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 6
TOPSTORY
Ford Puma gets a fully
electric powertrain with
new Gen-E derivative
NEWSWEEK
Ford Puma Gen-E
All-electric Puma breaks cover 6 JAGUARCONCEPT 10
Controversial Type 00
Jaguar Type 00
Striking concept unveiled in Miami 10 fronts up Jaguar’s bold
new future
ZEV mandate
Government to review targets 12
Audi Q5 Sportback
Coupé-styled SUV revealed 14
BMW iX
Facelifted electric SUV seen testing 16
FEATURES
18
22
e-Scooters
Safety concerns over legal status
Santa’s sleigh reimagined
Top car designers deliver the goods 32
Retro cars rated
AE team’s best and worst picks 50 AUDIA6E-TRON
In-car gaming
Car play - but minus the Apple 58 All-new A6 is
electric-only,
CUPRAFORMENTOR 28
We deliver our verdict on
but how does it updates for sporty SUV
NEW CARS measure up?

Audi A6 e-tron
German exec goes fully EV 22 BUYING CARS
Cupra Formentor
Facelifted hybrid SUV tested 26 ROADTESTTRIPLE Column
Advising family on choices 113
SPACERACE 80
MINI Aceman E
First drive of entry-level edition 28 Striking Lexus LM
Driver Power
You rate Nissan Qashqai 114
takes on VW ID.
McLaren 750S Spider
Open-top supercar on the road 30 Buzz in premium
Buying guide
Used Skoda Enyaq 116
MPV battle Seven-seat hybrids
118
ROAD TESTS Our best practical picks

Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

Festive special retro twin test 36 REGULARS
BMW Z Cars
62 ZCARSTEST62
Every generation rated
We compare each RUTHERFORD 130
Lexus LM vs VW ID. Buzz
Premium MPVs head-to-head 80 generation of Mike takes a view on car
BMW’s famous industry job cuts and
Our cars: Skoda Superb
Spacious exec joins our fleet 94 Z Car line-up the recent change of
Transport Secretary
Our cars: MG3 Hybrid +
We take on great-value supermini 96
NEWCARPRICES 122
Our cars: Smart #1
Long-term test update 98 All the details you need
RETROTEST36 to know before you head
PRODUCTS Eighties life in the to the showroom
fast lane revisited,
Hot kit & Books
103
Work lights plus Porsche, F1 titles with Ford Sierra SUBSCRIPTIONS 100
How to get
Laser tools ratchet and AMG model 105
New Products and MG Montego
head-to-head Auto Express

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PAGE108
Double Issue 3
 Find it with the experts.

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 IT was interesting listening to MG last
week, talking about the “brutal” level of “IT’S CHEAPER FOR
CONTACT US
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TOWARDS THEIR ZEV
Editor: Paul Barker

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News, reviews and tests
Chief reviewer: Alex Ingram
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is not actually driving change and helping
people willingly make the move into electric
MANDATE QUOTA
THAN IT IS TO PAY
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Senior staff writer: Jordan Katsianis
Senior news reporter: Alastair Crooks cars, then it’s just a penalty on doing business.

THE FINES THATWILL

News reporter: Ellis Hyde
Chief columnist: Mike Rutherford I saw some sales figures last week that made
Consumer
for shocking reading about who is buying
OTHERWISE ENSUE”
Current affairs editor: Chris Rosamond
Consumer reporter: Tom Jervis
electric cars. Both the private and fleet markets
Products
Products editor: Kim Adams are fairly static this year compared with 2023,
Digital
Head of digital content: Steve Walker
which isn’t great when the fleet sector has
Web producer: Pete Baiden
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traditionally blazed a trail on EVs thanks to the company-car tax incentives.
Senior content editor: Shane Wilkinson
Content editor: Ryan Birch But the Motability sector – which provides 800,000 disabled people with
Carbuyer managing editor: Andy Goodwin
Carbuyer content editors: Charlie Harvey, Tom Gumbrell access to cars – has more than doubled in size in 12 months. Sounds great in
DrivingElectric content editor: George Armitage
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Creative director: Darren Wilson
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push cars they want to get rid of, potentially at big discounts.
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The other massive growth area for EVs this year is equally worrying: dealer
Sub-editor: Paul Alton
demonstrator cars. They’re not ‘real’ demo vehicles, though, but cars registered
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because it’s cheaper for manufacturers to lose money on models that count
Special contributors
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Double Issue 5
 TOP STORY Ford Puma Gen-E

REVEALED Plug-in Puma gets bespoke features and a much

bigger boot, but retains the appearance of the standard model

FIRST FOR

Richard with thin strakes and holes for

cooling, plus a couple of vents to

10 OFFICIAL
JAGUAR TYPE 00
Ingram channel air out past the front wheels.
Speaking of which, Ford has
Concept car hints at bold future [email protected] designed a selection of aero rims
to maximise the Puma’s real-world
WE’VE known it’s coming for range. Base cars feature a 17-inch
some time now, but finally, the design, while 19s are available as an
covers are off the electric Ford Puma optional extra on top-spec models;
Gen-E. It’s quite clearly based on the expect the larger of these to lead to
existing petrol car, but subtle tweaks a 10 to 15-mile drop in usable range.
mark out the Hyundai Kona and Jeep Elsewhere, changes are limited to
Avenger rival – not least the unique a slightly longer and lower tailgate
Electric Yellow paint you see here. spoiler – again designed to better
Under the metal sits Ford’s familiar direct air around the car – plus the

13 LOTUS
REVEALED
EMIRA
400bhp Turbo model announced
global B-car platform, adapted to
house a relatively modest 43kWh
battery for a maximum range of 233
rear bumper has been updated due
to the lack of exhaust pipes.
There’s more body-coloured
miles. The company does say that cladding and new white badging on
in an urban environment that range the bootlid, but the Gen-E name isn’t
can be as much as 325 miles – referenced anywhere on the car.
presumably making use of the Design manager Jordan Demkiw
car’s regenerative braking system. told us his team’s main aim was to
While markedly similar to the ICE ensure it clearly signified it was a BEV,
car, the Gen-E takes an evolutionary without losing the Puma character.
approach to its styling. The grille has “It’s not a full overhaul,” he said. “It’s
been replaced by a flush panel, with limited to a few areas, but it was an
a Mustang Mach-E-inspired black important programme to get right.

14 UNVEILED AUDI
Q5 SPORTBACK
Coupé-style SUV makes its debut
moustache giving the front end
some definition. There’s also a more
conventional lower-bumper treatment,
[Puma] is a really successful car.”
Moving into the cabin, the first
thing existing owners will notice is

www.autoexpress.co.uk
 TOP STORY

OFFICIAL

BOLD FRONT
Blanked-off grille of Gen-E
features the same ‘moustache’
appearance as Mustang Mach-E

VIBRANT COLOURS
Electric Yellow launch colour
will join other bright hues on
the Puma Gen-E, including
Fantastic Red and Desert
Island Blue, both from the
Mustang Mach-E, along
with more traditional silver,
black and white shades

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 7

TOP STORY Ford Puma Gen-E

the redesigned centre console. systems too, including lane-keeping

Removing the petrol car’s manual aid, wrong-way alert, and cross-traffic
handbrake and bulky gearlever has alert with active braking. Cruise control
freed up cabin space, allowing Ford’s with a speed limiter is also standard.
designers to offer a raised centre The Puma Gen-E Premium costs
section with cup-holders and a large, £2,000 more and adds 18-inch
well designed wireless charging tray. wheels, power-folding door mirrors
The infotainment system is carried and an automatic tailgate, as well as
over almost unchanged, with the matrix-LED headlights and puddle
12-inch screen featuring the brand’s lamps with the Puma logo.
SYNC 4 software, plus Apple CarPlay Inside, you’ll find a Bang & Olufsen
and Android Auto connectivity. This premium sound system, plus Sensico
display is complemented by a 12.8- vegan-leather trim.
inch digital instrument cluster. Options include an opening
In the rear of the car, the bench panoramic roof and a detachable
feels just about big enough for three towbar, as well as bundles such
adults at a push, but it’s by no means as the Winter Pack, which groups
roomy. It’s fine for children, though, the likes of heated seats, a heated
and that will suit the Puma’s target steering wheel and Ford’s Quickclear
market. Otherwise, Ford has done windscreen together.
a decent job of improving interior Six paint finishes will be offered,
packaging by limiting the intrusion including the unique Electric Yellow
from a central transmission tunnel. As launch colour seen here. Other
a result, the floor is almost completely choices include Agate Black, Frozen
flat, although the bulky battery means White, Solar Silver, Desert Island Blue
those in the rear will find their feet sit and Fantastic Red.
quite high, which may limit under- Alongside that 43kWh battery
thigh support on longer journeys. sits a single 166bhp/290Nm electric
The real practicality win comes motor powering the front wheels.
behind the rear seats, though, where This allows the 1,563kg Puma Gen-E
Ford has managed to free up even to sprint from 0 to 62mph in 8.0
more capacity than you’ll find in the seconds. Top speed, while not all that
petrol model. The Gen-E comes with relevant in this part of the market, is
a Peugeot E-2008-beating 523 litres limited to 99mph.
of luggage space – including the Charging speeds aren’t anything
enormous 145-litre GigaBox hidden to write home about, but should be
under the floor. In addition, all cars competitive with the Gen-E’s rivals;
get a 43-litre frunk under the bonnet, the 100kW peak apparently allows
which is big enough for a toolkit or for a 10-80 per cent top-up in 23
the charging cable. minutes. Ford doesn’t quote a
Two specifications will be offered maximum AC charge speed, but on a
at launch, with the brand favouring a 7kW home wallbox, a full refill should
Mach-E-inspired Select and Premium be possible in less than seven hours.
line-up, rather than the familiar The new Puma Gen-E is available
Titanium and ST-Line trims offered to order now, with first cars due to
on the petrol Puma. Prices for the be delivered to customers in March
Gen-E will start from £29,995, which 2025, in time for the new 25-plate
is £3,645 more than a basic petrol car registration number change.
fitted with Ford’s 123bhp 1.0 EcoBoost At the moment, there’s no word AERO WHEELS
engine. However, if you opt for the on sportier-looking ST-Line variants The rims on the Gen-E
automatic gearbox on the petrol or faster GT or ST cars, although the are designed to offer
model, that premium narrows to less feasibility of any extra models will be optimal airflow. Both 17
than £2,000, making the Gen-E seem limited by the car’s relatively short and 19 -inch designs
like good value for an electric car. shelf life; the current Puma, including are available,
Select-spec versions get the the Gen-E, is likely to be replaced by depending on trim
aforementioned 17-inch aero wheels, an all-new model within the next levels and option packs
LED lights, all-round parking sensors three to four years.
and a rear-view camera, while inside
there are two screens with connected
navigation, ambient lighting and
wireless phone connectivity with “TWO TRIM LEVELS WILL BE OFFERED AT LAUNCH WITH FORD
FAVOURING A MACH-E INSPIRED SELECTAND PREMIUM LINE-UP”
wireless charging. There’s also a long
list of advanced driver-assistance

8 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 TOP STORY

PRACTICALITY
Lack of gearlever and
handbrake makes space
for large wireless charging
pad and cup-holders

“IFYOU OPT FOR AN AUTOMATIC GEARBOX

IN THE PETROL PUMA,THEN THE PREMIUM
FOR THE EV NARROWS TO LESS THAN £2,000”

Double Issue 9
NEWS Jaguar Type 00

REVEALED Jaguar Ty
Paul OFFICIAL Bentley-baiting electric GT reveals bold new design direction

Barker splits the digital screens, which fold

away for a “digital detox”, to show only
properties will be shared with all
future Jaguars,” continued Glover.
interior: a lot of those features.
Similarly, that stance, the large-profile
[email protected] key information on the slender display at “The proportionality is important; in wheels, the fastback profile from the
the base of the windscreen. an era where all EVs are cab-forward A-pillar down to the rear – you’ll see it.”
JAGUAR’S future is now “The past decade has seen Jaguar and all about aero, we’ve created a Jaguar is yet to give any details on
clearer after the brand showed pursue a mass-volume strategy and vehicle that has presence and the technical aspects of the concept,
its Type 00 concept at Miami Art Week. the cars haven’t been distinctive exuberant, long-bonnet proportions. including where the battery is sited in
After weeks of controversy over its enough,” said JLR chief executive It’s low-riding when everyone else is such a low-slung car, given that the
rebrand, direction and logos, Jaguar Adrian Mardell. “This is the time to high because of their battery stack, production GT will have a similar profile.
will be hoping the reveal of the Type do something special.” and while everyone is focusing on That car will be built on the new
00 shifts focus back to its plans to Chief creative officer Gerry smaller wheels to get range, that’s not Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA),
become an all-electric luxury car maker. McGovern added: “We don’t want to for us – we need presence and drama.” which will underpin a further two
The concept is a precursor to a appeal to everyone; the car will shock. Comparing the Miami concept with models by the end of 2028, expected
four-door GT to be seen next year, It will take Jaguar back to when it was the production GT, Glover told Auto to be a large SUV and a luxury saloon.
ahead of deliveries in 2026. The loved because it was unique.” Express: “You will see the lineage The GT will cost around £225,000,
name, pronounced “type-zero-zero” The two-seat concept revealed in clearly, the proportions, the pure have a range figure of 478 miles and
combines Jaguar’s historic use of Florida won’t make production, but surfacing, pared back and simple, and the ability to add 200 miles in 15
‘type’ with 00 to signify the resetting of according to Jaguar it shares cues you can take all of the iconography – minutes. The brand has said that
the brand and its zero-emission future. with the four-seat production model. the use of the leaper, the despite slow EV uptake, there will
“Type 00 is the first line drawn for “Type 00 is a clear illustration of strikethrough, the face of the vehicle, be no turning back to hybrids or
new Jaguar – its origin story,” said what you can expect; its exuberant how it plants itself, the longitudinal petrol engines in its future models.
managing director Rawdon Glover,
describing the dramatically styled
car with its bluff front, long bonnet,
sweeping roof and coupé profile,
OFFICIAL
as well as its new multiple-line
strikethrough design on the front,
rear, bonnet, roof and dashboard.
Auto Express saw the concept
at a secret preview last month, and
the blunt, upright nose looks more
impactful in the metal than in the arty
images Jaguar has chosen to release.
The profile has been kept clean, with
brass ingots featuring the revised
‘leaper’ logo housing pop-out rear-
view cameras, and the concept riding
on huge 23-inch wheels.
The company has gone without a
rear window, a feature that spy shots
of a prototype hint will be carried over.
The development car does, though,
have mirrors, rather than the pop-out
cameras that feature on the Type 00.
The strikethrough design element
at the rear houses full-width rear
lighting, between huge arches.
The stripped-back interior,
accessed via rising ‘butterfly’ doors,
features a 3.2-metre brass spine that

STRIKING DESIGN
Type 00 has minimalist cabin, plus
retractable rear-view cameras
housed inside brass ingots

10 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
ype 00 concept
IMPACTFUL STYLE
Rawdon Glover, Jaguar MD
Bluff front end is said to
represent Jaguar’s new
family face for all of
its future models
Jaguar boss on
social media storm
THE reaction to the new
Jaguar logos and brand
repositioning (see issue 1858)
caused a stir across the world last
month – especially the video that
featured plenty of people, but no cars.
The strength of opinion may
have surprised the company, but
managing director Rawdon Glover
told Auto Express that nothing has
changed his resolve.
“Transformation is never
straightforward, and we know that
Jaguar is a brand that’s loved and
respected for its heritage,” he said.
“But the reality is that has not led to
people buying more cars. The need
for change is clear.
“What we wanted to do was to
get the world’s attention, and we’ve
done exactly that,” he continued,
highlighting that the brand has
recorded more than 170 million
social media interactions. “There are
only 2.5 million luxury car customers
on the planet, so the majority of
those commenting probably won’t
be people that purchase either our
vehicle or another luxury model.
“People are talking about Jaguar
in a way that they haven’t talked
about us in decades, whether they
like it or not.” Glover concluded.
“I think there are a lot more people
interested in what we do next.”

RAWDON GLOVER Jaguar

“WHATWE WANTED TO
DO WAS GETTHE WORLD’S
ATTENTION AND WE’VE
DONE EXACTLYTHAT.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
ABOUTJAGUAR”
Double Issue 11
NEWS ZEV mandate

Government to reviewZEVmandate
following car industry upheaval
Tom Ford saying that it may limit the sales
of its petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles
OFFICIAL Consultation period to be followed
by announcement on any changes in January
Jervis in order to escape being penalised.
Very little is known about what, if
[email protected] any, changes will be announced, but
it’s unlikely any adjustments will be
THE government has made to the pre-defined thresholds.
announced a review into the We expect the main focus to be on
controversial ZEV (zero-emissions expanding the methods in which a
vehicle) mandate after major company can comply; existing rules
pushback from across the car already allow them to offset their
industry, with the next steps imbalance of ICE and EV sales by
expected to be laid out in January. buying credits from other firms or
Business and trade secretary overdelivering on future quotas.
Jonathan Reynolds told guests at Reynolds did hint at the concept
the Society of Motor Manufacturers of potential government-funded EV
and Traders (SMMT) annual dinner incentives, but offered no guarantees
that “the [car] industry is facing a and encouraged figures from across
greater set of challenges today than the industry to submit their own ideas.
at any point in the last 50 years”.
Referring to the ZEV mandate put
He also doubled-down on Labour’s
commitment to the 2030 phase-out
OPINION
in place by the previous Conservative of the sale of internal-combustion
administration, Reynolds said, “I don’t
believe the policies we have inherited
cars, stating that he doesn’t want the
review to “undermine the transition No say for drivers,who may
are operating today in a way anyone
intended them to” and that he was
“profoundly concerned” by the
[to EVs]”. But Reynolds reassured
firms that it “matters to [him] and the
government that vehicles are made
still not be interested in EVs
current state of the market. here. It’s incumbent on us to put the THE business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, has announced
Now, after meeting with industry money where our mouth is”. a review into the ZEV mandate, which forces car makers to sell
bosses and the SMMT last week, the All of this comes in the wake of increasing numbers of electric cars in the run-up to a total ban
government has announced a review several major automotive brands on new internal combustion-engined models. This is currently
into the mandate, which will involve a cutting and threatening to cut jobs due to come into force in 2035, but Labour has promised to
consultation period with senior figures, in the UK in order to save cash as bring the veto forward to 2030, as per its manifesto pledge.
reporting back and culminating in a they are forced to sell EVs at a loss The review has been called because car makers say drivers
final decision in January 2025. to meet the government’s targets. don’t want to buy their new electric cars in sufficient numbers
As it stands, the mandate, which Vauxhall has said it will close its to make their businesses sustainable. Yet there’s no sign of
was enacted in 2024, requires that Luton manufacturing plant, citing Reynolds or the Labour government wanting to take drivers’
22 per cent of vehicles sold by each slow EV sales and the ZEV mandate interests into account in the review process. Instead, it seems
maker this year must be fully electric as its reasoning. And Nissan has called they want to follow the same path set out by the previous
or have zero tailpipe emissions. This for “urgent action” by the end of the Conservative administration, which means cooking up a fresh
threshold will rise further to 28 per year “to avoid a potentially irreversible deal based on confidential chats between government, industry
cent in 2025 and keep rising each impact on the UK automotive sector”. and the environment lobby – and then expecting drivers to fall
year up to 80 per cent in 2030. After cutting as many as 800 British into line behind whatever policy is generated.
Brands that do not comply face jobs, Ford UK’s managing director, If the EV transition was that simple, the ZEV mandate
fines as high as £15,000 per vehicle Lisa Brankin, said the company would be working already, and drivers would be buying up
over and above the stated quota, with “welcomes” the concept of a review. electric vehicles hand-over-fist. The fact they are, in many
cases, shunning them, suggests the government needs
JONATHAN REYNOLDS Business and trade secretary to take a much more insightful look at the barriers to EV
take-up. Loosening the targets so car companies avoid
“THE CAR INDUSTRYIS FACING punishing fines may help those manufacturers

A GREATER SET OF CHALLENGES to stay afloat, but it won’t increase consumer

interest in the electric cars they’re making.
TODAYTHAN ATANYPOINT IN CHRIS ROSAMOND
THE LAST 50YEARS” Current affairs editor

12 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 NEWS
OFFICIAL

Lotus gives Emira

sports car turbo boost
NEW MODELS
Deliveries of the Emira Turbo
and Turbo SE should begin in
the second quarter of 2025

Richard 480Nm respectively. This cuts the

0-62mph time to four seconds flat,
Lotus announces new European
Ingram while top speed increases to 182mph.

[email protected]
This version gets the Lotus Drivers
Pack as standard, bringing a ‘Sports’
suspension set-up, cross-drilled and
Chief Executive in wake of UK cuts
THE Lotus Emira range is set ventilated brakes, and launch control. DAN Balmer (below) has been future. “It really depends on the
to expand in 2025, with the Visual upgrades include red brake revealed as the new European macroeconomic conditions that
introduction of two new models calipers and 20-inch forged alloy boss of Lotus Cars, promising [are] dictating the swing,” he said.
designed to elevate the two-seater’s wheels in satin grey, as well as Zinc to “read the room” with Hyper He also sees the introduction of
position as a key sports-car player. Grey paint. There’s new Emira Turbo Hybrids and investment in ‘Hyper Hybrid’ tech as a boon to
The Emira Turbo and Turbo SE are SE badges and exhaust pipes, plus driver-assistance tech. the firm, but wouldn’t reveal the
based on the existing four-cylinder an Alcantara headliner inside. Balmer told Auto Express the models it would feature in. Balmer
car but boast up to 400bhp, plus an Newly confirmed Lotus Europe CEO firm will be promising investment added that the current Electric
extra 50Nm of torque. Dan Balmer (right) said: “We’re thrilled in EVs, as well as ‘Hyper Hybrid’ tech. Premium Architecture (EPA) was
The base Emira becomes the Emira to announce the addition of new Balmer, whose 32-year career flexible enough for EV and PHEV in
Turbo, with the same 360bhp and variants to the award-winning Emira. includes stints at Rolls-Royce, tandem, implying it could be retro-
430Nm of torque as before. While In 2025, the Emira range will extend BMW and Aston Martin, has been fitted to existing cars. “The [EPA]
performance figures for this variant to meet wider customer needs while with Lotus for over three years – starting point is strong,” he said.
are unconfirmed, we don’t expect any retaining the brand’s DNA and driving mostly in Asia and the Middle East. “Having that pure BEV solution
changes over the outgoing car, which dynamics Lotus is renowned for”. He reiterated the Lotus mantra alongside hybrid is important for us
does 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds and A wide range of options will also of “born British, raised globally”. as well. We’re not flipping in doing
can crack a 171mph top speed. be offered, presumably including the With 7,617 cars sold in the first something different; we’re able to
Lotus says the Turbo comes with Lotus Chapman Bespoke programme, nine months of 2024, he is aiming blend two things. It’s exciting.”
“new core performance features” which allows owners access to things for 12,000 this year, ramping up to Balmer emphasised Lotus and
such as upgraded brakes and fresh such as unique paint and trim options. 30,000 by the end of 2026. parent firm Geely’s commitment
20-inch 10-spoke lightweight wheels Both four-cylinder cars will be He said the sales mix of its cars to advanced driving-assistance
in gloss silver. There’s new ‘Emira offered only with the eight-speed and EVs currently sits at 50:50, (ADAS) tech. Lotus is said to be
Turbo’ branding, pedals, and a DCT automatic gearbox, while the but lifestyle vehicles like the Eletre pioneering systems for other
‘technical fabric’ interior headliner. existing V6 version will be sold in and Emeya EVs could account for OEMs, but Balmer wouldn’t
Other features include Vivid Red parallel with either a six-speed manual two-thirds of Lotus sales in the disclose which ones.
paint, black brake calipers, and black, or six-speed automatic transmission. Elsewhere, a spokesperson
12-way electric leather seats. The Prices haven’t been revealed, but assured us that Lotus’s future is
Turbo features the softer ‘Touring’ given there is currently only a £4,500 bright in the UK, and that recent
suspension settings, as well as difference between the four and six- job cuts were more a rationalisation
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport tyres cylinder Emiras, we expect the Turbo of the workforce rather than
developed exclusively for the Emira. SE to cost on par with the identically anything to do with market
The Emira Turbo SE has its power powered V6 – albeit with the DCT conditions or a fall in demand.
and torque bumped to 400bhp and gearbox included as standard.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 13

NEWS Audi Q5 Sportback

New Audi Q5 Sportback

REVEALED Range Rover Velar rival makes its debut; available to order now from £52,450

OFFICIAL

Jordan boot space is still an impressive 515

litres, dropping to 470 litres for the
inserts on the seats, dash and doors,
plus an integrated passenger display
Katsianis SQ5 version by virtue of its slightly
higher floor, thanks to the more
and top-down parking camera. You’ll
still need to delve into the options list
[email protected] sophisticated rear diff. This increases for the likes of air suspension or a
to 1,415 litres with the second row of panoramic roof, though.
AUDI’S next new model in its seats down, or 1,388 in the SQ5. The Bang & Olufsen sound system
range-wide revamp is the Q5 The Sportback otherwise mirrors is only available as part of an extra
Sportback, a sloping-roofed SUV the standard SUV’s powertrain and Sound & Technology package that
with the likes of the Mercedes GLC trim options. Entry-level Sport includes additional ambient lighting,
and Range Rover Velar in its sights. models feature a more subtle bumper a head-up display and more powerful
Priced from £52,450, the new design at both ends, and ride on USB-C chargepoints.
Sportback costs £2,500 more than 19-inch alloy wheels with contrasting There are two four-cylinder engine
the equivalent Q5 SUV, and will be arch surrounds and a matt-grey options available – a turbocharged
available to order from January. finish on the rear bumper. 2.0-litre petrol and a turbodiesel, both
Key differences between the SUV S line and Edition 1 models get more producing 200bhp – plus a range- REFINED CABIN
and Sportback relate almost entirely aggressive bumper inserts, larger 20 topping SQ5 Sportback with a twin- Audi’s signature dual-screen
to the body, which the latter featuring or 21-inch wheels, plus all the brushed turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol. All interior is intuitive and well
a more streamlined silhouette. Unlike aluminium styling elements on the feature a 48V mild-hybrid battery laid-out (above), while
the previous Q5, though, this one was S Line are blacked out for the Edition 1. system and seven-speed dual-clutch specification levels are
designed from the outset with a These trims vary in terms of standard transmission, with quattro all-wheel generous across the board
second bodystyle in mind, allowing equipment, but all feature Audi’s new drive. More options will be available
Audi’s design team to push the dual-screen interior headlined by a in the future, but the high-powered
roofline lower, narrow the windows 14.5-inch central touchscreen and diesel engine in the previous SQ5 is
and give it a more aggressive stance. 11.9-inch driver’s information display. consigned to the history books.
There are a few compromises to Equipment highlights on the top- The BMW X4, which was historically
take into account with the Sportback, spec Edition 1 model include a variable this Audi’s arch-rival, will not be
such as a less versatile luggage area OLED rear light bar set-up, matrix LED renewed for another generation,
than the regular SUV. However, the headlights and Dinamica soft-touch despite being one of the first and
most popular models in the segment.
And without a new petrol-powered
Macan from Porsche, the Audi’s key
“THE Q5 WAS DESIGNED FROM THE OUTSET competitors appear to be thinning

WITH A SECOND BODYSTYLE IN MIND”

in numbers, making the new Q5
Sportback a more compelling choice.

14 DoubleIssue
 NEWS

k arrives in showrooms
Towbar insurance warning after
ruling leaves driver without cover
Chris is there a link to any information
about the potentially devastating

Rosamond outcome of not meeting the

requirement to notify insurers.
Chris [email protected] The Financial Conduct Authority,
which sets out the rules for insurance
DRIVERS are at risk of companies, told us: “We expect
SLEEK LOOKS invalidating their insurance insurers and intermediaries to ask
Low coupé-style roofline by something as simple as fitting a Towbars are a grey area for insurers customers clear questions when
disguises Q5 Sportback’s bulk towbar, with little information being they buy their policies. They must
provided by insurance sales websites. Market, and its guidance is similarly also handle claims fairly and follow
One driver contacted Auto vague. It states: “Modifications are the law. This means that if a customer
Express fearing a six-figure bill after changes to original specification. took reasonable care to answer an
Allianz-owned insurer Flow cancelled These can be mechanical or insurer’s questions, the claim should
his policy post-accident, saying if he’d cosmetic, inside or outside the car. be met in line with the policy.”
listed his towbar as a modification, Check any documents you inherited Auto Express has written to the
it would not have offered cover. when you purchased the car. You FCA asking it to investigate if insurers
The driver purchased Flow can also speak to the insurance are doing enough to explain
insurance via the Money Supermarket provider if you’re unsure.” modifications and risks to customers.
website and told us he ticked the We found that neither website’s Allianz/Flow told us its decision to
‘unmodified’ option when applying, buying journey provides clarity on cancel the policy was validated by
after clicking the website ‘help’ link to whether a towbar is considered a the Financial Services Ombudsman,
determine what the question meant. modification; such items could have but it wouldn’t seek to reclaim the
Money Supermarket confirmed been fitted from new or be considered third-party claims it has already paid
the wording states: “If you or a an accessory – like a roof rack. Nor out after the accident.
previous owner has made a change
from original specification, such as
alloy wheels, air-conditioning,
bodywork, exhaust system or tinted
windows, add it here. If you’re unsure,
“ONE DRIVER TOLD US THEYWERE FACING
check your car’s history to find out.”
We also looked at rival insurance
A SIX-FIGURE BILLAFTER ATOWBAR HAD
comparison site Compare the NOT BEEN LISTED AS A MODIFICATION”

Prices revealed for new Jaecoo 7 SUV

THE new Jaecoo 7 mid-size SUV is the Jaecoo 7 is larger than its rivals with
now available priced from £29,800, bold, blocky, styling and a 4WD option.
meaning the Chinese model will rival the Two trim levels will be offered: Deluxe
Volkswagen T-Roc and Toyota C-HR. and Luxury. Deluxe is two-wheel drive
Two 1.6-litre petrol powertrains are only, but has a panoramic sunroof.
offered, with or without plug-in hybrid Luxury trim costs £32,850 on the all-
technology. The PHEV is the more wheel-drive 1.6-litre petrol model and
expensive, at £35,065 – roughly £4,000 £35,065 on the plug-in hybrid. Deliveries
cheaper than a plug-in hybrid C-HR – but are expected from January. Jaecoo 7 arrives in UK next month

Double Issue 15
NEWS BMW iX

BMW tweaks powertra

Jordan REVEALED Incremental changes for BMW’s electric luxury SUV look set to c

Katsianis OFFICIAL
[email protected]

BMW has released the first

official images of its updated
iX SUV that’s due in showrooms next
year. The striking model has been a
technical flagship for the firm since
its introduction in 2021, employing
advanced manufacturing techniques
for the chassis and electric powertrain.
To keep the iX competitive, BMW is
planning updates to the car’s battery,
electric motors and tech, plus some
subtle tweaks for the styling.
Changes will start with the battery,
which is said to have more cells and
therefore an even higher capacity
ON TEST
than the 111.5kWh unit fitted to today’s
BMW is putting the refreshed
high-spec model. The German iX flagship through its paces
manufacturer hasn’t specifically said ahead of its arrival next year
how much the battery pack will grow
by, but it has confirmed a 10 per cent
increase in overall efficiency, thanks
to elements such as friction-reducing
wheel bearings and lower-rolling-
“CHANGES WILL STARTWITH
resistance tyres. It’s believed a range
in excess of 400 miles is the target.
THE iX’S BATTERY,WHICH IS
The model’s suspension will also SAID TO HAVE MORE CELLS”
be revamped to suit the different
powertrain options, to offer an even
more finely honed balance between
power and control than the already
impressive current generation. BMW
has designed a new hydraulic rear axle
bearing to help achieve this.
We also expect to see a little more
power and torque from the various
powertrain options, which currently
offer between 321bhp and 610bhp.
To reflect the extra performance,
BMW will introduce a new naming
DESIGN
structure that will also be applied to Despite camouflage, we’re only
the manufacturer’s future EVs. expecting minor styling tweaks
However, the iX’s most divisive
element will likely still be its styling,
because the new model promises that the main bumpers and wheel spoke steering wheel and fresh fabric
only subtle changes over the original designs will be altered much, if at and leather trim options added.
design. As with the latest BMW X3 all. Models fitted with the upgraded Otherwise, the revisions will likely
SUV, the kidney grille could feature M Sport braking system will be bring a subtle but welcome set of
diagonal strake sections that are signified by new red calipers. upgrades for a model that continues
joined by fresh, simplified headlights. It’s also expected that the M Sport to be BMW’s flagship electric SUV –
Beyond these relatively minor trim line will receive a greater level of until a new generation all-electric X5
changes to the exterior, it’s unlikely distinction in the cabin, with a three- arrives in a few years’ time.

16 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 NEWS

ain and tech for 2025 iX

create an even more compelling package

Lamborghini likely to choose

hybrid power for next Urus
LAMBORGHINI has confirmed platform will be carried over wholesale,
that it’s working on a second- because Foschini also said: “We will Carbon-fibre front spoiler marks out A90 Final Edition
generation Urus SUV in the mould of keep on using the platform, as there’s
the current car (below), and it’s due
to arrive some time after 2026.
continued innovation from the group
that we are wanting to leverage.”
Special edition marks end
When asked if a new petrol-engined
SUV is on the cards before the 2035
When it arrives, the new Urus will
line up along with the Temerario and of Supra with extra power
ICE ban in Europe, Lamborghini’s chief Revuelto supercars in a three-strong
marketing and sales officer Federico Lamborghini range, all with hybrid- TOYOTA’S much loved GR Supra is set to bow out in style
Foschini told Auto Express: “We’re 10 assisted combustion engines. Only with the new 429bhp A90 Final Edition – a track-honed
years away from 2035, which is the year after that point will the company finally special limited to only 300 models worldwide.
we should switch, but we can’t stay 10 introduce the all-electric Lanzador GT The company is pulling the plug on the latest version of
years with the same car.” towards the end of the decade. its performance car, but an array of changes and updates
While Ferrari and Aston Martin use However, in the short term, to this last iteration will ensure it goes out with a bang.
bespoke architectures for their SUVs, Lamborghini won’t launch an all-electric Among the highlights are an upgraded chassis, a racier
Lamborghini will stick with tech shared SUV on any of VW’s future pure-EV cockpit and a bolder design. Plus the A90 Final Edition sees
with parent company the Volkswagen platforms, because it wants to keep the the output of the six-cylinder 3.0-litre engine rise from
Group in the next Urus. That is likely to distinction of different models coming 381bhp to 429bhp, with torque up from 500Nm to 570Nm.
include a V8 hybrid powertrain like that with different engines. Other enhancements include superior cooling and a
in the recently introduced Urus SE. Given that raw numbers are not the titanium exhaust. The brakes get updated pads and new
Lamborghini is expected to carry focus when it comes to Lamborghini’s discs, plus there’s uprated suspension and wider tyres.
on using a modified version of future electrification strategy, its EVs instead The Supra A90 Final Edition is set to arrive in Europe
platforms destined for high-end SUVs have to offer a unique experience – and next year, although UK sales haven’t been confirmed.
such as the Porsche Cayenne and Audi it doesn’t see that coming on an electric
RS Q8. That’s not to say that the current SUV in the immediate future.

But updates to ToyotaYaris

“NEW URUS WILLJOIN will take hatch into 2025
TEMERARIO AND REVUELTO WHILE the Supra (above) is on its way out, Toyota isn’t

IN ATHREE-STRONG ready to say goodbye to its Yaris supermini, announcing

a series of changes for the 2025 model year.
LAMBO LINE-UP” Chief among them are new options for the range-topping
GR Sport trim, with a fresh Storm Grey paintjob. The rest of
the line-up gets the option of a new Forest Green paint.
The Yaris received a larger 10.5-inch screen for its higher
trims earlier this year and this is retained for the 2025 model.
The engine line-up is unchanged too, so every car gets a
1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol hybrid with 114bhp or 129bhp.
Given the limited
number of revisions,
any change to the
pricing (currently
from £22,640) should
be minor. Production
starts in February,
with UK specifications
still to be confirmed.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 17

REPORT E-scooters

Tom wheelers is a much-debated one –

especially when there are serious
Jervis safety concerns. In 2023, as many
as 3,365 people were injured across
[email protected] Europe in e-scooter accidents, with
23 people reportedly losing their lives.
CHRISTMAS shoppers are In November, Italy introduced new
being advised to hold off laws to make helmets and insurance
buying e-scooters as gifts this mandatory for e-scooter riders, falling
year, despite suggestions from in line with recommendations from
the Government that they could the European Transport Safety Council.
be legalised on UK roads. This could, however, have a
As part of Warwickshire County negative impact on e-scooter rental
Council’s new Scoot Smart companies; the operations director
Campaign, councillor Jan Matecki for Bit Mobility, a European
warned Christmas shoppers: “By micromobility firm, recently told an
gifting an e-scooter, we risk putting Italian newspaper: “80 per cent of
young people in harm’s way – not our users are occasional clients who SAFETYFIRST
only legally, with fines and licence take an e-scooter at the last minute. If e-scooters become a legal form
points, but also in terms of safety.” It’s unthinkable that someone will of transport, then the correct safety
This follows comments from the bring a helmet from home.” kit is essential to limit the risk (right)
then Transport Secretary, Louise Enrico Stefàno, the senior public
Haigh, who described e-scooters policy manager for Lime, which land without fear of a fine or
in a meeting with the Commons’ operates e-scooter rental services prosecution, but that’s it.
Transport Select Committee as “a in both Italy and the UK, said that
really effective part of an integrated fitting out its fleet of rental models WHERECANIRIDEAN
transport strategy”. She added that
full legislation surrounding e-scooter
with helmets could set the firm back
millions of Euros. He also estimated E-SCOOTER?
usage was now “clearly required”, that tougher legislation could see Several towns and cities have signed
LOUISE HAIGH Former
given that the UK has been operating e-scooter usage fall by as much as up for the UK’s e-scooter trial Transport Secretary
trial rental schemes since 2020. 25 per cent, saying: “[We] don’t want scheme, allowing operators to rent
With this in mind, Warwickshire
Council, which is not running an
to leave Italy or disinvest or lay-off
anyway, but it’s clear that this is a
out scooters to the general public.
These locations include, but are
“A REALLY
e-scooter trial scheme, said, measure that has an impact.” not limited to, Bath, Birmingham, EFFECTIVE
PART OFAN
“Although there are calls for Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge,
e-scooters to become a legal and
OUR E-SCOOTER GUIDE Chelmsford, Colchester, Liverpool,
alternative form of transport, all
indications are that they will be illegal
London (excluding a handful of
boroughs), Milton Keynes, Newcastle, INTEGRATED
for under 16s, which makes them a
risky choice of Christmas present.”
AREE-SCOOTERS Northampton, Norwich, Oxford,
Salford and Taunton. TRANSPORT
Renting an e-scooter via a trial LEGALINTHEUK? STRATEGY”
scheme has so far been the only way As the law stands, private e-scooters DOINEEDALICENCEFOR
to legally ride one on public highways,
with more trials set to begin soon
are not allowed on public roads, nor
is it permitted for them to be ridden ANE-SCOOTER?
across the UK. Boris Johnson’s on pavements or cycle paths. There To use an e-scooter in the UK, you
Conservative administration are, however, a couple of exceptions. need to have a Category Q driving
announced plans to fully legalise Riders are able to make use of rented licence or above. This is the
them back in its Queen’s Speech e-scooters in a number of trial equivalent of a provisional licence,
of 2022, but since then nothing locations in the UK, but only on roads so in other words, you don’t need
has come to fruition. (excluding motorways) and cycle paths. to have passed your driving test.
The question of whether it’s a good If you want to buy your own Of course, it goes without saying
idea to legalise the usage of the two- e-scooter, you can ride it on private that it’s illegal to ride an e-scooter
while intoxicated. Hiring an e-scooter
JAN MATECKI Warwickshire County Councillor through one of the trial schemes will
include insurance and while it’s not a
“ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CALLS FOR legal requirement to wear a helmet,
it’s recommended to do so.
E-SCOOTERS TO BECOME LEGAL,ALLTHE
INDICATIONS ARE THATTHEYWILL STILL BE AREE-SCOOTERS
ILLEGAL FOR UNDER 16S,WHICH MAKES THEM DANGEROUS?
In theory, there is nothing inherently
A RISKYCHOICE FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT” dangerous about e-scooters – that is,
18 DoubleIssue
 CONSUMER REPORT

DO E-SCOOTERS HAVE A PLACE

AS A LEGAL FORM OFTRANSPORT
IN THE UK’S TOWNS AND CITIES?

INJURYRISK if you always wear the appropriate common reason for an e-scooter
Around five per protection, ride sensibly and follow accident as user error, due to the new
cent of e-scooter the laws of the road. nature of this mode of transport, with
renters (above) Nevertheless, a study that was the majority of injuries being minor
have had an commissioned by the Department and caused by a lack of familiarity.
accident of some for Transport in 2022 found that Arguably the most dangerous
sort, a greater casualties from e-scooter journeys element of e-scooters is the integral
number than were five times higher than those battery, which some fire brigades
pushbike users for traditional bicycles, with a total have described as a serious ignition
(above right) of five per cent of e-scooter riders hazard. Buyers are urged to obtain
reporting that they’d been in a their e-scooter from a reputable seller
collision over the past year. and not modify the powertrain in any
However, the Department for way, ensuring not to cover the battery
Transport identified the most in order to avoid overheating.

Double Issue 19
advertisement feature

THE FUTURE STARTS HERE:

THE OMODA 5 AND E5

We look at how Chinese manufacturer

OMODA is focused on achieving UK sales
success, with its new, dynamic SUVs

MOBILITY is changing. The race to achieve more manufacturer has the answer, with its new 5 you need for any journey. For even more
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With this change comes opportunity; a engine providing a healthy 183bhp and helping too; the entry Comfort specification is superbly
chance for auto manufacturers to evolve and it to a 0-62mph time of just 7.8 seconds. well-equipped with items such as wireless
customers to explore new experiences that Meanwhile, the all-electric E5 produces smartphone charging and a rear view camera,
could better meet their needs. 201bhp through its 61kWh battery and single while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
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Despite the continuing push towards full informed, entertained and in-control. The understands their customers, OMODA has
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customers may still want the choice of either E5) allows easy command of the infotainment standard across the range. It may seem a small
petrol or all-electric power. If you’re still unsure system, blending seamlessly with the digital addition, but it provides reassurance and extra
on the best route for you, then this global driver display that delivers all the information practicality, especially for family drivers, and is

20 DoubleIssue
 advertisement feature

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Double Issue 21
 DRIVING
As well as sharp
dynamics, the
A6 feel stable
and refined at
speed, with a far
better ride than
ESSENTIALS Audis of old
Audi A6 e-tron

FIRST FOR
Performance S line
Price: £73,400 On sale: Now
Powertrain: 100kWh battery, 1x e-motor
Power/torque: 374bhp/565Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic,
rear-wheel drive
0-62/top speed: 5.4 seconds/130mph
Range: 463 miles
Max charging: 270kW (10-80% in 19 mins)
Size (L/W/H): 4,928/1,923/1,455mm

26 CUPRA
FORMENTOR
New e-hybrid SUV rated

real c
there’s

28 MINI
ACEMAN
Electric crossover driven

30 750S
MCLAREN
SPIDER
£250k supercar goes topless

www.autoexpress.co.uk
 DRIVES

FIRST DRIVE All-electric exec is a welcome return to

form for the German brand, with an incredible range

Jordan is to deliver an impressive range of up to 383

miles on a charge, despite the small battery.
Katsianis Next up is the Performance powertrain, which
retains a single motor layout but ups the power
[email protected] output to 374bhp and torque to 565Nm. The
0-62mph time drops to 5.4 seconds as a result,
AUDI no longer has to make excuses when it but the larger 100kWh battery pack also offers a
comes to its EVs. First came the Audi e-tron, WLTP combined range of 463 miles, along with
a compromised SUV based on an ICE platform, a notably fast 270kW charging rate.
then the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT arrived, with At the top of the A6 line-up is the dual-motor
borrowed underpinnings from elsewhere in the Quattro variant, with 455bhp and 580Nm of
Volkswagen Group. It has taken until now for Audi torque, dropping the 0-62mph time to just 4.5
to produce a ground-up EV based on its own PPE seconds. This edition also features the 100kWh
platform, tailored for Audi customer tastes and battery and 270kW charging, but with the overall
which it can proudly call its own. And on first range reduced to 438 miles.
impressions it has been worth the wait. The A6 we drove on test was the Performance
Admittedly, we’ve already seen a couple of model, which Audi’s engineers seem the most
cars on this platform – the Porsche Macan and excited about, largely due to the huge range figure
Audi Q6 e-tron – but this A6 e-tron is arguably that’s, quite literally, miles ahead of its key rivals
more interesting. Not only does its sleek, four-door from BMW and Mercedes. This is derived from
“You can tell there’s some coupé form diverge from the omnipresent (and,
some may say, tired) SUV bodystyle, but it’s also
both the 100kWh battery pack and the fact that
it’s more efficient than its main competitors, with
class to the A6’s chassis – the first all-electric replacement of a traditional ICE an on-paper rating of 4.4 miles/kWh. We achieved
model that won’t see a direct successor. For petrol around 3.9 miles/kWh and that impressed us,
s depth to its engineering” fans, a new petrol-powered A7 is on the way, but considering the hilly terrain of the test route and
Audi is betting on this new electric A6 being its big the 21-inch wheels on our test car.
seller, in both Sportback and Avant forms. For context, one of the core rivals to our A6
The A6 range is logically arranged around three Performance S line is BMW’s i5 40e M Sport,
powertrains and three trim levels, with prices which costs more, at around £74,000, has slightly
ranging between £62,500 and £83,500. You’ll less power, at 335bhp, but then has a 110-mile
need to factor in an additional £1,800 for the Avant deficit in EV range, achieving, at most, 351 miles
estate, while there’s also a range-topping S6 for on the WLTP cycle. The Audi is also ahead of the
£97,500. These all sound like big numbers, and they 428 miles a Mercedes EQE350+ AMG-Line claims
are, but when up against key rivals from BMW and to be capable of; and if you’re tempted by the larger
Mercedes, the Audi doesn’t just undercut them all 21-inch wheels on the Merc, they’ll cost you
on price, it also offers some pretty hefty gains in another 50 miles of range on paper.
efficiency, range and standard kit, too. Beyond pure numbers, though, you can tell
Entry-level models have a single, rear-mounted there’s some real class to the A6’s chassis. It’s a big
e-motor combined with an 83kWh battery that car, but there’s depth to its engineering because
produces 321bhp and 423Nm of torque. This will every aspect of the driving experience feels
get the A6 from 0-62mph in six seconds flat, and resolved and well considered. The steering is
top out at a limited 130mph, with charging speeds accurate and sharp, while the brakes have a
capped at 225kW. But the trick Audi has pulled here positive feel, with a seamless transition between

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 23

FIRST DRIVE Audi A6 e-tron

STYLISH CABIN
The A6 is neatly laid-out with intuitive
controls via its digital interfaces. The
driving position is excellent and the
seats extremely comfortable, although
rear-seat passengers may feel a little
short-changed by the space on offer
(left). Digital mirrors (below) enhance
the car’s aerodynamics

the powerful regeneration and friction modes.

Refinement is also top-notch, with very little road
noise and an effortless gait to the suspension,
meaning the A6 e-tron rode well despite our test
cars having the largest 21-inch wheels fitted.
What the A6 is not, though, is cumbersome to
drive or contrived, like some of its key rivals. It’s
getting on for 165kg lighter than a Mercedes EQE
with a similarly sized battery, and matches the
weight of a BMW i5 despite having a significantly
bigger power pack. As such, Audi hasn’t really
bothered with chassis additions such as rear-wheel
steering or active anti-roll systems, which not only
promotes a natural driving experience, but also
reduces weight in the process. The A6 e-tron is a
car that feels designed from the outset to handle
its inherent mass, rather than scrambling to find
solutions to compensate for it.
There is one problem to contend with, though,
and that’s cabin space. In order to fit all those
batteries, the cabin floor is quite high and the
rear bench feels quite cramped as a result. This
is compounded by the tapered, sloping roofline
and dark headlining, but the optional glass roof and
light interior trim options can help. That said, it’s
nowhere near as spacious in the rear as the old A6

24 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 DRIVES

NATIVE TECH
Audi’s built-in tech is excellent and the nav
(below) is easy to use, but Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto are both still supported

was, nor most of its modern electric rivals, although a good-sized glovebox and centre console, but
things do get a bit roomier in the Avant estate the door bins are too small for larger bottles.
version. This could be a serious compromise if So while the A6 e-tron isn’t perfect, it is a
you need more generous levels of second-row welcome return to form for the German brand.
accommodation, but for many company drivers, It might not bear comparison in terms of some
it won’t even be much of a consideration. of Audi’s past triumphs such as sleek, minimalist
The boot capacity is much better, at 502 litres, exterior design, cleverly packaged interiors or
and there’s also a handy under-bonnet area to charismatic engines, but it fights back with class-
store your inevitably grubby charging cables, but leading range, a comfortable driving experience
this isn’t the most practical option in the class. and seemingly unbeatable value, which should
The rest of the cabin makes a better impression, have its rivals worried. Unless you regularly need
though, with the latest interior layout looking fresh, to transport six-foot-tall passengers, the A6 is the
modern and with a high-quality finish. The digital pick of a rapidly improving electric executive bunch.
interfaces do need some navigating to get to
know, but there’s now so much variability to the VERDICT ____`
systems that it’s easy enough to shortcut to
common functions, such as disabling driver aids AUDI took its time getting an all-electric
or programming the embedded sat-nav. Climate executive car together, but the wait seems to
functions are all controlled on the screen, but it’s have been worth it. This sleek, comfortable,
big enough to house a dedicated bar on any menu refined and tech-filled model hits all the right
for key features such as temperature or fan speed. notes, tight rear seats notwithstanding. Of
There are a lot of glossy black elements, offset by more importance, though, is that it achieves
plenty of other smart-looking materials regardless some very impressive range and efficiency
of whether you’ve chosen the standard synthetic numbers, is great to drive, and also comes
leather, high-quality full-leather upgrade or full- with the added bonus of a practical and
fabric options. Interior storage is also decent, with stylish estate version.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 25

DRIVEN Cupra Formentor

suggests should be achievable. Plus, while the old more than the VZ3 model, which received a power
Alastair e-Hybrids had a maximum charging speed of just
3.6kW, the upgraded version can reach 11kW on a
boost to 329bhp as part of the facelift.
As a result, the e-Hybrid’s 0-62mph time is a
Crooks home wallbox and up to 50kW at a rapid charger.
The Formentor e-Hybrid starts in all-electric
leisurely 7.2 seconds – but it’s not a slow car. The
VW Group knows how to integrate a plug-in hybrid
[email protected] mode, so you’ll have to keep your wits about you to system smoothly these days, and the e-Hybrid has
not drain the battery unexpectedly – even if you a hot hatch-like immediacy in its throttle response.
IF ever there was the perfect model to launch mash your right foot into the carpet, it refuses to It also feels keen in corners. Cupra’s Dynamic
a fledgling car brand, the stylish and sporty fire up the engine. The 114bhp motor is smooth and Chassis Control features adaptive dampers and is
Formentor was it – and it struck a chord with a lot the instant 330Nm of torque can set the front standard on VZ models. In the stiffest mode, you’ll
of buyers too. It was Cupra’s top seller in 2023, but wheels spinning, especially in wet conditions. find the Formentor PHEV remains sure-footed with
to keep it fresh, it’s been just been given a facelift. The driving modes all provide a genuinely a nice balance. The steering is as excellent as it was
That means the Formentor – like the recently different experience through the chassis, steering in the old car, with confidence-inspiring weight and
updated Leon – gains the ‘shark’s nose’ of Cupra’s wheel weight and drivetrain response. In Comfort, a solid response from the front wheels.
all-electric line-up. This includes new headlights, the Formentor is a perfectly pleasant car to rack A six-speed automatic gearbox is retained, and
a more flush grille and completely revised bumper. up motorway miles. Road noise and wind noise are it’s smooth in normal driving and quick to change up
At the rear you’ll find a rather snazzy full-width light audible, but the suspension is happy to absorb or down when you’re pushing on. But the manual
bar with Cupra’s emblem illuminated in the middle. bumps and ruts in the road – even on the larger override could be quicker and the paddles don’t
There are two plug-in hybrid Formentors – with 19-inch wheels fitted to V2, V3 and First Edition feel particularly robust or premium.
201 or 268bhp – but the VZ First Edition trim we models (the basic V1 sits on 18-inch wheels). Even so, the Formentor has considerably more
test here comes only on the more powerful version. Performance kicks things on a bit, but you’re character than many rivals. The low seating position
The basic layout is similar to before, but a 1.5-litre more likely to shift straight into Cupra to unlock the
petrol engine replaces the old 1.4-litre unit and the car’s full dynamic capabilities. The front-wheel- “The steering’s weight inspires
battery is up from 12.8kWh to 19.7kWh. That means drive PHEV’s 268bhp sounds plenty – indeed, it’s
confidence and there’s a solid
the all-electric range has jumped from 38 miles to 26bhp more than before – but remember that the
a very impressive 74 miles – which our experience hybrid system means this version weighs 100kg response from the front wheels”

26 DoubleIssue
 DRIVES
FIRST UK DRIVE The Formentor has been a smash hit.
Will this updated version carry on the success story?

might be at odds with the crossover profile, but it

ESSENTIALS immediately gives the interior a sporting feel.
Cupra Formentor Our top-spec VZ First Edition and the VZ3 get
VZ First Edition e-Hybrid bucket seats that give loads of support in the right
areas, combined with a comfortable overall shape.
Price: £51,790 On sale: Now They really look the part, too. Our only slight gripe
Powertrain: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol, 1x e-motor remains the visibility, which is quite poor to the rear,
Power/torque: 268bhp/330Nm and slightly hindered at the front by the bonnet.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, Space is good for passengers, although the STYLING
front-wheel drive plug-in hybrid’s battery means a 345-litre boot New look includes ‘shark’s nose’ from Cupra’s
0-62/top speed: 7.2 seconds/137mph rather than the 450 litres in other models. EVs, featuring fresh headlights, bumper and
EV range: 72 miles Kit is also impressive, with the VZ First Edition grille. Rear end (below) gets full-width light bar
Economy/CO2: 643mpg/10g/km getting a panoramic sunroof and a 10-speaker
Size (L/W/H): 4,451/1,829/1,537mm Sennheiser sound system, but even if you step VERDICT
down the trim levels, you won’t feel like you’re
missing out. The V1 looks pretty similar to the top- IT’S easy to see why the Formentor has been
spec models, and gets a new 12.9-inch touchscreen such a huge hit for Cupra, and this round of
with Cupra’s latest infotainment system. updates improves the crossover in many key
The V1 also gets a wireless smartphone charger, areas. There’s more range for the plug-in
copper interior detailing, a heated leather steering hybrid, so many buyers will be able to run it
wheel, predictive cruise control and keyless go. only on electric power, while the infotainment
But it’s worth noting the differences between the and ergonomics are more user-friendly too.
various models, because the pricing can escalate The driving experience remains the sweet
swiftly. Although the Formentor V1 kicks off at a fair spot, but be sure to choose carefully – the
£33,450, our VZ First Edition is significantly more base model is well equipped, and some of
expensive, at comfortably over £50,000. the higher trim levels are pretty expensive.

Nathan Morgan

PERFORMANCE
Weight of plug-in hybrid system means
a fairly leisurely 0-62mph time, but well
balanced Cupra is quick across country

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 27

FIRST DRIVE MINI Aceman E

ON THE ROAD Smaller battery means the

Aceman E’s range is inferior to the SE’s, but it still
offers the driving thrills we associate with a MINI

Richard
Ingram
[email protected]

WE’VE already covered the new MINI

Aceman in detail – both online and in the
magazine. Our first drive back in October (Issue
1,855) allowed us to experience the small electric
MINI Acema
SUV on a variety of roads in southern Denmark.
However, our initial test was restricted to an FIRST DRIVE Entry-level Aceman offers a decent saving over
extended spin in the higher-spec Aceman SE –
the more affordable E variant wasn’t available
the higher-spec SE model. We find out if it’s the better choice
at the time, meaning we couldn’t deliver an all-
encompassing verdict on which car should
command your hard-earned cash. respectable 3.8mi/kWh – yet that translates to a
On paper, the E represents a significant £4,500 range of just 146 miles. The same efficiency in the
saving over the equivalent SE. For your money you SE (with its bigger battery) would put you much
get a smaller battery (38.5kWh usable capacity, closer to the 200-mile mark.
compared with 49.2kWh in the SE) and a less Cool temperatures and strong winds, combined
powerful motor. Yet with 181bhp and 290Nm, the with a brisk test route through Warwickshire and
E is no slouch – it picks up instantly, with a strong the Cotswolds, probably played a part in the E’s
surge of power all the way up to our national speed underwhelming real-world range. We’d hope for
limit; 0-62mph takes only 7.9 seconds. 4.0mi/kWh or more in normal use, especially if you
Naturally, that smaller battery means a drop in do most of your driving in and around town. But still,
range. MINI claims the Aceman E is capable of up to if you want to use your Aceman for the occasional
192 miles when paired with the smallest wheels; our motorway jaunt, the SE will be a better bet.
Exclusive-spec model will do two miles less on the That said, both cars charge at up to 95kW, so in
official WLTP cycle, thanks to its larger 18-inch rims. that respect there’s nothing to be lost by opting for
Yet, as we well know, these numbers only tell the E. The smaller battery means it’ll charge to 80
half the story. During our test, we averaged a per cent in just 29 minutes – so you’ll be back on

28 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 DRIVES

Pete Gibson
INTERIOR
Circular central
infotainment
dominates well
built cabin; rear
seats are suitable
for occasional use

an E
the road before you know it. Away from range and a panoramic roof and tinted glass, as well as a
efficiency, the base E behaves almost identically Harman Kardon sound system.
to the more powerful car. As mentioned, there’s If you want the Level 3 pack (£4,500), you’ll
plenty of performance, and MINI’s usual go-kart need to step up from Classic or Exclusive trim to
handling is present and correct in every facet of Sport; this adds everything from virtual-reality nav
this SUV’s personality. This is a small EV engineered to interior cameras and memory seats. Be aware,
to be fun to drive almost above all else, and MINI however, that you’ll be liable for the luxury VED
has ticked that box 10 times over. surcharge if the car’s list price breaches £40,000.
ESSENTIALS Despite the lower list price, Aceman E buyers Happily, there are no changes to space or
MINI Aceman E don’t sacrifice anything when it comes to cabin practicality compared with the SE; all Acemans
design or perceived quality, either. The big central will function as an occasional four-seater, although
Exclusive screen may not be the easiest system to navigate, squeezing five people inside is a push. The boot is
Price: £34,000 On sale: Now but it’s a super party piece and there’s loads of big enough for a couple of small suitcases, but
Powertrain: 38.5kWh battery, 1x e-motor functionality buried within – including the usual most of the car’s main rivals are better equipped
Power/torque: 181bhp/290Nm Apple and Android connectivity. You’ll need to at carrying buggies or the Christmas shop.
Transmission: Single-speed automatic, specify the Level 1 option pack (an extra £2,000)
front-wheel drive to get a head-up display though – and given that
0-62/top speed: 7.9 seconds/99mph there’s no conventional instrument cluster, we VERDICT
Range: 190 miles reckon the HUD is an essential extra.
Max. charging: 95kW (10-80% in 29min) Level 1 also adds adaptive LED lights, keyless IF the MINI Aceman E’s smaller battery
Size (L/W/H): 4,079/1,754/1,514mm entry, heated front seats and wireless phone suits your needs, there’s really very little
charging to the entry car’s 17-inch wheels, two- reason to opt for the pricier SE. But what
zone climate control and OLED screen with looks like a significant £4,500 saving on
connected navigation. Level 2 (£4,000) brings paper will narrow substantially when you
look at monthly costs on a PCP or lease
“It’s been engineered to be fun to deal – and the SE’s additional 60-odd
miles of range gives it genuine family-car
drive almost above all else.MINI functionality. It’s the more versatile of the
has ticked that box 10 times over” two cars and the one we’d recommend.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 29

FIRST DRIVE McLaren 750S Spider

McLaren ESSENTIALS
McLaren 750S
Spider

750S Spider
Price: £267,900 On sale: Now
Powertrain: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Power/torque: 740bhp/800Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
0-62/top speed: 2.8 seconds/206mph
Economy/CO2: 23.2mpg/276g/km
Size (L/W/H): 4,569/1,930/1,196mm

FIRST DRIVE British firm’s latest V8 supercar gets a further

power boost, but it remains surprisingly easy to live with

Paul

Pete Gibson
Barker
[email protected]
CABIN COMFORT
UNLIKE mere mortal cars, what’s effectively Spider’s driving position is low but cabin is
a mid-life refresh is enough for a new name ergonomically well laid-out and surprisingly
at McLaren, because in the eyes of the masters, an spacious for a supercar (left)
update for a supercar requires more power.
It turns out 710bhp (or 720PS – hence the name)
wasn’t enough, so the 30bhp increase brings with it
a new title, the 750S replacing the 720S despite it
being an evolution and not an entirely new model.
As well as increasing the power, McLaren has
taken the opportunity to tweak the car’s looks,
with wider intakes at the front to increase cooling,
funnelling air to the mid-mounted V8. than quarter throttle on a wet road can still break
The back end is more notably different, with traction at 50mph. If you’re gentle, though, it’s not
influences from the track-focused 765 LT going as intimidating as the low-slung looks and stable full
into the diffuser design, while the central-mounted of horses suggest – power is smooth and progressive.
exhaust is a nod to the P1 hypercar. It sits higher It’s also rapid. There’s a slight delay when you
and is said to give off a better sound – an absolute shove the throttle, then the scenery starts to pass
treat for anyone who appreciates a V8 soundtrack, very quickly, as you’d expect from a car capable of
especially when the Spider has its roof down. 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and from a standstill to
The 765LT has also contributed technical 124mph (200km/h) in just 7.4 seconds.
improvements in the form of new head gaskets The steering is well weighted and direct, slightly
and a fuel pump, while further changes over the heavy at low speeds, but responsive on the move,
720S include damping updates to make it stiffer just as you’d want it to be. This is a supercar, so it
at the rear and softer at the front, plus the latest- shouldn’t three-point-turn with the ease of a city car.
generation chassis-control system. The only thing that is hard work, apart from
The Spider costs a cool £25,000 more than the resisting the urge for more speed, is braking. The
coupé 750S, but McLaren claims a production car pedal has a solid, short travel that, while great on
record for the roof, opening and closing in just 11 a track, doesn’t inspire confidence on a wet dual
seconds. The 750S also gets what the brand claims carriageway, and quickly becomes heavy to hold
are the lightest standard wheels on a production down in queuing traffic. The big tyres also aren’t
car – 19-inch on the front and 20-inch at the back. averse to tramlining on grooved surfaces.
From behind the wheel, visibility is good once The retractable hard-top does a great job of
you get used to being so low down, but the sheer insulating the cabin. There’s a little roar from the
width of the 750S is immediately apparent. tyres, but nothing out of hand, and the sound
Also noticeable is how easy the car is to drive deadening is almost too effective, syphoning out
at low speeds. Preconceptions that it may be pops and crackles from the exhaust to the point
untamable thanks to the on-paper performance where it’s tempting to drop the rear window to get DRIVING 750S is blisteringly quick on the
figures are quickly allayed, although anything more more of the soundtrack, or retract that hard-top open road, but is also quite usable around town

30 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 DRIVES

“It’s not as intimidating as the low-slung looks

and stable full of horses suggest – but it is rapid”

as often as possible. After all, sitting so low, it’s with the roof retracted, too, because you can pop QUICK FOLDING
not that blustery with the roof down. your head up and grab the corner of the screen. At the push of a button, the Spider’s retractable
The cabin is plush rather than sumptuous. You Around town, the 750’s nose-lift function means hard-top (above) folds away and stows under
get two cup-holders capable of taking a half-litre speed bumps are less of a concern, and there’s a the rear deck in as little as 11 seconds
bottle, and a small under-arm stowage area, but huge front trunk capable of carrying a weekly shop.
that’s about your lot. A new touchscreen partially But the big draw is how it drives away from VERDICT ____`
addresses one of the car’s main weaknesses, but the city. Low-speed cruising is comfortable for
it’s not exactly cutting-edge in infotainment terms, something with such high performance, and the MCLAREN’S latest is as potent as a supercar
with poor radio reception. You do at least get wired 750S soaks up bumps more easily than expected. should be, yet is easy to drive at low speeds,
Apple CarPlay for the first time, though. However, when circumstances allow, it’s off like a providing you allow for its vast width.
It’s also worth practising your entry and exit firework – your limits are reached before the car is Removing the roof adds to the aura, even if the
technique. The V8 noise, followed by the dihedral even remotely flustered, on public roads at least. It infotainment is below par. But that’s not why
doors flinging up, means your arrival is unlikely to takes a track to test its dynamic depths, and carbon you buy supercars, and the 750S Spider ticks
go unnoticed, so learning how to alight via the huge construction means the retracting roof doesn’t all of the right boxes, without the extrovert
sills with dignity is time well spent. It’s much easier compromise rigidity. It’s as fast and sharp as ever. visual drama of its Italian competitors.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 31

FEATURE Reimagined sleighs

Jordan motor. And to our delight, the request was

accepted with immense enthusiasm. Despite
Katsianis being among the busiest people we know, they
jumped at the chance to create some new
[email protected] transport for our seasonal superstar.
Over the years, we’ve had regular audiences
LET’S be honest. Sleighs seem a bit, with the world’s leading designers, and know
well, Middle Ages, don’t they? You could that for every new car you see on the road,
say they’re little more than a chariot with skis there are countless sketches and iterations
attached. If you’re delivering presents all over that never see the light of day. So to let their
the world, a sleigh no longer strikes us as the creativity run wild without the limitations of
best form of transport for a certain Mr Claus. focus groups or straight-laced ‘direction’ from
And his sleigh, of course, is powered by…. the board, we threw down the gauntlet to
reindeer. Have you ever actually seen one up produce something magical for the big guy.
close? Or smelled one, for that matter? No Whether retro themed or ultra-futuristic,
one could be thrilled at the idea of sitting so the amazing sketches and renders show the
close to the rear end of so many animals for a astonishing creativity of car design studios in
whole evening, even if it is just once a year… their most eclectic forms, overlaid with plenty
So to help him out, we asked some of the
world’s best car designers and their studios to
of festive cheer, of course. So on behalf of Auto
Express, and all our friends working away in
Santa has spent countless
come up with a rather more suitable company studios around the world… happy holidays! some of the world's top ca

JEEP
DESIGNER: DANIELE CALONACE
JEEP has taken direct inspiration from the
legendary Willys MB for its sleigh, which features
the brand's classic seven-slot grille, trapezoidal
wheelarches and ‘no-step’ rocker rails – essential
for Santa’s more adventurous helpers.
One of Jeep’s most familiar icons is the duck
motif featured here on both the front and rear
bumpers, alongside a hood number indicating
the mission date. Like all Jeeps, Santa’s rock-
crawling ride is geared for the most intense off-
road situations with winches, straps and coils all
ready to get him out of a snow bank – if Rudolph
and the gang don’t have sufficient grunt to do so!

"SANTA'S ROCK-CRAWLING RIDE IS

GEARED FOR THE MOST INTENSE
OFF-ROAD SITUATIONS"
32 Double issue
 SANTA'S RIDES
DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW
Oh what fun it looks to ride in the
DS Automobiles retro-futuristic
aerodynamic super-sleigh

DSAUTOMOBILES
s years in a sleigh, so we asked DESIGNER: THIERRY METROZ
DS AUTOMOBILES’ idea of the perfect sleigh is a retro-based design inspired by the
ar designers to reinvent his ride iconic DS and SM models from parent company Citroen's illustrious back catalogue.
Like many of the sleighs here, it replaces wheels with runners, which sit above a clever
side step built into the front bumper assembly, which will come in handy for the number
CITROEN of times Santa has to get in and out during his busiest day of the year.
The essence of DS and its torpedo shape haven’t been lost, offset with a decidedly
DESIGNER: PIERRE LECLERQ AND TEAM modern glass canopy. There are perhaps more usable or practical concepts on these
THE French firm’s designers have imagined a snow-proof pages, but few in which Santa would look any more suave or sophisticated.
sleigh with a few references to the legendary H-Van – but
with a twist. The two-wheeled, twin-ski monster will ensure
even the most remote destinations get their presents.
The front wears the brand’s new logo, while the optimised
cargo box is ideal for carrying Christmas gifts. Santa's also
sure to enjoy the panoramic view.

Double Issue 33
FEATURE Reimagined sleighs

CUPRA
DESIGNER: JORGE DIEZ
CUPRA'S “Dark Rudolf” is a striking
vision of how Santa’s sleigh could look. It
integrates part of the brand’s new DNA
in the form of the Shark Nose, where,
according to Cupra, “the magic starts
to power Santa anywhere”. The ‘Long
Bonnet’, meanwhile, is where “all its
dreams and emotions are present”.
This is complemented by the 'Helmet
Concept' of the cabin, in order to give
Santa the adrenaline of driving while
keeping his head in the game.
And the rationale behind this most
driver-focused of Christmas delivery
vehicles? Cupra tells us: “We imagine
the future freely, expressing our
rebellious spirit through the unexpected,
boosting the emotions and feelings of
drive. Because at Cupra, just like during
Christmas, dreams can come true!”
Feliz Navidad indeed!

VOLKSWAGEN
DESIGNER: ANDY MINDT AND TEAM
VOLKSWAGEN'S interpretations of Santa’s new
sleigh channel the spirit of the famous Golf with a
festive, modern twist. Celebrating 50 years of the
brand's best-selling model, these futuristic sleighs
combine the simplicity and charm of the original
Golf, but with a hi-tech, eco-friendly design.
Equipped with iconic round headlights, an
aerodynamic shape and a nod to the "Ho, ho, ho!"
spirit, each one of these isn’t just a sleigh – it’s a
tribute to the German company's heritage. Just
as the Golf Mk1 made waves in the seventies, the
Volkswagen design team's visions of Santa’s new
ride capture the joy and innovation that VW says
it attempts to bring to every generation, but with
a classic festive flavour.

RING TING TINGLING

A jet-powered, supersonic
Mk1 Golf (above) capable
of circumnavigating the
globe in less than 24 hours
sounds like something
we want on our own
Christmas wish list

34 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 SANTA'S RIDES

PEUGEOT
DESIGNER: MATTHIAS
HOSSAN
PEUGEOT has gone decidedly old-
school with its sleigh design, retaining
its runners, but in bright gold. Look closely,
though, and you’ll spot the next-generation
steering wheel and a styling language that isn’t a
million miles away from models we might just see from
the brand in the next few years. You’ll also notice that this
sleigh isn’t reindeer-powered; instead lions take the reins.
They're far faster than caribou, after all!

WINTER WONDERLAND
Volkswagen's design team
sent us a few visions of how
they thought Santa's new
sleigh could look, from the
futuristic (above) to the
retro (below), all with
styling cues from the
legendary Mk1 Golf

Double Issue 35
TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

ESSENTIALS
FORD SIERRA
SAPPHIRE EFi 2.0 GLS
Price new/inflation adjusted: £11,060/£29,917
Engine: 4cyl/1,993cc
0-60mph/top speed: 9.3 secs/118mph

MG MONTEGO 2.0i EFi

Price new/inflation adjusted: £11,174/£30,225
Engine: 4cyl/1,994cc
0-60mph/top speed: 8.9 secs/116mph

When Auto Express first hit newsagents’ shelves in 1988, these popular saloons were battling
it out in company car parks. Some 36 years later, how will they fare as we put them to the test?

36 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 RETRO TEST
FOR this very special test in our festive
double issue, you find us in reflective mood.
The year is 1988. Kylie Minogue’s self-titled debut
album is the biggest selling record of the year;
NASA has launched the first shuttle Discovery on
a four-day mission into space; and this writer has
yet to have his first birthday.
It was also the year that marked the birth of
Auto Express magazine. It didn’t take us long to
establish ourselves as the place to come for the
latest scoops and reviews in the automotive
world, and the same remains true today. The car
market was flying, too. Sales were at an all-time
high, with figures for the previous year breaking
the two-million mark for the first time.
Saloons ruled the company car market and
were huge business for fleet managers. At a time
when boot badges were your calling sign for
success, letters like GLX, SRI and CD made middle
managers stand out from the crowd.
Another important three-letter acronym was
EFi – electronic fuel injection – used by both of
these contenders. Our two challengers ruled the
outside lane at the time: Ford’s Sierra had been a
mainstay in the market for a while, but it wasn’t
until a hefty mid-life facelift in 1987 that the
saloon-bodied Sapphire arrived, along with a
multitude of revisions that kept it feeling fresh.
Facing off against here it is the very best that
Rover Group had to offer at the time.
The Montego was also among the UK’s most
popular saloons in 1988, and a little extra spice
here comes in the form of the sporty MG model.
In September 1988, when Auto Express launched,
just £114 split these two cars on list price before
options, so this is a true grudge match.
But which is better? To find out, we got behind
the wheel of both to subject them to the rigorous
standards of our latest 2024 road tests to see how
well they measure up in a modern context.

Pete Gibson

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 37

TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

HEAD TO HEAD
FORD SIERRA
REPLACING the Cortina was always going
to be a daunting task, so Ford chose to be
very bold when creating its successor. Not
only did the new Sierra nameplate mark the
end of 20 years of Cortina production, but
the car’s styling – inspired by the Probe III
concept – also proved to be too radical for
some at first. That aerodynamic shape, and
resulting efficiency gains, however, turned
around many of the most conservative of
buyers, and the car became a huge sales
hit. The Sapphire saloon model, driven here,
joined a revised Sierra family in 1987.

FAST LANE HEROES

Both the Sierra and Montego were
designed for motorways, and both are still
surprisingly happy to be driven at speed

38 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 RETRO TEST
Ford Sierra
vs MG Montego
How do our contenders shape up in all of the most important areas?

ON THE ROAD 60 TECH HIGHLIGHTS

MPH
THERE’S a clear difference in AS a spin-off of the mainstream
approaches between this pair, with Austin Montego, the MG version
the Sierra focusing on comfort, and the offered just two trim variants. Both the
MG adopting a sporty attitude. Despite MG and the Ford come with 2.0-litre
this, the Ford’s rear-wheel-drive layout engines with fuel injection, with the Ford
makes it feel sweetly balanced through falling short of its rival in terms of power
the corners - even if body roll is quite and torque. The Sierra line-up also
pronounced. The MG is a little tighter, includes 1.6, 1.8 and a non-EFi 2.0-litre
more responsive and just slightly more four-cylinder petrol, plus a 2.8 V6. The
likely to put a smile on your face. The MG and Ford each use turbochargers in
Sierra’s ride is excellent, though, and it their range-toppers, but the Cosworth’s
cruises effortlessly at speed. 200-plus bhp takes things a leap further.

MG MONTEGO
MUCH like Ford, Austin-Rover was crying PRICE AND RUNNING PRACTICALITY
out for a repmobile in the early eighties, FINDING an MG Montego on the OF the two, the Sierra is the
with the likes of the Morris Marina (later used market is incredibly hard more spacious option here. While
Ital) and Austin Ambassador falling short today, with just a handful left on the the transmission tunnel is high in
of the standards company car drivers road. We found one car available at the the back, the Ford still offers a third
demanded at the turn of the decade. The time of writing, priced at £7,000. Despite seatbelt that the MG lacks, and
new Montego’s styling thrust the firm into huge sales volumes, ordinary Sierras Montego passengers must put up with
the modern era, with its body-coloured seem rarer than Cosworths these days, limited rear headroom, too. Both cars
bumpers and crisp profile marking a but the more run-of-the-mill Sapphires have saloon bodystyles, but the MG
significant step forward. The Montego we uncovered in the classifieds tend to offers a folding rear seat to boost load
gained hotter MG variants in 1985, giving be marginally cheaper. Depending on capacity. The Ford’s boot opening is
performance saloon fans something to condition, the asking prices range also very high, even though the Sierra
get excited about, too. between £4,000 and £7,000. has more space when fully loaded.

SAFETY OWNERSHIP
BY modern standards, the safety TRYING to find spare parts for
tech on these two seems non- these cars might be tricky these
existent – both were developed long days, but that aside, living with either
before the likes of Euro NCAP imposed of them wouldn’t feel like too much of a
ever-more stringent assessments. The hardship. Both cars still provide plenty
Sierra was among the first mainstream of performance, and on modern tyres
cars to offer ABS as an option – albeit they are grippy and forgiving enough
an expensive one – while the MG made to ensure you don’t feel like you have
use of a high-level third brake light. Also to constantly hold back. If you can live
optional on both cars were headlight without air-conditioning, the Sierra is
wipers, which ensured that visibility as competent a motorway car as many
would be good at all times of the year. vehicles developed three decades later.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 39

TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

DURING the mid-to-late eighties, Ford drive layout means that the steering rack isn’t
dominated the UK sales charts. In 1987, having to haul driveshafts around too, so it
the year before our test car rolled off the isn’t too heavy to use. While it still requires
production line, the Sierra was the third best- a bit of heft when standing still, it lightens
selling model in the UK, and the only two cars up at parking speeds and is easy to use from
more popular were Fords, too: the Fiesta 10-15mph and above.
ranked second, just behind the Escort. In this Even so, Ford allowed buyers of the 2.0-
purple patch, the Sierra was the darling of litre model to specify their car with power-
company car drivers, offering a combination steering. It was a £528 option back in 1998
of space, equipment and comfort that found which, when adjusted for inflation, works
favour with thousands of fleet users. out at a not insignificant £1,428.
However, there was lots of competition to
fend off, including models from brands that A/B ROADS Despite its rear-drive layout, and
were newer to the UK market at the time. The the fact that the GLS model gets a sports
key rival was Vauxhall, which towards the end suspension package consisting of a thicker
of 1988 released its all-new third-generation front anti-roll bar and variable-rate rear
Cavalier. One of the most talented challengers springs, the Sierra isn’t really the choice for
came from Peugeot, a brand revitalised in the keen drivers. The steering is a little light and
eighties. The 405 offered a superbly rounded isn’t loaded with feedback, while there’s
package at a competitive price. Other rivals plenty of body roll through the turns.
from France included the Renault 21 and However, these are all compromises we can
Citroen BX, while the Honda Accord and happily accept when the Sierra proves to be
Volkswagen Passat were alternatives. so comfortable. The seats are pleasingly soft,
and this is a car that glides over bumps that
ENGINES & PERFORMANCE 4.0/5 cause so many modern cars – with their large
wheels and low-profile tyres – to fidget and
AS a high-spec version of the Sierra, our test jostle around. It’s a shame that so few of
car is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder today’s models don’t prioritise ride comfort
petrol engine. Although peaks of 113bhp at quite as much as this eighties stalwart.
5,500rpm and 160Nm at 4,000rpm don’t
sound remarkable by modern standards, the MOTORWAYS While our test route was largely
Sierra only has just over 1,100kg to move confined to low speeds, the Sierra’s soft ride,

Ford S
around. The end result is a car that feels more strong engine and impressive aerodynamics
than up to the task of keeping up with modern would doubtless make it a superb motorway
traffic. The engine pulls cleanly and smoothly cruiser even by modern standards. Although
from tickover, and feels strong all the way there have been major advances in noise,
through its rev range; while we were unable vibration and harshness over the decades,
to confirm the claimed 9.3-second 0-60mph some of those changes are necessary to
time ourselves, it feels completely plausible –
despite the fact that the long-throw
mitigate the fat tyres of modern machines;
the Sierra’s smaller, 185-section rubber emits
Even in sporty GLS flavour, the Sapp
gearchange seems a little sluggish to use. The less road noise than family cars from 2024. than sharpness, but it’s refined, resp
engine is more audible than in modern cars,
but it’s a fairly anonymous drone rather than MPG AND RUNNING COSTS 3.9/5
anything noticeably unpleasant.
LONG before NEDC and WLTP efficiency
DRIVING 4.0/5 testing standards, manufacturers’ claimed
mpg figures were easier to verify in the real
BEING at the wheel of the Sierra reveals world. They were assessed on an urban
plenty of differences compared with modern driving cycle, then at constant speeds of
cars. Some are welcome, but the Ford also 56mph and 75mph; the Sierra does its best
highlights areas where modern cars are worse. at 56mph, where it’s said to achieve 43.5mpg.

AROUND TOWN By today’s standards, the TAX Pre-2001 cars are subject to VED rates
Sierra’s dimensions are compact. At 4,468mm based on engine size. Those with a capacity
long, it’s slightly longer than a current Ford of under 1,549cc cost £210 per year, while
Focus, but at 1,727mm wide (not including the those above, like this Sierra, cost £345.
door mirrors) it’s narrower than most new
superminis. This makes it much easier to INSURANCE Given the Sierra is 36 years old,
thread along congested urban streets or in it will be possible to cover the car through a
and out of tight parking spaces. variety of classic insurers, which means costs
Unlike some other cars of this era with might be lower than you think. Based on the
unassisted steering, the Sierra’s rear-wheel- example of a typical 40-year-old driver we use

40 Double Issue
 RETRO TEST
“Steering is light and CRUISE IN COMFORT
there’s plenty of body Plush velour trim and squidgy, soft seats make
roll through the turns” the Sierra a very calm and composed cruising
companion, but it lacks the creature comforts of
modern family models. 2.0 DOHC engine (below)
feels flexible and responsive, if a little loud

ierra
phire is geared for comfort rather
ponsive and surprisingly quick
PERFORMANCE
DURING its lifespan, the Sierra would
go on to offer performance car fans a
series of hot offshoots. The best of these
came from legendary engineering firm
Cosworth, with the Sapphire forming
the basis of the quickest Sierra in 1988.
Its 2.0-litre ‘YB’ engine featured a
turbocharger that lifted the total output
to 204bhp, enough for a 0-62mph time
of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of
150mph. Drive was sent to the rear
wheels, although Ford would later go
on to offer a four-wheel-drive
version, with the power output
lifted further, to 220bhp.
ALEX INGRAM
CHIEF REVIEWER

Double Issue 41
TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

for every road test, one classic insurer was the doors, and a light inside the glovebox,
willing to cover the Sierra for £248 a year. while our GLS brings electric front windows,
front foglights, a smarter steering wheel and
INTERIOR AND TECH 4.0/5 an integrated radio aerial. The Ghia sits at
the top of the tree, with lumbar adjustment
THE Sierra’s cabin is neatly laid out and the on the driver’s seat, electric rear windows,
finish is reasonable if not outstanding. uprated audio, a more advanced LCD display,
extra interior lighting and rear head
DESIGN Once the driver sinks into the superbly restraints. The Ghia is also the only Sapphire
soft and comfortable seat, they are presented to offer air-conditioning as an option.
with a dashboard angled towards them, which
gives a sporty feel to the cockpit. The low PRACTICALITY 4.3/5
arms of the two-spoke steering wheel are
positioned in such a way that drivers covering THE Sierra is spacious enough to be used as an
huge motorway mileages can hold the rim everyday family car, with a high boot lip one
in a relaxed fashion, while thumb grips at of the few gripes we have.
the traditional ten-to-two position are useful
for more spirited driving. FRONT SPACE While a height-adjustable seat is
There are three stalks on the steering a feature that helps drivers of many sizes get
column; controls for the windscreen wiper comfortable, the adjustment control takes the
operation are on a pair of stalks to the right, form of a spinning handle, a little like those
while a single stalk on the left operates the found on some sunroofs, under the driver’s
indicators and headlamp flashers. right thigh. It’s fiddly to use compared with
The fan speed is adjusted by a round the ratcheted lever that went on to be most
dial just below the driver’s left hand, above common in years to come.
which sit vertically sliding levers to control A huge glass area makes visibility
the temperature and air direction. The impressive, though the far reaches of the boot
instruments are clear and neatly laid out, are hard to judge when reversing. Storage
with orange markers on the speedometer space is very good, with various slots in the
showing 30mph and 70mph limits. The dashboard for small items, a large glovebox,
electric mirror switch is positioned beside long door bins and even a dedicated place to
the offside mirror, while the electric window hold cassettes under the front centre armrest.
controls are located just behind the gear lever.
REAR SPACE Despite the ever-increasing
QUALITY Unlike in many more modern cars, exterior dimensions of cars, interior space
three different interior colours could be hasn’t changed as much as you might think.
selected to match the range of exterior paint Against the tape measure, the Sierra appears
finishes. Our test car’s optional Silica Gold to offer about as much kneeroom as a Ford
metallic is matched to a Mace beige interior, Focus – impressive given that the current
which changes the colour of the dashboard, Focus is among the roomier cars in its class.
door cards and fabric to suit. Other options However, by modern standards, headroom
included Bluestone blue plastics, or the more and elbow room are reasonable rather than
simple Shadow grey. Despite the 85,000 or so outstanding, and things start to feel a little in the range could be upgraded with optional
miles covered by this model, the plastics felt cramped for middle passengers because anti-lock brakes; they were an expensive
robust and rattles were few and far between. the Sierra’s rear-wheel-drive layout means upgrade at £977 – £2,643 in today’s money –
there’s a high transmission tunnel. The rear but one that could save lives. Few rivals
TECH AND INFOTAINMENT The GLS is the second windows only drop around halfway into the offered the same tech, although the new
highest trim level of six in the Sapphire line- door when opened, too. Vauxhall Cavalier was one that did.
up – hatchback models at the time were also Only once the Mondeo arrived to replace the
available in the sporty XR4x4 guise. BOOT SPACE With 414 litres available, the Sierra could you could have an airbag, though.
The range kicks off with the nameless entry Sierra’s boot offers a reasonable amount of
model, whose kit is spartan; a two-speaker space. The area is a little misshapen due to WARRANTY 3.2/5
radio (minus cassette player) is about the only intrusion from the rear wheelarches, but the
concession to mod-cons. The L adds a small main issue here is the height of the boot lip. BUYERS are certainly better covered when
LCD display in the instrument panel, a six- The Sierra’s boot opens from just above the it comes to possible faults in 2024 than they
speaker radio/cassette player, a height- tail-lights, which means that the lip is high were back in the late eighties. The Sierra came
adjustable driver’s seat and a little extra in-car and the opening a little small. with just a single year of warranty cover.
storage. Meanwhile, the LX ups the kit list with It was possible to pay for a longer policy
a sunroof, a rev counter and a 12-volt cigar RELIABILITY AND SAFETY 3.5/5 of up to three years/60,000 miles – a level of
lighter, but you’ll need the GL if you want an cover that’s offered by Ford to its customers
ashtray. The GL also adds a central armrest for FOR its time the Sierra was ahead of the family free of charge today – but that would have
front and rear occupants, softer cloth trim on car curve in terms of safety kit. Every model cost an inflation-adjusted £857 in 1989.

42 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 RETRO TEST

PRACTICALITY
Rear passenger space is similar to a modern-day
Ford Focus (top); rear load lip is inconveniently
high (above); rotating seat control (below) is
fiddly; GLS models all came with a coded radio
cassette player with digital tuning (below left)

WHAT WE SAID “The rear wheels can slide out of line

BACK in the very first issue of Auto when accelerating out of tight corners”
Express, we tested the Sierra against the
Peugeot 405 and the Vauxhall Cavalier. At
the time, the Ford was fighting against
much newer rivals, yet it held its own. We
found that “its solidity and comfort are not
seriously bettered by the newer cars” but
its body control was a little off the class
best by this point. Its rear-wheel-drive
layout gave the Sierra the best turning
circle and the lightest steering, but caused
traction issues. We noted that “the rear
wheels can slide out of line when
accelerating out of tight corners”.
ALEX INGRAM
CHIEF REVIEWER

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 43

TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

ALTHOUGH Ford very much ruled the “The MG has

DRIVING 4.4/5
roost in 1988, one of the biggest-selling
automotive empires in the UK remained, with
a more lively
British Leyland having changed its name to
Austin-Rover and, from 1988, Rover Group.
OF the two, the MG has a more sporty attitude
from behind the wheel, with a little comfort
demeanour
While it didn’t quite reach the same sales traded for a more direct response. Assessed by than the Ford”
volumes as its blue oval rival at the time, cars modern standards, the MG would be the car
like the Metro, Maestro and Montego were that feels more enjoyable more of the time.
regulars among the top 10 best sellers.
The Montego first hit the road in 1984, AROUND TOWN An unassisted steering rack,
badged as an Austin. It came a year after the combined with a fairly small wheel, means
Maestro hatchback, with which the Montego that parking can be a bit of a workout in the
shared a platform, doors and central body Montego. Even once it’s rolling, the steering
structure – although the saloon gained remains heavy, but it offers more feedback
roughly 60mm in length to deliver the kind of than the lifeless set-up in the Sierra. At 10.5
luggage space buyers in this segment desired. metres, the MG’s turning circle is tight, but the
The MG variant was launched in 1985, and Ford is better at just 10.0 metres. All-round
offered a sportier version of the standard visibility is excellent, with a low shoulder line
Montego, gaining deeper front bumpers, and large glass area lending a great view.
striking alloy wheels and a rear spoiler.
Beside the Sierra Sapphire, which looks A/B ROADS Steering aside, the MG has a more
relatively rounded in profile despite not being lively demeanour than the Ford. The controls
quite as soft as the ‘jelly mould’ hatchback feel sharper and more sensitive; the brakes
version, the MG’s sharp lines appear more are more positive; the gearbox is light and
purposeful, if a little more old-fashioned. quicker through the gate, and the throttle
The MG Montego was also rarer than the response is sharper. The steering lightens up
standard Austin model; for every MG version somewhat on the move, and like the rest of
sold, British Leyland shifted almost 24 Austin the controls, feels more responsive than its
models. However, the MG was still priced rival’s. The ride is also a little firmer, picking
competitively to take on the Ford. Buyers up imperfections that the Sierra glides across,
looking for a saloon alternative could consider yet it’s still soft by the standard of modern
the same rivals as the Sierra, but those able to cars. There’s some body roll through the

MG Mo
stretch their budget could consider the Alfa turns, but it’s at a level where the weight
Romeo 75, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes 190E. transfer helps the driver to easily read how
the car and tyres are behaving.
ENGINES & PERFORMANCE 4.4/5
MOTORWAYS The Montego is definitely
POWER for the Montego comes from a 2.0- second best when it comes to refinement on
litre version of the O-series family of engines
that launched in the late seventies. The key
the motorway, where its additional noise and
firmness mean it’s more tiring to drive than
Sharper and with more precise han
feature here, in addition to its single overhead the Ford, which has a softness to all of its Montego is also less relaxing to driv
camshaft configuration and aluminium controls that make it more relaxing. If we had
cylinder head, is the inclusion of a Lucas to take one of these two for a long motorway
electronic fuel-injection system. slog, the Sierra would get the nod. But at the
This enabled the four-cylinder unit to make time, the new Vauxhall Cavalier was better
115bhp, putting it marginally ahead of the than both for cruising refinement.
Sierra. More impressive is the peak torque
figure of 182Nm; not only is that 22Nm up MPG AND RUNNING COSTS 4.0/5
on its rival, but it arrives 1,200rpm sooner,
at 2,800rpm. The result is that the MG chops BASED on the same UK government testing
0.4 seconds from the Ford’s 0-60mph time, standards of the time, the MG offers a very
covering the sprint in a lively 8.9 seconds. similar return to its rival here. At 27.3mpg,
Sitting above the 2.0 EFi in the Montego the Montego beats the Sierra to the tune of
family was a turbocharged model. Adding 1.1mpg around town, but at higher speeds,
a Garret T3 turbo saw the output rise to it’s the Ford that just holds the upper hand.
150bhp, although this variant used a more
old-fashioned single-choke carburettor TAX Like the Ford, the MG’s VED costs come to
instead of electronic fuel injection. £345 a year, or £30.18 a month by Direct Debit.
The resulting 0-60mph time of 7.3 seconds
made it the fastest production model MG INSURANCE Based on our quote from a classic
had manufactured at the time, and flat out insurer, the MG was slightly cheaper to cover
it would hit 126mph – 10mph up on the EFi. than the Ford, at £193 per year.

44 Double Issue
 RETRO TEST
EIGHTIES DETAILS
Red trim details abound inside the MG Montego’s
cabin, from the piping on the seats (below) to
graphics on the dashboard and gearlever. The
EFi engine used a Lucas fuel-injection system
or, on more extreme models, a Garrett T3 turbo

ontego
dling than its rival here, the
ve, especially on the motorway
REPLACEMENTS
WITH both of these cars being launched
in the early eighties, they were each
crying out for successors 10 years later.
Their replacements went on to show how
dramatically the fortunes of Ford and
Rover Group would diverge not long after
the turn of the decade; the Rover 600
was a fine-handling and luxurious saloon
closely related to the Honda Accord,
with 272,000 produced between ’93 and
’99. Those are numbers which the Sierra’s
replacement often achieved in a single
year through the nineties: the
Mondeo was a sales blockbuster.
ALEX INGRAM
CHIEF REVIEWER

Double Issue 45
TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

as with its rival, there’s no steering wheel

INTERIOR AND TECH 4.0/5 adjustment. Of the Montego’s closest rivals,
the Peugeot 405 is one of very few to offer
A RANGE of performance-inspired highlights that feature, but the French car also lacks
lift a cabin that otherwise doesn’t look quite a height-adjustable driver’s seat.
as fresh as the Ford’s.
REAR SPACE The Montego’s main Achilles heel
DESIGN The Montego instantly feels like a is rear headroom, and even adults of average
more sporty place to sit – and that’s not just height will start to feel a little cramped back
because of the supportive sports seats. The there. On the other hand, kneeroom is as
small, attractive three-spoke steering wheel good as in the Sierra, there’s loads of foot
has a leather-trimmed rim and a red MG space under the front seats, and the seats
logo at its centre, while there are subtle red themselves, although not quite as sumptuous
highlights elsewhere, all of which put you as the Sierra’s, offer slightly better under-
in the mood for some enthusiastic driving. thigh support and thicker side bolsters.
The rest of the cabin looks a little more There’s also a big, soft rear centre armrest,
square and old-fashioned than the Ford’s, which rotates into place on a beautifully
although the lower line of the dashboard engineered pivoting hinge.
makes it more spacious up front. The lights
on the column stalk are fiddly to operate, BOOT SPACE With a capacity of 304 litres,
though, and we prefer the layout of the the MG’s boot is a little smaller than its rival’s
Ford’s instruments for overall clarity. here, with the main issue being that the rear
wheelarches encroach into the space.
QUALITY The plastics don’t quite feel as sturdy However, in contrast to the arrangement
inside the MG as they do in its rival, and the in the Sierra, the MG’s rear seat backs can be
flat door panels are skinnier and more flimsy folded forwards, which increases the overall
than the gently curved panels in the Sierra. capacity to 1,090 litres. Changing blown tail-
lights is a very easy operation, because the
TECH AND INFOTAINMENT When it comes bulb holders are exposed and can be reached
to tech, the Sierra’s equipment list has the just inside of the rear panel.
Montego beaten. Ford stole a march on the
competition with its heated windscreen, and
its optional ABS isn’t available at all on the
Montego. Power steering is a cheaper upgrade
on the MG, though, and a digital clock and
radio/cassette player came as standard.
Also among the included kit are the likes
of alloy wheels (an option on the Sierra), a
rev counter, courtesy lights in the glovebox
and boot, and an electric sunroof – the Ford
has a manually operated roof.
The Turbo model was even more well
equipped, adding a better stereo, extra among the very best cared-for, buyers should
interior lighting, a second cigar lighter, RELIABILITY AND SAFETY 3.0/5 still be aware of areas beneath the body kit
standard power steering, uprated dampers and around all of the body seams and sills
and heated door mirrors. WITHOUT ABS and at a time before airbags for potential signs of corrosion.
became commonplace, there aren’t many Sierras are easier to find, with roughly
concessions to safety in the MG. One rare 2,340 cars still taxed. Ironically, given their
PRACTICALITY 4.2/5 example is a third brake light mounted at popularity at the time, it’s the mainstream
the base of the rear window, but it was only ones that are harder to come by. Of that
AT 4,466mm long, the Montego is just 2mm available on later models. number, Cosworths account for over 1,000
shorter than the Sapphire, and a modest Back in 2006, issue 925 of Auto Express Sierras, and the XR4x4 another 270 or so.
17mm narrower, too. However, it’s the Ford revealed that the Montego was one of the
that’s the better packaged of the two, offering most scrapped cars of the last 30 years, with WARRANTY 3.1/5
more space both inside and the boot. many examples succumbing to rust.
According to howmanyleft.co.uk, just 94 LIKE the Sierra, the Montego was covered for
FRONT SPACE There isn’t as much storage Montegos remain registered on UK roads. Of a single year when new. A range of extended
in the MG as there is in the Ford, but a large those, 21 are MGs, with 15 EFi variants to six warranty packages were offered, with the
shelf on the top of the passenger side of the Turbos still taxed (although many survivors most comprehensive lifting the cover to three
dash has a rubberised surface to hold lighter will be garaged off the road, so these numbers years or 65,000 miles – whichever arrived
items in place. The MG’s seat has much more are far from definitive). While logic dictates soonest. In 2024 money, that equates to £1,204
adjustment fore and aft than the Ford’s, but that the remaining examples have been – more than Ford charged on the Sierra.

46 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 RETRO TEST

PRACTICALITY
Rear passenger space (top) is comparable with
the Sierra but the Montego’s boot (above) is far
more practical. Pop-out ashtrays in the rear
passenger doors (below) are a sign of different
times, as are crank handles for the windows.

VARIANTS “Just 94 Montegos remain taxed in the UK,

DIVE into the non-MG part of the of which 21 are MGs and 15 are EFi models”
Montego line-up, and the engine choice
expands, with a choice of units ranging
from 1.3 to 2.0 litres, including a 2.0-litre
diesel. The Sierra had an even more
extensive line-up under the bonnet,
and that applied to the body shape,
too. The Sierra started life as a
hatchback, but along with the
Sapphire saloon here, it also came
in an estate-bodied form. The
Montego was offered as a
wagon, but not as an MG.
You could get a seven-
seat model, though.
ALEX INGRAM
CHIEF REVIEWER

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 47

TESTED Ford Sierra vs MG Montego

PRICES AND SPECS

FORD MG
SIERRA MONTEGO
Our choice GLS 2.0 EFi 2.0i EFi
Price new/inflation adjusted £11,060/£29,917 £11,174/£30,225

POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE

Engine 4cyl inline/1,993cc 4cyl inline/1,994cc
Fuel injection Bocsh L-Jetronic Lucas Electronic L type
Power 113bhp @ 5,500rpm 115bhp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 160Nm @ 4,000rpm 182Nm @ 2,800rpm
Transmission Five-speed man/rwd Five-speed man/fwd
0-60mph/top speed 9.3 secs/118mph 8.9 secs/116mphh
Fuel tank 60 litres 50 litres
Front suspension MacPherson struts MacPherson struts
Rear suspension Semi-trailing arm H-Frame trailing arm
Brakes Vented discs front, drum rear Vented discs front, drum rear

DIMENSIONS
Length/wheelbase 4,468/2,609mm 4,466/2,570mm
Width/height 1,727/1,359mm 1,710/1,420mm
Rear kneeroom 681-825mm 648-858mm
Rear headroom/elbow room 888/1,406mm 844/1,385mm
Boot space
Boot length/width
414 litres
1,034/935mm
304 litres
1,010/918mm “Buyers were spoiled when
Boot lip height
Kerb weight/towing weight
778mm
1,115/1,350kg
654mm
1,090/1,250kg
cars that could put a smile o
Turning circle 10.0 metres 10.5 metres

COSTS/OWNERSHIP
MPG Urban 26.2 27.3
MPG 56mph 43.5 43.2
MPG 75mph 33.6 33.5
VED £345 £345
Warranty 1 year 1 year
Insurance quote* £248 £193

EQUIPMENT
Metallic paint/alloy wheels £436/£679 £379/yes
Front foglights Yes No
Headlamp washers/heated windscreen
Electric windows/door mirrors
£408/£295
Yes/yes
Opt/no
Yes/yes
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Central locking/alarm Yes/yes Yes/yes
Tachometer (rev counter) Yes Yes WITH the demise of the Mondeo back in 2022, Ford turned
Leather/height-adjustable driver’s seat No/yes No/no its back on the D-segment, focusing instead on SUVs. Ever-
Digital clock/ashtrays Yes/three Yes/three more stringent safety standards, plus customers’ demands
Power steering/leather steering wheel £1,428/no £649/yes for the latest tech, means that new cars have grown in size,
Sunroof Manual Electric too, making the current Focus the closest car in terms of
Anti-lock brakes £2,643 No dimensions to the old Sierra. The same is true for price,
Auto ’box £1,566 No where the Focus costs roughly £30,000 – or the same as
Radio/casette player Yes Yes this Sierra cost in 1988 once inflation is taken into account.
MG’s lineage is harder to follow. While the name carries
*Insurance quotes for both cars from Lancaster via Moneysupermarket
on, today’s company is in a form almost unrecognisable
from its days of British ownership, from its roots as an
offshoot of Morris (Morris Garages) to the MG Rover Group.
Chinese ownership has turned it into a largely electrified
and hybrid brand, which makes drawing comparisons very
“Driving these two is a fascinating difficult. However, with the all-electric MG 4, the new
owners have produced a car strong on value, performance
insight into how cars have changed” and a chassis that feels engaging – all traits that would have
been familiar to MG buyers in the eighties.

48 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 RETRO TEST

it came to humdrum
n their face”

RESULTS DRIVE THEM

WE want to extend our
WINNER RUNNER-UP thanks to Great British Car
Journey, the award-winning
MG MONTEGO FORD SIERRA interactive car museum, for
LOOKING back on these two with hindsight is a WHILE the Sierra was a huge sales success at the the loan of both the Sierra
wonderful thing, and driving the two back-to-back time, modern tastes have changed slightly, because and the Montego. Based in
revealed a fascinating insight into just how much given the choice to drive one of these two, the Derbyshire, the museum
the motoring landscape has changed. One thing Montego would get our nod. There’s an enormous goes beyond a typical
the Montego makes clear is that family car buyers amount to like here, though; the performance of attraction by also offering
in the past were spoiled when it came to humdrum the 2.0-litre model is good enough to surprise many visitors the chance to drive
cars that could put a smile on your face; in MG modern cars, while its ride comfort shames several one of 50 classics in its
form, it looks fantastic and feels like an event to models built since 2020. It’ll be easier to find one on “Drive Dad’s Car” experience
drive. Find an example with power steering, and the used market than a Montego these days, but if – and both the Sierra and the
as long as you don’t have tall passengers, it’d be you want to buy a usable classic or simply re-live Montego are on the fleet.
a wonderfully fun car to live with every day. some nostalgia, then both are great options. Great British Car Journey
is offering readers a special
PROS CONS PROS CONS offer for Christmas: the
Keen throttle response Heavy steering Great ride comfort Spongy controls chance to drive any two cars
Fantastic seats Rear headroom Strong performance Body roll for £89, down from the usual
Purposeful looks No ABS option Generous equipment levels High boot lip price of £120. It’s the ultimate
trip down memory lane!
To book online, use the
discount code AE24 at
drivedadscar.com.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 49

FEATURE Best retro cars

TEAM PICKS

FORD MUSTANG GT
Price new: from £55,725 Price now: from £19,995
Powertrain:5.0-litre petrol V8, six-speed manual or
10-speed automatic Power: 390bhp 0-62/top speed:
5.3 seconds (manual) or 4.9 seconds (automatic)/155mph

FORD knows how to make a muscle car, and the

Mustang is a model that has remained fairly true to
its roots. A reboot in 2005 saw it take retro lines and
contours from the original sixties design, revitalising
the look of the modern-day muscle car in the process.
The firm has opted for an evolution of this design
ever since, with each generation clearly maintaining
its DNA – and the 2024 Mustang GT
is the best one yet. Thunderous V8
power and a surprisingly well honed
chassis make the Mustang more
than a one-trick pony – and strong
residuals reflect that.
The Mustang may be a dying
breed, but it's a wonderful
driver’s car and a refreshing
Retro designs are in fashion, and
alternative choice in Ford’s some of them really hit the mark.
current line-up.
RYAN BIRCH Our team picks their
retro winners

SINGER PORSCHE 911

Price new: £850,000 plus donor car Price now: £850,000
Powertrain: 3.8-litre 6cyl turbo petrol, six-speed manual
Power: 510bhp 0-62/top speed: N/A

THE entire Porsche 911 lineage could have had a spot

on this list, but the ultimate retro-styled, modern
tributes to the legendary sports car’s forebears are
those reimagined by Singer. The Classic Turbo is
based on the 964-generation 911 that’s been
rebodied in carbon fibre to look almost identical to
the 930 Turbo from the seventies and eighties.
Being a Singer, every surface and detail has
been subtly refined to accentuate the shape.
The same goes for the interior, while the 3.8-
litre twin-turbo flat-six produces up to
510bhp. Yet it is still air-cooled like the
911s of old, and that power is sent to
the beautifully dished rear wheels
via a six-speed gearbox.
ELLIS HYDE

50 Double Issue
 TEAM PICKS
VOLKSWAGEN
ID. BUZZ
Price new: from £58,044 Price now: £55,000
Powertrain: 86kWh batt, 1x e-motor, single-speed auto
Power: 282bhp 0-62/top speed: 7.9 secs/112mph

SOME cars take a while to reach production, but the

ID. Buzz’s yawning 22 years between initial concept
and showroom-ready road car could be a sign that
the company knew it couldn’t afford to get it wrong.
The ID. Buzz coincides with a period of financial
trouble for the German giant, driven by production
delays and software issues that its EVs
encountered in the wake of Dieselgate.
That mean the ID. Buzz needed to be
pretty much perfect – and it is. The vibrant
VW has a design that transcends retro,
tapping into the very culture that the brand
has created with generations of iconic vans.
Just as the New Beetle did at the turn of the
century, let’s hope that the ID. Buzz has the
same restorative effect on Volkswagen.
JORDAN KATSIANIS

MINI COOPER
Price new: £11,680 Price now: from £1,000
Powertrain:1.6-litre 4cyl petrol; five-speed manual
Power: 115bhp 0-62/top speed: 8.9 secs/124mph

ALPINE A110 I DON’T care what my colleagues say – the modern

Price new: £54,490 Price now: from £17,000 Powertrain: 1.8-litre 4cyl turbo MINI Cooper is the best retro remake ever. It shocked
petrol, seven-speed automatic Power: 249bhp 0-62/top speed: 4.5 secs/155mph the industry when the covers came off at the turn
of the millennium and it still looks fresh today.
AT a time when cars are growing ever taller, wider and fatter, Yet to me, a good retro reproduction needs to
lightweight sports cars become more appealing with every offer more than looks. It has to capture the feel of
passing day. At roughly 4.2 metres long, the Alpine A110 is the original, too – not just in terms of the interior,
about the same length as a Volkswagen Golf, but at 1.8 metres but also how it drives. The MINI nails both,
wide, it’s narrower. These compact dimensions, along with a with a charismatic cabin and go-kart-like
kerbweight of around 1,100kg, make the Alpine feel tiny on the handling – sitting in one today you struggle
road, allowing you to make the most of its glorious chassis. to believe it's the best part of 25 years old.
Then there’s the looks. The A110 has taken much of its Sure, it’s bigger than its forebear, but it’s
inspiration from its retro namesake and predecessor, from dinky compared with today's superminis.
the four-headlight arrangement at the front to the tapered If you want one, you’d better act fast,
rear end with slim tail-lights. It’s a fantastic reimagination. because good ones are becoming
ALEX INGRAM harder and harder to find.
RICHARD INGRAM

www.autoexpress.co.uk
FEATURE Best retro cars

CITROEN DISPATCH H-VAN

Price new: from £38,000 Price now: from £15,000
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cyl turbodiesel, six-speed manual
Power: 110bhp 0-62/top speed: 12.1 seconds/110mph

PLYMOUTH
PROWLER
Price new: from £30,000 Price now: from £28,000
Powertrain: 3.5-litre V6, four-speed auto Power:
214bhp 0-62/top speed: 6.0 seconds/118mph

IF you’re going to design a retro car, you want it

to look the part. While the Plymouth Prowler is
actually rather mundane to drive, and filled with
cheap and nasty plastics, nobody can deny that
it stands out from the crowd.
Those in the know can identify
the Prowler straight away, despite
THE last time you saw a Citroen H van, it was transform Citroen’s Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay the fact that production ended
probably parked up at an event or shopping vans into retro homages to the old H, HG, HY and as much as 20 years ago. But
centre with a barista or an artisan baker hanging Fourgonnette models, with bug-eyed headlights, even those with no clue what
out the side, peddling their wares. Old vans can a retro grille and corrugated panels that recall the it is will find themselves unable
be great for businesses like that, but reliability appearance of Citroen's traditional 'tin shed'. to avert their eyes. Yes, the
isn’t going to be a strong point. They don’t come cheap, but they’re produced Plymouth is technically and
However, the 2CV Shop based in Warminster, under licence from Citroen and are as close as dynamically a bit on the poor
Wiltshire, might just have the answer. It imports you can get to an official retro modern van today. side, but just look at it.
conversion kits from Italian firm Caselani that can DEAN GIBSON SHANE WILKINSON

52 Double Issue
 TEAM PICKS
MERCEDES SLR RENAULT 5
Auto Bild

MCLAREN Price now: from £22,995 Powertrain: 52kWh batt, 1x e-motor, single-speed automatic

STIRLING MOSS Power: 148bhp 0-62/top speed: 8.0 seconds/93mph

Price new: (circa) £600k Price now: £2-3million

Powertrain: 5.4-litre supercharged V8,
six-speed manual Power: 640bhp
0-62/top speed: 3.0 seconds/217mph

FOR me, the fifties were the golden years for

sports racing machines, and there’s only one
contender for the ultimate retro-inspired road
car. The Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss
is a wonderful homage, not just to one of our
most storied racers, but also to the 300 SLR
racing car he used to win the 1955 Mille Miglia.
The Mercedes McLaren SLR coupé it’s
based on is a pretty awesome machine
in its own right, but given the fifties AN open goal is still a goal, so there’s no shame in cars do these days, and Renault’s bold colour
speedster treatment – with no picking the very obvious new Renault 5 as the best choices will help an already stand-out car shine
windscreen, twin roll-over hoops retro car. The French firm has done a brilliant job of even brighter when it arrives here early next year.
and side-exiting exhausts – it was translating the classic R5’s looks and unique design Retro isn’t always meant as a compliment, but
transformed into a true work of art. cues into a model fit for modern life, and it certainly with the 5 it’s used with the utmost affection – it's
CHRIS ROSAMOND teaches other brands a thing or two about a perfectly executed fusion of classic and modern
successfully trading on their heritage. It’s a design design and I can't wait for it to arrive.
that makes you smile, which is something too few PAUL BARKER

FORD GT
Price new: from £120,900 Price now: £350,000 Powertrain:5.5-litre petrol supercharged V8, six-speed manual
Power: 550bhp 0-62/top speed: 3.3 seconds/205mph

TWENTY years since the Ford GT's of the original racer, yet looked so brilliantly handling even earned the GT a spot in our
debut, I still have no idea how the firm modern in its execution at the same time. sister title evo’s Car of the Year shortlist in
managed to create something so The supercharged 5.5-litre V8 made a 2005. Prices have tripled since its launch,
visually similar to its sixties Le Mans terrific noise, and the performance holds but there will never be anything like it again.
legend. It had all the lines and features up against many of today’s supercars. Its ALASTAIR CROOKS

Double Issue 53
FEATURE Worst retro cars

CHRYSLER GWM ORA 3

PT3 CRUISER (FUNKY CAT)
Price new: from £12,995 (2001) Price now: from £500 Price new: £30,495 Price now: from £15,000
Powertrain:2.4-litre 4cyl, five-speed manual Powertrain:45.4kWh batt, 1x e-motor; single-speed auto
Power: 113bhp 0-62/top speed: 9.7 secs/131mph Power: 167bhp 0-62/top speed: 8.3 secs/99mph

CHRYSLER’S dabbling with retro design and hot-rod YOU might wonder why – when the two cars look
culture created some almighty clangers, but few were ostensibly so similar – I can rate the MINI so highly
as awful as the PT Cruiser. This hatchback-wagon-van (p51) yet take such objection to the Ora 03 (nee
hybrid was the result of the US firm's desperate Funky Cat). Well, probably the biggest issue for me
attempt to find itself a place in the 21st century after is how the Ora tries to mash together so many iconic
decades of uninspired and poorly built models. design into one, without much success.
The genesis of this new way of thinking was seen There’s undoubtedly some essence of the MINI
in the 1989 Dodge Viper concept, a car that made all at the front, mixed with bits of VW Beetle or even
the Chrysler Group brands of the era want to make a early Porsche 911. Yet from here it all goes to pot,
change of their own. A few years after the success of and with an odd single-piece rear lightbar and a
the Viper, the Plymouth Prowler (p52) was introduced bulbous back end, the overall styling
with a more overt hod-rod aesthetic, is messy to say the least. TEAM PICKS
one that was eventually picked The interior is clumsy, too, with
up by Chrysler itself for the PT a fiddly infotainment system and
Cruiser – a new compact car compromised packaging. Plus, the
that it hoped would sell in vast EV’s battery range isn’t much
quantities. And indeed it did, to write home about, either.
across both America and the Unfortunately, I suspect
rest of the world – but that the Ora will go down as
didn’t stop it from being a one of many early Chinese
wholly wretched and quite cars that didn’t quite chime
tacky pastiche in plastic. with European tastes.
JORDAN KATSIANIS RICHARD INGRAM Retro designs may be

LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LPI 800-4

Price new: £2,000,000 Price now: £2,000,000-plus
Powertrain:6.5-litre V12 mild hybrid; seven-speed auto
Power: 803bhp 0-62/top speed: 2.8 seconds/221mph

IF you’re after an ultra-exclusive Lambo, the Italian transpose the first car’s elegant shape to the
maker is sure to oblige. It has produced hit after hit Aventador/Sian platform created an awkward-
over the years, and plenty of limited-run specials. looking mess – it doesn’t even have pop-up
But for me the reimagined Countach is a huge miss. headlights. Only 112 were built, and despite
There's been nothing quite like the original costing more than £2million apiece, they sold
Countach concept that was revealed at the Geneva out in less than a week. I guess that proves
Motor Show back in 1971, but this 50th anniversary that money really can’t buy taste.
reimagining fails to live up to its beauty. Trying to DEAN GIBSON

54 Double Issue
 TEAM PICKS
DODGE KAHUNA
Price new: N/A Price now: N/A
Powertrain: 2.4-litre 4cyl, four-speed auto
Power: 212bhp 0-62/top speed: N/A

IT wasn’t even a production car, but the Dodge

Kahuna left a long-lasting impression as a
cynical retro-mobile designed with minimal
thought other than grabbing a share of the
headlines at the 2003 Chicago Motor Show.
It's basically a hark-back surf-wagon with some
wood panelling off a seventies US station wagon
down the side, but the Kahuna lacked the charm
of a Volkswagen Type 2 (or even an ID. Buzz),
and just looked like a meek, narrow, doe-eyed
oddball. Even the name sounded
like a sniggering surfer-jock joke
and not a car to be taken
seriously. The six-seat interior
was borrowed from the Dodge
Caravan MPV (sold here as
the Chrysler Voyager), and
it had a 2.4-litre petrol
engine, as seen in various
Chrysler models. It never
even got close to being
built – thankfully.
PAUL BARKER

e popular, but not all of them are a great success

Double Issue 55
FEATURE Worst retro cars

DAVID BROWN FIAT 500L VOLKSWAGEN

SPEEDBACK GT Price new: £15,000 Price now: from £2,000 NEW BEETLE
Powertrain: 0.9-litre 2cyl petrol, six-speed manual
Price new: £594,000 Price now: £275,000 Power: 94bhp 0-62/top speed: 10.7 seconds/ 117mph Price new: £11,500 Price now: from £750
Powertrain: 5.0-litre V8 petrol, six-speed auto Powertrain: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol, five-speed manual
Power: 510bhp 0-62/top speed: 4.6 secs/155mph THE original Fiat 500 is a tiny city car that Power: 113bhp 0-62/top speed: 10.6 seconds/115mph
oozes classic charm, and the brand managed
THE Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most beautiful to recapture this when it launched the first WHEN Volkswagen wheeled out its Concept One
cars ever, which makes this gawping, Frankenstein modern iteration in 2007. Unfortunately, five homage to the original Beetle back in the mid-
imitation all the more embarrassing. years later, the Italian company then decided nineties, I admit to being caught up in the hype
Created by David Brown that its retro-inspired small car that convinced VW to put the car into
Automotive (nothing to do with styling would also look good production in 1997. But in hindsight
the former boss of Aston Martin), on a chunky MPV. I wish I’d been more critical.
the Speedback GT tried to That was a big mistake – Car design should be innovative
blend coachbuilt skills with the result was the 500L, a and intriguing, but we ended
modern tech. The end hefty, bulbous machine that the last century distracted by
result is cringe-inducing. wasn’t as practical as its playschool-level pastiche
It isn’t even an Aston; it’s rivals, nor anywhere near models that really should
based on a Jaguar XKR as good to drive or as have been an offence
with awful wheels chic as the proper 500. to good taste.
ELLIS HYDE SHANE WILKINSON CHRIS ROSAMOND

HUMMER H2
Price new: N/A (UK) Price now: from £20,000
Powertrain: 6.0-litre V8, four-speed automatic
Power: 321bhp 0-62/top speed: 11 secs/99mph

ALTHOUGH America sometimes nails it

when it creates retro-styled cars, it can also
occasionally produce a pile of dog’s mess, and
that’s exactly what happened when it inflicted
the Hummer H2 upon us. The numbers are all
wrong for a start: despite having a hulking
great V8, the scaled-down Hummvee would
lose a traffic-light drag race to a Toyota Prius
of the same era. It wouldn’t top 100mph, fuel
consumption was in the teens (if not worse)
and it cost more than a BMW X5 at the time.
Yes, there’s an eccentric character to the
H2 that some would find comical
or even endearing these days –
Arnold Schwarzenegger was
a big fan for a start. But to
most of us it’s simply
a garish symbol of
brash, over-styled
American excess.
ALASTAIR CROOKS

56 Double Issue
 TEAM PICKS

FIAT 124 SPIDER

Price new: £19,545 Price now: from £7,000 Powertrain: 1.4-litre, 4cyl turbo petrol, six-speed manual
Power: 138bhp 0-62/top speed: 7.5 secs/134mph

A CAR based on the Mazda MX-5 with Italian some interesting details, but viewed as a whole and rear ends grafted on, and Fiat badges thrown
styling. In theory, I can’t think of a formula that is it all comes across as a bit half-hearted. into a barely unchanged Mazda interior. I admit
more up my street. That’s why I should adore the Not enough effort was invested into making the calling it the worst retro car ever is a bit harsh – I'd
Fiat 124 Spider, but unfortunately it has never quite 124 look and feel unique, and as such it ends up happily own one – but I do feel a bit let down by it.
sat right with me. Yes, it’s great to drive, and it has resembling a lazy MX-5 conversion, with new front ALEX INGRAM

CHEVROLET SSR
Price new: N/A (UK) Price now: from £20,000
Powertrain: 6.0-litre petrol V8, six-speed manual Power: 390bhp 0-62/top speed: 5.2 seconds/126mph

IN an attempt to cash in on the retro Marmite looks, the SSR was marketed via
boom, Chevrolet got to work creating motorsport, becoming the official pace car
the SSR – or Super Sport Roadster. for the 2003 Indy 500 in a bid to capture
Sure, America loves a pick-up, and Chevy the crowd’s imagination. There were decent
is no stranger to creating a good one. But a safety features and in-car kit, but it was
retro truck that was also a convertible hard- expensive and not even GM's LS2 V8
top roadster with design inspiration from engine could save it from being a flop.
the forties was a bold move. Plus, despite its RYAN BIRCH
FEATURE In-car gaming

Paul
Barker
[email protected]

CHRISTMAS is the big season for family

games, but it's not just about sitting
around the dining table these days. As
There's never been more technology develops, more and more car
manufacturers are getting in on the act, so
choice when it comes to we’ve pulled together a selection of latest
integrated in-car gaming. games you can actually play in your motor.
Whether you’re waiting for a car to charge
Here we select some of while driving home for Christmas, hanging
around a shopping centre as the family are
the best options you can picking up those last few gifts, or even hiding on
enjoy with your family and the driveway to avoid post-sprout fragrances,
there are now plenty of ways to keep yourself
friends this festive season amused while the wheels aren’t turning.

VOLVO XC60 FIAT 600E POLESTAR 2 VOLKSWAGEN ID. BUZZ TESLA MODEL 3 FORD MUSTA

58 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 FEATURE

SCREEN TIME
BMW uses its central screen

Otis Clay
to project interactive games
to passengers' smartphones
– while parked up, of course

TESLA
FROM displaying a roaring fire to switching the
indicator repeater sound to a childish rude noise,
Tesla has led the way when it comes to in-car fun.
Of the 21 games currently available through
BMW the brand’s infotainment system, there’s a
welcome mix of strategy, board, arcade and
THE German firm has really stepped up the retro gaming. Drivers can while away charging
in-car family gaming experience. Using the time playing chess, backgammon, solitaire,
AirConsole system, there are currently 19 games Sudoku or Mahjong, or regress back to the
to choose from, including the ever-popular Uno, eighties Commodore 64 – or even Sinclair ZX
as well as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Spectrum – days with some simple pixel games.
console favourite Overcooked. Alternatively But the big winner is Beach Buggy Racing 2,
there is The Neighbourhood or some fun on which has long been the beacon of power when
Smoots Air Summer Games, which replaces it comes to playing behind the wheel – because
the button-hammering running, jumping and you use the car's actual steering wheel and
throwing of old with 21st century screen swiping. pedals to race in a Mario Kart-style series of
Where BMW differs from the others here is events, unlocking more races and difficulty levels
that you use your phone to scan a QR code and as you go. Using the car’s steering wheel makes
then join a game individually. So for Uno, for it easy to do some animated drifting of your little
example, four players control cards on their digital Tesla and is engaging enough to keep you
phone, and the central screen shows the game. wanting one more race, but you will look to the
It’s a system that means you can include up to outside world like you’re pretend-car driving
three, four or even eight players without the while you’re parked at a charging point.
need for everyone to reach the touchscreen.
ANG MACH-E BMW X3 Rather than gaming in the car as a way of
escaping family, with the BMW, you’ll be bringing
them with you, to the point where neighbours
might think you’re locked out of the house! “YOU WILL LOOKTO
The games are hosted online, so new ones
will be added over time. The only bad news is OUTSIDERS LIKEYOU'RE
that for cars running BMW’s latest iDrive –
version 9.0 – AirConsole gaming comes as PRETEND-CAR DRIVING
part of the Digital Premium package, along with
video streaming and enhanced map offerings – WHILEYOU'RE PARKED
but it’s accessible on all models running BMW
and MINI’s latest onboard software. ATACHARGING POINT”
www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 59
FEATURE In-car gaming

PLAY NICELY
Volvo's Google Play system allows unlimited
access to Angry Birds for 99p, but a wider
selection of games is expected soon

VOLVO
FOR 99p you can party like it’s 2009 and get lost
in the addictive world of Angry Birds via Volvo’s
Google Play system. It’s the only game you can
buy at the moment, but as with most of these
systems, regular over-the-air updates will keep
things fresh. The game is a replica of the phone
version, but the bigger car screen makes it more
satisfying to clatter those annoying pigs.
If you don’t fancy coughing up a pound for
a game that was one of the early smartphone
app phenomenons 15 years ago, then there is
an array of free fun to download, including the
ubiquitous 2048 numbers game and tile-
matching mainstay Mahjong. These are
complemented by an array of options that
will keep kids amused, if not challenge adults.
The Play Store will receive more updates over
time, with plenty of phone-based favourites
making their way onto the big (car) screen.

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E

FORD is definitely not as advanced as the likes POLESTAR
of Volvo, Tesla or BMW when it comes to in-car
gaming, but the Mustang Mach-E does at least MUCH like sister company Volvo (left), Polestar
have a few options to kill time while charging. gives its owners access to the Google Play store,
However, there's nothing good enough to and plugging in a PlayStation controller to the
specifically entice anyone out of the house USB-C port gives a different dimension to the
and onto the driveway for a bit of game play. same Beach Buggy Racing 2 game you can play
The Ford’s choices are more the kind of simple with the Tesla’s steering wheel and pedals.
puzzles you might have on a phone – extracting
a car from a crowded car park in as few moves
‘‘WITH THE BOARD BEING The controller turns it into a console-like
experience, which gamers may prefer, although
as possible, a version of Tetris and a few others,
including a two-player game of building bridges
FLATTO THE FLOOR, IT the portrait screen isn’t as game-friendly as the
Tesla’s landscape orientation.
across a board while blocking off your rival.
They’re all pretty basic, but they'll keep you
MEANS TABLE-FLIPPING More serious gamers also have the option
of downloading the Vivaldi browser from the
entertained for a while if you’re sitting waiting
for a charge. And at least the car saves the high
FLOUNCING BYSORE Google Play store and linking it to a game-
streaming service. It’s more complex, but
scores so you’ve got a target next time. LOSERS ISN'TAN OPTION’’ opens up a wider world of potential options.

60 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 FEATURE
CAR GAMES FOR WHEN
YOU’RE ON THE ROAD
IT'S all very well playing while you’re
parked up, but don’t forget these
classics for when you’re on the move
with easily bored kids. Or grown-ups...

I-SPY
THE king of the in-car games offers a
series of books for the kids (or adults) to
occupy themselves by ticking off makes
of car, types of vehicle, road signs and
more. Or there's the old-fashioned “I spy
with my little eye”, which has been causing
arguments for decades. Just be sure to
pick something you can still see after
five minutes of increasingly desperate
guesses from your companions.

BRIDGEBASEBALL
THIS is a motorway game where you
take it in turns to be ‘on strike’, and every
time you go under a bridge where there’s
a car or person moving, you move on a
base until you reach fourth base and
complete a home run. But if you go
ROLL THE DICE under an empty bridge, you’re out, and
The latest high-tech games might it’s the next person’s turn to be on strike.
be all the rage, but sometimes you The most complete runs in a set amount
just can't beat a good old game of of miles, minutes or junctions wins.
Monopoly in your ID. Buzz
PUBCRICKET
IF you’re off the motorway, a game of
good old English pub cricket is more
appropriate for A and B-roads. You score
a run for every arm and leg in whatever
the pub you pass takes its name from,
but if you encounter a pub with the
words ‘head’ or ‘arm’ in its name, you’re
caught out, and it’s the next person’s
innings. So, for example, the Horse and
Jockey scores a huge eight, but the
King’s Arms is an instant dismissal.

VW ID. BUZZ FIAT 600e ALPHABETGAME

FIRST names, animals, foods, cars –
WHO needs big screens and downloaded apps IF you’re after something basic to keep the kids there are plenty of topics as you go
when you’ve got a car big enough to play a real amused while you’re sitting around waiting, then round the car in turn, moving through the
three-dimensional board game in? the 600e has a hat-trick of options. alphabet. If you’re smart, you’ll work out
Our long-term Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s huge Hangman is the best of the three, with the car who needs to start so you can dodge
expanse of rear space creates a big enough generating words to guess, and points adding up Q or X. A gummy sweet each if you get
flat area with the rear seats folded, so that until you get a word wrong, with your high score the whole way through the alphabet.
Monopoly or Cluedo are legitimate options. The saved for next time. Tic-tac-toe is exactly what
two big sliding side doors and hefty rear hatch you’d expect, and better than playing on a WORDASSOCIATION
mean four people can sit in relative comfort, steamed-up window, while there’s also the ESSENTIALLY, this is Mallet’s Mallet for
although it’s more of a summer set-up, when numbers game 2048 for bigger brains to try. those who remember Timmy’s finest
you won’t mind being so exposed to the elements. It’s outdated compared with games from BMW, hour – although ideally without bonking
It’s also certain to be a conversation starter Tesla and Volvo, but there's still plenty to enjoy. people on the head with a foam hammer
at charging points, and with the board being flat while they’re driving. The first person
to the floor, it means table-flipping flouncing by If you'd rather save the fun for inside the house, picks a word, and the next has to
sore losers won’t be an option. check out our Christmas driving games on page 108. immediately say another that links to it.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 61

TESTED BMW Z car supertest

It’s been 35 years since BMW’s first Z car. We’ve

brought all seven together for a two-seat supertest

ASK any car fan how they perceive BMW, decades later, when the first Z1 rolled off the
and we’d wager that it wouldn’t take long to production line, a step which rejuvenated
get on to the topic of performance cars. Driving the manufacturer’s love for the sports car.
thrills have been one of the strongest parts of This year, then, marks 35 years since the
the brand’s identity for what seems like forever; first Z car, resulting in a near-unbroken run of
from hot hatches to performance saloons, from convertibles that has continued to this day
supercars to – more recently – fire-breathing through six different iterations. We’ve brought
SUVs, the marque has always had it covered. all of them together here – in standard UK
It might be a surprise then, that last century cabriolet weather – kicking off with the car that
BMW went for almost 30 years without a sports started it all and moving through the range. It’s
car on its books. When production of the iconic clear that while each model manages to offer
507 ended in 1959, a two-seat drop-top took a its own distinctive character, some obvious
long time to return. Everything changed three family ties have remained throughout.

62 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 BMW Z CAR SUPERTEST
Pictures: Pete Gibson
Nathan Morgan
Matt Vosper

ALEX INGRAM Chief reviewer

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 63

TESTED BMW Z1

BMW Z
WHILE the Z1’s release might seem like a Z-axle aside, the Z1 was based on a shortened
long-overdue reaction to filling a three- version of the contemporary 325i’s underpinnings.
decade-long gap in BMW’s range, its inception But out on the road, it feels like nothing else.
followed on from what wasn’t exactly the most Driven with those doors down, the Z1 delivers a
normal development process. feel-good factor that’s hard to replicate with other
In 1985, the BMW management wanted to set sports cars. The BMW may have been considered
up a team of engineers that focused solely on sporty in its day, but against so many firmly riding
developing cutting-edge tech. The group would performance cars of today, the ride is wonderfully
give some of the marque’s 60-or-so brightest soft and forgiving, making it a very relaxing cruiser.
minds the freedom to work on creative concepts It’s not short on involvement, though. Get over
away from the regular production grind. The the slight dead spot in the steering around the
department became known as BMW Technik straight-ahead, and there’s feedback through that
GmbH – known as ZT for short. slim rim, revealing a chassis that has a surprising
The first fruits of this labour was a car which amount of grip for a 35-year-old car. As with any
employed new materials, enabled quicker performance BMW, it’s neatly balanced, too.
development times, and provided new suspension This stunning example, provided by its owner
designs. The Z-axle this newcomer employed Rob Norton, has gained a little extra pep courtesy
would later find its way into production on the of a Hartge conversion. The engine capacity has
E36 3 Series. That car was the Z1. been bumped from 2.5 to 2.7 litres courtesy of
Executives loved the design so much that this a longer stroke. Increased compression and a
one-off development vehicle was given the green revised ECU add 35bhp, while an extra 34Nm of
light for production. A production-ready car torque arrives sooner than in the standard model.
was revealed to the press in autumn 1988, with The result is that nearly a full second is knocked
deliveries commencing the following year. from the standard car’s 0-60mph time, down from
A desire for sportiness was the aim here, setting 7.9 seconds to 7.0 seconds. It’s a really sweet spot
it apart from many competitors’ larger, softer though, delivering a hearty yet not dramatic level
alternatives. As a result, the Z1 was strictly two- of speed which feels perfectly suited to the Z1’s
seat only, with its dimensions compact even by character. And what a huge amount of character
the standards of the late eighties. it has – it’s certainly a tough act to follow.
Today, it really looks tiny in the metal. At no more
than four metres long, it takes up less space on the
road than a modern supermini, and at less than
1.7 metres wide and just 1.2 metres tall, it’s dinky
in every direction. But that only enhances its jaw-
dropping design. The low nose has an understated
iteration of BMW’s signature kidney grilles, and
from there curves upwards towards a squared-off
rear end. The Z1 is made all the more stocky by its
wide track and wheel-at-each-corner stance.
But the real party piece comes right in the
middle, because the Z1 sports a set of doors like no
other car on the planet. Pull the handle, and rather
than opening outwards, the door drops electrically
into the side sill. It’s pure theatre, and better still,
you can drive with them in the open position.
But before you set off, there are two hurdles to
overcome. One is literal; the need to package that
door – plus provide enough rigidity to the BMW’s
structure – means that the sill is both high and
wide. It’s also trimmed in leather, so getting in
takes a big stride over the threshold while clinging
onto the windscreen frame.
The second hurdle is that, unless you’ve
stumbled across one of the rare models that were
converted to right-hand drive, all Z1’s had their
steering wheel on the left. It’s a beautiful wheel,
though – one that looks wonderfully simple now
that we’ve become accustomed to an era where OPEN-DOOR POLICY
most are festooned with buttons. The Z1’s party piece was its doors that
Once inside, you’re presented with a dashboard dropped into the sills to allow access.
which, in contrast to the exterior, appears entirely They could either be closed again or left
logical and easy to figure out. There’s shades of down to add to the open-air experience
the E30 3 Series here; unsurprising, because that

64 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Z CAR SUPERTEST

Z1
BMW Z1
ENGINE: 2.5-litre 6cyl
POWER/TORQUE:
170bhp/222Nm
TRANSMISSION: Five-speed
manual, rear-wheel drive
0-62MPH: 7.9 secs
PRICE NEW: £36,925 (1989)
VALUE TODAY: from £35,000

EXECS LOVED THE DESIGN SO MUCH THAT

THIS ONE-OFF DEVELOPMENT CAR WAS
GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT FOR PRODUCTION

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 65

TESTED BMW Z3

BMW Z3
BMW Z3
ENGINE: 3.2-litre 4cyl turbo (Z3 M)
POWER/TORQUE: 317bhp/350Nm
TRANSMISSION: Five-speed
manual, rear-wheel drive
0-62MPH: 5.0 secs
PRICE NEW: £40,600 (2000)
VALUE TODAY: from £11,000

WHILE the Z1 was very much a rare (and seconds, comfortably beating the standard that
expensive for its time) offering, BMW saw was set by typical mid-nineties hot hatches.
that there was potential for a much more mass- The example here is the Z3 M Roadster that took
market approach for its replacement. And boy did not only its power from the M3 – a 3.2-litre inline
the Z3 succeed commercially. While just 8,000 Z1s six producing 317bhp and a 7,600rpm red line – but
were produced, almost 300,000 Z3s hit the road also its limited-slip differential and beefier brakes.
in a seven-year period between 1995 and 2002. While the M3 takes much of the glory, we’d argue
To achieve this, the latest model took a more that the Z3 is among the best places from which to
pragmatic approach to its production – and that appreciate one of BMW’s greatest engines. Roof bezelled heater controls to the clarity of the dials
went beyond the return to a normal set of doors. down, there’s a gloriously rich howl from the motor and the wonderfully supportive seats, it all adds to
The new mechanical make-up included a certain as it’s wound through its full rev range, while those the occasion. So do the quad tailpipes at the back –
irony, too; while the Z3’s spiritual predecessor oversized rear tyres let you to deploy everything the first time a BMW M car used that arrangement
pioneered the rear axle that became popularised it’s got far more often than you first realise. A and one that has been found on every M car since.
by the E36 3 Series, the Z3 used the platform beautifully linear power delivery helps here, too; it Yet despite all of this, values of the Z3 M
adapted from the E36 3 Series Compact, which may shriek like a barely restrained race engine, but Roadster mean it isn’t as unobtainable as you
meant it missed out on the clever Z-axle rear it’s really quite friendly, too. That motor dominates might think. While the finest examples of its
suspension design and instead used the set-up the whole experience, adding a sense of rawness hard-topped sibling, the rare and quirky breadvan-
from the older E30 3 Series instead. that makes you feel connected to the model. shaped Z3 M Coupé, fetch £50-£60,000 in
There were some technical quirks under the Even its quirks only add to the charm. It’s not the immaculate condition, the drop-top version
bonnet, too. To appeal to the masses that had sharpest or most precise car to point into a corner, starts from less than half that sum. Roadsters
already fallen for the Mazda MX-5, four-cylinder but the steering and the gearshift have a beefy feel are cheaper still, kicking off from £10,000.
power was offered from launch. The 1.9-litre, that seems perfectly suited to the Z3’s overall vibe. Still too much? Then Z3s can be found on sale
120bhp unit didn’t exactly deliver sprightly The cabin is very snug – the windscreen is close to for as little as that ever-popular Mazda MX-5.
performance – and even a bump to 138bhp the dash and the elbow room is tighter than you High-mileage examples of the 1.9-litre petrol Z3
later in its life didn’t turn it into a fire-breather. might expect – but that only adds to the feeling start from as little as £1,000, and while 2.8 models
Much better suited to the Z3’s muscular shape that the occupants are bit-part extras behind the can fetch much more in show-ready condition,
was the M52 2.8-litre straight-six taken from the A-list engine crammed under the bonnet. there are plenty of examples around for a few
328i. This offered up 189bhp, lifting it well beyond Get over the tightness inside and the Z3’s cabin grand. Little else at that price offers muscle-car
the Z1’s output, and gave it a 0-62mph time of 7.1 oozes quality. From the solid action of the chrome- looks with a glorious six-cylinder sound.

66 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Z CAR SUPERTEST
SIX OF THE BEST
While four-cylinder-engined Z3s were
produced, the 2.8-litre straight-six
models suit the sports car best

TESTER’S NOTES
THE Z3 kicked off BMW’s brief association with James
Bond (the Z8 and E38 7 Series also appeared). The Z3
is driven by 007 (Pierce Brosnan) for just 36 seconds.

ALEX INGRAM Chief reviewer

WE’D ARGUE THATTHE

Z3 IS AMONG THE BEST
PLACES FROM WHICH TO
APPRECIATE ONE OF BMW’S
GREATEST ENGINES
www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 67
TESTED BMW Z8

BMW Z8

HERE it is, then: the most exclusive and

valuable Z car of them all. The Z8 was first
teased by the Z07 concept shown at the 1997 BMW Z8
Tokyo Motor Show, but the greatest shock two ENGINE: 4.9-litre V8
years later was that the production version had POWER/TORQUE: 394bhp/500Nm
hardly changed at all. It looked every inch like a TRANSMISSION:
Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
show car for the road. Or should that be a movie
star for the road? After all, this was the car which 0-62MPH: 4.7 secs
PRICE NEW: £86,650 (1999)
James Bond drove in the The World is Not Enough.
VALUE TODAY: from £160,000
The Z8’s silver screen-worthy looks, penned by
Henrik Fisker, paid homage to the stunning 507.
From the round headlights to the wide, slim
iteration of the signature BMW kidney grille, litre V8 that drove the legendary E39 M5, which
and the vents in the front wing, the inspiration means 394bhp and 500Nm of torque sent to the
for the Z8’s design is clear to see. rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
But that retro shape doesn’t diminish its Unlike the contemporary M5, however, the Z8
spectacular presence in the metal; it looks truly didn’t employ a limited-slip differential to help get
stunning up close and worth every penny of the all that torque onto the road, but it did get rack-
£160,00-250,000 they fetch in private sales today. and-pinion steering, which was more precise
Like many movie stars, it’s perhaps not quite as big than the recirculating ball set-up used by every
as you expect in the metal. At 4.4 metres long and other V8-powered BMW up to that point.
1.8 metres wide, it takes up almost exactly the An aluminium spaceframe construction and
same space on the road as a Nissan Qashqai. lots of aluminium in the suspension kept the
The BMW’s styling is no less spectacular inside, model’s weight down to a reasonable 1,585kg.
with bespoke components everywhere. The Feedback from the motoring press was a little
switchgear, the steering wheel and the entire lukewarm at the Z8’s launch, with testers unsure
leather-trimmed dashboard are all unique to the about what it was trying to be. Time has been kind
Z8. The dials sit in the middle of the dash and are to the car’s driving experience, though; it makes
angled towards the driver. Like the Z1, the Z8 was far more sense now than it did back in 1999. With
only ever produced in left-hand drive. sports cars becoming ever firmer and sharper in
It did borrow an engine, however, but it’s no bad the intervening 25 years since its launch, the Z8
place to start. Power comes from the same 4.9- has found its place as a relaxing cruiser – albeit

68 DoubleIssue
 Z CAR SUPERTEST

PREMIUM BOND
The Z8 found fame on the silver screen
driven by Pierce Brosnan as James Bond
in the 007 film The World is Not Enough

TESTER’S NOTES
BMW used neon to produce slim tail-lights and indicators. The Z8 was
the only car to use the gas, unless you attended a modified-car meeting.

ALEX INGRAM Chief reviewer

Double Issue 69
TESTED BMW Z8

one with the heart of a V8 bruiser. With the roof

down, it’s easy to appreciate that thunderous V8
soundtrack. Plant your right foot, and the Z8 squats
onto the rear axle as it launches forward at pace.
There’s only a slight let-up as you work the gearbox
through its long throw before the surge continues.
This is a very quick car even by modern standards.
But ease off and that engine remains wonderful
to use. There’s loads of low-down torque, allowing
you to hold a gear and enjoy a V8 burble that still
sounds lovely when it’s not working as hard. And CLASSY CABIN
that suits the rest of the driving experience, too. Bespoke interior elements, such
The Z8 isn’t a car to push into corners – it feels too as the switchgear, steering wheel
soft, the steering too slow and the balance a little and leather-trimmed dashboard,
nose-heavy for that – but instead you appreciate its are unique to the BMW Z8
other qualities. The ride comfort is much smoother
than any modern two-seat drop-top, and refinement
is still impressive – especially with the roof up.

70 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Z CAR SUPERTEST

THERE’S ONLYA SLIGHT LET-UP

ASYOU WORKTHE GEARBOX
BEFORE THE SURGE CONTINUES.
THIS IS STILLAVERYQUICK CAR
BYMODERN STANDARDS

ALEX INGRAM Chief reviewer

Double Issue 71
TESTED BMW Z4 (E85/86)

BMW Z4
BMW Z4 (E85/86)
ENGINE: 3.4-litre 6cyl
(Alpina Roadster S)
POWER/TORQUE: 295bhp/362Nm
TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual,
rear-wheel drive
0-62MPH: 5.0 secs
PRICE WHEN NEW: £37,850 (2006)
VALUE TODAY: from £20,000

BY the year 2002, the Z3 had been with us

for some time, and the slight hotch-potch
of its mechanical make-up was replaced by a more
coherent mechanical package for its successor.
This time, the underpinnings were taken from the
E46-generation 3 Series.
With it came a radical new style that was much
more modern inside and out. Gone was the retro
look, replaced by something radically contemporary;
its sharp creases and bold angles are impossible to
miss whichever direction you approach from.
The model we’re driving here is even more
dramatic looking than most. This is the Alpina
Roadster S, and the German tuner added its own
signature multi-spoke alloy wheels and menacing
bodykit. This immaculate example, provided by
owner Andrew Gallant, is a fitting car to include
here, given that BMW now owns the Alpina brand.
As you’d expect from Alpina, the upgrades go
well beyond the styling tweaks, the beautiful blue
dials, and the optional extended leather package
that coats much of that distinctive cabin in soft
hide. An uprated version of BMW’s S52 inline six
has been expanded to 3.4 litres, gains a unique
cylinder head, uprated crankshaft and high-
strength pistons – the result being 295bhp at
6,300rpm. From rest, 60mph arrives in just five
seconds, and this example feels totally good for it.
But this Roadster also boasts a chassis that is
far sharper than in its relatives here, even though
it’s still backed up by Alpina’s knack for creating a
wonderfully forgiving ride out of impossibly thin
rubber wrapped around 19-inch wheels. It’s the
keenest to turn into corners, the pedals are best
placed for heel-and-toe downshifts, and it
doggedly resists body roll through the turns.
But these were all traits that could be found
on even the most humdrum Z4 models, granting
those with barely £2,000 to spend today a really
keen driver’s car. Early models suffered from a
harsh ride, thanks in no small part to BMW’s
decision to fit run-flat tyres in place of a spare
wheel, but modern tyres take the edge off.
PEAK PRACTICE
These were all qualities which came to a
This Alpina Roadster S features
crescendo in the hot 338bhp M version, which is
various interior and exterior
the best to drive of the bunch. Indeed, a little less tweaks, but it is the tuned
than two decades ago when our sister title Evo engine and chassis upgrades
magazine tested the Z4 M against not only the that really set the car apart
Alpina Roadster S, but the Porsche Boxster S and
the TVR Tuscan, it emerged victorious, because
it “exhilarates and challenges in a way the oh-so-
accomplished Porsche can’t match”.

72 DoubleIssue
 Z CAR SUPERTEST
WHILE the Z3 Coupé was only offered in
hottest M form, making it a very rare sight
on UK roads, the hard-top Z4 was also offered with

LOOKS ARE VERYSUBJECTIVE, a 261bhp 3.0-litre straight six. Its rarity still makes
it fairly valuable on the used market, with high-
BUTTO US THE PROPORTIONS mileage cars starting from £5,000, but climbing
to as much as £18,000 for the most immaculate
OFTHIS Z4 GENERATION – AND versions with barely 25,000 miles on the clock

PARTICULARLYTHE COUPE – from new. The M models range from £13,000

to double that figure, depending on condition.

JUST LOOK SPECTACULAR Looks are very subjective, but to us the

proportions of this Z4 generation – and particularly
the coupé – just look spectacular. It’s at its best
in profile where those dramatic side creases in
the door play perfectly with one another; the front
line that flows up through the beautifully detailed
side repeaters and up into the A-pillar is a
particular highlight. This car, brought along by
owner Andy Page, looks even more special with
its arches filled by its E46 M3 CSL-style 19-inch
wheels. Of all the cars created during the Chris
Bangle era of BMW – although the car itself was
penned by current Rolls-Royce director of design
Anders Warming – it’d be a bold person to suggest
that any others have aged so gracefully as the Z4.
And of all the models here, it seems like this one
was the right version to turn into a coupé. The
extra stiffness of a solid roof applied to what was
already the most focused driver’s car here makes it
a very sharp tool. It’s a huge amount of fun to drive,
with the same cab-rearward driving position of the
roadster giving the feeling that you rotate with the
rear axle, yet with the added benefit of the extra
rigidity that comes with that shapely solid roof.
It’s a proper driver’s car, too, and while it doesn’t
quite have the delicacy of a contemporary Porsche
Cayman, it’s all the better for it. There’s more
personality and a more playful attitude, backed up
with a slight hard edge that makes you feel like you
have to work to get the best out of it. Whether you
choose the 3.0-litre we’re driving or that full-fat M
model, they offer a wonderful soundtrack, too.

BMW Z4 COUPE (E86)

ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl
POWER: 261bhp/315Nm
TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual,
rear-wheel drive
0-62MPH: 5.7 secs
PRICE WHEN NEW: £31,320 (2006)
VALUE TODAY: from £5,000

Double Issue 73
TESTED BMW Z4 (E89)

BMW Z4

BMW Z4 (E89)
ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl (sDrive30)
POWER/TORQUE: 254bhp/310Nm
TRANSMISSION: Six-speed auto,
rear-wheel drive
0-62MPH: 6.1 secs
PRICE NEW: £34,430 (2009)
VALUE TODAY: From £8,500

WHILE all six Z cars were available as a two- who can adjust the seat very close to the floor if there is still fun to be had. As we said when we
seat roadster, two more, as we’ve seen, they choose, makes you instantly feel like you’re pitched the Z4 against a Porsche Boxster and the
were also offered as a coupé. But the Mk2 Z4 behind the wheel of a serious sports car. Look Mercedes SLK back in June 2009: “it generates
was the only one that was offered as both in closer, and it’s the details that make the cabin lots of grip, the steering is direct and body control
the same car. That’s because, in a unique move really stand out; the chrome-ringed climate excellent”. And those sentiments still ring true
among all of the Z cars, this E89-generation Z4 controls, whose functions are all split into four today. The engine is even more creamy than the
was equipped with a metal folding hard-top, circles, are as beautifully finished as they are marque’s previous six-cylinder efforts, too, and
a move BMW made in response to the sales logical to use. Touches such as these made high- while the six-speed automatic gearbox isn’t quite
success that was the Mercedes SLK of the era. end cars feel special in the past, and it’s a tactile as responsive as the dual-clutch transmission that
BMW claimed that this metal origami meant quality that so many modern, touchscreen-laden was fitted to later four-cylinder versions of the Z4,
only a modest 30kg weight penalty compared models struggle to replicate. it is still very smooth in everyday use.
with the fabric roof of the earlier Z4, which On the move, the Mk2 Z4 returns much more In many ways, this will feel like it’s the most
owners would be more than willing to accept to Z-car type after the exception that was the first appealing option for fans of BMW sports cars
given the extra security and refinement it brought. Z4. Much like the Z1 and the Z3, ultimate sharpness who want a modern classic right now. It feels fresh
While it takes just 21 seconds to operate at the through the turns has been traded for comfort, but enough to drive, almost like it could have rolled out
touch of a button, when the roof is folded away with lots of power and a rear-wheel-drive chassis, of a showroom yesterday, yet still maintains the
it does eat into boot space, chopping an superb analogue clocks and logical switchgear
impressively roomy 310-litre volume with the that made BMWs of the past feel so special.
seats up down to 180 litres when stowed away. While we didn’t think it was ultimately as sharp
Roof design aside, the E89 carries a clear
styling evolution over from the previous Z4. Yes,
IN MANYWAYS, as a Porsche Boxster to drive in period, it felt more
special, and was also cheaper to buy by some
it became softer and a little curvier, but many of THIS WILL FEEL LIKE IT’S THE margin. Indeed, it’s a model that we still think has a
the original calling cards remain; the long bonnet/
cab-rearward design and the line which curves MOSTAPPEALING OPTION huge amount of appeal on the used market today.
High-mileage examples with smaller engines start
gradually from the tail edge of the headlight
towards the rear wheelarch maintain a strong
FOR FANS OF BMW SPORTS from £4,000, with the more potent sDrive30
driven here costing little more than £7,000 for a
resemblance with the rest of the family.
The interior is a fantastic place to sit, too. A
CARS WHO WANTA MODERN car without an astronomical mileage. But expect
to pay slightly more for a car in the condition of
rounded instrument binnacle ahead of a driver CLASSIC RIGHT NOW owner Chris Christoforou’s example here.

74 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Z CAR SUPERTEST
INTERIOR
High-quality physical
controls helped boost
the premium feel of the
second-generation
Z4’s plush cabin

TESTER’S NOTES
ALL E89 Z4s have BMW’s Dynamic Drive Control system,
which can adjust the response of the throttle and the
steering through the Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes.

ALEX INGRAM Chief reviewer

MULTIPURPOSE
Folding metal roof let
Z4 Mk2 owners go
topless or enjoy the
comfort and extra
security of a hard-top

Double Issue 75
TESTED BMW Z4 (G29)

BMW
BRINGING all of the previous Z cars into 2.8-litre model, especially with so much low-down
perspective is the modern-day Z4. First torque and a superb eight-speed auto to work with.
released in 2018, it boasts oodles of contemporary But the real performance comes once again from
technology, and provides tangible proof that there six cylinders. The range is topped by the 3.0-litre
are plenty of positives to the systems that current M40i, which ups the power to 335bhp and 500Nm.
models are now furnished with. That’s enough for a flat-out acceleration run that
Once again, the Z4 takes a 3 Series as its dispatches the 0-62mph time in just 4.5 seconds.
starting point, although more broadly speaking it Earlier this year, BMW bolstered the all-auto
uses a variant of the brand’s Cluster Architecture range with the Handschalter package, introducing
(CLAR) design used by the overwhelming majority the option of a six-speed manual transmission
of BMW’s line-up. That enables the latest model to to the M40i. While it adds 0.1 seconds to the
be packed with the sort of safety technology and 0-62mph time, it more than makes up for it with
structural strength that its predecessors can only the level of feel and interaction of that extra pedal.
dream of. When it was tested by Euro NCAP in Indeed, for all of its modern tech and touchscreen
2019, the model received a maximum five-star systems, the G29-generation Z4 still has a
rating, and its Adult Occupant Protection score pleasingly old-school feel to its driving experience
of 97 per cent was one of the highest of any car that seems right at home in this company.
that was assessed that year. But where does that leave the Z4 going forward?
Design-wise, there’s elements of Z8 present Well, the future doesn’t look so bright as it stands.
here, from the swept-back headlights to the Production of the current car is set to end in 2026,
rounded boot and slim tail-lights. But it still and there are no immediate plans to bring out
features the latest BMW staples, including another. That would be a huge shame in our view,
enlarged kidney grilles and purposeful-looking because if the latest Z4 is anything to go by, BMW
air intakes in the front bumpers. still knows how to instil a bit of character into its
Initially, the roof looks like a backward step from sports cars. If a replacement does come, we just
its metal-capped predecessor, because here it hope we won’t have to wait as long as fans of the
reverts back to a fabric hood. But the benefits are 507 had to hang around for the ZT department
clear, both in terms of packaging and utility. to produce the Z1, and begin a dynasty that has
A fabric top can fold into a much tighter space entertained for 35 years and counting.
than the complex metal contraption of the E89,
and the latest Z4 is amazingly practical as a result.
Yes, the boot opening is typically small, as it would
be in any two-seat roadster, but there’s still 281
FOR ALL OF ITS MODERN TECH A
litres of space to play with – easily enough for a SYSTEMS,THE Z4 STILL HAS A P
couple of big suitcases to be stowed away.
There are big benefits if you’re caught out by SCHOOL FEELTO ITS DRIVING EX
bad weather, too. At a quick flick of a switch, the
roof closes in just 10 seconds, and can be operated
SEEMS RIGHTAT HOME IN THIS
at speeds of up to 31mph, so there’s not even any
need to come to a halt as the heavens open.
So the roof presents some practical benefits,
but BMW’s engineering progress is immediately
clear to see. Just a few metres along the road is
enough to show just how rigid the Z4’s body feels
besides its predecessors; shimmies and twitches
are near non-existent from this structure, and that
has allowed BMW to tune a much tighter degree
of control into the chassis.
Aim the Z4 for a string of corners and it hardly
rolls at all, while the electric power steering
helps the car dart into a corner with a more
instantaneous feel than its ancestors; many drivers
would incorrectly assume that it’s the new car that
is the lightest of the bunch. Despite this, it still
returns the supple, easy-going ride which made
the older Z cars so adept at long-distance touring.
While turbocharging crept into the E98-
generation Z4 later in its life, it’s only the current
G29 model that uses turbocharging from the ON THE ROAD
outset. Things kick off with a 2.0-litre petrol, and Despite its taut chassis, the latest Z4 has
while a four-cylinder felt fairly hamstrung in the Z3, a suppleness that makes it a good long-
here there’s much more go; indeed, with 194bhp distance cruiser, just like its ancestors
on tap, it’s more potent than the older car’s

76 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Z CAR SUPERTEST

Z4
BMW Z4 (G29)
ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
(sDrive20i)
POWER/TORQUE:
194bhp/320Nm
TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed
auto, rear-wheel drive
0-62MPH: 6.6 secs
PRICE NEW: £45,170
VALUE TODAY: From £18,180

ALL MOD CONS

As with lots of modern cars, many functions are
controlled via a touchscreen (above), while BMW
reverted to an electric fabric hood for the current Z4

AND TOUCHSCREEN
PLEASINGLYOLD-
XPERIENCE THAT
COMPANY

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 77

TESTED BMW Z cars

ALEX INGRAM Chief reviewer

78 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 Z CAR SUPERTEST
IT’S CLEAR THATWHILE EACH MODEL IN THE Z4 LINE-UP
MANAGES TO OFFER ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER, SOME
OBVIOUS FAMILYTIES HAVE REMAINED THROUGHOUT

BMW Z CARS
THANKS TO: Don Cook (G29),
Chris Christoforou (Z4),
Andrew Gallant (Alpine Roadster S),
Andrew Page (Z4 Coupé), Rob Norton (Z1),
Ben Clifford (Z3) and Martyn Goodwin
at BMW UK for the Z8

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 79

TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

ESSENTIALS
Lexus LM 350h Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB
Price from: £90,030 Price from: £59,545
Powertrain: 2.5-litre petrol hybrid, 247bhp Powertrain: 1x e-motor, 86kWh battery, 282bhp
0-62mph: 8.7 seconds 0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
Test efficiency: 36.4mpg Test efficiency: 2.9 miles/kWh
Official range: 480 miles Official range: 290 miles
Annual VED: £590 Annual VED: £0

80 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 TESTS

New long-wheelbase VW
ID. Buzz offers seven-seat
practicality. We pitch the
EV people carrier against
Lexus’s posh hybrid LM
Pictures: Matt Vopser

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 81

TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

Old-school cool tackles high-end luxury in MPV clash

YEARS of neglect have left the MPV seven-seat layout that many critics
sector a shadow of its former self, believe the ID. Buzz should have had
with van-based models forming the in the first place, but does it make it a
backbone of the class in recent years. One more appealing proposition than ever?
such model is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. For this comparison, we’re lining up
However, this van-derived MPV breaks the an MPV that offers something completely
mould, because not only is it based on VW’s different, the Lexus LM. It features the
electric car platform, its distinctive retro- company’s proven hybrid powertrain
inspired styling also means it’s a real head- tech to deliver refinement and efficiency,
turner. Now VW has expanded the line-up while the van-shaped body is loaded with
with a long-wheelbase variant. This adds a luxuries for passengers. It’s also one of
the most expensive cars in the Lexus

HEAD TO HEAD
line-up, so how does it compare with
VW’s battery-powered people carrier?

ON THE ROAD 62 TECH HIGHLIGHTS PRICE AND RUNNING

THE instant responses of the MPH WHILE it has a retro-inspired NEITHER car is cheap, but the
VW’s electric powertrain mean it’s exterior, the ID. Buzz is thoroughly VW starts at around £30,000 less
surprisingly easy to keep pace with modern inside, with a big central than the Lexus. The LWB version
traffic, although using its full acceleration touchscreen up front and plenty of doesn’t cost much more than the
frequently will quickly hit the car’s range. charging ports dotted around the cabin. standard model, either, so we’d be happy
It’s also better to take a more relaxed But the LM has even more gizmos, with to pay the extra for its added versatility.
approach in the Lexus, because hard the Takumi model featuring a massive The all-electric powertrain will offer low
acceleration causes the engine to rev 48-inch screen that’s operated via twin everyday running costs, while the car’s
harshly, disturbing the tranquil cabin smartphone-style remote controls, as first three services are included. Lexus
ambience in the process. well as huge displays up front. offers a 10-year warranty on the LM.

82 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 TESTS

JOURNEYINTOSPACE
Boxy, van-like bodystyle of these
CONTENDERS
two MPVs means there’s plenty of
room for people and their luggage VW ID. Buzz LWB Lexus LM
THE ID. Buzz is the biggest car to use the WHILE it looks like a van, the Lexus LM has
Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric-vehicle more in common with the RX SUV and ES
architecture, with the long-wheelbase saloon than any commercial vehicle. It uses
version adding 250mm of overall length the same platform as those cars, and only
to create space for a third row of seats. comes with a petrol hybrid powertrain.
There’s also room for an 86kWh battery, There are two versions of the LM
up from 79kWh for the standard car, so available. The standard seven-seater is
overall range remains largely unchanged. pretty plush, but the Takumi version in our
Trim levels are the same – Life, Style and pictures has a four-seat layout with vast
GTX – while there’s a modest premium of ‘airline-style’ chairs in the back and a huge
£510 to upgrade to the LWB model. screen that spans the width of the cabin.

PRACTICALITY ACCESSIBILITY SEATING

IT’S the bigger car, so it’s no BOTH models have vast tailgates THE middle row in the ID. Buzz
surprise that the ID. Buzz has with powered opening. The LM’s is has a 60:40 split, while all the
more boot space than the LM. There’s up very slow, but it can be operated via seats slide to optimise space. The
to 1,304 litres on offer in two-seat mode, buttons on either side, so you don’t have rearmost chairs can also be removed.
compared with 1,191 litres in the Lexus. to stand in front of the tailgate to open it. Lexus states that the LM is a seven-
The two airline seats in the Takumi The sliding side doors are also power seater in non-Takumi guise, but it’s really
model are fixed, so you can’t take full operated, and mean that cabin access in a plush six-seater with a final chair for
advantage of the LM’s cargo capacity. confined spaces is easy. The VW’s doors occasional use as part of the rearmost
Still, boot space of 752 litres should be open wider, while both cars have plenty row. The four front seats in this model
more than enough for most situations. of warning beeps when they’re in use. are all heated and ventilated for comfort.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 83

TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

THE extended length and wheelbase turning circle for such a large car improve
that come with the Volkswagen ID. Buzz manoeuvrability. There’s strong response
LWB boost the car’s versatility. There’s more from the powertrain, even from a standstill,
cargo space on offer, while the addition of so keeping pace with traffic is a breeze.
a third row of seats means that two extra
passengers can jump on board to experience A & B-ROADS Getting up to higher speeds is
the retro people carrier’s charms. also straightforward, thanks to the 560Nm
A larger battery helps the LWB model to of torque that’s on offer as soon as you hit
offer slightly more range than the standard the accelerator. The chassis is designed for
ID. Buzz, but overall the powertrain remains comfort and to manage the car’s hefty
unchanged. That’s not a bad thing, because kerbweight, though, so while acceleration
the electric drive system is smooth and is sporty, that’s where the racy edge ends,
responsive in everyday use. However, because with plenty of body lean in corners, which is
the ID. Buzz is such a large, heavy car, it’s not amplified by the high seating position. The
the most efficient EV on the market. suspension strikes a good balance between
comfort and control, though, and grip is good.
MOTORS & PERFORMANCE 4.3/5_ Bumps are soaked up easily, but bigger
THE ID. Buzz range has expanded beyond potholes can cause the whole body to shudder,
the launch line-up, with the existing Life and while fitting larger alloy wheels doesn’t have
Style trims joined by a sportier GTX variant, much of an impact on ride quality.
which arrived at the same time as the LWB
model. All three trim levels are available MOTORWAY That smooth nose helps the
in standard and long-wheelbase guises. ID. Buzz cut through the air, but while wind
Whichever you choose, power is the same, noise isn’t an issue overall, the lack of an
with a single 282bhp rear-mounted electric engine note means it’s more noticeable at
motor for the Life and Style models, while motorway speeds, as is tyre roar. The ride
the GTX adds a second electric motor for a is at its best at higher speeds, which further
total of 335bhp and four-wheel drive. enhances the ID. Buzz’s refinement.
There’s a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds for
the standard car, while the GTX manages RUNNING COSTS 4.5/5_
the sprint in 6.1 seconds. The larger and WITH prices from just under £60,000, the ID.
heavier LWB model is slightly slower, adding Buzz isn’t cheap, but upgrading to LWB guise
0.3 seconds to the times for each version. doesn’t see a huge jump in prices. There’s a
A 79kWh battery is fitted to the standard modest premium of around £500 to pay for
ID. Buzz, which is located low in the chassis the longer version, while turning the five-seat
between the axles. Thanks to an extra 250mm model into a six-seater (or speccing the seven-
of distance between the front and rear wheels, seat LWB with six seats) will cost you £150.
there’s space for a larger battery in the LWB
model. Capacity is increased to 86kWh, and EV RANGE/ BATTERY/CHARGING
according to the official figures, the larger Surprisingly, the best performing model in
version can go slightly further on a charge. the ID. Buzz line-up in terms of range is the

Long-wheelbase ID. Buzz adds ex

long-wheelbase model in entry-level Life trim.
DRIVING 4.3/5_ Official figures state that it can travel up to
IT’S a big car, but the electric powertrain 293 miles on a full charge, which is 10 miles
means the ID. Buzz feels sprightly. The chassis further than the equivalent model in
is set up for comfort ahead of sporty driving. standard-wheelbase guise.
Larger wheels trim seven miles from the
AROUND TOWN At nearly two metres wide, official range of the Style LWB, at 286 miles,
the ID. Buzz isn’t the easiest car to position on while the standard-length version has a
narrow urban streets, and width restrictions maximum range of 277 miles. As is often the
could be a challenge. But there are parking case with the highest-spec EVs in a line-up,
sensors all round, including side monitors the most powerful, four-wheel-drive GTX
that can detect obstacles such as bollards next has the shortest range, covering 282 miles in
to the car that might be beyond the view of LWB guise, or 255 miles in its standard form.
the door mirrors – unlike some van-based But efficiency isn’t a strong point, because
MPVs, the ID. Buzz doesn’t have wide-angle when you compare the ID. Buzz with the ID.7,
lower mirrors for extra visibility. a car that uses similar battery sizes, the latter
The tall driving position and huge glass adds at least 100 miles to these figures.
area allow a clear view of your surroundings, We’ve only seen 3.0 miles per kWh from our
although the stubby bonnet means it’s best to own long-term ID. Buzz five-seater, while the
assume that the front of the car is where the heavier LWB model returned 2.9mi/kWh
windscreen ends. Light steering and a decent during our time with it. That relatively poor

84 Double Issue
 TESTS
MODELTESTED:
ID. Buzz LWB 86kWh Style
PROS CONS
Versatile It’s a big car
interior space to manoeuvre
Modest premium Not as efficient
over standard car as some rivals
Responsive Expensive
powertrain to buy

TESTER’S NOTES
THE ID. Buzz delivers lots of space, and
there are some practical touches on offer,
too. The Multiflex floor (below) offers a
second level that is flush with the rearmost
seats when they are folded, although there
are gaps in the floor if the seats are pushed
forward when they’re flat. The floor hinges
up to improve access to the fabric
drawers that slot beneath.
There’s just one bag hook in
the boot, but Volkswagen also
provides a plastic divider with
a Velcro-style strip that can
attached to the floor in
various positions to
help divide the
Dean Gibson
Senior test editor space.

FEATURES
Multiflex floor has two
handy storage drawers;
VW’s Discover Pro
system features on the
12.9-inch touchscreen;
all-round visibility is good
xtra practicality to go with its retro charm from the driving seat

“THE ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM IS SMOOTHAND RESPONSIVE,

BUT IT’S NOTTHE MOST EFFICIENT EV ON THE MARKET
Double Issue 85
TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

figure can be partly put down to cold weather, TECH AND INFOTAINMENT VW’s Discover
but this is still one of the less efficient EVs on Pro system includes a 12.9-inch touchscreen
the market. And despite the car’s high cost, a that has plenty of features, while 10-colour
heat pump is only available as an option that ambient lighting is fitted as standard. This
adds around £1,000 to the asking price. can be upgraded to a 30-colour system with
Charging speeds of up to 200kW are one of the car’s option packs, which also adds
available, while a 170kW DC source will get matrix LED headlights and a panoramic roof
the Volkswagen’s battery from 5-80 per cent with an electrochromatic sun shade.
capacity in half an hour. You can expect a
full charge to take nine hours from an 11kW PRACTICALITY 4.7/5_
three-phase AC supply. A SEVEN-seat layout helps the long-wheelbase
version of the ID. Buzz to be an even more
TAX Company car buyers will see annual versatile option than the standard car.
outgoings of £475 at the 40 per cent rate if
they choose an ID. Buzz for the 2024/25 tax FRONT SPACE There’s lots of room for two
year, with its high list price accounting for up front, while the vast windscreen and light
relatively steep rates for an EV. At least the cabin colours boost the sense of space. Storage
car is still currently exempt from road tax. is van-like, with big double door bins, trays on
the dashboard, a good glovebox and opening
INSURANCE Ratings for the ID. Buzz range cup-holder lower down. The Buzz Box centre
from 37-42, with the more powerful GTX console includes cup-holders, an ice scraper/
version laying claim to the highest category. bottle opener and additional drawers, and can
be removed completely if necessary.
DEPRECIATION One area where the ID. Buzz
has consistently performed well is for residual REAR SPACE Access to the back is easy via
values. It’s not quite at the peak of desirability the wide sliding doors, and once inside there’s
it was when first launched, but with figures plenty of head and legroom. The seating
in the 56-58 per cent range, it’s the best layout has a 60:40 split, so the three chairs
performer in the VW line-up, and one of the don’t slide individually, while the middle
strongest mainstream models from any area seat is a little narrow, but there’s legroom
of the market. The LWB is as strong as the even with the chairs moved fully forward.
standard car, while the top-spec GTX is the Air vents are located in the roof, while USB
best performing model of the whole range, sockets feature in the doors, where there are
at just under 58 per cent in LWB guise. also deep storage pockets. The ID. Buzz shows
its van roots here again by having fixed rear
INTERIOR &TECHNOLOGY 4.5/5_ windows that don’t open.
RETRO looks and an interesting cabin layout The rearmost two seats slide, and there’s
help to lift the ID. Buzz above other models in enough legroom for adults to get comfortable.
Volkswagen’s electric vehicle line-up. However, although headroom is good in most
positions, if you push the seats fully back,
DESIGN The retro exterior looks will turn there’s a bulge in the roof that hides the
heads wherever you go, while the interior tailgate mechanism and restricts headroom
offers some of the same appeal, and is mixed for taller occupants. There are two USB-C
with VW’s cutting-edge technology. There’s sockets in the back, plus cup-holders.
a large touchscreen menu up front, a small
ONTHEROAD
While the electric powertrain feels
digital instrument cluster mounted on the BOOT SPACE Even with the rearmost row
sprightly, the ID. Buzz is set up for
steering column (so it moves with the wheel of seats pushed all the way back, there’s still comfortable cruising. The two-tone
when you adjust it) and plenty of storage a reasonable amount of space for luggage. paint finish will turn heads, though
everywhere, while the pale plastics help A capacity of 306 litres is about the same
with the feeling of spaciousness in the cabin. as a supermini’s, so you could get some
shopping in there if you needed to.
QUALITY The plastics used in the interior are The Multiflex system creates under-floor
on the hard side – highlighting the ID. Buzz’s storage with two drawers, while folding the
van-derived roots – but there are rubber back seats leaves a completely flat load area.
inserts where you need them that boost the If you want maximum volume, the rearmost
feeling of high quality in the cabin. two seats are removable.
As with the plastics, the fabric upholstery
has a light finish, although there are also dark RELIABILITY & SAFETY 4.5/5_
colours available if you’re concerned about THERE are four sets of Isofix child seat
the pale materials showing up dirt. Leather attachments in the back of the ID. Buzz – two
trim isn’t available, with VW opting for eco- for each row – while the middle row slides
focused recycled materials instead. forward to give plenty of room to get a child

86 Double Issue
 TESTS
PRACTICALITY
Rearmost two seats fold flat to increase
the boot space, while they can be removed
completely if additional storage is needed

CABIN
Light-coloured materials
TESTER’S NOTES
THE long-wheelbase version of the ID. Buzz
give an airy feel to the
interior. Darker trim is eliminates one of the chief criticisms we
available if you’re worried had of the car when it was first launched,
about dirt showing because the sliding seats transform the
VW’s versatility. The mechanisms are a little
stiff to use, but once you’ve got the hang of
them, you can move the seats into any
layout that you need.
All of the seat backs can be
positioned upright for boot
space or reclined for comfort,
while the LWB model has rear
air vents, a feature missing
from the standard car.
The LWB model is
our pick of the
Dean Gibson
Senior test editor
range.

seat inside. Euro NCAP gave the ID. Buzz

an 87 per cent score for child occupant
protection when it tested the car in 2022,
where it earned a five-star overall rating.

WARRANTY 4.2/5
A THREE-year warranty is standard fare from
Volkswagen, although there’s a 100,000-mile
distance limit, which is 40,000 miles longer
than for the brand’s petrol models. Roadside
assistance is offered for the same period.

“A SEVEN-SEAT LAYOUT HELPS SERVICING 4.7/5

ADDING to the ID. Buzz’s low running costs
THE LWB VERSION TO BE EVEN is a complimentary service plan that covers

MORE VERSATILE THAN THE the car’s first three inspections and its first
MoT, too. While EVs have lower maintenance

STANDARD ID. BUZZ costs than combustion-engined cars, this

offer will still give added peace of mind.

Double Issue 87
TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

IT’S arguable that there’s nothing quite MPV such as this. Light steering offers little
like the Lexus LM on sale anywhere on feedback, but it’s easy to use, and while the
the planet, let alone within the brand’s UK LM is long, the standard 360-degree camera
line-up. The petrol-hybrid MPV is loaded with system helps you position the car. Considering
luxury equipment, and has a firm focus on there are a large number of warning beeps
making trips as comfortable as possible for from elsewhere in the Lexus, the fact that
passengers, especially those in the back. there are no parking sensors is a surprise.
Prices start from £90,000, and now that
the LC sports car is no longer available, the LM A & B-ROADS Go faster, and the LM still
is the second most expensive car in the Lexus delivers great refinement, with wind noise
line-up, after the LS limousine. The seven-seat mitigated by standard-fit double glazing.
model is plush, but the top-spec Takumi There’s more sound from under the bonnet,
variant with two individual chairs in the back though, with the engine becoming more vocal
takes things to another level, including the as you increase your speed. It’s not that it’s
price, which is in excess of £110,000. loud, but the cabin is so quiet that it’s more
noticeable than in other hybrid models.
ENGINES & PERFORMANCE 3.5/5 On twisty roads, the 2.3-tonne kerbweight
WHILE the Lexus LS flagship uses the firm’s limits the LM’s ability, as the soft suspension
top-spec running gear, the LM shares its tries to contain the car’s mass. Hard
platform with more modest cars in the Lexus acceleration and braking see the car pitch
and Toyota ranges. The people carrier’s back and forth on its springs, and there’s lots
TNGA-K underpinnings first appeared with of lean in corners, even at modest speeds.
the Camry saloon, and are also used by the Driving like this will also unsettle back-seat
RAV4 and Japanese-market Alphard and passengers, which is unlikely to go down well.
Vellfire MPVs, while the Lexus ES, NX and Lexus has fitted paddles behind the steering
RX are also based on the same tech. wheel for manual control of the gearbox, but
The main power source under the bonnet these seem largely pointless, because the car’s
of the LM 350h is a naturally aspirated 2.5- electronics already do a fine job of ensuring
litre four-cylinder petrol engine that makes the engine is delivering optimum efficiency.
187bhp and 239Nm of torque. This is joined by ONTHEROAD
a 178bhp/270Nm electric motor, while total MOTORWAY Cruising at higher speeds is As you would expect, the LM is refined
system output is rated at 247bhp. equally refined, with minimal road and wind and smooth on the move. Its set-up also
This configuration is front-wheel-drive, noise, plus a settled ride that delivers great favours gentle acceleration and braking
but four-wheel drive is offered with Lexus’ cruising ability. Unlike older hybrid systems,
E-Four system that adds a 53bhp electric the most recent set-up used by Lexus still
motor to the rear axle. It also adds £3,000 switches between petrol and all-electric
to the price of the entry-level LM; all other modes even at motorway speeds, which
versions are four-wheel drive as standard. helps to improve fuel efficiency.
As with other Toyota and Lexus hybrids, the
LM has an eCVT transmission that manages RUNNING COSTS 3.7/5
power distribution between the engine, THERE’S a big price to pay to access the luxury

LM stands for Luxury Mover and

electric motor, wheels and drive battery, offered by the Lexus LM, and although its
which is a modest 2.6kWh unit. hybrid powertrain promises efficiency, the
Although some luxury models feature air car’s sheer size means it has to work hard,
suspension, the LM comes with a conventional which has an impact on fuel consumption.
set-up, using MacPherson struts up front and Lexus quotes fuel economy of 42.1mpg for
double wishbones at the rear. the front-wheel-drive model, while the 4WD
version has a return of 39.2mpg. On test, we
DRIVING 4.5/5 managed efficiency of 36.4mpg in mixed
THE LM name stands for Luxury Mover, and driving, although a higher proportion of
that’s a perfect description of what this Lexus urban use should see that figure improve as
is like, whether you’re driving or being driven. the powertrain favours electric running. You
can see how often the LM runs in EV mode via
AROUND TOWN At urban speeds the hybrid the trip computer; during our time with the
drivetrain is hushed if you take things easy. car it showed that we ran in electric mode for
There’s virtual silence when coasting or on more than half the time we were driving it.
light throttle openings as the electric motor
does the work, while there’s a distant hum TAX Emissions of 163g/km are impressive for
from the petrol engine when it’s active. such a large vehicle, but that’s still enough to
The ride is smooth, although big thumps place the LM in the 35 per cent company car
tend to send shudders through the body, but tax bracket. That means Benefit-in-Kind costs
that’s a familiar trait of any monobox-style in excess of £12,000 a year for higher-rate

88 DoubleIssue
 TESTS
MODELTESTED:
LM 350h AWD four-seat Takumi
PROS CONS
Plush rear Forgettable
accommodation to drive
Packed with Harsh hybrid
technology engine note
Refined comfort Expensive even
in every seat in base trim

TESTER’S NOTES
WHILE there’s no air suspension, the LM
has five drive modes that tailor the car’s
responses. As well as offering Eco, Normal,
Sport and Custom settings, there’s a Rear
Comfort mode that’s designed to deliver a
smoother ride for back-seat passengers.
It does this by adjusting the dampers,
torque curve and braking force
to reduce pitch, roll and squat
when driving. This mode
actually suits the LM perfectly
even from behind the wheel,
and encourages you to drive
smoothly to ensure those
in the back are left
unruffled.
Dean Gibson
Senior test editor

FEATURES
Wide centre console
separates front seats;
rear-seat passengers
get a golf umbrella on
each side; smart-looking
digital driver’s display is
Lexus’s people carrier lives up to its name reasonable to use

“SOME LUXURYMODELS FEATURE AIR SUSPENSION, BUT

THE LEXUS LM COMES WITH A CONVENTIONAL SET-UP
Double Issue 89
TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

taxpayers, meaning this hybrid MPV is no pin plug sockets for connecting devices, or
match for any all-electric rival. you can use wireless Bluetooth streaming. The
system can handle video calls or a range of
INSURANCE While the Lexus LM has a price entertainment options, while a standard-fit
tag in the region of £90,000-£110,000, its Mark Levinson 3D surround-sound system
insurance groups are lower than they are for (with 21 speakers in the standard LM, 23 in the
many similarly priced cars, especially all- Takumi model) delivers excellent audio quality.
electric ones. All models fall into Group 29.
PRACTICALITY 4.5/5_
DEPRECIATION Residuals of around 52 per THE LM’s one-box design should offer
cent are among the best of the Lexus range – excellent practicality, but this varies
only the NX SUV offers better resale values depending on which model you choose.
after three years/36,000 miles. They’re also
more than the VW Multivan, although the all- FRONT SPACE There’s plenty of seat and
electric ID. Buzz is around five per cent ahead. wheel adjustment – all electrical – and the
vast screen and quarterlight windows help
INTERIOR &TECHNOLOGY 4.5/5_ with forward visibility, too.
THE front of the LM has a luxury feel that A large centre console splits the front cabin
matches the rest of the Lexus range, but it’s in two, and this has space for a huge armrest
in the rear where the highest quality lies. bin that is double hinged so it opens towards
the driver or passenger. Twin cup-holders and
DESIGN The spindle grille leaves the LM with a hidden storage area with wireless phone
an imposing nose that is something of an charging are positioned ahead of this, while
acquired taste, while the chrome exterior trim the glovebox offers surprisingly modest space
and polished 19-inch wheels also break up an in a car so large. The door bins are generous,
otherwise simple one-box shape. though, which helps to make up for it.
It’s inside where the LM’s real appeal lies.
There are soft leathers, thick carpets and wood REAR SPACE There’s lots of headroom
panelling – the centre section on the dash is and legroom in the back, but the seven-seat
lined up symmetrically in a style that Bentley version is really better suited to carrying
would be proud of – while the switchgear and six people for a long distance, because
digital displays use familiar Lexus lettering. the seventh seat is more of a jump-style
arrangement in the rearmost row.
QUALITY Premium materials are used Opening the doors from the back seats is
throughout, and the LM has an upmarket feel trickier than it needs to be, too, because the
that belies its exterior looks. The leather trim handles on the doors are a long reach away
is soft, the switchgear has a solid feel and the – arguably it’s easier for the driver to open
screens and interior lighting add to the high- them via the buttons on the dashboard.
quality appeal of the cabin. While the Takumi model only has room for
two in the back, they are treated like royalty.
TECH AND INFOTAINMENT There’s a lot of The smartphone controllers operate the seats,
kit on board the LM, some of which you’re which are heated, ventilated, have a suite of
unlikely to even think you need until you see massage settings, and can be fully reclined in
it here. The sliding doors open electrically, as an Ottoman setting. There are tray tables in
does the tailgate, while buttons integrated the armrests and vanity mirrors in the roof,
into the rear lights mean you can stand to one while hidden cubbies next to the seats have
side of the huge door as it opens or closes. USB sockets and wireless charging pads.
The touchscreen and digital driver’s display Beneath the huge screen are a pair of
up front look smart and are reasonable to use, storage bins, while a refrigerator between
but it’s the back-seat options that really set them can be stocked with cold drinks and
the LM off. In the seven-seat model you get a snacks. Plus there are two golf umbrellas
14-inch screen that opens electrically from right next to the sliding doors.
the roof and can be controlled via a remote
and display the same infotainment details BOOT SPACE The seven-seat LM is the best
as the dashboard screen, while the four-seat option for cargo carrying, but only in four or
Takumi model has a massive 48-inch display two-seat modes. There’s up to 1,191 litres of
that stretches across the width of the cabin. space available, but this is all taken up by the
This screen is operated via two smartphone- seats when they’re in use. The Takumi’s seats
style controllers that pop out of the central are fixed in place, and mean there’s 752 litres
armrest, and you can set it up to show a single of space behind them. A low floor makes
display or work as twin screens, one for each loading easy, while there’s enough room
passenger. There are USB, HDMI and three- beneath it for a space-saver spare wheel,

90 DoubleIssue
 TESTS
REARSEATS
Takumi model’s fixed rear seats mean it’s a four-
seater. Other LMs offer seven seats, but one is
more of a jump-style chair for occasional use

CABIN
TESTER’S NOTES
Premium materials are THE Takumi model can really isolate
used throughout the passengers from the outside world. The
interior, which adds massive 48-inch screen is integrated into
to the upmarket feel a partition that separates the front seats
from the rears, and this includes an electric
window that can be opened and closed from
the front or the rear – it also turns opaque
at the touch of a button.
Combine this with the
window and roof blinds,
and you can travel virtually
incognito in the back, but
if you suffer from motion
sickness then a lack of
external focal points
might set you
Dean Gibson
Senior test editor
off.

COMFORT a feature which is something of a rarity in the

Sit in the back of the new-car market these days.
Takumi model and you
can enjoy the heated and RELIABILITY & SAFETY 4.7/5
ventilated seats while LEXUS’S strong reputation for making reliable,
watching content on the trouble-free cars should stand the LM in good
48-inch screen. When stead, especially since it uses hybrid tech that’s
you’ve had enough, simply
proven in other Lexus and Toyota models.
recline the chair for a nap
to while away the miles
WARRANTY 4.7/5
A THREE-year, 60,000-mile new-car warranty
is a little behind premium rivals, but as with
“THE SOFT LEATHER, SCREENS the rest of the Lexus line-up, the cover can be
extended for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles
AND INTERIOR LIGHTING ADD with annual servicing at an official franchise.

TO THE HIGH-QUALITYAPPEAL SERVICING 4.5/5

OFTHE LM’S CABIN LEXUS offers a service plan on the LM that
costs more than £1,600 for three years.

Double Issue 91
TESTED Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB vs Lexus LM

PRICES AND SPECS INFOTAINMENT

VOLKSWAGEN LEXUS
ID. BUZZ LWB LM
Our choice 86kWh Pro Style LM 350h AWD 7 seat
Price from/price of our choice £59,545/£64,345 £90,030/£93,030

Powertrain 1x e-motor 4cyl in-line/2,487cc hybrid

Power/torque 282bhp/560Nm 247bhp/239-270Nm
Transmission Single-speed auto/rwd e-CVT auto/fwd
0-62mph/top speed 7.9 seconds/99mph 8.7 seconds/118mph
Battery capacity 86kWh 2.6kWh
Test efficiency/official range 2.9mi/kWh/290 miles 36.4mpg/480 miles
Charging 200kW (5-80% in 30 mins) N/A

DIMENSIONS Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB 4.0/5

Length/wheelbase 4,962/3,239mm 5,125/3,000mm DISCOVER PRO | KEY FEATURE: WIRELESS CONNECT
Width/height 1,985/1,924mm 1,890/1,940mm
RECENT updates to VW’s multimedia system mean the
Middle row knee/head/elbow room 735-925/1,015/1,655mm 1,210/1,020/1,455mm
temperature and volume sliders in the ID. Buzz are now
Rear knee/head/elbow room 615-1,005/975/1,390mm N/A
illuminated, so they’re easier to use at night, but still
Boot space (2/7 seats) 1,340/306 litres 1,191/110 litres (4 seat: 752l)
trickier to operate than physical controls.
Boot length/width (7 seats) 415-620/1,215mm N/A
The big screen has shortcuts at the top and bottom,
Boot length/width (5 seats) 1,335-1,550/1,225mm 690/1,325mm
with an unmarked home button to get you back to the
Boot length/width (2 seats) 2,450/1,655mm N/A
main screen if you need it. The display itself is sharp,
Boot lip height 625mm 625mm
although the mapping isn’t the most intuitive system
Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 2,714/626/1,000kg 2,305/525kg/N/A
to use. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are
Turning circle 13.4 metres 13.0 metres
standard, though, and are displayed large on the screen.

COSTS/OWNERSHIP
Residuals (after 3yrs/36k miles, via CDL) £33,941/57.0% £47,266/52.5%
Depreciation £25,604 £42,764
Insurance group/quote (via AA.com)/VED 37/£1,295/£0 29/N/A/£590
Three-year service cost £0 £1,655
Annual tax liability standard/higher rate £237/£475 £6,251/£12,503
Annual fuel cost (12k miles) £817 £2,040
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (100,000)/3yrs 3yrs (60,000)/3yrs
Driver Power manufacturer position 29th (passenger car division) 12th
NCAP Adult/child/pedestrian/assist/stars 92/87/60/90/5 (2022) N/A

EQUIPMENT
Metallic paint/wheel size £1,035-£2,790/19-20 inches Yes/19 inches Lexus LM 350h 4.5/5
Parking sensors/camera Front & rear/front & rear No/360 degrees LEXUS LINK PRO | KEY FEATURE: 4YRS LIVE SERVICES
Spare wheel/Isofix points Repair kit/four Space saver/two
Keyless entry & go/powered tailgate Yes/yes Yes/yes WHILE the rear infotainment is the main talking point of
Leather/heated seats No/front Yes/yes the LM’s cabin, the screen up front is useful. It features
Screen size/digital dashboard 12.9/5.3 inches 14.0/12.3 inches sharp graphics, and the climate controls are a permanent
Climate control/panoramic sunroof Single zone/£2,205 pack Two-zone/skylights fixture across the bottom of the display, with physical
USBs/wireless charging Six/yes Nine/three temperature dials integrated into them. You can also
Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Yes/yes Yes/wired use the display to operate the rear climate system.
Blind-spot warning/head-up display Yes/£1,575 pack Yes/yes The widescreen display is sharp, while a shortcut button
Adaptive cruise/steering assist Yes/yes Yes/yes accesses frequently used features. Apple CarPlay is
wireless, but Android Auto uses a wired connection.

WHAT WE WOULD CHOOSE

VOLKSWAGEN Two-tone paint is
£2,790. The £2,205 Design Package
LEXUS You can choose standard or
Takumi trims, but there are no other
“THE REAR INFOTAINMENT IS THE
Plus adds a photochromic glass cost options. Metallic paint in white, MAIN TALKING POINT OFTHE
roof and matrix LED headlights.
The £2,310 Comfort Seat package
beige, black or red is available
across the range, while sand- LM’S CABIN, BUTTHE SCREEN
upgrades the front seats, while a
heat pump costs £1,050.
coloured leather is on offer
for no extra outlay. UP FRONT IS USEFUL
92 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 TESTS
VOLKSWAGEN ID. BUZZ BEST FOR: LEXUS LM BEST FOR:
Flexibility. The extra length of the LWB model adds Luxury. The plush leather interior, electrical
a new dimension to the ID. Buzz’s versatility. You goodies and quiet cruising ability mean the LM is
can position the seats so that seven people can unlike any other car on the road. If the standard LM
sit comfortably and still have a decent boot. isn’t plush enough, the Takumi is on another level.

RESULTS
VERDICT VERDICT
Volkswagen Lexus
ID. Buzz LWB ROADTEST LM 350h
THESE two models are very different WINNER IT’S possible that the Lexus LM is the best car
interpretations of the people carrier brief, VOLKSWAGEN on sale, if your main focus is rear passenger
ID. BUZZ LWB
so it’s not really fair to rank one ahead of the DEC 2024 comfort. The seven-seat model has versatility
other. We were fans of the standard ID. Buzz, on its side, but the four-seat Takumi is on
but extending the wheelbase has boosted its another plane in terms of luxury, space and
versatility without ruining its charm. features that pamper those in the back.
The sliding seats offer versatility that’s a It’s enough to make anybody behind the
reminder of how much more practical an MPV wheel of the LM jealous that they don’t get
is when compared with an SUV, while the big to experience the car’s main selling point. As
battery means there’s decent range on offer. a car to drive, it’s pretty forgettable, but still
It’s an expensive option, but the ID. Buzz is still comfortable, although the hybrid powertrain
the most appealing EV that VW sells. INTERESTED? feels as if it’s at the limit of its capability here. INTERESTED?
Scan the code Scan the code
for further for further
information information

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 93

TESTED Living with a Skoda Superb

Pete
Gibson
[email protected]

NORMALLY a long-term test

car comes to us box fresh – but
although it’s new to me, this Superb has
already graced the pages of Auto Express as
one of Skoda’s press demonstrators, before
coming into my hands as a used car.
I’ve wanted a Superb for a while, because I’ve
had various Skodas in the past and have liked
all of them. The Yeti, oddball name aside, was
a great car – fun-to-drive and with a practical
interior. The Octavia vRS offered Golf GTI CHANGINGTIMES
pace, while doubling as the perfect family There aren’t many ‘traditional’
wagon, and I enjoyed my experience with the car shapes left on today’s
less racy, but still practical Karoq SUV. roads, but the Superb is close
As such, I’m looking forward to putting the
Superb through its paces – and one of its first
FIRST REPORT

SKODA SUPERB
assignments was to spend time with some
classic family saloons from the past. The Ford

Our p
Sierra and MG Montego (see Retro Road Test
p36) were part of my youth – you used to see
them everywhere. So, I’m interested to see
if the Superb has what it takes to bring back a fan
such fond memories in 20 or 30 years’ time.
Early signs are good. It looks impressive
on its 18-inch wheels and with the optional
£600 Carmine Red Metallic paint. figure that electric cars can only dream of and
When parking it next to the eighties cars is why, especially to those drivers covering
here, you can see the obvious difference in higher mileages, a diesel car still makes sense.
size. The Superb is a big car, and I say that One of the more obvious changes compared
as someone who previously drove a sizeable with the other Skodas I’ve run in the past is
family SUV. The Czech saloon-cum-hatchback the introduction of new technology. Adaptive
feels bigger than my previous Citroen C5 cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign
Aircross, despite its more traditional shape. recognition and various active safety systems
The engine I’ve chosen is the 2.0-litre are there to remind me of the relentless pace
150PS diesel, paired with a seven-speed DSG of change in the car industry.
transmission. In a world where many opt for Thankfully, the only thing I’ve needed to
electricity, I’m sticking with a more traditional fine-tune so far has been the collision-warning
fuel because I frequently need to travel long system, because it was far too sensitive, and
distances and keep to tight deadlines. kept flashing up a noisy warning and head-up
So far, it doesn’t seem to have any obvious display alert when it really wasn’t required.
weak areas. Acceleration is good, motorway It’s still early days, but one thing I’ve
miles are easily covered, and I was pleasantly already come to appreciate is the Superb’s
surprised when the car was delivered, to see vast interior space. Passengers are treated to
the fuel display indicating more than 800 excellent levels of comfort with almost limo-
miles of range. That’s the sort of headline like room to stretch out. This is great news for
the family, plus the huge boot means there’s
enough capacity to cart around all our stuff,
and my photography gear, too.
“IT’STHESORTOFHEADLINE One small annoyance is the electrically
operated boot – it’s something a lot of people
FIGURETHATELECTRICCAR love, but because I need to access the boot

OWNERSCANONLYDREAM space repeatedly during photo shoots, it can

become a little frustrating waiting for the

OFANDISWHYDIESELCAN electric motors to (slowly) work their magic.

Elsewhere, Skoda has added its usual
STILLMAKESENSE practical bits to the car. The trusty door
umbrella is still there, as are ‘curry hooks’

94 DoubleIssue
 OUR CARS
MODELTESTED:
Skoda Superb SE L
2.0 TDI 150PS
On fleet since: November 2024
Price new: £41,420
Powertrain: 2.0-litre 4cyl, turbodiesel,
seven-speed auto, 148bhp
CO2/BiK: 133g/km/31%
Options: Rear window wiper (£120), Head-up display
(£530), Winter package (£600), Carmine Red Metallic
paint (£660), Electric towbar with adaptor (£1,105)
Insurance*: Group: 25 Quote: £688
Mileage/mpg: 2,650/50.9mpg
Any problems? None so far
*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in
Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

PROS CONS
Huge boot Over-sensitive
Heated seats safety systems

photographer gets his hands on his fourth Skoda and is already Almost 800-mile
range on tankful
Slow to warm up
Longer than
n, thanks to the Superb’s immense comfort and practicality you think

Pete Gibson
PRACTICALPROPOSITION
Pete loves the space that the Skoda has to offer,
thanks to its vast cabin and giant boot, but the
sliding tray under the parcel shelf (above left) is
his favourite feature of the lot

for bags in the boot, and even a retractable VERDICT

towing arm (which I’ll probably never use).
But the bit I like most is the removable fabric FIRST impressions of our second-hand Skoda
tray that sits under the hard parcel shelf. It’s are that it’s a brilliantly spacious and practical
just the correct size for my tripod bags or light car with impressive levels of passenger
stands and helps me keep the boot nice and comfort. I’m a big fan of its functionality and
orderly. It’s also great for the weekly shop, it’s also the perfect long-distance cruiser.
taking bottles or smaller bags that would For some buyers, a responsive, refined and
otherwise move around. economical diesel is still an attractive
‘Simply Clever’ is the phrase Skoda uses proposition, and on first impressions of our
in its advertising – and it really applies here. Superb, I’m certainly one of those people.

Double Issue 95
TESTED Living with an MG3 Hybrid+

Ellis felt like I’m sitting in the cheap seats since

swapping keys. For one thing, the design
Hyde is smart and modern, and it feels spacious
up front, thanks to the almost vertical
[email protected] dashboard and low centre console.
There are some nice touches, such as the
WHILE Captain Quint and the other quilted upholstery and check pattern on the
blokes in Jaws may have needed a bigger dash, which offsets a lot of the surfaces being
boat, after living with a BMW iX1 for several made from hard, scratchy black plastics.
months, I’ve realised I don’t. That’s why I Aside from the flimsy cover for the central
welcomed the opportunity to try the new MG3 storage cubby, the interior feels well built, too.
for size – and so far, it’s proving a perfect fit. Even the onboard technology is better than
The 293-litre boot might not be the largest you might expect, because the seven-inch
of all the superminis on the market, but I’ve digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch
found it’s big enough to swallow the carry-on touchscreen are clear, bright and easy to read.
bag and backpack I take with me on work I wish the MG3 had a set of physical climate
trips. There’s room left over for a large duffle controls, though, because then it would have
bag too. Sure, the MG might not work for a something on the iX1. Although I can use the
family of five, but I’m predominantly a party joystick on the steering wheel to adjust the
of one, so it’s more than enough. temperature and fan speeds easily enough. “IT’S NOT ONLYAS QUICK
I’m sure I could cram in more stuff if I had
to, because of how deep the boot is. There’s a
Sadly, MG hasn’t installed any handy
solutions for turning off the various bongs AND RESPONSIVE AS AN
large load lip as a result, but I’ve not found this
to be an issue. Nor have I cursed the designers
and chimes from its driver-assistance
systems. The worst is the speed-camera
EVAROUND TOWN, BUT
for not fitting a height-adjustable boot floor.
Unsurprisingly, the MG’s interior isn’t as
warning, which sounds like there’s a smoke
alarm going off in the dashboard. You need to
ALSO IMPRESSIVELY
luxurious as that of the BMW, but I haven’t go through the sat-nav system’s settings in LIVELYON B-ROADS
FIRST REPORT

MG3 HYBRID+
We welcome new full-hybrid supermini to the
fleet, and it’s loads better than expected

96 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 OUR CARS

Otis Clay
MODELTESTED:
MG3 Hybrid+ Trophy
On fleet since: October 2024
Price new: £21,040
Powertrain: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol hybrid
Power/torque: 192bhp/378Nm
CO2/BiK: 100g/km/25%
keyless entry, blind-spot detection, rear Options: Battersea Blue paint (£545)
privacy glass and plenty more besides. Insurance*: Group: 24 Quote: £686
Of course, even the base model, which is
available from £18,495, features a full-hybrid
Mileage/mpg: 5,302/51.4mpg
powertrain. The star is the main electric Any problems? None so far
motor, which alone produces 134bhp, plus *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in
Banbury, Oxon, with three points.
order to turn off the bleeping, rather than the 250Nm of torque, making the MG3 feel
regular menu. But unlike the usual bongs, this incredibly quick and as responsive as an
one doesn’t reactivate after you turn the car off. EV around town, yet also impressively PROS CONS
Overall, that annoying alert is the only real lively on faster A and B-roads. Interior quality is Annoying bonging
issue I’ve had with our MG3 so far, while the Admittedly, the set-up can be quite laggy good for the money and chiming
list of standard equipment on this high-spec when trying to overtake on the motorway, Punchy Deafening speed-
Trophy model has been a particular highlight. and while MG claims it can average up to acceleration camera warning
It features LED headlights, a 360-degree 64.2mpg, the best I’ve managed so far is Ridiculously good Occasionally laggy
parking camera, heated front seats, heated 51.4mpg. Hopefully we’ll see that improve value hybrid system
steering wheel, leather-effect upholstery, over the coming months.

LOADSPACE
The boot isn’t huge
but there’s more
than enough space
for our man’s work
baggage

VERDICT _____
IT looks like this could be the start of a great
relationship. The MG3 has proven to be more
than practical enough for what I throw at it
day-to-day, while the full-hybrid powertrain
packs a surprising amount of punch. Yes,
some small gripes have cropped up, but they
can be easily overlooked because of this car’s
incredibly attractive price tag.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 97

TESTED Living with a Smart #1

“WHENYOU USE THE HEATER CONTROLS,

A FOX AVATAR APPEARS SITTING ON A
CHAIR. IT’S POINTLESS, MAYBE, BUT
IS ALSO SOMEHOW UPLIFTING

SECOND REPORT

SMART #1
Speed-limit recognition system shows signs of inconsistency
Dawn off. Initially we weren’t really sure what we
were being warned about, because we were

Grant travelling well within the relevant speed limit.

However, we soon came to realise that the
[email protected] system was actually picking up road signs for
lower speed limits on side roads. Even so, with
ALL modern cars have to pack in an eye on safety, we decided that enduring
plenty of driver-assistance and safety the annoying noises was still preferable to
features to secure the highest possible Euro turning the system completely off.
NCAP rating, and how much they interfere I was alerted to some of the changes
or annoy varies widely across brands. One included in the update by a helpful reader
you rarely want to turn off, though, is the – and fellow owner of a Smart #1 – who
speed-limit alert – but we have found a E-mailed me to let me know that you can
recent software update on our Smart #1 set a preferred list of driver-assistance and
has made the system too efficient for its control options through your driver profile. CHARGING LOOSE
own (or rather our) good! He even provided me with instructions on Wireless charging pad is a little slippery, so we
While my husband and I were driving how to do it, which was much appreciated, prefer to plug into the rear USB-C port to ensure
along the A3, the binging alert kept going because I’m not very good at diving deep our phone battery stays properly topped up

98 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 OUR CARS
FLEETWATCH

MINI COUNTRYMAN
TWO identical journeys, a month apart,
have shown perfectly how much cold
weather can affect an EV’s range.
ON THE LIMIT MODELTESTED: A 160-mile round trip from South
London to Deal, Kent, was easy in a
Open roads suit Smart’s relaxed nature,
but over-sensitive road-sign recognition Smart #1 Premium warmish October half term; the MINI
predicted 200-plus miles of range as we
has been testing our patience On fleet since: July 2024 left, and after a long weekend, we arrived

into the sub-menus to find the less obvious

Price new: £38,950 home with 35 miles still showing
In the recent cold snap, we repeated the
adjustments you can make. Powertrain: 66kWh battery, journey, but the MINI guesstimated a range
I’m still not a fan of everything being single e-motor, 226bhp of just 180 miles. We returned after an
controlled via the large touchscreen, but I’m CO2/BiK: 0g/km/2% overnight stay in Deal, but with 40 miles of
getting better at navigating my way through that trip left, the car said I had just 50 miles
the system. The fox avatar sometimes brings Options: None of range. Despite reducing my speed, the
a smile to my face, too. For example, when you Insurance*: Group: 32 Quote: £1,869 prediction was dropping quickly, thanks to
use the heating, it appears sitting on a chair. Mileage/mpg: 6,912/3.9mi/kWh the heating required in the icy conditions.
It’s pointless, maybe, but somehow uplifting. The nav also seemed concerned, routing
Which is good news, because I’m having to Any problems? Badly fitting bonnet, driver’s us to a service station chargepoint.
use the heating more than I want now that heated seat not working Happily, the top-up was very quick.
colder weather is here. As a seasoned EV *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in I plugged into a fast charger with 22 per
Banbury, Oxon, with three points.
driver, my first instinct is to use the heated cent range left, but barely had time to
steering wheel and seats to save charge, but peruse the magazine rack or buy a coffee
PROS CONS before a MINI App notification said the
sadly the heating on the driver’s seat doesn’t
Lots of cabin Fiddly touchscreen Countryman was at 42 per cent and we
work in our Smart (although it’s doing its job storage Lots of warning could continue our journey. By the time I’d
on the passenger seat and steering wheel). Large glass area beeps
Hopefully, fixing the driver’s seat is a minor found my wife and got back into the car, we
for good visibility Lack of physical
repair, and the standard heat pump should were at 56 per cent, for a cost of £18.25.
Spacious Interior heater controls
Once we left the motorway and slowed
help battery life as temperatures drop further.
to the urban speed limit, we arrived home
Another piece of tech that hasn’t entirely
with plenty of charge to spare. Would we
convinced me is the wireless phone-charging
have made it without stopping? Probably,
pad that comes as standard on our Premium-
if we turned the heating off, but for the
spec model. It does work, but if the phone
sake of a 14-minute wait, why be cold?
moves slightly, it stops charging. Rather than
worry about having to continually adjust the
phone’s position, I’ve got round the problem
REPORT INDEX
by plugging a cable into one of the USB ports Genesis GV60 Issue 1,853
in the rear – it’s always good to have options. Honda e:Ny1 Issue 1,859
Otherwise, life with the Smart is perfectly Lexus LBX New arrival
MG3 Hybrid+ New arrival
pleasant. We’ve driven it all over the place and MINI Countryman Issues 1,840, 1,845,
it seems at home on motorways and A-roads, 1,852, 1,857
where the ride is smooth and noise levels are Polestar 2 Issues 1,839, 1,844, 1,853
Renault Scenic Issue 1,855
low, leading to a relaxing experience. VERDICT ___`^ Skoda Superb New arrival
The car is set up for comfort rather than Smart #1 Issue 1,854
sharp handling, and at times it feels a little bit THE Smart #1 divides opinion but the company Suzuki Swift Issues 1,852, 1,859
Tesla Model 3 Issues 1,851, 1,858
like being on a roller coaster over the bumpy, listens to feedback, and software updates VW ID. Buzz Issues 1,823, 1,831,
twisting roads in the New Forest. But back on have improved technical niggles. It’s a relaxed 1,844, 1,851
the 20mph-limited roads of London, it’s easy cruiser and is showing only a slight drop in
to manoeuvre and quick away from the lights. efficiency despite the falling temperatures.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 99

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 105 FLOOR MATS
MINI TEST

Best carpet protectors

107 LASER RATCHET 108 DRIVING GAMES
FIRST TEST

Latest multi-head tool

PRODUCT TEST

Video games compared

BOOKS
Cars &Curves:ATribute
to 70Years of Porsche
Stefan Bogner, Ben Winter Delius
Klasing Verlag, delius-klasing.de
Price: £35 Rating:
THIS is more of a photobook than a
great read. The prose – available in both
English and German, so you can pick and choose
LIGHT WORK – is brief, and often verging on the hyperbolic.
New range from Porsche owners generally don’t mind a bit of
NightSearcher extra colour, however, and for many the quality
should cover all of photography alone will be worth the price.
requirements It’s a shame quite a few images cross over
and price points two pages, though, because they lose some of
their effect in the gutter. Don’t expect to focus
solely on Porsche sports cars, either – there

HOT KIT are plenty of photos of SUVs such as the Macan.

NightSearcher work lights Grand Prix:An Illustrated

History of Formula 1
Price: from £24 Contact: nightsearcher.co.uk
Will Buxton Viking, penguin.co.uk
THERE’S no excuse for feeling around IP54 for water and dust resistance, as well Price: £25 Rating:
in the dark when fixing your car, given as having an IK07 shock rating.
that the choice of work lights has never been Completing the rechargeable newcomers FORMULA 1 journalist Will Buxton
bigger, and NightSearcher has added seven is the £36 LightWave 1000R head torch, the has played a blinder here. Coming
solutions to suit just about every situation. latest development in the test-winning range. off the back of his own success in the Netflix
The newcomers start from only £24 for It delivers 1,000 lumens via spot or flood series Drive to Survive, this accessible title is
the compact iSpector 400 rechargeable beams, and has four lighting modes. It can be written for people who’ve found a new love in F1
inspection lamp. When folded, it measures switched on and off with a wave of the hand. and want to catch up on what they have missed
14cm, and its rotating, folding-blade LED Other units use power-tool batteries and so far. There’s a quick and basic introduction to
punches out 400 lumens. A torch in the tip have connectors for Makita, Bosch, Metabo, the sport, followed by everything you’d want to
emits a 25-metre beam. It is rated IP65 for DeWalt, Milwaukee and Cas, with optional know on the history front, presented a decade
moisture protection and IK07 for impacts. adaptors for Flex, Festool, Hikoki, Einhell, at a time. You’ll come out at the end with some
If you’re looking for a torch, try the £32 Stanley and Black & Decker. The 4,500lm new talking points, plus knowledge of all the
Tracker 1000 Zoom, which is rechargeable KangaStar 4500K is £84, while the 6,500lm top drivers and circuits – and you’ll have
or can run off three AAA batteries. Its zoom 6500K is £138 and can be mains powered. enjoyed yourself along the way.
adjusts from wide to narrow, and it is rated The handheld 2,500lm Thor Connect is £66.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 103

PRODUCTS New on the shelves
PRODUCTS
FIRST TEST

Laser Multi-Head Ratchet Set

Price: £88.39 Rating: Contact: lasertools.co.uk

LASER Tools often takes an

innovative approach to solving
problems and this latest Multi-Head
Ratchet Spanner Set is a typically
clever example of that.
The 8872 is essentially a cross FIRST TEST
between a spanner and a socket set.
The 12 heads, which span 8-19mm,
are held in a neat rack that can be CaDA
hung on a wall or slipped into a
toolbox or bag, taking up less space
than the same number of separate
Mercedes-AMG One
spanners, but doing the same job. Price: £249.99 Rating:
We’d have liked to see sizes marked Contact: wonderlandmodels.com
clearly on the holder and, although
the size and direction marking on the TAKING on a dominant market leader in any
heads was good, it’s a shame it’s on sector is never easy, but it has not stopped
just one side. The sizes are also not CaDA, which is trying to pry fans away from
that easy to see in the holder. the all-conquering LEGO.
In use, the heads are easily slipped We tackled its flagship kit, the officially
onto and off a handle that features a licensed Mercedes-AMG One, complete
comfortable grip, which allowed us to with an approved set of Michelin tyres.
apply much more force than with any It comes well presented with good
of the conventional spanners we instructions and a familiar bag-by-bag build.
tested in Issue 1,850. Care needs CaDA recommends builders are at least 14
to be taken with the smaller sizes, years old and maybe that’s on the conservative
though, to avoid damaging threads – side, because even our experienced LEGO
but there is the bonus of a hinged head. builder found this a major challenge.
The 72-tooth ratchet feels good Unlike other building systems, CaDA has got
and the test spanners breezed their the interference fit pretty much right, so the
way through our size tests. car does not fall apart – but it does take some
Laser puts a 150Nm torque limit force to slot together. This is aggravated by
on the tool, but it easily exceeded multiple parts being held together by a tough-
this and even went on to meet the to-fit pin, so be prepared for sore fingertips.
17mm DIN spec for a conventional The design goes its own way by adding
spanner before failing. That’s an remote control for some elements, such as the
impressive achievement when we gullwing doors and rear spoiler, plus the kit
were unable to apply only around drives. We’re not talking Tamiya RC here – the
half Laser’s limit by hand. steering is not proportional nor is the car fast –
If storage space is tight, this set but it does provide some fun after the kit is built.
could be the solution – but there Problems were few. Some steps were hard
are less expensive options. due to limited access, plus some decorative
parts were missing. That dropped it below four
HANDY ANGLES stars, which is a shame because it does a lot of
Hinged heads give more things right at a very attractive price.
options for tackling
hard-to-reach fasteners,
while the large handle
allowed plenty of force
to be applied. Swapping
spanner sizes was
quick and easy

www.autoexpress.co.uk
MARKETPLACE

STARTS
FLAT
BATTERIES
Get going quickly.
Safely jump start a flat
battery in under a minute.
/ringautomotive

Available at:
ULTRA BOOST
Or buy direct from shop.ringautomotive.com JUMP STARTERS

106 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

PRODUCTS Luxury car mats
PRODUCTS
MINI TEST
Dave Pollard
Michelin Luxury
REPLACING worn carpets in
your car is an expensive exercise, so a
Carpet Car Mats
set of protective over-mats makes lots
of sense and can even look good, too.
Price: £49.99 Heel pad: Rubber, full width
There are two new, tailored-to-fit Rating:
options from Michelin to choose from, Contact: carmats4u.com/michelin-car-mats
so to see if they live up to the brand’s
high-quality image we put them up THESE were the deepest mats on test with a
against a premium set from Halfords. pile thickness of 2,200g/m2 and lots of options.
Our test car was a Renault Clio and They come in two colours and each shade has
we looked for a good fit front and rear, a choice of five designs for the edging and
plus no movement as we got in and stitching. Like the other mats tested here,
out. We used a wire brush for 50 there were two OEM fixings on the driver’s
passes on the surface to recreate side. The fit was good around the pedals, but
everyday use, and ground in a mixture the passenger side front could have been a bit
of salt and grit, assessing the wider to fill the footwell better.
vacuumed results on the pile. It was hard to see any adverse effects of the
Although it was the most expensive wire brushing, and having vacuumed the sand/
here, we put the Michelin Luxury salt mix, the mats remained pristine. They cost
offering ahead of the set from a small amount more than the still-excellent
Halfords, favouring its thick pile, examples from Halfords, but the extra choice in
resistance to wear, full-width heel making them suit your car edges them ahead.
mat and wide range of edgings.

TESTED Tailored luxury floor mats

From £37.99: When it comes to mats, quality and fit are variable and cut-to-fit ones are often best – here we compare three high-end options

Halfords Premium Michelin Standard

Mats 2 Clips Carpet Car Mats
Price: £46 (online only) Heel pad: Carpet, central square Price: £37.99 Heel pad: Rubber, central square
Rating: Contact: halfords.com Rating: Contact: carmats4u.com

DESPITE being rated at a thinner CUT to the same shape as the

800g/m2 pile weight – the Luxury versions (above), these
lowest here – these mats were were not quite as plush with a
impressively resilient to our pile depth of 1,500g/m2.
durability test. In fact, using There’s a choice of two
the wire brush on them had colours and you can mix and
hardly any effect at all. match five options for edging
As with the others, the rough and stitching. The heel pad was
undersides prevented unwanted smaller and centralised, with
movement and they included the fit of all four mats just as
twin fixing clips on the driver’s good as Michelin’s more
side. We liked the fact they expensive model. However, the
were slightly wider than the carpet fluffed up on the brush
other mats in the passenger test and it was clear where we
side footwell, as well. had ground in the sand.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 107

 Forza Motorsport BEST BUY
Available for: Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC Rating: _____
2024

LAUNCHED last year, Forza Motorsport is fantastic on track, too. Forza Motorsport
probably the most complete driving game to hit features a regular career mode, letting you play
consoles, with regular updates enabling an ever- through tiers and win championships, while there
growing list of cars and tracks. The handling of is a new online multiplayer mode. Disappointingly,
the wide variety of vehicles, from supercars there’s no two-player splitscreen to race with
to classic touring cars, is great, and they look friends or family on the same console.

A car-themed video game is the perfect petrolhead gift – but which is best?
BUY YOUR CAR KIT
WITH CONFIDENCE
Will Burton
THE video game industry
few years back. However, you
shouldn’t be fooled. A lot of
How we tested Every week, we extensively
test all the latest car kit from
tyres to trim cleaners.
is currently booming, with the games studios have moved away THIS year, with fewer new releases, Scan the code to access our
huge online test archive
latest consoles delivering from the traditional cycle of we moved away from focusing on
incredible graphics, highly releasing a new product every finding the most accurate recreation
authentic gameplay and even year, in favour of downloadable of real-life racing. We rated a wider
virtual-reality integration. And content packs to keep existing range of games, rewarding those
for those gamers wanting to hit titles feeling box fresh. New cars, that delivered best on what they “A LOT OF GAMES
the track, there’s everything from
realistic driving simulators to fun,
tracks and even gameplay tweaks
are added on a regular basis.
were trying to do. For a traditional
sim we wanted great dynamics plus STUDIOS NOW OFFER
arcade-style racers.
At first glance, many of the
There are plenty of options
to choose from, so we’ve tested
accurate cars and tracks, whereas
an arcade-style racer needed to CONTENT PACKS TO
games featured over these four
pages test may look familiar to
some of the most popular to give
you a guide as to where to spend
pack a punch visually and creatively.
Overall, our winners were those
HELP KEEP EXISTING
you, with release dates from a your money this Christmas. that kept us coming back for more. TITLES BOX FRESH”
108 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk
 PRODUCT TEST
Gran Turismo 7
Available for: PS4, PS5 RECOMMENDED
RECOMMENDED
Rating: 2024
THIS is the latest iteration of the legendary sim
driving series that dates back to 1997. Gran Turismo 7
was a long time coming, but with an in-depth career
mode along with multiplayer modes, it doesn’t disappoint.
Dynamic weather and time make the racing ultra-realistic, and
virtual reality gives full immersion. For the more casual gamer,
Gran Turismo 7 may feel like a bit of a grind – you really need
to put the miles in on-track to unlock the best upgrades.

Forza Horizon 5 RECOMMENDED

RECOMMENDED
Available for: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC Rating: 2024
IT’S a one-two finish for Forza, with its previously crowned this game a test winner,
open-world Horizon series offering gamers and since it launched it has been continually
an escape from the confines of the track and upgraded. With more than 500 vehicles plus
on to the streets and off-road. Boasting a more a range of race modes (and even the option
arcade-style feel, Forza Horizon 5 is set in a to create your own), this game offers endless
fictional Mexico – and it looks amazing. We longevity. Great value for money.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 109

PRODUCTS Driving games

F1 24 “ONE OFTHE FEW GAMES

Available for: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4,
PS5, Windows PC Rating:
THAT CONTINUES TO
THIS is one of the few games that
RELEASE A NEWTITLE
continues to release a new title each year EACHYEAR TO COINCIDE
to coincide with the latest season. That
means rule changes, driver swaps and WITHTHELATESTSEASON”
team updates are faithfully recreated. You
can play through the career mode as a driver
(past or present), or take on the role of owner
of a new team on the grid. Overall, the game
plays well and is a must for any big F1 fan.

EA Sports WRC
Available for: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Windows PC
Rating:
THE official licence of the WRC and the team behind the
Colin McRae series: a match made in heaven? Nearly. It’s
a faithful championship recreation, but for hardcore fans
it doesn’t drive as well as Dirt Rally 2.0. It’s in line for continual
upgrades, though, with new classic cars and season
updates. Note, it’s available only on current-gen consoles.

110 Double Issue

 LEGO 2K Drive
Available for: Xbox One, Xbox
Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Windows PC,
Nintendo Switch
Rating:

JUST like the bricks,

LEGO 2K Drive is
aimed at kids but is
fun for all the family.
There’s a story mode
for single players,
while a two-player splitscreen
allows you to take on your kids
on the track or in the wacky
arena games. When you’re
racing, your vehicle will switch
between supercar, off-road
buggy and speedboat as you
tear across different terrain
in the fictional Bricklandia
world. It’s a great game,
and we didn’t stop smiling
while playing it.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Available for: Nintendo Switch
Rating:

THE definitive edition of a mainstay in the

video game world for decades, Mario Kart
8 Deluxe features all the characters, tracks
and crazy gameplay elements that made
the series famous. It’s heaps of fun and
offers online multiplayer and splitscreen
play. Nothing beats hitting your friend with
a shell on Rainbow Road just as they’re
about to cross the finish line.

Verdict
Need for Speed Unbound FORZA takes top spot with
Available for: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Windows PC its latest Motorsport game
offering realistic driving
Rating:
without making it too difficult
THIS year marks the 30th anniversary of the Need for for the casual gamer. Forza
Speed franchise, and Unbound feels like a return to the Horizon 5 is perfect for
peak of its Underground 2 days, with nitrous-boosted someone wanting a bit more
street cars outrunning police in a fictional city. It’s easy to arcade fun, while for anyone
play and fun adding big engines and bodykits to beat-up in the market for pure sim
old cars. The graphics are sometimes jarring, though. driving, you’ll find it hard to
beat Gran Turismo 7.

Double Issue 111

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 114 DRIVER POWER 116
NISSAN QASHQAI
Owners’ views on big seller
BUYER’S GUIDE
SKODA ENYAQ
All brand’s qualities in an EV
118 TOP 10 SEVEN-
SEAT HYBRIDS
Practical cost-cutters

THIS time of year, it’s an occupational

hazard for the Auto Express team to
be cornered by friends, colleagues or family THEHARDESTADVICETOGIVEATXMAS
“DON’TTELL SOMEONE
asking for advice about buying a new car. already made. In which case you find
It’s the second most dreaded question positive things to say, unless they’re
after “What’s your favourite car?”. That one
is tricky because the answer changes with
THEY’RE WRONG IFTHEIR making a stinker of a decision. There aren’t

your mood – like your favourite song. HEARTAND MIND ARE SET. many really bad choices these days, so it’s
not worth telling someone they’re wrong
The pitfalls of the “What Car Should
I Buy?” question are slightly different –
IFTHEY’RE HAPPY,THEY’VE if their heart and mind are set. And if they

MADE THE RIGHT MOVE”

feel good about a car and it makes them
partly because you know you’ll cross paths happy, then they’ve made the right move.
with that person again once they’ve bought But for the ones who are truly unsure
their new car. But the problem is mainly about, and in many cases baffled by, the
that, in many cases, they’ve already got an only after a minute or so of listening to my options, you switch on your work brain.
idea of what they want – or may even have honest and not massively complimentary There is a stock answer. A brief poll in
decided – and are looking for an expert to opinion that he dangled a shiny Chrysler the Auto Express office concluded that it’s
validate their choice, rather than advise. key fob under my nose. There’s no digging generally whichever Skoda best suits their
It’s a mistake you only make once. A few yourself out of that hole. Believe me, I tried. needs. In other words, a practical, sensibly
years back, my father-in-law asked what With time, it gets easier to spot the people priced car that generally ranks well in the
I thought of the Chrysler 300C. And it was who want you to endorse the choice they’ve Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.
You end up asking people questions they

PAUL
hadn’t considered about how they use their
car – whether they need something as big
as they think they do, and increasingly if

BARKER
an EV might fit their lifestyle, especially
with the way prices for used examples have
fallen within reach. The elephant in the
room is always how much they will spend,
but if they’re flexible and patient, the right
Auto Express’ editor explains the car will normally emerge in the end.
perils facing any petrolhead this It’s always fun shopping with someone
else’s money, and especially satisfying
Xmas. Do your friends and family
when you can guide them into a smarter
want advice – or your approval? choice. Just don’t mention the 300C round
the Barker Christmas dinner table.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 113

DRIVER POWER Nissan Qashqai

“This is my third Qashqai

and the looks, along with the
quality inside and out, have
improved with each model.”

OWNER VIEWS ON THE UK’S BEST CARS

“Acceleration is okay, but it

Richard Dredge should be better. A stronger
THE third-generation Qashqai was the first electric motor would make
to be available as a hybrid, and this model’s highest all the difference.”
scores are for its powertrain, which takes 23rd
place overall, and a more impressive 12th for its
sound – the one top-20 score. The smoothness of
the gearbox also achieves a 23rd place, but these
are the only scores in the top half of the rankings, “All three driving modes
so it’s all downhill from here, unfortunately. are good, but in Normal or
The next best ranking is 26th for both ride quality Sport the acceleration is
and driving pleasure, which isn’t too bad, but 28th exceptional for a heavy car.”
for rear-seat legroom, 30th for front-seat visibility
and 31st for boot space leave room for improvement.
There are several other areas that see scores
in the 30s, such as the sat-nav in 34th place, the
switchgear user-friendliness (36th), and the value
for money (38th), while the quality of the exterior
finish ranks 36th and the servicing costs 39th.
The lowest score is 47th for front-seat comfort, MPG AND RUNNING COSTS
while there are several areas ranked 44th, namely YOU SAID “On a normal journey on rural roads it delivers
smartphone connectivity, the handling, and 50-60mpg. At motorway speeds it delivers 47-49mpg, which
steering responsiveness, while owners also aren’t is very good. Road tax and insurance are par for the course.”
impressed by the overall quality, which ranks 42nd.

POSITION 42nd Nissan Qas

USED PRICES FROM: £14,000 YEARS: 2021 to present CO2: 144g/km FUEL ECONOMY: 43mpg (DiG-T 158) BEST O

RIDE AND
HANDLING
YOU SAID “Despite being
quite big, my Qashqai
feels very light and easy
to drive. The ride quality is
also well judged, because
there isn’t much roll in
corners, yet the Qashqai
isn’t crashy on the UK’s
poorly surfaced roads.”

INTERIOR AND
COMFORT
YOU SAID “The driving
position is very good, and
while the front seats are
extremely comfortable,
they could be improved by
fitting an infinite recline-
adjustment mechanism.
Refinement is impressive
too, even at speed.”

114 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 BUYING CARS
WHAT DO WHAT DON’T
YOU LIKE? YOU LIKE?

“The high driving position “I dislike having to agree to

gives a great view of the terms and conditions every
road ahead, plus the cabin time I start the infotainment
is spacious and very comfy.” system. It’s really annoying.”

“I’m really impressed by how “The old Qashqai had boot

smoothly it accelerates, and dividers and a tray between
how quiet and refined it is at the front seats. Nissan has
high cruising speeds.” ditched them, which is poor.”

“One reason for buying was “The USB ports inside the
that you don’t control the central storage box should
heating via a touchscreen. be on the console. The start
It’s much safer by buttons.” button is badly sited too.”

“My phone connects well “The controls for the audio

through Android Auto and and heating aren’t as user-
has all of the features that friendly as they should be.
I’d expect from such a car.” Connectivity is an issue too.”

shqai Mk3
OPTIONS: Bose hi-fi, glass roof, wireless phone charging
85.30%
OVERALL SCORE
Bars show where model finished out of 50 vehicles
in our 2023 new-car survey. The longer the bar the better

PRACTICALITY CATEGORIES YOUR

AND SPACE RATINGS
YOU SAID “There’s
50 1
plenty of space in the Engine and gearbox
front and rear seats,
Exterior
while the boot has
more than enough Interior and comfort
space for anything Practicality and space
that I could want to Ride and handling
carry, especially once Safety features
the seats are down. MPG and running costs
I just wish there was
Reliability and
a well in the boot floor, build quality
for me to carry a full-
Infotainment,
size spare wheel.” connectivity and
electrics
Value
WHY DRIVER POWER IS IMPORTANT
Every year thousands of owners share thoughts, opinion and SCAN THE CODE
experiences of the cars they own. This not only helps potential TO TAKE THE SURVEY
Tell us about your car and you could be in with
buyers, it also helps makers shape the new generation of cars. a chance of winning £100 Amazon voucher

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 115

BUYERS GUIDE Skoda Enyaq

FROM £17,000 Skoda’s first EV delivers the

brand’s usual great value and feel-good factor
Richard Dredge 330-350 miles – but in reality you can
USED BUYER’
EVER since Skoda was expect 200-220 and 240-270 miles. ON THE ROAD
reinvented under Volkswagen, the The Enyaq iV 60 comes with Under the skin, the Enyaq uses
brand has represented something 19-inch alloys, navigation, rear parking the running gear from the
that consumers like very much. sensors and dual-zone climate Volkswagen ID.4, so
They love the user-friendly design, control; the 80 adds front parking is comfortable
practicality, excellent build quality, sensors, a rear camera and selectable to drive
affordability and value that Skodas driving modes. If you’re buying to tow,
offer, so when the VW subsidiary make sure the VIN plate displays a
introduced its first EV, there was no towing weight; Enyaqs need to have
reason to think that things would be a towbar fitted at the factory.
any different. Sure enough, the Enyaq
comes with all of those characteristics RUNNING COSTS
as standard, and so far this generously THE Enyaq iV needs to be serviced
sized SUV is also proving to be every two years, largely because the
reliable, making it an enticing buy. pollen filter and brake fluid need to be
replaced, although there’s no mileage
HISTORY cap between services. The service is
ENYAQ iV orders opened in March pegged at £261 while the filter and
2021, with prices from £31,085. fluid cost £73 and £63 respectively.
Buyers could pick from the 177bhp Insurance groups range from 22
Enyaq iV 60 with a 62kWh battery (Enyaq 50) to 37 (vRS) and your
and the 201bhp Enyaq iV 80 with an Enyaq will be subject to the annual
82kWh battery. Within a few weeks road tax fee from 1 April 2025.
there was a Sportline option, with However, there’s no luxury tax
20-inch wheels, sports seats and applicable to cars registered before
matrix LED headlights; by August this date if they cost more than £40k,
2021 there was also a four-wheel-drive which many Enyaqs will have done.
option: the 261bhp 80x Sportline. All
Sportlines had a 82kWh battery. PRICES
Those wanting more could buy a THERE are lots of Enyaqs available,
295bhp vRS with standard four- with the 80 the most common. Prices
wheel drive from the end of 2022. start at £17,000 for a 21-plate Enyaq
At the start of that year a Coupé 60 with 50,000 miles on the clock,
had been added to the range, with but if you want an Enyaq 80 you’ll pay
the 82kWh battery only and 201bhp, at least £21,000 for a 50,000-mile
261bhp or (from January 2023) example on a 21-plate.
295bhp. In December 2023, the 80 There’s no shortage of vRS editions
and 80x editions were replaced by the for sale, priced from £32,000, while
282bhp 85 and 85x, and the vRS was Enyaqs with four-wheel drive account
boosted to 335bhp. At the same time for a quarter of those available; you’ll
the Enyaq iV went through a minor pay upwards of £30,000 for one, which
rebrand and from this point on it was gets a 71-plate 80x Sportline with
known simply as the Enyaq. In July 30,000 miles on the clock. Coupés
2024 the 168bhp Enyaq 50 replaced are rarer and priced from £30,000.
the Enyaq 60, with a 52kWh battery.
ON THE ROAD
WHICH SHOULD I BUY? THE Enyaq is a typical Skoda in that
THERE were five interior designs to it’s easy to drive, but not thrilling. Buy
choose from (Loft, Lodge, Lounge, one of the mainstream editions and
Suite, ecoSuite), plus a range of the ride is compliant, there’s a
CHECKLIST
equipment packs and options, so reasonable amount of performance,
the chances of you looking at two while the brake and steering feedback SEE THE LIGHT TYRE TROUBLES
identical cars is low. are okay rather than exceptional. WATER can get into the THE Enyaq’s special tyres can’t
If you don’t cover a big mileage, Buy a vRS though, and in 335bhp puddle lights in the door be repaired, because they contain
an Enyaq 60 is all you need. Skoda form it’ll do 0-62mph in just 5.3 mirrors, resulting in weird an acoustic foam lining. Once this
claims a range of around 250 miles for seconds; even the slowest Enyaq, light patterns. Replacement is damaged, the tyre has to be
the smaller battery packs, while the the 50, can despatch this sprint in 9.1 is the only option. replaced, and that’s not cheap.
bigger batteries are claimed to give seconds and has a 99mph top speed.

116 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 BUYING CARS
’ S GUIDE Skoda Enyaq RECALLS
SKODA hasn’t issued any recalls for
the Enyaq so far, which is impressive
when you consider that it’s the
company’s first ground-up EV.
Interestingly, the Audi Q4 e-tron,
which is related, was recalled in May
2024 because of problems with the
stability control. The Volkswagen ID.4,
ID.7 and ID. Buzz have also all been
recalled, but for problems unique to
them, such as seats failing to latch
properly. If you buy an Enyaq with an
official Skoda Aero roofbox, be aware INTERIOR
that these were recalled in February EACH of the five interior design options
2022 because some were fitted with provides its own ambience, but any Enyaq’s
faulty locks, which meant the box had cabin is roomy, well made and crammed with
to be replaced with a new unit. kit. The big infotainment screen operates
pretty much everything, including the climate
ALTERNATIVES
control, which we don’t like, but otherwise it’s
THE Enyaq has some talented a cabin that’s generally easy to live with.
opposition, including the Hyundai
There’s ample head and leg room for three
Ioniq 5 and its cousin, the Kia EV6.
adults in the back, there are cubbyholes
Both of these come with long
galore, and the boot is enormous. Even with
warranties, sharp design and
the back seats in use it can carry 585 litres;
impressive ranges.
fold them down and this jumps to 1,710 litres.
Or, you could stay within the VW
Group family and buy a Volkswagen Surprisingly, the Coupé loses little in terms
ID.4, Cupra Born or Audi Q4 e-tron, all of practicality compared with the regular SUV.
of which share the Skoda’s platform. Boot space is down by 15 litres with the back
The Peugeot E-3008 looks great seats in place, or 100 litres with them folded.
inside and out and the same goes for
the Volvo EX30, which is expensive
but a more rounded car that has an
SKODA has enjoyed appreciably upmarket feel.
some great results in The Tesla Model Y has a long range
our surveys over the and is widely available thanks to its
years, including a popularity, while a couple of newer
few first places, but contenders include the Renault
in recent times the Scenic E-Tech along with the closely
brand has gone off related Nissan Ariya, both of which
the boil a bit. It came are impressive family cars.
23rd out of 32 in our The Skoda is arguably the best VERDICT ____`
2024 Brands survey, all-rounder of them all, though.
and in the 2024 New IF you’re looking for a family-friendly EV
Car survey, only its ONLINE and don’t have tons of cash (or even if
three SUVs were VALUATION you do), the Enyaq should be high on your
TOOL
INFOTAINMENT covered. The Kodiaq To check prices on shortlist. All of the things that have made
Touchscreen is quick to react, but and Karoq came 16th a specific model Skoda’s ICE models appealing for so long
we’d much rather have buttons to head over to our
and 19th; the Kamiq have been carried over to the EV world,
valuation tool.
control the air-con settings finished 40th. which means the ownership experience is
appealing. We ran an Enyaq 85 Coupé for
six months and learned a lot about how
SOFTWARE PEACE OF MIND much Skoda’s first EV has to offer in terms
AS with so many EVs, early Enyaqs THE Enyaq’s battery comes with a warranty of user-friendliness, efficiency, comfort
can suffer from an array of of eight years or 100,000 miles. Skoda and space. There’s much uncertainty
electronic glitches, most of which guarantees the battery to give at least 70 per in the EV market right now, which has
are fixed by updating the software. cent of its range by then. The overall warranty led to lower prices, so the Enyaq
This can be done over the air. lasts for three years or 60,000 miles. is more tempting than ever.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 117

TOP PICKS Seven-seat hybrids

Dacia Jogger Prices from £22,995

1
WE named the Dacia Jogger our
Family Car of the Year in 2022
and 2023 because of its MPV-like
practicality, flexibility, decent road
manners and incredible value. It
comes with seven seats as standard
and the choice of two engines: a
1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol or a
1.6-litre four-cylinder self-charging
petrol-electric hybrid.
The hybrid is great for urban
driving, running mainly in electric
mode at low speeds and when
pulling away. On the open road, the
engine gets electric assistance and
feels punchier than its 1.0-litre
non-electrified sibling.
Crucially for a seven-seater, the
PROS CONS rearmost seats are easy to get to,
Affordable price Inconsistent brake-pedal feel and there’s lots of space for adults.
Interior space Limited towing ability The trade-off is a small boot with all
Holds its value well One-star Euro NCAP rating seats in place, but it’s a decent 565
litres with the back row folded away.

BEST SEVEN-SEAT HYB

FROM £22,995 Families typically need a big car with low running costs – and our pick of the best seve

Kia Sorento Prices from £43,000

3
CLOSELY related to the Santa Fe,
the Kia Sorento has less aggressive
styling, but is every bit as capable
as a seven-seat family car.
There’s a choice of a pair of
hybrids – self-charging or plug-in.
The former combines a 1.6-litre
petrol engine with an electric motor,
while the latter adds a bigger battery
to the same recipe for 35 miles of
pure-electric range. We preferred
the self-charging model, which is
refined unless worked hard and can
return a claimed 42.2mpg.
Perhaps most importantly, the
Sorento has a large, spacious cabin
with a flat floor. We tested it against
PROS CONS a Nissan X-Trail, and found the Kia
Practical, spacious interior Uninspiring to drive was better at carrying seven people.
High equipment levels Cabin materials could be better The latest model also still comes
Standard four-wheel drive Slightly unrefined engines with the brand’s famous seven-year,
100,000-mile warranty.

118 DoubleIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 BUYING CARS
Hyundai Santa Fe Prices from £46,800
2
THE latest generation of Hyundai’s
largest SUV, the Santa Fe, follows
recent trends for squared-off
designs, and is sure to attract fans
on its looks alone. The new car is
available only with hybrid powertrains,
either self-charging or plug-in, and
whichever you pick, there’s a decent
trade-off between performance and
efficiency for such a large vehicle. It’s
also comfortable to drive, and is
surprisingly easy to handle around
town thanks to good visibility.
The plug-in hybrid model makes
good use of its battery, favouring
electric drive at lower speeds and
offering a pure-electric range of 33.6
miles, while the hybrid system in the
PROS CONS non-plug-in does a decent job of
Comfortable to drive Noisy engine when worked hard helping the petrol engine get up to
Head-turning design Feels large when parking speed. Efficiency is impressive across
Generous equipment Expensive to buy the board considering the Santa Fe’s
appreciable size and weight.

BRIDS
James Howe travel on pure-electric power, while full hybrids
THE best seven-seat hybrids are enough to combine an electric motor and battery alongside
make anyone think twice about diesel. There are their engine. Plug-in hybrids work in a similar
generally three types of hybrid on the market: way, but can be charged with an external cable,
en-seat hybrids fit the bill mild, full and plug-in. Mild hybrids are fitted with giving a fair EV range, with the combustion engine
a small generator to improve efficiency but can’t as back-up. Here are our favourite family models.

Volvo XC90 Prices from £64,000

4
A STALWART of the seven-seat
family SUV category since the long-
serving original launched in 2002, the
Volvo XC90 has managed to retain
its appeal thanks to a dramatically
overhauled new model in 2015 and
subsequent facelifts in 2019 and 2024.
We recently tested the XC90
against the much more up-to-date,
all-electric Kia EV9, and found that it
was more than up to the task, proving
itself as a great all-round family car
despite its age, and majoring on
practicality and comfort.
While mild hybrids make a lot of
sense for buyers who don’t have the
flexibility to charge at home, the T8
PROS CONS plug-in combines useful all-electric
Neat interior design Unrefined petrol engine running with impressive performance,
Comfortable ride and cabin Running costs thanks to its 448bhp power output.
Strong finance offers Showing its age next to rivals All XC90s feel special because the
cabin ambience is supremely classy.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 119

TOP PICKS Seven-seat hybrids

Peugeot 5008 Prices from £37,800

5
THE Peugeot 5008 recently benefited from
a thorough reworking, with the French brand
adding more space and practicality, and
PROS improved tech to its largest SUV.
Driver-focused cockpit There’s also now the option of a pure-
Comfortable and refined electric version, along with self-charging
Hybrid or PHEV choices full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.
The latter is particularly useful thanks to its
pure-electric range of up to 48 miles, but the
CONS non-plug-in is still good for up to 52.5mpg – a
Slightly fidgety ride respectable figure for a big seven-seat SUV.
Laggy infotainment Elsewhere, Peugeot has enlarged the outer
i-Cockpit layout two seats on the middle bench to improve
comfort, while legroom and headroom remain
excellent. The rearmost seats are big enough
for adults, but space for knees is a bit tighter.

Ford Tourneo Custom Prices from £57,300

7
THE Ford Tourneo Custom is another ‘van
with windows’ from the blue oval, this time
based on the excellent latest-generation
PROS Transit, which is so much more sophisticated
Stylish cabin than you might expect.
Car-like to drive Designed to take on the likes of the
Flexible interior Mercedes V-Class and other executive
people-movers, the Ford majors on space
and comfort, while electric and plug-in hybrid
CONS versions were added to the range in 2024. It
PHEV made to order, so can be set up with space for up to nine,
needs factory lead time because the seats sit on tracks in the floor.
Looks like a van The plug-in hybrid version is a great option
for those who want emissions-free urban
travel with long-range flexibility, and it’s both
civilised and satisfying to drive.

Lexus LM Prices from £90,000

9
THE luxurious cab-forward LM minivan is
among the first of its kind to be officially
imported to these shores. Based on the same
PROS architecture as the Toyota Alphard, the LM is
Very posh inside a more opulent proposition than its Japanese
Reasonably efficient domestic-market counterpart.
Loads of gadgets In base spec the LM comes with seven
seats, while an optional four-seater makes
the most of that van-like shape to offer near
CONS private-jet levels of luxury – in fact, the car is
Premium price already outselling the LS saloon, presumably
Divisive styling for this reason. Despite appearances, it drives
Not exactly quick like a luxury Lexus, too: smooth, effortless
and quiet, with a great powertrain thanks to
parent firm Toyota’s expertise in developing
self-charging hybrid technology.

120 Double Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

 BUYING CARS
Ford Tourneo Connect Prices from £34,000
6
VAN-BASED people carriers have long been
a solid choice for those carrying more than
five people, and while the genre is less well
PROS represented in 2024, some have survived and
Extremely practical added a hybrid powertrain for good measure.
Better value than Caddy Just as with the all-electric Ford Explorer,
Economical the company’s Tourneo Connect is the
product of its partnership with Volkswagen.
Based on the same architecture as the VW
CONS Caddy, the Ford comes in two body lengths
Quality isn’t great with either five or seven seats.
Van-like styling What’s more, the new plug-in hybrid variant
Noisy cabin offers a seriously impressive pure-electric
range of 68 miles, which makes it one of the
best vehicles in its class for its EV range, with
undeniable long-distance capability.

Mazda CX-80 Prices from £50,000

8
MAZDA’S CX-80 is the firm’s largest model,
as well as one of its best, with great space,
efficient powertrains and a decent driving
PROS experience. Two engine options are offered:
Efficient powertrain a 3.3-litre mild-hybrid diesel, and a plug-in
Pleasant to drive hybrid that uses a 2.5-litre petrol and electric
Good head and legroom motor with a combined 323bhp and 500Nm
of torque – pretty useful in a big car like this.
While the plug-in’s pure-electric range of
CONS 37 miles lags behind some rivals, the system
Tech merely average works well and is efficient, with claimed
Firm ride quality combined economy of up to 176.5mpg.
Design is unusual Inside, the cabin is spacious, with seven
seats as standard, or the option of six with a
pair of captain’s chairs in the middle row. Even
the rearmost ones have plenty of space.

BUYING ADVICE
Choosing the best seven-seat hybrid car
PICKING the right seven-seater should involve be able to use electric power for long. Pure-
visits to a dealership to assess cabin size, boot hybrid power also promises much lower
space and other essentials, as well as to check
the rest of the family like the car, too.
savings compared with plug-in variants.
PHEVs make sense as company cars, but “IT’S WORTH COMPARING
If you plan to carry multiple passengers
regularly, it might even be a wise idea to bring
can also be a fine choice for private buyers.
If you do most of your driving over short
ALLTYPES OF HYBRID TO
a gang of seat-testers along. distances, but with a long motorway trip SEE WHICH ONE BEST
Beyond practical considerations, it’s worth
comparing self-charging and plug-in hybrids
every so often, you can reduce your fuel bill
by sticking to electric most of the time. You’ll SUITSYOUR BUDGET
to see which better suits your budget or
circumstances. The former offers fuss-free
have to factor in charging, of course, but this
generally takes less time than for a pure-EV OR CIRCUMSTANCES”
efficiency and low running costs, but you won’t because the batteries are smaller.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Double Issue 121

NEWCAR PRICES
ROAD TAX: When a car is first registered, its first year’s road tax
is included in the price. This is emissions-based, and adds
anything from zero on electric cars to £2,745 for vehicles emitting
over255g/kmofCO2.After12months,it’stheowner’sresponsibility
to tax their vehicle, and the rate depends on the fuel used:

Vehicles below £40,000 EURO NCAP RATING:

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS Electric vehicle:

Alternative fuel:
£0
£180
Atthestartofeach
modelisitsEuroNCAP
crashtestsafetyrating
PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted WILL IT FIT? Is your garage big enough? Petrol/diesel: £190
(ifavailable).The
claimed acceleration time for a car, and is by the Association of British Insurers. Our measurements show the length and Alternative fuels include hybrids,
maximumscoreisfive
measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph Warranty: Next to each manufacturer’s name widthof each model, but remember estate plug-in hybrids, bi-ethanol and LPG fuels.
stars,althoughthetest
(0-100km/h), in seconds. is the basic warranty period in months and and performance variants may be bigger. Vehicles Over £40,000 hasbeenmadetougher
miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and Electric vehicle: £0 overtheyears,soratings
ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: paintwork. EVs and hybrids will have DRIVER POWER POSITION: Alternative fuel: £590 aren’tcomparable
Combined WLTP economy in miles per gallon, dedicated battery cover. Auto Express’s survey canvasses results Petrol/diesel: £600 betweenvehicles.
emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2 and from tens of thousands of motorists. After five years, vehicles costing more
maximum claimed range for EVs. Figures are LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure Models are ratedby drivers, then ranked than £40,000 revert to the lower rates.
achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, the first against others onsale in the UK. Pick-up trucks: The models listed here
according to equipment and are unlikely to be 12 months’ of emissions-based road tax, The lower the number, the higher pay a flat rate of road tax, at £345 per year.
representative of everyday efficiency. number plates and first registration. the score a model achieved.

122 SpecialIssue www.autoexpress.co.uk

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NEW CAR
PRICES

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NEW CAR
PRICES

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NEW CAR
PRICES

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 ONLINE
VALUATION
TOOL
Head over to our
valuation tool to check
prices on a specific model.

www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 129

BACKCHAT Mike Rutherford

THOSE who live within, or know anything

about, the UK will confirm that at times of
“VAUXHALL HAS
crisis, Brits reach for the kettle and have a cuppa. PLUMMETED IN
‘Keep Calm and Drink Tea’ is a national slogan.
So it’s a minor tragedy that Typhoo – a beverage
THE SALES CHARTS
brand and a British institution – has just fallen into AND THE LATEST
administration due to the usual double whammy
of dwindling customers and financial woes.
ATROCIOUS NEWS IS
These are the sort of problems many vehicle THAT IT’S CLOSING
manufacturers know well. For decades, Ford topped
ITS LUTON PLANT,
NEXTISSUE
the UK car sales charts, but it’s now slumped to fifth
place and has just announced 800 further job cuts WHICH EMPLOYS
in Britain. Traditionally, Vauxhall claimed the No.2
spot, but has now plummeted to 10th, and the latest 1,100 PEOPLE”
atrocious news from the firm is that it’s killing off its
ON SALE Weds 18 Dec
Luton plant, which employs 1,100 production workers.
Jaguar – a motor car brand and another British institution – has sunk much closer to
the foot of the sales league and is on course to reach rock bottom next year, when it will
be making and selling no new cars at all. Where this leaves the jobs and salaries of the
company’s thousands of production workers producing zilch isn’t clear. But we do know
that around 75 per cent of the brand’s dealers will be booted out or will throw in the
towel. Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for the likes of Tesla and BYD to pick off the
best of those dealerships and target growth. DRIVEN
And in view of that biggest, most momentous announcement of the year so far,
surely we at least need to ask another massively important question: Can the £4billion
New Skoda Elroq
Our first verdict from behind the
gigafactory proposed by JLR’s owner Tata and expected to be subsidised by the dazed
wheel of brand’s baby electric SUV
and confused UK Government, along with Somerset County Council, really be justified
at that price, or indeed be located in that unlikely, awkward-to-get-to bottom left-hand DRIVEN
corner of Britain where logistics might prove difficult?
Last week, I also questioned whether train and bus fanatic Louise Haigh was the right
person with the appropriate job title – that of Transport Secretary – to lead ZEV mandate
discussions and other potentially life-saving talks with the deeply troubled vehicle
manufacturing industry. Now, she’s been publicly exposed as a “convicted fraudster”
who “pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was aware of her conviction before making her a Vauxhall Frontera
member of his Cabinet, appointing her to the top transport job and giving her a budget Its name is from the nineties, but can
of billions to play with. Her replacement is Heidi Alexander, the former senior rail and new SUV cut it in the 21st century?
cycling aid to car-hating London Mayor, Sadiq Khan.
I know we’re Busted Britain, but don’t we need and deserve
something better than this?

TESTED

MIKE
50 years of Golf
Join us as we celebrate half a century

RUTHERFORD
of Volkswagen’s iconic hatchback

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