Auto Express 1589

THIS week’s Auto Express shows that EVs have gone from emerging alternatives, suitable only for early-adopter technophiles curious to explore the latest advances on the market, to mainstream vehicles applicable to the masses. Even as recently as last year, who’d have thought that an electric car would have been capable enough on all fronts to go toe to toe with one of the best in the business, the BMW 3 Series? That’s exactly what we’ve got in this week’s issue – and the result of the shootout between electric and diesel power on Page 68 is an interesting and nuanced one. However, regardless of the winner, pitching Tesla’s latest (and arguably greatest) offering against the BMW has thrown up some intriguing evidence that proves that electric cars are genuinely viable…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Mk2 small crossover is better to drive, gets Micra’s 1.0 T engine ● Larger body yields more space for passengers and luggage THE next Juke has been a long time coming, but if Nissan can repeat the popularity of its mould-breaking predecessor, the second-generation model will be a common sight on driveways up and down the land in the not-too-distant future. Most cars tend to remain on sale for some seven or eight years, but the Mk1 Juke has now ticked past nine. Its longevity is not just down to its success in what has become an enormous market segment – more than one million Jukes have been sold around the world since 2010 – but also because its creators have taken their time with this, the…

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS Quirky C3 crossover capitalises on comfort, but its huge boot and roomy interior make it top choice for families FORD PUMA Puma is based on the fantastic Fiesta, which bodes well for keen drivers, and we’ll be testing the new car soon RENAULT CAPTUR Despite looking like the old car, this Captur is all new. It shares a platform with the Juke and arrives this autumn SEAT ARONA One of our favourite small SUVs, the Arona mixes practicality with driver engagement. It’s a top all-rounder…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Next-generation compact executive due to arrive in 2021 ● Hybrid drive systems set to spread throughout the range MERCEDES is applying the finishing touches to an all-new version of its biggest-selling model, the C-Class. The fifth-generation car will be out in the open in the next 18 months with a sharp new look and more efficient hybrid and plug-in powertrains. Alongside Mercedes’ focus on bringing 10 new pure-electric vehicles to market in the next three years, the C-Class plays an equally significant role in the German firm’s future; this model alone accounts for 20 per cent of Mercedes’ global sales. It will be revealed in the latter half of next year, before arriving in showrooms in 2021. The new model will continue to use the rear-wheel-drive MRA…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram ● Eight-seat EQV on sale in 2020 ● 252-mile range from £60k van MERCEDES has officially unveiled its second all-electric EQ model: the EQV luxury passenger van. It’ll make its debut at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show next month, before going on sale early next year. The all-electric MPV has a 100kWh battery and a motor producing 201bhp and 362Nm of torque. The EQV offers a provisional range of 252 miles and the battery will charge from 10 to 80 per cent full in “less than an hour”. Like the new EQC, the van is based on an existing Mercedes platform, rather than a set of bespoke underpinnings. It’ll be built alongside the standard V-Class and Vito at the firm’s plant in Vitoria, northern Spain. Mercedes has placed…

THE new Mercedes GLB is available to order, with first deliveries due in December. This new compact member of the brand’s SUV line-up is designed to take on the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. Top AMG Line Premium cars are available in five-seat configurations, but the range kicks off with the seven-seat, petrol-powered, 161bhp 2.0-litre GLB 200, priced from £34,200 in entry-level Sport trim. Two diesels are also in the launch line-up: the 148bhp GLB 200 d, from £36,800, and the 187bhp GLB 220 d.…