Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2025 i What Car?

August 2025 Bigger isn’t automatically better; for example, I’m always grateful to be 5ft 8in rather than 6ft 2in when I’m flying economy class. And on the flipside of that, while having more space is a plus, you do tend to be charged extra for it – in cars as well as planes. But not with the appropriately named Dacia Bigster. Indeed, prices for this new family SUV – Dacia’s largest model yet – start from just £25,215. That’s less than you’d pay for some small hatchbacks. However, as enticing as that makes the Bigster, another old saying – you get what you pay for – suggests caution is required. So, what’s the truth? Is the Bigster cheap and cheerful, or just cheap? We’re answering that very question from page…

CAR MAKERS DON’T really want to sell a lot of petrol models in the UK at the moment, because if they do, they face big Government fines. And this has been a problem for Toyota, due to its most affordable car – the Aygo X – being petrol powered. But now there’s a replacement: the new Aygo X Hybrid. More specifically, our pictures show the GR Sport version, which is marked out by details such as a black bonnet, a mesh front grille and sportier-looking alloy wheels. In addition, the GR Sport gets a bespoke suspension set-up and quicker steering in an effort to make it feel more agile. However, all Aygo X Hybrids are claimed to be quieter than the old petrol car, thanks to extra sound-deadening insulation. And…

LOOKING AT THE fresh face of this new, third-generation Mazda CX-5 family SUV, see if you can spot the following elements in its design. First, Yohaku, which – Mazda tells us – means the beauty of empty space. Second, Sori, which means curves with poise and balance. And finally, Utsuroi, describing the delicate play between light and shadow. Well, all of that might take a grounding in Japanese art and culture to be able to nod along with, but the new CX-5 is certainly an imposing sight. And it needs to be, because it competes in one of the most hotly contested markets around: the family SUV heartland, which is dominated by the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan. To get its teeth into these rivals, the new CX-5…

THE KO’OKIRI BODY Plunge – a 125ft drop slide at Universal’s Volcano Bay water park in Florida – delivers an adrenaline rush you might want to experience once or twice in your life, but every day? We doubt it. In contrast, Skoda hopes the Elroq vRS will be a thrill ride you do want to experience daily. This new electric sports SUV retains a keen focus on comfort and practicality, despite offering spicier performance than other versions of the Elroq – our reigning Family Electric SUV of the Year. With two motors, four-wheel drive and a total power output of 335bhp (53bhp more than the previously range-topping Elroq 85), the vRS feels sprightly enough, although it’s hardly a rocketship. With a 0-62mph time of 5.4sec, it’s slightly quicker than the…

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10 Skoda Superb Estate On sale 2015-2024 Price from £10,000 Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE 10 The only estate on our list, the third-generation Skoda Superb Estate has loads of room inside for passengers and luggage alike. Being closer to the ground than most SUVs and MPVs, the Superb doesn’t have a raised driving position, but its lower boot floor is handy when transporting ageing dogs or Ikea flatpacks. The Superb is also a comfy choice, with supportive seats and a cushioned ride. There’s a good choice of petrol and diesel engines, including a smooth 1.5 TSI 150 petrol, a punchy 2.0 TDI 150 diesel and a plug-in hybrid. Reliability is looking good so far, and better than for its rival, the Volkswagen Passat Estate of the same age.…

AROUND A MONTH ago I changed my phone, and it was a right faff – not getting the phone itself, but setting it up once I had it. Yes, in theory, everything was just supposed to transfer over. However, that wasn’t the reality, and in retrospect I’m seriously grateful that I didn’t opt to switch sides; if I’d jumped from Apple to Android, I suspect my new phone still wouldn’t be fully functional. Fortunately, moving between cars (and even car brands) is a lot simpler. But it can still be worth spending a bit of time selecting your personal preferences. Take my BMW X3. Like many modern cars, it comes with a long list of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure and cross-traffic warning systems, road sign…

Mileage 2133 List price £30,245 Target Price £28,586 Price as tested 30,745 Test economy 39.5mpg OUTSIDE APPEARANCES CAN be deceiving when it comes to holiday accommodation. Plenty of people have strolled up to the resort hotel they’ve booked, impressed by its sheer scale and charmed by the blue skies and swaying palms, only to find their room cheaply furnished. They’ll want to spend as little time as possible inside it. Could the same be true of my imposing but value-priced MG HS? Well, no – far from it. When I first climbed up into my car’s electrically adjustable driver’s seat and surveyed my surroundings, I thought:‘Well, this seems like somewhere nice to sit while I wait for the M25 to start moving again.’ My impressions were of a much smarter…

Mileage 4731 List price £41,700 Target Price £38,675 Price as tested £41,820 Test economy 42.1mpg LAST-MINUTE PACKING FOR a holiday is never much fun. You have a good idea of what you want to take with you, but actually fitting it all into your suitcase is another matter. Happily, life with my Skoda Kodiaq is like packing an infinitely extendable suitcase. And the fact that I can just chuck everything in without thinking about it is particularly handy when I’m rushing to pack away in the rain. When embarking upon a photo shoot in the Skoda Kamiq I ran previously, I had to be a little selective in terms of the gear I took with me. It easily took all the things that I was guaranteed to use, but I…

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 Fuel economy figures and electric vehicle…

Ford Focus ST 2019-2025 Fast Ford fans will be in mourning as the final chapter closes on this traditional hot hatch THE BEATLES SPLITTING up, the death of Elvis, the tragic discontinuation of the Caramac bar… sometimes it’s hard to know how to cope when we witness the end of an era. And when it comes to the passing of this hot hatch, it isn’t just the car that we’ll miss; we’ll mourn what it represented. The first Ford Focus ST was the ST170 of 2002, but you could argue that its heritage went back a long way earlier. It was the spiritual successor to the Escort XR3is of the 1980s and ’90s and even the Escort Mexicos of the 1970s: basically, family cars tweaked to be much hotter than…

COMPANY CARS REMAIN a hugely important part of the UK’s motoring landscape; indeed, almost one in six new cars that hit the roads last year did so as part of a company car fleet. And a significant proportion of them are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – sales of which were up 50% in May compared with the same month last year. Low benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates and reduced fuel costs, allied to the fact that they’re virtually as easy to live with as any other petrol or diesel car, make PHEVs an ideal choice for many drivers. So, with the Audi A4 going fully electric, it’s time for its direct replacement – the A5 – to pick up the mantle for those who still want the reassurance of a combustion engine.…

IN POKÉMON – THE Japanese fantasy universe of computer games and animation – humans live side by side with irascible creatures whose final evolutionary form represents them at their highest potency. The new GTi is the equivalent in the Peugeot e-208 small electric car line-up. With Pokémon short for‘pocket monster’, the analogy makes even more sense, because the e-208 GTi takes Peugeot’s smallest car and gives it a 276bhp punch. However, while all that power being sent to the front wheels alone could be a recipe for a wild ride, the inclusion of a clever front differential should help to transmit it to the Tarmac effectively. This electric hot hatch can officially sprint from 0-62mph in 5.7sec – a healthy boost over the regular e-208, which has 154bhp on tap…

‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’isn’t just a management slogan; it also describes what’s happened to the engine line-up of the latest Kia Sportage. Freshly updated, our favourite family SUV drops the mild hybrid tech that aided the performance and fuel economy of the previous entry-level engine. In its place is a conventional turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol unit with a 148bhp power output – down from the previous 157bhp. The new engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. As before, full hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power options are also available, but the latest versions of both come with new electric motors that increase their total power outputs. The HEV now pumps out 236bhp; that’s more than the equivalent Hyundai Tucson, even though that…

LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP between bees and flowers, the partnership between Toyota and Suzuki can be described as facultative mutualism. That is, it’s a partnership where both brands benefit from each other but can also likely survive on their own. It’s a collaboration that’s resulted in a host of models, but it isn’t until now that it has spawned an electric vehicle (EV). For Toyota, that comes in the form of the Urban Cruiser. Sharing its underpinnings with Suzuki’s equally new e Vitara, the Urban Cruiser is slightly larger than Toyota’s Yaris Cross and sits below the upcoming C-HR+ and the recently revised bZ4X in the brand’s EV line-up. There are two motor and battery options: one with a 142bhp power output and a 49kWh (total capacity) battery, the other…

6 or 8 Number of cylinders most Mercedes-AMG performance models will have in future, with a spokesman admitting that the four-cylinder, plug-in hybrid engine in the current C63 has failed to resonate with traditional customers. 3 Remaining hydrogen filling stations for cars in the UK, following the closure of stations by Shell and Motive Fuels, due to a lack of demand. This is down from seven in 2024 and 16 in 2023, although a further three are planned. 4m Car parts that will be stocked every year at the Stellantis group’s new distribution centre in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The facility will supply components for 10 brands across 19 regional hubs.…

MOST PEOPLE DON’T pay much attention to those four strips of black rubber between their car and the ground, but they should; that rubber is vital in keeping you safe on the road. According to research by tyre safety charity TyreSafe, 989 UK motorists were killed in accidents caused by tyre-related problems in 2023, and 159 of them died as a result of a crash caused by defective tyres. And yet, TyreSafe’s data reveals that one in five drivers have never checked their car’s tyres. It’s vital to monitor the tread depth of tyres and replace them before they wear down too much. It’s also crucial that you ensure they’re correctly inflated; our research shows that driving on under-inflated tyres can substantially increase your car’s braking distance, as well as…

WELCOME TO THE 2025 What Car? Tow Car Awards. Whatever you haul and whatever your budget, you should be able to find your next tow car right here. This year, we’ve put 36 cars to the test, covering everything from family hatchbacks to luxury SUVs and MPVs. Petrols and diesels are tested alongside hybrids of all kinds and electric vehicles (EVs). Towing places extra demands on a car compared with regular driving. Pulling a caravan adds perhaps one and a half tonnes of weight, more than doubles the car’s total length and puts a big hinge in the middle. You can’t assume that just because a car is good to drive day to day, it will tow well too. A heavy car with a strong engine is a good starting…

IN THE WORLD of hot hatches, I tend to think of the Volkswagen Golf GTI as king, with this going back to my youth. You see, my older brother and I used to attend various modified car meetings around our home county of Northamptonshire. And these typically featured large numbers of the same modded models – Fiat Puntos, Ford Fiestas, Renault Clios and the like – revving their engines, playing loud music and, occasionally, disappearing swiftly when the police decided to pop by. But while those cars seemed to me both fast and furious, things were always turned up a notch when a Golf GTI rocked up. Whether it was due to the looks, noise or speed, they seemed a cut above any competition. And I’ve wanted to own one…

FIVE YEARS. THAT’S how long the ‘new’ Land Rover Defender has been on sale. Usually by this point in a car’s life there would have been a facelift, with a whole new generation probably only a couple of years away. But that hasn’t happened with the Defender; its looks haven’t changed a bit, and they don’t need to. That’s the beauty of a retro-inspired design done right: it doesn’t age in the same way as something super-modern. It’s the same story with the reimagined Fiat 500 and Mini, and doubtless will be with the new Renault 5 too. So, if nothing much is new, why have I now chosen to run a Defender as my company car? Well, a few reasons. Number one, we’ve never done a long-term test of…

ON SALE FROM 2019-PRESENT PRICE FROM £10,000 OUR FAVOURITE VERSION 1.0 TSI 115 SE THINK OF THE Kamiq as Skoda’s answer to the Big Mac. No, it’s not made from beef and cheese, but, like the famous burger, it’s the second best-selling product in its maker’s line-up. And like the Big Mac, it’s rather tasty. The Kamiq engine range kicks off with a 1.0-litre unit in a variety of power outputs: an entry-level 94bhp TSI 95 (which comes with a five-speed manual gearbox), a 108bhp TSI 110 and a 113bhp TSI 115. There’s also a 148bhp 1.5 TSI Evo 150, which, like the TSI 110 and 115, comes with a six-speed manual gearbox; a seven-speed automatic is optional. There was also a lone diesel engine option from launch (the 113bhp…

1 LEXUS LBX Our pick 1.5 Premium Plus List price £34,845 Target Price £33,506 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…

STAR RATINGS Outstanding Above average Average Below average Poor TARGET PRICE The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for a new car and is 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 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…

NEUE KLASSE. IN recent years, BMW has shown off a couple of concept cars that use this name. And you don’t need an A-Level in German to realise that it translates to ‘new class’. But given the stepchange in design and technology those concepts showcased, what might come as a surprise is how much next year’s new BMW iX3 resembles them. True, the prototype versions we’ve just tried were all wearing camouflage. However, their infotainment screens give the game away by showing pictures that depict the iX3 as a dead ringer for the Vision Neue Klasse X concept. That means the front end harks back to BMWs of the mid-1960s through to the ’80s, with two small ‘kidney’ grilles centred in a panel that runs the full width of the…

BABY’S FIRST WORD is a big event. Parents and relatives coo and all is excitement and celebration. Baby’s second word, though… well, so what? It’s inevitable. More of the same. It might not be until baby’s first somersault that interest will be piqued again. Nissan wants the new Leaf to be baby’s first somersault. When the original Leaf first arrived in 2010 as the first mass-market electric family car, it naturally created a stir, but the second generation – while better in every way – had much tougher competition to deal with and struggled to stand out. It’s up to the third-generation Leaf, then, to get back to being the centre of attention. It’s certainly more individual to look at than the previous Leaf, with a similar stature to the…

IN MUCH THE same way as it’s hard to imagine tech-toting Marvel superhero Iron Man being played by anyone other than Robert Downey Jr, the premium SUV market would look very different without the Audi Q3 at centre stage. And now, with numerous potential blockbuster rivals due for release, the Q3 has a sequel. In a bid to keep fans enthralled and perhaps attract more folk to the Q3 universe, this all-new model sports a more muscular look than its predecessor. At the front, a more angular front bumper features wider air intakes, and there are slimmer Matrix LED headlights (which can shape their beams to avoid dazzling other drivers). Meanwhile, a new full-width LED light bar stretches across the rear. Kicking off the new Q3’s engine line-up is a…

THE GOVERNMENT IS failing in a commitment to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) for its own fleet, despite continuing to demand that these models account for 80% of all new car sales in the UK by 2030. In 2017, the Government of the day pledged to ‘electrify’ 25% of the fleet by 2022, and for all of its cars and vans to be fully electric by the end of 2027. However, while the 2027 target remains in place, information obtained by What Car? via Freedom of Information requests shows that, at present, only 15% of Government cars and vans are pure electric. The figures also show that 1% are regular hybrids, 3% are petrols, 22% are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 59% are diesels. True, the numbers are better when you…

VOLVO HAS PIONEERED a new ‘multi-adaptive’ seatbelt that could bring significant safety improvements. The belt uses data from sensors inside the car to adapt to a seat occupant’s height, weight, body shape and seating position and apply an appropriate level of restraint in an accident. For example, a large occupant in a serious crash will be restrained more forcefully to reduce the risk of head injury, whereas the level will be lower for a smaller passenger in a milder accident, to reduce the risk of rib fractures. Exterior sensors also help the seatbelt to respond to the severity of the crash. The pressure-reducing ‘load limiters’ on the multi-adaptive seatbelt have 11 levels, whereas those on existing three-point seatbelts have just three. Regular over-the-air software updates will allow the devices to…

Would you like to be part of a future Reader Test Team? Email us with your details at readertestteam@whatcar.com Check out other family electric SUVs in our buyer’s guide on p112 THE COMPASS family SUV is an important model for Jeep, selling in big numbers worldwide, and this all-new model is charged with continuing that success. Like the smaller Avenger, which went on sale in 2023, the new Compass will be offered in fully electric form, as well as with electrified petrol power. This is made possible by sharing underpinnings with other models from brands within the Stellantis group, including the Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland. To win sales from these and other rivals, it needs to stand out in terms of both looks and ability. On the styling front,…

NEW DACIA BIGSTER Hybrid 155 Journey List price £29,440 Target Price £29,440 As its name suggests, Dacia’s new SUV is big – the largest it has ever offered, in fact. But is it just a large portion, or is it tasty to boot? MG HS 1.5T DCT Trophy List price £30,245 Target Price £30,245 The HS is our reigning Plug-in Hybrid of the Year, but can this cheaper non-hybrid version follow in its sibling’s award-winning footsteps? YOU CAN BUY pretty much anything from Amazon these days, but if you want similar gear at bargain basement prices, you go to apps like Shein and Temu. The idea of huge hauls for minimal outlay clearly resonates with consumers; these retail platforms have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. When…

WHO REMEMBERS THE Renault Avantime? It beggars belief that anyone thought an Espace-based three-door MPV coupé would be a good idea, yet around 8500 of them were made for a couple of years in the early 2000s. And what about the lofty Renault Vel Satis executive hatchback? Another answer to a question almost no one was asking. However, we shouldn’t forget that the French brand has also made some outstanding cars over the years, including the original Renault 5 (R5), the Clio small hatchback and a long line of Clio and Megane hot hatches. In fact, the Clio still reigns supreme in the small car category to this day. For one of the richest veins of strong form, though, you need to look to Renault’s current electric models. The reinvented,…

Mileage 4745 List price £64,015 Target Price £59,963 Price as tested £68,470 Test range 294 miles AS A CHILD, I loved Top Trumps. My favourite deck was Fast Cars, and I could tell you then – as well as now – that the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth takes 6.8sec to reach 60mph from a standstill and the Vector W2 concept pretty much conquers all. I’m a car enthusiast, so those 0-60mph times and engine sizes will always be of interest, but as we enter the electric era, the new performance metric is charging speed. After all, it doesn’t matter what speed your electric car can travel at if it takes an age to top up its battery; in that case, you’re going to arrive last. Fortunately, with a maximum charging…

Mileage 5220 List price £33,000 Target Price £30,203 Price as tested £34,710 Test range 187 miles I’VE HAD A few (non-car) stereos from a well-known electronics brand over the years, and they’ve all had a little red Bass Boost button. You might think activating that exciting-sounding feature would make the room throb like a Berlin nightclub, but in my experience it’s actually a corrective to the slightly weedy default sound. Likewise, most electric cars – including my Peugeot e-208 – give you three driving modes to play with: Eco, Normal and Sport. If you want maximum bass (sorry, pace), you’ll need to switch from the default Normal mode to Sport. And if you have a long trip ahead and want to delay having to stop to recharge for as long…

WITH THE ELECTRIC car market quickly filling with unfamiliar makes, for some, reputation is everything. The Kia EV6 has built up a very strong name for itself, scooping our prestigious Car of the Year award soon after launch, and it’s still one of our favourite electric cars. And if you choose to buy one at three years old, it’ll cost less than half of its price brand new. Nissan, too, is part of the electric car establishment, and the Ariya was its SUV follow-up to the Leaf – the first ‘affordable’ electric family car. The Ariya is stylish and well equipped, and an early model now costs even less than an EV6 of similar age. But which of these household names most deserves a spot outside your house? DRIVING Performance,…

Audi A6 Price from £50,560 DATA FACT Executive saloon promises 40.4mpg with petrol power, or 55.5mpg if you opt for a diesel. Citroën Holidays Price from £58,335 DATA FACT Camper van is a home from home for up to four people, and can sprint from 0-62mph in 10.6sec. Hyundai Ioniq 9 Price from £66,495 DATA FACT Flagship seven-seat electric SUV can officially travel for up to 385 miles on a full charge. Renault 4 Price from £26,995 DATA FACT Electric SUV is 222mm longer and has a 122-litre bigger boot than its Renault 5 hatchback relative. Gone but not forgotten The potent Ford Focus ST roars off into the sunset p154…