Table of contents for 1589 in Auto Express

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…

Limited edition ends Rolls-Royce Ghost life THE Rolls-Royce Ghost is nearing the end of its time, and a special run-out model – the Ghost Zenith – has been introduced, limited to 50 units globally. Both regular and extended-wheelbase versions of the Zenith (above) will be produced, featuring unique touches inside and an engraved Spirit of Ecstasy. An all-new Ghost on the company’s new platform is expected in 2020. French police request most UK driver details FRENCH police made over 75 per cent of the 325,145 requests the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has received this year from EU countries asking for UK driver details after traffic offences abroad. The data, obtained via a freedom of information request by AlcoSense Breathalysers, is likely to reflect the number of Brits driving in…

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: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Which?: 01992 878329 Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ Running costs 35.8mpg (official) £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/155mph FORD has been conceding territory in the full-blown hot hatch class for a while now, its ageing Focus ST muscled out by rivals from Honda, Renault, SEAT, Peugeot and VW, plus a new effort from Hyundai in the form of the i30 N. However, the company is back with an all-new Focus ST, which it hopes will rectify the situation. We liked it when we tried it abroad, but now it’s time for a sterner test, with a first drive in the UK. The 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine serves up 276bhp and 420Nm of torque, and it even gets anti-lag tech. There’s a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels through an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, the…

Special Contributor CLASSIC car prices have plateaued in recent months. Even those that were commanding six-figure sums have fallen out of favour as buyers invest their money elsewhere ahead of a somewhat uncertain economic future. However, what if you need your classic car fix, but don’t want to squander thousands on something that could lose half its value overnight? We think you could do a lot worse than spend some of your hard-earned cash on something cheap and cheerful from the eighties, nineties or 2000s. Over the next 30 pages, we look at some of the finest models that (not a lot of) money can buy. We show you the things you should look out for and what steps you can take to keep your modern classic car in top…

MODEL TESTED: BMW 320d M Sport Sport Auto PRICE: £38,325 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp FOR decades the diesel compact executive saloon has been the go-to choice for those wanting to balance luxury, decent performance and handling, cruising refinement, technology, plus practicality – but is that still the case today? We test the £38,325 320d M Sport to find out. Design & engineering THIS seventh-generation 3 Series is now competing with electric cars, highlighting just how far tech has moved on. The BMW has kept pace, though, with an all-new platform underneath here, the latest infotainment, engine revisions and some clever suspension tech. That architecture is based on BMW’s CLAR platform. As in the Tesla, four-wheel drive is available, but you don’t have to opt for a performance version to get…

Kia e-Niro First Edition PRICE: £32,995 ENGINE: 1x electric motor, 201bhp IT’S not as quick nor as premium as the Model 3, but range is key to an electric car and the e-Niro’s claimed 282-mile distance between top-ups is accurate. First Edition models get loads of kit, too. The biggest single problem is the waiting list. Jaguar XE D180 R-Dynamic SE PRICE: £37,615 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 178bhp IF an EV still isn’t for you, the newly updated Jag XE is as dynamic and involving as the BMW. R-Dynamic adds sporty looks, while SE trim gets a digital dash, new infotainment, good safety tech and strong connectivity. D180 engine is all you’ll need.…

MODEL TESTED: Volvo XC90 B5 (D) AWD Inscription PRICE: £56,985 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 232bhp THE new Volvo XC90 B5 (D) is similar to the previous D5 model, but the change to a ‘B’ denotes an updated powertrain with mild-hybrid technology. Here we’re testing the Inscription model (R-Design shown), which costs £56,985. Design & engineering VOLVO is pushing ahead with its promise to electrify all of its models. The key thing to note in this new B5 (D) model, though, is that its hybrid set-up is ‘mild’. It can’t be charged using a plug, nor can it run on electric power alone. Instead, this system recovers energy that would otherwise be lost under braking and then uses it to give a small boost to the engine through a 48V electrical system…

NEW: BMW X5 xDrive30d xLine PRICE: £57,640 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl, 261bhp ADDING a third row of seats costs £1,390 on the BMW X5, so it’s a little pricier than its rivals – but the car makes up for that. It has a six-cylinder engine, which is very smooth and quiet, and it’s also more fun to drive than the GLE or XC90. It’s comfortable, too. USED: Land Rover Discovery SDV6 HSE PRICE: £55,990 ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6, 302bhp THE Land Rover Discovery is the best seven-seat SUV, because its third row of seats is impressively spacious. The Discovery is also supremely comfortable and unmatched off-road – and you can get one with delivery miles within budget.…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk Running costs 44.2mpg (on test) £61 fill-up/£145 or 30% tax Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.5 seconds/130mph ARE audio upgrades really worth paying extra for? Making a decision is often harder because there’s no guarantee your dealer will have a demonstrator in stock with the audio system you want. And even then, it’s hard to judge which is best. Ford has made much of its relationship with Bang & Olufsen, the Danish audio company best known for making high-end stereos and speakers. And with an asking price of £550, the B&O Play set-up in my Focus looks like a very good deal. In terms of specification, the B&O Play impresses: 675 watts, a digital sound processor and 10 speakers, including a subwoofer that sits on top of the spare wheel (and…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk WITH the Kia e-Niro’s regular custodian, Vicky Parrott, away on holiday, I took the opportunity to grab hold of the keys and spent a couple of weeks seeing what all the fuss is about with our award-winning EV. If you’ve still got doubts about the viability of electric cars, the Driving Electric 2019 Car of the Year could well be the model to extinguish them. Even putting the powertrain aside for a moment, you’ve got a roomy compact SUV with space for adults in the rear and a respectable boot, too. I think the interior lacks a little of the polish and design flair you might get in some other £33,000 cars, but the amount of equipment fitted to this First Edition model impressed me. There are also some…

Essential Buyer’s Guide: Rover 2000 Martyn Marrocco (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £13.99 THE Rover P6 is a true classic and dates from the brand’s heyday. But, as with any classic, buying one can be a minefield, so this guide takes you through the potential pitfalls and problem areas. It’s an ideal companion for anyone considering making a purchase. RV There Yet? Travis Casey (Independent, www.amazon.co.uk) Price: £6.99 ‘VAN life’ may be the dream for some, but this journal reveals the trials and tribulations of living in a 31-foot RV. It’s enough to make you desperate to try the motorhome lifestyle while simultaneously never wanting to experience it. Well paced, well written and in places laugh-out-loud funny, this short read punches well above its weight. Off The Road – OTR Open…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Is dealer right about tyres? THE front tyres on my wife’s Toyota C-HR need replacing, but the dealer says all four tyres should be replaced at the same time because the car is four-wheel drive. Is this correct? Bill Mitchell, E-mail A ALL four tyres on cars with permanent 4WD should be replaced at the same time to avoid differential damage, but Toyota says this is unnecessary because the C-HR has a part-time AWD system. You only need to replace one axle set at a time, unless there is a big wear difference between the front and rear tyres. Q Auto-only licence worries MY son is taking his driving test in a car with an automatic box, and isn’t bothered by not being…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “I revealed that my 88-year-old father occasionally parks in parent-and-child bays when he takes me shopping” LAST Tuesday, between 7am and 9.30pm, I was wheeled in by Sky, the BBC and LBC to discuss the four big motoring issues of the moment. The first topic was the recent National Grid power cuts that incapacitated large parts of England and Wales. A North Sea wind farm failed at the same time as a power station in Cambridge. If this is how the National Grid delivers electricity during the low-demand summer of 2019, when there are only a handful of electric vehicles around, how the hell can we be confident it’ll cope when tens of millions of EVs are plugged in every summer, autumn,…

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…

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…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor ● Prices start at £85,000 ● 592bhp, 800Nm V8 engine AUDI is celebrating its 25th anniversary of building high-performance estate cars by launching the new RS 6 Avant. The range-topping Audi performance estate car will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. While in previous years the S6 and RS 6 Avants have shared engines, the latest models break with that tradition. The S6 now packs a 344bhp 3.0-litre mild-hybrid diesel engine but the RS 6 uses one of Audi Sport’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol motors. Equipped with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, the 592bhp V8 wagon can get from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds. Maximum torque stands at 800Nm – available between 2,100 and 4,500rpm – while the top speed…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor See the 718 Cayman GT4 driven on track PORSCHE’S latest 718 Cayman GT4 has one distinct advantage over all of its stablemates: a six-cylinder engine. But do the new motor, the chassis and aero mods really deliver on a track? Steve Sutcliffe gets behind the wheel to find out in our new video. Taking a tour of the hot new Audi RS 6 AUDI has a great history of fast wagons and the latest RS 6 (opposite) looks to be no exception. In its fastest trim, this family estate can crack 190mph. Join me as I take a walkaround tour of the hot new arrival in a studio close to Audi’s HQ in Germany. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply scan this QR…

JUST two per cent of complaints made about illegal driving instructors have resulted in a conviction over the last five years, official figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show. Instructors who take payment for lessons are required to have an Approved or Potential Driving Instructor (ADI or PDI) qualification. But data, obtained by car-finance firm Hippo Leasing via a freedom of information request, shows that there were 961 complaints about unqualified instructors between the 2014/15 financial year and today, yet these resulted in just 18 convictions. The DVSA said multiple complaints may have been for the same instructors. However it brought prosecutions for the offence in-house in 2018/19 rather than relying on police and the Crown Prosecution Service, so it may have been concerned about low conviction rates.…

Ben_Hodges@dennis.co.uk @BenSVHodges ICE-CREAM vans might be intrinsically linked to the traditional British summer, but they pose a very modern issue. Almost all them are powered by diesel engines and many are years, if not decades, old. With a new ice cream van costing upwards of £60,000, it’s no surprise that many operators choose to buy second-hand. Unfortunately, this means some of the estimated 5,000 ice-cream vans doing the rounds at the parks, summer fairs and beaches in the UK are fitted with engines that are some way off what you could describe as clean. How polluting are they? The answer is that in many cases, we simply don’t know. Plenty of ice-cream vans predate emission-cutting technology such as selective catalytic reduction, which squirts AdBlue into their exhaust system to cut…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram “The RS 5 can fire out of a corner at a much more violent rate than a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S” Running costs 31.0mpg (official) £75 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.9 seconds/174mph IT’S been a long time coming, but you can now buy an Audi RS 5 Sportback. While the Coupé variant went on sale back in mid-2017, this five-door didn’t make it here before WLTP-enforced emissions certification came into play. But here it is, lining up against rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S and the soon-to-be-replaced BMW M3. There are just 250 Sportbacks (plus 250 Coupés) available to order in the UK this year before an updated version – following the rest of the facelifted A4 and A5 ranges –…

ALFA ROMEO GTV/SPIDER Years produced: 1995-2006 Price range: £700-£8,500 ANYONE who doesn’t study the classified adverts or car price guides would think that an Alfa Spider or GTV is an exotic Italian sports car with a matching price tag. But the truth is that you can actually buy a good, usable example for less than £2,000 – for now. Unlike the older GTV and Spiders from the sixties and seventies, these newer cars use a more conventional front-wheel-drive chassis. They are still pretty exciting to drive, though, with sharp steering and engines that like to be revved. The 2.0-litre motor is by far the cheapest to buy and run, and cars with this engine handle sweetly. But the most exciting (and most collectable) versions are powered by Alfa’s 3.0-litre V6, although…

SUBARU IMPREZA TURBO Years produced: 1992-2001 Price range: £1,000-£15,000 AN Impreza Turbo is still one of the most enjoyable cars in the world on a B-road. When new, its low-slung boxer engine, turbo and four-wheel drive gave great performance that could be used all year round. As a bonus, it had five-seat practicality and typical Japanese reliability. The car became legendary. But after being cherished in early life, the Subaru fell in with the wrong crowd, and there are very few Mk1 cars that haven’t been abused, crashed, stolen, rusted or been questionably modified. The survivors have emerged with classic status, and special editions such as the 1999 RB5 are the most prized. Prices of these can easily top five figures for a well kept original car. If that’s out of…

Tesla Model 3 15” Touchscreen Standard Key features: Huge, sharp display THE Tesla’s huge 15-inch touchscreen dominates the car’s minimalist cabin. Everything is controlled through the display – including the driving modes and climate controls – with shortcut functions at the bottom of the screen. You even access the electronically adjustable steering wheel through a sub-menu. Thankfully, there’s plenty of processing power, so the screen responds quickly to inputs. The graphics are great, too, with pin-sharp mapping. Sat-nav is included, while a panel to the side of the screen depicts upcoming cars to give you an idea of what the Autopilot system is processing. The stereo is good and the logical menus mean it’s easy to navigate around the set-up. We’d still have liked an extra display or head-up function…

Mercedes GLE MBUX Standard Key features: Large dual displays, sat-nav THE Mercedes GLE gets a new MBUX system that first appeared on the new A-Class. It’s an improvement, because in the GLE you get two 12.3-inch displays (one is for the infotainment and one is a digital dash). Sat-nav is standard, along with a suite of extra features, including voice control – just say “Hey Mercedes” to active the car’s personal assistant. This is clever tech, so it’s a shame CarPlay connectivity costs an extra £495 as part of the Tech package, for example. This does also add augmented reality for the nav. The system is impressive but the way you control it has taken a step back. Merc’s old rotary dial was very easy to use, yet this new…

NEW PRODUCT Mercedes-AMG gaming chair Price: £349.99 Contact: www.noblechairs.com SPEED through your work or online racing with this Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport chair. It’s made by Berlin’s Noblechairs, based on its Epic model, and the shoulder race-harness cut-outs are part of the standard design. This version gets a high-grade faux-leather covering and green stitching plus carbon fibre-effect side bolsters. It also has Petronas detailing on the aluminium base and castors, plus Mercedes-AMG logos on the neck and lumbar pillows. It is designed to provide top support, whether you’re working or gaming. The back is intended to improve posture and the units meet UK fire safety rules (BS 5852), have BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association) accreditation, and meet DIN EN 1335 office chair standards. The tilt, recline and height can be…

Kingsley aims at twin Range Rover upgrade SPECIALIST Kingsley Cars has launched a pair of upgrade kits, allowing owners of classic Range Rovers to improve their vehicles without altering their look. The first is a brake upgrade (£5,994). It fits all classic models (above) and can clear a 16-inch wheel, with four-piston calipers at the rear and six at the front. Second is the Fast Road Suspension kit (£3,474), which upgrades dampers, springs, anti-roll bars and bushes to improve the basic car’s roadholding and handling, without upsetting the ride. For more details, visit kingsleycars.co.uk. Forza Horizon 4 adds Transit to Ford range THE arsenal of Fords available to play in racing game Forza Horizon 4 has grown, with the arrival of a Mk1 Transit. Horizon 4 includes a huge line-up of…

SWAPPING from a disposable cup to a reusable mug isn’t just better for the environment, it can also save you money. Most of the high-street coffee shops now offer a discount for using your own cup, or you can make a drink at home and rely on a decent insulated mug to keep it hot for an entire journey. So which is the best for your coffee fix in the car? We filled eight to find out. “Reusable mugs are good for the environment and can save you money” How we tested them WE’RE looking for mugs which fit neatly into cars’ cup-holders, so tried them all in both a BMW and a Nissan. Some materials retain heat better than others, so all the cups were also filled with boiling…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● Toyota man holds strong lead ● Greensmith replaces Evans again “Tanak has hit a rich vein of form, winning in Chile, Portugal and Finland” CITROEN’S Sebastien Ogier will be looking to make up ground on World Rally Championship (WRC) points leader Ott Tanak (Toyota) as the series returns to action this weekend on the challenging tarmac roads of Rally Germany. Estonian Tanak has hit a rich vein of form recently, with victories in Chile, Portugal and Finland helping to bolster his points total to 180 over Ogier’s 158. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville is not far off, meanwhile, in third with 155 points. Welshman Elfyn Evans remains fourth on 78 points, but Rally Germany will be the second event he’ll miss as he recovers from a back injury sustained while…

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…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths ● Higher penalties proposed ● Mobile laws ‘need work’ MAKING hands-free mobile phone calls when driving should be illegal, while current penalties for using mobiles behind the wheel should be toughened up, according to the House of Commons’ Transport Select Committee. The cross-party group of MPs launched an enquiry into the subject of phone use when driving in March 2019, consulting with a number of academics and road safety experts to draw their conclusions. The committee heard that making a hands-free phone call is as distracting as making a call when holding the handset, and affects driving standards as much as, if not more than, being at the drink-drive limit. While recognising that enforcing a hands-free ban would be difficult, and that businesses often need to be able…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @Autoexpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Kia’s new crossover FROM: Lee North IT’S easy to criticise manufacturers for constantly coming up with SUVs, but they have to make what sells – no one is being forced to buy them. Not only is the Kia Xceed great-looking in my opinion, but it’s also quite a lot of car for the money. FROM: Tim Dodd I HAVE a 2013 Ceed that has served me well for over six years, but my next car will be fully electric, which sadly rules out the Xceed. Hybrids just add to the engineering complexity. I’ll wait for affordable battery tech to arrive. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “The Xceed reminds me of the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods BRITAIN is Europe’s largest pick-up market – a fact not lost on Mitsubishi, where one in three of its cars is an L200. Striding through its 40th year, a new version has just entered the fray. The sixth-generation L200 gets a bold new look, but it’s not a totally new truck. It carries over elements of the Series 5’s chassis and interior, but receives a new engine, new suspension and a host of new technology and driver-assistance features. The load bed is the same size: 1,520mm long and 1,470mm wide. Available space is par for the course, beating the cheaper SsangYong Musso but not quite sizing up to the Nissan Navara or Mercedes X-Class. However, there’s only a few centimetres in it. As ever, Mitsubishi offers a broad…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE Koreans, for whatever reason, don’t conform to the industry’s standardised seven-year product cycles. So, barely three years after the launch of the Kia Niro, we’re in the driver’s seat of its mid-life facelift. Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring, the Hybrid and Plug-in models get all the usual updates: a fresh face, tweaked bumpers and new alloy wheel designs. There’s some new trim inside, too, as well as improved tech. While it would be a stretch to suggest that this Niro is instantly recognisable as the facelifted car, the styling is certainly sharper than before. The new LED daytime running lights give the crossover a better-defined signature, while the updated rear light clusters offer a subtle improvement on the old car’s plainer design. Its…

Citroen Saxo VTS Years produced: 1997-2003 Price range: £1,000-£4,000 WHEN it was new, the Citroen Saxo range was generally sold on cheap finance deals, which made the constant stream of special editions affordable to virtually anyone. Some of those buyers would stretch themselves to buy the warm VTR version with a 98bhp engine, yet what every Saxo owner dreamed of was the 118bhp VTS, marked only with subtle 16v badges. That might not sound powerful by today’s standards, but the Saxo weighed less than a tonne so it was hilarious fun. If any of those buyers want to realise that dream now, they’ll find the VTS is almost extinct. Only a few have survived without being crashed, rallied or badly modified. A cared-for, original car will be a blue-chip investment.…

MODEL TESTED: Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus PRICE: £37,340 ENGINE: 1x electric motor, 235bhp A RECENT price cut to this entry-level Model 3 – the Standard Range Plus – means it’s now more affordable than ever, costing £37,340 after the £3,500 Government grant for electric cars. That’s £985 cheaper than the BMW 3 Series here, so the two models are close when it comes to price and spec. Design & engineering THE Model 3’s platform is similar to the concept used for Tesla’s larger Model S and Model X EVs, with a steel ‘skateboard’-type chassis that also features some aluminium to help reduce weight. Tesla chose that style of architecture in order to sandwich the Model 3’s 55kWh battery in the car’s floor, so the majority of its 1,611kg…

CHARGING ALTHOUGH other Tesla cars now feature rapid-charger adapters, the Model 3’s CCS capability opens it up to lots of rapid-charging points to boost the car’s usability and make it easier to live with. There are around 290 Tesla Superchargers in the UK, but with more than 14,000 public EV charging points available, it shows how this ever-growing infrastructure could benefit Model 3 owners. SPEED THE way even a fairly ‘normal’ EV accelerates off the line will stun drivers new to the tech. In Standard mode, the Model 3 lunges forward at just small twitches of the throttle, delivering a hot hatch-rivalling 0-60mph time, yet it’s even cheaper to run than an eco car. So does an EV like this mean that owners can have their cake and eat it?…

MODEL TESTED: Mercedes GLE 300 d 4MATIC AMG Line 7-seat PRICE: £57,380 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 242bhp WE’RE testing the GLE 300 d, while the whole range is only available in AMG Line trim. In seven-seat form (a £1,995 extra), it costs £57,380. Design & engineering THE latest GLE is longer and wider than the previous version, while the wheelbase has been stretched, helping to boost legroom in the rear. At 4,930mm long and 2,018mm wide, this is a big car – yet it’s slightly more compact than its rival here, because the XC90 is even longer. Adaptive air suspension was fitted to our test car, which was an early production model, but it’s actually not available on the 300 d, which comes with steel springs. The XC90 B5 (D) is…

HYBRIDS THE XC90’s mild-hybrid system’s influence is barely noticeable in performance terms, but Volvo claims it delivers as much as a 15 per cent improvement in fuel economy. By the end of this year every Volvo sold will have some from of electrified element to its powertrain. However, the Merc’s conventional engine is great and makes even more torque, so is just as driveable. INTERIORS THERE are fewer options to customise the GLE’s interior; there’s just one combination of inlay and interior leather colour. Quality is high, but there’s more scope to personalise the XC90’s cabin, with different leather and wood colours. The light leather colours and wood trims give the XC90 a fresher, alternative feel to its German rivals. This is what makes the Volvo stand out and why…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk TO begin with, I wasn’t sure about our Cupra Ateca, especially after noticing its eye-watering price of £41,910. That puts it almost into basic Porsche Macan territory, which is a bit ridiculous, you’ll surely agree. Plus I wasn’t convinced that it was all that wonderful to drive at first. Quick, yes, as you’d expect with a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Grippy, too, thanks to its part-time four-wheel-drive system and, in the case of our test car, optional 19-inch alloy wheels, wearing reasonably fat tyres. But there were quite a few aspects about the Cupra’s dynamics, and its practicality, that were irritating, rather than amazing. For example, I couldn’t get on with its ride and steering at the beginning, nor its SUV driving position that features a brake pedal…

Audi e-tron Issue 1,579, 1,585 BMW 3 Series Issue 1,576, 1584 Citroen Berlingo XL Issue 1,579 Cupra Ateca Issues 1,564, 1,573, 1,581 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564, 1,572, 1,575, 1,583 Ford Focus Issue 1,582 Honda CR-V Hybrid Issue 1,576, 1584 Hyundai Santa Fe Issue 1,575, 1,580, 1,587 Jaguar I-Pace Issue 1,588 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569, 1,580 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567, 1,577, 1,582 Mazda MX-5 Issue 1,573, 1,585 Renault Mégane R.S. Issue 1,581 SEAT Tarraco Issue 1,574, 1584 Skoda Fabia Issue 1,572, 1,582 Volkswagen California Issues 1,578, 1,583, 1,586 Volkswagen Touareg Issue 1,580, 1,585…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q How can I run laptop in a car? I’VE changed jobs and now have to spend a lot of time working on my laptop in the car between appointments. However, I’m always worried that the battery will die. What’s the best way to keep it charged up while I’m in the car? Andy Smith, E-mail A AN inverter is the easiest solution, because it converts the 12V of your car’s battery into mains current to power your laptop via its usual charger. Our test winner is the £35 Ring PowerSource RINVU300 (top), which clips direct to the battery, while our top cigar-lighter inverter is the Bestek MR13013B (£30). Both also have a USB socket. Q Keeping tools safe in a van I’VE bought a…

THE environment is at the heart of much of what we do these days and it’s firmly in mind with the launch of the latest wet-and-dry, energy-efficient vacuum from Kärcher. The WD 4 replaces the WD3 P, which secured 3.5 stars in issue 1,558. The winner of the test was Nilfisk’s Buddy II 18T, which is what we’re pitching the WD 4 against here. First, we checked what extras you get for your money before testing performance using a mix of breadcrumbs and sugars on a car mat, and then tackling a pair of gritty footwells. Finally we took price into account. The Nilfisk hangs on to its crown with matching performance, but a superior specification and price. The WD 4 performs impressively well, and is an option if you…

GERMANY’S DTM touring-car series is gearing up to mark its 500th race this weekend at the Lausitzring circuit. The ‘Deutsche Produktionswagen-Meisterschaft’, the forerunner of today’s DTM, first appeared in 1984 and developed into the International Touring Car (ITC) series in 1995 and 1996 (right). It was contested by Mercedes, Opel and Alfa. Spiralling budgets and manufacturer withdrawals led to the collapse of that series at the end of 1996, but DTM returned in 2000 with a new silhouette formula. In the current season, Audi’s Rene Rast heads to the Lausitzring on 206 points, well clear of his closest challenger and team-mate, Nico Mueller on 169. BMW’s Marco Wittmann is third on 147 points, while Daniel Juncadella is the best-placed Aston Martin driver, on just 22 points.…