Business Class Motoring James Stinson

Suzuki’s Family Crossover

New Suzuki S-Cross is up against some serious competition, writes James Stinson.

Suzuki has plenty of credit in the bank when it comes to making dependable, good-value off roaders. So it should be in pretty good shape to capture a bigger slice of the growing family crossover market.

Problem is, that’s a very competitive space at the minute. The Skoda Karoq, SEAT Ateca, VW Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai and others are all fairly brilliant, fi nely honed motor cars.. They aren’t cheap though and that’s where Suzuki will be hoping to cash in with this latest generation S-Cross.

It isn’t just a value proposition though; there’s also plenty to like about the new S-Cross. It’s honest, reliable and very well equipped. It’s got a fi ne engine with good economy and comes with a four-wheel drive option. The S-Cross is powered by the proven turbocharged 1.4 litre mild-hybrid petrol engine, which is also found in the Swift and Vitara.

The hybrid system won’t run on electric power alone but does aid acceleration and improve effi ciency. It churns out 127bhp, helping the S-Cross record a 0–62mph time of 9.5 seconds.

In front-wheel drive form it delivers a claimed 53mpg, which is signifi cantly better than most rivals. And with CO2 emissions of 120g/ km, it’s greener too. The four-wheel drive version is a little less frugal, though not by much, delivering a still respectable 47mpg.

A full hybrid version is set to join the range later while there’s no diesel option. It comes with either a six manual or automatic gearbox. The manual is the better option as the automatic has a habit of overrevving under hard acceleration.

There are just two trim levels: the entry-level Motion and the more heavily specced Ultra version, which also comes with AllGrip fourwheel drive. Prices start from £24,999 which means it undercuts entry-level versions of the SEAT Ateca and the VW Tiguan. The S-Cross also comes with a lot more standard equipment, including adaptive cruise control, traffi c sign recognition and a parking camera – all of which are optional on the SEAT and Volkswagen.

Standard kit includes heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 4.2-inch driver information display and a seven-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both fi tted as standard, too. It also has 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, aluminium roof rails and electrically folding door mirrors.

Opt for the range-topping £29,799 Ultra model and you get leather upholstery, a sliding panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree parking camera. The fl agship model also boasts a larger nine-inch infotainment system, which features sharper graphics and a slicker interface than other Suzuki systems, so the sat-nav screen is a lot easier to read.

Ultra models with four-wheel drive also have a dial to change driving modes (Normal, Sport and Snow) conveniently placed next to the handbrake.

The cabin is pretty functional. Indeed, this is where Suzuki should and needs to do a little bit better. Everything feels well positioned, sturdy and comes easy to hand but the overall feel is a little underwhelming compared to rivals. The materials are a bit scratchy in places while the infotainment feels a bit slow and dated.

There’s plenty of room in the front and good all-round visibility but tall passengers might feel a little squeezed in the back. There’s a decent-sized boot. The rear seatbacks split in a 60/40 confi guration and you can fold them down by pushing buttons next to the head restraints. You can also recline the rear seatbacks slightly for a more laid-back seating position.

There is a lot to like about the new S-Cross. It’s a good-value, no-nonsense offering which should be cheap to run. There’s a lot of standard equipment while Suzuki has some of the best reliability scores around. It just needs a more modern, stylish interior to be a top contender.

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Electric Launch for New BMW 7 Series

BMW has taken the wraps off its new 7 Series… and there’s quite a lot of it. The German marque’s executive flagship is longer, wider and taller than the car it replaces and bigger than the long wheelbase version of the old 7 Series.

Interestingly, BMW has chosen to launch with the all-electric ‘i7’ version fi rst with the full suite of engine options coming on stream in 2023. That will include a diesel but no petrol-only option this time. Instead, there will be two petrol/electric plug-in hybrids. The focus on electrifi cation is sensible given the direction of travel and the company car tax benefi ts.

The launch version i7 xDrive60 features two electric motors – one for each axle – giving total power outputs of 536bhp and 745Nm of torque. An even meatier M version with 650bhp is promised.

But even in this standard guise, performance is fairly eye-watering. The 0–62mph time is 4.7 secs. Range is a claimed to be 360–380 miles while the i7 can be charged up overnight at home or through a fast-charging station. Here, it can charge at up to 195kW, making it possible to add just over 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. These fast-charging stations are popping up in other countries but there are none in Northern Ireland presently.

Given the price tag and the desire for fl exibility, many drivers may instead opt for one of the plug-in hybrids or even the new 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel. The diesel is a mild hybrid affair that offers decent performance – 0–62mph time of 6.3 secs – and low to mid-forties mpg but it’s an expensive company car option.

By contrast, the plug-in hybrid enjoys BIK car tax benefi ts not far off full electric but with a good deal more driving/range fl exibility. The plug-in hybrids will go up to 50 miles on battery power and as far as you like after that on petrol power. Company execs love to make an impact and BMW has worked hard to create a bold new exterior design.

Up front, the large grille, consisting of two elements as on all recent BMW models, is even larger than before and comes with BMW’s ‘Iconic Lighting’ treatment, as fi rst brought to the facelifted 8 Series. The separation of the headlamps, with the LED running lights positioned above and the main beams in a separate recess below, add greater presence while providing close visual ties with the recently facelifted BMW X7.

A three-box silhouette with familiar long-bonnet proportions characterises the overall shape, which features smooth and largely unadorned surfaces throughout. Only two feature lines are evident along the fl anks, which have a pronounced shoulder running from the outer tip of the running lights through to the tail lights. As on the BMW iX, door handles with an internal touchpad and electronic mechanism replace traditional handles.

Three different M packages add performance-inspired styling cues: M Sport, M Sport Pro and M Performance. There is also a choice of chrome and blackened styling elements, and wheels range from 19 inch as standard up to optional 22 inch as part of the M Performance styling package.

The suspension setup involves double wishbones at the front with a multilink rear, and widened tracks compared to the outgoing G11generation 7 Series. Air suspension is fi tted as standard and is able to drop the ride height by 10mm in Sport mode (or at higher speeds to lower drag), or raise it by 20mm if the conditions demand.

The new BMW i7 will go on sale before the 7 Series, in November. The i7 xDrive 60 in ‘Excellence’ trim will cost just over £107,000, while M Sport versions will set you back almost £112,000.

Diesel and plug-in hybrid versions of the 7 Series will go on sale in spring 2023. BMW hasn’t confi rmed how much they’ll cost, but you can expect them to set you back around the same as a comparable Mercedes S-Class, from around £80–85,000.

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SKINCARE SIMPLIFIED

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Shop your skin type by visiting their website: www.allskinstore.com

ARE YOU CDS READY?

Following the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU there has been numerous changes to UK systems. Are you prepared for the upcoming changes in submitting customs declarations due to the implementation of the new Customs Declaration Service? The replacement, Customs Declaration Service or CDS, was first introduced back in 2018 with Descartes being the first software supplier to successfully submit a CDS import declaration. Descartes solutions have also been in significant use in Northern Ireland where CDS has been mandatory since October 2021. HMRC are now finalising CDS migration with Services on CHIEF being withdrawn in two stages: • After 30 September 2022 – traders will not be able to make import declarations on CHIEF. • After 30 March 2023 – traders will not be able to make export declarations on CHIEF. Descartes software is CDS compliant and ready for the upcoming customs changes.

Contact Descartes at info@descartes.com or +44 1249 477099.

NOW IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE TO PHEV AND FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES…

As we continue to see the number of Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) on our roads an important question will be to consider if this type of alternatively fuelled vehicle works for your business and your drivers. There are several key considerations to review all of which have implications and impact on suitability, these include.

Electric Range – we are now seeing BEV’s becoming available with increased electric ranges, over 300 miles in some cases. This means these vehicles could well suit many more drivers alternatively a PHEV continues to bring added flexibility without any ‘range anxiety’.

Fuel or Electricity reimbursement – if you provide either PHEV or BEV’s there needs to be a consideration as to how you and your drivers deal with business mileage reimbursement. Handling this in the wrong way could have significant cost implications for your business.

Leasing costs – in practice Phev and BEV’s can be more expensive than comparable petrol or diesel variants however from a whole life cost perspective both the driver and company can save due to reduced Class 1 NIC and BIK, at Agnew they are more than happy to calculate these for you. Benefit in Kind – Providing both Phev and BEV’s will result in potential savings for your company car drivers and a reduction in Class1 NIC company costs. See above two BIK examples:

Vehicle benefit tax

Volkswagen ID.4 Life Pro Mercedes-Benz C-Class Performance 77kWh 204PS Saloon New C 300 e AMG Auto Line 9G-TRONIC PLUS

Tax year to 5th April P11D value

Percentage charge Benefit in kind

Tax payable at basic rate 20% Tax payable at 40%

Monthly BIK (BR/HR)

2022/23

£45,070 2%

£901

£180 2022/23

£46,940 8%

£3,755

£751

£361

£15 / £31

£1,502

£63 / £125

Clearly there are many considerations to take account of however at Agnew Leasing they understand how best to guide you and your drivers through the process of deciding which specific vehicles to select and how best to manage the integration. For more information on this please contact David McEwen (Head of Business Development) at Agnew Leasing on 02980 386600 or david. mcewen@agnews.co.uk

AMBITION

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