Table of contents for 1838 in Auto Express

WELCOME to our shiniest magazine of the year, and our opportunity to hand out the big awards to the best cars in the business. The New Car Awards are the culmination of 12 months of exhaustive testing at home and abroad by the experienced and insightful Auto Express team, and it was a tricky choice between four or five really brilliant cars for the overall title, with the final decision really very close. That’s a compliment to our overall 2024 Car of the Year, because it had to earn the prize in a field where several models make a convincing and compelling case for the top spot. All of the contenders combine great value, decent, (comparative) efficiency and stand for all the things buyers look for in that particular segment.…

“The all-new Citroen C3 manages to be a budget option without making you feel like you’re on a budget” WHY IT WINS A LITTLE car with the potential to make a big impact, the new Citroen C3 already impressed with its comfort, space and equipment even before the pricing was announced. But in an age where cheap cars are either now quite expensive or feel low rent, the C3 manages to be a budget option without making you feel like you’re on a budget. The cabin is functional, smart and neatly laid out, but it’s the equipment levels for the money that grab the attention. Whether it’s the 99bhp petrol model or the 115bhp electric version, the C3 is excellent value for money, but it’s the EV that, at under…

“With its LED lighting strips, adventurous angles and SUV styling cues, the Kona never fails to attract attention” WHY IT WINS THE Kona Electric takes some beating for business users looking to make a splash in the corporate car park. The striking Korean machine took our outright Car of the Year title in 2023, and its blend of style, space and seriously low running costs remains as compelling as ever. At the heart of its appeal is a smooth and efficient EV powertrain that drops the car into the two per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax bracket, so drivers sacrifice very little of their salary when they tick the box for the Kona. Then there’s strong range, with the larger 64kWh battery serving up a healthy claimed total of 305 miles between…

“The latest Duster wraps up everything that was great about the old model into a more modern package” WHY IT WINS THE Dacia Duster has always been an honest, dependable, no-nonsense family car. But the latest one wraps up everything that was great about the old model into a more modern package. Don’t worry – the Duster hasn’t suddenly morphed into a 400bhp, electric-only behemoth with a dashboard-spanning infotainment system and luxurious Nappa leather seats, with an asking price to match. This is still an affordable small SUV that’ll make light work of the school run, weekly shop or longer trips – and even occasional off-roading. The Dacia brand has a clear understanding of its niche, and the latest Duster builds on that. There’s now a hybrid engine with a…

“The Countryman’s premium cabin is a terrific mix of solid materials and plusher, more padded surfaces” WHY IT WINS IT still qualifies for the smallest of our Premium SUV categories, but the Countryman is actually a fantastic example of how to make a MINI bigger than ever. The latest edition of the British brand’s SUV is large enough to match the likes of a Nissan Qashqai for space and practicality – and yet it still manages to feel like a MINI. There’s a decent range of engines, but the 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol motor has the pep to live up to the relatively sharp steering and get surprisingly close to delivering the ‘go-kart’ feeling that has been at the core of every MINI model created under BMW ownership. The standout part…

WHY IT WINS FOR years the Mercedes S-Class was the king of the luxury car class, but in 2023 arch-rival BMW finally turned the tables. And the good news for the Bavarian brand is that the 7 Series – and the all-electric i7 in particular – is still the one to buy. Thanks to its all-electric drivetrain, the i7 serves up unrivalled refinement on the move. With its quiet motors and bank vault-like insulation, the BMW slips along in near total silence. As if that wasn’t already enough, its air suspension delivers exceptional comfort, soaking away bumps and potholes for smooth and serene progress. Better still, this comfort and isolation are matched by an interior that seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Rich and luxurious materials are used throughout,…

“For those who use driving as a means of escape, of pure enjoyment, the MX-5 is better than ever” WHY IT WINS AUTO Express is known as a purveyor of innovation and progress in the car industry, so our choice to once again celebrate the ND generation of the Mazda MX-5 – a multiple former winner at our New Car Awards – may seem a little surprising. However, after a range of persistent and subtle upgrades to the car, as well as a shifting emphasis on the importance of weight saving and pure efficiency, there’s no more deserving winner that we could think of. Building a vehicle in 2024 is a tough gig, whether that be a profitable EV or an affordable family car. But to make a near-1,000kg roadster…

“Faster charging means you can appreciate the Taycan’s other grand-tourer qualities even more often” WHY IT WINS THERE’S no shortage of premium electric cars to choose from these days, but nothing in the last year has been a match for the superb new Porsche Taycan. Considering the subtle superficial changes for the 2024 model year, that might seem like a surprise, but that’s because Stuttgart’s finest have instead focused on improving what’s under that swoopy skin – and to fabulous effect. A new battery pack, fresh control electronics and even a new motor have managed to make the entire system more efficient, benefiting both straight-line performance and energy consumption. In the case of the base-model Taycan fitted with the optional Performance Battery Pack, we averaged a brilliant 4.0 miles per…

“The sheer breadth of choice within the Ranger line-up gives it appeal that its rivals struggle to match” WHY IT WINS THE threat of the taxman closing the VAT loophole for one-tonne pick-up trucks is a faded memory, so we can continue to celebrate these capable all-round machines. And if there’s one truck that stands head and shoulders above its rivals, it’s the Ford Ranger. This is the second straight win in this category for the latest Ranger, and the sixth in a row for Ford’s pick-up overall, with the sheer breadth of choice within the line-up giving it appeal that its rivals struggle to match. There are single and double-cab options in the most basic XL trim level, rugged Tremor and Wildtrak X versions, premium Wildtrak and posh Platinum…

WHY IT WINS THERE’S nowhere for cars to hide in our Driver Power survey, which collates the views of thousands of customers on their new models – how good they are to own, and where they fall short. The results are processed with proper statistical weighting applied, too, with the goal of providing a proper representative picture of purchasers’ views across the nation. It’s a real seal of approval, then, for a car to secure the number-one spot in our rundown of the top 50 new cars to own – and that’s certainly the case with this year’s winner, the Dacia Duster Mk2, which pipped strong offerings from Tesla (Model 3) and Toyota (Yaris) to the title. As the model that defined the Dacia brand’s relaunch under Renault Group ownership…

NEW ANYMAKA TAKES THINGS LYING DOWN NEW PRODUCT Anymaka Portable Hammock Stand Price: from £259 Contact: anymaka.com IF car-friendly folding chairs never provide the comfort you are after, this brand-new hammock may well be the answer. You don’t need to hunt for a couple of suitable trees to set it up, because the stand is ready to use in just a few seconds and packs away into a shoulder bag a little over a metre long. It is designed to be stable on any terrain and can be quickly switched between lounger and chair modes. It is built for the outdoor life with an aluminium frame and a rust-proof finish, plus it has a maximum capacity of 250kg. The stand, which weighs 10.4kg, costs £259 ready to take your own gathered-end…

A NEW, hardcore version of the thrilling BMW M3 Touring is in the works. Our spy photographers spotted what is almost certainly an M3 CS wagon hauling around the Nürburgring in Germany. Visual giveaways include a new front grille pattern, an aggressive front splitter with aero fins, and a glimpse of yellow headlight elements, all of which featured on the M3 CS saloon we drove last year. We expect the estate to feature the same 542bhp 3.0-litre turbo engine as its sibling, as well as that car’s myriad hardware tweaks. The new M3 CS Touring is set to arrive in 2025, and should cost around £120,000 – a £30k-plus increase over a regular all-wheel-drive M3.…

“Family cars need to be comfortable, clever, well equipped and efficient, and the Octavia ticks all of those boxes” WHY IT WINS LITTLE sums up Skoda’s brilliant values quite like the Octavia – a car that does the sensible stuff so very well. It really is the do-anything family companion. Family cars don’t need to be sporty, but they do need to be comfortable, clever, well equipped and efficient, and those are four very big ticks for Skoda’s mid-sized car; it dwarfs the likes of the Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf in terms of its dimensions, even though it’s in the same price bracket. Despite the matching figures, the Skoda feels more expensive inside, thanks to a smarter cabin with slick in-car ergonomics – a crucial benefit when family life…

“Calling the changes to the Model 3 a mid-life update undersells how much the car has improved across the board” WHY IT WINS FOR 2024, the Mid-size Company Car award passes from one Tesla to another. Last year’s winner, the Model Y, has been replaced at the top by the Model 3, whose mid-life refresh has helped it take the prize. But calling the changes to the American brand’s four-door saloon a mere mid-life update undersells how much the car has improved almost entirely across the board. We are impressed with the improvement in refinement Tesla has achieved; the introduction of acoustic glass, revised suspension bushings and extra soundproofing materials has made the latest 3 a more relaxing car to drive on long motorway trips. Its drivers can go even…

WHY IT WINS LIKE a fine wine, the Hyundai Tucson appears to be getting better with age, because for the fourth year on the bounce, it’s bagged our Mid-size SUV award. The competition is closing in, but thanks to a timely refresh, the Korean car has stayed one step ahead of rivals. Happily, Hyundai hasn’t messed with the winning formula when it comes to the Tucson’s styling, which retains its predecessor’s distinctive lines and bold LED-light treatment. However, inside, the Korean SUV takes its cues from the brand’s Kona, which means a winning blend of an eye-catching curved TFT touchscreen-instrument cluster and handy physical controls. As before, the cabin combines a classy look and feel with family-friendly space and versatility. There’s comfortably enough room for five adults, loads of handy…

“The Lexus remains a tough act for rivals to follow, thanks to its arresting looks, top tech and luxurious interior” WHY IT WINS THREE times is a charm for the NX, which has secured a remarkable hat-trick of victories in the Mid-size Premium SUV category. With its winning combination of arresting looks, luxurious interior and state-of-the-art tech, the Lexus remains a tough act for rivals to follow. As ever, a huge part of the NX’s appeal is its beautifully crafted interior. Boldly designed, lavishly equipped and finished in rich materials, it feels a cut above most upmarket contenders. It’s backed up by some of the best seats in the business, while the whisper-quiet refinement and plush ride mean that few cars leave you feeling as free of stress at the…

WHY IT WINS HONDA has held strong in the hot-hatch category, with the win once again going to the stunning Civic Type R. Rather than reinventing the wheel with the latest FL5 generation, Honda took the already brilliant FK8 edition and made incremental improvements in almost every area: a little more power here, a little more precision there, and much more besides. The engineers even went down to levels so nerdy that the weight of the gearknob was adjusted in order to deliver a more satisfying throw. Judge the Civic by almost any aspect that matters for a hot hatch and it blows its rivals away. The 324bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine delivers stunning performance, yet achieving the claimed 5.4-second 0-62mph figure is made all the more satisfying because, at a…

“The Ioniq 5 has been transformed into one of the most thrilling cars money can buy” WHY IT WINS FOR the overwhelming majority of motorists, electric vehicles are better than petrol and diesel alternatives in so many ways. The trouble is, none of those benefits is that exciting, and some – little sound, no gears and extra weight – are actually drawbacks for keen drivers. As a result, many petrolheads have been very dubious as to whether an EV could deliver the goods from an excitement point of view. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the car to alter that perception. The transformation over the standard Ioniq 5 – a model we rated highly enough to name as our overall Car of the Year back in 2021 – is staggering,…

“As well as a grown-up powertrain, the MG3 has the ride and refinement to rival the class’s most cosseting cars” WHY IT WINS WHETHER you judge this category by the affordable part or the hybrid part, the MG3 makes itself incredibly hard to beat. The brand’s latest supermini packs a huge amount of punch into its compact footprint. Its powertrain has more electrical assistance than any of its rivals, to the point where its 134bhp motor offers almost as much power on its own as many competitors provide from their full system. That means the MG drives like an EV around town, with responsive, smooth performance permanently on tap. When the petrol engine does kick in, the overall output leaps to 192bhp, giving a huge amount of performance for a…

WHY IT WINS THE past 12 months have been busy for Ford Pro, the commercial-vehicle division of the Blue Oval. It has launched a wave of new models, and chief among them is a new Transit Custom, which now comes in diesel, plug-in hybrid and all-electric guises. While the whole range is an excellent update of the outgoing model, it’s the electric one that needs to be singled out for praise. It brings the Transit Custom up to date by offering an all-electric option for the first time, while the 82.5kWh battery means it can travel up to 209 miles on a charge. That’s not the longest range offered in the electric-van market, but it’s what the E-Transit Custom offers on top of that which makes it our top choice.…

“For such a small car, the e-C3 is very spacious, while a focus on comfort makes perfect sense for urban motoring” WHY IT WINS PICKING an overall winner is really difficult this year. Many of the new candidates, including the likes of the Dacia Duster, the MG3 and the Skoda Octavia, are truly fantastic cars, and each has a huge amount to offer in its own right. However, one car stood above them all: the Citroen e-C3. The new e-C3 is a deserved winner not just for what a great car it is, but also for how significant it is moving forward. Last year’s New Car Awards winner, the Hyundai Kona Electric, rightly received our laurels for offering so much electric family car for a smidge under £40,000. So when…

THE original Volkswagen Golf GTI in 1976 could muster no more than 110bhp from its non-turbo 1.6-litre petrol engine. But that was plenty in a car that weighed a mere 780kg; the pioneering hot hatch was agile and tremendous fun to drive, if not brutally quick, with its 0-60mph time of nine seconds and 111mph top speed. Since then, Volkswagen has honed the Golf, and in 2018 we tested what was then the ultimate iteration: the four-wheel-drive Golf R, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine developing 306bhp. Even more powerful, though, was Honda’s Civic Type R; it may have looked as though it had been designed by a small child, but there was no denying its effectiveness on the road. Made and sold in small numbers, both of these hot hatches…

A BRITISH company has secured the rights to produce new and recreated versions of classic Ford cars, starting with the RS200 rally car and Mk1 Ford Escort (teased, right). Boreham Motorworks, part of the DRVN Automotive Group, has signed an agreement with Ford to produce “a series of continuation and remastered iconic Ford vehicles”. The first car to arrive will be a revamped Ford RS200, the Group B rally car that was produced in tiny numbers for road use. The model will be entirely new, according to Boreham Motorworks, which means it’s not necessarily based on the original designs. There are few details on the car yet, but the teaser image shows a set of LED headlights that hint it will be fit for the modern era. The brand mentions…

WE’RE on a long, straight and wide stretch of B-road at the top of the Isle of Man. The road is deserted and because we’re in the middle of nowhere on this island in the Irish Sea, there’s no speed limit. Plus we’re in a sports car with an 8.0-litre V10 engine. Does it get any better than this? Well, yes, because the sports car is a Dodge Viper, but if we said that the driving experience served up by this car is as good as its exterior design, we’d be lying through our teeth. The Viper is undoubtedly sensational to look at, but sadly its dynamic abilities aren’t quite so impressive… We had our first glimpse of the Viper as a concept car 35 years ago, at the Detroit…

“There are new highs in terms of cabin quality and finish, as well as in-car tech, and it’s a comfy long-distance cruiser” WHY IT WINS SUPERB by name… it’s been said for many years, but Skoda’s big Superb really is quite good. To keep trotting out the clichés, it’s cavernous enough inside to swallow the kitchen sink, with 690 litres of space with the rear seats in place being enough to satisfy the most demanding of load-lugging drivers. Drop the seats and you’re up to 1,920 litres – room for the rest of the kitchen! But this all-new Superb for 2024 brings new highs in terms of cabin quality and finish, as well as in-car technology, and it’s a comfortable long-distance cruiser. If you’re looking for optimum distances on a…

“Stepping up to a premium-feeling SUV with room for the whole family has never felt so attainable” WHY IT WINS IT’S not often that a car can genuinely be considered a game changer, but the Kia EV9 is one of those models that altered the automotive landscape when it was launched last year. This is a huge, five-metre-long electric SUV that offers space for seven adults, a real-world range of more than 300 miles and ultra-fast, 800-volt charging. And that’s before you consider the long kit list that even in base Air spec features large widescreen infotainment displays, 19-inch alloy wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, 360-degree parking cameras and a long list of standard safety aids. Of course, in the company-car world, Benefit-in-Kind tax rules all – and despite…

WHY IT WINS THE Kodiaq is the perfect example of how Skoda replaces a model. The first-generation Kodiaq was much loved for its space and practicality, and was still up at the top of the class – and our 2023 New Car Awards Large SUV of the Year – even when it was old enough for a replacement almost ready for production. That successor was revealed in early 2024, and it neatly builds on all the things that were so loved about the first Kodiaq. The new model is even more about space, practicality, comfort and equipment. There’s also an increased air of sophistication about the cabin, with much-improved materials giving a feeling of premium car about them. The usability also impresses, especially the ‘smart-dial’ system that utilises a single…

“It’s a supremely well judged mix of performance, space and battery capacity – a standout electric vehicle” WHY IT WINS THE car market is moving inexorably towards full electrification – but we’ve been waiting quite a while for a sensibly priced EV with a respectable range and enough space to operate like a regular supermini. That search has finally ended with the Citroen e-C3, which brings 199 miles of range and space for four adults and their luggage for under £22,000. The e-C3 is the first offering on Stellantis’s Smart Car Platform, but it has been tweaked with a few Citroen quirks, such as the brand’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions (in effect, hydraulic bump stops). These give the e-C3 a slightly more wallowy ride than you might expect, but also help…

“The Transit Courier offers an enjoyable drive that makes everyday working life less of a chore” WHY IT WINS THE latest Transit Courier has a trick up its sleeve, because while it offers lots of space and practicality in a compact package, it also adds a dash of driving fun, courtesy of the platform on which it’s based. That’s because it shares its running gear with the Puma small SUV, a car that we rate as the best-handling model in its category. That means the Transit Courier has a clear advantage over other small vans, including Ford’s own Transit Connect, because it offers owners an enjoyable drive that makes everyday working life less of a chore. Combine this with a cabin that has the potential to deliver car-like tech (depending…

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NEW PRODUCT LEGO Icons Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole Price: £159.99 Contact: lego.com FOR lovers of Italian motoring exotica, the Lamborghini Countach has to be high on the wish list. And now they can build their own version, if the real thing is beyond their means, thanks to LEGO. The Countach has been the subject of many a bedroom poster, so it’s fitting that the new model is part of LEGO’s Icons range. In its various forms, the Countach was produced from 1974-1990, and the original 5000 was made in 1985. It boasted a mid-mounted V12 that had been bored and stroked to 5.2 litres and had four valves per cylinder – hence the name. It came with carburetors or fuel injection, with all variants delivering well in excess of 400bhp. The…