Table of contents for 1815 in Auto Express

AUTO Express asked the ASA to explain the background to the latest rulings, which could have a significant impact on the way EV manufacturers promote the range of their vehicles. They told us that while consumers have a deeper inherent understanding of real-world miles per gallon claims versus official test figures in petrol and diesel cars, confusion is more widespread when it comes to EVs. “We’re not saying an asterisk is necessarily a hundred per cent wrong for explaining these things, but rather is the text that explains it clear enough?” ASA spokesman Toby King explained. “We know there’s consumer confusion here, and that’s especially true when it comes to electric vehicle mileage. So now, communicating that in an asterisk bullet point is going to be quite difficult on the…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram ● New supermini unmasked ● No word yet on UK sales THE new Lancia Ypsilon hatchback has been unintentionally revealed in full (right), during a TV shoot featuring the new Peugeot 208-based supermini. It gives us our best look yet at the brand’s new small car, but there’s still no word on whether the company will return to the UK. Most notable are the circular tail-lights, which are inspired by those fitted to the classic Lancia Stratos, a car made famous in the seventies thanks to its global rallying success. That’s where the similarities end, though, because the new Ypsilon has a conventional hatchback body. We can see the supermini will disguise its five-door layout with a set of concealed rear door handles, while the sloping roofline is…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Toyota driver leads team for Monte Carlo opener ● Hyundai and Ford also seeking success “Kalle Rovanperä has announced a part-time schedule for 2024” THE 2024 World Rally Championship season hasn’t even begun, but it already looks like it could be a classic. Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä took two titles in 2022 and 2023, but the 23 year-old Finn announced a part-time schedule in 2024 as he looks to gain experience in circuit racing. This leaves the door open for a new champion, and Rovanperä’s team-mate Elfyn Evans will be aiming to secure his first world title. Since joining Toyota in 2020, Welshman Evans has finished second in the championship three times and fourth in 2022, while last year was his most successful to date, with three event…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk FOR many enthusiasts, the urge to start driving was all-consuming from an early age. Anyone else remember charging around the playground at school making ‘brumm-brumm’ noises, holding an imaginary steering wheel in their right hand, and changing gears with their left? No wonder my A-level results suffered… But pretend electric cars of the future won’t need to be revved furiously by driving legends in the making. Does this mean tomorrow’s kids will instead be running around the playground making whirring noises, with one hand on an imaginary wheel and the other holding a smartphone? Or is the magic of driving as we know it evaporating like spilt petrol as far as today’s young people are concerned? To find out, we needed some willing kids, and what better opportunity than…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks Electric motor Power/range 109bhp/39 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.1 seconds/132mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 472/1,156 litres “A three-cylinder engine might sound dinky, but in hybrid mode there’s plenty of power” RANGE ROVER describes the Evoque as its “greatest sales success story” and it’s not hard to see why. It takes the appeal of the full-fat Range Rover and condenses it into a smaller, more affordable offering. Crucially, its looks make it stand out in the competitive premium SUV market. And for 2024, Range Rover has tweaked its baby SUV, which we’ve tried with plug-in hybrid power and Autobiography trim. The updates outside are relatively subtle; although there are some changes, you’d hardly call this a facelift. They include a new grille and slimmer lights, adhering to Range Rover’s…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.1 seconds/150mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 605/1,755 litres “The 22-inch alloy wheels make their presence felt in the form of a little fidget at low speed” THIS is the revised-for-2024 Audi Q8 SUV. It’s not to be confused with the Q8 e-tron; the brand’s renamed electric SUV now bears the same badge, but unlike that battery-powered model, this car delivers the internal-combustion options for big-SUV buyers. In a rarity for new cars, this includes a diesel version, which we’re driving here. During the latest round of updates, the range has received some minor cosmetic tweaks, tech revisions and a reworked trim structure. The styling changes are subtle, but then the Q8 was already one of the more cohesive-looking coupé-SUVs on the market – a segment…

WINNER Hyundai Kona Hybrid 1st IT’S a surprisingly close-run thing, but the Hyundai Kona narrowly gets ahead of the HR-V here. The additional space it has to offer, especially when compared with its predecessor, means it’s a much more viable family car than before. Add in great refinement and a comfortable ride, and it’s a winner. Ultimate trim has all the kit you could possibly want and more, and it comes at a price that undercuts its rival here – although you could choose a lower-spec Kona and still not feel short-changed. ● Spacious interior ● Lots of safety kit ● Refined powertrain ● Comfortable ride ● Too many warning beeps ● Lifeless steering ● Some hard plastics in cabin ● No centre armrest bin INTERESTED? Scan the code for…

SAME MONEY Mercedes GLC 300 e ROLL back to the previous-generation Mercedes GLC and you’ll find the plug-in hybrid 300 e is available for a similar price to our two cars here. You get more power, at 329bhp, plus four-wheel drive and a 13.5kWh battery that offers a claimed all-electric range of 25 miles, although you’ll need to keep it topped up to make the most of its lower costs. Be advised that other running costs will be more expensive for this premium model, though. ● Zero-emissions running ● Premium cabin and kit ● Hybrid isn’t the most efficient ● High maintenance costs SAME MONEY Kia Sportage If you need more space than either of these cars offer, then the Kia Sportage could be a better option. This comes with…

Steve_Walker@autovia.co.uk Running costs 34.4mpg (on test) £75 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 536/1,611 litres I’M not going to sugar coat this. Peugeot was a car design horror show in the early noughties. The understated, classy shape of cars such as the 405, 205, 306 and 406 Coupé gave way to amorphous blobs with the likes of the 407, 307, the original 3008 and the bonkers 1007. Happily and, somewhat ironically, Peugeot signalled the end of its design department video nasty by shocking us with a set of fangs. Today, Peugeots look good again – to my eyes at least. The modern 208, 3008 and 508 have far more panache, and this new ethos is characterised by the firm’s striking fang-like LED daytime running lights. All of which brings me to…

Lighter trailer for race-car transport BRIAN James Trailers has launched a new, lightweight enclosed car carrier called the Race Transporter 7. It’s around 200kg lighter than the Race Transporter 6 and with no increase to the legal towing limit on the horizon, the RT7 is better able to meet the needs of today’s heavier vehicles. The RT7 is available with two or three axles, a standard or extra-height body, and in black or white. Prices start from £30,600 and rise to around £48,000, but standard kit includes a powered rear door, electric tilting bed, LED exterior and interior lighting plus an electric winch. Visit brianjamestrailers.co.uk for details. Little Car Company has got you covered THE Little Car Company has teamed up with Goodwool to provide bespoke protective covers for its sized-down vehicles.…

THE need to look after your car doesn’t go away just because the weather has turned colder. But there’s no doubt that it’s more difficult to motivate yourself to get into the garage when numb fingers and cold concrete await. It’s not just you who will feel chilly – products such as waxes and paint might not be usable when the temperature drops. Running a heater might seem like a luxury, but it will be cheaper than having a ruined respray and will make you more productive as well as more comfortable. Several are available, some powered by gas, paraffin and even diesel. But these need to be used in well ventilated spaces and can cause condensation – not ideal around rust-prone parts and tools. So here we focus on…

MOTORING-related money matters have gone from mad to madder to maniacal in January: some of the numbers that follow will make your eyes water. First, the revelation that Tesla lost $94,000 million (£74billion) in market valuation during the first couple of weeks of the month. Or, as Bloomberg brutally but succinctly stated, the manufacturer suffers “a $94billion reality check as EV winter sets in”. For this, disruptor-in-chief BYD must accept much of the blame. After a near-blanket shutdown in car industry announcements over the Christmas/New Year break, BYD worked overtime and ensured that by 2 Jan it was known that the Chinese firm will build its first European car plant in Hungary. A day later it confirmed that it had overtaken Tesla as the world’s No.1 electric vehicle manufacturer. No…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Latest updates aim to improve Golf’s user-friendliness ● New GTI hot hatch, plug-in GTE and estate also revealed THE new Volkswagen Golf has arrived, but the facelifted eighth-generation model (known as the Golf Mk8.5) has a tough job ahead of it, with competition now incoming not only from the hatchback segment, but also family SUVs and EVs too. After the clean lines of the Mk7, the eighth Golf gained bolder surfacing and a more aggressive front-end design. VW has now tweaked the look of the 2024 car with new lights, a restyled front bumper and a revised lower grille. The nose can be finished off with an optional illuminated badge. The bodywork changes extend to the rear end, while new wheels and colours have also been added.…

Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk @EllisDrives ● Geneva Motor Show launch for all-new model ● Petrol engines likely to feature mild-hybrid tech THE new MG3 will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on 26 February, the brand has confirmed – more than a decade after the current car first appeared. The MG3 has never been a strong contender in the supermini class, unable to match heavyweights such as the Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa. Indeed, the outgoing car’s single claim to fame is its positioning as one of the cheapest cars on sale – a title the new version is expected to retain. To do so, we understand the MG3 will stick with petrol power – despite recent spy pictures showing a car with a green flash on the number plate, hinting at…

Updated Tesla Model 3 names its price THE facelifted Model 3 electric saloon (above) will be available in the UK from 27 January, Tesla has confirmed. Rear-Wheel Drive cars cost £39,990, while the range-topping Long Range model is priced at £49,990. Both will be available to test drive from the same date, with deliveries soon after. The revised Model 3 can officially cover 420 miles on a charge, with owners granted access to the brand’s highly regarded Supercharger network. Power to the people at Festival of Speed GOODWOOD has announced a central theme of ‘Horseless to Hybrid – Revolutions in Power’ for the 2024 Festival of Speed. Due to be held from 11-14 June, the event will celebrate 130 years of automotive engineering, while also looking to the future of…

DELTA INTEGRALE (1989-94) The last truly great Lancia was a rally hero, with four-wheel drive and 2.0 turbo power. THEMA 8.32 (1986-92) Front-drive saloon shared parts with Fiat, Saab and Alfa Romeo models, but Lancia set its car apart by giving it a Ferrari V8. STRATOS (1973-78) Bred for rallying, this car also had Ferrari power: the Dino’s V6. The packaging was awful, but used prices are stratospheric now. FULVIA COUPE (1965-77) Achingly pretty two-door was spun off Lancia’s family saloon, but ended up outliving its four-door sibling. APRILIA (1937-49) One of the first cars created with the help of a wind tunnel, and introduced the same year as brand founder Vincenzo Lancia died.…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk ● Instructors are gearing up to cope with demand for automatic-only driving tests, but is it too soon to give up on manual training? THE advent of electric cars with their exclusively automatic transmissions means learner drivers – and often their parents – are increasingly questioning whether it’s worth taking lessons for the full manual driving test. An auto-only test should be easier to pass and make lessons potentially cheaper, the thinking goes, while statistics show that an increasing number of buyers are opting for automatic gearboxes by choice on petrol or diesel models, and by default with EVs. Back in autumn last year a survey of 2,000 adults by the Motor Ombudsman suggested only just over half of existing licence holders would still choose a manual gearbox over…

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Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk @EllisDrives Running costs 52.6mpg (off icial) £62 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.9 seconds/122mph “The Peugeot is at its best in cities, because the raised driving position gives good visibility” DESPITE not offering the most engaging driving experience, or the roomiest cabin, the 2008 has become a big seller for Peugeot. But given that the car is known largely for its looks, we’d understand if the brand were nervous facelifting the SUV. We’ve already driven the updated all-electric E-2008, and we were impressed with the improvements. But at over £36k, it’s not the most affordable model. Petrol power still forms part of the 2008 range, though, and allows customers to get their hands on the snazzy small SUV for less. The visual changes to the 2008’s front end aren’t particularly…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram BUYING a new car can be a daunting process. Few people relish the chance to trawl their local dealerships, test drive new models and negotiate a deal. The good news is it isn’t the minefield it once was, and there are now ways of buying a brand-new car without leaving the comfort of your own home. Over the next 32 pages, we’ll reveal Britain’s best models and what you should expect to pay for them. But before you flick through our list of the top superminis, hot hatches and SUVs (plus everything in between), be sure to take a look at our complete guide to buying a car (right). We’ve included tips on everything from financing to fuel types – as well as just finding the right model…

MODEL TESTED: Kona 1.6 GDi Hybrid Ultimate PRICE: £34,225 POWERTRAIN: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol hybrid, 139bhp 139bhp Powertrain 1.6 litre 4cyl 38 litres Fuel tank £53 fill up 11.2 seconds Performance 103mph 466 litres Seats up/down 1,300 litres THE second-generation Hyundai Kona has picked up where the original version left off, with electric, petrol and hybrid options on offer. We’re testing the top-spec hybrid version here, which undercuts the high point of the Honda HR-V line-up on list price by just over £2,000. Tech highlights HYUNDAI redesigned the Kona from the ground up, and criticism about a shortage of space in the first generation doesn’t apply here. The new model uses the same platform as the Kia Niro, another model that comes with a choice of electric, hybrid or petrol power,…

SAME CLASS Kia Niro IF the Hyundai’s looks are a little too futuristic for your liking, then the Niro features much of the same running gear as the Kona in a different body. As a result it offers a very similar level of comfort – albeit without any sense of fun – while the touchscreen tech on board is virtually identical, just with a different layout for the rest of the dashboard. Kia offers the Niro as a hybrid, full EV and a PHEV, too, which gives you another option for efficient driving. Boot space for the hybrid model isn’t quite as big as the Kona’s here, while the PHEV is further compromised thanks to its larger battery. ● Practical interior ● Efficient powertrains ● Excellent infotainment tech ● Boot…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk AWAY from the enthusiast detailers, the mainstream car care industry is always searching for the something-for-nothing product that saves both time and effort. These often come under the clean-and-protect category, where one application does two jobs. Polish that doubles as a wax, or washes that leave a protective finish are prime examples. And ceramic washes are the latest incarnation, using the sector’s current go-to ingredient. With one or two exceptions, polish waxes are not as effective as specialist products, and the same goes for wash waxes, where the latter element is minimal and any protection short-lived. It’s pretty much the same with ceramic washes judging by our tests last year. Some work, but most are short of stamina. Of the 15 we tested, just under half…

WHILE privately owned electric scooters remain illegal to ride on public roads in the UK, many people use them to get around on private land, such as campsites and motorsport venues. A decision on a change in the law is unlikely soon, but if e-scooters do become legal it’s likely the legislation will allow a top speed limited to 15.5mph. We’ve previously given the top spots in our multitests to scooters made by Pure, but these are pricey. Our favourite sub-£500 machine is Halfords’ Indi EX-2. Here it faces the new NIU KQi2 Pro, which matches it on price. The NIU is solid, comfortable and stable to ride, with clever connectivity. For everyday riding on rougher surfaces it would be our choice. But the Indi’s extra power, lighter weight and…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk THE Outback claims a significant first place in the interior category, with owners ranking it top for styling, second for both all-round visibility and rear-seat legroom, and third for front-seat comfort. These are such good scores that they almost make a fine 14th place for interior quality and feel look bad. The picture is nearly as rosy for practicality, a category where the Subaru ranks second, with first place for boot space, fourth for seating versatility, and fifth for child-friendly features; storage takes a ‘lowly’ 16th. The Subaru’s fuel economy is rated down the table at 55th, but other running costs are middling, while reliability is in first place, and the Outback is sixth for value, which is a great result. WE SAID “The Outback is pretty much the only…

CAR companies aren’t prone to admitting when they’ve made a mistake – but the Golf Mk8.5 is as close as we might get to VW holding its hands up and saying sorry. For almost half a century, the Golf has been a benchmark for usability – a perfectly judged blend of space, practicality, functionality, efficiency and performance. But the lurch towards digitalisation and a design-led determination to get rid of physical switches, made the Mk8 a vehicle that was actually harder to live with than some of its rivals – and indeed, its predecessor. Unthinkable for a Golf, in any era. On first inspection, VW hasn’t fixed all of the car’s wrongs with this Mk8.5 – we still see that (now-backlit) touch slider bar and shudder a little – but…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk ● ASA wants clarity on driving range claims ● Quoted figures ‘not representative’ of real-world results THE Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints against Kia and Mercedes for ads promoting the ‘official’ maximum range figures for new electric cars, and not the actual range drivers might reasonably expect to achieve. Both companies quoted the WLTP maximum ‘combined’ range figure in adverts for the Kia Niro EV and Mercedes EQC respectively, each with an asterisk pointing to qualifying text providing limited information about the WLTP test regime. WLTP stands for Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, and refers to the standardised laboratory tests that are recognised by the UK Government for generating legally required passenger car economy and emissions data. In the case of the Niro EV, the ASA…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @autoexpress Wait puts a damper on love for Toyota FROM: Mike Morrison I EXPECTED the usual bombproof performance from my 2021 Toyota Yaris, but in December I was advised it needed a new hybrid damper unit and will be off the road until 2 March. I can accept the part is needed, but not a three-month wait. My loyalty to the brand is wavering! I’d be tempted by EV with 500-mile range FROM: Iain Dennison ONE comment in Issue 1,813 said we’re not far away from 600 miles of range in an EV. I’d seriously consider one if I could be guaranteed 500 miles, if it had a price tag of no more than £40K, if it had comfortable, heated and supportive seats. And if it wasn’t from China.…

Funky Cats culled from UK showrooms ONE of the UK’s strangest car names is to disappear, after Great Wall Motor (GWM) announced that it’s rebadging the Ora Funky Cat EV. The vehicle (below) will now be called the GWM 03 in a bid to give it greater appeal with mainstream European customers. No technical changes are expected to accompany the switch, which will also extend to the forthcoming Ora Lightning Cat saloon. That car, which is due in UK dealers later this spring, will be known as the Ora 07. Govt plans to insist on fuel price publication FILLING stations will be forced to update their prices ‘live’ online within 30 minutes of any changes, under new proposals from the Government. The details will be collected in a format that’s…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy “From the moment you slide into the driver’s seat, you know that you’re at the wheel of a van” ARE you ready for ‘new Ford’? Perhaps more pertinently, is it ready for you? Gone are the Fiesta and Mondeo, and the Focus is not long for this earth. So assuming the Puma small SUV doesn’t do it for you, how is Ford going to satisfy demand from those who want affordable family transport, be it powered by petrol or electricity? The Tourneo Courier is meant to be one of the answers to that question. Available to order now as a petrol model, but with a zero-emissions E-Tourneo Courier due to arrive later this year, this model takes the smallest of Ford’s van offerings and turns it into a…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.0 seconds/96mph Electric motor Power/range 152bhp/150 miles THERE are car companies who are particularly well suited to the electric revolution. But on paper at least, Abarth isn’t one of them. This is a brand made famous by lightweight performance models that fly in the face of heavy batteries, with a distinct exhaust burble that’s a world away from electric-motor whine. How can Abarth hope to overcome those contrasts? It’s time to find out, with our first taste of the Abarth 500e Convertible, and on UK roads to boot. To recap, this model takes the same basic technical make-up as the regular Fiat 500e Convertible – a 42kWh battery and a single front-mounted motor – but boosts the power and torque outputs to 152bhp and 235Nm…

MODEL TESTED: HR-V 1.5 i-MMD Advance Style PRICE: £36,295 POWERTRAIN: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol hybrid, 129bhp 129bhp Powertrain 1.5 litre 4cyl 40 litres Fuel tank £56 fill up 10.7 seconds Performance 106mph 319 litres Seats up/down 1,289 litres WHILE there was a gap between the first and second-generation Honda HR-Vs, we didn’t have to wait for this Mk3 version. It’s the most advanced edition yet, and appropriately we’re testing the top-spec Advance Style model here. It costs £36,295, which is £2,070 more than the top-spec Kona Ultimate we’re pitching it against. Tech highlights UNDER the skin of the HR-V is Honda’s Global Small Car platform, which it shares with the Jazz and a selection of Hondas sold in India and the Far East. However, the HR-V is far larger than the…

A DECENT £2,000 deposit contribution from Honda makes the HR-V much more competitive on finance than it is if you’re a cash buyer. Come up with a £3,500 deposit, and repayments are £471 on a 37-month contract, compared with £499 a month for the Kona. As well as a larger deposit contribution, Honda is also currently including five years of servicing as part of its finance package. This will save you an additional £975 over three years when compared with booking an annual service. Hyundai offers a more modest £500 deposit contribution and two services for £199, but if you decide to keep the car at the end of the contract, the optional final payment of £17,178 is nearly £2,000 less than the Honda’s. The Kona makes up ground on…

HYBRID SUVs The popularity of hybrid models is growing, as people cautiously move towards electrification John McIlroy Editor-at-large “LOOK back a decade, and Hyundai was capable of building cars that we’re competitive with rivals, but couldn’t quite better them. Yet today the company is setting the standard in terms of design and tech, and the Kona’s transformation shows just how far the brand has come.” Rich Ingram Deputy editor “SWITCHING to a hybrid car from a conventional petrol model is a good first step on the road towards full electrification. It helps buyers see the benefits of electric drive, but without the range or charging anxiety that still hangs over EVs. No wonder we’ve seen a rise in hybrid sales.” Dawn Grant Picture editor “THE Kona is a distinctive-looking thing,…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.8 seconds/155mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 500/1,750 litres ACCORDING to a recent survey, one in three of us give our cars names – there’s even a National Name Your Car Day (2 October, if you really want to know). I’m usually in the two thirds who don’t bother, but I reckon there’s a certain resemblance between our BMW iX and one of the movie world’s greatest villains, so say hello to Darth. Being likened to a Sith Lord in Star Wars doesn’t sound hugely complimentary towards the iX, especially because it’s a car that I’ve grown to really admire – although I have to be honest and say that admiration doesn’t extend to the looks which, apologies to Darth Vader, aren’t exactly beautiful. That’s where…

The Massive Motorsports Quiz Book Lunar Press (amazon.co.uk) Price: £6.99 Rating: IF you need material for a pub quiz, something to keep your passengers occupied on a long journey or just to test your own knowledge, this book is a good option. There’s a mixture of factual and multiple-choice questions. Production is a bit low-rent, but it’s not expensive and could be worth putting in the glovebox before a long trip. Motor Racing’s Strangest Races Geoff Tibballs (Portico, harpercollins.co.uk) Price: £5.99 Rating: RACING has a history almost as long as the car, so it’s no surprise that there have been some wacky races in the past. There are some excellent true stories in this book that make for interesting and amusing reading. It’s ideal to dip into and out of…

CO2 /tax 0g/km Free Range 335 miles (LR SM) £24 full charge Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/100mph IT’S amazing just how quickly things can change in the automotive industry. A decade ago virtually nobody had heard of Polestar, which at that time was essentially a tuning company that had evolved from a racing team called Flash Engineering, which was set up in 1996. By 2009 Volvo was working closely with Polestar; six years later it had taken over the company entirely. At first Polestar was Volvo’s in-house tuning division, but at the end of the last decade it was in effect spun off as Volvo’s EV division; from the outset Polestar has offered only electric cars (ultra-rare Polestar 1 PHEV aside), while Volvo has moved more gradually towards its goal of…