Table of contents for 1846 in Auto Express

More tech and new options for facelifted Vauxhall Mokka VAUXHALL is readying a subtle update for its Mokka SUV. As one of the first models to adopt the brand’s distinctive ‘Vizor’ face, exterior changes are likely to be subtle. Expect bigger things inside, with new colour and trim options plus tech updates. The car will still be available with a combination of petrol and fully electric powertrains. New Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo priced from £88k PRICES for the updated Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo Camper, and its standard V-Class people carrier cousin have been announced. They start at £74,760 for the V 220 d and rise to £88,600 for the Marco Polo. The pair feature a new interior and get high-end exterior features such as Merc’s advanced ‘Multibeam’ LED headlights and…

VOLVO has confirmed that a heavily revised version of its popular seven-seat XC90 will be revealed on 4 September. It will join the new all-electric EX90, and offer a substantial set of updates that will bring the hybrid-powered SUV right up to date. This includes a fresh exterior look, with new headlights, front end and bonnet, plus a new dashboard and interior tech package The refreshed XC90 will only be available with hybrid powertrains, and is designed to appeal to those reluctant to own electric high-end family SUVs.…

IN celebration of the outgoing Superb Estate – a favourite among both journalists and customers – Skoda has revealed a very special one-off. It’s called the Sleeper Edition, but the name doesn’t refer to in-cabin camping, rather the fact that its power output isn’t far off that of a BMW M3 Touring. Working with RE Performance in the UK, Skoda has been able to liberate 470bhp and 661Nm of torque from the Superb’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This is connected to a seven-speed DSG and all-wheel drive, all adding up to create possibly the ultimate ‘sleeper’ car.…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk WE’VE been asked to do some pretty silly things in the name of journalism, but there’s usually an explanation provided. We’re still not sure why Vauxhall thought we should attempt the original driving test from 1935 in the latest electric Corsa, though. And what would 1930s candidates have made of the challenges faced by learners today? We’d soon find out, because we agreed to do the old test in the new car – if Vauxhall found us an old car to take the current test. The firm couldn’t quite manage a 1935 model, but it got close with the 10-4 from 1937, now looked after by staff at the National Motor Museum in Warwickshire. It’s a pretty four-door saloon from an era that was, for Vauxhall, golden. Much as…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram THE transition to electrification in the new-car market has opened the doors to a range of fresh manufacturers entering the UK, many of whom come from China. Some of these, such as MG and BYD, have already established themselves as major players, and only show signs of becoming increasingly influential. Other brands are at a much earlier stage of their journey. One of those is Skywell. It’s a group that doesn’t have ties to any companies that have become household names (or even emerging ones) over here. Its offerings in China primarily lean towards commercial vehicles – mainly electric buses, but also trucks, heavy-plant machinery and vans. Skywell also has a consumer electronics arm, and the car you see here is known in China as the Skyworth EV6.…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI SE L PRICE: £38,405 POWERTRAIN: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp 187bhp Powertrain 2.0-litre 4cyl 66 litres Fuel tank £97 fill up 9.2 secs Performance 139mph 645 litres Seats up/down 1,795 litres THE model we’re testing is in mid-ranking SE L trim and, in something of a rarity among new cars, is powered by a diesel engine. It’s priced from £38,405, while the options added to the car in these images bring that figure up to £41,420. Tech highlights SKODA has kept things fairly simple with the mechanical make-up of the new Superb. It rides on a revised version of the previous version’s MQB architecture, which has allowed the brand to instead focus on the finer details that should make the Superb easier to live with every…

WINNER 1st Skoda Superb EVEN in its previous iteration, the Superb was strong enough to see off the closest competition. With this new model sticking to the same formula while introducing a wider range of small but positive changes, it has managed to pull itself even further clear of the rest of the field. When it comes to space, usability and value for money, little else can come close, and in the areas where the Citroen is ahead, such as ride, our gripes with the Superb are minor. Family cars are rare now, but the standard of what’s left is so high. INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information • Space• Refinement• Overall value and running costs• Interior finish and ergonomics • Ride occasionally fidgets• Modest performance• Not that much…

SAME CLASS Ford Mondeo BEFORE the Superb dominated this class, it was the Ford Mondeo’s territory. Space, ride, handling and value ticked all of the boxes that the Skoda does today, but there are still great used Mondeos to be had. We found a 2017 model for sale with fewer than 40,000 miles on the clock for less than £15,000. That sum bags a 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel and posh Vignale trim, which has heated and cooled front seats, as with the Skoda. • Cruising refinement• Big boot • Feels a little bulky• Poor hybrid SAME MONEY Mercedes E-Class DIP into the used market, and it’s possible to bag the prestige of a Mercedes for the same price as our family cars. The E-Class has many of the same qualities –…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 360/1,231 litres Running costs Official range/BiK 254 miles/2% FOUR months’ life with the Fiat 600e have revealed something to me. Its circa 150-mile motorway range just isn’t quite enough to serve my driving needs day-to-day. So, we’ve decided to part ways a few months early, giving it a chance to prove its worth as a family runaround with a new keeper, web producer Pete Baiden. Despite my lukewarm reception to the stark contrast between its quoted range and reality, it’s worth noting that the 600e really does excel as an urban SUV. Critical to this are its good visibility, narrow body and quick responses from the electric powertrain. The Fiat is also a fairly nice thing to sit in, because the bright interior keeps things…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram SEPTEMBER is a great month to buy a new car, as the industry jumps across from one registration plate to the next, and dealers aim to ride the wave of extra interest the fresh prefix brings with some very keen offers. And there’s probably never been a better selection of fresh metal available than now, with countless top models having been refreshed in the past six months and new powertrain choices – both hybrid and electric – being introduced all the time. Even so, the sheer amount of choice can be bewildering – particularly when the value sweet spots in each range are shifted by which variants the manufacturers, dealers and salespeople are trying to push hardest. So we’ve rounded up 74 of the new cars that should…

FIRST TEST LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance Price: £189.99 Rating: Contact: lego.com IT’S been a few years since we tackled a large LEGO build, but it’s always good to remind ourselves just how brilliant these are for car fans of all ages. Our latest project was the Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance, as campaigned by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in last year’s F1 World Championship. It may not have been the most successful design from the multiple constructor’s title winners, but it was a winner for us because the build, which was tackled over several weeks in between work commitments, was a joy. LEGO makes getting everything just right look so easy. The diagrammatic instructions are spot on, although you do need to pay close…

Derek Warwick: The Racing Life of Britain’s Double World Champion Derek Warwick, David Tremayne (Evro Publishing, evropublishing.com) Price: £60 Rating: AN entertaining and interesting memoir. Anyone who followed Warwick’s career will find the racing section unputdownable, though there’s plenty more to digest. This makes a full read of this hefty book quite an undertaking, but if you enjoy the high jinks a racer could get away with in the eighties and nineties, you’ll manage it. The Last Overland Alex Bescoby (Michael O’Mara Books, mombooks.com) Price: £20 Rating: RECREATING a 1955 trip from London to Singapore – immortalised in print as The First Overland – Bescoby goes one further by using the Land Rover from the first trip. What follows is a hugely impressive journey, enthrallingly written, emotional and entertaining. Very much…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/130mph Running costs 38mpg (595 Turismo) £49 fill-up CO2/tax 139-155g/km £190-£255 BACK in the sixties, Britain’s roads were teeming with Minis, and there was the Cooper for those who wanted a hot edition. In Italy it was the Fiat 500 that put the nation on wheels, and the sporting version was the Abarth, courtesy of independent tuner Carlo Abarth. A few Abarth-tuned Fiat 500s reached the UK in the Swinging Sixties, but it wasn’t until Fiat had acquired the company and launched it as a separate brand in 2008 that it became truly familiar to UK buyers. Abarth’s first cars here were the Punto and 500 hatchbacks, with the latter morphing into the 595 and much rarer 695 in subsequent years. For simplicity throughout this guide…

THE Kadjar made its debut just before the Tiguan Mk2, and as with VW, Renault offered a wide model range in terms of engines, transmissions and trims. The French brand facelifted the Kadjar in spring 2019, but it still didn’t feature fuel-saving tech such as cylinder deactivation, while its updated cabin didn’t have the high-quality feel of its rival’s. Predictably, the Kadjar offered better value for money, with more standard kit and a slightly lower list price. By the time you throw in more road noise, no sliding rear seat, a smaller boot and a bouncier ride though, it’s pretty clear that the Renault is out of its depth trying to compete with the Volkswagen. While these two cars had very similar list prices when new (both were a shade…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks FORD’S decision to kill off the Fiesta last year was met with a fair amount of outcry, considering how popular the firm’s long-running supermini was. It makes a lot more sense once you factor in the Puma, however, which has largely filled the void left by the supermini, thanks to its fun dynamics, practicality, affordability and generous equipment. Our main gripe with the Puma when it launched in 2019 was the cabin. It lagged behind the competition on quality, and the small infotainment screen was a touch laggy. But Ford has addressed the Puma’s key shortcomings and a whole lot more for its mid-life facelift, which we’re driving here for the first time. Tech-savvy buyers will appreciate the Puma’s new dashboard layout, which comprises a larger, 12-inch display…

Tom_Jervis@autovia.co.uk @thomaswjervis HM Treasury pushing for it Our poll shows support TWO IN FIVE Auto Express readers think road pricing could be the least-worst option for filling the UK Government’s forthcoming financial black hole as it’s revealed that Treasury advisors could be pushing Labour to introduce a pay-per-mile road tax in the Autumn Budget. In a poll conducted on X, 40 per cent of respondents said a pay-per-mile scheme could be the best way to solve the nation’s financial troubles as the increase in uptake of EVs reduces the Government’s income from fuel duty. Out of the 280 people surveyed, 30 per cent deemed increasing fuel duty for ICE cars as the preferred solution, while another 30 per cent believed in hiking the standard rate of road tax (also known…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks UK pricing has been confirmed for the new Vauxhall Frontera, with both the pure-electric and hybrid-powered models starting from £23,495. This represents the first time that price parity has been achieved between ICE and full-electric variants of the same car – tangible proof that EV prices are coming down. Both powertrain options will be available in two trim levels – Design and GS. All variants will be offered from launch in the autumn, and the standard kit is the same for both the Hybrid and Electric; Design models bring automatic LED headlights, 16-inch steel wheels, auto wipers and black bumpers. The GS starts at £24,995, and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, silver skid plates, a black roof with tinted rear windows, LED rear lights and power folding…

Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk @EllisDrives Brand-new SUV is available to order now, priced from £21,995 Hybrid version to be followed by pure-petrol model in 2025 “There’s a strong family resemblance between the new ZS, the MG3 and the HS” MG has given us our first look at the all-new version of its ZS, revealing that the big-selling SUV gets a bold fresh design. So far only three exterior images of the car have been released, but it is available to order now, with first examples reaching customers in October. Prices for the range will start from just £21,995 – nearly £4,000 less than the updated Ford Puma (page 8). At launch, the new ZS is only available with a Hybrid+ powertrain – the same set-up found in the award-winning MG3 supermini. It pairs…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Mazda’s set-up dials back on distractions FROM: Victor Maitland WELL done to Mazda, who still offers a rotary control for its infotainment not far removed from BMW’s original iDrive set-up. On the move, I far prefer using this to a touchscreen because it’s less distracting and has useful shortcuts, plus physical climate control buttons. More KITT, less KARR in the future, please FROM: Andy READING the ‘Wayves’ feature (Issue 1,842) reminded me of Knight Rider. KARR was abandoned since it was all about self preservation, much like current cars that slam on brakes when vegetation is in the way. I hope they make it like KITT, so we can drive and be driven smoothly. Ford blind to public demand for Fiesta FROM: Ross McMaster I JUST read Your…

Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk @EllisDrives Running costs 38.1mpg (official) £98 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 985/1,949 litres “The chunky proportions and squared-off edges give it huge presence” IMITATION is the sincerest form of flattery, they say. Hopefully Land Rover sees it that way, because we reckon the Defender, Discovery and even the Range Rover almost certainly served as inspiration for the designers of the all-new, boldly styled Hyundai Santa Fe. That’s not a complaint. In fact, we think borrowing cues from some of the most desirable SUVs around is a pretty smart move on Hyundai’s part. The chunky proportions, squared-off edges and H-pattern daytime running lights come together to give the fifth-generation Santa Fe huge presence and turn heads wherever it goes – as we experienced driving through the Welsh villages on our…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.6 seconds/190mph Running costs 156.9mpg (official) £105 fill-up AWARDING a car the title of ‘ultimate performance SUV’ without any irony might come across a bit paradoxical, or even a little crass. But if such a thing exists, Porsche came closer than most with its original Cayenne Turbo GT. This high-riding 4x4 had the handling chops to live with the best performance saloons when it launched in 2021. Indeed, when our colleagues at evo magazine lapped it around the Bedford Autodrome, it came within three-tenths of a second of the BMW M3 – a time set on the same day and by the same driver. It achieved all this while offering loads of space inside its beautifully finished cabin, and better ride comfort than the BMW.…

MODEL TESTED: Citroen C5 X Hypnos PHEV PRICE: £43,290 POWERTRAIN: 1.6-litre 4cyl PHEV, 222bhp 222bhp Powertrain 1.6 litre 4cyl PHEV 52 litres Fuel tank £74 fill up 7.9 secs Performance 145 mph 485 litres Seats up/down 1,580 litres THE Citroen C5 X we’re testing here is an all-new range-topping trim. Called Hypnos, it’s the most lavishly equipped variant we’ve seen yet, and is priced to reflect this, at £43,290. Tech highlights AS with the Superb, the C5 X makes the most of a platform that’s widely used throughout its multi-brand parent group. In this case, it’s the EMP2 architecture that the C5 X stretches to one of its largest sizes across the Stellantis family. While EMP2 can accommodate diesel powertrains, there isn’t one to order here. But there is a…

SAME CLASS Lexus ES THE Lexus ES competes in a more premium space than the Superb – it sets its sights on the likes of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class – but there are plenty of things that it shares in common with the Skoda. It’s a model that doesn’t try too hard to be sporty, instead focusing on refinement, which is something that it does exceptionally well. While the ES uses a full hybrid set-up instead of the Skoda’s diesel engine, the end result – minimal fuel consumption – is much the same. The Lexus hybrid system is more seamless than the Citroen’s, and despite its smaller battery, is capable of better real-world numbers. • Build quality• Refinement• Fuel economy • Small boot• Pricier than Superb• Engine…

NEW PRODUCT GCHEM BIOSUDS Price: £19.99 (500ml) Contact: gchem.co.uk FLEDGLING car care producer GCHEM is claiming a world first for its debut product – a petrochemical-free car shampoo. Started by cousins Alex and Tom Gallagher, GCHEM aims to launch a range of innovative car care products that set new standards for performance and environmental responsibility. BIOSUDS is the first in the range and it contains biosurfactants that have been developed to save CO2 compared with petrochemical and other bio-based surfactants. The liquid’s formula is biodegradable and free from chemicals such as sulphates, polyethylene glycol, 1,4-dioxane and sodium hydroxide. The packaging has also been given the same attention, with boxes made of recycled cardboard, plus paper filler, and is sealed with eco-tape. The heavy-duty plastic bottles are made with 30 per cent…

Audi V10 is the most expensive eBay buy POPULAR auction site eBay has revealed the most expensive parts and accessories it’s sold this year. In top spot was a V10 from an Audi R8 at £16,567. Second and third places went to sets of Porsche carbon bucket seats, for a 911 GT3 and Cayman GT4, attracting bids of more than £13k and nearly £12k respectively. Also in the top 10 were a high-voltage battery from a Tesla Model S, a Ferrari-branded luggage set and the private registration plate ELON X. Autoglym urges fast action on bug splats AUTOGLYM has advised motorists to take care of bug splats on their vehicles. Decomposing bugs release fatty acids and enzymes, which can damage a vehicle’s paintwork. In addition, bug residue can cause etching…

I’M one of the lucky ones privileged to attend hundreds of local, national and international motor shows across the UK, mainland Europe, Asia and The Americas. And I’ve never been to a bad one. These exhibitions can make or break car companies. And they’ve positively changed the lives of millions of consumers who’ve been properly introduced to new car brands, then loyally stuck with them – sometimes for the remainder of their driving lives. Motor shows have been around for about 130 years. Yet some auto industry ‘experts’ and executives at selected automotive companies appear to believe that car exhibitions for the common man and woman, boy and girl have lost their relevance. There’s a problem here. Is it that car enthusiasts in big numbers no longer wish to spend…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk “The new C-Class will use a modified version of the EQE’s EVA2 platform, rather than new electric architecture” YOU’RE looking at the next-generation, all-electric Mercedes C-Class that will be ready to do battle in the compact executive class from 2026. The company car has long been the backbone of premium brands, and this looks set to continue as all the major players ready EV replacements over the next 24 months. Our exclusive image previews how the new C-Class will retain lots of fundamental Mercedes design cues, finding a balance between the futuristic EQ saloons of today and the firm’s more traditional combustion-powered (ICE) models. Yet more than just a softening of the aesthetic language introduced with the EQS, it’s also a reference to Merc’s long-term EV plans. That’s because…

ALMOST SEVEN in ten (68 per cent) of motorists will move out of a closing lane as soon as they see a ‘merge in turn’ sign, instead of staying in their lane until the merging point, as the Highway Code advises. A survey by dealer network Dick Lovett found one of the main reasons for moving left immediately was “politeness”. If you stick to the Highway Code guidance, merging can be difficult, because a third of the 500 drivers interviewed in the survey also admitted they try to stop other drivers entering their lane.…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m) Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk Electric motor Power/range 335bhp/359 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.4 seconds/112mph THE GTX is the new flagship for the Volkswagen ID.7 range. But before we get too far into the nitty gritty, it’s best to establish the fact that GTX is not an all-electric alternative to GTI. Despite VW’s ambitious initial marketing for the GTX sub-brand, the plan has softened somewhat, as the maker is at pains to point out. So the ID.7 GTX is not a genuine sports saloon, but a more subtle expression of how much progress Volkswagen has made with its ID range, in terms of both power and performance. The ID.7 is a big car, and regardless of bodystyle (it’s available as a hatchback or Tourer estate), it’s a spacious, versatile and refined hauler with high-mileage…

THE numbers in the graph to the left are based on the cars we’re testing. As it stands, there’s a huge difference between them in terms of monthly PCP payments. This is because the C5 X is pricier to begin with and Skoda is offering a very competitive £4k deposit contribution (compared with zero discount with the Citroen) and a lower rate of interest. As a result, paying £5,000 up front for each on a three-year deal with a 10,000-mile annual limit results in a cost of £457 for the Skoda and £881 for the Citroen. This is the flagship C5 X, of course, so other models are cheaper. But even the least expensive non-hybrid petrol auto in Plus trim costs £474 per month – still more than the Skoda.…

LARGE FAMILY CARS If you’re tempted by the Superb or C5 X, our experts will give you some more food for thought “THE phrase ‘All the car you’ll ever need’ is something of a cliche in our line of work, but it’s one that certainly applies to the Superb. There really are so few flaws in this new model that we can’t imagine many people not falling for it if they selected the Skoda as their next family car.” Paul Barker Editor Rich Ingram Deputy editor “A PLUG-IN hybrid brings a few too many drawbacks in a car such as the C5 X, especially when there are many full EVs for similar money. If you don’t want to go for an SUV, then the Tesla Model 3 offers plenty of…

Dawn_Grant@autovia.co.uk Running costs 63.4mpg (on test) £53 fill-up, £190 or 24% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 301/1,006 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.3 seconds/112mph “My tall husband was surprised by the room on offer” AFTER six months on the Auto Express fleet it’s time to say goodbye to our Renault Clio, and my husband says he’s going to miss it just as much as me, despite some initial scepticism. It’s not the first supermini we have run but he tends to prefer driving a bigger car. And having had the luxury of some larger vehicles over the years, he wasn’t too keen on the idea of downsizing to a supermini. On the flip side, I was happy to welcome a smaller car, but thought I would miss the higher driving position…

WITH driving test places so sought after, it can be tricky trying to find an appointment, so you might grab one without being able to check if your instructor’s car is available. If they already have a booking for that date, you will be faced with a choice: you can either cancel the appointment and lose your precious place, or take the test in a car you’ve borrowed. This is allowed and has the advantage of saving you the cost of a driving lesson while you are taking the test, but it is complicated. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which oversees driving tests, places a lot of restrictions on the type of vehicle that can be used, what must be fitted to it, and what is forbidden. For…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk THE new Mercedes E-Class didn’t hit British showrooms in time to make our 2024 results, but the outgoing Mk5 variant made a good showing considering its age. There’s a big contingent of diesel drivers here, but this large premium car doesn’t shine for economy. Instead, it makes the running with a great interior, excellent practicality, high quality and well regarded infotainment. Front-seat comfort is a highlight in sixth, along with the climate control (seventh) and overall build quality (eighth). The other side of the coin is that servicing costs are rated dead last, in 50th, while insurance is 46th and fuel economy ranks only 39th. Overall value isn’t rated well, either, at 43rd. WE SAID “While it’s more expensive than its rivals, all versions are well equipped and overall,…

THE original Tiguan arrived in 2007 and Volkswagen went on to shift six million examples. Its successor went on sale in spring 2016, with petrol or diesel engines, manual or automatic gearboxes, and front or four-wheel-drive transmissions. So there should be something that fits your requirements. Our 2021 twin test coincided with a facelifted Tiguan going on sale, with improved connectivity and extra safety systems. The 1.5 TSI engine also gained cylinder deactivation, so it could run on just two cylinders under light loads. What didn’t change was the excellent practicality, with lots of back-seat space, aided by a sliding rear bench, and a big boot. You can buy a second-generation Tiguan from around £10,000, which bags an early 2.0 TDI that’s done 100,000 miles. There are more petrol editions…