Table of contents for February 2016 in What Car?

Alpina B7 Mid 2016 Alpina will reveal its performance version of the new BMW 7 Series in 2016. Few details are known but we expect the B7 to be the most powerful Alpina model ever. It’s likely to be powered by a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine capable of around 600bhp. Mercedes-Benz CLA facelift Summer 2016 The updated CLA will arrive in the middle of 2016. It gets minor styling tweaks to bring it in line with the rest of the facelifted A›Class range and a series of engine updates will improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions. The facelifted CLA will also be available with the seven-speed dual-clutch auto ’box from the A›Class. Also coming Audi A3 facelift Late 2016Audi A4 Allroad SummerAudi RS6 SpringAudi S4 SpringAudi S7 PerformanceSummerAudi S8 Plus…

Audi Q5 Late 2016 As with the rest of Audi’s models, the Q5’s styling is expected to be more evolution than revolution. However, bigger changes will lie beneath, and a new hybrid variant with an all-electric range of 31 miles is expected to be offered. Bentley Bentayga Early 2016 Bentley’s long-awaited Bentayga SUV arrives next year, starting at £160,200. All four wheels are driven by its 600bhp 6.0-litre W12 through an automatic gearbox, and the Bentayga reaches 60mph in just 4.0sec. Hybrid and diesel options are planned. Skoda ‘large SUV ’ Late 2016 Another hotly anticipated model for 2016 is the large SUV that’s under development by Skoda. The as-yet-unnamed SUV will be available with five-and seven-seat configurations and the choice of front- or four-wheel drive. Also coming Audi SQ5…

First drive Comprehensive alterations mean this isn’t just a three-door variant of the saloon Verdict A compelling coupé that’s great to drive and easy to live with YOU COULD ALMOST mistake it for the exclusive S-Class Coupé, but this tapered new Mercedes-Benz is the smaller C-Class Coupé. The styling differences between the C-Class Coupé and saloon are fairly drastic, with only the wings and bonnet panels shared by both. The Coupé’s suspension, lowered by 15mm, has also been altered to deliver better front-end bite, while the steering software has been tweaked and the seats (even the standard ones) are a new design. The Coupé is also the first car in its class to offer adaptive air suspension, albeit as an £895 option. It was fitted to our test car, the…

‘Wide-opening rear doors and low sills enable easy access to rear seats that are even more spacious than the Fabia’s’ First drive Suzuki wants its all-new small car to compete with the Ford Fiesta Verdict Practical and well equipped, if not as good to drive as key rivals WE’LL FORGIVE YOU if you don’t remember the original Baleno – a distinctly below par small family car that went off sale in 2002. Suzuki is hoping it’s been erased from car buyers’ memories because it’s reintroducing the name on an all-new model. The car, which will be sold alongside the similarly sized but sportier Swift, is designed to be an alternative to the Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia. It looks as though it will be efficient – so cheap to run…

‘This new 1.4 Boosterjet engine injects the Vitara with a new lease of life’ First drive Small turbo petrol engine promises better performance and economy Verdict New engine is a willing performer, but lesser models offer better value for money AS WITH MANY car manufacturers these days, Suzuki is introducing some new small turbocharged petrol engines to its line-up, and the first model to receive this new 1.4-litre Boosterjet is the Vitara SUV. This 1.4 option enters the line-up as a flagship model in new S trim, above the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol unit that’s our current pick of the range. The 1.4-litre turbo engine produces 138bhp and does a claimed average of 52.3mpg. The suspension has been tweaked to make the car feel sportier, and there are a few…

‘The C4 Cactus has proved to be an enjoyable car to spend time with’ Run by Lewis Kingston Mileage 7199 List price £17,290 Target Price £16,214 Price as tested £19,060 My rating WHEN THE C4 Cactus arrived, I was a little cautious about its prospects. Was this going to be a case of style over substance? Given that it commanded a fairly hefty price, it was going to have to do more than just stand out in the car park. After all, a lot of cars ladle on the style, but when you dig deeper it’s not unusual to find them lacking. Over the course of 5000 miles, however, (we acquired it at 2000 miles) the compact and quirky Citroën has exceeded my expectations. Its three-cylinder turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine…

Mileage 11,685 List price £29,005 Target Price £26,932 Average mpg 43.2 My rating SPACE AND FLEXIBILITY are essential for any vehicle tasked with carrying my photography kit. So, for work duties, the rear seats are usually to be found in ‘max boot space’ mode. However, I recently tested the Active Tourer’s ability to take luggage and passengers by making a weekend trip down to the Isle of Wight. The front-wheel-drive BMW swallowed the family’s luggage with room to spare. It also happily devoured motorway miles and merrily kept up with the flow on the twisty roads. The Active Tourer showed it was adept on such trips but this quality left a niggling feeling that, although it excelled on short excursions, it would struggle on longer, more luggage-heavy breaks. While its…

Mileage 19,102 List price £38,555 Target Price £32,002 Average mpg 43.4 My rating AFTER A BUSY summer and autumn for the E-Class, I have at last been able to extract it from the grip of my family who have treated it like a beast of burden, loading it with everything from surfboards to junk they think could be sold to all their mates. Now it is exclusively mine once more and I no longer feel like a glorified chauffeur, it has been piling on the miles, heading north for a weekend in Scotland and then east for a week in Europe, taking in a motor show and a race I was doing at Spa-Francorchamps. Surprisingly, perhaps, for such a big car powered by so small an engine, it has the…

LESS THAN £16,000 Nissan Pulsar Our pick 1.2 DIG›T Visia List price £15,995 Target Price £14,785 MPG 56.5 CO2 117g/km For There’s plenty of room for occupants and their luggage, and there’s lot of equipment. Against Several rivals have stronger resale values and lower running costs. What Car? says Seat Leon Our pick 1.2 TSI 110 SE List price £16,935 Target Price £15,447 MPG 57.6 CO2 114g/km For The engine is refined, running costs are low and S trim has a decent amount of equipment. Against Some of the cabin plastics feel cheap and it could be more refined on the motorway. What Car? says Hyundai i30 Our pick 1.4 100 SE List price £16,495 Target Price £13,995 MPG 47.1 CO2 138g/km For Roomy, well-made cabin. The i30 rides well…

LESS THAN £19,000 Kia Cee’d Sportswagon Our pick 1.4 CRDi 89 1 ISG List price £17,295 Target Price £14,847 MPG 67.3 CO2 109g/km For Lots of space, a high-quality cabin and plenty of equipment for a low price. Against It’s not as good to drive as many rivals and road noise is an issue on coarse surfaces. What Car? says Skoda Octavia Estate Our pick 1.4 TSI 140 SE List price £19,880 Target Price £18,272 MPG 53.3 CO2 121g/km For Offers loads of boot and cabin space and equipment for a competitive price. Against The ride is unsettled and you need to work the engine hard with a full load on board. What Car? says Peugeot 308 SW Our pick 1.2 110 Active List price £18,845 Target Price £17,380 MPG…

LESS THAN £25,000 Mazda CX-5 Our pick 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150 SE›L Nav 2WD List price £24,795 Target Price £23,160 MPG 61.4 CO2 119g/km For Lots of space and kit for a good price, while CO2 emissions and economy are impressive. Against Firm low-speed ride, and wind and road noise can intrude at speed. What Car? says Nissan X-Trail Our pick 1.6 dCi Acenta 2WD List price £24,995 Target Price £22,797 MPG 57.6 CO2 129g/km For It’s comfortable, has a spacious and classy interior, a large boot and lots of equipment. Against Body control is sloppy and the diesel engine is noisy. What Car? says Honda CR-V Our pick 1.6 i-DTEC 120 SE List price £25,570 Target Price £23,257 MPG 64.2 CO2 115g/km For The engine is economical and powerful, while…

LESS THAN £25,000 Seat Leon SC Our pick 1.4 TSI ACT 150 FR List price £19,700 Target Price £17,969 MPG 60.1 CO2 109g/km For It’s quick, agile, economical and excellent value. There’s good space for people and bags. Against A few bits of cabin trim feel low-rent and there’s too much wind noise at speed. What Car? says BMW 2 Series Our pick 218d SE List price £24,415 Target Price £22,621 MPG 62.8 CO2 119g/km For It rides and handles well, and the diesel engine is punchy and economical. Against The rear seats are cramped for adults and the engine is noisy. What Car? says Mini Coupé Our pick 1.6 Cooper S List price £20,025 Target Price £18,936 MPG 48.7 CO2 136g/km For More entertaining to drive than many rivals.…

Peugeot 3008 Late 2016 It’s thought that Peugeot has ditched the chunky hatchback styling of the outgoing car for a more SUV look. Like the Zafira – with which it shares key components – the 3008 will get a range of sub-100g/km CO2 petrol and diesel engines. Subaru Impreza Autumn 2016 The next Impreza has been shown in concept form (above), and will get a range of new engines. These are expected to be four-cylinder units capable of closing down cylinders to save fuel. The Impreza is likely to remain a five-door hatchback. Also coming Alfa Romeo Giulietta SummerCitroën C3 Picasso AutumnFord Ranger February 2016Ford S-Max Vignale SummerHonda Civic Late 2016Hyundai i30 Late 2016Kia Ceed Late 2016Kia Optima AutumnPeugeot 5008 AutumnRenault Mégane EstateAutumnSeat Leon facelift Late 2016Skoda Roomster SummerVauxhall Astra…

Audi Q1 Mid 2016 Audi’s upcoming small SUV will be an all-wheel-drive model based on the A1 platform. The Nissan Juke is said to be a source of inspiration, so the Q1 is likely to be Audi’s attempt at emulating the runaway success of the quirky Nissan. In›initi QX30 Late 2016 Infiniti will enter the small SUV category with the QX30, the SUV version of its new Q30 hatchback. It’s been seen in concept form powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, and will go head to head with premium rivals such as the Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLA. Kia Sportage Early 2016 The new Sportage is due to arrive early in the year. The current car’s interior quality, refinement, equipment, ride and handling have all been highlighted as areas…

Mercedes C-Class Coupé Early 2016 The standard Coupé will feature a choice of two petrol engines in the C200 and C300 models, which will have 181bhp and 241bhp respectively. The range is topped by the AMG C63S, with its 503bhp twin-turbo V8. Prices start from £30,995. Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet Summer 2016 The S-Class Cabriolet will arrive just in time for the summer. The drop-top version of the S-Class Coupé will be a four-seater and will have a price of around £100,000. The range will be topped by the AMG S63. Rolls Royce Dawn Early 2016 Rolls Royce’s convertible Wraith is called the Dawn. It will carry an extra 200kg and 80% new bodywork over the Wraith, and Rolls-Royce claims it will be the quietest convertible on sale. It will have…

‘The 911’s steering is weighty but its consistency, speed and feedback are judged perfectly’ First drive Latest facelift brings turbocharging and a smaller engine to improve emissions and boost performance Verdict Purists may grumble but the rest of us should rejoice PORSCHE’S FACELIFTS have traditionally been of the blink-andyou’ll-miss-it variety. Indeed, first impressions of the 911 Carrera suggest this remains the case. There’s a new bonnet design and new daytime running lights, plus clever front air intakes which automatically open and close. At the rear there are redesigned tail-lights, more new vents and, if specified, a different central sports exhaust design. However, the real news is what Porsche has been working on beneath the 911’s sleek exterior. For the first time, the entry-level Carrera and next-tier Carrera S models get…

‘The rear seats are cramped and hard to access, and the rear windows don’t open’ First drive Entry-level DS 4 is aimed at the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series Verdict Impressive engine and equipment, but too compromised in other areas SEVERAL CAR MAKERS have their own luxury brands (Nissan has Infiniti, Toyota has Lexus), but it’s rare for a manufacturer to rebrand some of its existing models. That’s what Citroën has done with its DS range. The DS 3, 4 and 5 no longer feature the Citroën chevrons and are now sold under the DS Automobiles umbrella, in an effort to distance them from more mainstream models. Small but powerful engine We’ve already driven the most powerful petrol-powered DS 4, the 1.6 210 THP. This time we’re trying the…

Ford claims that its Motorcraft centres provide the same level of dedicated care and expertise as independent garages, at matching or better prices. To find out if that’s true, motoring journalist Dan Stevens visited a range of Ford Motorcraft centres around the country, talking to the master technicians who are dedicated to looking after your car. So why choose Ford Motorcraft rather than an independent dealer? For starters, Ford Motorcraft vows to provide better service at a competitive price – and offers a local price-match guarantee, with like-for-like pricing with all dealers in a five-mile area. Ford Motorcraft’s skilled master technicians are trained specifically to work with Ford vehicles. As a result, they will know your car inside out. Their service starts with a free Ford eCHECK, a 30-point health…

The scandal surrounding the Volkswagen Group first hit the headlines in September 2015. Since then new information about the scale of the issue and what owners need to do has been released in dribs and drabs. We’ve compiled this guide to answer any questions you might have. Also visit bit.ly/VWemissions for regular updates. Is it just about NOx emissions? No, it first came to light that VW had been cheating official nitrogen oxide (NOx) tests in America, but since then the scandal has developed further. At the beginning of November 2015, VW announced that up to 800,000 cars (both petrol- and diesel-powered models) had their CO2 and economy ratings wrongly certified in Europe. What cars are affected? Around 11 million cars worldwide are involved in the NOx scandal. Of those,…

‘I had to resort to the handbook to find out where the Twingo’s puncture repair kit was hidden’ Run by Matthew Burrow Mileage 3318 List price £9995 Target Price £9652 Price as tested £10,735 My rating FEW CARS TURNED as many heads as our Renault Twingo. Even after months on the road, the bright yellow paint and retro stickers really made it stand out from the rest of the city car class. I haven’t seen many Twingos on my travels, and none in the same colour as our long-term test car, which helped it get noticed. The cringe-inducing numberplate got laughs, too. We wanted to run a Twingo because Renault seemed to have done something unusual. It had made a rear-engined and rear-wheel-drive city car. The only other cars in…

Nissan X-Trail 1.6 dCi 130 N-tec The X›Trail’s heated mirrors are being put to good use, now that the winter months – and frosty mornings – are here. To be honest, they’re probably the most underused feature on the SUV; the heater elements behind the glass do a fine job of melting ice, but they’re not much cop at making rain drops evaporate. If they were, I’d certainly be using them throughout the year. James.Holloway@haymarket.com Porsche Panamera 3.0 S E-Hybrid Our hybrid Panamera delivers almost 50mpg when we charge it up at both ends of our daily commute, and around 40mpg when we don’t. Indeed, I’ve become accustomed to hunting for those few electric charging points you see in some supermarket car parks, and other places. After all, what’s the…

LESS THAN £10,000 Skoda Citigo Our pick 1.0 60 SE 5dr List price £9485 Target Price £9070 MPG 62.8 CO2 105g/km For It’s economical, solidly built and feels grown-up to drive. It’s cheaper than the VW Up. Against It’s not as classy as the Up and the 59bhp engine can struggle at speed. What Car? says Seat Mii Our pick 1.0 Ecomotive SE 3dr List price £9530 Target Price £9136 MPG 68.9 CO2 95g/km For The Mii feels remarkably grown-up to drive, and is cheaper than the near-identical VW Up. Against It’s not as well finished inside as the Up and this version can feel slow on faster roads. What Car? says Suzuki Celerio Our pick 1.0 Dualjet SZ3 List price £8499 Target Price £8182 MPG 78.4 CO2 84g/km For…

LESS THAN £25,000 Volkswagen Passat Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE List price £24,585 Target Price £22,180 MPG 67.3 CO2 106g/km For Drives very well, with a good ride and refined diesel engine. The interior is top notch. Against Some rivals are more practical, while the dashboard design is a bit dull. What Car? says Audi A3 Saloon Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 Sport List price £24,785 Target Price £23,038 MPG 68.9 CO2 107g/km For It handles well, the engine is strong and the cabin is beautifully built. Against It costs more than the A3 Sportback, despite having a less practical boot. What Car? says Volvo S60 Our pick 2.0 D4 Business Edition List price £23,195 Target Price £23,195 MPG 74.3 CO2 99g/km For It’s tax-efficient, comfortable, classy inside, and…

LESS THAN £17,000 Citroën C3 Picasso Our pick 1.4 VTi 95 VTR+ List price £15,145 Target Price £11,931 MPG 44.8 CO2 145g/km For The interior is spacious and the boot is big. Ride comfort and refinement impress. Against Some rivals are cheaper and the engine feels a bit weedy on faster roads. What Car? says Ford B-Max Our pick 1.4 90 Zetec List price £14,895 Target Price £13,137 MPG 47.1 CO2 139g/km For The engine is eager, Zetec trim brings plenty of kit and rear-seat access is easy. Against There are only five forward gears, so motorway driving can be tiresome. What Car? says Peugeot Partner Tepee Our pick 1.6 BlueHDi 100 Active 7 seats List price £17,180 Target Price £15,453 MPG 68.9 CO2 109g/km For Good value for a…

LESS THAN £20,000 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet Our pick 1.2 TSI 105 List price £19,230 Target Price £16,771 MPG 50.4 CO2 129g/km For It looks like nothing else and will hold its value well. The engine is smooth. Against There’s not much space in the rear seats and the ride is unsettled. What Car? says Citroën DS3 Cabriolet Our pick 1.2 Puretech 110 DStyle List price £17,995 Target Price £16,727 MPG 60.1 CO2 107g/km For The interior is chic, classy and well equipped and the engine is strong and flexible. Against The roof pillars stay in place, so it’s not a full open-top. Rear visibility is awful. What Car? says Fiat 500C Our pick 1.2 Lounge S/S List price £15,090 Target Price £14,416 MPG 58.9 CO2 113g/km For It’s cheap to…

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RUNNING A CAR ON CONTRACT HIRE AND LEASING? Contract hire is actually a form of leasing – effectively it is an operating lease. ‘Leasing’ is a general, catch-all term that includes finance lease and lease purchase, as well as contract hire. I’M SELF-EMPLOYED AND WANT A CAR FOR MOSTLY BUSINESS USE. SHOULD I GO FOR CONTRACT HIRE OR INVESTIGATE A PCP? Personal contract hire isn’t proving as popular as personal contract purchase (PCP) among private individuals and the self-employed. Monthly payments are often broadly similar, but at the end of the deal a PCP gives you the flexibility to own the car for an extra lump sum or, potentially, a bit of cash to put towards a deposit on another PCP deal. If you find you…

Alfa Romeo Mito Mid 2016 The Mito will get its second facelift in 2016. We expect it to get a new grille and minor changes to the front and rear lights and bumpers to bring it into line with the look of the new Giulia exec. Prices should remain similar to today’s, so will start at around £16,000. Nissan Micra Late 2016 The new Micra will be very different from the current car, as this concept (based on the Sway) shows. The Micra has failed to compete with rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia, so Nissan says it has kept the demands of European buyers in mind. Volkswagen Up Late 2016 The former What Car? Car of the Year is due a facelift in 2016. We expect…

BMW Active Tourer 225xe Early 2016 The Active Tourer 225xe uses the same plug-in hybrid technology as the i8 sports car, and features a 1.5-litre petrol engine working in conjunction with an electric motor. Together they produce 221bhp. It can travel up to 25 miles on electric power. BMW 330e Early 2016 BMW’s 330e features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor to produce a combined 248bhp. It’s capable of returning up to 148mpg with CO2 emissions of 44g/km. Like the 225xe above, it has an electric-only range of 25 miles. Honda Clarity FCV Late 2016 Honda’s hydrogen-powered FCV has an electric motor that will develop more than 134bhp. The hydrogen fuel cell stack is under the bonnet freeing up cabin space for passengers and their luggage. The FCV…

Audi R8 Spyder Early 2016 The previous-generation convertible shared components with the Lamborghini Gallardo, but the new R8 shares a chassis (among other parts) with the Lamborghini Huracán. Expect it to cost up to £10,000 more than the coupé. Honda NSX Summer 2016 The reborn Honda NSX has been a long time coming, but is finally due for release next year. It’ll be priced to compete with the Audi R8, and its 191mph top speed and 0-62 time of just 2.9sec will give Ferrari and Lamborghini owners plenty to think about. Also coming Abarth 595 facelift SpringAston Martin DB11 SummerAudi TT RS SummerBMW M4 GTS SpringChevrolet Camaro SummerFerrari 488 Spider SpringFord GT SpringFord Mustang Early 2016Jaguar F-type SVR SpringLamborghini Huracán RWDSpringLamborghini Huracán SpyderSpringLotus Elise SummerLotus Exige SummerMazda MX›5 Roadster-CoupéLate 2016Mercedes-AMG…

‘No cars equipped with only a combustion engine can match its astonishingly low emissions’ First drive All-new hybrid promises improved economy and emissions, plus a more practical interior Verdict First impressions suggest marked improvements, but we’ll reserve final judgement for a UK test TOYOTA LAUNCHED THE original Prius way back in 1997. Over the years it’s been restyled and improved, but its underpinnings have largely remained the same. The 2016 Prius marks a major shift for the hybrid hatchback since it acquires a new set of components that will underpin many Toyota products in the years to come. It has a more sophisticated chassis with the aim of making it better to drive, but the emphasis is still on great fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. On these measures, the…

‘Most buyers are likely to be happy to trade a poorer view for the boot doors’ distinctive look’ First drive Biggest ever Mini raises its game in the competitive family hatchback class Verdict Larger, more practical and cheaper to run, although rivals still offer more THE LATEST MINI Clubman is the car maker’s attempt to steal sales from the stalwarts of the small family car class: the Volkswagen Golf and the Audi A3. For this latest generation the Clubman keeps the previous model’s barn-style boot doors, but trades the quirky and impractical single rear side door for a pair of conventional rear doors. Mini expects this Cooper diesel and the entry-level petrol to be the best sellers. We liked the diesel when we drove it in Sweden earlier this year;…

‘The entry-level 1.0-litre engine doesn’t have a turbo and isn’t particularly powerful’ First drive Seat’s rival for the Ford Fiesta gets a revamped interior and more equipment options Verdict Refined, comfortable and good to drive, but steer clear of the entry-level engine THE IBIZA IS one of Seat’s most important models, but it has now been around for seven years. In that time new rivals have arrived, while others have benefited from significant updates. In an effort to keep the old stager in contention, Seat has rolled out a series of updates, the most dramatic of which is a substantial overhaul of the interior. Other changes include revised suspension and steering, more efficient engines and new equipment options. A much smarter, plusher interior Inside, you’ll find a new dashboard, steering…

‘The GLS is now a pricier prospect, but it’s a better one. The trouble is, its rivals are seriously good’ First drive Merc’s facelifted large SUV gets a new look inside and out, and more standard equipment Verdict Seriously spacious and comfortable, although you’ll need deep pockets THE MERCEDES GLS is one of the company’s last models to undergo a name change. Formerly the GL, the GLS comes as the £100,000-plus V8 petrol performance GLS63 and this V6 diesel 350d. A few styling tweaks accompany the name change; there’s a new grille and a more distinctive bonnet, while inside there’s a new instrument panel, redesigned steering wheel and a reworked centre console. The 350d’s economy is unchanged but CO2 emissions have fallen, thanks in part to a new nine-speed automatic…

Mileage 8450 List price £42,995 Target Price £42,995 Average mpg 32.9 My rating SIX MONTHS IN and our NX is proving very useful. Our photographers often use it when they need something they can hang out of while taking pictures of new cars, and it’s been hauled into service to help in numerous house moves. The younger chaps also use it to transport bicycles because, with the rear seats folded down, there is 1585 litres of space available, and a relatively flat floor. I recently managed to squeeze a single-bed mattress into the boot, too. By removing the parcel shelf, dropping the seats and then moving the front passenger seat forward, I just got it to fit. Those rear seats are also adjustable for tilt, via a pull-up lever. However,…

Mileage 3926 List price £13,450 Target Price £12,567 Average mpg 37.2 My rating THERE’S A host of goodies in the Fabia intended to make life easier. They’re grouped under the name Simply Clever, presumably because Skoda wants you to say: “That’s clever; why didn’t I think of that?” The one that I use the most is a clear plastic clip that allows you to attach a pay and display ticket to the inside of the windscreen. You may have seen one of these before and wondered what it was. The idea is that it stops tickets blowing off the dash, and means I remove them once I get into the car, rather than leaving them littering the cabin. It seems a small thing to be making a fuss about, but…

LESS THAN £12,000 Dacia Sandero Our pick 1.2 Ambiance List price £6795 Target Price £6795 MPG 48.7 CO2 135g/km For Lots of space for the money, plus a proven four-cylinder petrol engine from Renault. Against The interior and equipment list are basic, while the low-speed ride is lumpy. What Car? says Suzuki Swift Our pick 1.2 SZ3 3dr List price £10,599 Target Price £9981 MPG 56.5 CO2 116g/km For Lots of equipment as standard and a smart cabin. It’s also fun to drive. Against The engine is noisy and a little gutless at motorway speeds. What Car? says Seat Ibiza Our pick 1.4 85 Toca 3dr List price £12,870 Target Price £11,907 MPG 47.9 CO2 139g/km For Rides and handles well, and comes with a generous standard kit list. Against…

LESS THAN £16,000 Suzuki Vitara Our pick 1.6 SZ-T 2WD List price £15,499 Target Price £14,638 MPG 53.3 CO2 123g/km For The Vitara is good to drive, has a practical interior and comes with lots of equipment. Against CO2 emissions are comparatively high and the steering weight is too light. What Car? says Renault Captur Our pick 0.9 TCe 90 Dynamique Media Nav List price £15,395 Target Price £14,126 MPG 56.5 CO2 115g/km For It’s refined, well equipped and roomy for four adults. The sliding rear bench is practical. Against The interior plastics feel hard and cheap, while the engine is underpowered. What Car? says Kia Soul Our pick 1.6 CRDi 134 Connect List price £16,600 Target Price £14,671 MPG 58.8 CO2 128g/km For The interior is spacious, Connect trim…

LESS THAN £15,000 Suzuki Swift Sport Our pick 3dr List price £13,999 Target Price £13,182 MPG 44.1 CO2 147g/km For Loves to be thrashed, thanks to a rev-hungry engine and snappy gearchange. Against The cabin is plain, so there’s none of the ‘wow’ factor that hot hatch buyers crave. What Car? says Seat Ibiza SC FR Our pick 1.4 TSI 140 List price £15,495 Target Price £14,323 MPG 60.1 CO2 109g/km For Gutsy engine, low running costs, plenty of equipment and a spacious interior. Against Some rivals are more fun to drive and the cabin plastics feel cheap. What Car? says Fiat 500 Abarth Our pick 1.4 T›Jet List price £14,255 Target Price £14,255 MPG 43.5 CO2 155g/km For Small hot hatches don’t get any more stylish and the Abarth…

A BROKER CAN SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW BMW X5 SOONER THAN MY LOCAL DEALER CAN. Is this possible? The broker might have pre-ordered one on the basis he’d be able to find a buyer, or he may have a cancelled order. Ask to see proof, though, and get the delivery date in writing, too. A BROKER IS CHARGING ME A FINDER’S FEE OF £1000. Is this right? Shop elsewhere. There is nothing to stop brokers charging finder’s fees, but, as a general rule, most reputable brokers earn their commission from the dealer, not the customer. IS IT SAFE TO PAY THE BROKER BEFORE I’VE TAKEN DELIVERY? The safest options are to pay the dealer directly, or into an ‘escrow’ holding account until the car is ready for delivery. Always…