What Car? September 2021

‘Every one of our Electric Car Award winners overcame stiff competition’ At What Car?, we not only drive all the latest models, but also conduct long-term tests to see what cars are actually like to live with. And one of those that sticks in my mind featured an electric car, which turned out to be hopelessly compromised. The test in question was less than 10 years ago, yet the car had a tiny range. I remember a 14-mile motorway run draining half the battery, and having to drive in gloves and a scarf in the winter because of the fear that I might not make ithome if I turned on the heater. Fortunately, the rate of progress since then has been astounding. In this year’s What Car? Electric Car Awards, there are 10…

2.0-litre diesel (C220d) engines, with more powerful C300 and C300d models coming later, along with petrol and diesel plug-in hybrids. There are saloon and estate bodystyles, while trim levels range from entry-level Sport to bells ’n’ whistles AMG Line Premium Plus. While company car drivers will be clamouring for the plug-in hybrids for the tax-friendly CO2 emissions and long electric-only range they offer (up to 62 miles in the C300e’s case), anyone looking for long-distance fuel economy will be better off with the C220d we tried; officially, it returns up to 57.6mpg. Contributing to the C-Class’s efficiency is the fact that its engines make use of 48-volt mild hybrid assistance, enabling them to shut off when coasting and providing 20bhp of extra shove at low engine speeds. Well, maybe ‘shove’ is a…

AS ANY YOUNGER sibling will tell you, sometimes you just have to wait your turn. While a whole host of Dacias have made their debuts in recent months, the Duster family SUV has been sitting in the corner, patiently waiting to receive its mid-life refresh. And, finally, here it is. Its new look adopts more aggressive front and rear bumpers, a wider choice of alloy wheels and new headlights with LED indicators, all designed to help the Duster stand out against rivals that include the MG ZS and Skoda Kamiq. The engine line-up is mostly unchanged; the 89bhp 1.0-litre petrol TCe 90 is the cheapest choice, with the 128bhp 1.3-litre TCe 130 petrol – our pick for the current Duster – next, and the 148bhp 1.3-litre TCe 150 topping the line-up. Those…

IF YOU STILL think electric cars are a niche choice, the new Q4 e-tron could well be the car that forces you to reconsider, because Audi is predicting this large, fully electric SUV will be its second-best-selling model next year. Popularity is no guarantee of greatness, though, as the Transformers movies prove. So, is the Q4 e-tron worthy of your attention? Well, under the skin it’s closely related to the recently launched Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4, and that’s a fine starting point. Plus, while the entry-level 35 model has a modest 212-mile official range, the 40 and 50 versions both manage more than 300 miles on a charge. We tried the mid-level 40, which has a single 201bhp motor that powers its rear wheels (only the 50 has twin motors and four-wheel…

WITH 2021 ALL set to be the year of the ‘staycation’, Volkswagen couldn’t have picked a better time to launch its all-new campervan: the Caddy California. Based on the fifth-generation Caddy van, it’s the smallest camper VW makes; its dimensions are similar to the Golf family hatchback’s. However, that hasn’t stopped VW from outfitting the Caddy with five seats, a double bed and a mini-kitchen. Two body styles are available, the Maxi being 353mm longer than the base model. That extra length brings a bit more storage space (roughly enough for a folding bicycle or a coolbox) at the back. Open either sliding side door and you’ll find a wide three-seat bench with enough head and leg room for a pair of six-footers. These can be folded flat or removed entirely to…

YOU MIGHT HAVE seen peacocks strutting about in your local zoo, displaying their plumage in order to attract a mate. Of course, the new Honda Civic doesn’t have feathers to rely on, but its bold design and headline-grabbing features might just catch your eye. This is the 11th generation of Honda’s family car, which will rival the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and class-leading Seat Leon. On the design front, it features aggressive-looking front and rear bumpers and a smaller front grille than the old car. Honda’s designers have pushed the front pillars rearwards to aid visibility, and the side mirrors now sit on the door panels, rather than in front of them. The new Civic will be available exclusively as a hybrid, at least initially. It uses the same set-up as the…