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54 Articles

The phrase ‘patience is a virtue’ has its origins in a poem that was written way back in the mid-14th century. However, it remains as relevant as ever, not least when it comes to cars. ‘You can get a used Jaguar I-Pace for slightly less than a new Kia EV6’ That stylish model that you liked the look of when we first tested it a few years ago might have been too pricey at the time, but there’s a good chance it’s now edged within budget, thanks to the powerful force that is depreciation. Indeed, if the only consideration was how much flash you could get for your cash, buying used would be a no-brainer. But, of course, new cars have their own temptations, including the latest technology and the reassurance of a…

WORTH WAITING FOR

LATE 2022 Dacia Bigster Price from £20,000 (est) Imposing all-new large SUV is big in every regard other than its price tag SUPERMARKET GIANT SAINSBURY’S used to claim that you could ‘live well for less’ by shopping in its aisles – a slogan that applies just as well to the new Dacia Bigster. You see, when it goes on sale later this year, it will be the cheapest large SUV you can buy. Previewed in concept form in January last year, the Bigster does what it says on the tin. It’s the Romanian brand’s biggest SUV yet, providing the raised driving position and chunky styling that so many buyers love, and satisfying the needs of growing families who have one eye on costs. The Bigster is based on the same underpinnings as the Dacia Sandero…

WORTH WAITING FOR

Small and family cars

SEPTEMBER MG 4 Price from £20,000 (est) Sharp electric hatch has a range of up to 281 miles, and a rapid 443bhp version is on the way WHEN OLEKSANDR USYK defeated thencurrent heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua last year, it rather shook up the boxing scene. And now, title outsider MG hopes to do similar in the small electric car class, with its new MG 4 hatchback. A rival to the likes of the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3, the MG 4 pairs a single 167bhp electric motor with a 51kWh battery, to provide an official range of 218 miles in entry-level form. A more powerful, 201bhp motor with a 64kWh battery will also be offered, and this will give an official range of up to 281 miles – farther than the Nissan Leaf…

Small and family cars

Luxury cars and luxury SUVs

LATE SUMMER Mercedes-Benz EQE Price from £73,450 Electric saloon promises a 410-mile range and much of the flagship EQS’s tech in a downsized package A NEW PAIR of football boots can be pricey, with cutting-edge models often costing hundreds of pounds. That’s why cheaper ‘knock-down’ versions exist, with similar designs and technology but fewer frills. And it’s a similar story with the all-new Mercedes-Benz EQE electric luxury saloon, which offers much of the prestige of the larger EQS electric limo, but for a lot less cash. One of the areas in which they’re similar is that they offer a very long range. Some versions of the EQE can officially travel for up to 410 miles on a charge. That’s slightly down on the EQS’s official 453-mile range, but significantly farther than the entry-level Porsche…

Luxury cars and luxury SUVs

Performance and sports cars

LATE 2022 BMW M3 Touring The blisteringly fast and razor-sharp BMW M3 saloon is a real enthusiast’s favourite, but it’s traditionally not been offered with a more practical estate body. Finally, though, the M3 Touring is on its way as a rival to the Audi RS4 Avant, powered by the same turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine as the saloon. That means a very healthy 503bhp. AUTUMN Lotus Emira Lotus is taking on the Porsche 718 Cayman with its latest sports car, which replaces the Evora. Power will initially come from a 3.5-litre petrol V6 offering 395bhp in its highest state of tune, but a more affordable 2.0-litre fourcylinder petrol engine will be offered later. Prices start at £75,995 for one of the limitedrun First Edition models. AUTUMN Mercedes-AMG C63 The next-generation AMG C63 will make the landmark switch…

Performance and sports cars

Volkswagen ID Aero

YOU MIGHT NOT think of aerodynamics as being an especially sexy subject, but it’s a hot topic in the world of electric cars. You see, the ease with which such cars can slip through the air has a direct impact on how far they can go on a charge – and therefore how often you’ll have to top up. The new Volkswagen ID Aero has taken that theory to heart, because it’s the slipperiest car the brand has ever made. As a result of its sleek profile, the ID Aero promises a range of up to 385 miles from its 77kWh battery. For context, that means it can go from London to Sheffield and back without stopping; that’s farther than the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 can take you on…

Volkswagen ID Aero

WHEN NISSAN LAUNCHED the Leaf in 2011, it was such a radical step forward that it made existing electric cars look like golf buggies. Unfortunately, while the Leaf was ready for the electric motoring revolution, very few car buyers were, and it was slow to take off. That might explain why Nissan waited more than a decade before adding a second electric car – the Ariya SUV you see here – to its line-up. We tried a late-stage prototype of the Ariya a few months back, and while we were impressed by the interior, we felt the choppy ride on the optional 20in wheels needed to be addressed. We’ve now driven a production car on 19in wheels, and sadly that’s still an issue. The Ariya is not uncomfortable, but there’s a subtle…

MOST TV SERIES have at least one key character with which they’ll always be associated: EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell and Only Fools and Horses’ Del Boy, for instance. Similarly, the new Polestar 5 performance saloon seems destined to bring star quality to the electric car brand’s line-up. A rival to the Audi E-tron GT and Porsche Taycan, the Polestar 5 is powered by two electric motors (one on the front axle and one on the rear), giving it four-wheel drive. Combined, the motors pump out 874bhp, compared with the 751bhp produced by most powerful Taycan. The first Polestar model to be developed in the UK, the 5 uses bespoke underpinnings, with an ultra-stiff body and suspension set-up for what its maker promises to be a sporty driving experience. Polestar hasn’t revealed battery details, but…

Porsche Cayenne Coupé Turbo GT

A HEFTY SUV powered by a thirsty petrol V8 engine may not be at the top of everyone’s must-have list (especially with today’s sky-high fuel prices), but with the new Cayenne Coupé Turbo GT, Porsche makes a very convincing argument for acquiring one. While some of you will be lucky enough to have the wherewithal to buy an exotic sports car, such machines typically don’t gel with family life very well. Of course, you could buy a sports car and family car to cover all bases, but what if you only have space for one car on the drive? This is where the Turbo GT comes in. This flagship model of the Cayenne Coupé range rivals the Aston Martin DBX and Lamborghini Urus; the Turbo GT’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre petrol V8 sits in…

Porsche Cayenne Coupé Turbo GT

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer

IT’S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that your parents had an Astra estate, and maybe a few cousins too. But generational brand loyalty isn’t the only reason to choose what is now called the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. As ever, variety is the Astra’s watchword. Not only does its engine line-up include 99bhp and 128bhp 1.2-litre petrols and a 128bhp 1.5-litre diesel, but there’s also a 1.6-litre plugin hybrid that promises low CO2 emissions, bringing lower tax bills for company car users. Plus, in 2023, an all-electric version will arrive – a rare thing in the estate class. It’s a shame, then, that none of the Astra’s regular petrol and diesel engines stand out; all are beaten by equivalents in the Skoda Octavia for both performance and efficiency. Refinement isn’t brilliant, either; the diesel transmits…

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer

IF THE PHRASE ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ applied to any of the cars in this issue, it would be this second-generation Kia Niro. Its predecessor is still an excellent car, so this new version simply takes the same practical, efficient and relatively affordable package and brings it up to date. And this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version fills the gap between the regular Niro hybrid (HEV) and the Niro EV, providing a solution for those who aren’t ready (or able) to move to fully electric motoring just yet. The PHEV certainly serves up a convincing taste of the latter; its 11.1kWh battery is much larger than the 1.32kWh one you get in the Niro HEV, resulting in an official electric range of 38 miles. Charging up using a typical home…

HERE’S A SURPRISING fact for you: Kia has sold more cars in the UK this year than any brand apart from Ford. Yes, more than Vauxhall. More than Toyota. And more even than Volkswagen. And that’s with a line-up that’s thoroughly sensible. Sure, many of Kia’s latest models look sharp and modern, but they’re underpinned by pragmatic things like a practical interior, competitive pricing and a long warranty. To be blunt, there isn’t a whole lot about them to get proper enthusiasts excited. The EV6 GT could be about to change that, though. Okay, diehard petrolheads will doubtless bemoan the absence of an engine under the bonnet, but Porsche and Tesla have proved that electric cars needn’t be boring runarounds for the pious. They can certainly be fast and some are even…

IN POKER, THE ace is the most powerful card in the deck, so the Aceman could be just what Mini needs to bolster the strength of its hand. While just a concept for now, it previews the brand’s first electrlc SUV, which will go on sale in 2024. The production version will slot into the Mini line-up between the upcoming new Mini hatch and the next generation of the Countryman SUV. At 4.05m long, it’ll compete against such cars as the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense and upcoming Smart #1. The Aceman’s underpinnings have been co-developed by Mini and Chinese firm Great Wall Motors, and will also be used by an electric version of the next Mini hatch. Combustion-engined Minis, meanwhile, will use different sets of underpinnings. Like most Minis, the Aceman is…

WE MAKE YOU THE EXPERT

WHY WHAT CAR? In a world of overwhelming information, a subscription to What Car? provides you with everything you really need to know at any stage of your car ownership journey SAVE 54% SEE OFFERS ON OUR OTHER GREAT TITLES AT themagazineshop.com/wca/SS22PA TERMS AND CONDITIONS This is a UK-only offer; for overseas offers, please visit themagazineshop.com or call +44 (0) 1604 251 461. All savings are based on the UK cover price and are correct as of January 2022. Please allow up to 35 days for delivery of your first issue. Direct Debit rates are valid for one year, after which they are subject to change; should prices change, we will inform you in writing. Should you wish to cancel your subscription, it will be cancelled on expiry of the current term, which will…

WE MAKE YOU THE EXPERT

Cost of living drives used car sales

RISING COSTS ARE causing buyers to delay car purchases, reduce their budgets and consider different makes and models to the ones they planned to buy, What Car?’s latest in-market research has found. The study of 1232 buyers who said they were in the market for a car found that 36.6% had decided to delay their purchases due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Of those, 48.5% had pushed their buying decision back by more than three months, while 24.1% were delaying a purchase until 2023, by when it is hoped that parts supply and build times will improve. The research also found that 39.7% of buyers had changed the make or model of car they were considering because of the rising cost of living. They included 71.7% who were considering a…

Cost of living drives used car sales

DEALS of the month

SAVE £5318 Volvo XC90 WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 2.0 B5D Plus List price £68,265 Target Price £62,947 Target PCP £647 Ever since the first-generation model arrived in 2002, the Volvo XC90 has been one of the best luxury SUVs for ferrying around a family. This second-generation car continues that legacy, being safe, smart inside and enormously spacious. The B5 diesel model is reasonably economical, too, thanks in part to its mild hybrid engine technology. SAVE £1219 Seat Leon Estate WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 1.5 TSI Evo 130 SE Dynamic List price £26,385 Target Price £25,166 Target PCP £322 The Seat Leon Estate does all a family estate car should: it’s practical, good value and fun to drive. SE Dynamic offers the best value in the model range, with standard features such as a 10.0in touchscreen and keyless start. SAVE £1452 Skoda Superb WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 1.5 TSI…

DEALS of the month

12 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR MOTORING COSTS

As pop singer Yazz once sang, the only way is up, and the same seems to apply to the general costs of living in the UK. From groceries to electricity bills, all of us are being hit by the rising cost of living, and drivers especially are feeling the crunch. So, to help, we’ve compiled a list of 13 straightforward things you can do to reduce your motoring costs. 1 DRIVE GENTLY TO IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY By accelerating and braking gently and, in a manual car, changing to a higher gear as soon as possible, you can reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 15%. As a general guide, try to change up before 2000rpm in a diesel and 2500rpm in a petrol car, without letting the engine struggle at low revs. Planning…

12 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR MOTORING COSTS

How to spec your Skoda Karoq

BEST BUY Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI SE L List price £29,445 Target Price £28,517 Options we’d add Amundsen Package Plus (£600), Winter Package Plus (£425), Safety Package (£400), space-saving spare wheel (£170) Total cost of options £1595 Every Karoq comes with a kit that allows you to temporarily repair a puncture to make it to a nearby garage, but such kits won’t help if your tyre is very badly damaged. For such eventualities, we’d recommend a space-saving spare wheel (£170) to get you on your way to a mechanic for a replacement tyre. The Amundsen Package Plus (£600) brings sat-nav functionality for the standard 8.0in infotainment touchscreen, together with a wireless charging cubby for your phone. Our favourite aspect, though, is the digital instrument display, which shows a wealth of information, including colour sat-nav mapping. They say you can’t…

How to spec your Skoda Karoq

TESTING PROCESS STARTING WITH A clean, cool, dry car, we used a fresh polishing pad and a mechanical, rotary polisher so that every polish we tested was applied with the same vigour and pressure, before finishing by buffing with a clean microfibre cloth. We’ve assessed the polishes based on how quickly and how effectively they removed any haze and minor surface scratches from the paintwork, and how good the finished shine was. As always, we’ve also considered price and value. WHAT CAR? BEST BUY CAR POLISH 1 Meguiars Ultimate Compound Price £16.30 Buy from Amazon Min price per litre £36.22 The Meguiars polish did the best job of all of our polishes when it came to scratch removal, even helping to remove a fairly noticeable supermarket trolley scuff. It goes on smoothly and buffs to a really high…

Former US president Barack Obama once sentence, or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognise it. They say, ‘Huh. It works. It makes sense’.” Obama made this quote in reference to his legendary statesmanship, but we reckon it’s just as relevant to the subject of this test: plug-in hybrids. You see, a plug-in hybrid is all about flexibility, because while an increasing number of us would love to make the jump from a combustion-engined car straight to a fully electric one, such cars aren’t always compatible with our everyday needs. We worry about range and the inadequacies of the public charging network, especially when it comes to covering long distances. But what if you could drive to your office, gym or supermarket on electric power – benefiting the planet and your…

THE CAT OR THE CREAM?

NEW Kia EV6 RWD GT-Line List price £47,195 Target Price £47,195 Our 2022 Car of the Year is one of the most well-rounded electric cars you can buy, offering a long range and lots of kit for a fair price USED Jaguar I-Pace EV400 SE Price new £69,495 Price today £44,500* With more power than the EV6, the upmarket I-Pace looks terrific value as a used buy. Its range is no longer anything special, though IT WASN’T SO long ago that anyone in the market for an upmarket electric vehicle (EV) that offered not only a great range but also a desirable badge could buy a Tesla or nothing. Things have moved on, though, with the launch of the Jaguar I-Pace in 2018 sparking a revolution. The question has become not “Do I want to buy a luxurious EV?” but…

THE CAT OR THE CREAM?

ARE YOU READY T-ROC?

NEW Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI 110 Life List price £25,810 Target Price £25,312 Freshly updated with a new interior and a technology boost, the T-Roc takes a successful formula and runs with it Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost 155 mHEV ST-Line List price £25,845 Target Price £24,448 Our Small SUV of the Year is back to fend off another set of new rivals. With its solid blend of driving fun and practicality, can it hold onto the top spot? Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid Design List price £26,040 Target Price £25,475 Honey, they blew up the Yaris… with its hybrid tech, the Yaris Cross promises serious efficiency in a practical small SUV shape Trying to pick from the current crop of small SUVs is of a pop group. Each has their own look, their own cheeky personality and an army of devoted fans. The group…

ARE YOU READY T-ROC?

HOW FAR CAN ELECTRIC CARS REALLY GO?

TWICE A YEAR (in the height of summer and the depths of winter), we put 10 electric cars through a ‘drive ’em till they die’ test to see how realistic their official (WLTP) ranges – the figures you see in the brochures – really are. We’ve never found a car capable of matching (let alone beating) its official range, but the weather this year was warmer than for any previous test, so will one of our contenders finally prove it’s possible? Some of the cars lining up, including the BMW iX3, Kia EV6 and both of the Teslas, have taken part in previous tests, but there are plenty of newcomers, too, including the BMW i4, Kia Niro EV and Volkswagen ID 5. HOW WE DID IT For obvious reasons, it wouldn’t be safe to…

HOW FAR CAN ELECTRIC CARS REALLY GO?

Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance Family

IF I’VE LEARNT anything from watching Bridgerton (that worthy educational TV series on Netflix), it’s that as far as British nobility is concerned, duty comes first. And when titles get passed on to the next family member in the line of succession, the new lord of the manor has to take those duties extremely seriously, with any failure to do so resulting in scandal and possible ostracism. Volkswagen has had its share of scandal over the past few years, but it has survived and is moving more swiftly than most into the new electric vehicle (EV) era with the likes of the ID 3 hatchback. The ID 3’s duty is eventually to take over from the venerable Volkswagen Golf as the brand’s mainstay in the family car class, replacing conventional thinking…

Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance Family

Nissan Qashqai DIG-T 159 N-Connecta Xtronic

Mileage 5180 List price £32,595 Target Price £29,979 Price as tested £33,050 Test economy 41.3mpg MY NISSAN QASHQAI has put me in mind of the process of getting to know someone, during which discovering their personality quirks can turn an acquaintance into a friend. Maybe it’s an unusual accent, an unconventional sense of humour, or even the way they bob their head when walking. Things like that can stick in your mind and make a person memorable. It started the first time I used the Qashqai’s windscreen washers. I noticed that the screenwash came not from a nozzle but from the blades themselves, so every drop of the stuff goes just where you want it. No doubt some other cars have a similar arrangement, but it’s a good one and it earned…

Nissan Qashqai DIG-T 159 N-Connecta Xtronic

Citroën Berlingo Van Panel Driver Pro XL BlueHDi 130 EAT8

Max.Edleston@haymarket.com FIRST REPORT AS A ROAMING photographer, my quest for the perfect vehicle has me searching for three things: space, comfort and efficiency. The space is for the mountains of camera kit that I take with me when heading out to a large, multi-car shoot. The comfort is because I sometimes have to do 10-hour round trips in a day, and want to arrive at my location or home feeling as relaxed as possible. And the efficiency is to not only keep my fuel bills down but also ensure I don’t have stop too often. Now, I recently ran a Citroën C4, which ticked the second and third boxes on my list. However, now I’ve decided to try one of the vans in the brand’s commercial vehicle range, hoping it will cover off the…

Citroën Berlingo Van Panel Driver Pro XL BlueHDi 130 EAT8

Lexus NX 450h+ Premium Pack

Mileage 4466 List price £50,950 Target Price £50,448 Price as tested £57,370 Test economy 74.5mpg A RECENT FAMILY break at Longleat Center Parcs gave me a good chance to put my Lexus NX’s practicality to the test. Fortunately, we managed to squeeze in everything we needed.And bar my son Callum chattering away in his child seat, there was little to disturb the peace. Double-glazed front side windows help here, as does the fact that the electric range has now climbed to an impressive 50 miles. As a result, we arrived with enough in the battery to be able to deposit our luggage at our lodge without polluting the forest air. On a visit to Longleat Safari Park, we were able to trundle through the enclosures without making any noise, so we could get…

Lexus NX 450h+ Premium Pack

Peugeot 3008 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure Premium EAT8

Mark.Pearson@haymarket.com FINAL REPORT A HUF HAUS may be a strikingly modern and energy-efficient interpretation of a house, but when all is said and done, it’s just a house and still has to fulfil all the basic functions of one. The same logic could be applied to my Peugeot 3008. It might offer buyers more style than plenty of other family SUVs, but at the end of the day it’s still a family SUV and needs to excel in all the areas that cars in this class typically do. Well, spoiler alert, you don’t have to worry. You see, the past few months of use have proved to me that the 3008 is much more than just a pretty face; it’s been good to drive, comfortable to ride in, well equipped, practical and family-friendly. One…

Peugeot 3008 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure Premium EAT8

Cupra Born 58kWh V3

James.Tute@haymarket.com FIRST REPORT BE HONEST: DID you ever expect to see electric cars buzzing around the streets in the numbers they do now? I certainly didn’t – yet here I am, running a Cupra Born as a company car. In case you haven’t been introduced, the Born is an electric family hatchback built by sporty Spanish brand Cupra around the same structure as the Volkswagen ID 3. Since January, it’s also been our Small Electric Car of the Year. In other words, it’s top of its class, and if you buy one, it’s a safe bet you’ll be chuffed with it. Our Car of the Year judges praised the model’s combination of practicality and driving fun, and over the next few months I’ll be testing both those and more during day-to-day city centre driving…

Cupra Born 58kWh V3

BMW iX3 M Sport Pro

Steve.Huntingford@haymarket.com Mileage 2928 List price £65,865 Target Price £65,865 Price as tested £63,970 Test range 218 miles WHEN I WAS a young road tester at What Car?, we always used to recommend BMWs in SE trim. Deep down, we knew we were fighting a losing battle; almost everyone went for M Sport regardless, because they wanted the sportier styling and bigger wheels that this brought.And it wasn’t that we didn’t get the appeal of these features. However, on a purely objective level, SE cars were better. You see, M Sport brings sports suspension. However, at the time, this was about as forgiving as an angry Twitter mob. Add in the run-flat tyres – with their stiff sidewalls – that were just starting to become common on BMWs and the result was a ride…

BMW iX3 M Sport Pro

Audi RS3 Sportback Launch Edition

Will.Nightingale@haymarket.com Mileage 9112 List price £56,900 Target Price na Price as tested £57,475 Test economy 29.8mpg THE LATEST CHALLENGE for my Audi RS3 was a family holiday to Leicestershire.With two daughters (aged one and three) and my better half also hoping for a lift, I suspected the amount of luggage we needed (read wanted) to take would cause some issues. You see, the RS3 is just as practical as a regular Audi A3 family car in most respects – apart from the boot. Cramming in the four-wheel drive system has meant raising the height of the boot floor, reducing capacity from 380 litres to just 282 litres. If those numbers don’t mean a lot, they mean boot space is cut to the point where you’ll actually fit more luggage in a Ford Fiesta. As…

Audi RS3 Sportback Launch Edition

BMW 3 Series BUYING GUIDE

Mark.Pearson@haymarket.com SO SUCCESSFUL HAS the BMW 3 Series been over its seven incarnations and 47-year lifespan that it’s come to define the class in which it sits. You see, the likes of the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class aren’t simply executive cars; they’re 3 Series rivals. On sale since 2019, this generation of the 3 Series is even more pre-eminent than its predecessors, in large part because it’s able to satisfy the needs and wants of such a wide range of buyers, from motorway sloggers to track-day vloggers. To that end, there are plenty of engine options. The diesel line-up consists of 148bhp and 187bhp 2.0-litre units in the 318d and 320d respectively, plus 261bhp (330d) and 335bhp (M340d) 3.0-litre straight sixes. Petrols include a 154bhp 1.5 in the 318i, a 181bhp 2.0…

BMW 3 Series BUYING GUIDE

Grin determination

Price today £14,000* Ford Fiesta ST200 1.6 Ecoboost 200 List price when new £22,745 Available from 2016-2017 The limited-edition ST200 built on the regular Fiesta ST’s already impressive talents Mini Cooper S 2.0 List price when new £22,780 Available from 2014-present The Cooper S is more luxurious and less highly strung, but is it a better all-rounder? Price today £11,500* *Price today is based on a 2016 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing BEST RIDE IF THE HEIST in The Italian Job were pulled off today, would the modern Mini Cooper S be the getaway car of choice? Well, it may be larger than the original Mini and not quite as adept at threading through sewers, but, with a much bigger boot than the original, it’ll carry more stolen gold bars. Mind you, while the Mini…

Grin determination

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 SMALL CAR HONDA JAZZ Honda Jazz THE JAZZ IS the small car to beat for passenger space, and its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to its practicality. It’s neither the most fun car in the class (that’s the Ford Fiesta) nor the most comfortable (that’s the Peugeot 208), but with excellent visibility, it’s definitely easy to drive. Hybrid power also makes it really cheap to fuel, and slow depreciation helps make up for high prices. Our pick 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SR List price £22,375 Target Price £21,680 MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km For Remarkably spacious, with great seating flexibility; strong performance; lots of standard kit; holds value well Against Pricey by small car standards; not the quietest cruiser; disappointing infotainment system WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Fabia Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE Comfort List…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 FAMILY CAR SEAT LEON Seat Leon AS A FAMILY car, the latest Leon gets the basics right by offering a big boot and even more space for passengers than the gigantic Skoda Octavia. But it also serves up a very welcome slice of fun and costs less to run than you’d think. Don’t go thinking that the Leon feels even remotely hairshirt, either. It’s every bit as smart inside as the more expensive Volkswagen Golf, while its infotainment system is more user-friendly. Our pick 1.5 TSI Evo 130 FR List price £25,585 Target Price £24,680 MPG 50.5 CO2 127g/km For Great handling; smart, spacious interior; punchy yet frugal petrol engines; generous standard spec Against Ride is on the firm side; more wind and road noise than some rivals; very few optional extras available WHAT…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 HOT HATCH MERCEDES-AMG A45 Mercedes-AMG A45 MAKE NO MISTAKE: our 2022 Hot Hatch of the Year is more than just a one-trick pony. Yes, it’s ballistically quick in a straight line, belting from 0-62mph in just 3.9sec, but it’s also agile and entertaining through corners. You can adjust the four-wheel drive system to send the majority of power to the rear wheels only to allow you to slide it (on a track). The ride is firm, though, and you’ll need deep pockets to afford one. Our pick S Plus List price £58,728 Target Price £58,728 MPG 31.1 CO2 206g/km For Savage performance; immense grip; engaging handling; quick-shifting automatic gearbox Against Very expensive to buy and run; firm ride; not as quiet or easy to live with as the rival Audi RS3 WHAT CAR?…

NEW ENTRY Volkswagen T-Roc THE T-ROC WAS always a fine buy, but this latest version has raised its game to a new level. A soft ride makes it more comfortable than most of its rivals, while its spacious interior is much smarter looking than the previous model’s. In addition, unlike many of its rivals, it has the high-set driving position that many SUV buyers crave. We’d stick with one of the cheaper models; top-spec T-Rocs are too expensive to be a good bet. Our pick 1.0 TSI 110 Life List price £25,810 Target Price £25,312 MPG 47.1 CO2 136g/km For Comfy ride; quiet on the motorway; spacious and well equipped; big boot; high driving position Against Not as much fun to drive as a Ford Puma; top trims are too pricey; touch-sensitive controls are a bit fiddly WHAT CAR?…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 FAMILY SUV VOLVO XC40 1 Volvo XC40 IT MAY HAVE been a few years since we voted Volvo’s most affordable SUV our overall Car of the Year, but it remains a hugely desirable product that’s backed up by real substance. The XC40 blends generous passenger space and a practical boot with a quality interior and the sort of top-notch safety you expect from the brand. Plus, our recommended plug-in hybrid version has plenty of poke and promises to be cheap to run. Our pick Recharge T4 Plus (Dark Theme) List price £44,450 Target Price £42,488 MPG 134.5 CO2 47g/km For Stylish, high-quality interior; big and clever boot; supple ride on most versions; comprehensive safety kit Against Fiddly infotainment system; lacks the rear seat flexibility of some rivals; body sways around a bit WHAT…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 LARGE SUV HYUNDAI SANTA FE 1 Hyundai Santa Fe THERE’S LOADS TO like about the latest Santa Fe, including its huge boot and practical interior with seating for up to seven adults. The regular hybrid version that we recommend offers the best trade-off between price and running costs, and even entry-level Premium trim comes with many of the luxuries that are available only on high-end versions of the closely related Kia Sorento, making it fantastic value for money. Our pick 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 4WD Premium List price £42,715 Target Price £41,366 MPG 40.4 CO2 159g/km For User-friendly interior with seven seats suitable for adults; huge boot; loads of standard kit; long warranty Against Performance is only average; some wind noise at motorway speeds; top trim is expensive WHAT CAR? SAYS Kia Sorento Our pick 1.6…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 EXECUTIVE CAR BMW 3 SERIES 1 BMW 3 Series THE HYBRID BMW 330e slickly integrates the latest tech with the long-held wants and needs of executive car drivers. It’s easy to live with, has a high-quality interior and is great to drive, yet it’s also cheap to run. When charged, it can officially cover 37 miles on electricity, and it remains fairly frugal when running on petrol power. The resulting low emissions yield huge tax savings for company car drivers. Our pick 330e M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £48,565 Target Price £48,565 MPG 188.3 CO2 35g/km For Great to drive; low emissions and good electric range; high-quality interior; class-leading infotainment Against Smaller boot and petrol tank than regular 3 Series; sporty suspension setup won’t be to all tastes WHAT CAR? SAYS CAR OF THE…

Plug-in hybrids

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 PLUG-IN HYBRID LEXUS NX 1 Lexus NX IN ITS LATEST iteration, this upmarket large SUV is not only the first Lexus to be offered as a plug-in hybrid but also represents a leap forward for the brand in terms of ride and handling, as well as usability. It’s more practical than the rival Audi Q5, with a classy and well-equipped interior, and it has a relatively long electric range. The NX isn’t just a Lexus you’d buy for its reliability; it’s the best car from the brand in decades. Our pick 450h+ F Sport List price £58,200 Target Price £57,626 MPG 256.7 CO2 25g/km For Impressive electric range; strong performance; high-quality interior; Lexus’s reliability record Against Petrol engine isn’t the smoothest; choppy ride at high speeds; Takumi versions are pricey WHAT CAR? SAYS BEST…

Plug-in hybrids

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 LARGE ELECTRIC CAR TESLA MODEL 3 1 Tesla Model 3 THE MODEL 3 balances range, performance, price and technology better than every other car in its class. It was already hugely compelling, both as a private buy and a company car, but a refresh for 2021 made it even better. Factor in access to Tesla’s unbeatable charging network and the Model 3 is an incredibly desirable yet thoroughly sensible choice. It’s the best argument yet for switching from fossil fuels. Our pick Long Range List price £57,490 Target Price £57,490 Range 374 miles CO2 0g/km For Dependable, fast charging network; well priced; stuffed with tech; surprisingly practical; enjoyable to drive Against Firm town ride, pricey finance deals; interior is better than it was but could still be plusher WHAT CAR? SAYS CAR OF THE…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 OVERALL WINNER KIA EV6 CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 ELECTRIC SUV KIA EV6 1 Kia EV6 OUR 2022 CAR of the Year sets the standard for this new era of electric motoring, with one of the longest ranges in the business and ultra-fast charging capability. On top of that, it’s hugely spacious and practical, as well as exceptionally refined. When you combine all that with competitive pricing and a seven-year warranty, there are few cars – electric or otherwise – that get close to the EV6’s breadth of talents. Our pick RWD GT-Line List price £47,195 Target Price £47,195 Range 328 miles CO2 0g/km For Long range; ultra-fast charging; seven-year warranty; exceptionally quiet; loads of rear leg room Against Shallow boot; not exactly cheap to buy; ride is on the firm side…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 LUXURY CAR BMW 5 SERIES 1 BMW 5 Series OUR FAVOURITE LUXURY car for the past four years still offers the very best traits of this class. Take the interior, for example: it’s virtually identical to that of the pricier 7 Series and just as well made, despite the 5 Series costing far less. As a bonus, the 530e plug-in hybrid variant can complete many journeys on electric power. And even when its petrol engine does fire up, the car is quiet enough to shame full-on limousines. Our pick 530e M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £58,075 Target Price £53,932 MPG 188.3 CO2 33g/km For Fast and fun, yet comfortable and refined; low running costs, particularly as a company car; superb interior Against You need to add adaptive suspension (part of the Pro…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 LUXURY SUV BMW X5 1 BMW X5 WHEN CHOOSING A plug-in hybrid, it goes without saying that you want economy and cost-effectiveness, but if you don’t want to compromise on the finer things in life, the X5 xDrive45e is right up your street. It offers the same fantastic interior as any other X5, and is even more refined. Yet it’s cheaper to run than rivals, not least because it can travel a whopping 54 miles on electric power. Our pick xDrive45e M Sport List price £73,425 Target Price £72,156 MPG 217.3 CO2 29g/km For Superb ride and handling balance; excellent infotainment; big pure electric range; low company car tax Against No seven-seat option in our preferred plug-in hybrid form; boot isn’t as big as you’d expect WHAT CAR? SAYS BEST FOR BIG FAMILIES BMW X7 Our pick…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 MPV VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN 1 Volkswagen Touran THE TOURAN MATCHES the flexibility of huge MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy, with its independently sliding middle-row seats. And despite being a far more compact car, adults fit in all three rows. What’s more, the Touran feels much like a normal hatchback from behind the wheel, thanks to tidy handling and a supple ride. So yes, it exists to offer an abundance of functionality, but that doesn’t define the way it drives at all. Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE List price £32,735 Target Price £31,144 MPG 43.1 CO2 149g/km For Compact outside yet spacious inside; seats seven; Isofix child seat mounts on all rear seats; tidy to drive Against Rivals offer more economical engines and more third-row space; automatic gearbox can be hesitant WHAT CAR? SAYS Dacia…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 ESTATE SKODA SUPERB ESTATE 1 Skoda Superb Estate SPACE IS THE name of the game when you’re looking at wagons, and the Superb Estate has been our favourite for six years, striking the sweet spot of practicality, comfort, low running costs and value more accurately than any rival. In fact, with masses of load space for flat-pack furniture or suitcases and palatial comfort for passengers, it’s one of the most impressive family holdalls in any class of car. Our pick 2.0 TDI 150 SE L List price £34,245 Target Price £32,661 MPG 55.9 CO2 132g/km For Comfortable ride; limo-like rear passenger space; huge boot with lots of practical touches; well priced Against Some rivals are more fun to drive on twisty roads; automatic gearbox can be a…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 COUPE BMW 4 SERIES COUPE 1 BMW 4 Series Coupé ITS LOOKS MAY be divisive, but whether or not you’re a fan of this 4 Series’ aggressive styling, you’ll love what’s underneath. This is one of the most rewarding driver’s cars in the class and, if you opt for the Pro Pack’s adaptive suspension, it’s also a very comfortable everyday car. In addition, the 4 Series benefits from a wonderful interior with supportive seats and class-leading infotainment. Our pick 420i M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £44,655 Target Price £42,468 MPG 42.2 CO2 151g/km For Rewarding handling; no longer so derivative of 3 Series; high-quality interior; composed ride Against Looks won’t be for everyone; some rivals have larger boots; you hear wind and tyre noise at speed WHAT CAR? SAYS BEST FOR VALUE Audi TT Our Pick…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 CONVERTIBLE BMW 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE 1 BMW 4 Series Convertible LIKE THE COUPÉ on which it’s based, the 4 Series Convertible feels wonderfully balanced, and combines agile handling with impressive comfort if you specify the Pro Pack’s adaptive suspension. It’s also refined with the roof up or down, and surprisingly practical for a car of this sort, offering space for four adults and a good-sized boot. Throw in an upmarket and well-equipped interior and you’ve got a drop-top that’s hard to fault. Our pick 420i M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £49,455 Target Price £45,197 MPG 40.4 CO2 160g/km For Agile and precise handling; comfortable ride; user-friendly infotainment system; classy interior Against Some visibility issues; rear seats fold flat but don’t split; adjustable lumbar support costs extra WHAT CAR? SAYS BEST FOR VALUE Fiat 500…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 SPORTS SUV FORD PUMA ST 1 Ford Puma ST UNTIL RECENTLY, BUYING a sports SUV required a sizeable outlay, but the Ford Puma ST changes that. And don’t think the fact that it costs far less than the competition means it’s far less fun. Even the mighty Porsche Cayenne has to bow to the Puma’s incredible agility, while its greater driver engagement and less extreme acceleration mean there’s far more chance to enjoy yourself on public roads. Our pick 1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack List price £31,075 Target Price £29,935 MPG 41.5 CO2 155g/km For Hugely entertaining handling; tuneful and punchy engine; relatively cheap to buy and run Against Occasionally bouncy ride; infotainment system could be slicker; Volkswagen T-Roc is bigger in the back WHAT CAR? SAYS BEST HIGH-END CHOICE Porsche Cayenne Coupé Our pick GTS List price…

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 SPORTS CAR PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN 1 Porsche 718 Cayman IT’D BE EASY to write off the Cayman as a poor man’s 911. It can be bought for as little as half the money, so it must be half the car, right? Well, actually, no; in the ways that matter most, the Cayman is the best sports car on the planet. The only caveat is that you need to go for the GTS model, because this swaps the uncouth engines of lesser versions for a glorious 4.0-litre flat six. Our pick GTS 4.0 List price £70,070 Target Price £70,070 MPG 25.9 CO2 247g/km For Brilliant handling; rich, soulful naturally aspirated six-cylinder GTS engine; classy interior Against Lacks the level of standard kit you’d expect of such a pricey car, both in terms of luxuries…

Performance cars

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 PERFORMANCE CAR PORSCHE TAYCAN CROSS TURISMO 1 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo THE ALL-ELECTRIC Taycan rewrote the performance car rulebook in 2021, and now the Cross Turismo has raised the bar even higher. It brings greater versatility, courtesy of a bigger boot and roomier rear seats, plus raised suspension that seems tailor-made for battered British roads. Our preferred 4S version is more than fast enough and comes with the larger of the two batteries (a pricey option on the equivalent regular model). Our pick 4S List price £89,555 Target Price £89,555 Range 281 miles CO2 0g/km For Massive and instantaneous performance; remarkably agile; gorgeous interior; more practical than the regular Taycan Against Charging network isn’t as good as Tesla’s; range could be better WHAT CAR? SAYS BEST FOR THRILLS Audi E-tron GT Our pick quattro List price £82,865…

Performance cars

STAR RATINGS Outstanding Above average Average Below average Poor TARGET PRICE The What Car? Target Price is the maximum you should pay for a new car and is set by our mystery shoppers. It’s updated each month and most of our approved dealers will match it. However, in a lot of cases they can save you even more: just visit whatcar.com/new-car-deals or call 03302 216207 between 9am and 5pm (standard network fees apply). All Target Prices are correct at the time of going to press. TARGET PCP The Target PCP is a fair monthly fee if you’re taking out a personalcontract purchase (PCP) finance deal, also set by our mystery shoppers. Most are over 48 months with a 15% deposit and an 8000-mile annual limit. Those marked with an asterisk are over 36 months and those with an apostrophe…

NEW CARS THIS MONTH

Land Rover Defender 130 Price from £73,895 Data fact Stretched SUV is 17mm longer than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Maserati Grecale Price from £58,315 Data fact Sports SUV can carry 535 litres of luggage at up to 177mph Renault Mégane E-Tech Price from £35,995 Data fact Electric family car has an official range of 280 miles CHEAPEST FAMILY CARS COMPANY WITH THECAR LOWEST TAX FOR INSURANCE A PERFORMANCE GROUPS…

NEW CARS THIS MONTH

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