Table of contents for August 19, 2015 in Auto Express

SO JLR will be building the new Defender in Slovakia and, as expected, there’s been a fair bit of ‘the end of the world is nigh’ from some quarters. But for me, it’s more important that Jaguar Land Rover builds a brilliant new Land Rover Defender than where it’s built. And if we’re honest, most buyers won’t know where it’s built and are even less likely to care – much more crucial to them is what the car does and how it does it. Of course, it would be lovely if JLR were to build the car in the UK, but as a British-based firm it has to make the best business decision – even if that means building cars outside of the UK. And it’s a competitive market out…

WOULD you fail your theory test if you were asked to take it again now? You may have learned to drive many years ago so could you answer the multiple choice questions and pass the hazard perception test? According to the latest figures from webuyanycar.com, for one in three qualified UK motorists the answer is no. The website quizzed 20,000 drivers and found that, remarkably, the 17-21 age group was the worst – with a fail rate of 48 per cent. While it’s well documented that young drivers are more susceptible to accidents, it’s quite startling to see they’re more likely to fail a theory test. After all, they’re the ones who have taken it most recently, so it should still be fresh in their minds. Instead, the best retest…

“GET your free car check now! Avoid costly breakdowns!” It’s a common advert for motorists as we leave summer behind and head towards autumn and winter, but how free is it really? The fast fit outlets and garages that normally run these campaigns do so in the hope that they’ll be able to ‘upsell’ goods to unsuspecting owners. The check itself usually covers tyres, coolant levels, battery charge and functionality, windscreen washer fluids, brake pads, plus discs and ball joints and rubbers. A valid check, but when you pick up your car it’s not uncommon for staff to give you a list of repairs or replacement parts your car needs! Don’t get caught out and take these recommendations at face value without further investigation. Many unscrupulous traders will ‘add on’…

EVERYONE’S been there at some point, waiting for the traffic lights to go green only to be beaten off the line by a fellow motorist. But if you’ve got launch control fitted to your car, the chances are you’ll leave everyone else trailing. At least, that’s the theory. Yet we wanted to know if it really does make you quicker off the line. To find out, Auto Express rallied together three performance cars, each with around 450bhp and launch control, for a drag race with a difference. Starting with their car’s automatic gearbox in park, each driver would have to wait for the lights to go green at our test track before they could engage their launch control system. First to pass the quarter-mile marker would win. To make things…

Essentials Honda Jazz CVT Price: £16,305 Engine: 1.3-litre 4cyl petrol Power/torque: 101bhp/123Nm Transmission: CVT auto, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 12.2 seconds Top speed: 113mph Economy: 58.9mpg CO2: 111g/km ON SALE NOW PRACTICALITY Jazz remains one of the most practical cars in its class, with the fold-flat front passenger seat and Honda’s innovative Magic Seats EQUIPMENT You’ll need to upgrade to SE Navi trim for £605 to get sat-nav, but all SE cars come with the seven-inch screen, alloys and parking sensors WE’VE already driven the new Honda Jazz in top-spec EX Navi trim with a manual box (Issue 1,381), but how does the lesser SE version with a CVT auto compare? Spec-for-spec, the auto costs £1,100 more than the manual across the range. It uses the now-familiar continuously variable transmission (CVT)…

Essentials Nissan Pulsar 1.6 DIG-T Tekna Price: £22,645 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol Power/torque: 187bhp/240Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 7.7 seconds Top speed: 135mph Economy: 48mpg CO2: 138g/km ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT Sat-nav feels a little dated, but the top-spec Tekna model is well equipped, with heated leather seats, blind-spot warning and LED lights REAR The Nissan’s trump card is its rear seat space. The 2,700mm wheelbase makes for class-leading legroom, while headroom is also good PRACTICALITY Pulsar’s 385-litre boot is well shaped, but the load lip is a little high and there’s no false floor like in its Qashqai sibling NISSAN will freely admit that its Pulsar isn’t designed to get your heart racing, despite the name. That could change early next year with the likely arrival of…

Versatility OUR measuring tape reveals the Galaxy has the largest boot floor area of these three, but the Grand C4 Picasso offers a lower lip, which makes loading easier. The Ford’s tailgate doesn’t open very high, so tall users may bang their heads, while the SEAT’s sliding doors mean you’re unlikely to suffer any car park dings when opening them. Seating options ALL three cars feature a trio of Isofix mounts in the middle row, and enough room to fit three child seats comfortably. SEAT offers a pair of integrated child seats for £425. These feature pop-up seatbases and headrests with additional side protection, and use the standard seatbelts. Efficiency THE Grand C4 Picasso is the cleanest car. It emits 105g/km, compared to 129g/km for the manual Galaxy and 158g/km…

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi ECOnetic Zetec PRICE: £22,845 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE latest Mondeo isn’t as good to drive as it once was, but it’s still a very practical choice, plus in 2.0 TDCi ECOnetic Zetec guise it emits just 107g/km of CO2. Yet you’ll have to fork out an extra £300 on sat-nav and £200 for Active City Stop. Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI SE Business PRICE: £22,090 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp IF you want a spacious, handsome, refined, good to drive and upmarket company car, it’s hard to look past the Superb. The diesel is punchy, frugal and attracts low tax bills, while SE Business trim offers all the kit you’re likely to need.…

FIRST TEST The OBD Saver Price: £169 Rating: Contact: 01386 554210, www.obdsaver.co.uk KEYLESS vehicle theft is on the rise, with criminals breaking into cars and using on-board diagnostic (OBD) ports to program blank keys which they can then use to start the engine. But The OBD Saver promises to stop the crooks in their tracks. It’s not the most attractive piece of kit, but it works by fastening on to the OBD port and blocking access. The port is the gateway to the heart of the car’s electronics, and the way thieves are able to take control. Hooks secure the device to the port, then silver metal fasteners slide over the top to keep the hooks in place. The maker has produced OBD Savers to suit a wide range of…

Parker’s Cars Aaron Gold (Hamlyn, www.octopusbooks.co.uk) Price: £10 (hardback) Rating: THIS book promises to cover ‘50 Years of the Best Bloomin’ Motors’, narrated by one of the world’s most famous chauffeurs – Parker from cult puppet TV series Thunderbirds. Over the decades, he drove Lady Penelope in a number of classic cars, and he gives an International Rescue view on each, as well as charting their history. The book has photos and specs on every model, and is a treat for any car nut. Lamborghini Model by Model Peter Collins (Crowood, www.crowood.com) Price: £25 (hardback) Rating: FEW cars have quite the same distinctive DNA as a Lamborghini. In this compendium, author Peter Collins charts the various models without going over the top. Collins’ technical detail will be welcomed as much…

Martin_ Saarinen@dennis.co.uk  @AE_Consumer Q High-octane hopes I’VE started using 99 Ron-graded fuel in my Renault Scenic. As a result, it returns better economy. Have you ever done similar tests outlining the benefits of high-octane fuel? Joe Ward, E-mail A IN Issue 1,304, we reported on the month we spent driving the BMW 328i Gran Tourer on our fleet using 99 Ron unleaded, and how our fuel economy went up from 28mpg to 31.9mpg. This resulted in a £20 saving. Yet a dyno test revealed no changes in terms of performance. Q What are my PCP options? I’M approaching the end of a Personal Contract Purchase deal, but I’m confused about my current options. Can I get a new car, or will I have to stick with my old one? Neil…

BMW i3 IN typical BMW fashion, the i3 is a clean-sheet design that mixes cutting-edge style with innovative construction, making excellent use of carbon fibre. The light and efficient BMW is unique here, as it has a range xtender (REx) option, too, with a small petrol engine to keep its batteries charged. Best used price: £20,000 Official range: 80-112 miles UK sales to date: 2,800 (1,756 REx) Battery warranty: Eight years/ 100,000 miles Renault Twizy THINK of the Twizy as a substitute for a motorbike rather than a car, and you’ll understand it. Fun to look at and use, the two-seater makes great urban transport and it’s the cheapest decent electric ‘car’ around. But on top of the asking price you’ll pay over £40 per month to lease the battery.…

• First drive of lighter, higher-tech new Jaguar executive model • New Ingenium engines, too, as brand aims to build on success Essentials Jaguar XF 2.0d R-Sport Price: £36,850Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower/torque: 178bhp/430NmTransmission: Eight-speed automatic,rear-wheel drive0-62mph: 8.1 secondsTop speed: 136mphEconomy: 65.7mpgCO2: 114g/km ON SALE Now JAGUAR turns 80 this year, but the leaping cat is far from being on life support. In fact, despite its advancing years, 2015 is one of the busiest years ever for the luxury manufacturer – if not the busiest. The year kicked off with the brand’s most important model in a generation – the BMW 3 Series-rivalling XE. There have been updates to the F-Type and XJ, and even the E-Type Lightweight’s been brought back to life. That’s before you mention starting out on fresh…

A NEW free ombudsman service has been launched to help motorists with complaints about second-hand cars ahead of changes to the Consumer Rights Act in October. The Consumer Ombudsman hopes to assist consumers who feel they have nowhere to turn other than accept a trader’s decision or pay to go through the small claims court. The ombudsman will handle complaints involving second-hand cars and repair work including servicing. There were 66 million complaints about products and services last year – one every 1.2 seconds. But 40m problems still weren’t pursued as it was too much “hassle”. Visit www. consumer-ombudsman. orgfor info.…

Full video review on the new Jaguar XF IT was the XF which made Jaguars cool again. The sleek design was the modernist injection the brand needed after years of relying on the style of its past. So it’s no great surprise that this second-generation XF doesn’t look drastically different. However, under the skin it’s all-new. Our report on Page 8 revealed what’s different from behind the wheel; now watch our video review. GT-R track battle as R34 meets R35 THE Skyline GT-R was introduced way back in 1969, but it wasn’t until three decades later that Nissan first sold the car officially in UK showrooms, in 276bhp R34 guise. Fast forward 16 years, and we have the 45th Anniversary version of the latest R35 GT-R. But just how much…

HOT TOPIC Sorento vs. Disco Sport FROM: Ben UNLESS you need real off-road ability, I’d choose the Kia Sorento. It looks much better than the Discovery Sport, and is more spacious inside, too. I drove the Sorento through forest tracks and muddy hills, and never found myself losing traction or confidence. FROM: bd THE Sorento isn’t a ‘luxury’ car, yet it is being pitted against the likes of the Discovery Sport. To me this says it all. Off-road driving is always going to be the Discovery’s forte, but for most, the Sorento is good enough. Can’t wait to see where Kia goes next. Very impressed. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “A £41,000 Kia is a lot to ask for. Will be interesting to see how many buyers…

Essentials Aston Martin DB9 GT Price: £140,000 Engine: 6.0-litre V12 Power/torque: 540bhp/620Nm Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.5 seconds Top speed: 183mph Economy: 19.8mpg CO2: 333g/km ON SALE Now PRACTICALITY Boot area is befitting of a grand tourer, so there’s 227 litres of space on offer. Rear seats are only really suitable for carrying children or additional luggage GEARBOX DB9 has never featured a fancy dual-clutch gearbox, but instead has made do with a six-speed automatic. It isn’t the snappiest shifter, yet does the job well IN a tradition that began with the DB7 in 2003, when the letters GT are added to an Aston Martin model it’s accompanied by the sound of the death knell. Time is now being called on the long-serving DB9, and its replacement –…

Essentials Jaguar XE 2.0 R-Sport Price: £29,740 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol turbo Power/torque: 197bhp/280Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 7.3 seconds Top speed: 147mph Economy: 37.7mpg CO2: 179g/km ON SALE Now INTERIOR While there’s plenty of rear legroom, head and shoulder space is down on that of key rivals. Red seat trim is a tempting option EQUIPMENT R-Sport gets racy bodykit and 18-inch alloy rims as standard, but these black twin-spoke wheels are an £800 optional extra PRACTICALITY BMW 3 Series’ 455-litre boot is 25 litres bigger than XE’s, and Jaguar’s is awkwardly shaped, too. It has a wide opening, though JAGUAR seems to be on a roll at the moment with its svelte saloon cars. Its brand new XF has achieved a five-star Auto Express rating (Page 8),…

Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 BiTDI Ultimate Price: £36,504 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl twin-turbodiesel Power: 178bhp Torque: 400Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 11.0 seconds Top speed: 101mph Economy: 35.3mpg CO2: 211g/km ON SALE Now MOST commercial vehicles are long on dependability and a bit short on luxury, but Volkswagen’s Amarok pick-up has always bucked that trend. And now, this limited-edition Ultimate version offers an even higher level of equipment. All 500 Ultimate models get bi-xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights, plus 19-inch polished alloys, a chrome rear bumper, a load bay bar and grille strips. Inside, there are Alcantara seats (heated in the front), a leather steering wheel, Bluetooth, sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. As it’s based on the standard Amarok BiTDI, the Ultimate has…

Business speak IN the UK, company cars account for over 70 per cent of sales in the large family car class. So it’s no surprise that our contenders in this test are aimed at business users looking to keep Benefit in Kind tax costs in check. With its Business Edition Avensis, Toyota makes no bones about its target customers. Not only does this model offer the sort of kit high-mileage drivers demand – sat-nav and cruise control are standard – its new 2.0-litre diesel has been tuned to deliver low 119g/km emissions. Add an attractive £22,995 price tag, and higher-rate earners will face an annual tax bill of £1,927. If that’s too steep for you, for a £1,000 saving you can have a 1.6-litre D-4D diesel in the same trim.…

CONSIDERING that I drive 50,000 miles every year, it’s safe to assume any vehicle left in my care for more than a couple of months is going to see its fair share of dirt and grime as it pounds its way up and down the country. As a result, there’s always quite a lot of washing and cleaning to be done – and despite what my colleagues might think, I don’t just drive around trying to make our cars as filthy as possible. However, since the funky-looking SEAT Leon X-Perience joined the Auto Express fleet recently, I’ve found that keeping on top of cleaning doesn’t matter so much. The rugged Leon estate is the first car I’ve taken on after saying a fond farewell to the Ford Transit Custom. That…

Got a query? Cat_Dow@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Smart all-season tyre buy I’M keen to buy some all-season tyres – specifically the Firestone Multiseason you featured in Issue 1,380. Are these suitable for my Smart ForTwo? It uses 175/55 R15 tyres, but I can’t find anything online. Can you help? David Collins, E-mail A THE Firestone Multiseason tyres go on sale this month at most regional retailers, yet because your Smart uses a very specific size of tyre, you won’t be able to fit them. Bridgestone, Kumho and Hankook provide all-season designs in this size, though. Q How do I fix scuffed alloy? WHILE my mum was away on holiday, I borrowed her car and scuffed one of the alloy wheels. A new one is a bit expensive. Is there anything cheaper…

Survey says drivers baffled by car tech NEARLY half of all drivers feel there’s too much tech in their cars, according to a survey by pollster Nielsen and automotive consultant SBD. A huge 43 per cent of motorists polled said they’d never used one or more of their car’s infotainment features. Plus, the study showed that if consumers can access preferred content providers on smartphones, it’s not important to have access via their car. The news comes ahead of development in health-related features in the car, which monitor heart rate and emotional state. Test products raise £1,200 for charity KIM’S Corner at the recent Waxstock detailing show in Coventry raised an impressive £1,186 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. The stall, run by Auto Express product tester Kim Adams, sold…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 19|8|2015 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. FUEL costs have been fluctuating recently, as supermarkets go to war on prices. For the first time in a decade, diesel costs less than petrol, providing welcome relief to many high-mileage drivers. This doesn’t mean fuel is cheap, though. Average pump prices are around 114 pence per litre for diesel and 115ppl for petrol, so it’s important for motorists to keep track of what they’re spending. Whether you’re doing this for business expenses or just to save money, it’s normally an arduous task, involving heaps of receipts and calculations. But a fuel use smartphone app can help, keeping all…

LOW values mean you get a lot for your money with a used electric car, but how does the UK’s top-selling EV stack up against a conventional second-hand buy? For £10,000, you could buy a diesel Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec or a Nissan Leaf E, both with 20,000 miles on a 12-plate. Both will need a service every 12 months; the Ford has a 12,500-mile cap between garage visits, while the Nissan pushes this up to 18,000 miles. With a cambelt to replace, as well as various fluids and filters, expect Focus service costs to average out at around £200 per year – based on 12,000 miles annually. The Leaf will cut these in half. So, from years three to six, how much can you save and will this make…

355bhp for Lotus’ new Exige 360 Cup LOTUS has introduced a special version of its Exige V6 Cup. The new 360 Cup (above) features an extra 10bhp to produce 355bhp, with freer-flowing induction and a sports exhaust system. Lighter body panels and new grooved brake discs feature, as do red wheels, embroidered seats and dash panel. Only four colours are on offer, and production is limited to 50 units. All get a numbered plaque, and prices start at £62,995. Vitara recalled over brake sensor fault SUZUKI is recalling just over 1,100 examples of its new Vitara crossover in the UK due to a fault with the radar braking sensor. The sensor, mounted behind the front badge, could be misaligned if knocked, and fail to operate. The company insists the issue…

Hi-tech tolls had to get off to fast start TOLLBOOTHS are unpopular in the UK, despite success in Europe, as they slow journeys and have you forking out pennies from the cup-holder. Highways England wants to modernise tolling by replacing stop-and-go booths with a free-flow system. But this has to work from the start, and that’s not what’s happened with DartCharge, where 81 per cent of drivers successfully appealed against fines for non-payment Captio . sixomonths go , spthat’sean appallin eas Captio rd.o go in hPioneering e proj ptio s likg this deemed her leasilure in the public eye have a hard time becoming the norm. Compare it to the barriers slowing down the M6 Toll. Yes, it takes longer to get through here than DartCharge – said to have…

IT’S been a bumper year for Vauxhall. A new Corsa, the hot Adam S and an all-new Viva city car have all gone on sale, but the best is yet to come. We’ve been given a sneak peek at the all-new Vauxhall Astra – ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month – to see if it can finally rival the VW Golf and Peugeot 308. While it’s still unmistakably Astra, it’s been transformed from a mundane family hatch with a more desirable and stylish premium look. The car gets a new-look front end, new LED matrix headlamps and a sportier profile. Under the bonnet will be a new, naturally aspirated entry-level 1.4, a sub-100g/km three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo, a powerful 1.6 and an all-new 1.4-litre ECOTEC unit…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). Legal AA: 0906 010 1300 (p) RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m) Which?: 01992 822 800 Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 085 3007 RAC: 0800 085 2529 Technical advice AA: 0870 606 1619 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0800 975 5867 Traffic information AA: 09003 401100 (p) RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510…

ICON. It’s an overused term in the automotive lexicon. Really, there are only a handful of vehicles that warrant such praise – and the Land Rover Defender and its ancestors are among the worthy few. This all-purpose 4x4 originally designed for postwar farmers has gone on to become a symbol of British ingenuity, engineering and craftsmanship – and even the British psyche. It sums up all that’s great about our small yet rather significant island, and in some ways, the vehicle’s shortcomings, and the problems that blighted its production, also echo what’s not so great about Britain. But love it or hate it, you can’t deny that the silhouette of a Defender is as recognisable across the world as those other most notable motoring icons, the VW Beetle and original…

1948-1958 SERIES I THE first Land Rover off the Solihull line was dubbed Huey on account of its HUE 166 reg plate. Like every Series I that followed, it was a working vehicle built on a steel box-section chassis with aluminium bodywork, a 50hp 1.6-litre petrol engine, leaf-spring suspension, permanent all-wheel drive and little else for £450. A 2.25-litre diesel arrived in the last year of production. 1958-1971 SERIES II UNLIKE its predecessor, the second-generation Land Rover was ‘styled’, and its shape has essentially been carried through to today’s Defender. There was a bit more room inside and greater load-carrying capacity, while such luxuries as door cards and mirrors were available. Also, the petrol engine was increased to 2.25 litres and 77bhp, and a six-cylinder was later offered. 1971-1985 SERIES…

Essentials Jeep Cherokee Limited 2.2 200 Automatic 4x4 Price: £36,795 Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbodiesel Power/torque: 197bhp/440Nm Transmission: Nine-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.5 seconds Top speed: 127mph Economy: 49.6mpg CO2: 150g/km ON SALE Now PRACTICALITY While boot space with the seats up is competitive against rivals, fold them flat and the 1,267-litre load bay falls short of the Land Rover Discovery Sport’s 1,698-litre capacity EQUIPMENT Our Limited-spec test car had a clear seven-inch TFT screen between the instrument dials, as well as electrically operated heated and ventilated front seats and keyless go AT the start of the decade, Jeep was on its knees. As part of the Chrysler Group, it suffered complete bankruptcy in 2009, before being acquired by Fiat later that year. Jeep’s financial struggles are now long behind…

Essentials BMW X6 M Price: £93,080 Engine: 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo Power/torque: 567bhp/750Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.2 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 25.4mpg CO2: 258g/km ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT The X6 M comes loaded with standard kit. All cars get BMW’s Professional Navigation, a head-up display and LED headlights. Electric glass sunroof on our car costs £1,095 PRACTICALITY It’s no X5, but the X6 M still provides decent space. The boot is large – if a little compromised – and the capacity rises to 1,525 litres with the rear seats folded. Plus, there’s plenty of room for adults in the back FEW cars divide opinion quite like the BMW X6. It’s a high-riding SUV with a coupé body that claims to offer sports car handling and the practicality…

MODEL TESTED: Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D Business Edition PRICE: £22,995 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 141bhp THE Toyota Avensis has always struggled to make an impact in the family car class. Despite its durability, quality and long list of standard kit, the British-built machine has played second fiddle to mainstream European rivals ever since the original debuted in 1997. Now in its third generation, the Avensis has been treated to a mid-life refresh that aims to boost its desirability with both private buyers and business users. There are sleek new looks, a revamped interior, the option of two new diesel engines and a choice of saloon and estate bodystyles. Here we test the four-door 2.0 D-4D Business Edition, at £22,995, although the car in our pictures is a Business Edition Plus. Styling…

THE Avensis and i40 are aimed at business users first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make firm financial sense for private buyers, too. The Avensis has only just hit showrooms, so finance deals are rare – unless you want the 1.8-litre petrol model. Toyota is offering that car on a zero per cent Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) deal over two years with a monthly outlay of £300, a £3,835 deposit and optional final payment of £10,260. If you’re a cash buyer, then online broker broadspeed. comcan source a 2.0-litre D-4D for £20,436, which represents a useful saving of £2,559 over list. Head to your local Hyundai dealer and you can pick up a 113bhp 1.7 CRDi i40 SE Nav using the brand’s flexible PCP…

THE summer holidays have arrived and this means our Peugeot 308 SW is at its busiest, being pressed into service as family friendly transport. As always, I’m enjoying lots of days out with the kids during the long break from school, so the car’s large boot and comfortable ride come into their own. Even with Benson, the family dog, carefully loaded into the back, the girls’ scooters still fit down the side of the luggage bay, so dog and daughters are all kept happy. It might not be the biggest estate on the market, but what I really like is that the SW gives you plenty of flexibility, with enough space to load it up for a day trip – and it still feels nicely compact and fun to drive.…

NEW PRODUCT AEG RapidClean Stair and Car Vac Best price: £44.90 Contact: 01274 575000, www.aeg.co.uk THERE’S nothing more satisfying than getting your car’s interior looking as good as new, but some car vacs have such weak suction, you end up wasting your time, covering the same area over and over. Fortunately, appliance expert AEG has created a powerful handheld vacuum that’s more agile than your household vac. It takes the stress out of car cleaning by doing the job well first time around. It weighs only 6kg so it’s light enough to get into the more awkward areas of your car interior. The patented RisorVisor technology features a long bristled rotating head for getting a really deep clean. A stretchy hose and narrow nozzle allow you to get inside the…

CARS THE LUXURIOUS CHOICE Volvo XC70 FOR: Plush interior, biggest boot, safety AGAINST: Wallowy handling, pricey to run VOLVO’S XC70 was one of the pioneers of the rugged, jacked-up estate formula. For some it’s still the king, and while it may look dated next to fresher rivals, there’s still plenty to recommend. The XC70’s comfortable and capable in the rough, yet that comes at the expense of handling, which is vague. But its practical, nicely trimmed interior and torquey diesel appeal – even if it is thirsty. We found a 68,000-mile 2010 D5 SE Lux auto for £14,500. INTERIOR RELIABILITY CARS THE CLASSY CHOICE Audi A6 Allroad FOR: Drives well, solidly built, smart cabin AGAINST: Costly air-suspension, off-road JUST like the XC70, the Mk2 Audi A6 Allroad was around for…

RALLY GB is secure for at least another three years, as the event’s backer – the Welsh Government – has penned a new deal to keep the event on the WRC calendar despite coming under threat from rival rallies. With the World Rally Championship looking to head back to China, Rally GB was just one of several European rounds in the current line-up looking in doubt. But a deal thought to be worth in the region of £4million means that the Welsh forests will still ring out to the cry of WRC cars popping and banging their way through the trees. However, the rally may lose its status as the final round of the championship, with Australia taking the honour of bringing the curtain down on the season. This would…

THE petrol vs diesel debate took an intriguing twist a few days ago when BBC Radio 4’s PM programme invited FairFuelUK and myself on the show. FFUK claims to represent consumers but surprised me by coming down heavily on the side of petrol, suggesting that some motorists using unleaded can now achieve almost 80mpg. Really? I’d argue that this sort of economy in petrol cars on British roads is wishful thinking. As I stated on the programme, I’m an unapologetic diesel head. With the family sized (or larger) vehicles most of us drive, diesel is, all things considered, the better option. Used by real-world motorists in real-world conditions, they’re usually 40-50 per cent more fuel efficient than their petrol counterparts. Result? Big reductions in time-consuming stops at hated pumps and…