Carbuyer magazine Issue 5

ESTABLISHED in 2010, Carbuyer.co.uk is like no other motoring website – it makes choosing a car easy. We put ourselves in your shoes to provide easy-to-understand, practical reviews on the cars that matter. We’ve filmed, photographed and rated many hundreds of new cars, with our expert road testers driving thousands of miles to bring you the clearest possible picture of the market. From boot space to parking sensors, folding seats to noise on the motorway, our tests are all based on real-life, everyday criteria. ● You can watch more than 600 fun and informative videos designed to help you decide which new car suits you best. ● You’ll find details on every make and model, with images, prices and specs for all cars on sale in the UK. ● As well as our jargon-free,…

CARBUYER’S crystal-clear road tests are like no other. We put ourselves in your shoes to deliver easy-to-understand judgements on all the cars that matter. We spend hundreds of hours a month filming and comparing countless of new cars, while our expert road-test team evaluate every aspect of today’s highly sophisticate cars – not just performance and handling. We answer the questions that really matter to you Our tests are designed to replicate real-life driving, not prove how fast we can make it around a test track. What’s more, we’ve conducted customer satisfaction surveys, digested full warranty and repair data and searched records for safety-related recalls, so you don’t have to. We also analyse pricing and equipment and look at running costs to judge value for money. All of our concise and easy-to-understand buying advice…

“The latest car from the VW Group that offers the running costs of a hatchback with an SUV stance” THIS is the Volkswagen T-Roc – a new small SUV crossover that starts from just under £20,500. It’s based on the same platform as the slightly more expensive Audi Q2 and effectively straddles two classes, rivalling stylish supermini-SUVs like the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Mazda CX-3, as well as some larger models like the MINI Countryman, Peugeot 3008 and Toyota C-HR. The T-Roc should also make Audi Q2 and SEAT Arona buyers take a second look, as it’s the latest car from the VW Group to offer the running costs of a small hatchback with the stance of an SUV. Volkswagen itself goes one step further, saying the the T-Roc offers the “dominance of…

Audi Q2 THE Q2 shares underpinnings with the T-Roc, but is a little more expensive to buy by virtue of its more desirable Audi badge and higher-quality interior. For our full review, turn to page 16 now. Mazda CX-3 KEEN drivers will love the CX-3’s eager handling, inspired by Mazda’s renowned MX-5 sports car. The CX-3 looks great and is well equipped – but it’s expensive. See page 27 for our full review. MINI Countryman THE Countryman is an impressive package: fun to drive, desirable and with a range of efficient petrol, diesel and hybrid engines to choose from. See our full review of MINI’s familySUV on page 65. Peugeot 3008 A SUPERB hi-tech interior helped the Peugeot 3008 to our 2017 Car of the Year award. Almost a year later, it’s still a great choice –…

FOR years, the term ‘SUV’ was almost synonymous with ‘large’ – especially when it referred to the huge gas-guzzling monsters produced by American brands. That’s no longer the case, however, as more and more manufacturers have turned to making small cars with the raised ride height and rugged styling cues of off-road vehicles. Unlike the SUVs of old, they’re ideally suited to motoring in busy urban areas and feature appealingly low running costs. Personalisation is another key trait of smaller SUVs, with wide varieties of colours, as well as interior and exterior trim options, available to allow buyers put their own stamp on the car. Keen finance offers from manufacturers through their franchised dealer networks are the final piece of the puzzle in making these cars appeal to a young audience. Read on…

“Price and expensive options aside, the Audi Q2 is a very tempting proposition. It oozes class, style and practicality by the bucketload” THE Q2 sits below the Q3 in Audi’s range and is similar in size. As with all Audis, it has a smart, upmarket interior, along with the usual high SUV ride height and handling that seems like it’s from a smaller car. Prices for the Q2 start in the region of £21,000 for the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol model with 114bhp. There are two more petrol engines – a 148bhp 1.4-litre and a 187bhp 2.0-litre – as well as 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels. The majority of Q2s are front-wheel drive, but the 2.0-litre diesel and petrol are available with ‘quattro’ four-wheel drive. The most popular model is the mid-range 148bhp 1.4-litre TFSI…