Company Car & Van April 2019

COMPANY

Car and Van The motoring magazine for SME fleets

Jaguar I-Pace electric Jag shows Tesla how it’s done

BMW 3 SERIES

New corporate favourite arrives

CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS Your ‘magic carpet ride’ awaits

VOlkSWAgEN CRAfTER Ticks the large van box

April 2019

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Jaguar I-Pace leaves rivals playing catch-up Tesla seems to have had a monopoly on premium EVs, but not any more. Jaguar’s formidable I-PACE will be giving Mr Musk some sleepless nights, as we found out recently. It’s an EV that handles amazingly and Jaguar has managed to get it to market ahead of the Germans. To find out more we spoke to Scott Dicken, UK Sales Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK, about how this new car will transform the brand.

In the small premium saloon sector, BMW has not had things all its own way recently. Step forward what it hopes will be a game changer, in the form of the latest 3 Series saloon.

Citroen is celebrating its centenary in 2019 but its not all parties and reminiscing; it has been as busy as ever launching a new mid-range SUV, the C5 Aircross.

As we found out, it’s packed with the latest kit but pleasingly, harks back to Citroens of old. We also chat to Martin Gurney, Director, Fleet & Used Vehicles at the PSA Group, about the success of the Berlingo van.

Other cars driven include the Hyundai i30 Fastback, Mazda CX-5, Volvo XC60, Nissan Qashqai, KIA Ceed and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. New cars featured this time include the Lexus UX, Volkswagen T-Cross, Toyota Rav4 and DS3 Crossback – and we’ve also got an interview with DS UK’s Marketing Director, Mark Blundell.

On the commercial front – with the CV Show fast approaching – we also review the dependable Isuzu D-Max Utah, the five-tonne Volkswagen Crafter RWD, the Italian take on the medium van, the Fiat Professional Talento, the small but perfectly formed Ford Transit Courier and the award-winning Citroen Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo. We finish with a feature on the load-lugging Isuzu Grafter, plus we find out why waste disposal experts Spaniard Hall invested in five Iveco X-Way Trakkers.

Andrew Walker, Editor and Publisher

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Contents Geneva Motor Show 4 In conversation with...

JLR’s Scott Dicken 6 Jaguar I-PACE 8 Toyota Rav 4 12 Toyota Corolla 14 Volkswagen T-Cross 16 Lexus UX 20 Hyundai i30 Fastback 22 BMW 3 Series 24 Mazda3 28 In conversation with...

Mark Blundell, DS 30 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 32 Volvo XC60 36 In conversation with...

Martin Gurney, PSA Group 39 Citroen C5 Aircross 40 Nissan Qashqai 42 Kia Ceed 44 Volkswagen Crafter 48 Citroen Berlingo 49 Isuzu Grafter Green 51 Fiat Professional Talento 52 Iveco X-Way Trakker 54 Ford Transit Courier 56 Isuzu D-Max Utah 58 Euro Commercials 60 Vauxhall Combo 61

APRIL 2019 • ISSUE 54

Company Car & Van is wholly owned and published by: Walker Advertising & Marketing Ltd

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Jaguar I-Pace

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CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS

Electric Jag shows Tesla how it’s done MERCEDES-BENZ X-CLASS V6 offers pick-up thrills

BMW 3 SERIES

New corporate favourite arrives Your ‘magic carpet ride’ awaits

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this magazine, the publisher can accept no responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising content. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The carriage of adverts in this publication should not necessarily be viewed as an endorsement of the products or services advertised. All articles within this publication are copyright of Walker Advertising & Marketing Ltd. Editorial consent must be obtained before any are reproduced, either in printed form or electronically. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

April 2019

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Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 03

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW NEWS

It’s EVs to the fore at Geneva Top award for I-PACE

The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE has been named ‘Car of the Year’ in the European Car of the Year Awards 2019.

Surprisingly this is the first time a Jaguar has won the coveted prize.

I-PACE was recently named UK Car of the Year and was praised for being ‘miles ahead of the premium EV pack’. The European Car of the Year jury comprises 60 motoring journalists from 23 countries, and the award recognises technical innovation, design, performance, efficiency and value for money.

Electric Kia lights up show

Audi Q4 in range boost

Audi showcased the Q4 e-tron concept at Geneva.

It’s a compact electric SUV with all-wheel drive and a range of more than 279 miles thanks to versatile efficiency technologies. A production version is to be launched at the end of 2020 and will be the Audi brand’s fifth electric model.

Kia revealed the depth of its advanced powertrain line-up with an electric vehicle-only Geneva Motor Show display.

This included the world debut for fully-electric ‘Imagine by Kia’ concept as well as the European debut for the Kia Soul EV, with long-range, fullyelectric powertrains, plus the first reveal of upgraded Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid.

Prototype underlines Honda ambition Honda announced its ambition to make all of its European automobile sales electrified by 2025 as it took the wraps off a Honda e-Prototype, marking the next step in the roll-out of the company’s electrified technology strategy.

Can-do Korando goes forth

SsangYong launched its all-new Korando – the fourth generation to carry the name. It follows on from the SIV-2 design concept first seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016. It will go on sale across Europe from mid-2019, with an EV based on the e-SIV concept to follow.

Family-friendly Mazda launches all-new CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 made its world premiere at Geneva and will go on sale in the UK later this year. The CX-30 is a new compact crossover that combines the bold proportions of an SUV with elegant styling, and embodies Mazda’s Kodo design language.

Relaxed and user-friendly packaging and a cabin that comfortably seats four adults means it is aimed at family-first customers. However, there is no compromise behind the wheel and the CX-30 was designed to be easy to drive. The increased height over a passenger car provides excellent visibility and makes getting in and out a breeze, while the body size makes it easy to manoeuvre on any road – and in any parking space.

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Q & A.... with Jaguar land rover’s SCOTT DICKEN

I-PACE taps into fleets’ need for an electric alternative Scott Dicken, UK Sales Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK, talks to Company Car & Van’s Andrew Walker about the relevance of electric vehicles to the SME fleet sector and why the company sees its new I-Pace having a major role to play Andrew Walker: In this issue, we are reviewing the fantastic I-Pace. What are your aims for this model in the corporate sector?

Scott Dicken: EVs are going to have an increasingly important role to play in the corporate sector as businesses look to reduce their carbon footprint, energy and other running costs.

From April 2020, the Company Car Tax BIK rate on the I-PACE will drop to just 2% which will save drivers and their employers on BIK tax and National Insurance Contributions.

Additionally, as electricity is not classed as a fuel, there are no fuel benefit taxes to be paid on electricity supplied by the employer.

Initially, due to its price we expect the majority of I-PACE sales to go to senior managers and directors.

All of these factors will generate demand.

But the I-PACE will also appeal to a wider cross-section of car buyers. While the I-PACE could be used by most corporate drivers, we suspect the majority will go to users who commute into or within cities, or over short to

medium distances rather than those who traverse the length and breadth of the country up and down the motorway network.

AW: Jaguar also has range of excellent diesel models, including the XE and XF. How do you see the corporate market for diesel panning out post-Brexit?

SD: Clean EU6/RDE2 diesels will continue to play their part in Jaguar’s balanced powertrain portfolio. We expect that as more and more of our vehicles pick up the benefits of our latest clean diesel technology, customers and fleet managers will see that the latest Jaguar diesels are still very relevant, and offer an excellent combination of low CO2 emissions, low pollutant emissions and excellent fuel economy.

As more and more of our RDE2 diesels come on stream fleet managers and company car drivers will be able to take advantage of the removal of the non-RDE2 BIK and VED surcharge on older diesels with higher emissions.

AW: Some say that SMEs are the least likely corporate group to be affected by WLTP and Brexit, simply because many still allow individuals to choose their own company car.

Do you think that Jaguar can take advantage of this?

SD: At Jaguar Land Rover we try to address the requirements of all of our diverse customer groups and help them select the right product that best suits their needs all round.

AW: EVs are definitely coming, with the I-Pace your first in this sector. Does Jaguar have any plans to launch any smaller fleetfriendly EVs in the near future ?

SD: I can’t comment on specific future product plans, but we have said publicly that Jaguar Land Rover is planning to role out more BEV and PHEV vehicles over the short to medium term.

We definitely see a future for an increasing number of EVs in our portfolio, however.

AW: Finally, if you have a crystal ball, where would you like Jaguar to be in terms of the corporate sector in two years time?

SD: In two years time I would like Jaguar Land Rover to be at the forefront of user choosers, fleet managers and policy decision makers’ minds and seen as a natural and successful competitor in all segments of the Fleet and Business market, especially with rapidly expanding availability of electrified power trains across our range during this time period.

“I-PACE will appeal to a wider cross-section of car buyers ... we suspect the majority will go to users who commute into or within cities, or over short to medium distances rather than those who traverse the length and breadth of the country...”

06 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

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On test: JAGUAR I-PACE

An electric roar of defiance Traditional Jaguar DNA with ultra-modern electric tech... Andrew Walker thinks the I-Pace has it all

Before I took delivery of the first electric Jaguar, the I-Pace, I thought it would be a good idea to watch the Amazon Prime film, Jaguar Going Electric. Director of Design for Jaguar, Ian Callum, takes viewers through the car’s incredible journey, from drawing board idea to actual production, in what is a fascinating insight into how global car brands invest masses of time and money – £1.5 billion pounds in R and D in the I-Pace’s case – to create a product that will appeal to customers.

There is no second chance, especially with the German premium brands all jostling to get their new EVs out, so the I-Pace is probably Jaguar’s most important launch ever.

As a fan of both the F-Pace and especially the E-Pace, I was eager to spend some time with the I-Pace and having the benefit of a Rolec home charger, was able to drive a few hundred miles in it without having to resort to public charge points. I have to say that those customers lucky enough to be in a position to have an I-Pace will definitely not be disappointed. Jaguar’s designers have created an SUV that delivers, first and foremost, the Jaguar experience. From the outside it looks

08 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

Jaguar I-Pace HSE PRICE: £74,995 CO2:

0g/km

Range: Claimed 298miles Recharge: 10 hours from fast charger BIK: 13%

fantastic. Somehow, Jaguar has managed to keep the Jaguar ID prominent throught – for example, with the front grille, while simultaneously adding a massive air vent to the bonnet to make the I-PACE more aerodynamic and totally unique. Plainly they’ve considered the Tesla Model X when designing it, but where the Tesla is upright and long, in effect more like a sporty MPV, the I-Pace is squat and muscular, with short overhangs. The rear

hatch is the most Tesla-like part of the car, but even that still packs a punch, finishing off the exterior with its signature rump.

We were testing the I-Pace HSE EV400 AWD which comes, unsurprisingly, well equipped. It features Luxtec synthetic leather sports seats, 18” 15-spoke alloys, electric cabin pre conditioning, LED head and tail lights, ‘follow-me-home’ lighting, flush exterior door handles, a rear bike carrier preparation kit, enhanced brake regeneration, Jaguar Drive Control, 12.3” interactive driver display, navigation pro, a smartphone pack for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Meridian sound system, cruise control, lane keep assist and a rear camera.

Charging equipment includes a 7kW charger, which went straight into my Rolec home set up, and a multi-function 32A charging cable which will plug into a domestic socket.

Inside there’s generous head and leg room in both the front and rear and the cabin cocoons you in a happy way. We had the panoramic sunroof fitted to our test car and this draws light into what would otherwise be a fairly dark cabin. You will fit three adult rear

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passengers into the I-Pace, as leg room is good, but with three adults sat together shoulder room will be tight.

Jaguar has cleverly created some storage space in places one wouldn’t expect. The centre console has been hollowed out, with a hidden space underneath, just big enough for a small bag. This section also contains two USB charging ports. In the rear, there’s trays beneath the rear seats, which are the perfect size for storing an I-Pad or laptop. Rear passengers also get twin USB ports and a 12v socket. The central armrest has a 10-litre cubby underneath with a further two USB ports plus another 12v socket. In front of this there are two drinks spaces and a clever rectangular fitting for your mobile phone. Both front door pockets are a decent size and will each take a small bottle.

The way that the I-Pace has been designed means that there’s an excellent amount of boot space, with 656 litres on offer. Drop the rear seats down and this goes up to a more than useful 1,453 litres. The two charging cables are stored under the boot’s flat floor, and of course, as there’s no engine, you get a few litres of storage space at the front under the bonnet.

The 90kWh battery installed into the floor of is what makes this car different. Jaguar claims a range of up to 298 miles but with the way it handles and a 0-60mph of just 4.5 seconds, we would seriously question this. The I-Pace begs to be driven and as we found out, a range of 180-200 miles on a single charge is more realistic if you drive in Eco mode rather than in Comfort or in Dynamic. The 90kWh battery which drives the two electric motors to give 4WD, develops 396bhp and 696Nm of torque, more than enough to tempt even the most pessimistic petrolhead.

Having a Rolec 7kW home charger makes all the difference to owning an EV and the I-Pace is no different. We were able to drive 100 motorway miles from full, which was 251 miles on delivery, while seeing the range drop from 251 to 96 miles, which wasn’t a great start. Travelling at much over 70mph really does drain the battery, so this all-motorway charge reading wasn’t really a surprise.

The good news is that once you slow down and drive in urban areas, or on A and B roads, at 30-40mph, the economy improves. The claimed 96-mile range we were told we had left actually gave us 88 miles of driving before we were warned to recharge.

Charging from what was almost zero to full using the Rolec 7kW home charger took us 10.5 hours and works out at £8-£10 of electricity, depending on your supplier. If you don’t have a home charger, you’ll need to plug in the 32A charging cable into a domestic socket. This isn’t to be encouraged as it will take twice as long to charge the battery and will cost more as well.

We reckoned our £8 bought us around 180 miles of range, about a third of the cost of running a similar family petrol hatchback. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Compare the cost to go 180 miles in the kind of petrol-powered car that offers the I-Pace’s performance and this saving increases; I estimated that the I-Pace will cost around a quarter of what you would expect to pay to run a powerful petrol model of similar size, a sobering thought and one that will sway many customers.

Driving in town in a silent car can be dangerous to pedestrians and so Jaguar has fitted a synthetic soundtrack, which you can adjust from ‘calm’ to ‘dynamic’ to warn unsuspecting passers-by that you’re around. I utilised this a couple of times, but to be honest it didn’t seem that necessary. The I-Pace is hardly invisible.

Moving off is achieved by pushing the D for Drive button, with an R button for Reverse and a P button for Park. There’s an electric hand brake on the right side of the steering wheel on the lower part of the dashboard.

The cabin layout and equipment mirrors those found in other Jaguars and Range Rovers, including the touchscreen infotainment system. This system works well but it isn’t as large or as much fun as the massive tablet screen or system fitted in the Tesla. The heating controls are clever. Twist the dial to increase the temperature, push it to engage the electric heated seats or pull it up to increase the fan speed. The 12.3” driver’s digital display is also a nice touch.

For the first few days it was with me I only drove the I-Pace on the motorway and although it’s an excellent companion in those surroundings, driving in relatively straight lines and on a lot of speed-restricted sections didn’t give me the chance to test it to its full potential.

Then, as if by magic, I took the I-Pace out on some local country roads and despite its weight of almost 2.2 tonnes, the I-Pace managed to put a massive smile on my face.

As a proper five-door SUV, the I-Pace defies convention. It’s not only quick, but offers the driver a sports car-like experience, with exceptional balance and handling. Speed into a corner and the I-Pace offers little or no body roll, hugging the road and allowing you to enter and exit at speed. A series of S bends presented no problem for this Jaguar and what had at first seemed, to me anyway, a Tesla

wannabe, proved that it’s so much more. As Jaguar-man Arthur Daley would have said, “This is a seriously good motor.” Composed, comfortable, hell, it’s even exciting, with rapid acceleration allowing you to drive with a permanent smile on your face.

Factor in the oh-so-comfortable seats and comfortable, well-equipped interior and the I-Pace delivers on many levels.

Retailing at £74,995 on the road, at first glance this front-line price looks great. Factor in extras though – for example the fixed panoramic roof £960, powered tailgate £400 and active air suspension £1,100 – and things can get a lot more expensive. In truth, most I-Pace customers will not buy their car but will lease it either through work or personally, so the monthly cost is more relevant for company car drivers. With zero CO2 emissions, the BIK is just 13% across the I-Pace range, which also includes two more models, the entry level S, priced at £64,495 or the SE, priced at £69,995.

For our test car, the HSE, the monthly cost for a 40% tax payer would be £325 per month.

In a world where technology changes faster every day, not least when it comes to electric cars, Jaguar has produced a car that’s not just for now, but for a good few years to come.

With its new EV Jaguar has retained its DNA and heritage and produced a car that is as comfortable to be in as the XJs of old, while offering blistering up-to-date F-Pace performance, all from a new battery-powered car.

Given a choice, I would have no hesitation in choosing the I-Pace over the Tesla. The German marques have a very hard act to follow.

Verdict The premium all-electric. Beats the much-vaunted Tesla Model X and gives the Germans plenty of work to do to catch up CC&V RATING: N N N N N

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 09

NEW CAR REVIEW: TOYOTA RAV4

All-new Rav4 turns hybrid to keep brand at cutting edge Toyota’s all-new RAV4 has turned things on its head for its fifth iteration, with the entire range exclusively a self-charging full hybrid model.

Equipped with a new TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) 2.5-litre powertrain it offers a strong combination of power, performance and high fuel and emissions efficiency. In front-wheel drive models, maximum output is 215bhp, with CO2 emissions from 102g/km, while in the all-wheel drive powertrain, power is 219bhp with emissions from 103g/km (emissions figures are provisional prior to official homologation).

The new RAV4 also breaks new ground in adopting a TNGA platform, enabling a design that reduces the vehicle’s overall height and the height of the bonnet, while improving passenger accommodation and load space within a longer wheelbase. The TNGA chassis also makes a big contribution to RAV4’s handling, comfort and stability, with a lower centre of gravity and substantial increase in body rigidity.

The new Hybrid AWD-i (available on Design,

12 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

Excel and Dynamic models) is an intelligent all-wheel drive system with much greater capability than that featured in the current RAV4 Hybrid, both for on and off-road driving.

As an electric-powered system, it is lighter and more compact than mechanical all-wheel drive, yet can achieve the same level of torque output.

Drive torque is automatically directed to the rear axle when pulling away, or when low-grip conditions are detected. The driver can also select a new Trail function that ensures torque is directed only to the wheels with grip, helping keep the vehicle on the move if one wheel loses contact with the ground when driving over challenging terrain.

The new RAV4 is available in four equipment grades, Icon, Design, Dynamic and Excel, offering a wealth of comfort, convenience and technology features that meet the requirements and preferences of today’s SUV customers.

At the entry point to the range, the RAV4 Icon is available exclusively with front-wheel drive. All models come extensively equipped

(see panel on facing page).

Customer can choose from a range of nine exterior colours, including new Urban Khaki, Cyan Splash, Obsidian Blue and Galaxy Black.

Metallic paint and a bi-tone finish are included in the standard specification of the Dynamic models, combining a black roof and pillars with White Pearl, Silver Blade, Decuma Grey or Obsidian Blue bodywork. On Excel models, the leather upholstery can be specified in black, grey or beige.

All new RAV4 models are equipped with the second generation of Toyota Safety Sense.

Significant upgrades have been made to some of the systems in the package, notably with the Pre-Collision System now able to detect pedestrians in the vehicle’s path during both day and night-time driving, and cyclists during daylight hours.

The Adaptive Cruise Control has improved deceleration and acceleration control, keeping the RAV4 a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. Now a full-speed system, the ACC has a new low-speed function for driving in

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Equipment list

stop-start traffic, bringing the car to a halt when the vehicle in front stops. Other systems include Lane Departure Alert and Lane Trace Assist, to help keep the vehicle positioned within its traffic lane, Road Sign Assist and Automatic High Beam.

Other advanced safety features include a Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (Excel and Design grades) for safe

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manoeuvring, and an E-Call service on all models that can automatically alert the emergency services to the vehicle’s location in the event of an accident – triggered when the airbags are deployed.

Prices start from £29,635 for the rangeopening Icon 2.5 Hybrid CVT FWD, rising to £36,640 for the Dynamic 2.5 Hybrid CVT AWD.

Standard features include: n 17-inch alloy wheels n Front fog lights n Rear parking sensors n Rain-sensing wipers n Dusk-sensing headlights n Auto-dimming rear-view mirror n Push-button start n Roof rails n Parabola LED headlights n Rear privacy glass n Electronic parking brake n Power-adjustable heated door mirrors with auto-folding function n Toyota Touch 2 with eight-inch multimedia touchscreen n Seven-inch colour TFT driver’s multi-information display n DAB n Toyota Safety Sense 2 E-Call n Rear-view camera

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 13

NEW CAR REVIEW: TOYOTA COROLLA

New Corolla is engineered to deliver more power on demand The debate often rages as to which is the world’s best-selling car... and most often, the Toyota Corolla fits the bill.

Now incredibly in its 12th generation, the latest model has starting rolling off production lines in another sales-topping guise.

The all-new Corolla marks an important advance in the development of Toyota’s world-leading, self-charging hybrid technology, being the first Toyota model in Europe to offer customers a choice of two hybrid powertrains – a revised 1.8-litre system and a new 178bhp 2.0-litre version that’s engineered for more power on demand, effortless acceleration and fun-to-drive character, without compromising overall fuel and emissions efficiency.

As full hybrids, both powertrains have the advantage of offering an all-electric drive capability, with zero emissions and fuel consumption; both are also matched to a seamless CVT automatic transmission.

The choice of powertrains also includes a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, with six-speed manual transmission.

The new Hatchback and Touring Sports are being manufactured at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in Derbyshire and are the first Corolla models to be built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-C platform, bringing multiple benefits in terms of strong dynamic performance thanks to a lower centre of gravity, balanced chassis and a highly rigid body. It also contributes to increased safety and greater design freedom that’s witnessed in distinctly different styling for the Hatchback and Touring Sports versions.

Both the new Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports share the same equipment grade structure, with Icon, Icon Tech, Design 14 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

and Excel trim levels. Likewise, the two body styles offer the same combinations of grades and powertrains: Icon and Icon Tech models are available with the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid and 1.2T petrol engine, while Design versions additionally offer the new 2.0-litre hybrid system. Excel grade is all-hybrid, offered with both the 1.8 and 2.0-litre systems.

At the entry point to the new Corolla range, Icon models are equipped as standard with features including: n 16-inch alloy wheels n Automatic LED headlights n E-Call system n Heated front seats with lumbar support n Toyota Touch 2 with 8” multimedia touchscreen n Reversing camera n DAB n 2-inch colour TFT multi-information display n Dual-zone air conditioning (1.8 Hybrid only) As the name suggests, Icon Tech grade adds further useful technology features, including: n Toyota Touch with Go, with satellite navigation and voice control n Seven-inch colour TFT multi-info display n Parking sensors and Intelligent Park Assist (Intelligent Clearance Sonar on the 1.8 Hybrid models) Design grade majors on added style and convenience, introducing: n 17-inch machined alloy wheels n Rain-sensing wipers n Power-adjustable heated door mirrors with automatic folding function n Auto-dimming rear-view mirror n Rear privacy glass n LED front fog lights n Optional opening panoramic roof At the top of the new Corolla range, Excel

grade goes further by adding: n 18-inch alloy wheels (Hatchback, 17-inch for Touring Sports) n Bi-LED headlights n Smart Entry n Sports front seats n Part-leather seat upholstery n Optional opening panoramic roof n Optional bi-tone paint finish (Hatch only) n Optional eight-speaker JBL premium sound system (2.0-litre Hybrid only) The choice of colours for the new Corolla extends to eight shades, including new Sterling Silver and Scarlet Flare pearlescent. Excel Hatchback models can specified with a bi-tone finish that matches a black roof, pillars and door mirror casings with Pearl White, Sterling Silver, Scarlet Flare or new Titan Bronze bodywork.

Second generation Toyota Safety Sense Across the complete range, all models are equipped with the enhanced functions of the second generation of Toyota Safety Sense.

The upgraded package includes a PreCollision System that can now detect pedestrians in the vehicle’s path during both day and night-time driving, and cyclists during daylight hours.

The Adaptive Cruise Control has improved deceleration and acceleration control, keeping the Corolla a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. The ACC also has a new low-speed function for driving in stop-start traffic, bringing the car to a halt when the vehicle in front stops. Other systems include Lane Trace Assist, Road Sign Assist and Auto High beam.

Prices start from £21,300 for the Icon Hatchback 1.2T manual. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

NEW CAR REVIEW: VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS

T-Cross: the tough, practical SUV families will love The newest member of the Volkswagen family is a tough, practical SUV – indeed, the first small SUV Volkswagen has ever designed.

Step forward the spacious and flexible T-Cross priced from £16,995 RRP OTR in generouslyequipped entry level S trim.

Entry level S trim cars are identifiable by their 16-inch ‘Rochester’ alloy wheels, while the entire T-Cross range gets electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors as standard, in addition to an eight-inch touchscreen Composition Media infotainment system with VW Connect; rear LED tail lights; and automatic headlights. Standard-fit Front Assist with the city emergency braking system and Predictive Pedestrian Protection, as well as Lane Assist with blind spot plus lane keeping system and Hill Start Assist offer one of the highest levels of driver assistance in the class. In addition, an eCall system adds peace of mind and reinforces the message that connectivity is high on the new T-Cross model’s long list of talents.

All T-Cross versions offered in the UK also benefit from the car’s signature sliding rear bench seat as standard. This particularly 16 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

practical feature offers exceptional flexibility – providing the choice between enhanced rear leg room or a bigger load area of up to 455 litres.

SE examples are equipped with 17-inch ‘Clayton’ alloy wheels, black roof rails and front fog lights with cornering function; a leather-trimmed, multifunction steering wheel;

and a variable boot floor. Tech highlights include adaptive cruise control, app connect and a driver alert system. Prices starting at £18,795 RRP OTR. SEL brings 17-inch ‘Chesterfield’ alloys, tinted windows, LED headlights and silver roof rails, as well as front sport seats, carpet mats and an ambient lighting package. Climate www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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control and a Discover Navigation system are also included, while a driver tiredness detection system and front and rear parking sensors also feature as standard in this £21,650 RRP OTR version.

Top-spec T-Cross R-Line models gain 18- inch ‘Navada’ alloy wheels; sporty R-Line exterior and interior styling; and Volkswagen’s innovative Active Info Display. Prices for these start at £23,550 RRP OTR. Options available to new T-Cross buyers include five different alloy wheel designs; keyless entry; high-spec beats® sound system; and multiple style packs. These allow owners to customise the look of the interior and exterior of their cars, with Energetic Orange, Bamboo Garden and Black style packs available.

Two frugal petrol engines are available at launch – 95 PS and 115 PS variants of Volkswagen’s 1.0-litre TSI unit, available with a 5- or 6-speed manual, or a seven-speed DSG gearbox, depending on the engine and specification. Both engines have impressive torque available from low revs – the 95 PS version delivering 175 Nm from just 2,000 www.companycarandvan.co.uk

rpm, and the 115 PS version serving up its 200 Nm across the same 2,000 rpm to 3,500 rpm band. T-Cross models equipped with the 95 PS engine reach 62 mph in 7.1 sec, with a top speed of 112 mph where legal, while the punchier 115 PS versions top out at 120 mph, reaching 62 mph in 6.8 seconds.

Orders for the T-Cross opened at the start of March today, 5 March, with the first UK deliveries taking place this month.

Welcoming the arrival of the new T-Cross to Volkswagen Retailer showrooms in the UK Geraldine Ingham, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “This undeniably stylish new compact car completes the major expansion of our SUV line-up – for the time being – and I’m incredibly excited to welcome it here.

“T-Cross ensures we have an SUV offering for the vast majority of UK buyers and I’m looking forward to seeing the first customer cars out on the road in the coming weeks.”

Volkswagen T-Cross 2019 engines and specifications S 1.0 TSI 95 PS 112

£16,995

SE 1.0 TSI 95 PS 112

£18,795

SE 1.0 TSI 115PS 112

£19,545

SE 1.0 TSI 115PS 111

£21,045

SEL 1.0 TSI 115PS 112

£21,650

SEL 1.0 TSI 115PS 111

£23,150

R-Line 1.0 TSI 115PS 115

£23,550

R-Line 1.0 TSI 115PS 112

£25,050

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 17

NEW CAR REVIEW: LEXUS UX

More road reports at www.companycarandvan.co.uk

UX introduces Lexus’ premium touches to the SUV sector The new UX presents Lexus’s innovative luxury and safety in a package that combines bold new designs and an ultra-efficient new powertrain. It is designed for modern urban motorists who seek a fresh, contemporary and dynamic take on luxury driving, something that is not just new and exciting, but also relevant to their lifestyles. Infused with dynamic attitude, the UX is engineered to deliver quick and engaging driving with a Lexus-smooth demeanour, making it a unique entry in the luxury compact SUV market.

The UX is the first Lexus to be constructed using the new Global Architecture – Compact (GA-C) platform. A lightweight yet super-rigid structure, extremely low centre of gravity and refined suspension tuning endow it with exemplary handling agility and ride comfort, and a distinctive driving character.

In the UK, the UX is offered exclusively with a fourth generation self-charging hybrid powertrain and comes in three grades: UX, F Sport and Takumi.

The UX features the second generation Lexus Safety System+, seven-inch Lexus Navigation and multimedia system with DAB, dual-zone air conditioning, heated front seats, roof rails and 17-inch alloys.

Key features for the F Sport include F Sport interior and exterior styling features, including F Sport 18-inch alloy wheels, black front spindle grille and black door mirror housings.

In the cabin there are F Sport front seats with fabric and Tahara upholstery and F Sport pedals and steering wheel. The spec also includes rear privacy glass, LED front fog lights and heated, power-adjustable front seats.

The Takumi offers smooth leather upholstery, washi paper-grain trim inlays, integrated front seat heating and ventilation, a bespoke Mark Levinson 13-speaker Premium Surround Sound system, 10.3-inch Lexus Navigation and multimedia display, 360-degree camera, colour head-up display, sunroof, power tailgate, auto-folding function for the door mirrors, smart entry system, 18-inch alloy wheels, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with braking function.

The UX 250h is equipped with the fourth generation Lexus self-charging hybrid powertrain, featuring multiple new components, including the 2.0-litre petrol engine, hybrid transaxle, compact battery and power control unit.

With 181bhp/135kW (184 DIN hp) total system output, it combines high fuel efficiency with a very smooth, natural and responsive driving experience.

The UX’s hybrid system couples this new engine with two electric motor/generators in a 20 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

new generation hybrid transaxle that is more compact, lighter and has less internal friction than previous Lexus hybrid systems. The Power Control Unit (PCU) is more powerful yet is 20 per cent smaller and 10 per cent lighter.

Optimising the level of electric motor assistance and engine rpm produces a linear acceleration feel without the engine running at high revs. Engine speed is synchronised with vehicle speed to create an immediate and continuous acceleration feel.

The new transaxle mounts the electric motor/generators (MG1 and MG2) coaxially

NO NEED TO PLUG IN

Under braking, or when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator, regenerative braking harnesses kinetic energy to produce electricity.

This, together with electric power produced during normal driving, is stored in the hybrid battery. This means the UX 250h never has to be plugged in to power for recharging. rather than in-line. The resulting smaller and lighter package reduces frictional losses by 25 per cent. In addition, MG2 is now a higher speed motor, yielding better performance and efficiency. A further benefit to the driver is a lower – and best in segment – kerb to kerb turning radius of 5.2 metres, making the UX easy to manoeuvre.

The speed at which the hybrid system can shut off the petrol engine, such as when driving on long downward slopes, has been raised to 71 mph.

The UX 250h is available with either

front-wheel drive or E-Four electric all-wheel drive. The E-Four all-wheel drive system uses a separate, dedicated high-torque electric motor integrated into the rear differential. Power distribution between the front and rear axles is automatically optimised by the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when accelerating, cornering, or driving on slippery surfaces.

E-Four provides stable driving on uphill slopes or snow-covered roads with lower fuel consumption than a conventional all-wheel drive system with a power split device and driveshaft. E-Four does more than assist traction in slippery conditions: it can also actively improve stability by adjusting rearwheel power to help correct over or understeer.

The UX 250h is very responsive to drive and, like all Lexus hybrids, it offers better fuel efficiency and lower emissions than other petrol or diesel vehicles in its class. It also requires no plugging in for recharging and has no issues where driving range is concerned. In real-world city driving it can use electric power for a significant proportion of every journey – up to 55 per cent, depending on the driving conditions.

When cruising or accelerating gently, the front electric motor (and rear motor on all-wheel drive models) can propel the car with electricity supplied by the hybrid battery. In this situation, the vehicle runs almost silently, uses no petrol and produces zero emissions.

At higher speeds the ultra-smooth Atkinson cycle petrol engine cuts in quietly, while still receiving assistance from the electric motor(s) when required. Through the near-perfect distribution of power from these two sources, the UX 250h delivers driving pleasure with low fuel consumption and emissions. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

On test: HYUNDAI i30 FASTBACK

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Say Hi - the coupé’s back

In years gone by, my father-in-law was known as the ‘Coupé King’ after driving a range of cars in that style from the 1970s to the ‘90s: VW Scirocco, Ford Capri, a Toyota Supra and a BMW 3 Series. In fact, he still has one, a 1997 BMW 840, which gets the occasional airing.

What all of these have in common is that they are two-door cars with hatch or boot and all are what most of us would consider a coupé to be. Indeed, in recent years the very term ‘coupé’ has come to refer to any car that looks, well, coupé-like, such as the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé , both of which offer four doors and are hatchbacks. These models are in the premium sector: the question is, can a similar looking model, at a much lower price, really cut the mustard and be a coupé king itself?

Step forward, then, Hyundai, which has added a five door coupé to its i30 range, giving it the sobriquet i30 Fastback. It certainly looks the part: on arrival at CC&V Towers it immediately caused a stir and with all due respect to the i30 hatchback, excepting the N version, the Fastback is miles better looking, with a longer, lower profile and a sexy integrated rear spoiler. I also really liked the Fastback lettering on the rear.

At the front, the Fastback appears lower and wider than the hatch and from the side too, the lower profile – the Fastback sits 5mm lower – adds to this. Step inside and the familiar Hyundai/KIA interior welcomes you, with the 8” touchscreen dominating the centre of the dash. Like all Hyundais, my Fastback Premium model came well equipped.

All models in the range – that’s SE Nav, Premium and Premium SE – have Autonomous Emergency Braking, Front Collision Warning and Lane Keeping Assist, High Beam Assist 22 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

and Driver Attention Alert. They also get Bluetooth and air-con, 8” touchscreen with SatNav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Added to this in my test Premium were dual-zone climate control, electronically adjustable driver’s seat, LED headlights, an electric parking brake, front and rear parking sensors, cloth and artificial leather upholstery, automatic windscreen wipers, Blind Spot Detection System, 18” alloys, privacy glass and a Smart key. It’s all screwed together well, looks and feels built to last and features some good quality soft touch plastic and finishes.

Up front, both front seat passengers have plenty of head and legroom and there’s ample storage with a good-sized glove box, two decent door pockets and twin cup holders in the centre binnacle behind the gear stick. In the rear, though, there’s a definite lack of headroom. I adjust the driver’s seat to fit me – I’m 5ft 8” – and then sat behind, and the legroom was fine. However, the sloping coupé roof takes headroom away in spades and my head touched the liner. I don’t think anyone taller than me would find this acceptable, especially on longer journeys.

To compensate, the boot is pretty impressive, offering 450 litres of storage, 55 up on the hatch, although the Fastback does have a relatively high lip to negotiate getting stuff in or out. The rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split to extend the load bay, which leaves a really useful completely flat floor.

There are two engine options: a 1.0 litre petrol turbo or the 1.4 petrol we tried in manual guise. The 1.4 140PS engine offers up 240Nms and is a fine motorway companion.

It’s not quick, though, rather steady when accelerating, with a 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds. Combined fuel economy is 49.6mpg, with CO2 emissions of 134g/km. After a week

of driving on a varying degree of roads, 75 per cent of which were motorways, we averaged 39.8 mpg. We also ran the tank dry in just under 300 miles, something unthinkable in a diesel offering similar performance and something diesel drivers should be aware of.

The ride quality is very good. Like the i30 hatch, the chassis does most of the basics pretty well and longer journeys are comfortable. The 18” alloys add a bit of style but the trade-off is a bumpy ride over bad roads and tyre roar on wet motorways. The steering is okay, if a little slow to respond and when entering or exiting corners, the Fastback stays flat on the road and drives true to the line you take.

As a man who likes a hatchback, if no other reason than needing to go to the tip, the i30 Fastback leaves me in bit of a quandary. I love the way it looks and up front it’s a comfortable place to be. It’s also well equipped, attractively priced, with the Premium starting at £22,235 and does a really good job of looking, well, like a coupé. On the downside, rear headroom is poor and neither petrol engine really excites like you’d expect a coupé to do, although I’m sure the N version will address this one.

Verdict Has its faults but choose this over the conventional hatch and you’ll know you’re in a very attractive car. Up front a very comfortable place to be, good boot space and a fine, if steady, companion on the motorway CC&V RATING: N N N

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NEW CAR REVIEW: BMW 3 SERIES

Look who’s back: BMW 3’s at the top of the tree again The BMW 3 Series Saloon has had an unparalleled reputation both for its quality, and supreme handling in the premium midsize segment for more than 40 years and this, the seventh generation, raises the bar even higher.

When the first BMW 3 Series was launched in 1975, it revolutionised the segment and became BMW’s most successful model. The saloon is the core of BMW 3 Series range (of which over 15 million units have been sold worldwide) and is regarded as the heartbeat of the BMW brand. With revised styling, superior driving dynamics, exceptional efficiency and innovative features, this latest iteration opens an exciting new chapter in 3 Series progression.

Exterior design Precision, clean lines and bold contours are the hallmarks of the new 3 Series Saloon, which has had its proportions radically revised.

The new car is 85 millimetres longer than its predecessor (at 4,709mm), 16 millimetres wider (1,827mm) and just 1 mm taller (1,442 millimetres). Added to that, its wheelbase has been extended by 41 millimetres to 2,851mm, as has its track widths (front: by 43mm, and rear by 21mm).

24 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

At the front, the large BMW kidney grille elements are framed by a single surround and split up by wide bars and link to the headlight units. The customary BMW twin headlights feature the familiar two-way split that is further emphasised by an eye-catching notch in the front apron that rises into the headlight contour.

The bonnet has four contour lines leading to the BMW kidney grille. At its leading edge, it sits flush with the upper edge of the headlights and kidney grille. Both the front foglights and the Air Curtains are integrated into the outer air intakes, which are inserted into the front apron in a horizontal T shape on SE and Sport models. This design was originally developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) for the intake air in jet engines and later became a feature of classical racing cars.

A pair of character lines rise to the rear of the car at door-handle level and a contour line near the side skirts guides the eye to the sculpted rear wheel arches. Another feature is the ‘Hofmeister kink’ – the familiar counterswing at the trailing edge of the side window graphic. A BMW hallmark, this element of the

window frame is now integrated into the Cpillar, giving the rear doors a “freestanding” glass edge.

Surface contours lead into the rear apron from the side skirts and extend in an upwards movement via the rear lights up to the spoiler lip on the boot lid. At the rear slim, darkened light units house L-shaped taillights.

From launch, customers can choose from two non-metallic colours and ten metallic shades including the brand new Portimao Blue metallic which is unique to the top-selling M Sport model.

Interior The interior is designed to accentuate the spaciousness of the cabin and the driverfocused cockpit. The instrument panel has a modern, light look with horizontal lines, high- quality electroplated trim strips and contours that extend into the doors.

The newly-designed instrument cluster and Control Display form a large surfaced screen grouping, while the controls not included in these units are arranged into clearly structured function panels.

Displays and buttons for the air conditioning www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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Power specifications and pricing Model

Power Peak 0- 62mph output (hp) Torque (NM)

Top Speed (mph) MPG

CO2

BMW 320d

190

400

7.1/6.8

149

64.2/67.3

115/110 £33,610

BMW 320d xDrive 190

400

6.9

145

62.8

118

£36,800

BMW 330i

400

5.8

155

48.7

132

£37,660

are at the centre of the instrument panel while the light functions are operated via a panel of buttons next to the steering wheel. The start/ stop button for the engine is now positioned in a control panel in the centre console that houses the gearshift lever or newly designed selector lever, the iDrive Controller, electromechanical parking brake and the buttons for the Driving Experience Control switch unit.

The range of standard and optional interior trim elements available for the instrument panel and centre console is almost entirely new. As well as open-pore fine wood options, customers can choose from a variety of aluminium trims including a new Aluminium “mesh effect” interior trim.

Increased standard equipment The entry level SE model features substantially increased standard specification.

It includes Extended LED headlights with cornering light and eyebrow indicators, BMW Light Carpet, interior Ambient Lighting with up to 11 colour settings, reversing camera and latest generation reversing assistant, electric folding rear view mirrors, three-zone air conditioning and enhanced acoustic glazing.

All 3 Series models benefit from 40:20:40 split folding rear seats and folding rear headrests as standard. The entry model features a leather Sport steering wheel and BMW Live Cockpit www.companycarandvan.co.uk

258

plus, with its 8.8-inch central instrument cluster.

The SE models get line-specific front and rear bumper design, and they also come with exclusive 17-inch light-alloy wheels or optional 18-inch wheels, bespoke door sill strips and LED front foglights.

The Sport model adds exterior features including BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line trim for the side window surrounds, plus kidney grille bars and trim elements for the air intakes and rear apron in High-gloss Black.

The Sport model’s interior features trim strips in High-gloss Black and sports seats for the driver and front passenger. The Sport model now comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, Vernasca leather seats and also driver and passenger heated seats.

The M Sport model features particularly large air intakes as well as a different design for the front bumper, side skirts and rear apron. It also includes BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line trim, kidney grille bars in High-gloss Black, air intake trim in Highgloss Black and a rear diffuser in Dark Shadow. Inside there are Sports seats, an M leather steering wheel, an anthracite-coloured BMW Individual headliner and interior trim strips in Aluminium Tetragon, updated Vernasca leather seat trims and heated front seats. The M Sport model will also feature as standard the new BMW Live Cockpit

Price

Professional with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.3-inch central instrument cluster and BMWs brand new ID7 operating system.

Engines and powertrain The upgraded four-cylinder engines from the BMW Group’s Efficient Dynamics family are used in the BMW 330i and the BMW 320d.

The 3 Series Saloon will feature a newgeneration six-speed manual gearbox and the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. As an alternative to rear-wheel drive, the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system will also be available for the new BMW 320d at launch.

Systematic upgrades have been made to the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology for the two-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines in the BMW 320d and BMW 320d xDrive models. It now includes multi-stage turbocharging, which brings increased efficiency across all engine speeds.

The revised diesel has a maximum output of 190hp and a peak torque of 400Nm enabling the BMW 320d to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds (automatic: 6.8 seconds) while the BMW 320d xDrive can get from zero to 62mph in 6.9 seconds. Average fuel consumption is 64.2mpg (automatic: 67.3mpg) for the 320d and 62.8mpg for the 320d xDrive.

The 320d’s CO2 emissions are 115g/km (automatic: 110 g/km) while the 320d xDrive’s CO2 emissions are 118g/km.

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 25

MAZDA3 NEWS

Mazda3 design reflects the next generation of Japanese style The All-New Mazda3 is the first of the Japanese firm’s next-generation vehicles and reflects the very latest in Mazda’s engineering, design and manufacturing.

Offered initially with either a 122ps 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G petrol or 116ps Skyactiv-D diesel engine, the UK model line-up sees a choice of five trim levels: SE-L, SE-L Lux, Sport Lux, GT Sport and GT Sport Tech. Mazda’s innovative Skyactiv-X Spark Controlled Compression Ignition engine and the Saloon model will join the range later in the year.

Specified with a level of standard equipment never seen before on a Mazda hatchback, the All-New Mazda3 features high-end technology such as a windscreen projecting colour head-up display with Traffic Sign Recognition, Mazda Radar Cruise Control and LED headlights across the range. Every model in the line-up also features navigation, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto and an advanced eight speaker audio system.

From SE-L Lux onwards highlights include a reversing camera, smart keyless entry, heated front seats, while Sport Lux sees the high-class cabin enhanced with additional chrome

detailing, a frameless rear view mirror and rear privacy glass. GT Sport sees the introduction of black leather seats with power adjustment, a heated steering wheel and Bose audio, while the range-topping GT Sport Tech features a suite of additional active safety equipment, including a 360o camera and Driver Attention Alert with interior camera.

With the exception of the flagship GT Sport Tech model, which is matched exclusively with the 122ps Skyactiv-G engine, all trims are

“I’m hugely excited about this sensational new hatchback. It only takes one look to see just how much it moves things forward for Mazda – inside and out the Mazda3 has been engineered to deliver the feeling of effortless driving joy” Jeremy Thomson, Mazda Motors UK 28 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

offered with both diesel and petrol engines, while a choice between manual and automatic gearboxes is offered across the entire range.

Commenting on the launch of the All-New Mazda3 Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director Mazda Motors UK said: “I’m hugely excited about this sensational new hatchback. It only takes one look to see just how much it moves things forward for Mazda, from the stunning evolution of our KODO design philosophy to a cabin that sets new standards for comfort, style and technology - inside and out the All-New Mazda3 has been engineered to deliver the feeling of effortless driving joy”.

The first car based on Mazda’s next generation of Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture, the All-New Mazda3 takes things to the next level when it comes to handling, ride comfort and refinement. Every element from the seat, body, tyres and suspension has been developed with a human centred approach to ensure that Mazda’s famous ‘Jinba Ittai’ sense of oneness between car and driver is more finely balanced than ever before.

Under the bonnet, for improved efficiency the Skyactiv-G petrol engine now features a cylinder deactivation system and Mazda’s M Hybrid 24V system. This mild-hybrid system improves fuel economy by recycling recovered kinetic energy. A belt-driven integrated starter generator (ISG) converts the energy in the 600kJ lithium-ion battery, while the DC-DC converter supplies it to the cars electrical equipment.

Inside, the stylish cabin environment takes a minimalist approach with every aspect of the cockpit laid out in perfect horizontal symmetry with the driver to deliver both ergonomic simplicity and beautiful design.

The All-New Mazda3’s striking hatchback proportions are further highlighted by the low nose, slender LED headlights, reduced wheel arch gaps and long wheelbase.

Offered exclusively on the hatchback, Mazda’s newest paint colour Polymetal Grey makes its debut on the All-New Mazda3. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

IN CONVERSATION WITH MARK BLUNDELL, DS AUTOMOBILES

Sky’s the limit as DS ready for fleet sales take-off Andrew Walker: It’s an exciting time for DS with the launch of your second new model the DS 3 CROSSBACK. Do you have any corporate ambitions for your this model?

Mark Blundell: For sure. The B-SUV segment in the UK is very dynamic and we believe that DS 3 CROSSBACK will be the first true ‘Premium Compact SUV’ offering in this part of the market.

In addition to high-tech style and segment leading technologies, strong residual values will mean that the car should stand out on conquest user-chooser lists while offering another level of choice for our existing customers.

AW: It’s almost a year since DS 7 CROSSBACK arrived. How has it performed sales wise and have many customers come from the corporate sector?

MB: The creation of DS as a stand-alone, premium brand is going to take some time to be recognised in the eyes of the widespread public and we accept this could take decades.

We’ve therefore spent our time carefully positioning the DS 7 CROSSBACK against its key premium competition with all of our corporate customers and avoided any business ‘opportunities’ that might have had a negative influence on RVs. Corporate sales volumes are currently relatively small but growing month-by-month and we’re happy with the progress we are seeing, especially given that the awareness of DS as a brand is still quite progressive. People who have experienced the car do love it. On that there is no doubt.

AW: Your UK dealer network is increasing in size. How many DS dealerships will be in place by the end of 2019 and what’s the difference between a DS Store and a DS Salon?

MB: Our network is currently in its infancy.

We are working to a plan that will see us open in the region of 50 retailers by the end of the year. These will be split between a DS Store and DS Salons. The difference between the two is that a DS Store, such as DS Store Manchester, is a stand-alone showroom environment that’s equipped to showcase the future DS range and one that incorporates DS Virtual Vision 3D life-size viewing technology, configured to illustrate every DS model, in all specifications and colours available.

Meanwhile, our DS Salon formats carry the same boutique look and feel, but with a shared franchise operation.

30 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

DS is confident that its new dealer structure and new models such as the DS3 CROSSBACK will have a big impact in the fleet sector. Mark Blundell, UK marketing director - DS Automobiles, explains more to Andrew Walker AW: When we met up in February, you told CC&V that there would be a new DS model launched every year for the next four years.

Any clues you can give us, as to what type of cars these will be?

MB: Unfortunately, I can’t be too specific but I’m hugely excited by what I’ve seen of our future planned developments and what the DS vision represents.

We’re planning to expand our line-up to deliver a distinctive DS product into key segments of the market with, as you’ve said, a new product each year to form a six-model DS range, each offering the unique blend of Avant-Garde design and advanced technologies.

AW: EVs are undoubtedly here to stay. How long before we see an electric DS model?

MB: Electrification is at the heart of our strategy. Our successful participation in Formula E over the last four seasons has

provided us with a superb opportunity to learn and accelerate the development of the race car, and electrified road car applications with this knowledge.

This is being manifested in our E-TENSE powertrains that on each platform offer either full electric as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) or PHEV (Plug- in Hybrid petrol-Electric Vehicle) formats.

Soon after the launch of DS 3 CROSSBACK in 2019 will see the arrival of DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE (BEV) with a 200 mile (WLTP drive cycle) range and DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE 4x4 (PHEV), with 300hp, four-wheel-drive and 31-mile EV only range.

This also delivers on the customer promise we made to offer petrol and diesel, and electrified versions of every second-generation product and from 2025 every new DS model will be exclusively E-TENSE powered. So going electric is the new luxury.

“We’re planning to expand our line-up to deliver a distinctive DS product into key segments of the market with, as you’ve said, a new product each year to form a six-model DS range...”

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The luxury brand with French flair Andrew Walker French premium car brand DS will be launching its all-new DS3 Crossback in May, the second new model in the DS range. The first model of the second-generation DS range, the DS 7 Crossback, sold 1,000 units in the UK in 2018, of which half were corporate customers. The brand aims to launch four new models over the next four years, giving DS a full range of cars – each of which with an EV option.

At a preview in Manchester, Alain Descat, DS UK Managing Director and Mark Blundell, DS UK Marketing Director, gave Company Car & Van an insight into both the brand’s philosophy and a chance to look around the first right-hand drive DS3 Crossbacks in the UK. Alain told us that DS has been created to take advantage of the worldwide sales growth in the premium sector – to be, in effect, a new French luxury brand for cars – and the DS7 Crossback was the first new DS that emphasised this new luxury brand’s ethos.

Taking a close-up look at the all-new DS3 Crossback, it’s clear to see that even though the DS3 competes in the C Sector, it too has been designed and built to the highest standards. All models feature, for example, pop-out door handles, similar to those found on JLR products.

Other changes to the DS range show how far

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the company is embracing technology. Customers can check out the DS range through the in-store DS Virtual Vision, which allows customs to experience the DS range in virtual reality.

DS Automobiles in the UK is now represented solely by a DS dedicated network of DS Stores and DS Salons, and this network will continue to expand in 2019, as Mark Blundell explained to CC&V in our interview (facing page).

The new DS3 Crossback is the first product built on Groupe PSA’s ‘Common Modular Platform’ (CMP), which brings new levels of packaging, ride comfort and handling.

Available in Petrol, Diesel or E-TENSE (BEV) power units, there is a range of trim level choices which includes the Launch Edition La Premiere. Initially there is a choice of 15 models, ranging in price from £21,550 to £33,950.

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 31

On test: MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV

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It’s our PHEV: How Mitsubishi made the UK love the Outlander Any car that can drag the footballers’ wives from their Range Rovers, BMWs and Mercs must have something very special to offer... so Andrew Walker decided to find out what all the fuss is about with Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV Which car accounts for 50% of all UK plug-in vehicle sales? Answer: the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Since its introduction in 2014 it has transformed the ultra-low emission vehicle landscape here in the UK, with endorsements from the likes of Boris Johnson, if it was an endorsement, only increasing its popularity.

Even in the ‘terracotta army-land’ of North Cheshire the PHEV has managed to get a small foothold among the footballer-type Cheshire-set who usually favour Range Rovers and Porsche Cayennes and who care not an iota for global warming or fuel prices

I drove the PHEV back in 2014 and in late 2015 the model had a mid-life facelift. Both of these came with an electric range of 20 miles, enough to get you to the shops and back and perhaps to school and back as well, but not much further.

Step forward, then, to the 2018 Outlander PHEV, with a claimed electric range of 30 miles. Not only will the latest PHEV go further on electric, some small improvements from

Mitsubishi have gone a long way to making this latest version a much more desirable motor.

Most important, though, are the changes to the engine. There’s a new Atkinson cycle petrol engine and the drive battery capacity has increased by 15% to 13.8kWh. Drive battery output, electric generator output and the rear electric motor outputs have all increased by 10%.

Continued on pg 34

Everything Mitsubishi under one roof Ashford Mitsubishi is a fully franchised Mitsubishi dealer in Ashford, Kent. When it comes to buying a new or used car, our dealership is here to provide you with excellent service, making sure you have a great experience.

We stock the whole range of Mitsubishi vehicles, whether you are looking for a 4x4, such as the popular Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the new seven-seat Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, the versatile Mitsubishi L200 pick-up truck, the Mitsubishi Mirage small city car, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross petrol SUV, the Mitsubishi ASX SUV or the classic Mitsubishi Shogun. You name it, we have something to offer you.

Whatever your needs, from a single vehicle to a fleet for your business, our specialist staff are trained to help you.

Once you own a Mitsubishi we can look after all your maintenance needs. Nobody knows your vehicle better than an authorised Mitsubishi Motors dealer. Our workshop is staffed with our own highly trained Mitsubishi technicians, who use only approved high-quality parts and offer a guaranteed unrivalled level of service.

32 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

We are conveniently located on the Orbital Park in Ashford, Kent, next to Ashford Agricultural Market, 5 minutes from junction 10 of the M20, and 5 minutes from Ashford town centre and Ashford International Rail Station.

We are easy to reach from all parts of Kent,

thanks to our location near the M20 motorway.

Our experienced team of sales executives and service advisors is led by Simon Lacey who has over 30 years’ experience in the motor industry. So whatever your motoring needs, you’ll be safe in our hands. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

On test: MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV

It’s our PHEV: How Mitsubishi made the UK love the Outlander Continued from page 32 On the outside, the Outlander PHEV was the first execution of Mitsubishi’s new SUV design direction – ‘Dynamic Shield’, which embodies the functionality and reassuring safety inherent in Mitsubishi SUVs. This has been updated on the new model. There’s a new front grille design, which carries the Mitsubishi Three Diamond mark, there’s also new front and rear bumper’s, LED headlamp system, 18” alloy wheels and fog lamp bezels.

Four-wheel-drive is also there if you want it.

Inside, Mitsubishi has worked hard to improve the quality and luxuriousness of the interior. Updates include new front seats, improved engine refinement, which equals less cabin noise, revised switchgear including a new Drive toggle with a SPORT button, a new instrumentation cluster, the introduction of rear air-con vents, a selection of new cabin trims and black headlining.

The Mitsubishi Multi Communication System 34 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

is still offering the driver a simple way to communicate through hands-free Bluetooth, Apple Car Play or Android Auto. There’s no SatNav on board, so Google Maps is your best bet, connected via a USB cable.

The Outlander PHEV also contains a 360-degree camera, Mitsubishi’s Unintended Acceleration Mitigation System, which prevents accidental acceleration from a stationary position – whether forward or reverse. The Lane Departure Warning System does not activate below 40mph and vehicle momentum changes caused by level five and six regenerative braking trigger the brake lights.

As well as being safer the new PHEV is also faster and more fuel efficient. Improvements to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s dual powertrains means that it’s not only more efficient than before, it also offers better driving performance. The 0-62mph acceleration benchmark is dispatched in 10.5 seconds,

some 0.5 seconds faster than before, while its overtaking acceleration is also improved by a similar margin (e.g. 50mph-62mph is reduced by 0.6 seconds to 3.7 seconds).

My PHEV4h test model came extravagantly equipped with a long list of goodies, including 18” wheels, Smartphone link display audio, dual zone climate control, black leather seats, keyless operation system. front, side, curtain and knee airbags, blind spot warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, DAB digital radio, front seat heaters and a heated steering wheel. Also on offer are cruise control, a power tailgate, 8 way electric driver’s seat, the very important 10amp 240v 5m charging cable and LED daytime running lights In truth, when compared to, say, a Land Rover Discovery, the interior is more functional than inspirational. However, it’s definitely better than before, with some nice soft touch plastic here and there and a quality feel to the switchgear that’s been missing from some www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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“Inside, Mitsubishi has worked hard to improve the quality and luxuriousness of the interior. Updates include new front seats, improved engine refinement, which equals less cabin noise, revised switchgear, a new instrumentation cluster, the introduction of rear air-con vents, a selection of new cabin trims and black headlining”

Mitsys for some time.

Up front there’s acres of space for driver and front seat passenger and in the rear, too, space is excellent. Only the centre rear seat feels squashed, primarily because the seat belt connector is awkwardly positioned The boot is a useful 463 litres, although the battery does eat into the depth of this. Fold the rear seats down and this goes up to 731 litres.

There’s also a neat hidden 35-litre compartment at the rear of the car underneath the boot floor, where you can stow away the charging leads.

Despite the PHEV weighing around 1800 kg , there’s no obvious lack of speed or power.

Put your foot down and the engine quietly does it’s job and it is this lack of noise that makes the acceleration seem greater than it really is, 0 – 62 mph in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 106 mph. A fully charged and fuelled up PHEV has a range of 560 miles. If you can find a fast charger the battery can be 80% charged in 30 minutes. Charging at home takes longer though, around five hours using a domestic socket. Luckily, I have a Rolec wall charger at home and this time is cut to just 3.5 hours.

When I first connected the charging cable to the Rolec EV socket, it wouldn’t charge.

Mitsubishi has cleverly added a timer system to the charging system, whereby you can set the www.companycarandvan.co.uk

time for the charge to start and finish. This timer had been set up by the last user of my test car, meaning it wouldn’t start. A quick scroll through the infotainment screen and system settings allowed me to turn this off.

Very useful though this is, it had me flummoxed for a while.

As luck would have it, I had a van launch in Luton to attend while testing the PHEV. That meant a 360-mile motorway return trip from Altrincham to Luton and back. Motorway driving is a pleasurable thing in the Outlander PHEV. The quiet petrol engine make the miles disappear and via Apple Car Play I got to listen to my favourite podcasts and utilised Google Maps, both at the same time. In petrol mode I did 335 miles and had around a fifth of a tank left. The petrol engine is fine on economy at 65 mph or under, but go just a few miles an hour faster than this and the economy drops.

I selected the EV drive setting about 30 miles from home near Crewe on the M6.

Knowing I was going to be in road works for 20 miles at a constant 50 mph, I thought I would see just how far the electric motor would take me. I’m happy to report that I was able to drive using electric only for the last 26 miles of my journey and still have about 10% battery life left. Excellent!

Around my locality, over shorter distances to

the shops for example, I took advantage of the Save Charge button while on the move. Apart from the longer trip to Luton and back, I spent the remainder of my week driving locally and I was able to do this on electric charge only.

Charging at home definitely helped and I would urge anyone looking at a plug-in hybrid to get a charger at home or at work if they can, as it’s just quicker and easier to charge with a proper EV wall socket than using a domestic three-pin plug.

For company car drivers who are big motorway users, a long journey at motorway speeds need to be undertaken using the petrol engine, but anything shorter or at a constant speed of 50mph or below, offers the driver the opportunity to go electric only. And that extra 10 miles could make all the difference.

Championed by Boris when London’s Mayor, four years on and the Outlander PHEV has only got better. It’s a shame that our near-sighted government recently pulled the plug-in grant for cars that do less than 70 miles on electric charge. But, with a reasonable asking price, better quality both inside and out and that 30-mile electric range, the Outlander PHEV is still a good bet for those not quite ready to go full-on electric.

Verdict A ground-breaker in more ways than one, the 2019 MY Outlander PHEV has improved on refinement and driver appeal while enhancing its key USP – electric range. A good halfway house for those keen to go electric – but not all the way CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 35

On test: VOLVO XC60

Volvo just can’t stop scoring The mighty Swedes have delivered hit after hit in recent years, with great cars that take driving, safety and performance to new levels. The XC60 is yet another success story, says Andrew Walker It’s not often that I become addicted to a TV show, with only a few over the past decade keeping my interest until a series end.

Honourable exceptions are The Sopranos, Mad Men and Dexter. I’ve not mentioned any UK TV series yet, primarily because few last for more than six episodes and are therefore easy to watch. Great ones would include Hugo Blick’s The Shadow Line and The Honourable Woman, as well as Line of Duty and the Channel 4’s American series, Homeland. My new fave show, though, is a Netflix special, The House of Cards.

Like a lot of people, I have become accustomed to watching excellent TV shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime and binge watching entire series, often in just a few days.

36 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

Recent ones include Narcos, House of Cards and Mr Robot. American series of this quality have become must-see TV and if one were to compare them to a car, they would be luxury SUVs, which once were a rarity, but now are everywhere – even Lamborghini and Maserati have one. One manufacturer which has been there for a while is Volvo, which launched its second generation XC90 in 2015 and in 2017, their second generation XC60. That’s the one I tested.

The range is offered with a choice of three 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engines, the D4 and D5 PowerPulse diesels and the T5 petrol, plus a T8 Twin Engine petrol-electric plug-in hybrid which is a real contender in the company car sector as it comes with just a 9% BIK rate.

Every XC60 comes with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The D4 offers 190 bhp, combined fuel consumption of up to 55.4 mpg and CO2 emissions from just 133 g/km. The D5 has 235 hp, combined fuel consumption of 51.4 mpg and CO2 emissions of 144 g/km. It also benefits from PowerPulse, which uses compressed air to spin the engine’s two turbos when they would otherwise be dormant, such as very low engine revs, boosting

responsiveness.The T5 offers 254 hp, combined fuel economy of up to 39.2 mpg and CO2 emissions from 164 g/km.

As standard, entry-level Momentum variants come with leather-faced upholstery, LED headlights with active high beam, two-zone climate control with ‘CleanZone’ air-filtration system, heated front seats, a powered tailgate and 18” alloy wheels.

Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system is also standard. This brings a 9” portrait-style touch screen, SatNav – including lifetime annual map updates and Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) – and an intuitive voice-activation system. It also provides access to the internet with a range of cloud-based apps such as Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher and Yelp.

Volvo’s City Safety system is fitted to every XC60. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection and the world-first application of Steer Assist. This feature helps to avoid or limit the severity of collisions at low speeds by assisting with the steering in an emergency, such as when swerving to miss an obstacle.

Pilot Assist, Volvo’s innovative semiautonomous drive feature, is an optional extra on every XC60. It assists with the steering (up

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Volvo XC60 PRICE: £42,700 CO2:

129g/km

MPG:

54.3 (combined)

BIK: 30%

to 80 mph) and takes care of the acceleration and braking required to keep the car within lane markings and at the desired cruising speed or distance from any vehicle in front.

Pilot Assist is another step towards fully autonomous driving.

The dynamic R-Design version adds 19” alloy wheels, sports suspension, sports seats trimmed in leather and Nubuck, a high gloss black front grille, and silver matt and high gloss exterior detailing.

The luxurious Inscription trim level gets Nappa soft leather upholstery and electrically adjustable ventilated front seats. It also has a different style of 19” wheels, chrome exterior details and rear footwell and side step illumination.

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Every version is also available in highly specified Pro form Going for Momentum Pro brings powered front seats, a heated steering wheel and windscreen, active bending headlights with adaptive shadow technology and Volvo On Call.

R-Design Pro benefits from all this, along with 21” alloy wheels and electronic air suspension with adaptive dampers, while Inscription Pro has 20” wheels, the upgraded suspension and a massage function for the front seats, more of that later.

An optional Xenium package is available across the range adding a powered tilt and slide panoramic glass sunroof, a 360 degree surround view parking camera system Park Assist Pilot, which includes automatic parallel

and 90 degree parking.

Smartphone Integration is another option and includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. This provides access to functions of your Apple or Android device and optimised apps directly via the XC60’s touch screen, voice-activation system or the buttons on the steering wheel.

A Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system is available, too. This uses the same advanced digital surround sound processing as in the 90 series cars, and features 15 speakers and a total output of 1,100W. The similarities between the XC60 and larger XC90 are there. Thor’s Hammer LED daytime running lights, although longer in the XC60, upright grille, a different one for each specced model in the range, traditional Volvo rear light clusters, which are extended horizontally on XC60, the new XC60 could only be a Volvo. In fact when you compare the XC60 to the XC90, it’s only 261mm shorter, 118mm lower and 9 mm narrower than it’s larger sibling.

Continued on page 38

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 37

Based 190 S

On test: VOLVO XC60

Continued from page 37 The benefit of this can be seen inside the cabin, with good front and rear head and legroom. Four adults will travel in great comfort, but the centre rear seat will fall short for most adults on anything other than a medium journey.

I spent a week in the top of the range Inscription Pro which comes with 20” wheels, the upgraded air suspension and a massage function for the front seats.

What’s it like to drive? On a tour around the north west taking in Snake Pass, the D4 AWD was fun to drive and handled the winding roads diligently. In town it’s quiet in traffic too and in Sport Mode, if you get the opportunity, will hit 62mph in just 8.4 seconds, so it’s no slouch either. More importantly, the XC60’s cabin cossets the passengers, with way-toocomfortable seats which will make every journey a pleasant one.

I had a much longer journey in the Inscription Pro later that week, a 500-mile round trip to the south east, almost all of it on motorways. This was the perfect journey to test out the XC60 for the long haul.

The Sensus system fitted to the XC60 range and controlled by the 9” touch screen which dominates the centre console is excellent. The SatNav got me out of South Manchester’s school-run traffic and onto an alternative route, which allowed me to head towards Junction 19 of the M6 and the start of my motorway trek.

38 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

The cabin is well insulated and road noise is kept to a minimum, which allowed me to enjoy the ‘Gothenburg Symphonic’ setting while listening to my favourite 6Music. If you need to make and receive calls while on the go, the Bluetooth connects easily as does Apple Car Play. Handsfree calls are clear and a conversation can be had without too much outside noise.

For company car drivers, a lot will depend on the three-year contract hire rates offered on the XC60, which should be around £299 + vat per month, 6 + 32 on a three-year 10,000 mile per annum contract. What I will say is that as a

family man with a wife, two teenage children and a dog, I would be very, very happy indeed to drive the new XC60 daily.

As a Swedish car fan and someone who has owned two Saabs, Volvos have always appealed. The XC60 is a very good car that offers something a little different to the swathes of Evoques cluttering up our roads. And, with my week in the XC60 showing a real world return of just over 40 mpg, the popularity of large SUVs that offer 40+mpg looks set to continue.

Some are already saying the demise of the large SUV diesel is here, and Volvo’s Twin Engine model offers a tax-breaking alternative.

However, judging by the diesel XC60’s fuel economy, replacing larger diesel SUVs with petrol versions is still some way off yet. As Francis Urquhart, from the original House of Cards might say, when told that petrol is the new diesel ... ‘You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.‘

Verdict Volvo can do no wrong at the moment, as the XC60 shows. Exciting times for Volvo CC&V RATING: N N N N

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Citroen has eye on strong growth with new products and dealer support Company Car & Van’s Andrew Walker in conversation with Martin Gurney, Director, Fleet & Used Vehicles, PSA Group Andrew Walker: In this issue we are reviewing the new C5 Aircross. What are your aims for this model in the corporate sector?

Martin Gurney: Hard on the heels of the Peugeot 3008 and DS 7 Crossback, Citroën is the latest of our brands to offer something really special in the C-SUV segment with C5 Aircross. This new flagship model is all about stand-out design and Citroën Advanced Comfort and is sure to generate conquest business in the all-important user-chooser corporate fleets. We’re not planning any daily rental on this new vehicle, it’s all about true fleet growth.

AW. With Citroën Berlingo winning our Small Van of the Year Award, how do you see sales of your latest van performing in our marketplace of SME customers?

MG: SME customers have been the cornerstone of the Citroën Berlingo’s success since the original model was launched in 1996 and we see that trend continuing with the New Berlingo Van. The availability of two body lengths and the modularity afforded by the EXTENSO® folding seat and through loading facility provide a flexible load space that can help small business customers to accommodate a variety of loads and even avoid the expense of a larger vehicle to carry some longer loads.

When the new Berlingo Crew Van arrives later this year, it will also provide flexibility for customers who need to carry a mix of people and loads. The clever folding seat and bulkhead ensures that load space is maximised when the seats aren’t in use.

X, Worker, Enterprise and Driver specification are available to suit a range of users. Worker specification includes Grip Control with mud and snow tyres and raised ground clearance for those whose work involves site visits.

Enterprise trim is aimed at drivers who spend a lot of time in the cab with equipment including air conditioning, rear parking sensors, EXTENSO® modular folding passenger bench seat with pivoting writing table and load-through bulkhead.

Driver specification is aimed at users who cover longer distances, with a Comfort driver’s seat, additional acoustic insulation, front and rear parking sensors, automatic windscreen wipers and Citroën Connect Navigation.

Standard equipment on all New Berlingo Van models includes remote central locking with deadlocks, full steel bulkhead, electric front windows, electrically adjustable door mirrors, automatic headlights, DAB radio, Bluetooth handsfree, Citroën Connect Box with www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Left, Martin Gurney receives the Small Van of the Year Award for the Citroen Berlingo from Andrew Walker Emergency and Assistance system, unglazed rear asymmetric doors and an overhead storage shelf in the cab. Among the innovations available are Surround Rear Vision technology, colour Head-Up Display, Active Safety Brake, Blind Spot Monitoring system, Overload Indicator and Front, Rear and Side parking sensors. Surround Rear Vision uses rear and side cameras to provide a rear view during driving, displayed on a 5” monitor where an interior rear-view mirror would be fitted. This ensures that models with the standard unglazed rear doors still offer a rear view, enhanced by the side cameras, during driving and manoeuvring.

We have recently reviewed the Citroën Business Centre Programme and have made some changes that are sure to benefit SME customers. The investment required for a full Citroën Business Centre is not appropriate for all dealer partner catchment areas, so it was important to add a second tier of Business Dealership this year, called our new Business Active programme. This two-tier approach supports more Citroën dealerships with their commitment to build a presence in their local business community, and to establish long-term mutually beneficial business relationships with local SMEs. We currently have 40 full Citroën Business Centres and 75 Business Active sites, offering wide coverage of the UK for SME customers looking for their next Citroën car or van.

The handful of dealers who are not currently in either of our business programmes can also sell our light CV range, and all of our dealer partners offer demonstrator and loan vehicles to support

local Business customers.

With so many Citroën dealer partners engaged in local business sales and LCVs this year, Citroën SME customers will benefit from the large number of well-trained and experienced B2B staff ready to offer expert advice, providing a one-stop-shop for those van customers who need specialist items such as racking and other added value services, through the relationships our Citroën Business Specialists have with local suppliers. It also means more LCV stock available locally, leading to lower lead times and more Citroën LCV product on display locally for customers to actually touch, feel, and drive.

It’s delivered results, with strong performance across the board so far in 2019. February data shows Citroën LCV registrations up in all sectors. Berlingo Van was up 1.8 per cent, while Dispatch was up 56.6 per cent and Relay up 22 per cent compared with 2018. In most cases, Citroën has comfortably outperformed the market and we’re extremely pleased with such a strong start to the year.

AW. The CV Show arrives at the end of April. What can we look forward to seeing on the Citroën stand ?

MG: Following the launch of New Berlingo Van at the end of 2018, the model will make its first appearance at the CV Show, giving visitors the opportunity to see different versions up close.

We will be celebrating Citroën’s centenary year with an example of one of the company’s most innovative light CVs, the H-Van, launched in 1947. In addition, we expect to have all models in the Citroën light CV range represented on the show stand.

AW. You have an existing Berlingo electric van, which is based on the previous model. Will you be producing an electric version of the new Berlingo and if so when is it likely to arrive in the UK ?

MG: In line with Groupe PSA’s commitment that from 2019, each new model will be available with either a full electric or hybrid electric drivetrain, there will be a full electric version of New Berlingo Van. Currently we are satisfying demand with the Berlingo Electric, based on the outgoing Berlingo, which was launched comparatively recently. No launch date has yet been set for the electric New Berlingo Van. AW: In two years time, where would you like to see Citroën positioned in the corporate sector ?

MG: As an obvious choice that isn’t one of the usual suspects, seen as offering company car drivers bold design and Citroën Advanced Comfort, class-leading modularity, technology and connectivity.

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 39

On test: CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS

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C5 Aircross brings a little home comfort to SUV lovers Andrew Walker An icy blast from the North Pole welcomed the arrival of Citroen’s latest new model, the C5 Aircross, to the UK recently. Over the past two years Citroen has realigned its model range, moving away from MPVs and into SUVs. The French manufacturer has seen five years of growth and the new C5 Aircross has arrived to further cement its position in the marketplace.

C5 Aircross mirrors the family look of Citroen’s latest new car models and features the familiar front grille and distinctive design found on sister models the C3, C4 Cactus and C3 Aircross. It enters the highly competitive C-SUV sector – a sector that all of the major players need to be in, and Citroen is no different. It comes with five seats, class-leading boot space and on-trend tech and safety.

There are two petrol and two diesel engines on offer, with a plug-in hybrid due in 2020. The petrol engines are a 128bhp 1.2-litre PureTech 130 and a 177bhp 1.6-litre Puretech 180. The 130 version is only available as a six-speed manual, while an eight-speed automatic gearbox is offered on the 180. If you prefer diesel, then Citroen is offering a 128bhp BlueHdi 130 engine with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. You can also opt for the more powerful 178bhp BlueHdi 180 engine that only comes with the eight-speed automatic.

There are three specs; Feel, Flair and Flair Plus. The Feel trim package is offered on the 1.2-litre, petrol engine or the 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel engine, with the petrol starting at £23,225. Mid-range Flair trim starts at £25,325 for the manual 1.2-litre petrol version and you can also have Flair spec with all engine choices. Range-topping Flair Plus starts at £27,725 again with the 1.2-litre petrol unit with all engines available with this spec.

The interior mimics the smaller C3 Aircross with a logically designed dashboard featuring a large centre touchscreen and even larger digital display in front of the driver. The steering wheel controls allow you to select which function you want to view, with a choice of Driving Info, SatNav and Dials which allows you to choose from several dial options for the speedo and rev counter located within the 12.3” customisable TFT instrument display.

The large centrally located 8” touchscreen is standard across the range, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Entry level Feel offers 17” alloys, rear parking sensors and autonomous emergency braking. Flair adds 18” alloys, a dash cam, SatNav and tinted windows. Flair Plus adds keyless entry, a 40 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

panoramic sun roof, wireless phone charging and an automatic boot hatch.

Cabin space is good. All five passengers gets their own seats, with plenty of head and leg room both front and rear. The three rear seats can be moved individually fore and aft, although we found the seat depth front to back quite shallow.

The boot is cavernous, with 580 litres on offer, increasing to 1,630 litres with the rear seats down. Double-laminated front windows and engine bay soundproofing aim to reduce exterior noise, while an active air quality system uses an air-purifying carbon filter.

First up we drove the Flair Plus Blue HDi 130 6 speed manual diesel, which costs £29,225 and comes with attractive CO2 emissions of 108-110g/km and a BIK of 26%.

The ride comfort is definitely a highlight and the car handles poor road surfaces really well.

The front seats are comfortable and offer that cosy feeling that French cars excel in. On the road, the 130 diesel performs adequately but, as we found out later, it lacks the punch of the similarly powered petrol version. That’s not to say it won’t do the job but a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds means it’s steady rather than exciting. The short, stubby gear lever is nice to use. Steering is light and despite it’s high profile, there’s little or no body roll.

We encountered plenty of stop-start traffic on our route and even fitted with the manual gearbox, the C5 Aircross is an easy car to live with. A light clutch, light steering and well placed controls further add to it’s charms.

We also drove the 130 1.2 petrol Flair. It feels quicker, but actually has a similar time of 10.5 seconds going from 0-62mph as the 130 diesel. CO2 emissions are higher than the

diesel, at 119-121g/km BIK but, being less well equipped and petrol, it’s cheaper to buy than the diesel Flair Plus by £3,900 Of course, the petrol v diesel conundrum isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Citroen has covered all the bases with the engines on offer with C5 Aircross. From CC&V’s point of view, it’s usually the claimed combined fuel economy that should make that decision for you. The 130 diesel offers a combined fuel economy figure of 48.2–55.1mpg, with the 130 petrol coming in at 44.6-51.4mpg, dependant on gear box, which are remarkably similar and are therefore not making the petrol/diesel decision any easier. Generally speaking, if you drive over 12,000 miles per annum and a lot of this is on the motorway, choose diesel. Lower mileage and local driving, look to a petrol.

In conclusion, you won’t buy this car for its performance and dynamically, it’s definitely middling, but if you want a competent family car that offers seating for five, loads of boot space, on trend tech, loads of safety features and is ridiculously comfortable, then the Citroen C5 Aircross should be on your list.

Both the lower powered petrol and diesel engines are attractive.

Verdict Practical and interesting – which is pretty much Citroen’s DNA, isn’t it. Will satisfy the customer with a family and active lifestyle without compromise.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

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On test: NISSAN QASHQAI

Trendsetter evolves into a graceful leader of the pack Andrew Walker runs the rule over the latest Nissan Qashqai, the 115 DCI N-Connecta When Nissan launched the Qashqai in 2006, it started a revolution. Viewed initially as strange, it has since gone on to shake-up the entire car world, with manufacturers ditching traditional designs to ensure they had a crossover of their own.

Nissan unveiled a new Nissan Qashqai in 2013: sleeker, more frugal and just as practical as its predecessor. Judging by the sales it was just as popular, too. In late 2017 Nissan refreshed the Qashqai, with revised styling, improvements in interior quality and new equipment. There was also minor revisions to the way it drives, while a new high-end trim level pushes it further upmarket.

Basics first. The latest model is powered by a choice of four engines: 1.2 and 1.6-litre turbo petrols, plus 1.5 and 1.6-litre diesels. The five trim-levels available on the Nissan Qashqai are

42 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta Tekna and the flagship Tekna + and prices start at £17,795.

The new Qashqai adds a huge range of clever in-car technology and a choice of manual or Xtronic automatic gearboxes. The interior quality is better than in the Mk1 and allows it to challenge the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota Rav4, KIA Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CRV as well as the up-market copies from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Nissan has also increased the space and practicality inside, another step in the right direction although it’s not class leading.

They’ve also ended production of Qashqai+2.

The second-generation Nissan Qashqai looks far more upmarket than the original. The overall shape is similar to its predecessor: it’s still a typical crossover, with a raised ride height, chrome roof rails and black plastic trim giving a rugged off-roader look. But look closer and it’s far more angular, with a sharper nose inspired by the latest Micra, angular headlamps, LED running lights, twin chrome bars on the grille. At the back, the LED

tail-lamps wrap around the corners of the car and on to the tailgate, making the rear of the Mk2 far more interesting than it’s predecessor.

Inside, the Qashqai has been smartened up.

Gone are the circular air vents, replaced by slim and sleek ones. There’s now sporty cowled dials and a full-colour trip computer display, while the gloss black trim on the dashboard as well as coloured ambient lighting on the centre console give this Qashqai an upmarket feel. Material quality has been boosted, with a plusher feel to the materials and some higher grade leather on top trims.

My test model was the 1.5 dCi N-Connecta, which was nicely equipped, with the NissanConnect 7” touchscreen nav and entertainment system including a CD radio with DAB and with nicely judged colour front, rear and side cameras, which enable one to view the car on the screen. There should be NO excuse for a prang! Add a keyless Start button, Bluetooth, cruise control with limiter, intelligent park assist, and a tyre pressure monitoring system and the whole package

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impresses. There’s also a panoramic glass roof, leather heated front seats, electrically adjusted drivers seat, dual zone climate control and rear privacy.

My test model’s 1.5-litre diesel dCi has been around for a while and although adequate, it feels a little underpowered. Still, it’s quiet and the smooth gear changes make town or motorway driving enjoyable and it’s definitely more refined, with less wind and road noise in the cabin.

The 1.5dCi diesel may be underpowered but it’s great for staying away from petrol pumps. Claimed combined fuel economy is 74.3mpg with excellent CO2 figures of 99g/ km, which should appeal to SMEs. The 1.6-litre

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diesel is similarly frugal claiming 65.7mpg and 115g/km of CVT, while opting for the excellent Xtronic CVT auto on this model only penalises things slightly with 62.8mpg and 119g/km.

Also included is Nissan’s Active Engine Brake function, which reduces jerkiness in the transmission when you lift off the throttle. Plus, the Body Motion Control constantly dabs the brakes to smooth out body movement over bumps. It works well, particularly at low speed, but hit a series of imperfections and the ride gets fidgety as the brakes and dampers fight to keep control. Safety experts at Euro NCAP awarded the new Qashqai the full five stars, with the car scoring well in the adult and child occupant categories.

It has a slightly larger cabin than before, but it’s still a squeeze for three adults. There is plenty of storage, though. An electric hand-brake also frees up the centre console for extra stowage and cup-holders.

The Qashqai’s 430-litre luggage area is impressive, and also features a flat loading lip and base, plus it benefits from a clever false floor that doubles as a boot divider. Fold the rear bench seat flat and the capacity increases to 1,585 litres.

I drove the Qashqai almost 500 miles in a week and it didn’t skip a beat. It was as happy in traffic in town as it was cruising on the motorway and a lot of this was due to the light clutch employed here.

As a family we owned a Mk1 Qashqai and this version is more attractive, better built, with a higher quality feel and is more frugal than it’s predecessor, so all in all it’s definitely a winner.

My 1.5 DCI 115 test car would set you back £25,295, which considering the equipment levels on board, seemed about right.

Verdict The trendsetter still packs a punch. No complaints. Versatile, practical, economic and looks great CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 43

On test: KIA CEED

Ceed flowers beautifully despite the tough competition Andrew Walker Company Car & Van recently got its hands on the all-new Ceed 1.4 T-GDi First Edition, a car that has been designed to appeal to the European market.

It’s now in its third generation and looks much fresher than its predecessor, featuring Kia’s tiger nose grille, sweeping headlights and a more aggressive, lowered and wider front air intake. The rear isn’t as striking and is reminiscent of both the BMW 1 and Vauxhall Astra, with a spoiler above the rear window and wrap around rear lights.

The Ceed has been built on Kia’s new K2 platform, which has made the new model 20mm wider, lowered the roofline by 23mm and it’s now 95mm longer. The wheelbase remains the same as before at 2650mm. The cabin though, has been moved back 68mm, to improve occupant protection and visibility around the A-pillars.

The First Edition looks the part, with 17” alloys, LED Bi-function headlights, LED rear lights, privacy glass, LED daytime running

44 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

lights and a wide sunroof fitted with an automatic roll blind.

The interior will be familiar to anyone who has a Kia. The quality is good, but not quite up to the inside of a Golf or latest Ford Focus.

There’s soft touch plastics on the top of the dash and the First Edition also features black leather seats, a leather trimmed steering wheel and gear stick. Lower down there’s cheaper looking, harder plastics on the centre console and door pockets, which is a surprise. The infotainment system, though, is first class. First Edition offers an 8 speaker JBL premium sound system, USB and aux in sockets, a USB fast charger in the front centre console, Android Auto and AppleCar Play with voice control, a wireless mobile phone charger, 8” touchscreen SatNav, a reversing camera, DAB, Bluetooth, plus smart park assist. It’s all tidily packaged in a dash-top screen.

This First Edition is specced up to the nth degree and also comes with a heated steering wheel, heated front seat and outer rear seats, engine start/stop with smart entry system, dual automatic air con and smart cruise control with stop and go functionality. The 1.4-litre petrol

engine is actually pretty good. There’s 138bhp on tap, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 128mph. We had the opportunity to put the Ceed through its paces on some B roads in Yorkshire and we found the steering light and precise. You can drive the Ceed with confidence and as we found, it handles winding roads in its sleep. Steering a bend and the Ceed comes out incredibly true.

The ride is on the firm side, however, and there’s a bit of shuddering over pot holed roads, which was not helped by the 17” alloys fitted to our test model. Smaller 16” wheels would probably be better. A motorway sojourn proved that the cabin is quiet, with outside noise to a minimum. Driving on the motorway we selected cruse control and the punchy petrol engine allowed us to overtake safely when required. Overall, piloting it was enjoyable.

Another bonus with all Kia models, is that the infotainment settings are easy to get the hang of. Bluetooth connected quickly and with a USB lead, AppleCar Play as well. I made a couple of hands-free calls while on the A1 and the sound was clear, enabling me to have a

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conversation without raising my voice.

For those of you looking for a family company car, the Ceed’s interior space is impressive, with good leg and headroom in the rear and there’s 395 litres of space on offer in the boot, 1,291 litres with the rear seats folded, which is more than in either the Focus or Golf.

The boot floor can be raised to make loading easier, which is handy, because the boot does come with a reasonably high lip.

Our first Edition featured the nippy 1.4 petrol engine, but there’s also a 1.0 litre petrol 3-cylinder 118bhp and 1.6 litre diesel with 114bhp on offer, with a more powerful Ceed

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GT on the way. First Edition isn’t cheap, with our test car retailing at £26,850 OTR. Combined fuel consumption for the 1.4 is 50.4mpg on the combined cycle and its CO2 is 127g/km. The 3-spec model is also more costly, so we would suggest that company car drivers consider the 2-spec petrol model with the 1.0 litre petrol engine. It’s not only cheaper, with the range starting from £18,295, it also comes well equipped with 16” alloy wheels, air-con, a 7” touchscreen audio display, DAB, a reversing camera, cruise control and Forward Collision Assist.

In 1.6 Eco Pack diesel guise, kitted out in

3-spec, the fuel economy is even more impressive, with a combined figure of 74.3mpg and low CO2 emissions of 99g/km. The diesel is more expensive, starting at £21,955. As with pretty much all new cars out there you have an example of a clean Euro6 diesel in the Ceed, offering drivers over 20mpg more than the petrol version and with lower emissions too.

High milers and DOT employees, take note.

In conclusion, has the new Kia Ceed got what it takes to match or even beat the Volkswagen Golf? The easy answer is no, but there is some god news. The new Ceed is a really good effort from the Koreans. Not only is the latest version around £2,000 cheaper than the equivalent Golf, it’s also better value than the Ford Focus, has more space and comes better equipped, like for like. I would suggest that Kia wasn’t expecting to better the Golf, but what they have done is make a car thats equally as good as the Astra and better than the likes of the i30, Auris, and Leon.

Verdict Overall, another positive result for Kia. The Ceed might not touch the Golf’s heights but it is a worthy C sector contender – and a lot cheaper CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 45

CV NEWS: VOLKSWAGEN / CITROEN

A driver’s joy, beautifully crafted!

Can a large van really be a pleasure to drive? It can be if it’s a Volkswagen Crafter, says Andrew Walker When Volkswagen launched its latest Crafter in 2017, the first aim was for it to sell better than the first Crafter. In order to ensure this, they wanted to cover every base when it came to customer requirements. So, the latest Crafter is offered in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel-drive with a range of three versions of the same 2.0-litre TDI engine, offering power outputs of 100bhp, 138bhp and 175bhp.

The 100bhp unit delivers torque of 300Nm between 1,400 and 2,250rpm, the 138bhp option has 340Nm from 1,600rpm to 2,250rpm, with the range-topping BiTurbo unit offering 410Nm between 1,500 and 2,000rpm.

It’s also available as single or double cab with varying lengths, with or without conversions solutions, including dropsides and tippers (ex-factory). It also has a maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 5.5 tonnes.

The Crafter CR50 Trendline MWB 2.0 TDI 177PS 6sp manual RWD mode, with a GVW of 5 tonnes, made it’s way up to Company Car and Van Towers for us to drive. Having already driven the 3.5t version, it was interesting to see how different the larger RWD version would be and in all honesty, after a week behind the wheel, it was just as good!

The central passenger seat can be folded down to create a desk, with both front passenger seats turning over to offer even more storage space underneath them. The full steel bulkhead keeps the cabin warm as well as quiet. All three front passenger get great head and legroom, with the drivers seat offering plenty of adjustment.

Equipment levels are excellent. Standard safety kit on all models includes four airbags, ESP stability control, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and side-wind assist. Our test model ran on 16” steel wheels and comes with cruise control with limiter, driver alert system, Stop/Start,rubber floor covering in there cab, a manual side sliding passenger side door, hill start assist, remote control centre blocking and wooden load floor covering. Add ons included a telematics Car-Net security and service system £294, a rear -view camera £270, a rear step in the bumper £246, Discover Media navigation system with 8” touchscreen £876, metallic paint £1,338 and a driver assistance pack including front and rear parking sensors £1,002. The OTR price for our test van was £45,232 and with add ons this went up to £51,382 OTR including vat.

All of the Volkswagen Crafter’s engines are 2.0-litre units from VW’s EA 288 family of 48 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

commercial vehicle units. All are Euro6 compliant, and feature common-rail injection engines fitted with an advanced SCR catalytic convertor system to clean the exhaust gases. A stop-start system is also fitted as standard, with VW claiming a 15% improvement in fuel economy over the previous Crafter and class-leading aerodynamics of 0.33 Cd. The six-speed manual model we tested, with the 177PS engine returns a claimed 32.5mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 228g/km. Volkswagen has also reduced running costs through extended service intervals compared to the old Crafter.

Although the 5 tonne MWB Crafter is a large van, when you start it up and drive off, it doesn’t feel so. Yes, it’s quite obviously a large van and has to be driven thus, but around town it’s so easy to drive it never feels big on the road. This is partly due to the fitting of the electromechanical steering system in the Crafter, which was a first for the large panel van class. This basically adjusts the steerings weight, according to the van’s speed. The easy to reach six-speed gear stick is neat and slick to work and the overall feeling driving the new Crafter is incredibly relaxing, far more so than other vans of this size.

Large vans need to offer decent storage.

The Crafter has been designed to maximise carrying capacity and the new expanded range gives it a wider variety of body sizes than before. There are three vehicle lengths, starting with our 5,986mm ‘mid-length’ model, then the long wheelbase version at 6,836mm, plus there’s the ‘long-wheelbase plus overhang’ version, with an extended rear overhang, taking total length to 7,391mm. On top of that are a trio of roof heights, with the maximum cargo capacity on offer now being 18.4m3. Front-wheel drive variants have gross vehicle weights of between 3 and 4 tonnes.

The rear-wheel drive models offer gross vehicle weights between 3.5 and 5.5 tonnes and the 4Motion 4×4 Crafters offer the carrying of weights up to 4 tonnes.

Our test model offered a payload of 5t, a capacity of 14.4 cubic metres and measures 5,986mm long by 2,427mm wide by 2,590 mm high. The rear doors open up to 270 degrees and the side door has a 1,311mm opening.

Our MWB test model offers space for six Euro pallets, while the load bay itself is lined with rigging tracks giving a host of different options for securing cargo. I used the Crafter to transport three old wooden window frame’s to my local recycling centre, each measuring 1.2 m high x 1.5 m wide and they fitted in the back very, very easily. In fact, I could have easily fitted three more. A wide range of options is also available, designed to tailor the panel van loadbay for different needs.

Out on the road, the Crafter really is a joy to drive, although beware a largish turning circle.

You may need that reversing camera! Despite our tester being limited to 55mph, meaning we spent some fun motorway miles overtaking and being overtaken by slow lorries, it’s clearly a comfortable motorway performer, although I would have loved to have gone quicker.

On the up side, in our week of 250 miles in the Crafter we returned an average of 30.2mpg,so every slow motorway drive has a silver lining.

Verdict Only rivals are sister brand TGE and the Sprinter, when it comes to comfort, driver tech and safety. Is expensive but you get what you pay for.

The Crafter would definitely be high on my wish-list.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

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Berlingo upgrades mean it’s ready to mix it with the best of ’em Self-confessed van fan Andrew Walker loves the car-like qualities of the Citroen Berlingo Vans come and vans go, but today, they are most definitely light years ahead of the vans of even ten years ago.

Take the new Citroen Berlingo. Company Car and Van got to drive it recently and the first thing you notice is that it now offers the same safety and technology that you’d find in the Citroen passenger car range, such as Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, as well as a choice of safety packs that include speed limit and road sign recognition. The materials used in the cabin are also a step up from vans of old, which is first class and the Berlingo drives unladen, very much like a five-door family hatchback.

New Berlingo comes to market at a good time, alongside sister vans the Vauxhall Combo Cargo and Peugeot Partner. Existing small vans from Ford, with the Courier, and Volkswagen, with the Caddy, are the main competition, whereas, the small vans on offer from Renault, the Kangoo, Mercedes-Benz, the Citan, and Fiat Professional, the Doblo Cargo, are now looking a bit long in the tooth in comparison, especially when you study their engine range and from a tech perspective.

Citroen has kept it simple, with Berlingo offered in two lengths, M and XL, and a single roof height. These models offer cargo space of

3.3 and 3.8 cubic metres respectively. All models bar the entry level X feature the clever Extenso pack, which adds a through-loading bulkhead and an extra half-a-cubic metre of load space where the front passenger seats are located. In common with many small vans today, the front seat folds down so that longer items can be loaded.

Four trim levels are offered. Entry level Berlingo X, then the Worker, the Enterprise and finally the Driver. M vans get a single sliding side door, featured on our Enterprise test model, while XL versions get double sliding doors. Both models get asymmetric double doors at the rear. These rear doors

come in steel as standard, but glazing can be added as an option.

All Berlingo van models feature electric front windows, electric mirrors, six lashing eyes in the cargo floor, remote central locking with deadlocks and separate cab locking.

Climb aboard and you’ll find that the cabin is a comfortable place to be, with decent seat adjustment on offer. For those who love cubby holes and spaces to put their water bottles, keys or paperwork, the Berlingo offers eight dashboard storage spaces, two with lids, plus a full cabin width overhead storage space above the driver and front passengers heads.

Continued on page 50

VW vehicles and service fits Ringtons to a ‘T’ Ringtons has added 58 Caddy vans plus a Transporter and Crafter to its fleet, which now consists of over 250 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles vans.

Ringtons, based in the North East of England, is a tea and coffee business that delivers its goods across the nation via a doorstep delivery service. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has worked with Ringtons for a total of eight years, delivering on average 60 to 70 vans per year.

Ringtons has a long-established relationship with Lookers Van Centre in Newcastle but with its fleet dispersed across the lower North East area, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ network of Mobile Service Clinics was a deciding factor for the firm to extend the partnership.

Mobile Service Clinics are a crucial

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Andrew Davison, Head of Business at Lookers Newcastle Volkswagen Van Centre (left) and Stephen Killinger (right)

element of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ‘Working With You’ brand promise, helping to meet customer needs and ensure businesses avoid or minimise downtime costs.

The number of Mobile Service Clinics is

continuing to grow, with 20 due by the end of March and 30 by the end of 2019.

Stephen Killinger, operations manager from Ringtons said: “Ringtons prides itself on providing faultless customer service and we believe that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles can help us to maintain this reputation, not only by providing us with excellent vans but also through its thorough aftersales programme.”

Trevor Hodgson-Phillips, Head of Service and Parts for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “We are delighted that Ringtons has returned to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to increase the fleet.

We are particularly proud of our Mobile Servicing Clinics and the aftersales support that we are able to provide so I’m pleased to hear this was such a crucial factor in securing the deal.”

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 49

On test: CITROEN BERLINGO

Continued from page 49 A week behind the wheel gave me plenty of scope to drive the Berlingo locally on a mixture of motorway, A, B and urban roads. At no point was the Berlingo driven laden, save for a fairly light load of toilet paper, tissues, washing powder and dishwasher tabs on our quarterly run to and from our local Makro. I was also, in the main, driving alone, so how the van performed and the results we found were based on this.

What’s really appealing about Berlingo, is that it drives like a small family car. Steering is light and the five-speend manual gear box and clutch are very light and easy to engage. On the motorway I selected cruise control, adjusted this to 70mph and the Berlingo sat comfortably in lanes one and two as I journeyed across the Pennines to Leeds and back. For those of you who want a small van that works well on the motorway, the Berlingo ticks that box. It’s quiet in the cab, the seats are comfortable, the full steel bulkhead keeps the heat in the cab and the load space noise at bay and when utilising the Bluetooth handsfree phone and the DAB radio, outside wind and road noise are not an issue.

On smaller roads around Altrincham I found that the the Berlingo will sit quietly in traffic, with the light clutch a real bonus in stop-start traffic. There are some winding country roads in our area so I took the Berlingo for a spin

50 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

around Knutsford and again, the handling impressed. Point it into a corner and it does what’s required and with the M van any way, New Berlingo comes to market at a good time, alongside sister vans the Vauxhall Combo Cargo and Peugeot Partner. Existing small vans from Ford, with the Courier, and Volkswagen, with the Caddy, are the main competition, whereas, the small vans on offer

from Renault, the Kangoo, Mercedes-Benz, the Citan, and Fiat Professional, the Doblo Cargo, are now looking a bit long in the tooth in comparison, especially when you study their engine range and from a tech perspective.

Citroen has kept it simple, with Berlingo offered in two lengths, M and XL, and a single roof height. These models offer cargo space of 3.3 and 3.8 cubic metres respectively. All models bar the entry level X feature the clever Extenso pack, which adds a through-loading bulkhead and an extra half-a-cubic metre of load space where the front passenger seats are located. In common with many small vans today, the front seat folds down so that longer items can be loaded.

Economy and emissions are worth noting.

For the Enterprise M 1.6 Blue HDi we tested these are 67.3mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 109g/km. During our admittedly barely laden test and over a mixed bag of roads we turned in an economy figure of 50.5 mpg, which isn’t half bad The Berlingo panel van more than matches the Vauxhall in every area. Comparing Berlingo to the Combo, or to the Peugeot Partner, isn’t really what we should be doing here, however, because all three are excellent.

Better then, to say that Berlingo can now compete on an even keel with the Transit Connect and in many ways, it’s now better than the Volkswagen Caddy.

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Isuzu Grafter Green: The payload says it all Loaded with benefits, it’s time to discover how the all-new Isuzu Grafter Green can work for your business.

The key point is its new 1.9-litre engine – a huge drop from Isuzu’s usual power unit of three litres, but with no noticeable loss in performance. The 1.9-litre engine delivers 123hp and 323 Nm of torque, from just four cyliders.

There’s no need for AdBlue in this engine so there are big savings to be made in terms of fuel, additivies and servicing long term.

Another key development is a lighter chassis, which means that there is increased payload carrying capacity.

Drivers will also appreciate a host of new developments which have upgraded the ride.

New independent front suspension, with coil springs and rack and pinion steering, makes it drive more like a conventional van.

Another key improvement is a six-speed gearbox that is set out in a standard H setting, getting away from the previous odd placement of first gear in its own.

The overall impression is one of a lighter, more flexible ride that you can pour into a corner and come out the other side smiling – a huge improvement on Isuzu Trucks of old.

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Indeed, it can feel almost too light but when fully laden the steering translates into an impressive solidity – and those lighter moments are useful if you’re taking the Grafter Green off-road, on to building sites, for example.

Inside, you’ll find a cabin that is a touch utilitarian but the dash is a solid plastic that looks like it will handle a huge amount of abuse, and switchgear is solid.

Seats are trimmed with a hardwearing fabric that will give both support and comfort.

The Grafter Green has an overall length of 5,000mm and useful trailer length of 3,175mm.

The width is 1,950mm.

The kerbweight is 2,244kg, the payload allowance is 1,256kg and the maximum trailer weight is 3,500kg.

Six model options are available: A Chassis Cab, with either Single rear wheel and twin rear wheel; a Dropside, with the same single rear/ twin rear options; and the Tipper, which is a single/twin rear wheel First customers to try the Grafter Green have

confirmed it is huge step up from the previous model. Ian Lowe, Town and Country Roofing, said: “I have just replaced our previous Isuzu Grafter after 280,000 miles and the overall improvements with the new Grafter Green 3.5t rigid are significant. In my opinion it’s a much better truck in every sense. The new Grafter has a much better suspension, which gives it a far smoother ride, and makes the overall feel when driving to be more comfortable than its predecessor.”

“I am already finding it to be more economical in operation, too.”

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 51

On test: FIAT PROFESSIONAL TALENTO

Fiat has some real talent behind its top-selling commercial With so many CVs sharing platforms these days, how do manufacturers make theirs stand out from the crowd? Andrew Walker takes a look at the Fiat approach, on its Talento Fiat replaced the Scudo van back in 2016 when it introduced the CV world to the Talento.

Based on the Renault Trafic, the Talento is reassuringly familiar to anyone who has previously driven the Renault or Vauxhall’s Vivaro.

Fiat has taken the opportunity to sharpen the exterior of its version with the forwardstretching windscreen connecting elegantly to the short bonnet, where the Fiat Professional family front grille wraps around the headlights

52 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

and distinguishes it from the competition.

Inside, too, the Fiat designers have added some nice touches to the dashboard, with the ‘Living Brown’ colour scheme the standout.

The large front seats are comfortable and the familiar dashboard is easy to use, understand and functions really well. There are 90 litres of in-cabin storage space in a variety of shapes and sizes, including compartments hidden under the seat base and behind the seat back of the passenger seats. There’s an additional blind spot-mitigating ViewPlus interior mirror and an innovative fold-down central seat with detachable clipboard holder and the available smartphone/tablet holder.

There are nine body styles to choose from in the range. The standard low and high-roof vans in short/long-wheelbase versions, short/ long-wheelbase people carriers and crew vans and a long-wheel base platform cab. Innovative features include the ‘CargoPlus’ storage area under the passenger seats which allows professionals to carry objects up to 3.75m in length (4.15 for LWB versions) by sliding them

into a special bulkhead opening.

Rear doors can open up to a wide angle of 255° allowing easy access and usage of the loading bay while the sliding side door has an aperture of 1,030 mm and a load edge just 100mm above the ground. The load volume equals 5.2m³ in short wheelbase models, 6m³ in long wheelbase versions and a generous 8.6m³ in the long wheelbase high-roof derivative. This means that the Talento, even in the short wheelbase trim level, is capable of carrying three Euro pallets and depending on the version, a payload of up to 1,249 kg with a GVW of up to 3,060kg.

On the best performing model, the EcoJet with Stop/Start, fuel consumption of up to 46.3mpg should be possible, with CO2 emissions as low as 155g/km.

In terms of safety, all versions are fitted with LED daytime running lights, ABS with EBD (electronic brake distribution) and EBA (emergency brake assistance) in addition to a sophisticated ESC system with Hill Holder and Traction+ as standard. Available safety features

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include side airbags and window-bags a Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) system which guarantees total stability when towing by automatically modulating engine power and braking force applied to each wheel to stabilise both the vehicle and a wayward trailer. A front parking assist system and a reversing camera (with a display in the rear-view mirror) are also available.

Standard equipment on the entry level Talento includes remote central locking, electric front windows (one-touch lowering on the driver’s side), electrically operated and heated door mirrors, a full bulkhead, a height adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and an arm rest, dual passenger seat, a powerful audio system with Bluetooth, DAB, USB, Aux-in, a full-size spare wheel and steering-wheel remote controls. The entry-level Combi Active adds a rear tailgate with window wiper and de-mister, luggage cover, passenger airbag and folding/removable rear seats.

The SX version is very comprehensively specced. Expect to find almost car-lie conditions: air con, Mobile Office, ViewPlus, rear parking sensors, upgraded “Living Brown” interior trim and enhanced exterior detailing, while the SX Combi adds 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, automatic lights and wipers, a leather steering wheel, cruise control with speed limiter, the upgraded audio system with Continued on page 54

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Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 53

On test: FIAT PROFESSIONAL TALENTO

“Importantly, the UK Fiat Professional network can now compete with its siblings in the sector...”

Continued from page 53 satnav and enhanced exterior and interior detailing.

The price differential isn’t that steep, either, with SX versions of the Talento van and crew van priced at just £1,000 more than the standard model, while the Combi SX is £2,000 more than the Active trim level.

By launching the Talento, Fiat Professional have tapped into the longer van market that falls between their old Scudo and the larger Ducato.

This sector is particularly important for Fiat

Professional, as the company claims that the longer van could account for as much as 30% of the mid-weight market sector.

This is an important development. The previous Scudo model was unable to compete with the longer van, so Talento has opened up new opportunities for Fiat and along with their Fullback pick-up, launched at the same time as the Talento, the Fiat Professional range is complete and has something to offer every user, to fulfil every demand.

I had the opportunity to drive the Talento for a week around the north west. It’s an easy van

to like, with car-like handling and a user-friendly interior. It’s so good to drive you forget that you’re in a mid-size van which, as I am primarily a car driver, is a real bonus.

Add this easy-to-use factor to the van’s obvious practicality and the Talento is now one of my favourite vans.

Existing Renault and Vauxhall customers already know how good this van is and so too will Fiat customers from now on.

Importantly, the UK Fiat Professional network can now compete with its siblings in the sector.

Iveco Trakker is key to growth at Spaniard Hall Recycling When Josh Taylor of Spaniard Hall Recycling launched his business in 2017, he managed to get enough money together to buy a handful of second-hand DAF trucks for his new venture.

Within 18 months the business had taken off to the extent that he was looking for a vehicle supply partner who could move his business to the next level, was cost effective and suited his business needs.

In order to see which vehicles and supplier would work best for Spaniard Hall, Josh tried demonstrator vehicles from local West Yorkshire dealers who supply Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Scania products.

He found that not only was Iveco the most cost-effective option, but that the Trakker also offered his business better fuel economy than its competitors. Being based in Queensbury, one of the highest villages in England, optimal performance on high ground, tricky terrain and adverse weather conditions were taken into consideration. The robust nature of the Iveco Trakker was the deciding factor.

Having replaced his old and tired DAFs Josh now feels more confident in bidding for contracts and has now won several since he took on the Iveco Trakkers.

He is now looking at ordering another four trucks from Northern Commercials, all of which will be the new version of the Trakker – The IVECO X Way. 54 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

Painted and sign written in striking green, the Trakker provided the perfect off-road vehicle due to the robust nature of the chassis.

Marshalls provided the smooth-sided Hardox tipping body. The impressive spec includes Edbro CX15 tipping gear, c/w in cab controls, a VWS four-cell on-board weighing system with in-cab display and an air operated tailgate locking system.

The vehicles were supplied with standard features including air conditioning, rotating roof beacons and air suspended passenger seats.

Additional features were added to increase the appeal of the vehicles including all-round camera systems, reverse warning buzzers, one metre light bars and flashing work lights.

The repair and maintenance package

supplied by Northern Commercials gave the Halifax-based company the assurance it needed that the vehicles would benefit from maximum uptime and optimal profitability. The repeat order for multiple vehicles pays testament to the truck, the Iveco brand and the reputation of Northern Commercials as a leading Iveco dealership.

David Ryan, truck sales specialist at Northern Commercials commented: “Josh not only appreciates the Trakkers, but also our fantastic service. We collect and deliver his vehicles back to him each time they are in for a service, reducing business down-time.

“Our relationship is getting stronger and stronger and we look forward to a fantastic future working together.“ www.companycarandvan.co.uk

FORD TRANSIT COURIER

Transit Courier takes the honours Vans have got so much better recently, it’s frightening. Leading the way is Ford, which has completely updated and improved its entire CV range not once, but twice in the past four years.

New Transit, Transit Custom and Transit Connect are here, plus the Transit Courier small van, all redesigned and relaunched. Every one is excellent to drive, with car-like cabins and specification.

CC&V drove the Transit Courier recently. It competes against rivals such as the Mercedes Citan Compact, Renault Kangoo, VW Caddy and the platform-sharing Peugeot Bipper, Citroen Nemo and Fiat Fiorino. It’s more compact than the Transit Connect, is larger than the Fiesta Van and is pitched at operators who need to shift small loads in urban areas where compact size and a tight turning circle are the things most required.

The updated powertrain line-up meets latest Euro 6.2 levels and offers customers the choice of a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel and a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines. All vehicles feature Ford’s all-new six-speed manual transmission which delivers better real-world fuel-efficiency and makes motorways more enjoyable.

The Transit Courier offers urban van operators a payload capacity ranging from 500-590 kg, load volumes up to 2.4 m3 (VDA) and a choice of van and kombi bodystyles. The series line-up now also includes a new Limited

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variant, providing customers with an alternative to the dynamic Sport model at the top of the range. Below these you can choose from a Base and Trend model, with the Limited the model that CCandV got to try.

The Courier’s asymmetrically-split side hinged rear doors open to 158 degrees and the optional sliding side doors provide impressively wide access points to the rear. There’s also six tie-down points. The Transit Courier has a 1.9m3 metre load volume and a gross payload of 535kg. The load bay really is generous with a 1620mm maximum load length at floor level and 1012mm between the wheelarches so that a Europallet will fit in.

With van manufacturers seeking ever lower CO2 emissions for their vehicles and electric vans arriving from all directions, Ford’s 1.0 petrol EcoBoost engine fitted to my test model is a real gem. The Limited offers the customer

131g/km of CO2 with a combined economy of 48.7mpg, which at first glance, may seem poor when compared to a diesel. However, as the Courier is designed to be driven in local or urban areas, the figures are actually pretty attractive for driving in the city, many of which are in the process of banning dirtier diesels.

Out on the road and driven unladen, Ford’s excellent 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is really quite something. The 100PS on offer gives this small van a bit of oomph and with it’s six-speed set-up, it’s even good on the motorway. It’s compact size and measurements make it easy to manoeuvre and park and sitting in the ubiquitous stop-start city traffic, the Courier’s cabin is a comfortable place to be stuck.

Having driven all of the other vans in this sector, the latest Courier is the one of the best of them: indeed, I’d go further and say it’s tremendous.

I may well have to stick up for the 1.5 diesel version here, as it’s the one that I would choose, but there’s no doubting that the 1.0 litre petrol isn’t bad either.

Verdict Small but perfectly formed, the Transit Courier takes some beating. Ideal urban delivery vehicle.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

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On test: ISUZU D-MAX UTAH

D-Max Utah brings a touch of class to draw the SUV crowd Andrew Walker Pick-ups were once just for work: capable load luggers with off-road capability, able to get to places normal cars could not reach.

But no longer: manufacturers know that their customer base contains many ‘lifestyle’ drivers, who want a pick-up for urban use and whose main concern is what it looks like.

Isuzu, with perhaps the most varied pick-up range, has two good-looking models. The top of the range is the D-Max Blade but underneath this is the D-Max Utah, which CC&V spent a working week in recently.

It has a new 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine, which produces 164 PS and 360 Nm of torque. It’s powerful enough to allow the D-Max to retain the 3.5 tonne towing capacity and over one tonne payload of the previous version, while providing a quieter, more refined and economical driving experience. Another key benefit is that the new engine meets Euro 6 standards without the need for the addition of AdBlue.

As per previous D-Max models, Shift-OnThe-Fly 4×4 is a key feature. The rotary dial allows the driver to select four-wheel drive on

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the move and is also equipped with low range gears.

The range-line up from the much-loved D-Max is retained: Utility, Eiger, Yukon, Utah and Blade with a range of single, extended and double cab variants available.

The D-Max range comes with a five-year / 125,000-mile warranty and was the first pick-up in the UK to be offered with such a comprehensive peace-of-mind package.

Running costs are kept down by 12,000-mile or 24-month service intervals, five years’ roadside rescue and recovery including European cover, a three-year paint warranty and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty.

The key design changes include a new front bumper, bonnet, grille and headlights with LED daytime running lights. At the rear, the tailgate has been reshaped with a spoiler design moulded into the top section and features a newly designed handle. A full size spare wheel is now standard on all versions, previously optional on Double Cab models. Three body styles are offered: single, extended and double cab derivatives.

The interior has also been updated. The instrument panel has been redesigned. Manual

transmission models also come equipped with a gear shift indicator to assist drivers with achieving optimal fuel economy. Additional USB ports have been added to the lower centre dash and rear of the centre console across the range (except Utility).

All of the cosmetic changes, especially those inside the cab have most definitely improved the D-Max range and have aligned it more with the lifestyle pick-ups already launched. However, it is the engine and transmission options which are the key changes on the D-Max. The engine has been downsized to a new 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine which produces 164 PS and 360 Nm of torque. A choice of new 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox options are available, specifically developed for the new D-Max. The Utah certainly looks the part. Standard issue include, 18” alloys, silver side steps, LED rear lights rise control,keyless entry and push button start, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, SatNav, DAB digital radio, roof bars, leather upholstery with heated front seats, rear parking sensors and automatic air conditioning.

First and foremost, it looks great. I have to say that the D-Max Utah is definitely one of the

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best looking pick-ups I’ve driven recently. Big bold wheel arches, wrap-around headlights and black roof rails make it stand out on the road. The black cabin of the D-Max was well laid out and I found all of the controls easy and comfortable to use. The quality inside is good and the new infotainment system with larger touchscreen is definitely an improvement over the last model.

There’s plenty of room for both driver and passenger. Storage is good too, with two water storage pop-outs in the dashboard, decent sized door pockets and a useful glove-box. On top of the dash there’s also a pop-up storage area and above your head drop-down storage to put your sunglasses as well. You can get three adults in the rear, but whoever sits in the centre seat may not want to be there for long, as with all pick-ups,

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especially when unladen, it’s bouncy in there.

The 1.9 litre 164 ps turbo diesel engine offers maximum torque of 360 Nm @ 2,000 – 2,500 rpm and is Euro 6 compliant. Top speed is 112 mph. The turning circle is 12.2 metres on 17” tyres. The D-Max measures 5.295 m long by 1.860 m wide and is 1.795 m high.

Ground clearance is 235 mm. Wheelbase is 3.095 m. The fuel tank holds 69 litres. The rear load bay is 1.552 m x 1.530 m x 46.5 cm with a maximum payload of 1101 kg.

Fuel economy in the Utah is a claimed 36.2 mpg, up on the outgoing 2.5 unit. CO2 is 205g/km – again lower than the old model.

But a pick-up should be used as a pick-up.

Isuzu took us around a tough off-road obstacle course at Duncombe Park and I was able to utilise the D-Max’s new technology such as Hill Descent Control, including driving along and

across a fast flowing river. The D-Max also shone while towing a trailer and with 1000kg of hay in the back on-road, and I can genuinely confirm that the smaller 1.9-litre engine does the job at least as well as the previous 2.5-litre version; indeed, with improved gear ratios, in first and second gear it’s even better!

Friends and neighbours always ask me about pick-ups and whether they would cut it as a family car. Because it looks great, the Utah or sister model Blade would definitely attract the family man. But while they are so much better than they used to be, this is not an SUV; it’s most definitely a pick-up.

If you’re used to the soft-road ability of an SUV, then any pick-up will come as bit of a shock, especially to those travelling in the rear.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the D-Max is a commercial vehicle – but that it shines in this role.

Verdict Your pick-up is your livelihood and Isuzu’s reliability is second to none.

Isuzu is the pick-up of choice for those in the know and this 1.9-litre version makes an even more compelling case than before.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 59

CV NEWS

Mercedes-Benz vans keep heating firm ‘firing on all cylinders’ Family-run Colin Laver Heating has taken another step on the road to an all-MercedesBenz van fleet with the recent arrivals from local dealer Euro Commercials of another eight Vito models, and its first X-Class pickup.

The Pontypridd-based firm offers a broad range of domestic heating, plumbing and electrical services, including the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems, and air- and ground-source heat pumps. It acquired its first Mercedes-Benz vans in 2016, and since then has been steadily taking on more as replacements for the French-built vehicles previously assigned to its mobile engineers.

Today, with more than 50 long-bodied Vito 111 CDIs on the road, as well as six small Citan 109 CDI Extra-longs, Mercedes-Benz accounts for the greater part of the company’s fleet of vans and cars.

Managing director Howard Leyshon and his wife Sherryl acquired Colin Laver Heating in 1983. They run a range-topping Vito Sport 119 CDI crew van, as does elder son Geraint, who is operations manager. Now Geraint’s brother Huw, a director of sister company Albion Flue Systems, has received the keys to his new vehicle, an imposing X 250 d pickup.

As well as undertaking planned installations and maintenance, Colin Laver Heating provides customers with a highly responsive,

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Family matters: Howard and Sherryl Leyshon, and their sons Geraint, left, and Huw, are all big fans of their Mercedes-Benz vehicles 24/7 emergency call-out service. “It is essential, therefore, that our vans don’t let us down,” explained Mr Leyshon. “I need my guys to be able to turn the key and know their van is going to start, and the Vito offers the allimportant reliability that is crucial to the smooth running of our business.”

He continued: “I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of issues we’ve had with our Mercedes-Benz vans, and none were major. The Vito is also cost-effective to operate, reassuringly safe, and popular with our engineers, who appreciate its comfort and quality. They enjoy driving the Mercedes-Benz vans, and I’ve no doubt that the brand’s premium image reflects well on Colin Laver

Heating in the eyes of our customers, too.”

The Mercedes-Benz Vito 111 CDI employs an advanced, 1.6-litre engine that delivers outstanding fuel economy of 45.6 mpg Other Vito variants are available with rear-wheel drive, but its 114 hp output is transmitted via the front wheels.

“We’ve developed a fantastic relationship with Euro Commercials,” confirmed Huw Leyshon. “Van Sales Manager Paul Cox provides exceptional support, while the service team are also very accommodating – we can always get a van into the workshop overnight, or at a weekend, which means we don’t suffer downtime.” www.colinlaverheating.com

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Bright, airy Combo puts Vauxhall in the lead The first Vauxhall vehicle to be built on the Peugeot-Citroen-Vauxhall shared platform is the Combo van, which Vauxhall launched in late 2018. It’s off to a good start, as it’s already been named International Van of the Year for 2019.

The Combo Cargo is based on an all-new architecture and shares much of this with its stablemates, the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner. It is offered in a selection of variants, including short wheelbase, long wheelbase and crew van. It can carry a load volume of up to 4.4m3 and a payload of up to a tonne.

Longer items up to 3440mm can be stored safely and securely, thanks to the rear swing doors and FlexCargo load-through hatch. It can also transport payloads up to 1,000kg and will take up to two Euro pallets thanks to the increased distance between the wheel arches.

With a low loading edge of just 548mm, rear

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access is excellent too.

Long items, such as wooden planks can be stowed at an angle via the optional roof hatch.

While the optional Construction Pack which includes an improved underride protection thanks to a sump guard and Michelin Latitude Tour Mud and Snow tyres for added grip. The chassis height is also increased by 30mm.

In crew van body style, up to five occupants can be accommodated, while the load is safely stowed behind a partition wall. In addition, the

rear bench can be folded down and the partition moved behind the front seats if required.

Vauxhall has obviously thought long and hard about the Combo Cargo and have managed to produce a van with some really clever touches.

A sensor-based overload indicator is available, which allows the driver to check the vehicle is not overloaded. There’s also a connectable protection bag to protect longer loads from damaging the van’s interior.

Continued on page 62

Company Car & Van | April 2019 | 61

On test: VAUXHALL COMBO

Continued from page 61 Other innovations available include a Rear View Camera that acts as a “digital” rear view mirror, while a second camera in the passenger side door mirror gives the driver has an additional blind spot detection aid.

Modern-day vans are very car-like and the new Combo Cargo is no different. The layout is ergonomically designed, with all controls falling easily to hand. The instrumentation will be familiar to Peugeot and Citroen customers and in the Combo Cargo, it all looks and feels good. The seating position has been made more upright, while the compact, flat-bottomed steering wheel allows for easier access to the cabin. There’s good storage space too, with two glove boxes and two large door pockets, plus an above the head body wide shelf.

There’s a versatile seating configuration, with either a four-way adjustable seat for both driver and front passenger or a six-way adjustable driver seat with adjustable lumbar support, integrated armrest and under seat storage compartment. Three occupants can sit abreast in the front although the centre front passenger will find leg room tight. This bench can be ordered with a moveable table which can be upturned to produce a working in-van desk or it can be folded flat to the floor, which allows longer load lengths to be loaded.

There are three Combo Cargo models.

Entry level Edition, then Sportive, plus a limited edition NAV model. Customers can choose from three diesel engines. A 1.6 litre with either 75PS or 100PS and a 1.5 130PS, which is available as a manual or auto. There are also two 1.2 petrol engines offering either 110PS or 130PS. Fuel economy has been improved by at least 16% over the old Combo with CO2 emissions at least 17% better than the outgoing model.

The entry level 1.6 75PS diesel has combined economy of 65.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 111g/km, the 1.6 100PS comes with a 62 | April 2019 | Company Car & Van

combined figure of 65.6mpg and 111g/km of CO2, while the range topping 1.5 diesel 130PS, offers combined fuel economy of 64.2mpg, with CO2 emissions of 116g/km. All are impressive.

Entry level Edition starts from £15,630 ex VAT, which is £800 less than the current Combo Cargo entry price and features under seat storage, a fixed steel bulkhead, a nearside sliding door, overhead storage, a 5” display radio with Bluetooth and DAB, one-touch windows and electric and heated mirrors.

Sportive models add a six-way driver seat with adjustable lumbar support and items such as smart driver assistance and safety features including Lane Keep Assist can be specified.

The first model I tested was a mid-range Combo Sportive L1H 1.6 100PS diesel start/ stop model, with two front seats, driven laden with 300kg on board. Spending time in the cabin allowed me to appreciate just how much good stuff is now incorporated into a modern day van. The build quality is excellent. Bash the top of the dash or the doors with your hand and they are solid. There’s plenty of soft touch plastics on the front and top of the dashboard and even the glove box lid and door pockets are solid and built to last. The seat fabric feels hard wearing with the floor covering also designed to take some punishment from booted feet.

The cabin feels bright and airy and there’s plenty of leg and headroom for the two front passengers. Equipment levels are generous and the touch screen tablet style infotainment system was pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate. It’s large enough to see and the graphics are clear and easy to understand.

I found the heating controls fiddly and I couldn’t get the right temperature. This was the only negative I could find, though.

For load access, the twin rear doors open wide and the near-side sliding door opens and closes with a reassuring clunk. My co-driver

played rugby in the front row, coming in at 100kg. Add his weight to my 65kg, plus the 300kg load fixed to a pallet in the back, meant that we were driving around with 465kg on board. This meant that the 100ps engine felt a little underpowered when trying to overtake on the motorway and also when travelling cross country over undulating roads. For most van users, the 100PS will do just fine but it did make me think that the 75PS version would feel decidedly slow.

After lunch we returned in an identical van, but with the three-seat front bench. Unladen and with just two of us on board, the 100PS diesel was much more fun to drive, especially when our route back took us cross country on some winding B roads. I took the chance to sit in the middle seat and there is definitely more room for your legs on offer than in some competitors’ small van centre seats.

We spent 30 minutes on the M1 and the full bulkhead kept noise from the cargo space at bay as we drove along at 70mph. I was able to connect my phone via Bluetooth and made a couple of calls while in the passenger seat, without resorting to shouting. We also found 6Music easily on the DAB radio and connected an Android Auto phone via USB, which w used to navigate.

The five-speed gearbox worked well, although a sixth gear would definitely be useful on the motorway. Both the steering and the clutch were light and the Combo Cargo handles well. Only pot holes disturbed our peace as the 16” wheels and suspension struggled to keep the bumpy road surface at bay. We were driving a new van with only 40 miles on the clock, so we can assume that the suspension will soften over time.

Company Car and Van has had several enquiries this past year from existing Vauxhall customers, all asking about the brand’s products going forward. We loved the Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert enough for both to be our Van of the Year in 2017, while 2019 sees the launch of the PSA-backed Vivaro which will be based on these.

What we can safely say about the new Combo Cargo is that it’s well built, well designed, drives well on Euro6 engines and comes at a lower price with lower emissions and better fuel economy than most of the competition.

Existing Vauxhall customers should be relaxed about the ‘French Connection.’

Verdict First from the PSA-Vauxhall alliance and gives Vauxhall a head start. Excellent build quality with lower emissions and better economy than most of its rivals.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

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