Table of contents for 1850 in Auto Express

IT’S been really interesting getting under the skin of Renault for our special content in this issue, because it’s a firm that epitomises the decisions traditional manufacturers are having to make across their businesses to meet the fresh competition from new brands, especially around the electric vehicle market. From finding ways to stay competitive on price to being more nimble in product and tech developments, there’s no doubt that the new threat has made existing successful car makers improve at what they do, and offer better value and superior vehicles to consumers. We’ve written at length about the challenge the new, primarily Chinese, companies pose to long-standing marques, but that’s potentially having a positive impact for consumers. Would the Volkswagen Group, Stellantis and its many brands, or the Renault Group,…

THE new Ford Ranger PHEV has been revealed at the IAA commercial vehicle show in Hannover, Germany. It’s Europe’s first plug-in hybrid pick-up, claiming 27 miles of zero-emissions range and the ability to act as an off-grid generator. The first models will arrive early next year. The news of an electrified Ranger broke last year, but only now has Ford pulled off the covers – releasing all the tech specs for its plug-in pick-up. As expected, it uses a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, alongside an 11.8kWh battery and single electric motor. It develops up to 275bhp and 690Nm, with an e-4WD system. A selection of drive modes will be offered, allowing owners to choose how and when to deploy remaining charge. Each of the Auto EV, EV Now, EV Later…

BYD is set to enter the large van market as it grows its presence across new areas of the automotive industry. It revealed the new E-Vali, which is a Mercedes Sprinter-sized large delivery van, in Hannover. It uses BYD’s low-height Blade Battery technology found in the company’s passenger cars. The battery is an 80.64kWh unit for which BYD claims a WLTP range of 135-160 miles. The 3.5t model will offer a cargo volume of 13.9 cubic metres, rising to 17.9 cubic metres in the 4.25t model, with payloads of 700kg and 1,450kg respectively. It also features a walkthrough cab with 2.78m of standing room for the driver.…

ALPINE has been talking about the “dream garage” of electric cars that it will launch for a little while now, but that vision is starting to become a reality. The new Alpine A390 is the French performance brand’s first crack at an electric SUV, and we’ve now spotted it testing, ahead of its official unveiling in 2025. Renault’s sporting division is calling the A390 a “sport fastback”, rather than an SUV, and it’s not hard to see why, given the very athletic silhouette and aggressively sloped roofline visible in these first spy pictures. It has a similar shape to the Cupra Tavascan or Polestar 4, which are both potential rivals. We’ll get a much better idea of what’s under the camouflage very soon, because Alpine is unveiling the A390_ß concept…

FROM SOFT BONNETS TO CARS THAT PULL OVER IF YOU FALL ASLEEP, VW IS LEADING THE WAY VOLKSWAGEN is nearing the end of development of a new driver-assistance system that will be able to autonomously reverse and manoeuvre a vehicle when a trailer is attached – and we’ve already given it a try. The firm already offers a Trailer Assist function that lets drivers use the control for the electric door mirrors to accurately direct the car and trailer when reversing. But the next generation of the software remembers the last 50 metres of driving and retraces the car’s steps in reverse, while making inputs to prevent the caravan or trailer that’s being towed from jackknifing. The software is set to arrive in a few years and needs no additional…

WHEN it was first introduced in 2009, the Peugeot 5008 started life as a seven-seat MPV, but in 2017 it was reinvented as a stylish, large SUV. And it’s very much evolution rather than revolution with the new model, which builds on the foundations of its predecessor. However, under the skin the 5008 has fully embraced electrification, with the choice of full-electric, plug-in and mild-hybrid powertrains, and it’s the latter we’re trying here. It’s the same set-up used by a number of other Stellantis models, but is tuned to make 134bhp and 230Nm of torque in the 5008. That’s enough for surprisingly brisk acceleration; it certainly doesn’t feel as slow as the 0-62mph time of 11.3 seconds suggests. That could change when the car is fully loaded with seven people…

CONVENIENT, affordable and fun; it’s no surprise that caravan holidays are booming. Hitching a holiday home-from-home to the family car and heading for wherever you fancy is a reality for more people in the UK than ever. Changes to the law in 2021 that scrapped the need for (post-1997) driving licence-holders to take an additional test to pull large trailers such as caravans or boats up to 3,500kg, have also opened up interest in towing to more people. But in a rapidly changing motoring landscape that has more electric vehicles and fewer of the petrol and diesel-powered cars that caravanners and others have traditionally favoured, it’s hard to know which models are the best towcars to buy. Thankfully, the Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) Towcar Awards are here to help.…

CARAVAN WEIGHT Up to 1,200kg IT used to be said that a large, heavy car was exactly what you needed to handle a big tow, but the arrival of certain electric models has upset the logic of that statement. Last year Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz made a significant impact in the Towcar of the Year contest. The German vehicle swept the board in the CAMC awards’ entry-level towing weight category, where, in spite of its size and bulk, its low 1,000kg towing limit meant the ID. Buzz was competing against relative minnows. There are now more powerful ID. Buzz variants in the range with towing limits up to a more satisfying 1,800kg for the GTX four-wheel-drive model. The same can also be said for this year’s sub-1,200kg category winner, because the…

CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,500-1,600kg CLASS Luxury CLASS Electric Vehicle WHILE towing traditionalists will cast appreciative nods towards the petrol-powered Skoda Superb Estate and pine for a good old-fashioned diesel, we reckon even the most cynical members of the anti-EV brigade would struggle to really pick fault with the stonkingly strong performance of this latest BMW i5 Touring model. It hasn’t only clinched its weight category, but the judges named it best Luxury Towcar and best Electric Towcar to boot. The i5 eDrive isn’t just a good car, it’s a great one, and anyone who gets behind the wheel is likely to be immediately seduced by the German model’s combination of design, handling, space, refinement and efficiency. It’s currently a pretty unique proposition, too, because it’s the only fully electric executive estate…

CLASS Pick-ups A MIX of 4MOTION four-wheel drive and a punchy 3.0 V6 with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission are a great starting point for a towcar – or in this case a towing pick-up. And the Volkswagen Amarok certainly adds the necessary degree of comfort and refinement for anyone who wants to drive one for leisure and not just for work. The model that clinched the best pick-up towcar prize is the PanAmericana derivative, which sports stealthy features such as black 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and exterior trim, as well as roof rails and an X-themed grille. It also has a special comfort-focused suspension set-up, while inside its lavish spec includes full-leather upholstery, plus a top-notch Harman Kardon audio set-up. That’s all on top of the kit fitted to…

YOU don’t see our Citroen C5 Aircross within the pages of Auto Express every week, but rest assured that without its presence, the photos we take for many of the tests and drives wouldn’t exist. Its life as a photographer’s car is busy, but it’s proving a hugely capable assistant, and when we headed to Wales for our test between the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio (Issue 1,848), I thought it would be the perfect location for it to take a starring role in front of the lens. Anyone who has kept up with the different long-term cars I have run over the years will know that I have certain requirements. Chiefly, it needs to be a good size, comfortable, practical and deliver efficiency. Adding a bit…

THE French have a reputation for being quite emotional. But as we speak to Renault UK’s boss shortly before he departs for a new role with the company in France, he tells us he reckons British customers have a warm-blooded streak running through them too – and in a way, he’s counting on it. “I think in the UK you are emotional people,” says Guillaume Sicard, “and you like cars, and you like heritage. Right?” There are many elements rolled up in the Renaulution – the catchy moniker for the French manufacturer’s rebirth, restructuring, reinvention and rediscovery. But Sicard believes that the one that might resonate most strongly with his corner of the global sales spreadsheet is the affection many of us have, or have had, for Renault products. Older…

WHAT’S in a nameplate? The car industry has been playing with the badges on the back of vehicles for decades, of course, but actually using an established moniker on a new generation of model presents real challenges. Sometimes it works, as with MINI (though even then, the Countryman is controversial). Other times it almost invites a backlash from devotees (the recent Ford Capri, anyone?). European brands in particular are going to lean on known names even more heavily in the years ahead, as Chinese manufacturers with next to no legacy try to get a foothold in the market. The new Renault Scenic is a case in point. Here’s a badge that had a strong following throughout the peak people-carrier years, when it slotted neatly into the French maker’s line-up beneath…

“ZOE MOTOR PRODUCTION IS SLOWLY BEING PHASED OUT TO PRIORITISE THE MEGANE E-TECH AND R5 HATCHBACK” BLISTERING acceleration is a given for many of the latest crop of electric vehicles. If you’ve driven one, than you’ll be fully aware of the instant jolt of forward momentum that’s on offer as soon as you bury your right foot to the floor. However, something that’s arguably moving even faster is the development of the electric motors that deliver said acceleration. Technology that was once the preserve of milk floats – a class of vehicle that meant the UK had the largest fleet of EVs in the world in the sixties – now sees unassuming electric family SUVs deliver the kind of sprint times that could embarrass a supercar. This kind of developmental…

RATCHET spanners may not be as essential as standard wrenches, but they are desirable, because they speed up jobs and make removing hard-toreach fasteners far easier. When a bolt or nut will only turn a few degrees at a time before requiring the spanner to be removed and replaced, a ratchet version can remain in place and simply spin the fastener off. The days of bulky mechanisms are long gone and there are few downsides now to replacing standard combination spanners with ratchet versions, apart from price. So which is the set to add to your tool box? We gathered nine top sellers and headed to Draper’s Quality Assurance department to find out. How we tested ON the bench, we looked for our essential 8, 10, 12, 13, 17 and…

WHAT follows below aren’t predicted new-car prices to be visited upon us in a nightmarish, wallet-busting future. Instead, they’re what some premium and non-premium manufacturers are already charging for some of their products. Circa £35,000 superminis, £50k mid-sized hatchbacks, £80k six-seat MPVs, £90k workhorse 4x4s, £100k seven-seat SUVs and swanky off-roaders nudging £200k have already arrived. But honestly, is a range-topping Vauxhall Corsa the wisest product to spend £35k on? Might a better option be a Dacia Spring runabout (from £15k) PLUS a Dacia Duster SUV 4x2 (£17k) to keep it company? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a fine car. But the N version has a daftly-optimistic £65k price tag. And even the lower/mid-range version is £47,645 – around the same money as the VW Golf (from £27k) AND cutting-edge…

“BMW HAS CHANGED SO MUCH ON THE LATEST VERSION THAT IT HAS GIVEN IT A NEW GENERATION CODE NAME” BMW has sold more than three million 1 Series models since the car launched over 20 years ago. But rather than simply evolving it during that time, the firm has reworked the drivetrain, looks and has even made subtle changes with its naming strategy in recent years. The company dropped the ‘i’ designation from the 120 and M135 earlier this year, a strategy it’s set to roll out to other models in the range. The reason being that it doesn’t want customers to confuse its all-electric i-badged cars with petrol-powered variants. We’ll have to wait and see if that means an all-electric 1 Series is on the cards, however. The hatchback’s…

MERCEDES-AMG has revealed a new limited-run GT 63 Pro called the Motorsport Collectors Edition, aimed at die-hard F1 fans. It is finished in Obsidian Black to match the W11 racer from 2020, with a hand-painted star pattern echoing the rear design found on the W15. It also features Petronas Blue around the windows and front splitter, air intakes, side skirts, calipers, rear diffuser and wheels. Other kit includes a panoramic roof and AMG Night Package. Inside, Petronas colours are used for the stitching, the AMG Performance bucket seats are trimmed in black Nappa leather and there’s a “1 of 200” emblem on the console. There’s also an uprated Burmester sound system, 360-degree camera, driver-assistance package and head-up display. The model uses an unchanged powertrain from the AMG GT 63 Pro,…

“The suspension does an excellent job of filtering out imperfections and deals very well with larger undulations” THE MG ZS is back for its second generation, and from launch it’s only available as a hybrid. But fitting a relatively advanced powertrain doesn’t seem to have impacted list prices – the cheapest version costs £21,995, which undercuts the base Ford Puma by nearly £4,000, and a Hyundai Kona Hybrid by more than £8,000. That sub-£22,000 starting price is similar to what you’ll pay for a mid-level Renault Clio E-Tech – a smaller car that lacks those all-important SUV looks – while the ZS in SE trim comes pretty well equipped, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with nav, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a reversing camera and a suite…

THE iconic Porsche 911 has been reimagined countless times, but no matter how many different versions wear the famous name, in the modern era it’s the Carrera model that’s the foundation on which the rest of the range is built. As the entry point to the newly revamped 992.2 generation, the new 911 Carrera hasn’t picked up the hybrid system found in the GTS, but has gained a number of smaller updates that add to an already compelling package. These include changes to its 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbo engine, including larger turbochargers from the previous GTS, plus bigger intercoolers from the old 911 Turbo. Power is up marginally to 388bhp, with torque rated at 450Nm. Porsche only offers an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with the model, and while it’s rear-wheel drive only…

THE coveted Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) Towcar of the Year awards are now firmly established as the United Kingdom’s longest running and most widely respected towing contest. The test plays out each year at the UTAC Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire, where Auto Express is part of the judging team evaluating the driving performance of all the contenders. The tests are carried out with vehicles hitched up to caravans weighted to 85 per cent of each car’s kerbweight, or to its maximum towing capacity if lower, as per established CAMC safety guidance. The driving element includes circuits of the Millbrook Alpine Route, which has a gradient of up to 17 per cent – where a hill start is performed – followed by a brake test on a 26 per…

CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,200-1,300kg “THE VW EXCELS WHEN IT COMES TO ALL-ROUND VISIBILITY, A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR WHEN YOU’RE TO WING A CARAVAN” JUST to prove Volkswagen can compete at the lighter end of the towing game without rolling out a heavyweight EV to steamroller any competition, enter that evergreen family-car favourite – the Golf Estate. And it’s not even a torquey diesel model, which would once have ruled the roost from a towing perspective, because the 1.5 eTSI’s mild-hybrid technology ensures there’s plenty of pulling power even from low revs. This petrol-powered Golf puts the power down admirably, too, in spite of its front-wheel-drive configuration, and we were certainly impressed with its performance under load on the test’s challenging hill starts. It’s not just the dynamics that impress, though, because the…

CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,600-1,700kg “THE IONIQ 5’S LOW-DOWN WEIGHT WITH SMOOTH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE POWER DELIVERY MEANT IT HANDLED ITS TOWING CHORES WITH EASE” THE Hyundai Ioniq 5 is Marmite from a styling perspective, but it’s long been one of our favourite EVs, thanks to its roomy, well appointed cabin and excellent powertrain performance. The Korean company rolled out its potent 324bhp twin-motor edition to take on rivals in the 1,600-1,700kg towing category, and when its scores were totted up, a combination of appealing attributes saw it beat the Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 to the class win – which was an eye-opener for some judges. The Ioniq 5’s significant low-down weight, combined with smooth all-wheel-drive power delivery via motors on each axle that maximise traction, meant it handled its towing chores with…

CLASS Large Family THE current Volkswagen Multivan appeals to the near cult-like following that the brand’s iconic air-cooled campervans kicked off, and which subsequently spread to seemingly anything van-shaped with a VW badge on the front. Luckily, this is not a case of style over substance, because the Multivan is a refined and comfortable form of transport for families. It has up to seven seats, all of which can be individually removed or slid back and forth on rails to create your ideal layout. In fact, as you’d probably expect due to its size, there’s little to touch the Multivan when it comes to accommodating a family and all its gear. From the electrically operated tailgate and sliding doors, to a cavernous interior that will swallow up to 3,672 litres…

FIAT 600e I’VE only recently taken over as the custodian of our Fiat 600e, but I’ve already got a bit of a love/hate relationship with the electric SUV. Its compact size means it’s great for parking on the school run, but I’m dubious about its build quality. The windows rattle whenever you shut the door firmly, and I was alarmed when the plastic covering of the charging port popped off when I brushed past it (above). PETE BAIDEN VAUXHALL CORSA ANOTHER week, another long trip in the Vauxhall Corsa. This time I picked up a new set of alloys from Blackpool for my old BMW, which resulted in a 330-mile drive. I found the Corsa to be one of the comfiest superminis on long stints, but the 309-litre boot capacity…

“IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING WITH EMOTIONAL APPEAL, PEOPLE WILL GO FOR IT AND THEN FIND THE RATIONAL JUSTIFICATION LATER”GILLES VIDAL VP Design, Renault CAN you imagine yourself lusting after an electric car? Feeling the sort of hardened desire that persuades you to stretch the deposit a little, work out ways for the monthly payments to stack up, study your usage patterns to see how a mix of rapid and home charging could fit into your life? Could a pure-electric car ever give you that small thrill when you look at it on your driveway every morning? If any of these are to happen, it will almost certainly have been achieved with significant help from design. Gilles Vidal is convinced of this – and he spends all day, every day, working…

Stance “AM I allowed to pick the overall stance? I guess I can. If you look at the front end of the car coming towards you, or see it in your rear-view mirror, the way that it sits nicely on the road, together with the sculpture of the wheelarches, is something that I don’t think you see too often on EVs these days. In general they’re more sleek and trying to be nice or just plain aero efficient – but I think Scenic has some character. It’s a kind of technological personality, maybe also a bit mysterious. I’m proud of that.” Rear bumpers “IN the rear bumpers we have these vertical ‘blades’, which are helping with aerodynamics. They mean that the bumper itself can be kind of curvy, but the…

AS little as a decade ago, it would have seemed extravagant and unnecessary to set up a whole new car company within a manufacturer as well established as Renault. But the nimble, cost-efficient and wide-reaching threat of new brands, primarily from China, has torn up the rule book – and Renault’s answer is Ampere. Bold statements from the company claim that Ampere is “focused on leading” the growing electric vehicle market, wants “to take the lead in Europe in EVs and software”, and that it is the “first European intelligent EV pure player”. Effectively, it’s a mini car company within the Renault Group, specialising in and producing B- and C-segment electric vehicles for the brand – segments that it expects will account for around 75 per cent of European sales…

EVERY year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) publishes a list of the most popular colours of new cars sold in the UK. But it needn’t bother. The list hardly ever changes. Presumably inspired by prevailing weather conditions, grey dominates the UK car colour charts and has done so for seven years. It’s usually followed by black and white to complete a monochrome podium. Red and blue make an appearance, but these cars don’t tend to be in the vibrant shades the more patriotic among you might imagine. They’re more likely to be dull maroons or the dark blues despairing dealers have christened ‘doom blue’ for their ability to consume light – and customer enthusiasm – like automotive black holes. So why are we doing it? What is…

LAST year, Tesla gave its popular Model 3 saloon a much-needed facelift, which not only introduced a sleeker, more modern look, but also a controversial interior refresh that saw the maker swap out the indicator stalks for buttons on the steering wheel. Whatever you think of this tech, it’s all but certain to make an appearance on the updated Model Y. The new car is dubbed project ‘Juniper’ and our exclusive images show how it will look when it lands in 2025. We’ve largely based these pictures around a pair of leaked images, which surfaced online a couple of months ago. While not particularly descriptive, they gave us our first glimpse of the new car and confirmed its reveal was incoming. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on social media at…

CALLS for the Government to introduce a Graduated Driver’s Licence (GDL) scheme have been renewed, following the release of new data that shows nearly two-fifths of dangerous driving endorsements are held by those aged 25 and under. A study by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart found that 38 per cent of DD40 (dangerous driving) endorsements in 2023 were handed out to those aged between 17-25, despite this age bracket accounting for only seven per cent of all licence holders. In 2021, 1,585 DD40s were issued to young drivers, but this increased to 1,928 in 2023. While the two-year growth could be attributed to 2021’s Covid-19 lockdown and lower traffic numbers, the first half of 2024 has already resulted in 1,128 endorsements for under-25s (38 per cent of all issued), signalling…

AN all-electric version of the striking Peugeot 408 fastback will be revealed on 2 October, Peugeot UK’s managing director Eurig Druce has told Auto Express. What’s more, the E-408 is scheduled to go on sale before the end of the year. The 408 uses the same platform as the 308 hatchback, so expect the E-408 to feature the same 154bhp electric motor and 54kWh battery as the E-308. This should give the fastback model a range of around 250 miles. Prices for the E-408 are likely to start from around £40,000. That’s roughly £8,000 more than the equivalent petrol model and is a similar price difference between ICE and battery versions of the 308. For reference, the starting price for a petrol 408 is currently £32,820. The arrival of the…

THE BMW X3 first arrived back in 2003 to sit in the then fledgling mid-sized premium SUV sector, which has now flourished into a lucrative and competitive area of the market. It will once again face stiff competition from the Mercedes GLC, and with the Audi Q5 set for a new generation very soon, the latest X3 will need to impress. BMW’s exterior design has been pretty bold of late, and the new X3 is no exception. The proportions are typical of the model, but the surfacing takes some influence from the all-electric iX, and its pronounced kidney grilles, bluff front end and pointed headlights give it a distinctive, imposing look. Compared with the rounded features of the old X3, the new one is much crisper and certainly conveys its…

FORD FIESTA XR2 Price new: £8,430 Price now: £10,000 Powertrain: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol; five-speed manual gearbox Power: 96bhp 0-62/top speed: 0-60 in 8.7 secs/112mph I’LL admit, I’ve never actually driven a Fiesta XR2. But I have spent plenty of time in one; specifically my mum’s white Mk2, which she ran for a few years when I was a young kid. It may have lived in the Peugeot 205 GTis shadow, but living in Essex at the time, it was Ford's pocket rocket that I coveted. Not that fast on paper, its sub-900kg kerbweight meant it felt quick enough on the roads of Braintree, especially with its rorty exhaust and complete lack of safety systems. Mum’s car didn’t have the iconic pepper-pot alloy wheels, but now I think the wheel trims…

AUTO Express is proud to be part of the judging team for the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year, the leisure vehicle industry’s original and longest-standing towcar testing awards. Here’s the roster of previous winners: 2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 2023 Skoda Karoq 2.0 TDI 4x4 SportLine 2022 SEAT Leon Estate 1.5 TSI FR 2021 Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI SE L 2020 Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro 2019 Volvo XC60 D5 AWD R-Design 2018 Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 SE L 2017 Volkswagen Passat Estate Alltrack 2016 Land Rover Discovery HSE 2015 SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI FR 2014 Skoda Superb Estate 2.2 TDI 4x4 2013 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Sport 2012 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Sport 2011 Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 2010 Volkswagen Golf 2.0…

CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,300-1,500kg IT shares a powertrain with the smaller Golf Estate that wins the 1,200-1,300kg weight category, so it shouldn’t come as a total surprise that the highly regarded load-hauling Skoda Superb Estate cleans up here. But the Skoda is a significantly bigger car, so the 1.5 e-TEC (as it’s billed in the brand’s line-up) has more work to do. In our road-test reviews, we’ve wondered whether this entry-level engine in the Superb might not become overwhelmed when the car is fully laden. But our tests over Millbrook’s challenging hill route suggest this economical and refined powertrain certainly suits the more measured driving approach required when hitched to a caravan. With only two-wheel drive, there was no indication of the Superb struggling for power or traction on the hill-starts…

CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,700-1,800kg “WHEN IT’S TIME TO TOW, THE T8’S POWERFUL 2.0-LITRE ENGINE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO HANDLE A SIZEABLE CARAVAN” TERRIFIC towing credentials aside, the Volvo V90 offers superior cruising refinement and a comfortable interior, with a truly luxurious ambience and fine finish. This perhaps sets it apart from some of its more-focused Volvo estate forebears, which were more utilitarian. Still, that’s not a problem for us, because the V90 remains a genuinely practical choice that has a bit more style and panache than Volvo estate owners of the past might have become accustomed to. The T8 category winner is the more powerful of a pair of plug-in hybrids that Volvo offers, and both share a 50kW battery, so you can commute for pennies on weekdays. Come the…

CLASS Family CARAVANWEIGHT Over 1,800kg TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2025 CLASS Hybrid “LOOKS HAVE NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE XC60, WITH A COOL, CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN AMBIENCE” THAT the overall 2025 Towcar of the Year has to be a vehicle of many talents is ably demonstrated by the fact that the top dog was also named the winner of the competition’s 1,800kg weight category, best Family Towcar category and best Hybrid Towcar class. It’s some record for Volvo’s second-generation XC60 SUV – a car that first appeared in 2017, but which has been kept usefully updated and refreshed over the years to remain at the top of its game today. Looks have never been a problem for the elegant XC60, which is blessed with design features inside and out…

RENAULT is going through what it calls a ‘Renaulution’. As the name suggests, this is more than just a product refresh; it’s a complete overhaul of everything the manufacturer does. To celebrate that fact, we’ve been given unprecedented and unguarded access behind the scenes, and over the next 32 pages we’ll guide you through the present and future of the French company. We’ll set the Scenic (yes, pun intended) with Renault UK’s outgoing MD, before getting the lowdown from the brand’s design chief as his team prepares to launch its most important model for three decades: the new Renault 5. We’ve also taken a Megane to Europe to test the firm’s Mobilize plug-surfing service to its absolute maximum; attempting to charge in seven different countries in a single day. We…

“WE’VE got this clever new app that means you can access EV chargers anywhere in Europe and pay for it all in one place. Fancy putting it to the test?” A simple question, and one that spiralled into conversations about how many different countries we could charge an EV in across one day. Without any planning. Renault’s Mobilize Power Solutions app has 700,000 charging points searchable by type of plug, charger power and number of connectors, as well as by availability – all of which can be activated using the app, or the RFID card that comes with an account. It’s aimed at Renault’s business customers, so that companies can have all their charging on one bill across multiple users. But we’re gatecrashing it for the day, rather than using…

IT’S been 80 years since the D-Day landings of World War 2 – and it’s fair to say that today’s consumerist society could learn a lot from the resourcefulness of those living in those dark times. Back then it wasn’t called recycling, but the concept of repairing and reusing one’s possessions was not only morally correct, but outright expected. Yet while the challenge of climate change that we face today is very different to the situation faced by 1940s Europe, we’re once again expected to do our bit, this time for the environment. If we’re all expected to make changes to our lives, though, then why shouldn’t the same apply to large corporations? While many car manufacturers have already pledged to electrify their ranges to reach netzero carbon emissions, it…

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ANYTHING that makes cleaning wheels easier will be welcome in a car washing routine. Road grime and dust fragments from brake discs and pads get baked into the metal and plastic parts of your alloy wheels, and they are unlikely to come off easily with just a sponge and shampoo. We tested the cleaners by squirting them onto wheel covers, rinsing and seeing what grime remained. We then tried them on alloys on a car. Acidic products are more effective, but must be used carefully, because they can harm chrome trim, remove wax coatings and accelerate corrosion from chips or kerb damage. Our previous Best Buy from Bilt-Hamber is pH neutral and still has real cleaning power. Newcomers from VP and AVA took it on here, but couldn’t beat the…

OWNER VIEWS ON THE UK’S BEST CARS “The engine isn’t quite as economical as Nissan claims, but it’s not hard to get close to the official figures.” “The seals on the door bottoms trap dirt, which has to be cleaned off to avoid corrosion in the long term.” “Maintenance costs are excellent, the dealer experience is good, and insurance costs are okay.” THE Juke is Nissan’s second-best selling car in Europe, but our results suggest it’s not the styling that pleases owners most, because it rates only 34th for exterior design. Instead it’s the interior category where the Juke ranks highest, with a trio of eighth places for cabin quality, front-seat comfort, and all-round visibility from the driver’s seat. But 24th for rear-seat legroom is midtable, while 41st place for…