What Car? June 2021

‘I can confirm that plug-in hybrids offer the potential to save a small fortune in fuel’ Do plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds, or are they just a compromise solution that’s inherently, well, compromised? The answer is that it depends on your circumstances and the type of driving you tend to do. However, having lived with one for the past few months, I can confirm that there’s definitely the potential to save a small fortune in fuel, as long as you regularly plug in (the clue is in the name). From page 50, we take a look at all the positives and negatives to help you decide if a plug-in hybrid is right for you.Then, from page 56, we pit the latest models against their key rivals. And remember, while they’re no…

The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for your new car and is set by our team of mystery shoppers. Every day they haggle to see what discounts are available across the UK. And all What Car?-approved dealers will at least match Target Price. In a lot of cases, however, you can save even more by using our New Car Buying service. Just head to whatcar.com/new-car-deals and select the car you’re interested in, and dealers will compete for your business. It’s all done through our website, so they won’t see your details until you’re ready.…

HOW DO YOU describe the indescribable? Well, the French have a phrase for that: je ne sais quoi. Used to sum up everything from actors to artwork,it provides a way of acknowledging facets of beauty or talent, or other unidentifiable qualities. It’s surely je ne sais quoi, then, this new Peugeot 308 needs to exude if it’s to lure potential buyers away from an army of family hatchback rivals. With a lower roofline than its predecessor, more space between its front and rear wheels and a longer body, the new 308 takes on an aggressive,low-slung stance.That’s accentuated by its huge front grille and thin LED lights, which bring the looks into line with recent Peugeot models, including the 208 small hatchback and 2008 small SUV. Two plug-in hybrid versions of the 308…

FROM ELECTRIFIED TRUCKS delivering Pilsner in the 1930s to experimental battery-powered versions of the Favorit in the 1990s, Skoda has a long history of dabbling in electric vehicles (EVs). And a few years ago, it launched its first proper production model, the tiny Citigo-e. That, though, was essentially an old city car with the petrol engine ripped out and an electric motor stuffed in its place, and only a few thousand were built right at the end of its life. The new Enyaq you see before you has been designed from the very outset to be a fully electric car, and no petrol, diesel or even plug-in hybrid version will ever be offered. Fairly obviously, the Enyaq is an SUV, and it’s quite a big one, measuring up similarly to Skoda’s conventionally…

SOME CARS – LIKE some people – were born to stand out from the crowd, and that looks like being true of the next Toyota Aygo. In fact, with far more rugged styling, it looks more like a tiny SUV than a city car. It’s taller than its predecessor and has a deep bonnet, oversized wheel arches and a bulbous rear bumper.The roofline slopes downwards more sharply towards the front of the car, and the two-tone paintwork on the roof and rear bumper help to emphasise the car’s distinctive shape. This dramatically different style marks the fact that Toyota is going it alone with the new Aygo X; the current model uses the same basis as the Citroën C1 and Peugeot 108, but, with neither French car being replaced when they go…

HEARD THE NAME before? If the answer is yes, it’s because the Hyundai Ioniq is a family car that’s been around since 2017. Now, though, that moniker has a new significance, identifying Hyundai’s range of electric cars. The Ioniq 5, the first of these, is a rival to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4 in this fast-growing arena. It aims to stand out with the promise of a 300-mile range and super-fast charging speeds, all wrapped up in an eye-catching design. Our drive of a pre-production model came with a lot of caveats; the steering, suspension and sound insulation were all yet to be fully signed off, Hyundai said. However, if the car can only get better than the version we’ve experienced, there’s lots to look forward to. We drove…