STEVE HOWARTH’S TEST DRIVE

COROLLA GR SPORT

OUR latest test car came with some racing pedigree and badging kudos as the Toyota Corolla we got our hands on was the GR Sport version.

Now at first I got really excited as GR stands for Gazoo Racing (the motorsport/performance arm of the Japanese manufacturer) and I have already sampled super-hot GR versions of the Yaris and Supra.

However, I then realized that Toyota think you can have too much of a good thing and so are not currently selling the full-blown Corolla GR with its 300bhp, turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine and adjustable-torque-split all-wheel drive and limited-slip differentials in the UK.

Rather as BMW have their M Sport versions and Audi their Sportline models the GR Sport is a more road-friendly, less license losing version with sporty DNA and also comes as a ‘self-charging’ hybrid - the batteries are topped up when you hit the brakes and a small electric motor can then improve either efficiency or performance.

You can even drive the Corolla on battery power alone with a light right foot for short distances and there are eco, normal and sport driving modes to choose from.

The standard Corolla is already a great family car comfortable, well made, well equipped and quite frugal - the GR Sport adds more striking styling with a 2-litre petrol engine which, linked to that electric motor, means 181bhp, a highly respectable 0-62mph in 7.9sec and top speed of 112mph.

Toyota say the car will give a combined mpg figure of up to 54mpg and my real world experience backs that up as over a near 300 mile round trip to a motoring launch event in the south midlands I got just a shade under that figure, despite travelling for the majority of the journey at motorway speeds (M6 roadworks permitting).

So despite the name, the GR Sport doesn’t have any specific sport tuning apart from distinctive 18-inch alloy wheels. What it does have is that striking styling – unique front and rear bumper trim, GR Sport badging and inside supportive sports seats, a head-up display and large central infotainment touchscreen.

Other standard kit includes adaptive cruise control, reversing camera, heated front seats and a raft of the latest Toyota safety systems.

On the road the car is quite quick with steering that feels wellweighted, a sporty yet comfortable ride and that typical Toyota build quality that inspires a feeling of solidity and strength.

In 2-litre specification, as tested, the Corolla GR Sport comes in at £32,645. For that you get healthy equipment levels with items such as LED headlights, those 18-inch machined alloy wheels, that extra body styling and interior sporting touches plus head-up display as standard.

The Corolla range starts at £26,895 for the Icon trim non hybrid 1.8 petrol and goes up to £34,555 for the range-topping touring sports in Excel trim pitching the hybrid GR Sport towards the top of the range in terms of pricing.

So with the 2022 Corolla already a great drive adding some sporting credentials with the GR Sport version could be a way for you to really stand out on the high street.

More info at www.toyota.co.uk

CITROEN C5 X

IT’S a hatchback… an estate… an SUV – well the latest offering from Citroen is all three and more as they unveil the new C5 X.

With more than a hint of iconic large Citroen’s of the past (think DS, CX and XM) their new flagship motor is, says the French manufacturer, both “a celebration of Citroën’s past, and a look into the future for the brand.”

In addition to its striking looks, the C5 X offers unrivalled comfort thanks to its ‘lounge like’ interior and Citroën’s ‘Advanced Comfort Programme’ with active suspension and ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats, aided by a multitude of driver safety aids and new 12-inch HD touchscreen with voice recognition. This has a new enhanced infotainment system with ambient backlighting, optimum ergonomic efficiency and ultimate smartphone compatibility. Users can customise their preferred shortcuts as key functions, whilst setting their own user profile and a new head-up display system helps to improve safety and driver comfort.

I got to try out the new large Citroen at a recent UK drive event in beautiful Warwickshire countryside on the hottest day of the year – so the car’s excellent aircon got a big tick straight away. Comfort is the priority here and it is, like those great Citroens of the past, a case of wafting along as the superb suspension and extra comfort seats soak up all road imperfections.

However, as this was the 225bhp plug in hybrid (PHEV) version this C5 X can also pick up its skirts and get a move on when in sport mode – 0 to 60 in a very respectable 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 145mph. This comes from a combination of a front wheel drive 1.6 petrol engine and an electric motor that is capable of up to 31 miles on a full charge without a drop of petrol being used plus an eight speed silky smooth auto box.

Also like its forebears the C5 X is striking to look at and has lots of road presence as it is 4.8 metres long and 1.8 metres wide. There are three trim levels ‘Sense Plus’, ‘Shine’ and ‘Shine Plus’, each as a Plug-in Hybrid or petrol and it was the latter, range topper, which I got to try. Build quality and materials on the interior are good and kit levels high with adaptive cruise, power tailgate, heads up display and heated power front seats being the highlights for me. There are also a raft of safety systems which put the C5 X up with the best in its D segment class. So this PHEV is refined and quiet, especially in electric only mode, comfy and quite fast and Citroen expect it to sell well, even though they are only being made to order with the first ones to hit UK Roads this summer.

Apparently the Chinese are also quite keen on big Citroens so many C5 X’s are likely to find homes there too.

Here there is also a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol with 129bhp (badged 130 and expected to be the biggest UK seller) and a 1.6-litre petrol with 178bhp, both non hybrid.

Prices go from £27,790 to £33,810 for the non-hybrids and from £36,470 to £39,960 for the hybrid versions.

For more information see www.citroen.co.uk