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the A45 is barely any less practical or easy to live with than a regular A-Class.…

1 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Our pick 1.6THybrid Premium List price £47,890 Target Price £45,031 MPG 41.5 CO2 155g/km For Outstanding practicality; great driving position; plush interior; long warranty; impressive refinement Against Touchscreen controls for most climate functions; acceleration feels a little laboured WHAT CAR? SAYS LIKE ITS PREDECESSORS, the latest Santa Fe is a hugely practical SUV that can transport up to seven people in comfort. But it looks a lot more stiking on the outside and feels far more upmarket inside. The driving position is fantastic, too; there’s a huge amount of seat and steering wheel adjustment, plus you sit high off the ground for a terrific forward view. In fact, visibility is good all round, so the Santa Fe is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre. The fact that you and…

1 MG HS Our pick 1.5T Plug-in Hybrid SE List price £31,995 Target Price £29,106 MPG 565.0 CO2 12g/km For Great value for money; long electric range; plush, spacious interior with lots of kit Against Compromised visibility at junctions; MG’s poor reliability record; too many touch-sensitive controls WHAT CAR? SAYS IT’S A FALLACY that all plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are expensive, and the MG HS is a prime example of that. In fact, in our preferred entry-level SE trim, this family SUV is among the cheapest cars of its kind to buy. Don’t think that just because you’re paying a bargain price means it’ll feel cheap inside, either. In fact, the HS is easily a match for the more expensive Citroën C5 Aircross in terms of plushness. It’s well equipped, too, with…

1 SKODA ELROQ Our pick 85 Edition List price £38,660 Target Price £37,046 Official range 360 miles  Battery size 77kWh For Excellent ride and handling balance; spacious in the back; big boot; long range Against Rear seats aren’t all that flexible; no physical climate controls; heat pump costs extra WHAT CAR? SAYS THE ELROQ IS relatively late to the electric SUV party, but by taking its time and tweaking the formula of the larger Enyaq, Skoda has got things absolutely right. Practicality is a strong point, with plenty of space for 6ft-tall occupants front and rear and a good-sized boot (although the rear seats don’t do anything clever, such as sliding). The interior feels plusher than you might expect, with a pleasing mix of softtouch plastics and fabric trim. The Elroq…

1 PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPÉ Our pick S List price £102,445  Target Price £102,445 MPG 22.6 CO2 282g/km  For Powerful engine; fantastic handling for its size; classy and spacious inside Against Expensive to run; you’ll want to add options; some rivals have a more comfortable ride WHAT CAR? SAYS PORSCHE’S UNCANNY ABILITY to transfer its sports car know-how into its more practical SUV models is one of the key reasons why the Macan and Cayenne make such great sports SUVs. For such a large, heavy car, the latter has no right to handle or perform the way it does, with the even sharper Coupé version being our pick. No version of the Cayenne Coupé is slow, but stepping up from the entry-level V6 model to the 468bhp 4.0-litre V8 S is well…

STAR RATINGS TARGET PRICE The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for a new car and is researched by our crack team of mystery shoppers. Haggling for the best price with salespeople can be an uncomfortable experience, but it’s made much easier with our Target Price as a realistic figure to aim for. TARGET PCP Target PCP Based on the Target £ Price figures set by our mystery shoppers, Target PCP is a fair monthly payment to aim for if you’re taking out a personal contract purchase (PCP) finance agreement at a car dealership. Most of the deals are over 48 months with a 15% deposit and an 8000-mile annual limit. Those marked with an asterisk are over 36 months and those with an apostrophe are…

Alpine A290 Price from £33,500 Dacia Bigster Price from £25,215 Fiat Grande Panda Price from £17,995 Omoda 9 Price from £44,990 Gone but not forgotten The Audi R8 leaves behind a lasting legacyp154…