Inhaltsverzeichnis für December 2017 in What Car?

 For years, one of the few things politicians agreed on was that diesel cars were the answer to our pollution problems. Now you’re more likely to hear them blaming diesels for all the world’s ills. As a result, demand has slumped, with sales down almost 22% last month compared with the same period in 2016. ‘The truth is that a one-size-fits-all fuel policy makes no sense’ But the truth is that a one-size-fits-all fuel policy makes no more sense now than it did when diesel was the darling. The latest diesels are not only much cleaner than their predecessors but also continue to offer lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than petrols, so they’re hard to beat if you do a lot of motorway miles. On the other hand, if…

THE RECENTLY DEPARTED Suzuki Swift Sport was a true champion. We rated it as the best hot hatch you could buy for less than £15,000, and considering that it had been around since 2012, that was a notable achievement. No other car in that price range could equal it in terms of driving fun. With its successor, then, Suzuki is out to retain that honour, although it will have to contend with a new Volkswagen Up GTI. The new Swift Sport has a far more aggressive look than its predecessor, with larger air intakes, a wider front grille, flared door sills and larger tailpipes differentiating it from the regular Swift. It’s also wider than the old Swift Sport, its front and rear axles are farther apart and it has wider…

THE VERY IDEA of an ‘entry-level’ Ferrari may sound contradictory, but the new Portofino is the company’s most affordable model. Taking its name from a village in Italy, it’s the replacement for the California T and, like that car, is a convertible grand tourer, designed to carry two people and their luggage in comfort on long journeys. The Portofino is based on a new chassis that’s claimed to make it much lighter and more rigid than the California T. It has electric power steering that’s designed to feel lighter, making the car easier to drive, and new suspension that’s said to make the ride more comfortable and the handling more responsive. Powering the Portofino is a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 592bhp – 40bhp more than the California…

AS A MAKER of cars, you’d have to be a couple of baguettes short of a boulangerie to ignore the popularity of small SUVs. One of 2017’s many new entrants to this fast-growing class comes from Citroën, a firm with a history of distinctive design and impressive comfort – both important attributes in this type of car. So, what does the C3 Aircross bring to the table? For a start, there’s the same range of frugal yet punchy petrol and diesel engines that are found in the C3 hatchback on which it’s based, impressive seating flexibility and the availability of a wide range of safety kit. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, the array of personalisation options might. The C3 Aircross may be based on the C3, but it feels…

VAUXHALL MAY SPECIALISE in family-friendly cars, but its SUVs are all X-rated, with the new Grandland X joining the big-selling Mokka X and recently introduced Crossland X. As its name suggests, the Grandland X is the biggest of the trio, competing with cars such as Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and Seat Ateca. In fact, it and the 3008 were developed as part of a joint venture, so they share their platform and engines. These are a 1.6 diesel and a 1.2 turbo petrol, which, despite its size, makes a decent 128bhp and is peppy and eager to rev. The ride isn’t as comfy as the Qashqai’s, but it’s still good, smoothing over bumps that the firmer Ateca would thud over. However, there’s more wind noise and engine vibration, and the…

IT MIGHT SEEM odd that Citroën has replaced the C3 Picasso, a car near the top of the small MPV game, with a car in a different market. Really, though, the C3 Aircross small SUV represents more of a shift in perception than ethos. The C3 Picasso made its name with a cleverly packaged and spacious interior, a comfy ride and a big boot, and the C3 Aircross aims to further those qualities while being more image-conscious in order to tempt people out of a Nissan Juke or Renault Captur. Practicality is met with above-average head and leg room, the availability of sliding rear seats and a big boot. Idiosyncratic looks and a myriad of colour combinations sort out style. Engines are three 1.2-litre petrols (with up to 128bhp) and…

If you’re buying new and want a car that’s the epitome of dependability, the high-ranking Japanese and Korean brands should be on your wish list. However, there’s more to picking a reliable car than that. Choose certain Nissan models and you could be in for multiple trips to the service department. Opting for a premium brand won’t guarantee a durable car, either. Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all feature near the bottom of our brand table. Look at reliability by model and four cars stand out: the Audi A3 Saloon, Honda Jazz, Lexus CT200h and Toyota Aygo all achieve a remarkable 100% reliability rating. The most common faults in our survey were non-engine electrics, with air-con and sat-nav the most frequent complaints. This highlights the need for car makers to think…

I drive a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe diesel and need to go into central London. I’ve read that from 23 October drivers of pre-2005 diesel cars will have to pay an extra £10 T-Charge on top of the existing £11.50 Congestion Charge, but I’m confused by online articles that state that the new fee applies both to cars built and first registered before the start of that year. My car was built before 2005, but it wasn’t registered until June of that year, so will I have to pay the T-Charge? Elizabeth White WHAT CAR? SAYS The T-Charge applies to all diesel cars that don’t meet the Euro 4 emissions levels, which became mandatory for all new cars sold from January 2005. Although your car wasn’t registered until after this…

Mileage 6200 List price £41,085 Target Price £38,774 Price as tested £45,050 Test economy 42.0mpg “WE NEED TO move the What Car? archive and we need to do it today.” The call echoed around the office, as the mammoth task of shifting some 40 years’ worth of Britain’s biggest and best car buyer’s guide from one location to another slowly sank in. Said magazine archive is stored in huge plastic crates that, quite frankly, are a right pain to move. They’re an awkward shape, they’re full of valuable magazines and they’re extremely heavy. Plainly, we’d need a big, versatile car for the job, and eyes settled on our long-term Audi Q5. Not knowing how many boxes there would be, we also took along editor Steve Huntingford’s Volvo S90 as backup.…

LESS THAN £20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE List price £15,440 Target Price £14,231 MPG 64.2 CO2 101g/km For It’s one of the roomiest small estates, and SE trim adds air-con and a touchscreen. Against The seats could do with more support and it costs more than the hatchback. WHAT CAR? SAYS Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Our pick 1.0i Turbo 105 Design List price £18,505 Target Price £17,194 MPG 62.8 CO2 103g/km For There’s plenty of room, equipment is generous and the engine is strong enough. Against The boot isn’t that flexible and some rivals are better to drive. WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia Logan MCV Our pick 0.9 TCe Lauréate List price £10,495 Target Price £10,398 MPG 57.6 CO2 109g/km For Lots of space, low running…

LESS THAN £26,000 Mazda CX-5 Our pick 2.2d 150 SE-L Nav 2WD List price £25,695 Target Price £24,868 MPG 56.5 CO2 132g/km For Good to drive, with tidy handling and a flexible engine, plus lots of standard kit. Against Firm ride and it’s pricey to lease compared with rivals. WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Kodiaq Our pick 1.4 TSI 125 SE 7st List price £24,490 Target Price £23,135 MPG 45.6 CO2 141g/km For Value for money, with a classy and spacious interior and good driving manners. Against Unsettled low-speed ride and the 2.0-litre diesel (below) is more recommendable. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ford Kuga Our pick 1.5 TDCi Zetec (Nav) List price £24,890 Target Price £21,973 MPG 64.2 CO2 115g/km For Comfortable ride, comparatively cheap as a company car and well equipped.…

LESS THAN £18,000 Mini Cooper Our pick 1.5 3dr List price £16,200 Target Price £15,193 MPG 62.8 CO2 105g/km For Fun to drive, with good performance, low running costs and strong resale values. Against Equipment is fairly basic without the option packs and space is on the tight side. WHAT CAR? SAYS Abarth 595 Our pick 1.4 T-Jet 145 List price £15,510 Target Price £15,510 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For Small hot hatches don’t get any more stylish, and the Abarth is certainly rapid. Against Not as involving to drive as some rivals and the dashboard is confusing. WHAT CAR? SAYS Renault Twingo Our pick 0.9 TCe 110 GT List price £14,250 Target Price £13,848 MPG 54.3 CO2 115g/km For Sprightly performance for city driving and the dashboard is funky.…

WAITING FOR SEAT to launch an SUV is a bit like waiting for a bus. We hang around for what seemed like forever and then three come along in quick succession. First to arrive was the Barcelona brand’s answer to the Nissan Qashqai: the hugely popular and generally marvellous Ateca. And next year we’ll see an even bigger and more family-friendly seven-seater, the name of which is being voted for by the public. Sandwiched between those launches is the smallest and cheapest of the trio: the Arona. Named after a small municipality in Tenerife (Seat has a long-standing tradition of naming its cars after places in Spain), it’s based on the latest Ibiza – the leader in the small hatchback class – so it’s roughly the same size as its…

 IT’S ALMOST A given that you’ll have come across a BMW X3 on your travels. Indeed, BMW has managed to sell 1.5 million of them worldwide over two generations since the large five-seat SUV was introduced in 2003, and a good chunk of those have found their way onto driveways in the UK. But the outgoing X3, while still highly regarded, has fallen behind newer rivals such as the latest Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60, so BMW has been busy preparing this third-generation model to keep up with the class best. ‘The 3.0-litre engine is impressively smooth and quiet for a diesel, even if revved hard’ Set to go on sale in November, the new X3 has had a comprehensive revamp, adding a new 2.0-litre petrol engine to its line-up…

 IT SEEMS THAT just having a range of SUVs isn’t enough these days; you need them to share a first letter, too. Don’t believe us? How about the Volkswagen Tiguan and Touareg, or the Seat Arona and Ateca? ‘Compared with the Yeti, the Karoq is larger but arguably less distinctive’ With that in mind, the Yeti’s days were always going to be numbered as soon as Skoda announced the Kodiaq. Enter the new small Skoda SUV, the Karoq. Externally, it looks every inch the modern Skoda, but under the skin is a platform shared with the Ateca and Tiguan. To make sure the Karoq doesn’t tread on any toes, it’s slightly smaller than the VW but more practical than the Seat. Compared with the Yeti, the Karoq is larger but…

IN RECENT YEARS, Aston Martin has made a habit of popping engines from other manufacturers into its cars. There’s the Jaguar-engined V8 Vantage, for instance, and the DB11 can trace its V12’s lineage straight back to Ford. Well, Aston’s at it again, this time borrowing a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 from Mercedes-AMG to create the new DB11 V8. In case there’s any doubt, this is a fabulous decision. Why? Because it’s one hell of an engine. And even though, at 503bhp, it’s around 100bhp down on the V12, it has a similar amount of torque, is £13,000 cheaper and is, crucially, 115kg lighter. In this case, less is definitely more. Being less lardy helps the car’s handling, which becomes immediately obvious when you get behind the wheel and scythe through a…

 My ideal car has always been one that’s completely quiet, so I’m considering buying an electric car. I would prefer a Volkswagen Group car, so I was keen to read your recent twin test of the BMW i3 and Volkswagen e-Golf and delighted with the result. ‘Our real-world ranges for electric cars are taken from a side-by-side test on a set route’ However, I was concerned to read that the real-life range you got from the e-Golf was just 78 miles. This is a long way short of the official 120 miles and worryingly close to my 70-mile daily commute. Please can you give me more details on the range achieved in your test? Also, I estimate that with a combination of Volkswagen’s scrappage scheme and the Government’s electric car…

Mileage 1980 List price £31,390 Target Price £30,237 Price as tested £32,390 Test economy 43.9mpg AS SUVS GET better, offering an ever-broader range of talents, so we expect more of them. We want space, comfort, practicality, style, technology that makes life easier and engines that are frugal, refined and fast enough – all for a price that isn’t too steep. Proof of the adage ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’ comes in the form of this Skoda Kodiaq, the latest addition to our long-term test fleet. We already know that it’s a car that delivers on pretty much every promise it makes, because in January it scooped the Large SUV of the Year title at the 2017 What Car? Awards. But now it’s our chance to evaluate how the…

Mileage 7651 List price £14,249 Target Price £13,945 Price as tested £14,899 Test economy 57.6mpg I’VE TAKEN OVER as temporary custodian of our little Suzuki Ignis for a few weeks while I’m between more permanent long-termers, but I’m not too dischuffed. In fact, I’ve had a soft spot for the latest Ignis since it was first revealed and a previous trip in one left me hankering for more. My first few days with the car have not disappointed. For starters, just look at the thing. Isn’t it brilliant? I mean, sure, it’s a little wonky around the tail end, but viewed square on, directly from the rear, it’s hilarious: tall and narrow, yet with enormous wheel arches. Up front, there’s that scowling face and the big, puppy-dog eyes, while down…

LESS THAN £10,000 Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 SZ2 List price £7499 Target Price £7259 MPG 65.7 CO2 99g/km For It has a practical interior with a DAB radio and the engine gives adequate performance. Against The interior feels cheap, resale values are weak and infotainment options are limited. WHAT CAR? SAYS Hyundai i10 Our pick 1.0 S List price £9540 Target Price £8995 MPG 60.1 CO2 108g/km For The three-cylinder engine is refined and the interior is surprisingly roomy. Against This entry-level trim doesn’t give you much kit and the engine struggles out of town. WHAT CAR? SAYS Seat Mii Our pick 1.0 60 SE 3dr List price £9795 Target Price £7455 MPG 64.2 CO2 102g/km For The Mii feels remarkably grown-up to drive and is cheaper than the…

LESS THAN £25,000 Skoda Superb Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology List price £23,520 Target Price £21,930 MPG 65.7 CO2 113g/km For Masses of standard kit, huge rear leg room and boot space, and a comfortable ride. Against Some other executive cars are more fun to drive and the engine is a little gruff. WHAT CAR? SAYS Volkswagen Passat Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 S List price £24,435 Target Price £19,253 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For Drives well, with a good ride and refined diesel engine; the interior is smart. Against Some rivals are more practical, while the dashboard design is a bit dull. WHAT CAR? SAYS Ford Mondeo Our pick 2.0 TDCi 150 Zetec (Nav) List price £24,545 Target Price £21,065 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For It’s very…

LESS THAN £22,000 Volkswagen Golf SV Our pick 1.2 TSI S List price £19,905 Target Price £16,373 MPG 56.5 CO2 116g/km For Good to drive, with a smooth engine, quality materials inside and solid resale values. Against The rear seats aren’t as clever as those in rivals, and entry-level ‘S’ trim is a bit basic. WHAT CAR? SAYS Citroën C3 Picasso Our pick 1.6 BlueHDi Edition List price £18,550 Target Price £17,475 MPG 72.4 CO2 101g/km For The interior is spacious and the boot is big; ride comfort and refinement impress. Against Some rivals are cheaper and the diesel engine could be more refined. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Carens Our pick 1.6 GDI ISG 2 List price £20,700 Target Price £18,807 MPG 45.6 CO2 143g/km For Competitively priced, with seven…

LESS THAN £50,000 Volvo XC90 Our pick D5 Momentum List price £48,655 Target Price £45,425 MPG 49.6 CO2 149g/km For Big, classy interior, seating for seven and lots of standard equipment. Against The ride isn’t as smooth as you’d expect and there’s plenty of suspension noise. WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-AMG GLC Our pick GLC 43 List price £49,005 Target Price £47,580 MPG 34.0 CO2 189g/km For Ridiculously fast, with a sweet-sounding engine. Just as practical as the regular GLC, too. Against Extremely thirsty and loses its value quicker than an Audi SQ5 or Porsche Macan. WHAT CAR? SAYS Porsche Macan Our pick Diesel S List price £48,844 Target Price £48,844 MPG 46.3 CO2 164g/km For Very good to drive, with precise steering, an excellent auto ’box and a strong engine.…

THIS ISN’T JUST the launch of a new hot hatch; this is also the launch of a new performance brand. Audi has RS, Mercedes has AMG, BMW has M and now Hyundai has N. Speaking of BMW, the man who developed the i30N used to be in charge at M division, and his experience has ensured that this is more than simply an i30 with a hunk of extra power. It does still have that, mind, with 247bhp, or 271bhp in the Performance model, but there’s also been a comprehensive upgrade of the brakes, steering and suspension; the ride height is lower and adaptive dampers are fitted to the Performance. Granted, the i30N isn’t as powerful as the class-leading 316bhp Honda Civic Type R or the 345bhp Ford Focus RS,…

PUTTING THE PROVERB ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ firmly to one side, the new Audi A8 looks, with the best will in the world, a bit dull. Now, Audi’s flagship saloon has previously done well trading on its understated styling, but this new A8 needs to go far beyond what has gone before if it is going to lead the brand’s so-called design and tech revolution. You see, this is no run-of-the-mill renewal. In fact, Audi claims the A8 is the first car to have been developed expressly for what it describes as “highly automated driving”. With a ground-breaking laser-guided system called Traffic Jam Pilot, the A8 can autonomously take control of acceleration, braking and steering at speeds of up to 37mph, allowing the driver to focus…

KIA’S STRAPLINE MAY be ‘The power to surprise’, but in an era of soft-roaders, adding another small SUV to its range is no more of a bombshell than a weeping X-Factor contestant babbling: “All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing!” Based on the Rio small hatchback, the Stonic is now the smallest SUV in Kia’s portfolio. Its petrol engine line-up is cherry-picked from the Rio and includes an entry-level 98bhp naturally aspirated 1.4 and a turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0 that puts out 118bhp. Alternatively, you can opt for a 1.6-litre diesel. There are two trim levels, starting with 2, which has most things you’re likely to want, including a 7.0in touchscreen with Bluetooth, a DAB radio and smartphone mirroring. Continuing the haphazard naming policy, the top-level First Edition adds luxuries…

“AMBITION IS THE path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in,” it was once said. Kia has been highly ambitious with the Stinger, but has it been persistent enough in developing this five-door coupé for it to smash the glass ceiling and compete in the premium market of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, Audi A5 Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon? In many ways, yes. You might have already read (on p13) about how the ex-boss of BMW’s M division has achieved great things with the Hyundai i30N hot hatch. Well, Hyundai is Kia’s sister brand, and he’s been fettling the Stinger, too. Clearly he’s a dab hand. The rear-wheel-drive Stinger has the chassis balance and poise of the 4 Series and steers with a finesse hitherto unseen in…

DYSON HAS REVEALED plans to develop and build its own electric car by 2020, after receiving £174m and support from the Government. The company, best known for its vacuum cleaners, will invest £2bn in the car, which will target luxury models such as the Tesla Model S, rather than more mass-market offerings such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. A wider range of Dyson models could follow later. Dyson’s main advantage will be its use of solid-state batteries. These are much denser and quicker to charge than regular lithium ion batteries, as well as cooler while operating and potentially more powerful, so fewer are needed. Company founder Sir James Dyson said he believed “electrically powered vehicles would solve our vehicle pollution problem”. Some 400 people, including former Aston Martin…

THE CONTENDERS Audi SQ5 3.0 V6 TFSI quattro List price £51,200 Target Price £49,584 Recently beat the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, but how will it fare against pricier opponents? Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package List price £70,760 Target Price £70,760 With 434bhp, this is the most powerful Macan yet. Will brute force win this test? Range Rover Velar P380 HSE R-Dynamic List price £72,630 Target Price £72,630 Hottest Velar is powered by the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 from the Jaguar F-Type. IF YOU’RE THE kind of person who likes to have your cake, eat it and then demand that your favourite pâtisserie makes you another, this test will be right up your street. A posh SUV is already luxurious, practical and able to handle a wide variety of terrains. Put a 300bhpplus…

Jimi Beckwith James.Beckwith@haymarket.com Mileage 2860 List price £7995 Target Price £7905 Price as tested £8640 Test economy 43.3mpg A BIG PART of Dacia’s appeal, as we’ve pointed out previously, is value for money. I was reminded of that when I found out the £50 seat height adjustment pack that I’d specified on my Sandero has now been made standard on mid-spec Ambiance cars like mine. Very good. But Dacia’s ethos of added value goes way beyond what equipment is fitted, as I realised when an invitation to the annual Dacia Day arrived. It’s not something I’d heard of before but, as a Dacia driver, I felt intrigued and almost obliged to head along. So off I went. Dacia Day 2017 was held at the Broughton Hall Estate, just south…

‘The A3 is a pleasure to drive, with punchy engines, precise steering and surefooted handling’ In production 2012-present Price from £6000 Our favourite 1.0 TFSI 115 Sport ‘DESIRABILITY’ ISN’T A WORD that looms large when you’re considering the purchase of a family hatchback; often the only qualities you can fairly expect are practicality and reliability. However, when it comes to the current Audi A3, its brilliant interior, drive and comfort make it a hugely desirable premium car as well as a sensible choice. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The A3 has a beautifully made interior that’s more than practical enough for the needs of most families. Space in the front and rear seats is plentiful, and the boot is large enough for most people’s daily needs. All versions are a pleasure to…

LESS THAN £16,000 Suzuki Vitara Our pick 1.6 SZ4 List price £14,999 Target Price £14,212 MPG 53.3 CO2 123g/km For Good to drive with a practical interior. SZ4 trim brings enough equipment. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and resale values are only average. WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 GDi 1 List price £14,310 Target Price £13,751 MPG 43.5 CO2 152g/km For Spacious interior, ‘1’ trim gives you air-con and DAB, and it’s decent to drive. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and the steering feels lifeless. WHAT CAR? SAYS Suzuki Ignis Our pick 1.2 SHVS SZ5 List price £13,499 Target Price £12,984 MPG 65.7 CO2 97g/km For Very good value for money, it’s fun to drive and you get lots of kit as standard. Against The…