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EV chargepoints step up to the accessibility challenge

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THE UK’s rapid shift towards EVs means we often hear from entrepreneurs, the energy establishment and investors, with business goals underpinned by the seemingly genuine desire to make ‘Planet A’ work better

EV charging infrastructure is a case in point, where innovation and investment are often inspired by forward thinkers on a mission to change the world

The industry’s progressive instincts have, until now, sat uncomfortably with the reality of EV ownership for many Across the past year, Auto Express has campaigned on the difficulties faced by less able drivers when confronted with weighty and unwieldy charging cables, and challenged public chargepoint providers and government to address the issue Providers pushed back

Guidance might have emerged in April’s draft of the British Standards Institute’s PAS 1899 for Accessible Public EV Chargers Instead, the draft kicked the issue of unmanageable cables into the long grass of ‘future consideration’, proposing a tick box solution for chargepoint providers that would leave less able drivers barely better off It looked like a classic industry stitch up

But the prospect of inaccessible EV chargers gaining government sponsored, BSI approved, ‘accessible’ status wasn’t good enough for disabled drivers, or us. We campaigned for a rethink and our efforts have been vindicated: the final version of PAS 1899, revealed last week, not only provides limits for acceptable forces required to manipulate cables, but goes further It states that chargepoint providers wishing to meet the UK’s new standard must provide additional assistance for less able users if the weight of the charging cable exceeds the limit In other words, someone to help you plug in

This makes PAS 1899 a new gold standard for accessibility, and is a credit to all concerned, especially those companies and individuals on the industry steering group who have confirmed their progressive credentials. We’re also delighted that our campaign was listened to

CHRIS ROSAMOND Special contributor

TOPSTORY

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SeanCarson sean carson@autoviacouk

FOLLOWING the rebirth of the Renault 5 hatchback in concept form, the French manufacturer has reinvented yet another icon from its back catalogue in the shape of the Renault 4Ever Trophy concept car, revealed at the Paris Motor Show

A concept for now the 4Ever directly previews a future production car from Renault A reborn 4 will go on sale in 2025 as a compact family SUV with an all electric powertrain, and it will feature many design cues from this striking looking prototype.

According to Laura Gregoire, product leader on the 4Ever project, the silver coloured parts of the body are very close to the production ready Renault 4’s look, even if the black recycled plastic parts that give this 4Ever Trophy concept its rugged look are less likely to make it on the road going version

It’s thought there will be some cladding for the newcomer’s wheelarches and bumpers, but expect it to be toned down significantly, with the R4’s production body set to be narrower than this machine’s.

Trophy

Renault chose to launch this concept in ‘Trophy’ form to honour the original Renault 4 and the off road prepared models that competed in the 4L Trophy It’s the 25th anniversary of the rally this year, an event that sees entrants endure testing conditions and roads to bring aid and much needed supplies to less privileged parts of the world

There are obvious design cues that reference the original Renault 4, updating the look for today. The gently rounded tops of the car’s front wings, the clever step down in the roofline towards the C pillars, the trapezoidal rear quarterlight windows (picked out with a contrasting outline for the concept), the lozenge like tail lights and the raked forward tailgate all pay homage to the new car’s ancestor But Renault has modernised the design with matrix LED lights and an illuminated Renault logo on the electric vehicle’s blanked off front grille

According to Renault Design Vice President Gilles Vidal: “To bring the 4Ever Trophy into the modern era, we have infused its streamlined shape with technological sophistication All these ingredients have been carefully crafted, with a view for modernity and sophistication, so the design resonates with those who are already familiar with the 4L, as it will with younger generations who may not know anything of the car’s illustrious history ”

Don’t expect the big bonnet spars, grab handles and vent to make it into production, however. And while this concept doesn’t have a functioning boot, a top hinged hatch like the original Renault 4’s with shut lines flowing down from the roof to the tail lights, and around their outsides down to the bumper will materialise as the concept

morphs from motor show headline grabber to dealer forecourt reality.

There’s no interior for this concept yet, but Auto Express did ask Renault’s execs about the potential to reference the original 4’s iconic umbrella gearlever that protruded from the dashboard Given that there’s no need for a gearstick in this automatic EV, how Renault might interpret this design cue for the modern era remains to be seen, but it seems the brand is considering its options and officials refused to rule out the prospect of this feature making production

The 4Ever Trophy is based on the Renault Nissan Alliance’s CMF BEV platform for compact electric vehicles, but it shares many common parts with the regular CMF B architecture that’s used for combustion engined cars to help keep down costs.

The concept is powered by a 42kWh battery that feeds a 138bhp motor mounted on the front axle Renault hasn’t released a weight figure or any performance data for this show car because it doesn’t physically move yet, but the brand has outlined that the 4Ever Trophy is 4,060mm long and features a 2,570mm wheelbase.

By comparison, the reborn Renault 5 which is based on the same CMF BEV platform is 3,920mm long, giving some idea of how the production spec 4 will morph into a fully fledged compact SUV

It was confirmed to Auto Express that the CMF BEV platform and therefore the future

OFFICIAL

4Ever Trophy offers

OFFICIAL Renault tur

onic classic into modern com

● Renault 4 to be rebooted as small family-friendly all-electric SUV

● Chunky-looking show car marks 4L Trophy rally’s 25th birthday

peek at new R4

mpact SUV concept, directly previewing production car due in 2025

Renault 4 can’t accept the super slim battery from its larger sibling, the Megane E Tech Electric. That car is based on the larger, pricier CMF EV architecture

Heavy use of recycled materials will be used on the final car to boost sustainability But despite these cost cutting measures to try and keep the eventual production spec Renault 4 relatively affordable, retaining a spiritual link with its predecessor, the firm is remaining tight lipped on a potential starting price Given that the production car’s launch date is still three years away and market uncertainty is still very much a prevalent phenomenon, Renault is not predicting how much its small SUV might cost.

However, on the subject of price, Gregoire did tell us that Renault “wanted to keep the DNA and the social freedom of the original” Looking at rivals such as the Peugeot e 2008, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV and Vauxhall Mokka Electric, a potential starting price of between £30,000 and £35,000 for the new 4 seems likely.

TEASE

Jacked up show car’s looks will be toned down for production model, but the silver parts are close to what will feature on the new R4

Q&A

4Ever project leader

LAURA Gregoire was at the sharp end of the 4Ever’s design and development. We quizzed her on the challenges of bringing such funky design to market.

Q How do you reinvent a car like the 4 for the modern era without it being a total pastiche of the original?

A We wanted to keep that iconic silhouette and the DNA of the original 4 However, it’s easier to modernise a hatchback like the 5, which we showed at the start of the Renaulution; the 4’s shape and volumes are more difficult to reimagine with what we need for today, but with these cars we achieved it twice!

Q Who will the new Renault 4 production car be aimed at?

A We want the 4 to be more versatile The 5 has been designed for mostly urban usage; the 4 is for families, holidays, everything you can throw at it We want it to be the same as the original model Whether this means it will be bigger than the 5 in terms of sales volume, let’s wait and see.

QA hot Alpine version of the forthcoming Renault 5 EV has been confirmed. Can we expect an Alpine tuned Renault 4 model in the future?

A It’s not in the plan, but we are always evaluating, so let’s see We’ll see if there’s demand

QThe original Renault 4 is a French icon; will this car represent the same in the modern era?

A Sure, it will We want ‘Made in France’ to be a big attribute of this car and it will be built at Renault’s ElectriCity plant It’s a massive part of the strategy to reconnect the brand and its roots with the country

QUALITY

Spectre starts electric futur

Coupé it’s a precursor to the whole Rolls Royce range being electrified by 2030

AN electric car has been a long time coming for Rolls Royce Back in 1900 the company’s co founder, Charles Rolls, bought himself an electric vehicle and said, “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean There is no smell or vibration They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged.”

Charging points may be out of Rolls Royce’s control, but the Spectre arrives with the aim to be the pinnacle of electric motoring thanks to, the company claims, the most exhaustive testing procedure of any car it’s ever launched the equivalent of 400 years’ use for a Rolls Royce Although the Spectre is a coupé in effect, a replacement for the Phantom

We’d expect future models to follow the evolutionary design language that the Spectre introduces, too A Rolls Royce wouldn’t be a Rolls Royce without the distinctive Pantheon grille wider and sleeker than ever before and illuminated at night Even the Spirit of Ecstasy has been honed to be as aerodynamic as possible, helping towards an impressive drag coefficient of just 0 25Cd

The slimmest of LED running lights sit above darkened panels that hide the main headlights, while the long, sloping profile of the Spectre is pure Rolls Royce with, of course, rear hinged doors and, for the first time, 23 inch wheels

At the back, the tapering tail features elegant LED lights set as far apart as

Steve Fowler

Steve Fowler@autoviacouk @stevefowler

The finest materials feature inside, while the clever lighting system can mimic your choice of interior colour scheme, too

Riding shotgun in the all-new electric Spectre

re forRolls-Royce

possible, with the top of the boot lid merging seamlessly into the rear window.

Behind those huge doors, the interior is pure Rolls Royce, but updated with clever use of the latest lighting technology across the dash, doors and, of course, the roof.

And the very latest tech is on board, too, with a completely new digital architecture named SPIRIT that controls everything from the electric powertrain to the car’s remote app, which is called Whispers.

Underneath, the Spectre sits on the latest version of Rolls Royce’s four wheel drive Architecture of Luxury, which caters for electric power as well as internal combustion engines in the existing product line up The battery is integrated into the all aluminium chassis and is claimed to play a role in keeping the sound down inside the car not that a Rolls

Royce is ever noisy The company’s all independent Planar suspension system is again fitted to the Spectre hooked into the SPIRIT control system promising a magic carpet ride, while four wheel steering means a tight turning circle of just 12.7 metres.

Many of the car’s specs have yet to be confirmed, but the powertrain provides 576bhp and 900Nm of torque, with the 0 60mph time likely to be just 4.4 seconds.

There’s no word yet on battery size, either, but with an expected range of 320 miles and efficiency of 2 9 miles/kWh, that would mean a battery of around 100kWh.

First deliveries of the new car built at the home of Rolls Royce in Goodwood are expected to be a year away, at the end of 2023. As far as cost is concerned, your Rolls Royce dealer will be able to tell you as you design your new Spectre All we can say for now is that it sits somewhere between Cullinan and Phantom so we’d estimate it to be in the mid £300,000s.

THE overriding impression from our spin in a Spectre prototype at BMW’s Miramas test facility in France and on twisty country roads nearby is that even by the standards of previous Rolls Royces, the Spectre is an astonishingly refined creation.

The test mule chosen for our experience was one of the ‘durability cars’ so a car that had racked up plenty of hard miles And yet even as a prototype, it seemed to possess a remarkable mix of EV shove (we’re not surprised to see the final torque figure is a whopping 900Nm) and whisper quiet noise suppression.

Indeed, Rolls’s engineers admitted to us at Miramas that at some point during development, the decision had to be taken to feed noise back into the system using small air channels in significant areas of the chassis and battery mounts to help ensure that the car’s occupants still have some sense of speed Without this, we’re told, the experience could have been quite unnerving and we can believe it.

“The grille is wider and sleeker than before, and even the Spirit of Ecstasy is more aerodynamic”

“Even by the standards of previous Rolls-Royces, the Spectre is an astonishingly refined creation”

RESTRAINT Minimalist digital dash display boasts a traditional look with the familiar Power Reserve gauge looking at home in an EV

SPIRITED All-new digital architecture means

tech is blended with timeless style

features that owners expect

Polestar 3 reveals its upm

●

revealed

YousufAshraf Yousuf Ashraf@autoviacouk @ashrafoncars

THE high end electric SUV market is contested by the likes of the BMW iX and Audi e tron, and now the Polestar 3 has joined the ranks. It heralds the firm’s next generation of models, and features a new EV platform, plus revised interior tech It’s on sale now, with prices from £79,900

Under the skin, the Polestar 3 shares Its SPA2 platform with the upcoming Volvo EX90, although the Polestar has a slightly smaller footprint than a BMW iX There are dual electric motors for a total of 482bhp and 840Nm, while Polestar is targeting a 0 62mph sprint time of five seconds The Performance Pack increases the output to 510bhp and 910Nm for an extra £5,600, and cuts the 0 62mph time to 4 7 seconds

Both models top out at 130mph, and come equipped with a 107kWh battery Polestar claims that up to 379 miles of range is possible, although this is subject to final testing The battery can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, thanks to 250kW charging capability, and there’s bi directional charging to feed power back to the grid

The 3’s exterior design is recognisably Polestar, but the firm has taken inspiration from its Precept concept to refine the SUV’s

styling. The evolutionary theme continues inside the cabin, where the new SUV uses a development of the Android Automotive infotainment system from the Polestar 2 It’s controlled via a 14.5 inch portrait touchscreen in the centre of the dash.

With a 484 litre boot, the Polestar trails the BMW iX’s capacity by 16 litres, but there is also a 32 litre front storage area

A nine inch instrument panel sits behind the steering wheel, and the cabin is finished using a blend of sustainable materials that include MicroTech fabrics, fully traceable wool and animal welfare certified leather.

Driver assistance tech includes a radar system that can scan for children or pets inside the car and adjust the climate settings accordingly, and an eye monitoring camera to detect driver fatigue

In total, there are five radar modules, five external cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors for the 3’s safety systems. These can be expanded with the optional Pilot Pack with Lidar, which is set to be available towards the end of 2023 It includes three extra cameras and four more ultrasonic sensors to scan the environment in real time and support the possibility of autonomous driving in the future First deliveries of the Polestar 3 are expected in late 2023.

OFFICIAL

New Chinese SUV earns five-star safety score

BYD has become the latest Chinese brand to notch up a maximum five star rating in Euro NCAP’s most recent round of crash test safety scores

The firm’s Atto 3 small electric SUV reviewed in Issue 1,744 and due on sale in the UK before the end of this year was described as “performing well” in the test (pictured), and secured five stars through its standard suite of driver assistance systems. Its rating comes barely a month after another Chinese engineered vehicle, the Ora Funky Cat, scored five stars, marking a major shift in NCAP fortunes for vehicles from the country.

Other five star cars in the most recent evaluation included revised versions of the SEAT Ibiza and Arona, the BMW X1 and 2 Series Active Tourer, Mercedes’ latest EQE

and the all new Mazda CX 60. Volkswagen also secured five stars for the updated Golf Mk8, thanks to the addition of a centre airbag, lap pretensioners, junction assist and a fatigue detection system.

Citroen’s C5 X, meanwhile, was awarded four stars Also built in China, the swoopy hatchback missed out on the maximum score because of the “omission of equipment or marginal performance in some of the active safety tests,” according to Euro NCAP.

“There are five radar modules, five cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors for the 3’s safety systems”

“The Atto secured five stars through its standard suite of driver-assistance tech”

PREMIUM Newcomer takes on BMW iX and Audi e-tron in highend electric SUV class

market aspirations

Next BMW X2 coupéSUV set for 2023 launch

SPIED

Repeat offenders face increased risk of bans

SERIAL motoring offenders are less likely to escape long driving bans, thanks to a review by the Sentencing Council, which called out some magistrates as “dangerously lenient”.

A consultation closing in November is looking at ways to close loopholes for persistent offenders, which could come into effect next April Meanwhile, the Sentencing Council says a change to the wording of current guidance to magistrates should clear up any confusion as to whether only a single previous offence or a full driving history should be taken into account when sentencing those who have totted up 12 points

When only a single previous offence such as three points for speeding has been considered, it has led to “discretionary disqualification of fewer than 56 days”, the Sentencing Council says, when a total of 12 or more points should lead to an automatic ban of six months for “first offenders”.

Those who tot up 12 points a second or third time should face bans of one to two years, the official guidelines state.

news inbrief

THE new generation of BMW X2 has been spied for the first time as it undergoes testing before an expected debut next year.

The prototype’s disguise can’t hide a look that clearly shares a number of fixed points with the recently introduced X1 Mk3. But a swoopier roofline from around the B pillars shows that the X2 will retain its focus on style over outright practicality

The current X1 is offered with two petrol engine options, two diesels and two plug in hybrids. These are all likely to make it to the X2, and the all electric powertrain from the iX1 is all but certain to be in the pipeline, too That car’s dual motor configuration could be retained, but by the time the X2 arrives there may also be the option of a more modest set up with a single motor driving the front wheels

More range and new kit for smallest Lexus

LEXUS is giving its UX 300e (above) a huge battery and range boost as part of its 2023 facelift The battery is being increased from 54kWh to 72kWh, a move which, Lexus claims, will extend its range from 196 miles to 280 miles.

The 201bhp electric motor remains unchanged, but cabin updates include the removal of the controversial touchpad infotainment controller in favour of an upgraded touchscreen system with a choice of eight inch or 12.3 inch displays.

Jogger hybrid will be first electrified Dacia

DACIA has confirmed plans to launch a hybrid version of its Jogger seven seater early next year, with first deliveries by the spring. The first electrified model from the Renault owned value brand will use the same 138bhp, non plug in set up as seen in the Clio and Captur It mixes a 1.6 litre engine with a pair of electric motors, a small battery and a clutchless gearbox No efficiency figures have been released so far, but the Clio hybrid returns CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

New 408 to launch with special edition

PEUGEOT will launch its 408 ‘coupé crossover’ (below) with a limited run First Edition model.

Next 7 Series ready for the gaming generation

BMW is introducing new tech that will allow owners of the new 7 Series to play games on its vast, curved infotainment display from next year.

The feature, developed in conjunction with gaming platform AirConsole, will include single and multiplayer offerings Players will control the software via their smartphone, and the games can be delivered to the vehicle via over the air updates. They can only be played when the vehicle is parked.

The exclusive trim level will be based on GT spec and will include 20 inch alloy wheels, a faster 7.4kW on board charger, a driver and passenger seat pack and installation of a home wallbox Just 50 examples will be sold in the UK, each priced from £43,250.

A u t o m e d i a

“The Polestar 3’s exterior design has taken inspiration from the Precept concept“

U STA I N A B L E

E R F O R M A N C E

EXCLUSIVE IMAGE

STEFANIE WURST Head of MINI

MINI Convertible ‘coming home’

Steve Fowler

Steve Fowler@autoviacouk @stevefowler

NEW MINI boss Stefanie Wurst has confirmed that a Convertible model will join the all new MINI Cooper range due to launch in 2024 and that it will be ‘coming home’ with production in the UK at the MINI Oxford factory

Petrol and electric versions of the new hatch set to be called MINI Cooper have already been confirmed, and now MINI has said a Convertible will join the line up Our exclusive image shows how it could look

Only petrol MINI Coopers will be built in Oxford, in three door, five door and

Convertible forms An all electric Cooper will be built in China with identical looks and dimensions to the UK built models, but sitting on its own platform developed in conjunction with Chinese car maker Great Wall

Only a three door version of the all electric MINI Cooper will be made, with the new MINI Aceman crossover previewed by July’s Aceman concept taking care of electric five door duties

The current MINI Convertible is made in the Netherlands, but production there will end with the arrival of the new model. MINI

Electric Avenger ready for off-road action

JEEP has used the Paris Motor Show to preview a more extreme version of its new Avenger baby SUV, with the 4x4 Concept

The new model is based on an evolution of the e CMP platform that also underpins front drive SUVs, like the Vauxhall Mokka e, from fellow brands in the Stellantis group But revisions to the architecture have allowed it to now accept four wheel drive.

The 4x4 Concept has a wider track and stretched wheelarches, which help to accommodate chunky all terrain tyres, and the approach, breakover and departure angles have been improved compared with those of the regular Avenger, at 21 degrees, 20 degrees and 34 degrees respectively

Other tweaks include a lightweight cargo system that uses belts to fix loads to the roof, spotlights in the front bumper, and

a bonnet sticker designed to prevent reflection through the windscreen.

Jeep has confirmed that the Avenger “will be added to the range of 4xe models coming in the future”, but it won’t give details on whether a combustion engine will be involved Auto Express understands that the show car is entirely electric, however

The firm has also confirmed more details on the regular Avenger, which goes on sale at the end of this year The all electric model will feature a 154bhp front mounted motor and a 51kWh battery, taking the 4.1 metre long, 1,541kg model up to 249 miles on a single charge.

All versions will get a heat pump and three phase AC and 100kW DC charging, as well as featuring a 10.25 inch infotainment system and a digital instrument panel.

Oxford will then focus solely on internal combustion engined MINI Coopers for the rest of this decade, meaning it will stop making the existing electric MINI, which currently accounts for one in two cars built at the plant Electric production is expected to return to Oxford either later this decade or in the early 2030s.

Wurst also confirmed bold expansion plans for MINI, including new petrol and electric Countryman models, bigger than the current car and set to be built in BMW’s plant in Leipzig. On her trip to the UK, Wurst

OFFICIAL

not only visited MINI Oxford to reassure workers that the UK was still the heart of MINI production, she also met with UK designer and MINI fan Paul Smith

She confirmed that there would be a stronger collaboration with the Paul Smith brand, with a unique trim level likely rather than previous special editions

Hot John Cooper Works models are also very much part of her plans, with JCW versions of electric and petrol MINI Coopers all likely to be launched in due course

The new MINI Cooper line up, due on sale in 2024, is likely to start with entry level E models, moving up to SE, SE by Paul Smith and then range topping JCW cars.

● New British-built soft-top MINI Cooper gets petrol power ● Hot JCW petrol and electric MINIs also part of future plans

MAKEOVER Jeep has given the new Avenger SUV a rugged look, while four wheel drive boosts its off road credentials

BRITISH BUILT

New Convertible will join petrol powered three and five door Coopers built at the MINI’s Oxford plant

“MINI Oxford is hugely important to us – it’s the heart of MINI, so it’s great the new MINI Convertible is finally coming home”

Chargepointaccessibility

New accessibility standards aim to open up public EV charging

● Guidelines from British Standards Institute are designed to improve access for less able EV drivers

Chris Rosamond mail@autoexpresscouk

THE long awaited PAS 1899 Accessibility Standard for public electric car chargers has been launched by the British Standards Institute, and it’s been significantly upgraded from the draft consultation published in April, which Auto Express criticised heavily

As well as meeting our demands for limits to the maximum weight that users can be expected to grapple with when using public EV charging cables, the new PAS 1899 also stipulates that public chargepoint operators with cables exceeding the limits must offer “additional assistance” to less able users.

This puts the onus on chargepoint operators to ensure they don’t discriminate against less able drivers who can’t use heavy cables by routinely providing staff to assist with plugging in The maximum cable weight has been set at approximately 6kg (in more technical terms, the standard stipulates a maximum linear force in hand limit of 60 Newtons), which immediately excludes many high powered rapid chargers and certainly all those above 200kW found at the most advanced charging hubs and service stations

While compliance with PAS 1899 is not mandated by UK law, the fact that a ‘best practice’ standard has been agreed between the BSI and an industry steering group means public EV chargepoint providers who fail to comply will find it harder to defend legal actions brought on disability discrimination grounds. This should provide reassurance for the legions of less able UK motorists who want to engage with new EV technology, but PAS 1899 also gives the UK a globally leading framework for investment in an accessible public EV infrastructure

“We cannot be 100 per cent sure there is no other standard published

or in development on the topic, but we are confident that PAS 1899 is a world leading standard,” a BSI source told Auto Express

The new standards for heavier charging cables are based on a piece of recent research with disabled people carried out by Designability “This is an under researched area where further evidence has been welcomed,” the BSI told us.

“Motability continued research into the impact of cable weights on chargepoint usability during the review period and fed this into the standard,” the BSI added. “We recognise that this is an area where more information is required and we commit to reviewing and, if appropriate, updating the standard as necessary ”

PAS 1899 has been co sponsored by Motability and the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles “This standard will aid providers in developing new infrastructure at a pace which is fit for the future,” said Barry Le Grys MBE, Chief Executive Officer at Motability “Going forward, we are keen to explore ways to ensure compliance with the new standard,

Alpine plans to bask in the glow of an all-electric future

ALPINE has issued a calling card for its all electric future with this dramatic concept, called Alpenglow, at the Paris Motor Show.

The new creation which has the look of a Le Mans sports prototype is described as “the starting point for all future Alpine designs, technologies and breakthroughs”. What that means is that elements like some

of the surfacing, the headlights and tail lights, and even the colour could expand across the new Alpine range.

The concept, which is over five metres long and two metres wide but only a metre high, is a single seater and features two fuel tanks as part of a hybrid hydrogen combustion engined powertrain.

OFFICIAL

EQUAL ACCESS FORALL

so that electric vehicle charging can be truly accessible for all.”

Scott Steedman, director general, Standards at BSI, said: “No one should be left behind as we transition towards a net zero economy, and by ensuring that as many people as possible can use electric vehicles, we increase the UK’s chances of reaching ambitious net zero goals, as well as ensuring that the transition is just and inclusive.”

STYLING Alpine says the concept’s light treatment with a red stripe across the nose and LED elements at either side will inspire the brand’s future models

LIMITED Our campaign helped to have a maximum force-in-hand included in the new standard

CAMPAIGN We have been calling for a better standard over past year

“We are keen to explore ways to ensure compliance with the standard, so that electric vehicle charging can be truly accessible for all”

BARRY LE GRYS MBE CEO, Motability

Merc unveils new electric

OFFICIAL

Richard Ingram Richard Ingram@autoviacouk @rsp ingram

WE’VE only just driven the Mercedes EQS SUV, but already the manufacturer is trotting out its next electric family car. The EQE SUV is in effect a shrunken version of that flagship model, and it will be offered with a choice of zero emission powertrains, plus as an AMG range topper Mercedes has yet to reveal battery and trim specifications for the EQE SUV, but we expect the new range to mirror that of the existing EQE saloon That is likely to mean just one standard version the EQE 300 with a 90kWh battery AMG model aside, the saloon is only offered with a single motor, but the SUV will get 4MATIC all wheel drive

Visually, there’s little to distinguish the EQE from the equivalent EQS; with five seats instead of seven, the EQE is 4,863mm long and 1,940mm wide It’s 262mm shorter than the EQS, but the wheelbase is reduced by just 180mm Space inside is generous At the front, the EQE SUV gets a similar lighting treatment, with a full width lightbar

and LED headlamps The basic signature matches that first seen on the EQE saloon, with two triangular elements instead of the EQS’s three The blanked off grille and big Mercedes badge complete the face

The EQE SUV will be offered with a choice of alloy wheel designs ranging from 19 to 22 inches, plus options like silver side steps, which we’re told improve aerodynamics

Boot space stands at 520 litres 20 litres more than a BMW iX with the EQE’s rear seats splitting 40:20:40 Fold them down and the SUV boasts a 1,675 litre load area

Inside, the EQE lifts its optional Hyperscreen dashboard layout from the EQS unchanged The 56 inch curved screen comprises three displays, plus Dolby Atmos integration for cinema like surround sound

Exact specs haven’t been confirmed, but the EQE SUV will match the saloon’s 170kW rapid charge speeds, resulting in a 10 80 per cent top up in 32 minutes Range is said to be in excess of 342 miles.

The AMG EQE 53 is the sub brand’s first all electric SUV and will boast 617bhp and 950Nm of torque, plus air suspension and

EQE will be AMG’s first electric SUV (above), sitting alongside standard car (right), which boasts 342 mile range

AMG brakes Owners will be able to spec an optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package, boosting power to 678bhp with 1,000Nm of torque for a 0 62mph time of 3.5 seconds. A range in the region of 260 miles is likely

We expect the EQE SUV to cost from around £90,000, with the AMG version commanding a premium of roughly £40k. Official prices and UK specifications will be confirmed closer to the car’s European launch, which is set for May 2023

MERCEDES is in the midst of giving its SUV range a refresh, and next up is the BMW X5 rivalling GLE We’ve caught it testing once again and on this latest test car we can see the new front bumper, which incorporates the same blade like design seen on the new C Class The slatted radiator grille and LED headlights have also been redesigned, but

changes at the rear aren’t as obvious. The only major update is a new set of lights

Inside, we expect minor trim tweaks and a new steering wheel, plus the latest MBUX infotainment software. The engine line up is unlikely to change. It’s the first time we’ve seen the Coupé with the regular GLE. Both are likely to arrive in 2023.

HYPERSCREEN

Three screen layout (above) is lifted directly from EQS

Inbox Your views

Contact Tristan Shale-Hester

HOT TOPIC Electric R8 successor

FROM: Mike McKeown I THINK this looks absolutely fantastic. The arrival of more exciting performance focused electric cars is undoubtedly a good thing I expect this will be faster than the old ICE versions of the R8, even if it doesn’t sound as nice

Increased power for limitededition Audi RS 3 hot hatch

THIS is the new Audi RS 3 performance edition an even quicker version of the brand’s Mercedes AMG A 45 S rival. Only 300 units will be built, but we’re told none will make it to the UK

The performance edition keeps the normal RS 3’s 2.5 litre, five cylinder engine, but boosted from 395bhp to 401bhp The power comes slightly later in the rev range, while the torque (still 500Nm) is set across a wider band.

The 0 62mph time remains at 3 8 seconds, but top speed rises to 184mph. As before, power goes through a seven speed dual clutch

transmission to all four wheels The exhaust gets a modified silencer and an adapted flap for more noise.

Alongside the powertrain tweaks, Audi has sharpened the chassis The car gets RS Sport Suspension with adaptive damping, and keeps the regular RS 3’s RS Torque Splitter to increase stability Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres are fitted as standard on the performance edition. Visual tweaks include exclusive 19 inch wheels, black badges and bucket seats

The limited edition car costs from 75,000 Euros (around £65,000), with deliveries starting in early 2023.

“I’m not an EV hater, but I’m not sure we have the raw materials for all these electric cars ” Grant Rossouw

FROM: Grant Collins EVERYTHING is going to be electric. The age of interesting, unusual, unique, quirky cars is over They will all be the same apart from number of seats, trim level and colours. They will be about as individual as your smartphone or TV

Audi’s electric supercar has its fans, but current R8’s V10 will be missed

■ “For me, the point of buying an R8 would have been the V10 engine noise ” Thomas Heald

“I see the need to move from ICE to electric, but don’t call it an R8 it’s not ” David Pierce

Posh Bentley shows change in markets More cops needed to boost road safety

FROM: Faisal Rafique THE Bentley Bentayga EWB (Issue 1,748) is certainly no ordinary SUV, with engine and performance figures of sports car proportions. It’s a testament to the exponentially growing popularity of SUVs that Bentley’s flagship model isn’t a saloon or GT car

New Maserati is the best of both worlds

FROM: Ben S WOW, the new Maserati GranTurismo (Issue 1,749) looks absolutely stunning! I like the fact that Maserati is offering a choice between a V6 motor and then an electric set up when the Folgore arrives I can see advantages to both versions I don’t know which one I would choose

FROM: Damian Peters WORRYING to read about the lack of progress in reducing road deaths in the UK (Issue 1,749) I would be very interested to learn what’s behind this. Could it be that more proactive road policing instead of just using cameras would have a positive effect on this?

Now more than ever used beats new

FROM: Steven Lane NEW car price hikes (Issue 1,749) are bad news for buyers I don’t know how so many people can contemplate buying a brand new car, even on finance. I would only ever look at used models you can get so much more for your money, albeit not so much right now

Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk

INSIDESTORY

Tackling the motoring issues tha

LOUIS: WHY I LOVE TO RACE

“The adrenalin rush you get from driving around the track on the limit is definitely something and I don’t think there are many better feelings than doing that. But also I am quite a competitive person, and just I guess the level of competition; battling other people out on track and having a good race.”

LOUIS THE FIRST

FAMILY TIES

Proud dad Jason and his son Louis celebrate one of his two race wins in this year’s British Formula 4 Championship The teenager was no stranger to the podium, though, having finished in the top three on 12 occasions on his way to fourth place in the series

TALENT spotting in the sports industry is both difficult and lucrative, but here’s a tip: Louis Sharp is destined for the very top Louis, a 15 year old British born New Zealander, has just finished his first season in British Formula 4, coming fourth in the championship and winning two races in the process.

Impressive, but not on the face of it that remarkable That’s until you realise that Louis is the youngest racer on the grid, and missed the first three races because he hadn’t yet turned 15 so wasn’t allowed to race. For the same reason he hadn’t done any testing in his F4 car, this season is the first time he had seen any of the tracks he’s been racing on, and as well as those two wins he’s achieved 12 podium finishes. In that context, the motorsport world has every reason to be very excited about Louis Sharp

A hugely important part of Team Sharp is Louis’s dad Jason and we caught up with the two of them at the Thruxton Circuit for a chat about Louis’s journey so far, what the future holds and to go for a spin with Louis at the wheel of an Abarth 595 around the famously fast circuit

The two of them committed to British Formula 4 by spending six months of the year living with Jason’s sister in the UK, 11,000 miles away from home where Jason’s wife Michelle and daughter Isabella (Louis’s mum and sister) still are Meanwhile, Jason has even given up his job in the technology industry to support Louis.

Jason actually has sporting pedigree himself he was a semi professional rugby player who played for Kilmarnock in Scotland Rugby was Louis’s first love, too “I think we always got into motorsport by accident, to be fair,” Louis tells us. “I first started playing rugby and that was probably, for a year or so, my main sport ”

“That was my dream He was going to be an All Black,” says Jason, referring to the New Zealand national team

Although Louis can often be seen in the paddock at races being warmed up for the race by his dad with a rugby ball in his hands, motor racing soon took hold, as he explains

“One day, we were heading home from a rugby game, and we drove past the local go kart track in Christchurch. We stopped and had a look and we thought it looked pretty cool So we went in, we got talking to one of the club members and they said, ‘If you want to have a go, you can come back next week and we’ll have a kart ready for you’.

“So we went back, got in the kart, and I think since then, I just immediately fell in love with it I still really loved rugby, but I think at that point motorsport took over a little bit ”

So what is it about racing cars that got Louis so excited? “I think the speed, especially the adrenalin rush you get from driving around the track on the limit and I don’t think there are many better feelings than doing that,” he says

“But also I guess the competitiveness, because I am quite a competitive person, and just I guess the level of competition; battling other people out on track and having a good race There’s nothing better than it in any other sport ”

Jason has been supporting his son’s racing ambitions at every step of the way and the two have a refreshing

approach to the sport, whether that comes down to the racing itself or even things like sponsorship and what the future holds for Louis

‘We’re not a motorsport family, so we’re a bit naive with the whole motorsport thing,” Jason admits “We had a totally different approach to it than the others, and we went about it saying let’s just have fun, let’s just really enjoy the sport it is.

“Then suddenly he was winning and smashing all these New Zealand records, and people in the know were saying, ‘There’s probably something quite special here’. But we didn’t change the way we went about it. We were just having fun,” Jason adds

Whatever they were doing was certainly working and Louis was winning and getting attention The next step was going to Australia to race, with more success.

“When Louis was eight, he went to Aussie after winning a New Zealand championship,” says Jason “He was in the under 12s over there and went to a track that we’d never been to before, and he put it on pole, first weekend. And that cemented our thoughts that, crikey, maybe

We meet up with up-andcoming racer Louis Sharp and his dad Jason to see where a future Formula One star starts his career

“We went about it saying let’s just have fun, let’s just really enjoy the sport that it is”

JASON SHARP Dad of teenage racer Louis

Steve Fowler Steve Fowler@autoviacouk @stevefowler

INSIDESTORY

Real-lifeboyracer

there is something here, so we probably do need to start thinking about what that means It escalated from there Before we knew it, he was in Europe racing and that went really well, and again, people in the know were saying, ‘There’s something here we should probably nurture’. So that’s when I kind of gave up on the rugby!”

Motorsport is expensive and sponsorship plays an important role, so it was something Louis and Jason had to embrace. To fund their first trip to Australia they put on a barbecue at a local supermarket to raise some cash, where they were spotted by a local businessman with a truck crane business who offered support That expanded with the help of Stadium Finance before Louis took the step up into open wheel cars, including Formula First and Formula Ford, where the wins kept coming

It was while at a race at Louis’s local track that his first introduction to his current sponsor, Rodin Cars, came with a demonstration by current Formula Two driver and fellow New Zealander Liam Lawson in the Rodin FZ After an introduction to David Dicker, boss of Rodin, Louis was invited to Rodin HQ in New Zealand for a go in the firm’s European Formula Three car on its private test track.

“I’ve never driven wings with slicks before; just going straight to an F3 car it was a bit of a step up,” says Louis

“I was a wee bit apprehensive,” admits Jason, “But I was assured that Louis would handle it okay. So we went and did that, and that went really well And then David said, ‘Come back next week and we’ll put you in the FZ ’

“That’s when I went, ‘Oh, no I think this is a step too far. This is maybe a bit crazy.’ But I was assured that, no no, he’ll be fine He’ll handle it And he did ”

“Yeah I went from driving a Formula Ford to a 2010 F1 car in about two weeks,” adds Louis

Acceleration

“I dug into it and it blew my mind It was absolutely unbelievable The acceleration was obviously very strong, and when you’re going down a straight flat out about 290 to 300 Ks, it’s pretty ridiculous Then there’s how quickly it brakes You can hit the brake as hard as you can, it slows down so quickly, and there’s so much grip through the corners. It was unbelievable. I’d love to actually go back and drive it again. It’s definitely something I’d love to do.”

Dicker was obviously impressed with what he saw, and the Sharps’ desire and drive to get to Formula One, so he agreed to support them and hopefully make that achievable

“Our plan was never actually to come over here this year,” Jason explains “I think we were always looking to come over and race overseas in probably the next year or the year after But then basically David said, ‘We want to get you to Formula One’. So we sat down, we looked at him, we thought actually, if we did come over to the UK this year and do British F4, it’s probably the best thing to, I guess, get a jump start on making it possible ”

And with Louis’s success in the championship this season, things are certainly heading in the right direction

Watching the relationship between Jason and Louis is a joy the bond they have, and respect for each other, is palpable. So what is Jason’s job now? Coach? Manager?

“Full time dad Professional chaperone That’s it! There we go A bit of fitness coaching, a bit of driver coaching, although Louis probably would suggest otherwise!” he says With the season now over, the Sharps are heading home. “We’ll probably be back over here or in Europe next year again,” says Louis “But I’m looking forward to getting back, because I haven’t seen my mates or I guess my mum or my sister since March.” That also means going back to school, although the school uniform might just be accompanied by a Rodin cap with Louis’s number 11 on it!

So what about next year? Louis has been racing wheel to wheel with (and beating) junior drivers supported by the likes of Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari. And, unsurprisingly, there’s been interest from F1 teams, although the Sharps plan to keep as many options open for as long as possible

“Formula One’s the main goal,” says Louis “But I think in terms of next season, we’ve got a few different options,

we’re trying to see which is best for us ” Racing in Europe on the Formula One tracks is a goal, too, althoug age may count against him again not turning 1 May could mean he will miss a few races again i if he does move up a Formula

And what happens if the dream of reaching F1 doesn’t happen? “I’m fully focused on F1, and o it’s my goal and I’m going to do everything I can it happen,” Louis explains “And if it doesn’t ha then I’ll worry about it at the time ”

There’s no doubt Louis has the talent and min go to the very top in F1, but what’s Jason’s role i “Our role as parents is just to keep him grounde him achieve his ultimate goal,” he says “But we to be good people along the way, and value and appreciate the opportunity, and make the most

That leaves one last question: have the two of you ever raced together? Louis can’t wait to answer: “We have, when I first started go karting I was in the slowest class; he went in the fastest kart you can go in, and he was still slower!”

ABARTH 595 RIDE Louis at the wheel

I’VE been lucky enough to be a passenger alongside plenty of racing drivers, from F1 stars to rally champions. But I’m sitting on the grid of a slightly damp Thruxton circuit, one of the fastest in the UK, alongside 15 year old British Formula 4 race winner Louis Sharp

Our conversation has made it clear that Louis is a massive talent behind the wheel of a single seater race car But an Abarth 595?

Abarth provides the power for Louis’s Carlin prepared F4 car, but has he ever actually driven a road car before? “I think maybe once,” he quips.

Right But what about a car with a manual transmission? “Hmmm, I think so Of course, my race car uses paddles, but I think I’ve moved a manual around a car park,” Louis replies.

I’m naturally a nervous passenger and Louis is doing nothing to calm my nerves, and enjoying every second of it. But within moments of leaving the grid, it’s clear that Louis’s natural talent will see us safely, and quickly, around the circuit

I have to remind myself that I’m sitting next to a 15 year old as he smoothly guides the car around the Hampshire circuit and takes the perfect lines through the corners.

Even the surprise of some cones in the middle of the track adding a makeshift chicane fails to alarm him. “They weren’t there on race day,” he says, as he smoothly flicks the steering wheel from right to left, seamlessly selects another gear and fires us off down another long straight

He’s a great driver and, just as importantly on his road to Formula One, a great guy, too.

“I went from a Formula Ford to a 2010 Formula One car in about two weeks. I dug in and it blew my mind. It was unbelievable”

LOUIS SHARP Racing driver

FULL STRETCH Physical preparation for a race is important for Jason and Louis, who competed in British Formula 4 this year

Renault Austral

AlastairCrooks

Alastair Crooks@autoviacouk @AllieCrooks

RENAULT says it wants to take back the family SUV initiative after ending production of the Kadjar earlier this year. The French firm is hoping the car to achieve this will be the new Austral or the “Australe” if the boot badge is anything to go by The blue “e” on the end is a nod towards the electrification of the powertrain It’s not a fully electric car, though, because the new SUV will only be sold here in the UK as a hybrid: the E TECH Full Hybrid 200 auto.

Underpinning the new Austral is the same third generation CMF C platform used by the latest Nissan Qashqai The base has been designed with electrified power in mind, so the impact on practicality as a result of adding a battery is minimal

Rather than featuring the trick e Power powertrain from the Qashqai, under the

Austral’s bonnet there’s a 1 2 litre three cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a 68bhp electric motor with a 2kWh battery

Renault’s full hybrid system actually produces more power than Nissan’s e Power set up, at 196bhp compared with 187bhp, but torque is only 255Nm rather than the Qashqai e Power’s 330Nm As a result, the Austral is a little slower from 0 62mph, taking 8.4 seconds.

Efficiency is stronger, though, with Renault claiming 61 1mpg for the full hybrid Austral We struggled to match that, but our route involved plenty of motorway driving, which is not really suited to maximising the powertrain’s efficiency

At speeds of up to 62mph, the Austral can run purely on electric power. If you’re a little keen with the throttle, the petrol unit will make itself known with a faint drone, but most of the time the engine is barely audible. Tyre roar is also well suppressed,

FIRSTDRIVE Fresh family SUV shares base with Nissan Qashqai

“Even the tallest passengers won’t want for space in the rear, and boot space is impressive”

Essentials

RenaultAustral E-Tech 200

ONSALE

with the most noticeable noise being wind rush from the pair of large wing mirrors.

There are four driving modes, adjusting the steering weight, engine response and powertrain noise piped into the cabin They don’t seem hugely distinguishable while driving, although the new automatic clutchless multi modal transmission (which can offer 15 separate gear ratio combinations) is best suited to relaxed, smooth progress anyway

Brake regeneration also features, with four settings that can be adjusted using paddles being the wheel. It’s one of the best systems we’ve come across

Our car also featured the optional four wheel steering, and in its most aggressive setting you can definitely feel the system giving you a tighter turning radius at low speed The set up points the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds for stability, and this is matched by relatively well contained body roll.

Inside, the Austral is several steps on from the Kadjar Up front there’s Renault’s new OpenR Google based infotainment, which comprises a 12 inch driver’s display

and a 12 3 inch central screen The set up is intuitive and the main display is clear and responsive, while the optional head up display is informative but not intrusive

The centre console looks like it features a huge gearlever, but it’s actually a pad to rest your arm on Because the screen is portrait in orientation, you do still have to raise your arm to use it, but the physical switches along its base for the climate control system are a nice touch

You’d do well to fill up all the storage bins in the Austral; in fact, there’s plenty of room all around. Even the tallest passengers won’t want for space in the rear and the sliding bench seat means boot capacity can be expanded to an impressive 555 litres. But there’s a lip that unfortunately can’t be avoided, because the boot floor can’t be raised

Renault hasn’t said how much the Austral will cost when it comes to the UK, or indeed when it will come. But it has hinted sales will commence in spring 2023 and with the Nissan Qashqai e Power acting as the obvious rival, we’d expect a similar £38,000 price tag for the Austral.

Verdict

impressive levels

competent enough from behind the wheel, but never exciting to drive. Where Renault has clearly worked hard is with perceived cabin quality and the practicality on offer both areas that could be key in this market. But with so many rivals to choose from, it’s hard to see how pricing and the finance offers won’t be the deciding factor

technology.

Essentials

NEED TO KNOW

FIRSTDRIVE

THIS is the all new Ferrari 296 GTS That ‘S’ stands for Spider, which means what we have here is the open top version of one of the most mind bending supercars we’ve ever driven

That doesn’t guarantee that all will be perfect, though Some performance purists will tell you that open top sports cars will never be as good as a hard top one That cabrios are heavier, and lose their edge But Ferrari says the GTS is the most “fun” model in its line up.

At 1,540kg, the GTS weighs 70kg more than the GTB as a result of extra chassis strengthening Ferrari says it’s almost as rigid as the coupé, though The 296 GTB is the first ever V6 Ferrari (The 1960/70s Dinos aren’t recognised as ‘true’ Ferraris by the factory) Through clever tuning of the exhaust to pick out the engine’s higher pitched harmonics,

ROOF

Alex Ingram Alex Ingram@autoviacouk @AxleIngram

ble version of 296 is a winner

plus internal ducting to improve the acoustics in the cabin, our encounter with the coupé lived up to the “piccolo V12” (little V12) billing the firm gives it

All of that has been re engineered for the Spider, because the roof mechanism gets in the way of the ducting and exhaust.

It still sounds fabulous The 3 0 litre unit doesn’t just sound good by the standards of turbocharged V6 units, but better than any mid engined Ferrari sports car since the naturally aspirated 458 Without a roof, it’s even easier to appreciate the rich howl it emits as it climbs up to its 8,500rpm red line

It really doesn’t take long to get to that spine tingling noise at maximum revs, either The engine alone makes 654bhp, but switch the hybrid settings to Qualifying Mode, and the full boost from the electric motor unlocks the maximum 819bhp.

There was a time when putting 819bhp to the rear wheels seemed like an engineering challenge Where the tyres and suspension geometry would squabble with torque and

traction as some physics fist fight broke out Not with the 296 at least to a point Sure, if you’re feeling mischievous, you can flick it into ESC off, mash the throttle, and it’ll happily lay two black lines on the tarmac as it lights up the rear Pirellis for as long as you hold on to first gear But let the assist systems help you out, and the way it deploys its power is staggering.

Engage launch control, and 0 62mph takes just 2 9 seconds, yet it’s no more difficult to drive quickly than a hot hatch

The electronic systems are key to this. They all chat to each other through Ferrari’s 6w CDS dynamic “brain” Not only can it react to slip, but it can also actively predict when it might happen. It’s so slick that you

don’t even notice it’s there Combined with the chassis itself, the result is staggering

The Spider blends sharpness and poise with uncanny levels of predictability. And comfort, too, for this is a supercar that really rides superbly As a PHEV, there’s a fully electric mode with 164bhp and a 16 mile range. The roof down silence is as pleasing as full bore acceleration is exciting

Are there any downsides at all? Well, the steering wheel and dash are adorned with touch sensitive keys, most of which are irritating to use. The starter button is touch sensitive, too, which removes any sort of theatre you might hope from turning the car on The navigation is about the only part of this car that is slow. But we’re nit picking.

Verdict

ANY concerns that chopping the roof off the 296 might dent its excitement disappear the first time you make the most of that 819bhp output. Indeed, the open top bodystyle adds another dimension to the experience. In terms of speed, sophistication and refinement, the Spider remains an incredible piece of engineering. That it also maintains the theatre and thrills of all the greatest Ferraris sends the 296 GTS right towards the top of the supercar pile

Kia XCeed

FIRSTDRIVE Updated crossover gets a subtle makeover to boost its appeal

ShaneWilkinson Shane Wilkinson@autoviacouk @WilkiWheels

THE XCeed is an important car for Kia. It only accounts for 10 per cent of the brand’s UK sales, but if the results of our Driver Power new car survey are anything to go by it topped the 2022 satisfaction poll then owners are clearly over the moon with it as an ownership proposition

With a steady flow of new Kia models being released this year, such as the latest Niro and Sportage, the XCeed has received a dose of updates to keep it up to scratch with the rest of the range

As part of the facelift, the XCeed’s line up has been simplified; buyers now have the option of 2, 3, GT Line and GT Line S trims

The engine options have been slimmed down, too. UK buyers must choose between a 1 5 T GDi petrol or a 1 6 litre plug in hybrid both of which have been carried over from the pre facelift car Kia believes the petrol engine will be the most popular, so that’s the car we’re focusing on here.

With 158bhp and 253Nm of torque, the petrol powered XCeed’s performance is reasonable but not particularly exciting,

with 0 60mph taking 8 7 seconds The turbocharged four cylinder engine is quite eager to rev, and there’s an adequate amount of power for easy overtaking. The engine is seemingly dependent on this boost, though, because quite a lot of revs are needed to move away from a standstill This results in a loud growl from the engine, which some may find intrusive

As with the previous model, rubber bump stop floats in hydraulic fluid are placed within the front shock absorbers to help keep things comfortable, along with a dynamic damper at the rear crossmember The springs have also been softened compared with the regular Ceed, and the result is a respectably settled ride for a car of this class Smaller bumps can still cause some disruption at lower speeds, though

Turn a corner and it becomes evident that this emphasis on comfort hasn’t come at a great cost in terms of handling, because the XCeed maintains its composure well, as long as you’re sticking to sensible speeds.

On the outside the tweaks are mostly pretty subtle at first glance One of the more noticeable changes is that the front foglights have been relocated

“The XCeed’s emphasis on comfort hasn’t come at a great cost in terms of handling”

into the headlight clusters, making way for a pair of air curtains, which are designed to guide air around the wheels These have been added in order to reduce drag and improve fuel economy

Other changes to the XCeed include a revised grille and front bumper, upgraded LED lights and a new diffuser. The petrol powered 3 and all GT Line and GT Line S models also get 18 inch alloys as standard

The interior of the XCeed is similar to that of the pre facelift model, but some minor improvements have been made A 10 25 inch touchscreen infotainment system is now fitted to all models except the base 2 trim, and this features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Kia Connect, and Kia Live, the latter providing information such as fuel prices and even football scores. The XCeed’s infotainment system isn’t the slickest on the market, but it is straightforward to operate The physical climate controls have also been kept

In light of these upgrades, however, it’s difficult to overlook the fact that the XCeed’s interior feels a little dated when compared with the Niro or Sportage The GT Line S does get a 12 3 inch digital instrument cluster which feels more modern, but all other models continue to use analogue dials

The XCeed’s crossover styling means headroom is a little compromised for taller passengers in the back, but there’s lots of

legroom Large C pillars also mean that rear blindspots impede otherwise good all round visibility Boot capacity is 426 litres, rising to 1,378 litres with the rear seats folded.

Prices starts from £23,345 for the base 2 trim For an extra £1,500 you can move up to the 3, which adds the 10 25 inch touchscreen, rain sensing wipers, heated front seats and steering wheel, an electronic parking brake and 18 inch alloys

The GT Line S that we tested costs £30,345, which may seem steep for a smaller Kia, but this is slightly less than a number of similarly specced rivals such as the Toyota C HR As always, every XCeed includes Kia’s renowned seven year/ 100,000 mile warranty as standard.

Essentials

Kia XCeed

1.5T-GDi GT-Line S Price: £30,345

Engine: 1 5 litre 4cyl turbo petrol Power/torque: 158bhp/253Nm Transmission: Six speed manual, front wheel drive

0 60mph: 8 7 seconds

Top speed: 129mph Economy: 44 8mpg CO2: 143g/km

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INTERIOR Kia hasn’t played around with the XCeed’s cabin; it’s still a well appointed and comfortable place to be. But minor tech details mean it feels more dated than newer Kia models

PRACTICALITY Choose a petrol XCeed and there’s a boot capacity of 426 litres, rising to 1,378 litres with the seats folded down These figures drop to 291 and 1,243 litres in the PHEV version

Verdict

THE XCeed is a firm favourite with Kia customers, and there’s nothing included in this facelift that’s likely to put them off. Improving on such a successful formula has only warranted a light sprinkling of changes, but they haven’t quite managed to stop the XCeed looking a teeny bit dated next to some of the more recent arrivals in what has become very a crowded market

DESIGN Intricate LED tail-lights give the XCeed a fresher look at the rear, while top spec GT-Line S models come with 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels as standard (right)

Matt Robinson Matt Robinson@autoviacouk @matt

IF you want to know how seriously the Lamborghini Urus Performante takes itself, then know this: it comes with the option of shodding its vast 22 inch wheels in Pirelli Trofeo R tyres, super sticky rubber that’s usually the preserve of the most focused of supercars

The tyres are only part of the story The Performante ditches air suspension for steel springs and rides 20mm lower than its lesser sibling, the Urus S Front and rear track widths are up 16mm, and a new, quicker Torsen centre diff sends more torque to the rear more often

The 4 0 litre twin turbo V8 develops 657bhp 16bhp up on the outgoing Urus, but no more than the S. Its 3.3 second 0 62mph time is 0.3 seconds better than the S’s, though, thanks to a 47kg weight drop, but mainly a recalibrated launch control system and eight speed gearbox. Top speed is 190mph.

The standard Urus has always been for better or worse a visual feast, and now there’s more to take in than ever There’s a vented carbon fibre bonnet, a carbon fibre rear wing and new bumpers influenced by the Aventador SVJ The new aero profile increases downforce by 38 per cent over the rear axle

With all the chassis fiddling, we suspect the Urus Performante might feel quite stiff on the road, but we don’t know that for sure just yet Our first drive of the car was limited to Vallelunga circuit near Rome, plus an on site dirt track to sample the new ‘Rally’ mode

On track, the Performante is formidable It’s startling not just in terms of how capable it is its traction is staggering but in how easily you can exploit its limits There’s decent feedback from both the steering and chassis, so you can build confidence in this two tonne SUV surprisingly easily.

It’s in the faster corners where the Urus Performante feels the most impressive Rear wheel steering which turns the back wheels in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds adds to the unflappable

Essentials

Lamborghini Urus Performante

Price: £209,000

Engine: 4 0 litre V8 twin turbo Power/torque: 657bhp/850Nm

Transmission: Eight speed automatic, four wheel drive 0 62mph: 3 3 seconds

Top speed: 190mph Economy: 20mpg CO2: 320g/km

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sense of stability, yet a pointy front end ensures agility through tighter corners even if incredible chassis technology eventually succumbs to the laws of physics, and understeer The rear axle stays planted in dry conditions

The new Rally mode offers oversteer led entertainment It softens the adaptive dampers and allows more wheelspin, making you feel like a rally hero It proved to be enormous fun, but we can’t imagine too many Urus Performante owners making use of it. More telling was that the ride quality didn’t feel too harsh over loose and bumpy surfaces, which is hopefully a good sign for the car’s on road manners.

The engine is as impressive as ever It’s not the most rev hungry unit, but huge mid range torque (the peak of 850Nm is available from 2,250 4,500rpm) more than compensates It makes a great noise, too Lamborghini has given the V8 a helping hand by rejigging the sound actuators at the base of the windscreen, and adding an Akrapovic exhaust, which lets out a tremendous snarl for something that has to comply with stringent modern noise regulations.

Impressive though the Urus Performante’s blend of practicality and performance is, there’s no shortage of rivals, including the sensational Aston Martin DBX 707 and Urus related Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Plenty of buyers are on board, however; order an Urus Performante now and you won’t get one until 2024.

TYRES Vast 22-inch alloy wheels can be specified with track-biased Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R rubber, which deliver enormous grip to make the most of the Performante’s chassis updates

EQUIPMENT Drive select switch (above) gains ‘Rally’ mode Responsive 10 1 inch touchscreen system is standard, and like the 8 6-inch digital instruments, it gets Performante specific graphics

Lamborghini Urus

FIRSTDRIVE New Performante model turns up the heat

Running costs

Verdict

OUR track only drive in the Urus Performante leaves plenty of questions about its comfort that can only be answered on the road, but one thing that’s for certain is that it has a level of capability that’s simply formidable It’s not just fast, but it’s also engaging to drive for such a large SUV. However, there are still occasions when you’re reminded of its weight and height

LamborghiniUrus

Extra carbon fibre and new styling tweaks mark Performante out

Essentials

Suzuki S-Cross 1.5 Hybrid UltraAllgrip

SuzukiS-Cross

FIRSTDRIVE Full hybrid tech comes to firm’s compact SUV

ONSALE Now

YOU’D be forgiven for not recognising the latest Suzuki S Cross It’s been on sale since January, but supply issues mean limited numbers have arrived in the UK. The issues are being resolved, though, and Suzuki has introduced this full hybrid model

It replaces the 1 4 Boosterjet auto (the manual version remains) and features a naturally aspirated 1.5 litre engine, electric motor and battery to deliver more efficient progress, while Suzuki’s AGS automated manual gearbox is also fitted

The Hybrid offers 48.7mpg combined in Allgrip guise, which is slightly better than the Boosterjet manual’s 47 8mpg However, the Hybrid is less powerful than the 1 4 turbo 113bhp, compared with 127bhp.

That’s not too much of an issue, though, because it will be the frustrating automated manual gearbox that will be the focus of your attention.

Press the accelerator from a standstill, and not a lot happens The transmission is slow to react, while throttle response is variable. On some occasions it delivers the power you need, but on others the hesitation encourages you to press the th ttl h d only for the car to lurch forward

power comes in At other times, such as when slowing to enter a roundabout, you can attempt to dial in the same amount of throttle to get back up to speed, only for the car to leave you floundering without power

Gearchanges are slow, and there’s lots of clutch slip with every shift, while staying on the power sees the car lurch as the next gear is selected You can adapt your driving style to overcome this, or you could select Sport mode But this largely shuts down the hybrid t hil the slightest press of the nds the engine revs soaring trol powerplant is always dible, too, and there are stinct whooshes from the brid tech as it recoups ergy when slowing down

Verdict

system,

However, the S Cross doesn’t rely on its battery as often as some rival hybrids, ith the engine largely taking er at speeds over 60mph.

THE S Cross Hybrid is a neat compact SUV that’s packed with kit at a competitive price, while four wheel drive is relatively unique in the sector. However, rivals offer more rear space, and the Hybrid’s ponderous gearbox means it’s not very smooth to

We’d only really recommend it if you

have an

Boosterjet with a

a better

overall

Using Sport mode largely shuts down the hybrid portion of the Suzuki’s powertrain

“The S Cross Hybrid offers 48.7mpg combined in Allgrip guise”

Dean Gibson Dean Gibson@autoviacouk @DeanGbsn

2022

WINDSCREEN FITTERS WORLD CUP

We visit autoglass’s hq to meet the technician who flew the flag for the uk against rivals from around the world at the best of belron

IFyou ever need to have your car’s windscreen repaired or replaced, there’s a good chance the name Autoglass may pop into your head That’s in no small part due to the catchy “Autoglass repair, Autoglass replace” jingle that’s so often played during television and radio adverts, but that’s also because this brand is far bigger than one might expect

The parent company of Autoglass is Belron, which was founded as a family run glass firm inSouth Africa way backin 1897 Today, Belron is a vehicle glass repair and replacement provider headquartered in the UKand operating across 34 different countries around the globe

Its name and advertising jingle vary across these different regions It’s Autoglass in the UK, Ireland and Poland, Carglass in most of Europe,Safelite in the US, O’Brien in Australia,Smith &Smith in New Zealand, and Lebeau in France, while Canadians know the company asSpeedy Glass.

What doesn’tvary is the high standard to which these companies carry out their work The group holds the patents for all the key tools it uses, which it claims are far more advanced than those used by other vehicle glass replacement companies

Its technicians, meanwhile, are trained to follow a precise 40 step “Way of Fitting” programme, which ensures excellent customer service and top notch workmanship

It’s been said that competition breeds excellence and that’s the thinking behind the Best of Belron. Held every other year, this event sees the firm’s technicians from around the world competing against one another to see who can do the best job of replacing a windscreen Essentially, the biennial competition is the windscreen world cup.

To find out more about the Best of Belron, we were invited to the Autoglass technical centre in Birmingham

Best of Belron 2022

Richie Wilkinson was Autoglass UK’s entry for Best of Belron 2022, having won the UKnational qualifying event in 2021 His dad worked in the industry before him, so Richie was quickto join up as a trainee at the earliest opportunity.

“Autoglass makes such a big event of Best of Belron,” Richie explained “The trade focuses around being the bestyou can be and I’d heard about the competition early on in my career, and it was always in the backof my head ”

Richie joined Autoglass in 2013 and, since then, he’s proved himself as one of the best in the business Of course, anyone who works as a technician for Autoglass or another Belron company is trained to fit windscreens, but Richie told us that the aim of the competition is to “step it up a level”.

PRACTISE

MAKES PERFECT

Richie works through his 40-step windscreen replacement programme in preparation for the Best of Belron event

“It’s all about processes and making sure we’re top of the game,” he added “We breakthe assessment up into sections, workthrough each section and then bring it all together ”

Richie and his fellow competitors were tasked with going through the 40 step windscreen replacement programme within a two hour time frame

In the competition, one of the judges acts as a pretend customer, and Richie had to greet them as he would a real one We watched him practising, as he introduced himself, explained what he was going to do and then got to work

We had learned from our attempt at fitting a windscreen (see panel, page 33) that it’s no easy task, but the precision and speed with which Richie prepared the car and got the job completed was impressive to watch

After our visit, Richie competed at the Best of Belron world final in Barcelona,Spain. Unfortunately, he didn’t make the top step of the podium that honour went to the USA’s entrant, Joe Milligan fromSafelite but we are told Richie still performed to a very high standard and put on a good showing

“It’s said that competition breeds excellence and that’s the thinking behind the Best of Belron”

Tristan Shale Hester tristan shale hester@autoviacouk @tristan shale

CONCENTRATION

Richie had to keep focused on the job with only a two-hour window to complete his training task

THUMBS UP

BestofBelroncompetition INSIDESTORY

HOW TO FIT A WINDSCREEN

DURING ourvisitto Autoglass, we tried out some ofBelron’spatented windscreen fitting tech and had a go atchanging a screen.Staff from the firm did the preparation, ensuring the car’sexterior and interior were protected and removing the car’swindscreen wipers.

Belron’stoolboxconsistsmainlyof sophisticated clampsand lifting devices A clever cutting tool similar in appearance to a large fishing reel isused to garrote the glue holding the screen in place and breakitfree. Mostimpressive isthe ‘1 Tek’ thatallowsa technician to liftand manoeuvre a windscreen thatwould normallyrequire two people.

We were amazed byjusthow heavythe screen was, butwe were shown the correct technique to use and were eventuallyable to do the job withoutassistance.

Autoglass technicians, and their Belron colleagues around the world, use bespoke equipment to fit windscreens. Despite working against the clock, Richie had time to show he was happy with progress

The screen had to be cleaned before being lowered into place with new glue. Greatcare hasto be taken to line itup correctly, butthis isno problem ifyou use the correcttechnique.

We were even told thatour windscreen fitting was“a good job for a firstattempt”.

“It’s all about processes and making sure we’re top of the game. We break the assessment up into sections, work through each section and then bring it all together”

RICHIE WILKINSON Autoglass technician

ROADTESTS

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives

CSL: three letters guaranteed to get the pulse of any die hard BMW fan racing. The E9 CSL “Batmobile” from the early seventies and the 2004 E46 M3 CSL are two of the brand’s performance icons, models that turned already staggering performance machines into some of the most thrilling and desirable models the company has ever built. And now the CSL badge is back. It returns on the M4, representing the most extreme, most powerful and most focused version of the current G82 generation model we’ve yet seen So can it live up

to the reputation of its predecessors? More importantly, how does it compare with its contemporaries?

Porsche isn’t short of an iconic badge or two, and here we’re pitching CSL against RS Cayman GT4 RS, to be precise As with BMW, the company has taken an already impressive sports car as a starting point before its engineers left no rose joint unturned in the pursuit of producing a rare and truly special performance weapon. Here we have two of the best driver’s cars of the modern era going head to head This is going to be very special

Testers’ notes

“If you feel like lap times are the ultimate performance metric, then the Porsche draws first blood It has set a staggering seven minute, 9.3 second benchmark around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which is 10.9 seconds faster than the M4 CSL.”

an Carson Associate editorSean

MODELTESTED: BMW M4 CSL

PRICE: £128,225 ENGINE: 3

AT £128,225, the M4 CSL costs nearly £46,000 more than the standard M4 Competition, a car that’s not exactly cheap to start off with So what do you get for roughly the price of a BMW M240i on top and is it worth the premium?

Design & engineering

THE ‘L’ in CSL stands for lightweight, and while the car ’ s price is nothing of the sort, you ’ re paying for the fitment of plenty of weight saving components

Among the biggest savers are the carbon shelled bucket seats, which weigh 24kg less than the M4’s standard items The rear seats are removed completely, too, saving 21kg, while carbon ceramic brakes, lightweight wheels (19 inches up front, 20 inches at the rear) and lightened suspension components trim 15kg, reducing unsprung weight in the process Another 15kg is lost with the removal of sound deadening, while 11kg is saved with carbon fibre components, including the bonnet, boot and roof

The detailing then starts to border on the nerdy A further four kilos are saved with the titanium exhaust system, while detail changes to the climate control, kidney grille and lighter tail light clusters trim another four kilos However, despite those changes, the CSL is hardly a featherweight, at 1,625kg

Still, BMW has turned to the engine to liberate more shove, too As well as the new exhaust, the two turbos run at increased pressure, which, along with tweaks to the engine management, allow the 3 0 litre straight six to produce 543bhp, 40bhp more than the standard M4 Competition At 650Nm, maximum torque is the same, while rear wheel drive is the only drivetrain configuration available with the CSL

From the driver’s seat, there’s not a huge amount of difference between the CSL and the standard M4 The carbon backed seats that are optional on the regular version are standard here, and as ever, the central hump in the base cushion, which is meant to hold your thighs in place, is in the way for anyone who chooses to brake with their left foot certainly worth bearing in mind if you ’ re a trackday driver

We need to point out that, due to unpredictable weather leading up to our shoot, our test car was fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres They’re still excellent, but a little less focused than the track biased Pilot Cup 2 tyres that are also available

Driving

INITIAL impressions of the M4 CSL reveal that it doesn’t feel significantly different to the standard model Drive it gently and it feels just as easy to live with; the ride is fairly compliant, as long as you keep away from the harshest Sport Plus mode Those fat tyres, plus a little less insulation, mean that road noise is fairly pronounced, but it’s still less noisy than the Cayman here It’s supremely stable at high speeds, too, so it’s a fantastic long distance cruiser

Peel off the motorway to find a more winding road, and the CSL has clearly dialled the sharpness up a notch from the standard M4 There’s only a hint of body movement, but it’s just enough to play with the weight transfer through a corner; turn in on the brakes and you can feel the nose tuck into the

Running costs

Practicality

Details

Performance

apex, or squeeze the throttle a little more aggressively, and the back end squirms as it hunts for traction

One of the CSL’s highlights is undoubtedly those carbon ceramic brakes The initial bite is very sharp, so they take a little getting used to, but once you ’ re dialled in, their power is simply astonishing The feel under foot gives you huge confidence, while full power stops on track reveal both incredible stability even when trail braking into a tight turn and a dogged resistance to fade

It’s just a shame that one or two areas don’t quite live up to the brakes’ sharpness, though When pushing on, the car ’ s front end feels almost floaty, a symptom caused partly by a level of play in the bushings which just isn’t present in the Porsche

It’s also a result of the steering Yes, there’s a touch more detail than in the standard M4, but the CSL still doesn’t quite have the feel or precision to give you the ultimate confidence when pushing on It’s a minor complaint, but one which isn’t present in the Porsche, or even BMW’s own M5 CS, so we were hoping for similar here

There’s no doubting the M4’s speed, though, something we cover in greater detail on Page 44

Practicality

IN standard form, the M4 is a practical car that’s easy to use every day The same applies to the CSL as long as you ’ re only intending to travel two up

Still, the cargo net that you get in place of the rear bench lets you hold coats, soft bags and the like securely Pop the CSL’s lightweight bootlid and there’s a generous 440 litres of storage

Ownership

IN the event that the phenomenal brakes and grip aren’t enough to get you out of trouble in an emergency, the M4 is still a safe place to be The BMW 4 Series was assessed by Euro NCAP in 2019, and it earned a full five star rating, including an outstanding 97 per cent score in the adult occupant protection category

Less impressive was BMW’s dealer performance In our latest Driver Power satisfaction survey, its UK network ranked 15th out of 16 overall

Running costs

NOT many prospective buyers of either of these cars are going to worry about money too much, but at 22 9mpg, the GT4 RS proved to be slightly more economical than the CSL, which achieved 21 8mpg

While the M4 was some way off its official WLTP figure of 28 5mpg, the Porsche actually exceeded its own claim (21 4mpg) Both cars climb closer to 30mpg on a motorway cruise

Testers’ notes

“This M4 is fitted with a special BMW roundel to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the M division It’ll be a rare, 2022 only extra, and it costs £300.”

Practicality

There’s a 440 litre boot, but through loading is ruled out by fixed panel at the back

Rear cabin

Back seats are removed to save weight, and are replaced by a handy cargo net

Interior

Figure hugging carbon bucket seats are biggest change over the standard M4

Alex Ingram Chief reviewer

THROUGHTHE RANGE

NEXT

MODELTESTED:

£113,700 ENGINE: 4 0

Cayman GT4 RS

IT might seem bizarre to even suggest that Porsche’s most extreme 718 looks like good value, but at £113,700, it undercuts the starting price of the M4 CSL by £14,525 Add the optional Weissach pack, which includes a titanium roll cage, six point seatbelts, and carbon finishes for various parts inside and out most notably the bonnet and side intakes and the price climbs to £124,886

Design & engineering

IN isolation, the Cayman GT4 is already a fascinating engineering spectacle, but upgrading it to full blown RS spec lifts things to almost race car like extremes

From the off, the RS sheds 35kg from the GT4, courtesy of a bonnet and wings that are made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, a lightweight rear window and less sound insulation inside That means there’s a kerbweight of 1,490kg, which is a significant 135kg less than its rival here Opt for the magnesium wheels a £10,521 extra and you can knock another 10kg off that number

The new exterior panels form part of an extreme aerodynamic package A deep front splitter, air intakes in place of the usual rear windows and the striking swan neck wing contribute to a 25 per cent increase in downforce when compared with the GT4

The GT4’s big brother, the 911 GT3, gets an advanced double wishbone suspension system up front, but that’s not present here However, the MacPherson strut layout all round features motorsport rose joints in place of every bushing sacri a little refinement for greater precision

As you’d expect from Porsche, the engine flat six but while it matches the GT4’s 4 0 capacity, it’s unrelated to that unit Instead, t the same motor as the 911 GT3, detuned slig make 493bhp at a heady 8,400 rpm, plus 4 6,750rpm Both figures especially torque on the M4 CSL’s, but the Cayman’s lower ke means a power to weight ratio of 348bhp p 14bhp per tonne more than the BMW

Power is sent to the rear wheels through seven speed gearbox, which can be control paddles behind the wheel Alternatively, shif operated by pulling the dashboard shifter back to shift up, forwards to shift down an design mimics the shape of a manual gearle

The rest of the cabin feels truly exciting, stripped back just enough to give you a hin performance; the steering wheel is simple to hold, and the seats hold you firmly in pla

Wherever you look, then, the specs of th GT4 RS read like those of a race car

Driving

WITH that in mind, it’s no surprise to discover that it often feels like a race car, too It takes all of 20 yards of driving the Porsche to reveal just how much more fo than the CSL It’s as if a layer of cotton wool lifted off all of the major controls; everythin the steering to the body control, are superbl free of slack, bristling with precision and fe

At low speeds, the GT4 RS’s ride is busy too much so for some and there’s not a hu

Running costs

Cayman GT4 RS

Performance Engine dominates the GT4 RS, while its twin clutch gearbox delivers excellent shifts

amount of travel in the suspension, so below 20mph, occupants are jostled about Cambers in the road are followed gently, too, but without any unpleasant tugging of the wheel just enough to make the car feel alive

Raise the speed, and it’s as if the Porsche’s suspension relaxes, and everything starts to flow beautifully The specific spring, damping and anti roll bar settings for the RS work together to leave absolutely no doubt about what reserves of grip and traction are still to be exploited The answer is almost always plenty, once the tyres warm up The balance is sublime; it feels neither clumsy over the front axle nor twitchy towards the back, and the steering feels much more natural than the BMW’s

Unlike the M4, which feels incredibly effective but ultimately leaves you feeling a little detached from the action, the GT4 RS makes you work for its performance, and ultimately leaves you feeling like your ability makes the difference

Practicality

STORAGE is certainly more of an issue in the Cayman than it is in the M4 Still, it’s more than good enough for a long weekend or track day The front boot holds a modest 125 litres, while Porsche says that the space behind the seats holds another 136 litres There’s not too much storage elsewhere, but there are pop out cup holders in the dash, and a storage bin between the front seats large enough for a smartphone

Those seats hold you in beautifully, but if you ’ re a shorter driver, squeezing in between the sloping door pillar and the heavily bolstered seat is quite tricky

Ownership

PORSCHE was rated the best manufacturer in our 2022 Driver Power owners ’ satisfaction survey a brilliant result that is highlighted even more by the fact that BMW owners ranked the brand just 15th overall

An unlimited mileage warranty also beats its rival here; the M4 comes with 60,000 miles of cover Both warranties last for three years

Running costs

IF you ’ re lucky enough to be on the waiting list for either of these cars, we’d encourage you to keep hold of them for a very long time, because they are both going to be highly sought after by collectors

After three years, the BMW is expected to hold on to 58 2 per cent of its original value, while the Porsche is predicted to maintain 65 9 per cent Despite the big difference in price between the two initially, the Porsche’s stronger residuals mean that it’ll be worth more than its rival in three years

Testers’ notes

“The Cayman’s engine makes 10bhp and 20Nm less than the same unit in the 911 GT3 The engine layout and more restricted exhaust system are to blame.”

lex Ingram hief reviewer Alex Chief

Interior Cabin follows function over form, with lots of brushed suede and carbon fibre trim inside

THROUGHTHE RANGE

Which

WHILE there’s

cost of the

level might suit

Beyond

The

are a £10,521

while it’s

(£5,597), and a

to

(£1,835) the latter of which we’d strongly recommend for

you can

as a

To shed a few more

the

Other ways to personalise your

include the race-spec 3D-printed bodyform

inserts (£1,895), bespoke exterior

(£657), and colours for the door

(£110),

(£194), and

(£345). You can even have the key painted for £261. If the sound of the flat six somehow becomes tiring, there’s even a Bose sound system for £834.

PERFORMANCE

A THRILLING noise will define the character of a great performance car and this pair both sound exhilarating The Porsche, however, will go down as one of the most incredible noises ever While the engine is shared with the 911 GT3, its mid mounted location here shifts it even closer to your ears. The idle is busy and mechanical – sounding every decibel like a racer for the road and it gets better as you increase the speed The intakes that feed the six individual throttle bodies sit right behind your head, so every flex of the throttle pedal is paired with a gloriously rich induction note that builds the revs further.

There’s plenty of them to explore, too.This engine spins to 9,000rpm, and the howl which it delivers at the top end is truly hair raising Gear ratios are shorter than in the regular GT4, so there’s more chance to hear the engine at its best, although it’s still best reserved for the track. Use every rev, and not much separates the BMW and Porsche in a straight line even well into three figures The GT4 RS is also paired with a flawless gearbox; shifts are instant and virtually seamless, and this is even more remarkable when, at low speeds, the PDK system is better behaved than any other dual clutch system we’ve tried.

Engine Porsche has avoided forced induction for the RS and it sounds all the better for it

Head to head:

You can forget about electrical assistance when

BMW M4 CSL

FOR two cars so similarly matched in performance, the pair’s engine designs and the sensations they give couldn’t be further apart The key difference is the way the pair achieve their power outputs. In contrast to the high-revving in-line sixes or V8s of older M3s, the two most recent generations have turned to turbocharging for their heady power outputs Here, the 3 0 litre ‘S58’ engine has two of them, resulting in a whopping 650Nm of torque.

On paper, a 0 62mph time of 3.7 seconds is behind the Porsche’s, but at any revs, in any gear, the M4 delivers incredible performance.

The CSL’s noise is subtly different from the regular M4’s At idle, it sounds flat almost digital. Add some load and revs, however, and it gets angrier, with more gargle up front and extra crackle from that titanium exhaust. It’s undoubtedly exciting.

There are flaws with the powertrain, though, and most centre around the eight speed gearbox. Demand a shift from one of the wheel mounted paddles and there’s always a slight delay before the ratio engages. You can increase the ferocity of the changes, but while they’re slightly quicker, they also become clunkier

ngine

ge torque is a defining aracter of the M4 CSL helps to overcome the r’s weight disadvantage ative to the Porsche

Aural and visceral thrills rated

it comes to this dynamic duo, because they’re all about race derived performance

Infotainment

Which multimedia system is best for music, sat nav & connectivity?

IF there’s one area where the BMW is clearly more advanced than its rival, it’s in terms of in car tech The touchscreen is larger, sharper and more responsive, and its high set position means that the information is in your peripheral vision; in the Porsche you need to divert your eyes away from the road for much longer The integration of both touch and physical controls has been refined to perfection over the generations of BMW’s iDrive tech, so through a mix of those two input methods plus fairly natural voice recognition the system is exceptionally easy to get along with We’re not sold on all of BMW’s in car tech, though The digital instruments provide plenty of information and can be customised in a variety of ways, but they just look a bit fussy It’s only highlighted beside the Porsche’s large analogue rev counter, which provides the key information for a keen driver beautifully

THE current Cayman has been around since 2016, and while Porsche has lavished plenty of attention on the powertrain and chassis since then, the infotainment system hasn’t really moved on Beside the BMW, the screen is small, loading times are a little lazy, and while the display is fairly responsive to touches, it does tend to get quite hot once it’s been on for a while What can’t be faulted is its usability Below the screen are physical shortcut buttons for the main functions, including navigation, radio and Bluetooth The two rows of buttons list the shortcuts in a different order to the tiles on the home screen, though, which will cause a few eyes to twitch among perfectionists

For a car that’s likely to be taken to more than the occasional track day, the addition of a lap timer menu, which lets you download previously recorded reference runs, will likely be a useful feature for many buyers

Large 10 25 inch control display looks great and is easy to use. M specific features include a drift analyser for rating your skids on track

Display Porsche’s screen looks small and graphics are a little fuzzy beside the BMW’s, but it gets the job done. Menus are easy to navigate

Length/wheelbase

£74,951/65 9% £38,749 £2,275/£4,550 £3,869/£6,448 47/£3,000/£520 N/A

4,456/2,482mm 1,267/1,822mm

Flat six/3,996cc 493/8,400 bhp/rpm 450/6,750 Nm/rpm 7spd auto/rwd 54 litres/repair kit 125/136 litres 1,415kg/348bhp/tonne 10 4 metres

3yrs (unlimited)/3yrs 1st/N/A N/A

3 4 secs/196mph 22 9/5 0/272 miles 21.4mpg 4 7mpl 285/299g/km/37%

Yes/£126/r/yes

Yes/no/no/yes

Yes/yes Part/£0 £2,273/yes No/yes No/yes/yes No/yes/no

DIMENSIONS

BMW M4 CSL

£128,225/£1 £74,601/58 £53,624 £9,380/£18,759 £4,064/£6,773 49/N/A/£520 £1,973 (5 years)

4,794/2,857mm 1,386/1,921mm 6cyl in line turbo/2,993cc 543/6,250 bhp/rpm 650/2,750 Nm/rpm

8spd auto/rwd 59 litres/repair kit N/A/440 litres

1,625kg/334bhp/tonne 12 2 metres

3yrs (60,000)/2yrs 16th/15th 97/83/93/72/5 (’19)

3 7 secs/190mph 21 8/4 8/283 miles 28.5mpg 6 3mpl 299/225g/km/37%

Yes/no/f&r/£2,950* Yes/yes/£2,950*/yes

Yes/adaptive

Yes/yes £695/yes £350/yes Yes/yes/yes £2,950*/yes/yes

Headto head

STYLING

BOTH cars have a strong motorsport look The CSL’s design is boosted with red decals to distinguish it further from the standard M4 as if the bodykit weren’t enough already. The Cayman’s key elements are its huge rear wing and the bare carbon fibre panels on Weissach models

The wheels are significant on these two cars, because they influence both the aesthetics and the driving impressions. BMW has fitted 19 inch rims up front and 20 inchers at the rear, but the GT4 RS has 20 inch items all round. Their motorsport derived centre lock design will be a touch impractical if you get a puncture, but they look utterly stunning.

Inside, both steering wheels are trimmed in Alcantara, which is more grippy than leather The Porsche’s simple three spoke design has a fairly delicate rim, especially when compared with the fat, button laden wheel in the BMW. Even this plays a part in how much feedback each car can offer the driver.

PORSCHE

IT’S hard to know where to start with the superlatives for the 718 Cayman GT4 RS For many, the glorious noise of the flat six engine will be worth the asking price on its own, but its response and the gearbox are just as impressive Then there’s the chassis, which is at least as spectacular as the powertrain. It’s an instant performance car icon, and one of the greatest of the breed we’ve ever driven

BMW

IT takes a very special car to beat the M4 CSL, but that’s exactly what it has faced up to here In isolation, the BMW is incredibly fast, thrilling and fun to drive, but beside the Porsche or even compared with some of the M Division’s past hits it doesn’t feel as sharp or as raw as we’d have hoped. It remains practical and refined, but that’s not enough to justify the higher price

NEW:Audi R8V10 Performance RWD

PRICE: £129,725 ENGINE: 5.2 litre V10, 562bhp

IT lacks the track focus of the Cayman or M4, but the R8 is a percar. It’s stunning to drive or track, and thanks to its orious naturally aspirated V10 ngine, it’s one of the few cars on sale that can match the orsche for aural drama.

USED: Nissan GT-R Nismo

PRICE: £122k (’15/15k) ENGINE: 3.8 V6TT, 591bhp

JUST as with the BMW and the Porsche, the already potent GT R was transformed into a capable performance car. It’s seven years old, but its trick four wheel drive system will allow it to monster either of our challengers on track.

bona fide supercar. on road glorious engine, Porsche

fiercely

Practicality

Mazda CX-5

FINALREPORT Six months in our SUV have shown that diesel engines still have a place

Pete Gibson Pete Gibson@denniscouk

DIESEL has been a bit of a dirty word over the past few years and the fallout from the VW emissions scandal has been compounded by tightening efficiency targets and a push towards electrification

But just as EVs are brilliantly suited to urban environments, some brands believe that diesel still has a place for those drivers who rack up many thousands of miles every year And after six months and more than 10,000 miles in a diesel powered Mazda CX 5, I think they may have a point

The Japanese brand has long taken a slightly different approach to its rivals on fuel choices and engine sizes, and Mazda continues to invest in diesel tech Indeed, I’m told that its recently announced PHEV flagship, the CX 60, will get an all new diesel engine at some point in 2023

In the meantime the CX 5 remains Mazda’s big volume seller and I can see why, because it has to be one of the most well rounded cars that I’ve ever had the pleasure to run It’s a perfectly sized family SUV, with subtle styling that’s not in your face, even in our car ’ s green paintjob

The handling is typical Mazda, with crisp steering, and suspension that’s just about on

the right side of ‘too firm’, keeping body roll in check through corners Factor in the hefty amounts of torque served up by the 2 2 litre diesel engine and an automatic gearbox that feels perfectly in sync almost all of the time and you have a car that can feel genuinely swift along the right back road

Plus it’s capable of travelling for well over 400 miles between visits to the filling station; it’s hard to think of many petrol powered rivals that could manage this feat

This sort of flexibility and a beautifully built cabin that has enough space for everyday family use make the £35k CX 5 look like decent value, as well as being my perfect companion for long journeys to photoshoots But were there any flaws that took the shine off my experience?

The answer is yes although to be fair, one of my gripes is pretty much specific to car snappers It’s my job to capture images of Auto Express’s test cars on the move, and when we visit test tracks, one element of that is car to car photography I clamber into the boot, strap myself in securely with a harness and then we drive in front as I shoot photos of the vehicle following us

To do this, of course, the bootlid has to remain open and boy, is the Mazda keen to remind you of this I often have to shout instructions to the driver on everything

from speed to road position, but the CX 5 has a warning buzzer so loud that it can drown out even my wildest screams

While other cars do the same, they fall silent eventually; but not the CX 5, which is still pinging at you 10 minutes after you ’ ve started I’ve often had to stop shooting just to get a break from the incessant racket As I say, though, it’s not something that will trouble many regular owners, if any

The other issue is something that regular customers might encounter The CX 5’s headlights are terrific extremely bright, and useful as the nights draw in but even at the correct dipped beam setting, it seems they’re a bit too effective for oncoming road users Many of them have been flashing to tell me, wrongly, that I’m using main beam

I’ve only ever experienced this so frequently in one other test car a Ford C Max and I ended up getting the lights lowered at a dealership because they were too high I only hope that my car ’ s settings were a bit out of kilter for some reason, and that it’s not a wider issue that other CX 5 buyers are encountering

Essentials

Fleetwatch

BMW iX3

WE’RE all aware of rising energy costs and EV drivers certainly aren’t exempt. Almost all the major public chargepoint providers have hiked their prices in recent months, with some at £1 per kilowatt hour (kWh)

But there are still places where you can charge for free. Supermarkets often allow customers access to slower chargers while they shop, and plenty of hotels have sockets that guests can use overnight.

Another location offering gratuitous charging was The Eden Project as Carbuyer and DrivingElectric editor Richard Ingram discovered during a recent trip to Cornwall in his BMW iX3. He plugged in when he arrived and the easy to access Zappi chargers topped up the car to 92 per cent while his family enjoyed an educational wander through the iconic biomes

Unfortunately, while Eden has since expanded from three chargers to 20 upping the supply from 7kW to 22kW at the same time it has also introduced a fee of 50p/kWh. Still, convenience is key, and the new points seem well rated on EV app Zap Map

Adjustable

Steve loves being able to change the interior lighting colour scheme

Land Rover Defender PHEV

the

in his

and

lot

the

is the tray in front of the passenger seat, with the word Defender proudly stamped there. As you can see in the picture above, it’s cleverly lit at night, while Steve can change the interior lighting colour scheme, too one of many great pieces of design on the Land Rover.

One of the most

There’s a USB socket for the front passenger to use (as there are in the back), while the grab handle at each end of the dash is not only handy for some of Steve’s less able passengers to haul themselves up into the car with, but it’s also structural, so not likely to give way!

Handy Eden Project chargers meant our man could top up the BMW during family visit

Your ultimate guide to buying and owning an electric car

Brilliant Even dipped, headlights are so dazzling that other drivers think hey’re on main beam

dust minor SUV certain while dynamic

WINTER SPECIAL 2022

101

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and dedicated

also

while

the

that the

With the take up of electric cars gathering pace,

done some

EXTREME MACHINES

about winter EV

while we round off our special with a look at some of the most

to ever

ENTER the world of four wheel drive vehicles, and you’ll be exposed to a potentially confusing lexicon of new phrases and terms Our handy guide will help you understand the jargon when you’re looking for a 4x4 this winter.

4x4

Four by four signifies a car that sends engine power to all four wheels. More specifically, it usually refers to cars with a permanent set up, which is good for off roading, but not so good for fuel economy

4MATIC

The name for Mercedes’s four wheel drive system

4MOTION

The name for Volkswagen’s four wheel drive system

Air suspension

A set up with heavy duty airbags that are often electrically adjustable so a car can be raised for improved ground clearance when driving off road.

All-terrain tyre

A specialised tyre that is designed for better grip when driving off road. A large tread with big gaps between blocks helps to find grip in slippery conditions The downside is poorer performance and more tyre noise when driving on tarmac.

Approach/departure angle

The maximum angle of ramp that a car can drive up or down; basically how steep a slope can be without the car’s bumpers scraping The higher the number, the better

Articulation

The amount of vertical travel in a car’s axle when tackling rough terrain The greater the travel, the less chance there is of a car’s wheels leaving the ground

Breakover angle

A measurement that determines the highest point a car can pass over without the underside touching the ground. The higher the number, the better

Coil spring suspension

A typical suspension set up with steel springs and dampers Unlike air suspension, these systems are usually fixed in height, but in 4x4s this will be set with off road use in mind, usually at the expense of on road performance.

Differential lock

A system that improves off road traction

On cars equipped with a diff lock, the conventional differential can be locked so that both wheels on an axle rotate at the same speed, which will improve

traction on slippery surfaces. These systems are often electronically activated at the push of a button Diff locks can be found on front and rear axles on 4x4s, or between both axles a fully locked system means equal power distribution between all four wheels

Ground clearance

The distance between the underside of the car and the ground The greater the ground clearance, the less chance there is of the car bottoming out and getting stuck.

Ground pressure

The pressure exerted on the ground by the tyres of a vehicle. Bigger tyres spread the load and reduce ground pressure, which will cause less damage on softer terrain

Haldex

Swedish firm that produces four wheel drive systems, chiefly used by the VW Group, Volvo and Ford This system is reactive, because the four wheel drive system only engages when a loss of traction is detected by a car’s electronics

Hill descent control

Electronic system that regulates a car’s speed when driving down a slope Usually activated by a button on the dashboard, the system holds a car at a predetermined speed so it doesn’t gain momentum while the driver concentrates on steering Hill hold

Electronics that hold a vehicle on a slope, either uphill or downhill, until the driver presses the accelerator

Hill start assist

A more advanced version of hill hold The system allows the driver to concentrate on pulling away when stopped on an upward slope without having to worry about the car rolling back when moving from the brake pedal to the accelerator

Leaf spring suspension

A suspension system normally found on pick up trucks, which allows for good off road ability while being able to cope with heavy payloads

Limited-slip differential

Once the preserve of sports cars, LSDs can be found on 4x4s as an alternative

to a diff lock. Electronic control limits the amount of slip to improve traction in slippery conditions

Low range gears

Short ratios that mean a car can drive at low speeds while still making use of the engine’s whole power band Depending on the car, low range gears are selected with a lever, rotary control or a button

Low traction launch

A setting within a car’s traction control that minimises the risk of losing grip when pulling away in slippery conditions

Mud & snow tyres

Halfway house between standard tyres and all terrain rubber They offer better grip in slippery conditions and at low temperatures, but with less impact on fuel economy and refinement in regular driving

Mud-plugging

An off road activity where 4x4s are driven in muddy conditions. Mud pluggers are 4x4s with specialist equipment such as snorkels, all terrain tyres and winches

Overlanding

Travel activity where participants try to head off the beaten track as far as possible, while being self sufficient Overland vehicles are usually 4x4s fitted with campervan style body conversions

Part-time 4WD

Selectable four wheel drive system, usually found on pick up trucks A selector on the dashboard allows the driver to choose 2WD for road use (and improved efficiency), 4WD high for slippery conditions and a 4WD low setting that selects low range gears for off roading

Permanent 4WD

A system where all four wheels of a car receive power from the engine This is the system that’s typically found in SUVs with four wheel drive, although most feature electronics that control power distribution, allowing two wheel drive to be used most of the time to improve fuel efficiency quattro

The name of Audi’s four wheel drive system, and also the name for its eighties rally car

Rock crawling

An off road hobby where heavily modified 4x4s are used to tackle extreme off road terrain at low speeds

Roll stability control

A setting in a car’s electronic stability control system that’s designed to mitigate the risk of rollover. Designed more for use at speed, but useful nonetheless

Skid plate

Extra protection for the underside of the car to prevent mechanical damage

Snorkel

A high mounted air intake found on dedicated off road vehicles This allows for deeper wading depths through water, while still allowing fresh air into the engine

Sump guard

A skid plate that protects the underside of the engine

Terrain Response

The name for Land Rover’s suite of off road electronics

Torque vectoring

A substitute for a diff lock, torque vectoring is an electronic system that can send power to the wheel with the most grip, boosting traction in slippery conditions.

Torsen differential

Torsen is short for ‘torque sensing’, and is the name for a specific type of limited slip differential Less common these days as more advanced electronics take over control of power distribution

Transfer case

Central gearbox within a 4x4 system that splits power between front and rear axles, while also incorporating low range gears.

Wading

The depth of water that a vehicle can safely drive through. The higher the measurement, the deeper the water. Exceed a car’s wading depth, and the engine’s air intake could ingest water, resulting in hydrolocking: a catastrophic and expensive engine failure

xDrive

The name for BMW’s four wheel drive system

Activities such as wading (left) are made easier by tech (middle), but it’s handy to know

approach angles (right), too

BRILLIANT SUVs FOR WINTER

SPECIAL 2022

Mercedes GLA

Price range: £37,290 £69,005 Our pick: 200 Sport Executive (£37,290)

WHEN it comes to injecting a little bit of luxury into your life, the GLA sure takes some beating Our reigning Premium Small SUV champ scored its third victory on the trot in this year’s New Car Awards, cementing its place as one of the most desirable crossover models money can buy

It’s certainly not a cheap option, but at the heart of its appeal is a roomy interior that delivers the quality, style and tech including the German maker’s excellent MBUX infotainment you’d normally expect to find in bigger and more expensive machines

The upmarket attraction is enhanced by the grown up driving dynamics, smooth powertrains and availability of the brilliant GLA 250 e plug in hybrid and all electric EQA variants

Honda HR-V

Price range: £29,410 £34,850

Our pick: 1.5 i MMD e:HEV Advance (£31,780)

THERE’S no faulting Honda’s ambition with its entry level SUV, which packs a hi tech hybrid powertrain, a spacious interior and bold styling inside and out

In fact, the HR V’s interior is the real highlight, boasting high grade materials and slick design for real premium appeal It also features intuitive and feature packed touchscreen infotainment, as well as the brand’s trademark Magic Seat folding rear bench that delivers unrivalled versatility.

Refinement is excellent, while light controls and a smooth CVT gearbox make the Honda a doddle to drive Only the petrol electric powertrain lets it down; it delivers decent efficiency, but is a bit sluggish.

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Price range: £13,795 £17,395

Our pick: 1.0 TCe 90 Expression (£15,095)

IT’S more of a supermini on stilts than a true SUV, but the Sandero Stepway is packed with charm With its raised ride height and chunky body cladding, the Dacia looks every inch the smallSUV and is just as at home on a rutted trackas it is in the urban jungle.

There’s no extra space inside over the standard Sandero, but there’s just enough room for families, plus a 328 litre boot. Despite its low price, the value focused runaround doesn’t feel like a bargain basement choice, with a sturdy interior and decent tech, including an excellent infotainment set up. It also delivers a smooth ride and grown up driving dynamics. Sometimes less really is more.

Kia

Price range: £28,245 £42,245

Our pick: Niro EV 2 (£36,745)

KIA has gone for bold with its latest Niro Blending head turning style with cutting edge electrification, the Korean machine scooped Small SUV honours in our annual New Car Awards ceremony earlier this year Built on a new platform, this most recent Niro offers more space than ever, while its stylish interior looks good, is well built and packs loads of useful tech

Yet it’s under the skin that the compact crossover really impresses, with buyers able to choose from self charging and plug in hybrid versions, the latter providing up to 40 miles of zero emissions running

However, it’s the all electric Niro EV that’s the certified star of the line up, with its large 64kWh battery delivering an impressive claimed range of 286 miles It also packs eager acceleration and strong refinement, and as with the other versions, it features accurate handling and a decent ride.

Factor in attractive pricing, loads of standard kit and the brand’s trademark seven year warranty, and the Niro won’t fail to warm the cockles on a cold winter’s day.

Vauxhall Mokka

Price range: £22,865 £34,995 Our pick: 1.2 Turbo 100 GS Line (£25,240)

FEW small SUVs cut a dash as successfully as the distinctive Mokka The compact SUV is one of the first Vauxhalls to benefit from the brand’s Vizor design language, and it certainly stands out from the crowd

It’s a similar story inside, where the Mokka comes close to matching premium models for upmarket appeal and tech, even if back seat space is a little cramped compared with what’s on offer in rivals

Vauxhall offers a range of petrol engined models to choose from in the line up, but the Mokka Electric is also one to look out for, thanks to its brisk performance, 209 mile range and low running costs Factor in attractive pricing and this is one Vauxhall that’s as sensible as it is stylish

Citroen C3Aircross

Price range: £20,635 £25,955

Our pick: 1.2 PureTech 110 Shine Plus (£23,175)

BLENDING family friendly versatility with a healthy dose of French design flair, the C3 Aircross is one of our favourite smallSUVs. Clearly designed to focus on practicality, the cabin issurprisinglyspaciousand featuresahandyslidingrearbench,plusabigboot.And while the touchscreen infotainmentisfiddlyand some materials feel low rent, there’s lots of standard kit.

The Citroen isn’t that fun to drive, but the squishy seats and soft suspension make it comfortable, plus the petrol and diesel engines are efficient and eager One highlight is the optional Grip Control system that allows the two wheel drive C3 to head further off the beaten trackthan you might imagine.

Skoda Kamiq

Price range: £21,805 £28,615

Our pick: 1.0 TSI 110 SE Drive (£23,335)

THE Kamiq may be the entry point to Skoda’s stellar SUV line up, but it’s a small car that likes to think big It’s based on the same platform as the SEAT Arona and VW T Cross, but clever packaging means there’s a little more space for occupants inside, as well as a larger boot

As with other models from the Czech brand, the interior looks and feels smart, plus it gets all the tech you’ll need. The Skoda is also a more relaxing choice than its VW Group stablemates, thanks to softer suspension settings, although it’s not quite as sharp to drive However, it gets the same range of petrol engines, including a lively 1.0 litre TSI that’s the pick of the bunch

WINTER SPECIAL 2022

Renault Captur

Price range:

Our pick: 1

IF you want style and substance in your small SUV, then look no further than the Captur. The family friendly machine is a former New Car Awards winner And while it was knocked off the top spot by the Kia Niro (Page 52) this year, the Renault remains hugely desirable.

Despite its compact dimensions, it serves up a surprising amount of space inside, while its sliding rear bench adds an extra dose of practicality. The interior also packs a level of premium appeal, with slick design, plenty of high grade materials and its eye catching portrait style infotainment set up

It’s not as sharp to drive as some rivals, but the supple suspension and strong refinement mean that it’s more comfortable and relaxing Plus, unlike most in the class, the Renault offers a powerful and efficient plug in hybrid edition that delivers 158bhp and a claimed electric range of 30 miles

Hyundai Kona

Price range: £21,625 £37,900

Our pick: 1.0 T GDi 48V Hybrid Premium (£24,225)

WHAT the capable Kona lacks in excitement it more than makes up for in choice Few small SUVs offer such a wide variety of powertrains, with mild and full hybrids, a hot 276bhp N model and an excellent EV that delivers a remarkable 300 mile range, thanks to its large 64kWh battery

Every version looks smart, and while the rear seats are cramped, there’s plenty of standard kit and advanced driver aids Regular versions are dull to drive, but with a five year warranty and a top four finish in our 2022 Driver Power new car survey, this is a car to buy with your head rather than heart.

SUVs FOR

Peugeot 2008

Price range: £22,845 £37,650

Our pick: 1.2 PureTech 100 Allure Premium+ (£24,445)

BEYOND the smartly styled exterior, the 2008 is mechanically identical to the Vauxhall Mokka (Page 53). That means you get the same engine options, including the all electric drivetrain. Yet despite being so closely related, the two cars have different characters. For starters, the softly suspended Peugeot serves up more comfort and slightly more engaging handling. Inside, it’s slickly designed, but the infotainment is fiddly and the i Cockpit dash layout won’t suit all drivers. However, the Peugeot hits backwith its Grip Control system that helps inspire confidence in slippery conditions.

Price range: £31,995 £34,495

Our pick: EV SE Long Range (£31,995)

THERE can be no doubt that MG is a company on a roll at the moment Not only is it the fastest growing brand in the UK so far this year, but the brilliant new MG4 EV is taking on and beating established rivals from mainstream manufacturers.

Yet you shouldn’t overlook the firm’s existing models, especially the spacious and well equipped ZS There are traditional petrol engines available in the line up, but it’s the recently updated Long Range EV that’s the pick of the bunch

Its larger 72.6kWh battery delivers a claimed range of 273 miles, while its 154bhp motor also provides brisk performance Admittedly, the interior is a little low rent in some places and it’s not the most exciting SUV to drive, but with prices starting from £31,995, the ZS comfortably undercuts smaller rival EVs that have shorter ranges.

SUVs

SEAT Arona

Price range: £20,960 £27,695

Our pick: 1.0 TSI FR Edition (£24,540)

SEAT’s smallest SUV is getting on a bit now, but despite its advancing years, the Arona still makes a strong case for itself It remains one of the best compact crossovers to drive, with sharp handling and a range of eager engines on offer, including the punchy turbocharged 1 0 litre TSI

The smart looking Spanish machine also has plenty of kerb appeal, while the attractive pricing and low running costs mean the Arona is as easy on your wallet as it is on your eyes True, it’s not as refined and roomy as newer rivals, but the SEAT has just enough space for most families, while its intuitive infotainment set up makes it easy to stay connected

Range Rover Evoque

Price range: £32,620 £56,625

Our pick: P200 MHEV AWD R Dynamic S (£43,030)

BY squeezing the style and luxury of Range Rover’s flagships into a smaller, more affordable package, the Evoque offers the upper classSUV lookfor less. This second generation model is the best yet, with an interior that oozes upmarket appeal and features the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system. There’s a choice of petrol and diesel engines, plus the refined and efficient P300e plug in hybrid that will crack34 miles in EV mode and emits less than 40g/km

On the road the entry level Range Rover is refined and comfortable, and when the going gets rough, few smallSUVs can match its mountain goat-like agility.

Toyota Yaris Cross

Price range: £24,350 £30,975

Our pick: 1.5 VVT i Design (£26,040)

TAPPING into the current SUV sales boom, Toyota has created a rugged, off road themed version of its Yaris supermini Featuring a raised ride height and tough body cladding, the Cross certainly looks the part, while the availability of four wheel drive means it reaches parts other small cars cannot

The Yaris Cross gets the same 1 5 litre petrol electric hybrid powertrain and CVT as its hatchback sibling, which means claimed fuel returns of over 60mpg And while it’s not exciting to drive, the Yaris handles accurately and is decently refined If you need a cost effective and compact all weather runabout, then it should be on your shortlist

Ford Puma

Price range: £24,415 £33,625

Our pick: 1.0 EcoBoost 125 ST Line (£25,095)

THE Puma is currently the second best selling car in the UK, and it’s not hard to see why Whether you want to have fun behind the wheel or you need to carry your family and all their gear, the brilliant Blue Oval machine has it covered.

Fast steering and impressive agility make the Ford a real treat to drive, while the flagship ST packs a 197bhp punch The Puma’s interior is relatively roomy and well equipped, while hidden under the boot floor is the surprisingly useful 80 litre Megabox Although the cabin doesn’t feel as upmarket as some rivals’, Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment delivers hassle free connectivity.

2022

Nissan Ariya

Price range: £43,845 £56,2

Our pick: Advance 87kWh (£49,595)

NISSAN was a successful EV pionee with the big selling Leaf, so it was surprising that the Japanese brand tookso long to deliver a follow up.

Its all new Ariya EV was worth th wait. The sleekNissan looks great, combining fashionable SUV kerb a with a dash of coupé sophisticatio Inside, it’s beautifully finished, wit Japanese inspired detailing, while intuitive tech gives it a cutting edg This is backed up by a driving ex that mixes surprising agility with s performance from the flagship 302 twin motor e 4ORCE set up. Yet it a delivers the comfort and refinement you’d expect from a much pricier luxury car Range anxiety isn’t a problem, with the entry level 63kWh model claiming 223 miles and the 87kWh managing 310 miles. Style, substance and stamina no wonder the Ariya is our reigning Car of the Year

Porsche Macan

Price range: £50,800 £68,800 Our pick: S (£56,800)

THE launch of an all new Macan has been pushed back to 2024, but that’s no bad thing because the current model is still at the top of its game. Combining sports car driving dynamics with SUV practicality, the Porsche is one of the most talented four wheel drive family cars you can buy

It has impressive poise and agility, yet also packs a plush ride and hushed refinement. The interior is roomy, with a top notch finish, plus it’s stacked with premium tech All the engines deliver muscular performance, but there are no electrified options It’s not cheap, but the Porsche is worth every penny.

Lexus NX

Price range: £42,760 £62,050

Our pick: 450h+ F Sport Premium Plus Pack (£60,550)

LIKE many brands, Lexus makes more SUVs than any other type of model The NX is its mid size offering, slotting between the compact UX and imposing RX. Angular styling means you’re unlikely to mistake the Japanese machine for anything else Inside, the NX trails rivals for space, but there’s no denying the quality and premium appeal, while the 14 inch Lexus Link Pro infotainment system is a real highlight There’s a choice of a hybrid or a punchy 302bhp plug in hybrid drivetrain with all wheel drive, although there’s little fun to be had behind the wheel of the refined and relaxing Lexus.

Ford Mustang Mach-e

Price range: £50,830 £74,540

Our pick: Extended Range Premium RWD (£59,380)

WHEN the Mustang name was first applied to an all electric SUV, fans of Ford’s fabled muscle car were understandably concerned. But despite offending purists with its very loose connections to the sixties icon, the Mach E delivers

On the move it’s agile and engaging It looks good, too, while the interior is spacious and has slick portrait style infotainment, although some of the materials feel cheap The larger 98kWh battery option claims 379 miles on a charge, while the 480bhp GT rockets from 0 62mph in 3 7 seconds But with prices starting at £50,830, it’s pricey.

TASKED with replacing the much loved Yeti, the Karoq has gone from strength to strength since it made its debut in 2017.

A subtle facelift earlier this year helped add a dose of extra showroom pizzazz, but the sensible and spacious Skoda’s core appeal remains undimmed.

Not only does the Karoq offer more space than its rivals, with a roomy interior and a 588 litre boot, its well built cabin is packed with useful storage spaces. Yet the Skoda is also good to drive, with accurate handling, a cushioned ride and decent refinement

Four wheel drive is only available on the powerful 2.0 litre models, but for most drivers the punchy and efficient 1.5 TSI engine will be the best bet You won’t find a hybrid model in the line up, but the Karoq still provides strong fuel economy from its petrol and diesel engines, along with low running costs

Finally, attractive pricing and clockwork dependability are the cherries on top of the Czech machine’s cake.

THE 3008 is one of Peugeot’s most popular models, and it’s not hard to see why. Smart looks mean it stands out in the crowded crossover class, while its interior blends plenty of flexible space with genuine premium appeal The i Cockpit layout won’t be to all tastes and the infotainment trails the best for ease of use, but the car is solidly built and well equipped. There’s a wide choice of engines, but the 1.2 litre turbo petrol delivers the best blend of pace and efficiency If you want four wheel drive, then the plug in Hybrid4 packs 296bhp and 39 miles of EV running, although it’s not cheap, at nearly £50,000.

Kia Sportage

THE previous generation Sportage was a big hit for Kia, so you’d think the manufacturer would play it safe with its replacement But it’s a sign of the firm’s confidence that this latest version looks so bold, with its distinctive lines and head turning LED daytime running lights

Yet Kia hasn’t forgotten its roots, because this Sportage still has a roomy and versatile interior, lots of standard kit and easy to use infotainment Rivals such as the Ford Kuga are more fun to drive, but the Korean machine has a strong range of engines, including mild and plug in hybrid models Then there’s that seven year warranty

BESTMEDIUM-SIZED SUVs

WINTER SPECIAL 2022

Price range: £45,585 £89,070

Our pick: 20d xDrive M Sport (£48,370)

IF driving satisfaction is at the top of your shopping list, then look no further than the X3 Despite its high stance, it handles with as much engagement and accuracy as some sports saloons, with meaty steering, tenacious grip and good body control Yet it also soaks up bumps and is refined on a long run

A facelift last year added enhanced tech to a spacious and upmarket interior, plus 48 volt mild hybrid assistance for the engines There’s a choice of four and six cylinder motors, plus a 503bhp X3 M that’ll do 0 62mph in 3 8 seconds, while the all electric iX3 promises 285 miles between charges.

101 BRILLIANT SUVs FOR WINTER

Hyundai Tucson

Price range: £29,140 £42,030

Our pick: Tucson 1.6 T GDi Premium (£30,840)

THE Tucson scored back to back wins in our annual New Car Awards this year, proving that its initial success was no flash in the pan Our favourite mid size SUV is one of the most distinctive on the road, thanks to its eye catching lines and bold details It also boasts an interior that combines class leading space and a cavernous 620 litre boot with a list of standard equipment that would shame an upmarket executive saloon Robust build quality and cutting edge tech only add to the car’s considerable appeal On the move, the Hyundai feels composed and comfortable, while the range of engines runs from a punchy turbo petrol to a refined plug in hybrid that can manage 38 miles of electric running. Factor in an excellent five year warranty and the availability of confidence inspiring four wheel drive, and the Tucson has all the family SUV bases covered

Vauxhall Grandland

Price range: £27,020 £38,425

Our pick: 1.2 Turbo 130 GS Line (£29,280)

AS with other Vauxhall SUVs, the Grandland is in effect a re skinned Peugeot That’s a positive, because the Grandland is based on the excellent 3008 (Page 57). The British brand’s distinctive Vizor grille and modern design help the model stand out, while the cabin blends space with a high quality finish and decent tech

Lifeless steering means there’s little fun behind the wheel, but the Vauxhall is refined and easy to drive. There’s no four wheel drive, but the plug in hybrid version will do 39 miles in EV mode Still, for most buyers, the responsive 1 2 litre petrol will deliver the best balance of pace, price and low running costs.

Cupra

Price range: £30,205 £46,210

Our pick: 1.4 TSI V1 e Hybrid (£40,750)

THE sporty Spanish brand’s first standalone model is also arguably its best With its rakish coupé like lines, poised handling and rugged SUV appeal, the Formentor is also a quick and capable family runaround You sit lower than in some high riding rivals, but combined with the car’s quick steering and agility, this helps you feel closer to the action

The 306bhp flagship offers sports car slaying pace, while the plug in hybrid boasts 30 miles of electric running The interior is roomy, well equipped and has lots of useful tech, but the finish isn’t quite up to the standard of premium rivals.

Price

Mercedes GLC

Price range: £51,855 £72,210

Our pick: 220 d 4MATIC AMG Line (£51,855)

IF it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: that appears to be the mantra at Mercedes when it comes to the latest GLC While it’s all new from the ground up, only dedicated car fans will be able to spot the difference between the newcomer and its predecessor That said, the brand’s new MRA2 architecture means there’s more space inside the luxurious and tech laden interior

Soft suspension and excellent refinement means comfort is the order of the day, while the GLC handles precisely and 4MATIC all wheel drive models have genuine off road ability There’s a choice of petrol and d m

Skoda

Price range: £38,480 £53,735

Our pick: 80 82kWh (£42,435)

IF you need proof that less can sometimes be more, then checkout the Enyaq iV. The Czech brand’s first bespoke electric vehicle is built on the same MEB platform as the Audi Q4 e tron and Volkswagen ID.4, but despite costing thousands less to buy, the Skoda is actually the best model of the lot

As you’d expect from the brand, it offers more space and versatility. More surprising is the fact it feels more upmarket, while it’s also more comfortable and engaging to drive There’s a choice of 58kWh or 77kWh battery packs with the latter offering up to

Price range: £35,350

Now in its fifth generation, the tall Toyota features a range of refined petrol electric engines, including a plug in hybrid version that will manage 40 miles of electric range on a charge and attracts the lowest Benefit in Kind (BiK) company car tax rates

You’ll not have much fun behind the wheel, but the RAV4 is comfortable and composed, plus its interior is spacious and solidly built There are niggles, however, not least the dated infotainment and the fact it costs more to buy than more talented mainstream rivals.

Price range: £64,040 £118,920

Our pick: xDrive45e xLine (£69,925)

BMW tooka bit of a gamble when it launched the original X5 in 1999, but it has paid off handsomely. The German machine was one of the first models to prove thatSUVs could be good to drive on the road, and it continues to set the class standard for driver satisfaction.

Although it’s undeniably a big car, the combination of quick, well weighted steering, tight body control and strong grip means the X5 feels remarkably light on its feet. It’s also powered by a range of silky smooth six cylinder engines, and there’s even a scorching 617bhp X5 M version However, it’s the 45e’s plug in hybrid powertrain that best suits the BMW, thanks to its blend of effortless power and 54 miles of electric range.

Adding to the car’s appeal, the interior is vast, lavishly appointed and crammed with tech, plus there’s also a versatile seven seat option, and every model comes as standard with four-wheel drive. Factor in hushed refinement and a plush ride, and the X5 is an SUV with very few chinks in its armour

Price range: £169,230

Our pick: Urus (£169,230)

Lamborghini Urus p y y

FEW SUVs attract as much attention as the Urus This off roader with the heart of a supercar features an outrageous 641bhp twin turbo V8 that rockets the Lambo from 0 62mph in just 3.6 seconds. Plus, clever suspension and four wheel steering mean the car handles with the agility of something half its size Yet this is also the most practical and comfortable Lambo ever, while its air suspension and four wheel drive system mean it doesn’t mind getting muddy, either The ultimate high performance SUV? Not quite, because an even faster Performante version (See Page 28) will be in showrooms soon.

DBX

Price range: £161,620 £190,000

Our pick: DBX (£161,620)

car refinement, the high riding Brit has been a big hit

What’s more, its appeal has been enhanced by the blisteringly quick 697bhp 707 flagship version that’ll catapult from 0 62mph in 3.3 seconds. Plus, the adjustable air suspension and four wheel drive make the Aston as capable in the rough as it is on the road It’s not cheap to buy and run, but if you’re in the market for a DBX, then money is probably no object.

Range Rover Sport

Price range: £79,125 £114,990

Our pick: D350 MHEV Autobiography (£98,045)

LIKE its Range Rover big brother (Page 62), thisSport is all new. It’s based on the same MLA Flex platform, but as its name suggests, the Sport is more dynamic to drive, with greater agility and poise when pressing on Yet it feels just as luxurious and refined, with a supple ride and a spacious interior that’s supremely comfortable and packed with the brand’s latest tech.

A choice of mild hybrid and plug in powertrains adds to the appeal, although there’s also a muscular 532bhp twin turbo V8 for buyers wanting old school high octane thrills, plus a superbly refined diesel.

Mercedes GLS

Price range:

Our pick: 400d

(£88,500)

WHEREAS some large SUVs manage to blend into the background, the gargantuan GLS shouts about its status from the rooftops. Effectively a mud plugging version of the brand’sS Class flagship saloon, the fiercely expensive and massive Merc features a lavishly appointed interior and comfortably enough space for seven adults in its three rows of seats.

Like its saloon namesake, the imposing Merc is built for comfort rather than speed, although there’s a 603bhp AMG model for buyers who like the idea of a 155mph stately home And while few owners will ever head off the beaten track, the GLS is extremely capable when the going gets tough.

Audi e-tron

Price range: £62,035

Our pick: 55 quattro Sport (£75,635)

AUDI played it safe with the looks of its first ever all electric car, and at a glance the e tron could be mistaken for one of its combustion engined relatives However, below the surface it’s every bit as state of the art as more daring looking rivals, such as the Jaguar I Pace

There are traditional SUV and sleeker Sportback bodystyles, while the spacious interior is lavishly appointed and dripping in tech. There’s a standard, all wheel drive two motor set up (the 496bhp S has three), but while the Audi is quick, its supple ride and hushed refinement mean its forte is cruising. However, despite a 95kWh battery option, the range is a disappointing 261 miles

Porsche Cayenne

Price range: £66,120 £152,920

Our pick: E Hybrid S (£73,870)

IF you want a large SUV that’s sure to put a smile on your face, then the Cayenne is still the number one choice. Of course it’s not cheap, but its blend of finely honed handling, cosseting comfort, premium appeal and estate car rivalling practicality makes the high riding Porsche hugely compelling

Inside, the Cayenne is spacious and beautifully built, while there’s a wide choice of engines, from a plug in hybrid to the bellowing 631bhp V8 in the track focused GT A Coupé version adds a dash of extra style, while all models get four wheel drive that delivers confidence when the weather turns wintry.

WINTER SPECIAL 2022 Range Rover

Price range: £94,475 £173,320

Our pick: D300 MHEV HSE (£100,775)

IT’S more than 50 years since the Ran Rover invented the luxury SUV class, but the icon shows no signs of slowin down Now in its fifth generation, Lan Rover’s flagship is as desirable and talented as ever. The imposing lines never fail to attract attention, while th roomy and opulent interior melds old school luxury with cutting edge tech There’s now a seven seat option, too.

Despite its vast size, the Range Rov feels surprisingly nimble, yet with its soft air suspension and whisper quie refinement, the big Brit is very relaxin

There’s a range of powerful engines plus an EV just around the corner And with its clever four wheel drive system it delivers untouchable all weather security and can head much further into the wilderness than most rivals

BMW iX

Price range: £72,065 £116,905

Our pick: xDrive50 Sport (£96,785)

YOU should never judge a bookby its cover and when it comes to cars, no model proves this point better than the iX. Controversial looks mean the BMW stands out for all the wrong reasons, but on the move, the brand’s flagship EV is a class act.

As you’d expect of a range-topping BMW, refinement is first rate, while the twin motor all wheel drive set up delivers strong performance, especially in the hot 610bhp 60M edition.

Despite its high 2.5 tonne kerbweight, the iX handles with surprising precision and agility, while the supple ride takes the sting out of bumps and potholes. Other highlights include the spacious and luxurious interior, along with cutting edge tech and a claimed range of up to 380 miles.

Bentley Bentayga

Price range: £165,650 £229,500

Our pick: V8 Mulliner Driving (£167,905)

IF you want an SUV with an aristocratic sense of occasion, then the Bentayga will be right up your street Not only is it packed with imposing kerb appeal, the handcrafted interior also mixes a traditional luxury finish with cutting edge kit.

On the move, it’s surprisingly agile, but it’s at its best when wafting down the road in near silence

The barmy 190mph 6 0 litre W12 Speed edition is the one that grabs the headlines, but overall it’s the latest plug in hybrid powertrain that is the best match for the Bentley’s relaxed character on the road Whichever engine you choose, you’ll need a very healthy bank balance to buy and run the Bentayga.

AudiQ8

Price range: £71,340 £129,996

Our pick: 50 TDI quattro S Line (£71,340)

THE Q8 isn’t a car that gets the pulse racing, but it’s a great choice for well heeled buyers looking for a stylish, comfortable and tech laden SUV Essentially a sleeker and less practical version of Audi’s sensible seven seat Q7, the Q8’s angular lines and imposing presence mean it never fails to attract attention

However, it’s the interior that’s the real star of the show, with its first rate finish and classy looking twin screen infotainment set up A supple ride, low noise levels and light controls make it easy to drive, while the plug in hybrid powertrain option perfectly suits the car’s easy going character, and quattro all wheel drive brings all weather peace of mind

Volkswagen Toureg

Price range: £55,320 £67,350

Our pick: V6 TDI 286 SE L (£58,000)

OFTEN overlooked large SUVs, the Touareg is a hidden gem. Beyond the unassuming exterior, it shares its underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne. So it feels far more expensively engineered and luxurious than its humble VW badge would lead you to believe

The spacious interior looks and feels a cut above, while the vast infotainment and TFT dials give it a hi-tech look. Soft air suspension and lustyV6 diesels make the Touareg effortless to drive, while the all wheel drive offers unstoppable off road performance

If you want a classy and capable SUV that doesn’t shout about its potential, then lookno further.

Genesis GV80

Price range: £69,660 £133,000

Our pick: 400d AMG Line (£73,100)

WITH rivals such as the BMW X5 and Audi Q7, the GLE has its workcut out to make an impact. But it’s not short of showroom appeal, with a choice of seven seatSUV and rakish Coupé bodystyles. It also features a comfortable and lavishly equipped interior that includes Merc’s excellent MBUX infotainment.

Standard versions aren’t as engaging to drive as the X5, but the AMG tuned GLE 63 delivers sports car humbling pace For most, the muscular diesels and efficientplug in hybridsare more appropriate, because they suit the Merc’s easy going character.

Price range: £56,820 £62,990

Our pick: 3.0D Premium Line 7 seats (£57,390)

IT’S a relative newcomer to the premium market, but Korean brand Genesis has made an immediate impact. Leading the charge is its GV80 flagship, which combines imposing looks with a sumptuous interior that’s stuffed full of high grade materials and the very latest gadgets, including a glossy infotainment system and advanced semi autonomous driver aids

On the move, the focus is clearly on refinement and comfort, although the GV80 handles safely and securely The only problem is the lack of electrification in a limited engine line up that extends merely to a choice of six cylinder diesel or four pot petrol units.

Lexus RX

Price range: From £60,000 (est )

Our pick: RX450h+ Tekna (£75,000 est.)

THANKS to a recent mid life refresh, the RX has jumped from SUV also ran to class contender The distinctive looks remain, as does the high quality cabin, but adding the NX’s infotainment set up brings the tech bang up to date The RX also benefits from a plug in hybrid powertrain for the first time, with the 304bhp unit serving up smooth performance and an electric range of more than 40 miles for lower BiK bills.

It’s not as spacious inside as a BMW X5, and on the move the RX prioritises comfort over driver involvement But as a stylish alternative to the usual premium suspects, the RX deserves a closer look.

LandRover

THE reborn Defender has been such a massive hit for Land Rover that its order books are overflowing. Take a drive in the retro inspired off roader and it doesn’t take very long to understand why it’s been such a huge success For starters, itsTonka toy looks still attract plenty of attention, while its roomy and versatile interior combines practicality with genuine upmarket appeal It’s also packed with all the latest tech that’s both useful and easy to use.

There’s a choice of five seat 90 and seven seat 110 bodies, while a longer 130 model is also available As with all the best Land Rovers, the Defender offers a winning blend of poise and comfort on tarmac with unstoppable off road performance. There’s a range of lusty sixcylinder diesels and a plug in hybrid that’ll manage 27 miles on a charge, plus a booming but thirsty supercharged V8 petrol. In fact, the only downside is that the demand means you could be waiting over a year for your new car Butyou willbe getting one oftheverybest4x4s

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Price range: £84,555 £143,455

Our pick: 4S (£91,055)

WITH the Taycan Cross Turismo, Porsche offers a high performance EV that’s unfazed by gravel tracks while still happy slicing through corners on a race circuit. When fitted with the Off Road Design Pack, the surprisingly spacious Cross has a 10mm lift in ride height and some appropriately tough looking bodywork extensions They’re not for show, either; the four wheel drive Taycan can head off tarmac However, it’s just as fast, fun and comfortable as the standard car on the road There’s a choice of motors, including the 755bhp Turbo S, but the 4S with a ‘mere’ 469bhp is quick enough and can travel up to 304 miles on a charge.

Jeep Wrangler

Price range: £60,080 £62,280

Our pick: GME Overland (£60,080)

FEW firms have such a rich off road history as Jeep One of the American brand’s most famous offerings is the Wrangler, which takes its inspiration from the legendary forties Willys MB. Yet despite its old school looks, the latest fourth generation model is surprisingly modern inside, with loads of kit, plus decent infotainment and connectivity

Of course, the Jeep is in its element off road, where its four wheel drive system keeps you going when rivals get stranded But it’s a less impressive car on asphalt; the 268bhp 2 0 litre petrol is punchy but thirsty, while the lifeless steering and crashy ride remind you of the Wrangler’s military ancestors.

Volkswagen ID.4 GTX

Price range: £37,900 £58,390

Our pick: Life Edition Pro 77kWh (£43,660)

VOLKSWAGEN’S first attempt at a high performance electric SUV is a bit of a mixed bag With 296bhp from its twin motor set up, the ID 4 GTX is certainly quick, zapping from standstill to 62mph in just 6 2 seconds Yet, despite its lowered and stiffened suspension, and plenty of grip, the VW isn’t that fun to drive The light steering and uninvolving handling mean you’ll rarely take the long way home.

However, it’s comfortable and composed, while the minimalist interior is spacious and packed with tech, including a head up display Factor in the 308 mile claimed range and the GTX is perfect for those wanting swift, secure and sensible family transport.

MUCH like the Ineos Grenadier (see Page 67), the G Class is an upmarket SUV that hides thoroughly modern mechanicals under a classic looking body Taking its cues from the seventies original, details like the spare wheel on the rear door, exposed door hinges and round headlights are clear nods to the legendary first G Wagen The Merc’s square edged styling still packs plenty of kerb appeal in 2022, while the interior is as luxurious as the brand’s limousines and crammed with the latest driver aids

Head away from tarmac and a clever four wheel drive system with locking differentials gives the G Glass excellent mud plugging ability. However, the big Merc’s vague steering means its best to take it easy on the road, even in the outrageous 577bhp AMG G 63 The easy going diesel powered G 400 d makes a better all rounder, but with prices starting at a wallet bashing £123,500, the Merc remains a niche choice, albeit one that has been able to gather a very loyal following over the years.

Ignis

IF you thought all four wheel drive SUVs were big and expensive, then thinkagain The Ignis is no larger than many city cars, but it packs a raised ride height, chunky bodyworkcladding and a four wheel drive system that will allow you to explore more of the great outdoors than you’d ever believe possible

Yet the Suzuki is equally at home on the road, where its dinky size, quicksteering, perky mild hybrid 1.2 litre petrol and snappy gearchange make it surprisingly fun to drive The cramped rear seats and small boot limit its practicality, but the rest of the cabin is comfortable, solidly built and well equipped. Sometimesthe bestthingsdo come in smallpackages.

sangYong Rexton

THE ungainly Rexton is unlikely to win any beauty contests, but when it comes to space and value, the Korean machine takes some beating Offering Land Rover Discovery space and kit for the price of an entry level Discovery Sport, the Korean car has a roomy seven seat layout and lots of standard kit

Leather seat trim, a 9 2 inch infotainment screen and TFT dials are included, and while the material quality is still a little low rent, the build is strong.

On the move the Rexton is refined, but an old school ladder frame chassis means ponderous handling as well as an occasionally bouncy ride

However, standard four wheel drive and a seven year warranty bring peace of mind

101 BRILLIANT SUVs FOR WINTER

SPECIAL 2022

Dacia Duster

Price range: £15,295 £22,145

Our pick: 1 3 TCe 130 Expression (£18,145)

WHEN it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, very few contenders can rival the Duster. Prices start at just £15,295, yet for that modest amount you get a robust and roomy off roader that costs peanuts to run and has all the kit you’ll need.

It doesn’t feel like a bargain-basement special either, thanks to an interior that uses decent materials in many places Accurate steering and a range of willing engines mean the Dacia is also

good to drive, while its soft suspension soaks up bumps. There’s even the option of a sophisticated four wheel drive system with hill descent control, and a neat off road monitor that displays handy info such as your approach and departure angles. Only the lowly three-star Euro NCAP score lets the Duster down, although this is largely due to its lack of advanced driver assistance systems, which helps to keep down the price.

Ford Ranger Jeep Renegade

Price range: £35,350 £37,350

Our pick: 4xe PHEV Limited (£35,350)

IT’S a sign of the times that the only four wheel drive Renegade is a plug in hybrid As a result, the American brand’s entry level machine isn’t quite as capable off road as it was, but its combination of a 1.3 litre petrol engine and an electric motor delivers a healthy 237bhp and 31 miles of zero emission running The funky looking Jeep attracts plenty of attention, while what its interior lacks in space, it makes up for with equipment and style.

Uninspiring driving dynamics and an unsettled ride are also downsides, but if you want a compact family runaround with a dash of character and low running costs, the Renegade is worth a look.

Suzuki Across

Price: £46,629

Our pick: PHEV E Four (£46,629)

IF the Across looks strangely familiar, that’s because it’s essentially a rebadged version of the Toyota RAV4 That means it gets the same chunky styling and a family friendly interior that’s groaning under the weight of standard kit and the latest tech.

It also benefits from its identical twin’s smooth and efficient plug in hybrid powertrain, which delivers 49 miles of electric range, 22g/km CO2 emissions and a lowly eight per cent BiK rate. The similarities even extend to the driving experience, which is composed and comfortable, but not very exciting However, at £46,629, the Suzuki is nearly £1,000 more than the most expensive version of the Toyota.

Price range: £33,240 £56,990

Our pick: 2.0 EcoBlue 213 Wildtrak (£43,891)

A NEW Ranger is ready to muscle its way in, but the current version is still top of its class A winner in our 2022 New Car Awards, the brilliant Ford delivers SUV style ease of use with the toughness of a hard working commercial vehicle. Its interior is roomy, while most versions have all the kit you’d want, including the brand’s SYNC 3 infotainment

The ride can be a bit bumpy, but the Ranger steers accurately and its 2.0 litre diesel engines are responsive and efficient Factor in four wheel drive security and the versatility of the large load bay, and the Ford is a real pick me up for buyers wanting a family 4x4 with a difference.

Toyota LandCruiser

Price

Our

Ineos Grenadier

Price range:

Our pick:

Diesel Fieldmaster

(£59,000)

NOT all fans of the original Defender have been won over by its replacement (Page 64), and it’s these buyers that the Grenadier is aimed at. The influence of the iconic Brit 4x4 is obvious in the styling of the Ineos, butunderneath, the new car isbang up to date

Power comes from muscular BMW six cylinder engines, while the off road performance is strong. Elsewhere, the roomy interior is a far cry from the old Defender’s spartan layout, with a premium feel and loads of tech. We’ve yet to drive the Grenadier on the road, but all the signs point to it being a star of 2023.

FEW off roaders feel as invincible as the legendary Land Cruiser True, it’s not as sophisticated as more modern rivals such as the Land Rover Discovery, but when the going gets tough, the dependable Toyota is in a class of one It’s also very practical, with a vast seven seat interior, a large boot and loads of handy storage And while the Land Cruiser has a more utilitarian feel than most, it’s not short of luxuries, with leather trim and all the latest tech

On the road, this giant feels a bit cumbersome, while its clattery four cylinder diesel and bouncy ride hurt refinement Yet the rough and tumble charm and sp

Subaru Forester

Price range:

Our pick: 2 0 XE Lineartronic (£37,895)

NISSAN has always been credited with creating the crossover, but there’s an argumentSubaru beat it to the punch with the Forester. Combining estate car practicality and dynamics with rugged four wheel drive ability, the nineties original was a trend setter

Today’sversion isasversatile asever Itstrademark symmetrical all wheel drive makes it more capable off road than rivals, yet providesbalanced and secure handling Plus, the interior is spacious, robust and full of innovative tech However, the car’s Achilles heel is itssluggish 2.0 litre engine, which isthirstyand emits 185g/km of CO2 despite 48V mild-hybrid assistance

AlfaRomeo Stelvio

Price range:

Our

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the stops for its Stelvio Not only does the Italian 4x4 look good, it’s also bubbling with charm thanks to its engaging handling and typically eager engines. Top of the tree is the 503bhp Quadrifoglio, but every version is great to drive and has reassuring four wheel drive

Yet the Alfa is also a family friendly choice, with a spacious interior, large boot and the latest advanced driver safety aids Interior quality isn’t quite up to premium standards and the infotainment trails the best, but the Stelvio’s ability to tug at your heartstrings means you might be prepared to forgive such quirks.

Dacia Jogger

Price range:

pick:

OUR reigning Family Car of the Year has been one of the highlights of 2022. Despite costing the same as a mid spec supermini, the Jogger serves up genuine space for seven and packs the carrying capacity of an estate car. Go for the flagship Extreme SE model and you even get some eye catching styling cues, including chunky body cladding, skid plates and a high riding stance.

The interior is carried over from the Sandero, which means solid build and plenty of standard kit, with all but the entry level model getting a nifty eight inch infotainment screen There’s lots of versatile storage, while the mix of a soft ride, nimble handling and a passable downsized turbocharged engine make it fair to drive On this showing, the Jogger success story will just run and run

Audi Q7

Price range: £60,820 £100,840

Our pick: 50 TDI quattro

ARGUABLY, the original Q7 pioneered the large seven seat premium SUV class, and the current machine is still one of the best. Its interior is every bit as upmarket and lavishly appointed as you’d expect, while the touchscreens give it a hi tech feel There’s space for seven, and even adults can get comfortable in the back row It’s not exciting to drive, but the four wheel drive set up inspires confidence, the air suspension smoothes out bumps, and there’s a range of grunty V6 diesels plus powerful and efficient plug in hybrids It’s nearing its eighth birthday, but the Q7 is still at the top of its game.

Land

Price

A RECENT refresh has revitalised the Kodiaq, helping the versatile Czech machine scoop the Large SUV trophy in our 2022 New Car Awards The changes are modest, but the Skoda was already so close to the top of the pecking order that they were enough to secure it class honours.

On the outside, there’s a sleeker and more aerodynamic look, while the interior benefits from some trim changes that help add even more premium appeal.

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Hyundai Santa Fe

Price range:

Our pick: 2.2 CRDi Premium (£41,210)

LIKE the closely related Kia Sorento (Page 70), the Santa Fe is a machine you can mention in the same breath as premium badged rivals A recent nip and tuck has refreshed the imposing SUV’s looks, while the spacious and solidly finished seven seat interior looks even classier and features more advanced tech Hushed refinement, a supple ride and light controls make the Hyundai easy to live with, while the self charging and plug in hybrid options strike a good balance between power and fuel efficiency However, in common with its Korean cousin, the Santa Fe is no longer the value for money choice it once was. Unlike its relative, though, prices don’t yet exceed £50,000

Peugeot 5008

Price range:

Our pick: 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure Premium+ (£34,290)

PEUGEOT’S most family friendly model is also one of its best. Essentially a stretched version of the 3008, the 5008 boasts similarly distinctive styling, and its interior blendstop qualitywith the latesttech.There’s also loads of handy storage, while the third row is perfect for kids, and fine for adults on short trips.

On the move, the Peugeot’s combination of neat handling and decent ride comfort makes it good to drive, while in wintry conditions the clever Grip Control system is a good substitute for four wheel drive. Unfortunately, the 5008 isn’t available with its smaller sibling’s efficient plug-in hybrid engines.

Mercedes GLB/EQB

Price range:

Our pick: 220 d 4MATIC AMG Line Executive (£44,015)

AS you can see, the GLB has been designed as a scaled down G Class So you get similarly boxy lines that help the Merc stand out alongside sleeker rivals, while the interior is up to the brand’s high standards of quality and tech However, as with its arch rival, the Discovery Sport, the GLB’s third row seats are only really suitable for children

It’s as composed on and off road as its British competitor, and the model range includes the all electric EQB alongside the traditional petrol and diesel models There’s a choice of 219bhp and 288bhp twin motor four wheel drive set ups, with both claiming 257 miles between charges

BRILLIANT SUVs FOR WINTER

Kia Sorento

ANYONE doubting Kia’s premium pre should take a look at the Sorento. Fe distinctive looks, an upmarket interio more tech than a Currys superstore, t Korean is a firm Auto Express favouri

Of course, the Kia is a family SUV f foremost, which means a roomy inte can comfortably seat seven adults Y cabin is also a cut above mainstream in terms of look and finish, with high materials and wall to wall TFT screen infotainment system looks great and to use, plus you get all the latest driv

It’s not as sharp to drive as a Skod Kodiaq, but refinement and comfort rate All versions have four wheel dri there’s also the option of a plug in h powertrain that’ll deliver 35 miles of running If there is a catch, it’s the fa Kia’s aspirations are matched by its p

Price

Our pick: xDrive 40d Excellence (£83,295)

FEW cars are as guaranteed to get you noticed as BMW’s X7 flagship Sitting above the already substantial X5, the seven seat German machine combines acres of space with the lavish finish and gadgets you’d normally expect in a luxury limo

Despite the BMW’s size, a high set driving position and polished dynamics mean it feels surprisingly wieldy. Better still, the pillow soft air suspension, low noise and brawny six cylinder engines make for effortless progress There’s also a mad 523bhp M50i version for those with lots of money to burn An even more imposing facelifted model is due to arrive later this year.

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IT’S difficult to believe the handsome Volvo XC90 is over seven years old now. A raft of newer rivals have arrived on the scene since the stylish Swede’s debut in 2015 (when it was Auto Express Car of the Year), yet it’s as desirable now as it ever was.

Not only is there genuinely enough space for seven adults inside, but the minimalist interior also looks a cut above. That sets it apart from rivals like the Audi Q7 and Range Rover Sport, while its seats are some of the most supportive around

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What’s more, the Volvo’s laid back driving experience and class leading safety equipment help lower your blood pressure after a long day Better still, the recent addition of a larger 18.8kWh battery for the plug in hybrid T8 model has boosted its EV range to over 40 miles, which translates to a wallet friendly BiK rate of just eight per cent.

SUVs

Tesla Model X

Price range: £102,980 £110,980 Our pick: Long Range AWD (£102,980)

IT’S hard to look beyond those jaw dropping ‘Falcon Wing’ rear doors when discussing Tesla’s Model X But the American EV has a lot more to offer, including an impressive range of up to 348 miles and access to the manufacturer’s excellent Supercharger network Then there’s the wild, three motor Plaid model at the top of the line up that delivers an incredible 1,006bhp and 0 60mph in a head spinning 2.5 seconds.

More importantly for family buyers, it’s spacious, with room for seven adults and a big boot There’s also standard four wheel drive (but not enough ground clearance for serious off road work) and the brand’s trademark tech allows over the air upgrades

Nissan X-Trail

Price range: £32,030 £47,155 Our pick: e Power Acenta Premium (£36,140)

AFTER nearly 10 years, Nissan has finally replaced its versatile X Trail with an all new version and this fourth generation machine is the most advanced yet. The old car’s seven seat versatility remains, but there’s sharper styling and it’s based on the firm’s latest CMF C platform. That means it uses the same range extending, self charging hybrid drivetrain as the Qashqai, called e Power.The set up usesa 2.1kWh battery packcharged by an efficient 1 5 litre petrol, and there’s a four wheel drive version with an extra motor. Factor in a classy interior and cutting edge tech, and the Nissan is an SUV with a real X-factor.

Tiguan Allspace

Price range: £33,785 £45,695 Our pick: 1.5 TSI Life (£35,975)

A RELATIVELY recent addition to the VW line up, the Allspace adds seven seat versatility to the Tiguan’s list of talents Stretched by 215mm over the standard car, it squeezes in a third row of seats that can be quickly folded into the boot floor to deliver a cavernous 760 litres of space

Despite its extra length, the Allspace is as good to drive as the normal Tiguan, with predictable handling and a firm but composed ride The brand’s 4MOTION all wheel drive system is available as an option on more powerful models, but the two wheel drive 1 5 litre TSI is our pick for

Discovery Sport

ice range: £33,125 £53,510

ur pick: D200 MHEV Urban dition (£42,125)

THE explosion in the number of upmarket compact SUVs means it would be easy to overlook the Discovery Sport. Yet while it’s not quite as eye catching as younger rivals, the entry level Land Rover’s combination of assured handling, off road prowess and upper class image is hard to resist Its interior has a similar look and feel to Range Rover models and there’s lots of space although the third row is best reserved for kids The petrols are eager enough, but aren’t the most refined, while the need to package the battery and motor means the P300e PHEV is a five seater only.

Richard Ingram Richard Ingram@autoviacouk @rsp ingram

MAKE no mistake: electric cars are less efficient in the winter The cold weather affects battery performance, reducing range and forcing you to charge more often But with EVs accounting for 14.5 per cent of new car registrations, what sort of mileage might go missing? And can you still drive an EV in sub zero temperatures?

The short answer to the second question, of course, is yes For years (thanks to strong incentives) Norway’s electric car uptake far surpassed that of any other global market in spite of its extreme winters. The UK, in contrast, has a relatively mild climate, so driving an EV year round over here should be a piece of cake

Some firms, such as Renault, offer online calculators that let you work out what kind of range you can expect when temperatures drop As an example, if you’re running a Zoe in normal conditions (20 degrees celsius, at a steady 31mph), Renault reckons you’ll get 234 miles on a full charge

If the temperature were to drop to just five degrees and you ran around everywhere with the heater on, that figure could topple to 187 miles according to Renault’s sums a 20 per cent reduction in range It’s worse still when things fall below freezing; at minus five degrees a Zoe R135 will return

just 152 miles before needing to be plugged in It’s important to note that the bigger the battery, the greater potential for energy loss.

Cold temperatures adversely affect EV batteries because they rely on chemical reactions to store and release electricity Lithium ion batteries the most common cells used in electric and hybrid cars work when lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode; cold slows this process down and restricts battery performance The result can be a dramatic loss in usable range.

Yet for many drivers, even 152 miles will be plenty If you’ve got a short commute and can charge up at work or at home, you could even take advantage of pre conditioning heating your car’s cabin, defrosting the windows and switching on the heated seats before you leave in the morning

This will not only keep you and your passengers nice and toasty, it can also help condition the battery to limit energy loss; the warmer the battery, the more likely it is to perform at its best. Cars fitted with auxiliary heat pumps often perform better in winter for this reason; if you live in an area particularly affected by the cold, we’d seriously consider specifying a heat pump as an optional extra.

While there are no added dangers when charging your car in rain or snow, another adverse effect of the cold is that charging speeds from public rapid chargers may be slower. Tesla admits that extreme weather

HOW DOES COLDER WEATHER

COLD HARD FACTS

Many motorists have questions when it comes to electric cars, and anxiety over range is one of the most common

Yes, an EV won’t do as many miles per charge in colder weather, but what else do you need to know about driving an EV in the winter? Read on to find out.

“Norway’s electric car uptake far surpassed that of any other global market in spite of its extreme winters”

ELECTRIC CARS?

While winter weather will affect the battery more than when it’s hot, EVs are perfectly suited to the cold

can result in reduced charging speeds at its Supercharger stations, and the same is likely to be true of other networks

But apart from keeping an eye on your model’s predicted range, the weather and prevailing road conditions, there isn’t much for you to worry about when driving an electric car during the winter months

True, electric cars are generally heavier than their equivalent petrol and diesel models slides may be harder to control but common sense dictates that we should all drive more carefully in the cold or wet, regardless of whether we’re in an electric

car or not. Any handling disadvantages can, of course, be mitigated somewhat by investing in a good set of winter tyres, which is just as important for an EV as it is for a petrol car.

So yes, you can still drive an electric car through the winter Be sure to perform regular maintenance on your car check your windscreen washers, anti freeze and tyre pressures at a bare minimum and you should be fine Oh, and remember: at least you won’t be left standing beside the car in sleeting rain for five minutes filling your tank with diesel.

ELECTRIC CARSIN WINTER

HOWTOGETMORE FROMYOUREV

WONDERING how you can eke out the maximum mileage from your electric car during the colder months? Here are our top tips.

Plug in and pre-heat your car If you can, it’s always worth pre heating the cabin while your car is plugged in. That way you’re using mains power to warm the car, rather than sapping range by using the battery after you set off. Plugging in more often than usual can save you from range anxiety, too.

Use heated seats (and turn off heater!)

An electric car’s heated seats and heated steering wheel use far less energy than the fan or air-conditioning unit. If you can bear it, switching off the A/C can add considerably to your projected range.

Slow down It might sound obvious, but the faster you drive, the less efficient your car is going to be. Even dropping from 70mph to 65mph on the motorway could make a big difference to range. Driving gently and using the car’s Eco setting can help, too.

Use your sat-nav The sat nav systems in most EVs can plot the most efficient route when you enter a destination potentially saving precious miles The same is now true of Google Maps, if you prefer using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

Maximise regenerative braking Turning up the level of your electric car’s regenerative braking can help capture energy that would otherwise be lost when slowing or coasting. Beware, however, that in heavy snow or ice, such a system can cause your wheels to slip; we’d switch it off in extreme conditions.

COLD COMFORT

SUVs

If you’re in the market for an SUV, but don’t want to buy a new car, here’s our guide to some of the best models on a used car forecourt near you

Skoda Kodiaq

Price range: £12,450 £48,175

Our pick: Kodiaq 2.0 TDI SE Technology 4x4 (£18,290 17/17 45k miles)

THE recent arrival of a facelifted Kodiaq means there has never been a better time to bag a used example of Skoda’s large family SUV. Changes to the latest model have been kept to a minimum, so even the earliest examples still look fresh Inside the Czech car there is the same blend of upmarket finish, robust build quality and generous space

Seven seat versions are the most desirable, while the 2 0 litre TDI serves up a good mix of pace, poise and penny pinching running costs If you’re looking for all weather peace of mind, then it’s worth seeking out the very capable 4x4 models.

SEAT Ateca

Price range: £7,800 £34,995

Our pick: Ateca 1 4 EcoTSI FR (£14,995 18/18 36k miles)

A FORMER winner at our annual New Car Awards ceremony, the SEAT Ateca secured a top 10 finish in this year’s Driver Power survey, proving that it is an equally attractive used choice Sharp lines mean the Spanish machine still creates a stir, while few compact SUVs are as engaging to drive

Yet the SEAT is much more than just a pretty face, because its interior mixes the brand’s design flair with impressive quality and enough space for most growing families There’s a quick 296bhp Cupra version, but for most buyers the 1 5 TSI petrol is the best bet If you can stretch to a post 2020 facelift model, then you’ll also benefit from an excellent upgraded 9 2 inch infotainment system

Kia Sportage

Price range: £7,495 £31,000

Our pick: Sportage 1.7 CRDi 2 (£11,950 17/17 57k miles)

LEADING the charge in Kia’s rise from bargain brand to premium player has been the Sportage In desirable fourth generation guise it combines the eye catching style of its predecessor with an interior that’s roomy, slickly designed and full of decent connectivity

Light controls and composed handling make it good to drive, while apart from a firm low speed ride, it’s refined and comfortable. Frugal diesels are the most popular choice, but the 2018 facelift brought mild hybrid technology Proving it’s not just us who think the Kia is a great choice, owners placed it sixth overall in our 2022 Driver Power satisfaction survey.

Price range: £10,400 £47,780

Our pick: 3008 1.2 PureTech 130 Allure (£15,000 18/67 45k miles)

WHEN it unveiled the second generation 3008 in 2017, Peugeot transformed its compact crossover from ugly duckling to stylish swan. The old car’s ungainly looks were replaced by new contemporary lines with lots of classy kerb appeal

It’s just as upmarket inside, where neat touches such as the fabric inserts on the doors and dash lift the ambience. It’s roomy, while the suspension balances agility and comfort If you do lots of short trips, then the plug in hybrid is worth paying a premium for, but the best value is offered by the lively and efficient turbocharged 1.2 litre petrol.

Renault Kadjar

Price range: £5,995 £29,395

Our pick: Kadjar 1.5 dCi Dynamique Nav (£9,290 17/17 60k miles)

IT took Renault a few attempts to find a winning SUV formula, but with the Kadjar it hit the jackpot It arrived in 2015 with a compelling blend of style, space and low running costs, taking it straight to the top of the class

Its popularity when new means there are plenty of examples to choose from, while its rounded styling still looks good today. Inside, the Kadjar rivals premium cars for quality and tech, while its 472 litre boot is one of the biggest Precise steering and balanced handling make it good to drive, but it offers Renault’s trademark cushioned ride and low noise levels, too. Even better, prices start at less than £6,000 for this talented model

Citroen C3 Aircross

Price range: £7,995 £27,490

Our pick: C3 Aircross 1.2 PureTech Flair (£9,699 18/18 40k miles)

A MIX of exploitable versatility and French design flair make the C3 Aircross one of our favourite new SUVs. Yet with prices starting from just £9,000, the Citroen makes even more sense as a used choice

That sum will buy a pre facelift car with plenty of space and useful features, such as a sliding rear bench. A supple ride and light controls make it relaxing and easy to drive, while the reliable petrol and diesel engines are eager Factor in solid build quality, lots of kit and low running costs, and it’s easy to see why the Aircross bagged back to back

Skoda Yeti

Price range: £2,795 £21,000

Our pick: Yeti 1 2 TSI SE Outdoor (£7,995 14/14 61k miles)

FEW family cars caused such a stir as the Yeti when it arrived in 2012. Combining rugged SUV looks with MPVversatility and family hatch driving dynamics, the charming Czech machine was an instant hit. The boxy lines mean there’s plenty of space inside, while the optionalVarioFlex rear seats independently slide and recline for maximum versatility.

Early versions lackthe most advanced tech, but facelifted cars are better equipped All drive brilliantly, with agile handling and a composed ride There’s lots of engines to pickfrom, but the 1.2 TSI petrol is brisk and efficient Robust build and solid dependability

Nissan X-Trail

Price range: £5,900 £30,995

Our pick: X Trail 1.6 dCi Acenta (£11,495 16/16 42k miles)

THERE’S now an all new X Trail in showrooms, which means there are some tasty used deals to be done on its predecessor. Despite being nearly a decade old, the seven seatSUV still looks smart, while its interior offers just enough tech and plenty of space It’s only the clunky infotainment that really dates the Nissan. The third row seats are best left for kids, but the rest of the cabin is roomy and full of kit. It drives well, with assured handling and the ability to switch between efficient two wheel drive and four wheel drive at the twist of a dial. Engine choice is limited, but the later 1.6 litre dCi diesel is our pick.

C-HR

Price range: £12,250 £39,990

Our pick: C HR 1.2 T Icon (£13,895 17/17 37k miles)

C HR is a great choice for families wanting to turn on the style. Under the Toyota’s eye catching bodywork is the same platform as the Prius, which means similarly engaging driving dynamics, with impressive smoothness and refinement, plus the option of hybrid powertrains

The well made interior is roomy enough, but that sloping roofline means rear seat occupants may feel a little claustrophobic On the plus side, a five year warranty and an eighth place in Driver Power mean the Toyota should be a trouble free choice.

2022

Nissan Juke

Price range: £2,495 £16,850

Our pick: Juke 1 2 DiG T Acenta (£5,995 15/15 42k miles)

HAVING set the crossover trend with the original Qashqai, Nissan repeated the trickwith its compact Juke. Packing bold concept car looks and rugged SUV appeal into a supermini sized package, the British built machine was a big sales hit. In some respects, though, the Nissan delivers style over substance, because the backseats are cramped, it’s a bit dull to drive, and it features dated technology.

Yet there’s no doubt the Juke turns heads, plus it’s reliable and cost effective to run. There’s even a four-wheel-drive option, plus a hot hatch rivalling Nismo version that delivers 215bhp in RS guise Better still, prices start at less than £3,000 and there are plenty of used examples to choose from

Peugeot 2008 Honda CR-V Hyundai Santa Fe

Price range: £11,995 £43,950

Our pick: CR V 1.6 i DTEC SE Plus Navi (£13,400 18/18 49k miles)

WHILE it’s unlikely to get your pulse racing, the CR V is a sensible and stress free used choice It’s extremely roomy, with easily enough room for five adults and a vast 497 litre boot. Soft suspension and lifeless steering mean the Honda isn’t that much fun to drive, but it is comfortable and quiet

The smooth petrol electric hybrid is well suited to the CR V, but the early diesels deliver a strong mix of pace and economy Top notch quality and clockwork reliability mean electronic and mechanical worries are rare, while the Honda finished in fifth position in this year’s Driver Power owner satisfaction poll.

Price range: £3,800 £17,500

Our pick: 2008 1.2 PureTech 110 Allure (£9,995 17/17 38k miles)

PEUGEOT’S first attempt at a compact crossover isn’t the most glamorous option, but with prices now dipping below £4,000, it represents great value. Based on the original 208 supermini, it shares the same quirky i Cockpit dash layout, but a stretched wheelbase means there’s much more room for rear seat passengers, as well as a handy 360 litre boot It handles accurately, plus it was available with Peugeot’s Grip Control set up, although you’ll need to check that any potential buy is still fitted with all season tyres All the engines are frugal, but the smaller petrols struggle when the car is fully loaded.

Price range: £12,500 £25,995

Our pick: Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium SE (£13,995 14/14 46k miles)

ANY doubts about Hyundai’s desire to push upmarket were blown out of the water by the third generation Santa Fe. A decade on from its launch, the Korean machine’s chiselled shape still looks smart, while the cabin is neatly designed, robustly built and positively bursting with standard kit

There’s loads of space, and even adults won’t mind sitting in the third row. The 2.2 litre CRDi diesel is a touch gruff and thirsty, but it pulls strongly and most cars are four wheel drive Light controls, decent visibility, a controlled ride and bulletproof dependability make the Santa Fe easy to live with.

Price range: £21,000

Our pick: XC90 D5 Momentum (£26,995 15/15 45k miles)

IT’S not hard to see why the XC90 scooped the Large SUV trophy at our 2022 Used Car Awards. Few cars are as versatile as the Swedish star, which delivers space for seven adults while retaining a decent sized 316 litre boot The interior is comfortable and beautifully built, while the exterior looks as slick as it did when the car arrived in 2015.

The big Volvo is also great to drive, with accurate handling, a soft ride and excellent refinement There’s a wide choice of engines, including frugal diesels, punchy petrols and the T8 PHEV that combines nearly 400bhp with 30 miles of EV running.

Kia Niro aguar F-Pace

Price range: £15,995 £89,999

Our pick: F Pace 2 0D R Sport (£22,500 16/16 52k miles)

JAGUAR was late bringing an SUV to market, but the F Pace was worth the wait Featuring Jag’s trademark engaging handling and cushioned ride, the Big Cat is one of the best off roaders for keen drivers. It’s also handsome and features an interior that feels as comfortable and cosseting as the firm’s saloons

The Ingenium four cylinder engines offer strong performance, while the smooth V6s are desirable but costly There’s also the mad SVR, with its 503bhp supercharged V8 and crushing turn of speed Post 2021 facelift cars cost more, but feature an even classier interior and slick Pivi Pro infotainment.

Price range: £12,299 £41,995

Our pick: Kia e Niro First Edition 64kWh (£30,000 19/19 38k miles)

BUYERS wanting a sensible and cost effective used compact crossover are spoiled for choice, but one of the best is the original Kia Niro Look past its rather bland styling and you’ll discover a spacious and well equipped family car that’s as easy to live with as it is to drive

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to engines, too, with self charging and plug in hybrid variants as well as the all electric e Niro model that delivers up to 280 miles on a charge

Then there’s the fact that all examples will still have cover from Kia’s seven year warranty.

HOW good is the Skoda Karoq as a second hand buy? Well, it’s just bagged overall honours in our 2022 Used Car Awards As sharp to drive as it is to look at, the compact Czech SUV is certainly a desirable choice

Yet it’s sensible, too, with a spacious interior that combines practical features, such as a sliding rear bench, with upmarket fit and finish. The Karoq’s 521 litre boot rivals models from the class above, while the option of four wheel drive serves up surprising off road capability. What’s more, a recent facelift means there are bargains to be had on earlier cars

SPECIAL 2022

Suzuki Vitara

Price range: £6 Our pick: Vitar ALLGRIP (£11,99

OVER the years the transformed from loving soft roader family crossover T for buyers who wa from the crowd, bu the market for a pr effective runaroun slightly dowdy loo great to drive, than steering and agile

It’s also powere engines, including frugal 1 6 litre dies its slick AllGrip fou option, the Vitara h its off roading root bit plain and some are low rent, but th roomy, robust and

Dacia Duster

Price range: £2,495 £13,500

Our pick: Duster 1.5 dCi Laureate (£5,990 13/13 40k miles)

AS a cheap and cheerful used SUV, the Duster deserves serious consideration It’s not the most sophisticated option, but the Dacia is roomy, versatile and represents outstanding value for money. It’s also decent to drive. There’s lots of body roll, but the budget machine clings on well and does a good job of soaking up bumps Go for the four wheel drive model and you get impressive off road ability, too. Inside, early used models feel basic, while the entry level Access is sparsely equipped However, pick an Expression or Laureate and you’ll have a capable and well equipped off roader for thousands less than mainstream rivals.

Vauxhall Grandland X

Price range: £7,500 £32,500

Our pick: Grandland X 1.2 Turbo SRi Nav (£15,795 19/69 38k miles)

FOLLOWING in the wheeltracks of the underwhelming Antara, the Grandland X finally gave Vauxhall a genuine compact crossover contender. Based on the same platform as the second generation Peugeot 3008, it benefits from a roomy interior and features a good range of engines, including a plug in hybrid

There’s also the option of IntelliGrip, which improves traction in slippery conditions. The Grandland X isn’t quite as stylish as its French cousin, inside or out, and it isn’t as satisfying to drive But on the plus side, Vauxhall’s infotainment is easier to use, there’s lots of kit, and weaker residuals make it more affordable.

Kia Sorento

Price range: £11,995 £34,500

Our pick: Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX 2 (£15,000 15/65 54k miles)

BUYERS wanting to get as much SUV for their cash as possible should consider the third generation Sorento. Like the closely related Hyundai Santa Fe, it represented a big step upmarket compared with its predecessor, making it a desirable second hand buy

The spacious seven seat interior is well up to the demands of a busy family, while standard four wheel drive brings peace of mind. The only engine is a 2.2 litre diesel that isn’t the most refined or particularly efficient, but it’s muscular and, paired with the soft suspension, gives an easy going character Many cars will still have the balance of Kia’s seven year warranty.

Range Rover Evoque

Price range: £8,000 £38,500

Our pick: Evoque 2.0 TD4 HSE Dynamic (£17,995 16/65 41k miles)

THE original Evoque was a sales sensation when it was launched, with buyers clambering over each other to get behind the wheel. More than a decade on and the entry level Range Rover’s appeal is still strong Bold coupé style looks and a lavishly appointed interior mean it oozes desirability, while its mix of poised on road dynamics and impressive agility off the beaten track is unmatched by rivals A cramped cabin and small boot mean it’s not the most practical choice On the plus side, though, prices are now as low as £8,000, which means you can get the Evoque’s catwalk looks at high street prices

Volvo XC40

Price range: £15,600 £57,900

Our pick: T3 Momentum (£21,495 19/19 42k miles)

CONDENSING the cool Swedish looks of Volvo’s bigger SUVs into a smaller and more affordable package, the XC40 is an enticing prospect. Despite its plush ride and strong refinement, this family car is surprisingly agile and engaging to drive

There’s also a wide range of punchy petrol and frugal diesel options, plus all electric versions with two motors that deliver a hefty 402bhp punch and claim up to 260 miles on a single charge Strong residual values mean the XC40 is not a cheap second hand option but on the plus side

Hyundai Kona

Price range: £7,990 £41,450

Our pick: Kona 1 0 T GDi SE (£12,795 18/18 22K miles)

A TOP four finish in our 2022 Driver Power survey suggests that few used SUVs will be as satisfying to own as the Kona. Owners raved about the car’s quality, reliability and tech, while the choice of traditional combustion engine, self charging hybrid and all electric drivetrains means there should be something to suit every taste and budget.

It’s not very exciting to drive and rivals offer more rear seat space and boot capacity, but the Hyundai’s distinctive looks and ease of use offset these niggles

There’s also the lure of a five year, unlimited mileage warranty plus the recent arrival of a facelifted model

Nissan Qashqai

Price range: £4,250 £26,925

Our pick: Qashqai 1.2 DiG T Tekna (£10,499 14/14 46k miles)

IN the music industry the ‘tricky second album’ issue can make or breakmany bands. But Nissan had no such problems with its replacement for the hugely successful original Qashqai. With smarter looks, a classier interior and more grown up driving dynamics, the Mk2 model was even more popular. Better still, the improved showroom appeal was matched by superior practicality, with more space inside and a bigger boot that’s packed with handy storage solutions. Tried and tested mechanicals mean the Qashqai shouldn’t let you down, plus it’s as cost effective to run as a traditional family hatch.

CX-5

Price range: £9,995 £40,705

Our pick: CX 5 2.2 Skyactiv D SE L (£14,950 18/67 37k miles)

serve up proper driver engagement through a series of corners, while the precise manual gearbox has a similar slick feel to the one used in the firm’s MX 5 roadster

Yet this is a family car, too, thanks to its very roomy interior, big boot and comfortable ride What’s more, the quality of the cabin took a leap forward with this second generation CX 5, which matches premium rivals for ambience and technology If you’re still undecided, then it’s worth noting that the Mazda finished second overall in this year’s Driver Power poll.

WINTER will take its toll on you and your

The colder, wetter weather and longer hours of darkness mean you are going to have to concentrate harder while driving Your car, meanwhile, will use more fuel, and harsh salt on the roads will accelerate corrosion.

There are ways of making sure your car is ready for winter and preparing it for the freezing weather ahead. These will ensure you stay safe and aren’t stranded in the cold.

Most drivers will have an ice scraper and can of de icer already, but now is the time to dig them out from the shed so you’re not left using a credit card to clear the screen when caught out while away from home. Beyond the basics, there are other accessories which we think will make life easier for you and your car this winter. Here are our eight essentials.

Wiper blades

WE take the two thin strips of rubber that keep our vision clear completely for granted They are expected to provide smear free cleaning in the coldest, wettest weather

Because they tend to wear slowly, you might not even notice they are worn However, upgrading them for new blades every 18 months or so will make a real difference to your visibility and ensure that driving in dark, rainy conditions is much less stressful

Our tests include putting the blades in a freezer overnight to ensure they stay supple in cold weather, and the Bosch Aerotwin came out on top

ESSENTIALS FOR

COOLKIT

Now is the time to get you and your car prepared for the colder months ahead. No one wants to be stranded at the side of the road, thinking “if only I’d checked that”. So here are the eight items that we think are essentials

Headlamp bulbs

MANY modern cars will have sophisticated LED headlamps, which have taken over from the equally bright xenon lights, which were popular on upmarket models a decade ago But drivers of older and less expensive vehicles will still have to put up with the traditional halogen bulbs on at least some of their forward facing lights

Upgrading the headlamps will make a real difference, because all of the products in our test claimed to offer 200 per cent more light than standard bulbs That will make driving on dark country lanes much easier and safer.

Our award winner was the Ring Xenon200, which showed good all round performance across our tests

Warning triangles and lights

IF you break down at any time of year, it may put you and other road users at risk But the danger is even greater in the dark and gloomy winter months

Warning triangles are a legal requirement in many countries and lots of British motorists carry them too, so they can alert approaching traffic that there is a stranded vehicle ahead

Our favourite breakdown warning devices go one stage further, adding flashing lights to make them even more visible The test winning Powerlantz also has a bright work light, so it can help you fix problems by the roadside.

Rust prevention

SALT applied to the roads in winter rapidly accelerates corrosion on a car, and parts that are out of sight can develop a coating of rust surprisingly quickly.

To keep it away, choose a dry day and give vulnerable parts of your car, such as the wheelarches, a quick blast with a pressure washer Wait until everything has dried and then carefully apply a specialist coating to parts that might be starting to look rusty. Just be careful to avoid the brake components and exhaust

We tested Muc Off’s HCB 1 and it did a good job of warding off corrosion for several weeks, or Ferrosol’s UB products will provide longer term protection

Tom Barnard

Screen wash

SALTY roads create a fine spray of grime that will quickly coat your windscreen Using the wipers alone will just create smears; combine that with a winter sun that is low down in the sky and it can be a real hazard when driving

You don’t want to find out your washer jets have frozen when you are doing 60mph either, so make sure your screenwash has been upgraded for the cold weather and that you have ‘primed’ the pipes with the new fluid.

You might need to do a few quick sums before you buy, because some pre mixed formulas could make better financial sense than the concentrates at winter levels of dilution.

Jump pack

COMPARED with the hassle of asking a passer by to give you a jump start or calling a breakdown truck, using a mini jump starter pack will prove a revelation. These compact boxes are no bigger than a microwave ready meal, yet they will provide multiple jump starts to a car with a flat battery.

Most will also double up as a USB charge pack, which could make them invaluable if you are stuck somewhere remote with a flat smartphone battery

Our favourite in recent tests was the Clarke JSM300, which performed well in the vehicle jump start assessments, but also included a variety of adaptors to power other accessories

Emergency blanket

YOU may have seen these space age blankets being used after sport events to keep athletes warm

They are gossamer thin, but the silvered coating means the blankets have the insulating properties of a thick fabric. They are also waterproof and will protect you from the sun and UV rays in summer, too

We found them on sale for less than £1 each and they take up minimal space, so there is no excuse for not keeping at least one in the glovebox If you are forced to abandon your car on a motorway in freezing rain, having these on hand could be a real benefit for you and your family

Tyres

ANY driver who has been stranded in the snow, or had a ‘moment’ when driving through standing water, will know how crucial tyres are in winter

If you live in areas where the temperatures regularly plunge, it might be worth choosing dedicated winter tyres These are a legal requirement in some European countries, because they make such a difference to safety in the colder months. Our best buy is the Continental WinterContact TS 870

All weather tyres offer a good compromise for drivers who don’t want the trouble or expense of changing their car’s wheels twice a year See our full all season tyre test, starting on page 87

B b 800 Adventure XLP

FEW people would think you could toughen up a Mercedes AMG G63 but Brabus did. The 800 Adventure XLP was 69cm longer than the standard car, its ride height was just shy of half a metre, and the 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 was fettled to produce a whopping 789bhp. You could even buy a drone (the ‘Wingcopter’) to spot any crevasses or polar bears blocking your path

Ripsaw F4

HOWE & Howe, the firm that makes the 4.5 tonne Ripsaw F4, claims this is the fastest dual tracked vehicle in the world, with a top speed of 55mph

The tank like tracks give 20 inches of ground clearance for the passenger pod, which can seat up to four people And storage compartments on the Ripsaw F4’s exterior will carry anything from luggage to heavy weaponry.

Red Bull RB7

NO, your eyes aren’t deceiving you that is a Formula One car on snow In fact, it’s Red Bull’s RB7, in which Sebastian Vettel won his second world title in 2011. In 2016, the team sent Max Verstappen onto the slopes in Kitzbuhel, Austria, and, with snow chains and a raised ride height, the RB7 coped admirably on its short demonstration run at the winter sports resort.

Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle

YOU may think Lotus was mad to make a fully electric hypercar, but that’s nothing compared with this In 2008 the firm came up with the Concept Ice Vehicle, a biofuel powered craft that was designed to navigate Antarctica and raise awareness about climate change. A BMW motorcycle engine drove a propeller, while a trio of independently suspended skis gave the concept stability on the snow

Nissan 370Zki concept

THE 370Zki was part snowmobile, part sports car The 3 7 litre V6 from the regular 370Z was retained, but the drivetrain was redesigned to power tracks. Strangely, the front brake discs were also kept, despite being mounted to skis Nissan also concocted the Armada Snow Patrol concept, based on the Armada SUV it sold in the US, to tow the 370Zki around.

Hyundai Santa Fe

AMAZINGLY, the first passenger vehicle to cross the Antarctic was a modified Santa Fe. Its 2.2 litre diesel engine and transmission were left as standard, although the regular suspension and tyres had to be replaced with something more appropriate It was driven by Patrick Bergel, the great grandson of Sir Ernest Shackleton, in December 2016 to coincide with the centenary of Shackleton’s Trans Antarctic expedition

Volkswagen Snowreg

BACK in 2014 Volkswagen created the VW Snowreg to ferry personnel from stage to stage at Rally Sweden Based on the standard 4 2 litre V8 TDI diesel engined Touareg SUV, the Snowreg gained 18 inch wide Mattracks to help in the ice bound conditions Despite a 340bhp power output and a mountainous 664Nm of torque, the Volkswagen’s top speed was limited to 40mph.

GMC Sierra All Mountain Concept

IN 2017, US truck manufacturer GMC designed a snow going vehicle based on its 2500HD Crew Cab The GMC Sierra All Mountain Concept contained a 6.6 litre, twin turbocharged V8 diesel engine, as well as two sets of tracks on each axle, a 30 inch light bar and snowboard racks. GMC said the concept was “perfectly suited” to snow, and on the evidence of the pictures, they weren’t wrong

EXTREME MACHINES

When you’re clearing snow and ice from your car this winter, spare a thought for these wacky creations that prove when the going gets tough, the tough get going

AndyPringle Andy pringle@autoviacouk

THERE’S nothing like a bit of snow and ice to prompt the greatest minds in automotive engineering to put on their thinking caps And when the weather gets really extreme, the engineering solutions do, too. From sprouting extra wheels to bolting on tracks and skis, pretty much anything and everything has been tried in an effort to make it easier to get around when the going gets very, very tough Here we’ve gathered together some of the wildest and wackiest creations from around the world Some are pure concepts, while others are available on a website near you right now but all are as extreme in their ambitions as they look.

Avtoros Shaman

WITH its eight wheels, the Russian Avtoros Shaman can tackle just about any terrain including water, thanks to a wading speed of 4.3mph. The 3.0 litre diesel engine only provides a modest 144bhp and 350Nm of torque, though, which isn’t much in a vehicle that weighs 4,800kg before you’ve loaded it up with the maximum 1,500kg payload.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Rallye

IN 2018, Porsche revealed a concept rallying version of the outgoing Cayman The response was so positive that the company put the car into production, based on the new 718 Cayman. The 3 8 litre naturally aspirated flat six engine was left alone, although the underbody had to be reinforced and a roof mounted air intake was installed, as well as an LED light bar on the bonnet

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DRIVERS looking for the best way to cope with increasingly extreme weather are turning to all season tyres, because they provide vastly improved grip in winter over conventional alternatives, without the cost and aggravation of changing tyres twice a year.

But no tyre can be best in the wet, dry and snow, so manufacturers have to decide where they want their tyre to perform best. That decision and how much performance they give up elsewhere is why we test all season tyres every year, and this time round we return to the massively popular 225/45R17 size.

We’re also back to some sort of normality after two years where our testing was disrupted by the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions. We were able to buy almost all of our tyres, and where they were supplied, we compared them later with bought samples to ensure they were as tested

With the help of Goodyear, we completed the snow tests at the company’s Arctic Center facility in northern Finland, while the wet and dry assessments were done with Continental at the firm’s Contidrom in Hanover, Germany.

So which tyre producer managed to get the performance balance right in this year’s test? We reveal all over the next five pages

THERE’S a familiar lookto the test line up, with Hankook, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Avon returning with the same tyres we tested in 16 inch form last year

The new Michelin CrossClimate 2 makes its Auto Express test debut, while Vredestein is back, but this time with the Quatrac Pro

On the right we’ve listed the weight and speed ratings tested, plus the tyre label ratings. A is best for fuel economy (RR) and wet grip (WG), while the lower the decibel number the better for pass by noise (N).

Which tyres should you fit to ensure you’re prepared to face all conditions throughout the year?

Getting a grip

This is how we evaluated each tyre’s performance

HOW WE TESTED

THE variations in the UK’s weather mean all season tyres have a growing appeal as a one stop solution for dry conditions, rain and snow. But our climate means wet performance is at the heart of our test.

WET

OUR tests assessed straight line and lateral grip, plus how the tyres deal with deep water. Braking was measured from 80 0kph (50 0mph) using Continental’s rail system, which ensured the same piece of track is used each time, improving consistency.

Lateral grip was measured on the 57.5m tarmac circle The car was tucked close to the inner edge and accelerated until the line could no longer be held.

Deep water ability is rated in a straight line and when cornering The speed when the wheel in the water spins 15 per cent more than the one in dry is measured for the longitudinal hydroplaning test. In the lateral test the car is driven round a tarmac circle with a flooded portion at increasing speeds The g force is measured until it is lost. These

elements came together in the handling test, where the result was based on lap times

SNOW

WHILE wet tests are critical, performance in snow is still important. Auto Express drivers assessed traction and braking by measuring the distance taken from 8 30kph (5 19mph) and to slow from 50 5kph (31 3mph).

Just as in the wet evaluations, lateral grip was measured in a circle and around the handling track The same technique as in the wet was used on the circle, while the handling track’s sweeps, climbs and drops tested each tyre’s grip and balance

DRY

BRAKING was measured from 100kph (62mph) to a stop, and the time taken to complete a section of the Contidrom handling track was used to measure cornering grip and assess balance.

All the braking, aquaplaning and cornering results are an average of multiple tests with any rogue results omitted.

CABIN NOISE

A SOUND meter was used to measure noise levels as we coasted down from 50mph over three surfaces: smooth and rough tarmac, plus concrete slabs. This should not be confused with the EU tyre label noise rating which is for pass by noise, and there is no direc correlation between the two.

FUEL ECONOMY

ROLLING resistance is at the heart of this assessment, because it measures the amount of power needed to turn each loaded tyre The easier a tyre rolls, the less power and fuel is required. A five per cent shift in rolling resistance will see around a one per cent change in fuel consumption

PRICE

OUR online tyre retailer test winner Black Circles provided the tyre prices, which were correct at the time of writing Pricing plays a very small role in the overall rating.

7th Avon AS7 All Season

BETTER

WHEN we tested the new for 2020 AS7 in 16 inch form last year, it struggled to match the pacesetters It was a similar story this time, but Avon can take some comfort from getting closer to the leaders

We suspect Avon has been tweaking the design, because it romped the two hydroplaning tests, something it showed no sign of doing last time around against a similar group of rivals The result pushed it above the Vredestein, but still left it some way behind the rest in the wet.

It was easy to see why from behind the wheel, with the front struggling for grip

and requiring a long wait on the throttle while it found some traction When it did bite, that triggered a rear slide While it was easy to control, it made for lap times some five seconds off the best

Similarly, the front struggled for grip on snow and triggered a rear slide when it found some. It was also slow to recover from a slide.

Dry roads saw it nearer the front, with a third in braking, but it felt soft on the handling trackand needed lots of lock. It would use around four per cent more fuel than the Michelin

CHOOSING A WINNER

AFTER the results were converted to percentages, we split them into wet, dry and snow categories, plus one for noise, fuel consumption and price. To reflect UK weather, we gave 50 per cent of the scores to wet performance, 30 to dry results and 10 each for the other two Within the wet and snow sections, the emphasis was put on handling and braking. In the results, the winner’s performance is rated 100 per cent and the rest ranked relative to that

We say...

Avon has made improvements, but the AS7 still needs more to match the best

Blackcircles.com says...

Customers have been happy overall when buying this tyre, with an overall rating of 46/5 Positive reviews often comment on the tyre’s good roadholding and braking performance

Avon’s AS7 was better in the wet than when we last tested it, and rated well for cabin noise

6th Vredestein Quatrac Pro

PACE

Snow braking 92 1% 7th Snow traction 85.7% 7th Snow circle 93.5% 7th Snow handling 94.3% 5th Straight aquaplaning 92 9% 7th Curved aquaplaning 77.2% 7th Wet braking 96.6% 5th Wet handling 98.5% 2nd Wet circle 99 1% 2nd Dry braking 89.8% 5th Dry handling 99.7% 5th

MOVING up a tyre size meant we tested Vredestein’s all season tyre for the UHP (ultra high performance) sector, the Quatrac Pro It has an asymmetric tread pattern, which the firm says works better on the larger sizes on the high performance saloons and SUVs the range is aimed at Our 17 inch tyre is at the bottom of its size range and struggled to match the third place finish of the Quatrac last year. With high performance cars targeted, the focus is on wet and dry grip and the Pro struggled on the white stuff. It was last across all of the tests, almost five per

Rating

cent off the leaders. It was happiest on the handling track, where the tyre had a stronger front than the Avon, but that prompted more rear sliding

It was second around the handling track in the wet. It felt a little soft, but pulled the car through the turns, thanks to decent traction A stable rear helped reduce lap times. This lateral grip was reflected in the cornering test, but it struggled in deeper water In the dry it was close on the handling track, but it was around four metres off in braking.

Rolling resistance 86% 6th Cabin noise 99 7% 3rd

We say...

This

Blackcircles.com

Not

5th Continental AllSeasonContact

Snow braking 97.5% 4th Snow traction 95.1% 4th Snow circle 97.3% 4th Snow handling 96.1% 3rd

A DOUBLE winner and one time runner up, the all season tyre Continental once said it would never make is now beginning to show its age. It slipped to fourth in last year’s 16 inch test and it drops one place more this time as rivals raise the bar Continental might have been late to make all season tyres, but the firm is now a convert and the AllSeasonContact’s successor is due to arrive next year But don’t think the current tyre has turned into a liability, because the margins were small. It was just three per cent off the Michelin in snow and kept the

Rating

rear in line, with good traction in the longer turns There was a similar gap to the pace setting Hankook in the wet

The familiar sporty feel was still there, but perhaps not the ultimate grip

Last place in the stop test is not what we’d expect for a firm with a ‘best in braking’ target. We saw its troubles in dry braking last year and they were here again, needing more than five metres extra to stop than the winning Michelin. Things were closer on the handling track, where it had a pleasing sharpness

Straight aquaplaning 95% 5th Curved aquaplaning 87.5% 4th Wet braking 94% 7th Wet handling 96.4% 5th Wet circle 98% 4th Dry braking 87.6% 6th Dry handling 99.4% 6th Rolling resistance 98.4% 4th Cabin noise 99 3% 5th

We say...

While

Blackcircles.com

Customers

In

LOSING

4th G d

V t 4Seasons Gen-3

WHEN we last tested this size in 2020, the Vector 4Seasons was pipped to the win by the Continental This time it reverses the positions, but both tyres now trail newer or revamped designs. It was happiest in the wet, where it dealt with deep water well, and it was at the front of the pack in the other tests, with a win on the circle.

On the handling circuit the front had good grip, but the balance wasn’t quite there, with the rear moving as the steering was applied on the limit. It is controllable and this helped its lap time. The rear grip

Rating

returned in the dry at the expense of the front, where it needed lots of lock through the longer turns

Where it really gave best to the Continental was on the snow. It was close in the straight line and circle tests, but the Vector struggled with the handling track’s sweeps and direction changes. Grip levels were low, with long waits at low speed for the front to bite, and it was hard to get the power down. It was also slow to recover when the rear moved.

WeatherControl

5th Snow circle 96.4% 5th Snow handling 90.9% 7th Straight aquaplaning 99 8% 2nd Curved aquaplaning 92.8% 3rd Wet braking 97.4% 3rd Wet handling 98% 3rd Wet circle 100% 1st Dry braking 87.1% 7th Dry handling 99.9% 3rd Rolling resistance 92.3% 4th Cabin noise 99 6% 4th

We say...

RECOMMENDED THERE was little between our top three, and tweaking the weighting could see the positions change, so close were the margins. The A005 EVO, which finished a very close second to the winning Hankook last year, combines good performance in the wet and dry plus at the pumps at the expense of snow grip.

It was around two per cent off our leading duo in Finland, but still ahead of the pack and challenged only by the Continental. The front struggled for grip in the snow on the throttle through turns, but the rear was stable and slide recovery

prompt It’s the only tyre here with the top A label grade for wet braking and it again topped our test, but that advantage disappeared in the deep water aquaplaning assessments

Snow braking 98% 3rd Snow traction 96.8% 3rd Snow circle 97.8% 3rd Snow handling 95% 4th Straight aquaplaning 94.7% 6th Curved aquaplaning 79% 6th Wet braking 100% 1st Wet handling 95.9% 6th Wet circle 97 2% 5th Dry braking 93.9% 2nd Dry handling 100% =1st Rolling resistance 99.3% 2nd Cabin noise 98 5% 6th

We say...

surfaces.

It also struggled in the lateral tests, with a weak front on the handling track that skated across the soaked surface, triggering a rear slide when it eventually bit It felt better in the dry and matched the Hankook with a balance it lacked on other surfaces

Good fuel economy secured yet another podium for the A005 EVO

This

In

ALL-ROUNDER Bridgestone was strong in the dry tests and capable on snow and remains the standard setter for wet braking

WHITE STUFF Performance in the snow let the Goodyear down it’s at its best in the wet

Blackcircles.com

The

RECOMMENDED MICHELIN revived the all season market with its CrossClimate, which it called a summer tyre with winter capability There was nothing like it and, while its snow grip was not a match for more conventional designs, it was still surprisingly good and far better to drive

There seems to have been a change of thinking for this third iteration, because instead of sacrificing snow performance for wet and dry grip, it topped our tests in Finland, taking three wins It was a joy to drive, with a strong front, and rear grip to match. When it did slide, the rear was

Rating

quick to recover, and traction on lock, where many rivals struggle, was good.

It also impressed in the dry, with a win in braking and a lap only 0 1 second off the quickest. It wasn’t as sharp as some, but it hung on well. It also proved the most frugal

Where this tyre has given up a little performance is in the wet, finishing fifth across all the tests and giving away the most to the winning Hankook The front just didn’t have the grip of the best, although the rear was stable again.

BEST BUY IT was close, but Hankook secures its second all season test win on the trot with the same rounded performance we saw last year. Its only real weak spot is fuel economy, and even there it’s now closer to the best Elsewhere, it was in the top three across all the tests on the three surfaces, topping the wet ranking by a comfortable margin On the handling track it really showed rivals how it should be done, with a strong front that pulled the car through the turns, matched by a rear that faithfully followed Traction on lock made this a

pleasure to drive and helped it finish more than a second ahead of the next best

That front grip was also felt on snow, where the tyre showed good traction in turns, and slide recovery was quick It had to give best to the Michelin in Finland, but the gap was small

While there is a softness to all all season tyres compared with summer versions in dry, the Hankook felt relatively sharp, with that same balanced grip once again present. To cap a great all round performance it was also the quietest tyre on test

braking 100% 1st

traction 100% 1st

98.7% 2nd

100% 1st

98 8% 4th

84.4%

braking 97.1% 4th

handling 96.6% 4th Wet circle 96 6% 6th

braking 100% 1st

handling 99.8% 4th

resistance 100% 1st

noise 97 5% 7th

In association Iwith n association with

DAMP CHAMP Topping the rankings for wet performance was key to Hankook’s overall win

WHITE HOT Michelin took top spot in all but one of the snow tests, as well as being the most frugal

SecondwinforHankook RESULTS BY CATEGORY

AVON has made progress since we last tested this tyre, but it needs to continue doing so if it is to match the best Vredestein can take some solace from the fact it is closer to the top performers than it was back in 2020, but either more development or an all new tyre is needed for it to successfully challenge for the top spots.

Continental’s AllSeasonContact is one of the best to drive, but a successor is needed to put it back on top

of the pile. The Vector 4Seasons remains a good tyre, but has been overtaken by newer rivals.

Your priority for an all season tyre will dictate your choice among our top three Bridgestone focuses on wet and dry performance with good fuel economy. The rethought CrossClimate 2 is the tyre to have for driving on snow, while our winning Hankook best balances performance in the wet and dry, and on the white stuff

OVERALL

1st Hankook 100.0

Michelin 99.8

Bridgestone 99.7

Goodyear 99.1

Continental 98.3

Vredestein 98.0

Avon 97.0

SCIRCLE NOW STRACTION

NOW BRAKING

1st Michelin 100.0

2nd Hankook 99 3

3rd Bridgestone 98 0

4th Continental 97.5

5th Goodyear 96.7

6th Avon 92.9

7th Vredestein 92.1

1st Michelin 100.0

2nd Hankook 98 4

3rd Bridgestone 96 8

4th Continental 95.1

5th Goodyear 93.9

6th Avon 87.5

7th Vredestein 85.7

SNOW SHANDLING

1st Hankook 100.0

2nd Michelin 98 7

3rd Bridgestone 97 8

4th Continental 97.3 5th Goodyear 96.4

6th Avon 94.6

7th Vredestein 93.5

1st Michelin 100.0 2nd Hankook 97 9 3rd Continental 96 1 4th Bridgestone 95.0 5th Vredestein 94.3 6th Avon 93.1 7th Goodyear 90.9

CURVED AQUAPLANING

1st Avon 100.0

2nd Goodyear 99.8

3rd Hankook 99.3

4th Michelin 98.8

5th Continental 95.0

6th Bridgestone 94.7

7th Vredestein 92.9

1st Avon 100.0

2nd Hankook 98.2

3rd Goodyear 92.8 4th Continental 87.5 5th Michelin 84.4

6th Bridgestone 79.0

7th Vredestein 77.2

WET BRAKING

WET SHANDLING TRAIGHT AQUAPLANING

1st Bridgestone 100.0

2nd Hankook 97.8

3rd Goodyear 97.4

4th Michelin 97.1

5th Vredestein 96.6

6th Avon 96.1

7th Continental 94.0

1st Hankook 100.0

2nd Vredestein 98.5 3rd Goodyear 98.0 4th Michelin 96.6 5th Continental 96.4 6th Bridgestone 95.9 7th Avon 94.2

ROLLING DRESISTANCE RY DHANDLING RY WBRAKING

ET CIRCLE

1st Goodyear 100.0

2nd Vredestein 99.1

3rd Hankook 98.3

4th Continental 98.0

5th Bridgestone 97.2

6th Michelin 96 6

7th Avon 96 1

1st Michelin 100.0

2nd Bridgestone 93.9

3rd Avon 92.7

4th Hankook 92.1

5th Vredestein 89.8

6th Continental 87 6

7th Goodyear 87 1

CPRICE ABIN NOISE

1st Hankook 100.0

2nd Avon 99 9

3rd Vredestein 99 7

4th Goodyear 99 6

5th Continental 99 3

6th Bridgestone 98 5

7th Michelin 97 5

1st Avon £90.30

2nd Hankook £97 26

3rd Vredestein £98 17

4th Continental £104 29

5th Bridgestone £110 41

6th Goodyear £110 90

7th Michelin £119 68

1st Bridgestone 100.0

1st Hankook 100.0

3rd Goodyear 99.9

4th Michelin 99.8

5th Vredestein 99.7 6th Continental 99 4 7th Avon 98 3

WINNER

Hankook Kinergy

WE said we were looking for the best balan across all criteria and the Kinergy 4S2 deliv that, with a blend that perfectly suits the U wet winters and occasional snowfall A wel deserved second win to follow its 2021 vic

1st Michelin 100.0 2nd Bridgestone 99.3 3rd Continental 98.4 4th Goodyear 92.3 5th Hankook 89.1 6th Vredestein 86 0 7th Avon 82 8

BUYINGCARS

YOULIKE

“Pivi Pro system is much better than previous set ups and the navigation screen is clear

“It flows along the road and grips like a limpet

“It is the bes owned. For st quality of fini the others ha

“It still catch my eye when it’s clean and shiny!”

just a great looking SUV that performs like a sports saloon.”

IT might be an SUV, but F Pace owners in the Driver Power 2022 survey tell us they love how their Jaguar drives It sits in 10th place for the powertrain and fourth for its ride and handling

Better still, the overall driving pleasure is rated highly enough by owners for the Jaguar SUV to take third place in this category There’s a top 10 spot for practicality and boot space, too, although there’s criticism that a split fold rear seat isn’t standard

There are some predictable frustrations. Owners rate reliability as average, but the worst score, 71st place, is reserved for servicing costs Some drivers are also unimpressed by the quality of the materials used on both the interior and exterior of their F Paces.

WE SAID “Great F Pace attributes include tech, handling, comfort, practicality and stylish looks But it’s not all rosy, with high running costs, disappointing reliability and unhelpful dealers being criticised.”

YOUDON’TLIKE

“The

OVERALL SCORE

CATEGORIES

Engine and gearbox

and comfort

and space

and handling

features

and running costs

and build quality Infotainment, connectivity and electrics

YOUR

are confusing and

have never

with

“It’s lovely to drive, but a sometimes jerky and lazy transmission spoils things

“P or design of the door sills mud and dirt is ccessible when e open.”

Chris Rosamond Chris Rosamond@autoviacouk

THE Micra has been a staple of Nissan’s price lists for 40 years, the small runabout having been launched four decades ago in the Japanese market as the Nissan March

The following summer the Micra reached the UK, where it sold in big numbers, thanks to its combination of excellent reliability and keen prices Over the years, the Micra has grown ever more sophisticated, and after a hiccup with the underwhelming fourth generation model, the current Mk5 version (codenamed K14 by Nissan) was far more impressive when it was unveiled in 2016 More than 17cm longer than its predecessor, almost 8cm wider, but 5.5cm lower, the fifth generation Micra was packed with the latest comfort and safety tech

History

APART from a few early deliveries in March, the Micra reached UK showrooms in April 2017 Buyers could choose between 70bhp 1 0 litre (IG 71) and 89bhp turbocharged 0.9 litre (IG T 90) petrol engines, or there was an 89bhp 1 5 litre diesel (dCi 90) option All examples were fitted with a five speed manual transmission

The range remained like this until the start of 2019, when Nissan overhauled the engine options The 89bhp 0 9 litre engine was upgraded to 99bhp to become the IG T 100, which came with a five speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox At the same time the 116bhp DIG T 117 was introduced, also with a turbocharged 0 9 litre engine; this came only with a six speed manual gearbox.

A range refresh in November 2020 added extra standard equipment, such as LED headlights, to N Sport and Tekna versions

NEEDTOKNOW

BUYER’SGUIDE: Nissa

Richard Dredge

Stop/start The IG T 90 engine was only available with stop/start, the IG 71 didn’t have it. The dCi 90 engine had stop/ start except on entry level Visia models

n MicraFROM£7,500 If you do your homework to get the correct engine and spec, then Nissan’s supermini could be right up your street

Expert’s verdict

YOURVIEW

THE Micra is an important car for Nissan, but it didn’t appear in our 2020, 2021 or 2022 Driver Power new car surveys The model made its Driver Power debut in the 2018 poll, in 15th place, making it the highest placed supermini that year. But by 2019 it had dropped down to 63rd place (out of the top 75 entries) By then the Micra scored poorly in most areas other than ergonomics, safety features and economy.

CASESTUDY

HAYLEY Mardern from Solihull, West Mids, owns a 2018 Micra IG T 90. She told us: “I bought the Micra for its smart exterior and hi tech interior. It feels like a premium car with all of its tech, and it’s reassuring to drive with so much safety kit At motorway speed it feels stable, but visibility is poor, and the back seats are cramped. But the comfort and economy are impressive, so for me the Micra is a winner.”

THE Nissan Micra name is almost iconic these days, and if you’re looking for an economical small car, it must be on the shortlist. The Micra is certainly not a bare bones offering, though, and this latest generation is stuffed with standard safety kit that makes it appealing as a first car, or as a runabout for young families. Simple to drive, with light controls and no vices, it doesn’t offer much in the way of thrills, but typical Micra buyers won’t mind that

Common faults

YOU can expect decent reliability from the Micra, but it’s no longer exceptional New electronic systems cause gremlins across the board for car makers, and the Micra is not immune Still, reliability should be on a par with rival superminis

PRACTICALITY With a capacity of 300 litres with the seats up, the Micra’s boot is par for the supermini course. Head and legroom are a little tight for those sitting in the back

DETAILS Higher spec Micras come with either 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels. Entry-level models have steel wheels. Vented light units can suffer from condensation, but this is normal

“The Micra is appealing as a first car, or as a runabout for young families”

ChrisRosamond Contributingeditor

Howmuch?

Interior

AFTER the Mk4, the Mk5 Micra’s dashboard is a revelation, with its higher quality materials and a much more grown up design, although the instrumentation is busy and the infotainment systems are bettered elsewhere.

The front seats are comfortable, with plenty of adjustment, but those in the back will find the head and legroom tight, with the rising window line making things feel claustrophobic. Boot space is average for the class, at 300 litres, or 1,004 litres with the back seats folded down, but this doesn’t affect its functionality.

STYLING Nissan went for a sharper look for the Mk5 Micra that set it apart from the more rounded fourth generation model

Recalls

NISSAN has recalled the Micra K14 four times so far. The first time was in August 2017, because of faulty ignition barrels, which could lead to the car switching off while it was being driven, with no possibility of restarting it This affected Micras without keyless go built up to April 2017.

In March 2018, just 14 Micras built in September and October 2017 were recalled, because they left the factory with sub standard wheel hubs, which could crack The third campaign, in September 2019, was because airbags could tear during deployment in 12,119 Micras made between October 2016 and November 2017

The most recent recall came in October 2019 because 1,985 Micras were fitted with incorrect VIN labels at the factory All of the vehicles affected were made between July and November 2018

Which one?

WE’D go for any of the turbocharged engines, because the entry level IG 71 unit feels rather lacklustre and is best avoided unless you do just local journeys If you do a lot of longer drives, the diesel version is capable of spectacular economy.

The Visia is the entry level model and brings automatic headlights and wipers, electrically adjustable door mirrors, a two speaker radio, Bluetooth and electric front windows Visia+ adds air con and stop/ start, while the Acenta comes with 16 inch alloys, a seven inch touchscreen, cruise control and a multifunction steering wheel.

The N Connecta has privacy glass, nav, a DAB radio and climate control, while the range topping Tekna adds 17 inch alloys, keyless go, a rear parking camera and sensors, plus a four speaker Bose hi fi.

Alternatives

ONE of our favourite all rounders is the Ford Fiesta, which is plentiful, roomy, well equipped and great fun to drive The Fiesta is also affordable, just like the Vauxhall Corsa, which is also widely available and spacious. The SEAT Ibiza looks smart, is

INFOTAINMENT Seven inch touchscreen has hot keys on either side to take you straight to frequently used features

easy to live with, is keenly priced and comes with some great engines, just like its cousins, the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo.

If value is more of a priority, take a look at the Kia Rio and its cousin, the Hyundai i20, both of which are well equipped and come with long warranties. Other superminis to shortlist include the Renault Clio, Mazda 2, Peugeot 208 and Toyota Yaris If practicality is key, home in on the Honda Jazz, with its spacious and versatile interior.

Verdict

WHEN the Micra Mk5 arrived, it was a massive leap over its predecessor, but that hasn’t stopped Nissan’s sharp looking supermini from doing poorly in our Driver Power surveys, with owners unimpressed by too many aspects of ownership

Some owner reviews on our sister website carbuyercoukfocus on disappointing reliability and a lack of support from Nissan or its dealers, whereas other buyers are more impressed with the overall ownership

experience Given that the Micra lost out to the SEAT Ibiza and Suzuki Swift in a group test, it’s clear that when buying the Nissan you have to home in on the right engine and trim level to get the most out of owning one

But if you take your time to pin down the right model for your needs, you should really enjoy being a Micra owner.

Websites

Executivesaloons

CarHunter

for a comfortable and cheap saloon that can cope with a high mileage

THE DRIVER’S CHOICE

BMW3Series

FOR: Sportychassis,powerfulandefficientengines

AGAINST:Style has moved on, practicality isn’t great

TO find a BMW 3 Series in budget and with reasonably low miles, you’ll be looking at 10 to 12 year old fifth generation/E90 cars. Newer Mk6 models introduced from 2013 especially from dealers are likely to have well over 100k miles on the clock, which will put off many buyers

Nicely looked after E90s sold privately would be our favoured option for a car of this age, and we found a good selection of 2010 2012 318i and 320d models with attractive histories priced between £5,500 and £6,000. Similar sixth gen 3 Series start closer to £7,000

THE MINI-CABBER’S CHOICE

MercedesC-Class

FOR: Eleganceandstyle,luxuriouscabin,comfortableride

AGAINST:Less engaging to drive than rivals

AGAIN, you’ll be looking back two generations to find a C Class with reasonably low miles, which means the third gen W204 launched in 2007

Disappointingly, you’ll need closer to £7,000 for even a post 2011 facelifted version with its improved dashboard, swoopier lamps and LED tail lights Or you could accept a higher mileage (100 120k) car, which isn’t an option to be overlooked when considering a thoroughly well engineered model such as this.

A sub 80k 2010/2011 C180 or C200 CDI will be comfortably within budget, though

THE CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE

FOR: Luxury,styleandgreatchassisdynamics

AGAINST:Higher running costs and repair bills

JAGUAR’S follow up to the S Type was a hit that didn’t only look and feel good, but also drove beautifully And while it’s from a class higher than the 3 Series and E Class, that means you’re getting a bigger and more luxurious car for your cash

Options are more limited than with either rival, and if you want a low mileage, you might have to look for a slightly older model to stay in budget Also consider a diesel to keep fuel costs down We’ve seen 2009 2 7d Premium Luxury XFs with about 65k miles from just under £6,000. Full service histories are advisable.

A BUDGET of £6,000 is not a lot to spend on a used car these days, and if you want something with a bit of luxury, you’re going to have to compromise somewhere.

Traditionally, wise money would opt for a slightly older model with lower mileage over a higher mileage newer variant with fresher styling and more bells and whistles. However, given that the nation’s used car stock has taken a bit of a

pounding due to the recent shortages of new models, it’s becoming harder to find those gems

It’s not the end of the world, with many well looked after cars especially in this premium segment taking high mileages in their stride

However, for the purposes of this comparison we’re sticking to our guns to see what we can find with fewer than 80,000 miles on the clock these three ‘executive’ choices would tempt us

Executivesaloons BUYINGCARS

DearChris, I’m after a comfy, mile munching saloon car, but my budget is a relatively lowly £6,000 what do you recommend?

GeoffTooley,By E mail

Contact:mail@autoexpresscouk

OWNERS like the E90 3 Series, which arrived in 2005 with styling that was a little more conservative than some of its contemporary BMW stablemates It was hugely popular, but looks a little dated today

More importantly, the E90’s exceptional driver appeal has not diminished over the years, and if

you opt for a punchier 320i or 320d over the entrylevel 318i, you’ll enjoy the oomph to match the refinement of the chassis There are plenty of more muscular options for buyers blessed with bigger budgets, but 60mpg Efficient Dynamics diesel variants are within your range.

AS with the BMW, there’s a multitude of engine options for those with bigger budgets, but for most drivers, the entry-level petrol and diesel engines will be sufficiently rewarding and decently economical Unlike the previous generation C-Class, which some felt was a bit below par for the company, this

W204 generation was a definite return to form for Mercedes The car’s quality and reliability should be excellent, and compared with the 3 Series (above), the C-Class leans towards a more comfortable and luxurious ride, without its rival’s more overtly sporting feel

THE XF was introduced to rave reviews in 2008, and racked up multiple awards, including Auto Express Car of The Year. It also scored first place in the 2009 Driver Power survey, and was a regular fixture in the top five for the next five years

Its qualities are still there to be appreciated, including a fine, high-quality cabin with its bespoke

‘gentleman’s club’ feel, and a superlative chassis that’s full of finesse and feel for appreciative drivers Petrol variants can be a bit thirsty, but diesels are pleasantly refined once you’re up and running While the XF is a tad pricier than its smaller rivals here, it works out cheaper than a directly comparable BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E Class

NEWCARPRICES

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS

PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0 60mph or 0 62mph (0 100kph), in seconds

ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles per gallon, emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2 and maximum claimed range for EVs Figures are achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary according to equipment and are unlikely to be representative of everyday efficiency

INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted by the Association of British Insurers

WARRANTY: Next to each manufacturer’s name is the basic warranty period in months and miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and paintwork EVs and hybrids will have dedicated battery cover

LIST PRICE: This is the on the road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, 12 months’ road tax, number plates and first registration EVs do not include the Plug in Car Grant

WILL IT FIT? Is your garage big enough? Our measurements show the length and width of each model, but remember estate and performance variants may be bigger

DRIVER POWER POSITION: Auto Express’s survey canvasses results from tens of thousands of motorists Models are rated by drivers, then ranked against others on sale in the UK The lower the number, the higher the score a model achieved

ROAD TAX: When a car is first registered, its first year’s road tax is included in the price This is emissions based, and adds anything from zero on electric cars to £2,365 for vehicles emitting over 255g/km of CO2 After 12 months, it s the owner s responsibility to tax their vehicle, and the rate depends on the fuel used:

VEHICLES BELOW £40,000

Electric vehicle: £0

Alternative fuel: £155

Petrol/diesel: £165

Alternative fue s include hybrids, plug in hybr ds b ethano and LPG fuels

VEHICLES OVER £40,000

Electric vehicle: £0

Alternative fuel: £510

Petrol/diesel: £520

After five years, vehicles costing more than £40 000 revert to the ower rates

Pick up trucks: The models listed here pay a flat rate of road tax at £295 per year

EURO NCAP RATING: At the start of each model is its Euro NCAP crash test safety rating (if available) The maximum score is five stars, although the test has been made tougher over the years, so ratings aren’t comparable between vehicles

ALPINE

ARIEL

ASTON MARTIN

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AlastairCrooks Alastair Crooks@autoviacouk @AllieCrooks

THE 2022 Formula One world driver’s championship was wrapped up in strange fashion last time out at Suzuka A post race five second time penalty awarded to Charles Leclerc meant the Ferrari driver dropped below Sergio Perez to third in the standings, with the result that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen scooped up his second successive championship win.

This season’s result had looked inevitable for some time before Suzuka, especially since Ferrari kept shooting itself in the foot with curious race strategies, plus a string of driver errors But there are plenty of positions and seats to race for elsewhere during the remaining four events

Next up is the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Texas on 23 October This year marks a decade of F1 racing at the track, although it’ll only be the ninth event, after the 2020 race was cancelled due to the pandemic. The US round was the highest attended event on the F1 calendar in 2021, drawing in more than 400,000 spectators Much of this surge in popularity has been put down to the Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’, which has helped generate more interest in F1 in the US

The most successful driver throughout F1’s time in Texas has been Lewis Hamilton The Brit has secured five wins at COTA since 2012 and is looking to narrow the gap to Mercedes team mate George Russell in the final events of the season However, while he scored five podium places in a row in the middle of the year, Hamilton has struggled for strong finishes since retiring from the Belgian Grand Prix

The fight for second place is poised beautifully, with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc separated by just one

Still plenty to play for as F1 enters closing stages

point With the driver’s championship wrapped up, Red Bull may decide to divert its attention to its number two driver to secure a one two lock out in 2022

At the bottom of the standings, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi will be in a slightly

more buoyant mood after picking up his first points of the season for finishing ninth in Japan. The Canadian will leave Williams after 2022, with Alex Albon being retained for 2023 alongside an as yet unnamed driver

Catalunya plays host to WRC stars

KALLE Rovanperä will be aiming to celebrate his first World Rally Championship title with another victory when the series transfers to smooth tarmac for Rally Catalunya The 22 year old Finn broke Colin McRae’s record to become the WRC’s youngest ever champ when he won last time out in New Zealand

The smooth, sweeping Spanish tarmac has proved to be a happy hunting ground for Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville in recent years. The Belgian currently sits in third position in the points table and is hoping to leapfrog second placed team mate Ott Tänak in the final two events.

The most dominant driver in Spain is Sébastien Loeb, with nine wins in his career This year’s race might be the 48 year old’s last at the top level, although he’s said he could still be open to the odd outing in 2023.

he could still be open to the odd outing in 2023”

All change for DS in Formula E

THE world of Formula E has been shaken up ahead of the 2023 season, with this year’s champion Stoffel Vandoorne (below) moving to DS Penske The Belgian will join two time winner Jean Eric Vergne, creating one of the most decorated driver line ups in the series. The partnership between DS and Penske Autosport is also new. Until now, the French brand has been successful in the Formula E series with Techeetah, winning two team’s championships and three driver’s titles since 2018.

● Battle for second in driver’s championship rages on ● Hamilton chases down Merc team-mate Russell

CHAMPION

Toyota’s Rovanperä won the 2022 title last time out in New Zealand

All the action from the world of motorsport

FORTUNE Suzuka penalty for Leclerc (above) opened the door for Verstappen to clinch his second world championship

“Hamilton will want to close the gap on Mercedes teammate George Russell in the final events of the season”

IT’S make your mind up time for mainstream motor manufacturers. To price motorists out of their brand new cars, or to price them in? That is the question. And what follows goes some way towards providing the answer

Ten years ago Auto Express issue 1,239 I argued that consumers “had never had it so good” and, to illustrate the point, raved about the just launched Mk7 Golf, which I claimed was “priced right” (from £16,330). Today, the bottom of the range Mk8 version (not as good as its predecessor) is £25,610

The most affordable Polo then was £10,420 today it’s £19,030 The bog standard up! was £8k It’s £14k now These price hikes of up to 82 per cent over a period of 120 months are bad but not the worst

The cheapest Kia Sorento in 2012 was under £20,000. Today it sits in £40,000 plus territory. And you don’t need a calculator to work out that this represents a hefty price increase in excess of 100 per cent (well above inflation) which may explain why we see so few brand new Sorentos on the road.

Shame It’s a fine car, priced inappropriately

Rutherford Mike

Manufacturers need to make up their minds and decide whether they intend to price customers into or out of their models

The largest manufacturer in Britain, ahead of Nissan, MINI and Toyota, is JLR, which traditionally churns out hundreds of thousands of vehicles a year, some of them commercial 4X4s for construction sites, farms and the like Despite this, it’s attempting to transform itself into a “luxury” firm This, in turn, now means a growing number of models are priced way beyond £100,000 That’ll be nearer £200,00 when they roll off the production lines as pure EVs in the mid 2020s Even today the (non EV) entry level Range Rover Sport wears an £80,000 plus (ouch!) price tag. Ten years ago, the equivalent model could be had for less than £50k.

While these and other companies are in danger of alienating once loyal buyers (never mind potential new customers), who just can’t afford cars whose prices have lately gone through the roof, a variety of other firms are moving in the opposite direction by being less greedy, going easier on the wallets of the consumers they live or die by.

Porsche, for example, charged £39,207 for its entry level Cayman in 2012 The equivalent car today is £47,700 representing a rise of just 22 per cent over the decade. More than reasonable, no? Of the newer to the scene cars, the £25,995 MG4 EV is surely one of the showroom bargains of 2022, along with the Dacia Jogger seven seater starting at £16,645, with a £20k ish hybrid version imminent At £20,999, the Suzuki Vitara hybrid looks like an absolute steal, too Same goes for the more upmarket Fisker Ocean, born this week and priced at £34,990, which is sensible for a car of this (expected) calibre At the same time, if the Renault 4 could be reborn as an EV (see Page 6) at £20k (though it may well be more), that would prove the firm’s commitment to value for money

Like I said, manufacturers need to decide whether to price customers into or out of their models. On the above evidence, Porsche, MG, Dacia, Suzuki, Fisker and Renault are doing their best to ensure the price is right Kia, VW and JLR I’m not so sure about

Doyou agree with Mike? Have your say at facebook.com/autoexpress

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