What Car? December 2022

‘Technology tends to get cheaper over time – an example being electric cars’ With inflation at a 40-year high, most of us have noticed that our pay packet no longer buys as much as it used to. However, there are a few things that are actually cheaper than they were 12 months ago, including smartphones and TVs. Indeed, technology in general tends to get more affordable over time, with electric vehicles (EVs) being another example. When the world’s first mass-market EV, the Nissan Leaf, went on sale in the UK in 2011, it cost £28,350. Fast forward to today and you can have a similarly spacious MG 4 that will go more than twice as far on a charge for £25,995. Meanwhile, even the flagship version, with a longer range again and…

The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for your new car and is set by our team of mystery shoppers. Every day they see what discounts are available across the UK, and those savings form the basis of the deals offered via our free New Car Buying service. £ In a lot of cases, however, you can save even more. Just head to whatcar.com/new-car-deals and select the car that you’re interested in, and participating dealers will compete for your business. It’s the easy way to get a new car at a great price.…

Doug.Revolta@haymarket.com THE SMART BRAND and tiny cars for city folk go together like baggy jeans and the 1990s, but Smart’s image could be about to change. And to be honest, that’s not a bad thing. You see, while some were taken by the idea of a car you could park nose-on to the kerb, the two-seat Fortwo’s novelty quickly wore thin once its hard ride, jerky gearboxes and dreadful practicality were taken into account. And while Smart’s rebirth as an all-electric brand in 2018 brought new relevance, the Smart EQ Fortwo and the longer, five-seat EQ Forfour were let down by an appallingly short battery range. The Smart #1 (pronounced ‘Hashtag One’) represents a clean slate. It comes after Smart’s owner, Mercedes-Benz, partnered with Chinese car maker Geely to develop a new line-up…

George.Hill@haymarket.com FROM MCDONALD’STO Halloween, America has exported many things that have found a hungry audience this side of the pond. The Ford Mustang sports car is another example, and now there’s a new, seventh-generation model that will be arriving on our shores late next year. Keeping with muscle car tradition, the new Mustang will be offered with a 5.0-litre V8 engine. Power figures are yet to be released, but it’s expected to produce slightly more than the current car’s 453bhp. A 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine will also be offered; this is expected to beat the 286bhp of the previous 2.3. While performance figures are under wraps for now, the fastest V8 version is expected to sprint from 0-62mph in around 4.0sec. That would make it slightly quicker than the 3.0-litre version of the…

Max.Adams@haymarket.com SOMETIMES IT’S REFRESHING to have a clearout and start afresh. With the Austral, Renault is doing just that – chucking out the petrol-only Kadjar and replacing it with a shiny new family SUV that’s available only with hybrid engines. We’ve driven the full hybrid version, which fits between the equivalent Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage in terms of performance while delivering lower emissions and better fuel economy. Its turbocharged 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine works with an electric motor to produce 199bhp (more than the 190bhp full hybrid Kuga). The 2kWh battery should allow you to drive using just the motor for longer than the Sportage’s 1.49kWh unit. RIVALS Ford Kuga Gives you a lot for your money in full hybrid form, but interior quality is disappointing. Kia Sportage One of our favourite family SUVs, with…

whatcar@haymarket.com REMARKABLY UNREMARKABLE. THAT’S how many would have described the MG 5, yet it’s also an appealing blend of spacious interior, long electric driving range and low pricing. As part of a 2022 facelift, the looks have been tweaked to bring the MG 5 in line with the new MG 4, while interior quality and the infotainment system have been improved. MG has also added the ability to set timed charging hours and pre-set the climate control, while vehicle-to-device charging means you can now top up your laptop or e-bike from the MG 5’s main battery. There are still two trims. SE now has a new 10.25in touchscreen, revised LED headlights, keyless entry, a rear-view camera and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance. The Trophy adds leatherette upholstery, automatic wipers, heated front seats…