Carbuyer magazine Issue 6

THE quality of new cars has never been higher, something that made the judging for our recent Carbuyer Best Cars 2018 awards the hardest yet. The Ford Fiesta was our standout car, thanks to a blend of style, comfort, space and an exciting driving experience. The latest version is an improvement in every area, cementing Britain’s favourite model as the default choice for anyone buying a small hatchback. But truth be told, you’ll not be disappointed with any of the cars featured in this issue. We’ve listed the winners of the most important 22 categories to buyers, and followed them up with the other models that should appear on your shortllist. As always, go to Carbuyer.co.ukfor the lowdown on every make and model on sale. stuart_milne@dennis.co.uk…

ESTABLISHED in 2010, Carbuyer.co. ukis like no other motoring website out there – it makes choosing your next new car easy. We put ourselves in your shoes to provide easy-to-understand, practical reviews on the cars that matter to British buyers. We’ve filmed, photographed and rated many hundreds of new cars, with our testers driving thousands of miles to bring you the clearest picture of the market. From boot space to parking sensors and from folding seats to road noise, our tests are all based on real-life, everyday criteria. ● You can watch more than 700 informative video reviews 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 right now. ●…

CARBUYER’S crystal-clear road tests are like no other. We put ourselves in your shoes to deliver easy-to-understand verdicts on cars that matter. Our reviews are divided into sections on engines, running costs, interior, practicality, safety and reliability, so you can look beyond the headline overall score to see where a certain model’s strengths and weaknesses really lie. Our scores are weighted to favour appropriate criteria – so family cars aren’t penalised for not handling like a Ferrari! We’ve also conducted huge customer satisfaction surveys, compared warranty periods and service intervals and searched for safety-related recalls. Finally, we analyse a car’s pricing, equipment and running costs to judge value.…

“Even the Zetec model has 15-inch, eight-spoke alloys, as well as front foglights and chrome highlights” FOR years, the Ford Fiesta has sat at or very near the top of the UK new-car sales charts and this seventh-generation model, introduced last July, looks set to continue the trend. After careful consideration of every new model launched in the last 12 months, we’ve named it both our ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Supermini’ for 2018, in the face of stiff competition. With a wide range of engines offering everything from rock-bottom running costs to pulse-quickening performance, as well as diverse trim levels catering to various tastes and budgets, every buyer should be able to find a Ford Fiesta to suit their needs. The range kicks off with an inexpensive trim level called Style,…

THE Titanium has tended to be the best-selling version of the Fiesta of late – and the brand doesn’t expect that situation to change with the new model. It’s not hard to see why: the Titanium is keenly priced against rivals, looks good with its larger alloy wheels and offers much of the ‘must-have’ kit that today’s buyers have come to expect as standard. And as a desirable model, it’s anticipated to hold its value well on the used market, which is good news for both cash and finance buyers. As you can see from our pictures, the Titanium looks broadly similar to the Fiesta Zetec from the outside, but there are some key differences. For starters, there are the larger 16-inch alloy wheels, which give the car greater road presence. There are…

ALTHOUGH the Ford Fiesta ST-Line is not really a full-on ‘hot hatchback’ (there’s a proper ST version on the way shortly), the fact that any version of the Fiesta is tremendous fun from behind the wheel means it won’t leave keen drivers disappointed. The differences from the Fiesta Zetec and Titanium are obvious the moment you look at it. There are those eye-catching 17-inch alloy wheels, a mesh-effect front grille and a sporty bodykit that incorporates revised front and rear bumpers, sideskirts and a rear spoiler. Engines UNDER the bonnet, a range of petrol and diesel engines is available – but one you can’t get in either the Zetec or Titanium is the 140PS version of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol. This promises a 0-62mph time of nine seconds, taking the Fiesta into ‘warm…