4 minute read
Small and Medium Cars
KIA PICANTO 1.25 GT-LINE S 5DR 01
SMALL CARS THEY MAY BE SMALL BUT THESE CARS ARE BIG IN CHARACTER
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THE CAR If you’re looking for a city car with a lot of space to play with, the Kia Picanto is one of the best choices you can make. Low on emissions, fairly fuel efficient, and coming with Kia’s seven-year warranty, you’re making a sensible and fun choice opting for the Picanto. A number of trims are available, but we think the GT-Line S gives you the most bang for your buck. THE DRIVE Boasting firm suspension and accurate steering, this is a great pick for those who need a car to navigate crowded, pothole-ridden city streets. It’s a quiet ride, but in the GT-Line trim, you sacrifice no power for that additional silence, and it’ll happily pull you up to motorway speeds without any trouble. COMFORT AND SAFETY Adding on safety packs is an option with the Picanto, but this edition comes with automatic emergency braking, and features six airbags as standard. The safety pack add-on brings the Picanto up to a four-star Euro NCAP rating. It’s also fitted with an alarm and an immobiliser as standard. Fuel Type: Petrol Average MPG: 56.5 Brake Horsepower (BHP): 83 CO2 Emissions (g/km): 115 Boot Capacity (litres): 255 SPECIFICATIONS
2.0 COOPER S II 3DR 02
THE CAR Good things come in small packages, and the Mini Cooper is the epitome of this. Despite its little stature, there is a surprising amount of space in the Mini, even in its three-door variety. Motability does offer the five-door variant, as well as a few other trims if you’d prefer more or fewer extras. THE DRIVE This is what keeps Mini owners returning to the brand. It has a reputation as a go-kart for grown ups, and it’s not unfounded. This model delivers an impressive performance, pulling away quickly, and offers good handling and noticeable grip in corners. City drivers will enjoy its tight turning circle, and you’ll be surprised how well it handles potholes, in spite of its low clearance. COMFORT AND SAFETY Again, in spite of its size, you won’t find getting comfortable in the Mini a difficult task, even if you don’t opt for any additional interior add-ons. The car was awarded a four-star Euro NCAP rating, but you can improve the safety of the vehicle by adding on automatic emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear parking camera, should you wish.
CITROËN C4 CACTUS 1.5 BLUEHDI FLAIR 5DR 03
THE CAR The quirky design of the C4 Cactus is likely to turn a few heads, and it’s a great choice for those looking for the aesthetic of an SUV with the practicalities of a family car. It’s also a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a diesel-fuelled workhorse that doesn’t leave as big an imprint on the environment as its competitors. THE DRIVE Boasting its new progressive hydraulic cushions, the C4 Cactus is ideal for the school run through town, and can eat up speed bumps and pot holes without too much fuss. It offers a fairly controlled driving experience, without becoming difficult to get a hold of, and rarely acts unexpectedly. COMFORT AND SAFETY The advanced comfort seats offer a little touch of luxury, and lumbar support comes as standard. The Flair models come with rear parking sensors and reversing cameras as standard, which is why we would opt for that one out of the box. It garnered a four-star Euro NCAP rating, and this model also boasts safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane departure warnings.
SPECIFICATIONS
AUDI Q2 ESTATE 30 TDI SPORT 5DR 04
THE CAR One of the big three German aspirational brands, Audi have produced a small but powerful car in the Q2, and one that’s practical, too. Safety and solid infotainment options are at the forefront of reasons to swing for the Q2, as well as a suitably classy interior. THE DRIVE This model is at the lower end of the spectrum in terms of its power, but what you sacrifice in ability to pull the car off at high revs, you gain in low running costs. That’s not to say the car won’t happily trot along with a litter of kids and some luggage, however. It’s a firm ride, but it’s quiet and handles tremendously. COMFORT AND SAFETY All models get a height adjustable seat, and you’ll find yourself in a comfortable and easy driving position in no time at all. You get a great view of the road, and very few points to obscure visibility. It’s one of the safest cars in its class, with a Euro NCAP rating of five-stars, as well as a number of safety features as standard, including automatic emergency braking. Fuel Type: Diesel Average MPG: 60.1 Brake Horsepower (BHP): 114 CO2 Emissions (g/km): 122 Boot Capacity (litres): 405 SPECIFICATIONS
MEDIUM DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
MEDIUM CARS
