BRITAIN’S CAR BUYER'S GUIDE WHAT CAR? a > 7ONENCA SKODA’S NEW £12k GOLF |. eee The rebig, bargain hatch Dh cant afford to a —s spacein here than — thud Ad Avent D)FIRSTTEST an |) SAVE CASH | On-road verdict © aa = Depreciation onamazing new a= and how you Merc A-Class pis = canbeatitIn a millisecond. Official fuel consumption figures for the AG bi-turbo in mpg (I/100km) from: Urban 35.3 (8.0), Extra Urban $0.4 (5.6), Combined 44.1 (6.4).‘When does the bi-turbo kick in? COz emissions: 1699/km. For more information vst aud Ss © Lin a SE and Elegance trims wil get alloy whee!s a Rapid ofers space forthoseon a budget whatercom AUGUST 20 | 15A at ceffectivewhena contrast colour boot capacity, but wed be CSE ischosen;that gives yougrey or surprised iit wasnt well nexcess beige seen in ourimages) beneath of000 litres The roflineand The Rapids the frst model toreflect theblackdashboardtop,andit’s_longhatch may hurt the cars, the next trend in downsizing, slightly classier look. ability to swallow awkwardly “Manufacturers have already reacted to The controls willlook familiar shaped loads, however. the needs of buyers who want to save todrivers of skodas and ‘money but not give up plush cabins Volkswagens. The headlight switch What equipment does it get? andbigcar'features, by offering small istheusualcircularitem nearthe —skodahas yet toconfirm specs and | premiurrtrimmed models, ‘edgeofthedash andeven the —_finalpricing but therearelikely to | "The Rapidis designed to appeal most complexair-consystem _bethteetrims. Themostbasie,§, | tobudget-conscious buyers who intherangets likly to ave only deicareso1much about sf touch afew buttons, The steering wheel §] i ‘dashboards and leather upholster hisreanfrenhaseen, LCLOOKS THRE ivorsingecovmondmoretet thdonhighernectnsieell A SALOON, space than ins sperin also fferauidio controls, Skoda offerings theirs in this trend, butt will soon have rivals naeserrenens DULINSteAd ee ee oe ‘entre console low down, ahead ou open ‘and Mondeo-ivaling boot capacity. ‘tthe earever butdontexpect . "enn" Renaut i bnng budget brandDaca tothe UK flockinedareasandplushobaes. Che entire tthasaleady confirmed that the Duster (aboverighd - a Nissan Instead theres simple moulded | Gasiaarsiens SUV wilstart rm es than ESkTiseas il plastic However sodshastept — FRARCIADACK’ | ctertmiysizedspace or amost £9000 ass tanthe ashaa tbe onatonal posh feature Incudinga sungasseshelder vita damped opening tethanltand bbe nog Tathe eareabin here Smnsre ince: and legroom thaninthe Ccravia sys Skoda while headroom illbefine for those uptoaroundste feet tall Twoadulscan asst incomfor, but the apldis Sighyrarower than the Odavisand shows treeup wouldbe tight squceae nthe Back The bot s huge though aroundsoo res ts capaci morethan‘so uponaColfsand 2oolites lager than a Fuss Nicetoucesincude areversbe oor mat that ether carpet craveashablepastl SdStodsuademark Shopping hooks either seo the Ica. The rear seats fed witha 6o/ao spl butdon' een fatbecausethe base fined Skoda has not LIKELY CAPACITY Seats upitithold ‘520litres Wththem ‘down, morethan 1000 Xenon lights are unlikely to get a lookin Boot willfeatureareversible, washablemat _ Foglightsare likely on SE and Elegance trims 16 | AUGUST 202 whtarcom‘We have space for one more variant’ ‘kod ce designer onthe Rapid coupé, which willappearin 2013 BEIGE TRIMHelpstolitthehara plasticsand give them a casser a than analtblackcolourscheme INSTRUMENTS No-fils | _designbrings clear dlatsand {amitar central CD asplay SATNAV Colourscreensystemis fortop-spec Elegance only Other versions getaregularradio/CD BUTTONSSimple,sonot ‘many switches, Not much scopetoadd moreelther will probably brings radio/CDand possibly air-con, butte else SE Islikely tobe the best seller; it adds s7inch alloy wheels, although the rear windows and the side mirror adjustment will not be elect The top spec, Flegance is similar tothecarshown here. It's ikely to include rear parking sensors, climate control, eletric windows all around, electric heated mirror, acolour-screen sat-nav system, land Bluetooth connectivity ‘Whatarethe engines? Proven VW Group engines will feature strongly. The petrol ‘options are likely to bean. entry-level 12litre turbocharged tunit fas seen inthe Polo)and the 1 that’salready offered inthe ‘Octavian both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, i~ Styled ikea saloon but workslikea hatch ‘The most likely diesel option is a16titre 89bhp motor, although Skoda may also offer the Polo’ 1alitrethree-cylinder diesel ‘The Rapid is designed tobe affordable, so Skoda is less likely tooffer the most recent VW Group engines. That could rule out the latest L6-itrediesel engine from the Golf Bluemotion, for the time beingat least. ‘Thestandard transmission willbea five speed manual, but aseven-speed dual-clutch DSC. gearbox slike to be offered with the larger engines ata premium of around £800, Witltherebe other bodtystyles? There are no plans fora Rapid estate, However, thenext generation of Octavia will move ‘upinsize and stay at roughly the Rotary ightsswitchis a VW Groupfavourite ‘Skoda has one back to asics with the cabin, but it doesn’t feel cheap’ aN Wellfind outifitsa winner when we drive t same money, potentially offering aMondeo-rivallingestatecarfor ‘VW-Golt prices, ‘There will beanother version ofthe Rapid, however: coupe, "Wehaveroom for one more variant, but t's not coming tomorrow said Skoda's chief designer, Jozef Kaban. Sources say the ear will appear before the end (2013 carrying the looks of the Vision concept cat ‘That will makeit more ofa rival forthe VW ciroeco thana bespoke, true coupé—but it wll give Skoda its most styleled ‘model for more than a generation, and open the Rapid up to more powerfulengines including the Polo GTIs178bhp turbo motor Joh etry “netroyowtatearcom ovr whatearcom AUGUST 2002 | 17Mercedes A A-Class AEs Ce ig Price £189. Photography John Bradshaw NOWTHEMercedesAclss EEEERSNETS 3 ao The generation Class @ Available with Phone integration CO, emissions rom 38a/km @ Three door folowsin 2013, aI a 18 | AUGUST 2082 whtarcom‘The gearbox is extremely eager to kick down’ Bloger engined A-Ciasses get the sever-speed semiauto7G-0CT box New A-Classisionger than key rivals but about the samewidth butasportierthree-doorvariantis The Aasohashot-hatch due to follow in2013, performance, pilingon speed ‘whenever you put your foot down and revving smoothly toits Sixengines will be available 6200rpm redline. atlauneh, all featuring The 7G-DCT gearbox helps turbocharging direct injection performance because it's eagerto and stop-start technology to kick down when you put tin Sport ‘maximise efficiency. ‘mode In fact it feels over eager The petroloptionsareaibhp when youreinless of ahurrys0 ‘80 and isabhp A20016s,and you'll probably end up leaving the azo8bhp2o-ltre,badged A2so. “box inits Economy seting Meanwhile diesel buyerscan__muchofthetime; this is still choose from two 107bhp A180 CDI _ far from sluggish dieselengines:asthatSlinked Tight body controladds to toasixspeed manual gearbox the Aaso's sporty character, while anda that comes with the steering is precise and well Anew seven-speeddual-clutch _weighted; few manufacturers are Semi-automatic gearbox. asgoodas Mercedes at setting up Mercedes calls 76-DCT. electric steering. The Azsoalsogetsthe7G-DCT Sadly, this good work is rather gearboxasstandard,whileits undermined by the overly lem snoptionacrossthe estofthe ride. The A250 jstles youand lassline-up,includingthe _yourpassengers unless the road 14bhp 18-itee A200 CDI model thasttarheternedice’” Ts longer rangeat launch, WedroveaFuropeanspecasso, QING lOWer ‘model that’s available only in Sporttrim Thiswasdevelopedin. HOW, SO A co-operation with Mercedes ninganmamcandngs — TMOTe direct stiffer suspension, bespoke alloys inamovagesveyssied” Tival for the mace 1 Series? ‘Propellor air vents fromthe SLS,rotary control forcentral screen: brownleather won'tfeaturein UKcars, but bla with rec rim wi aucust 208 |1920 ‘A-Classisalmed at younger buyers;the three-door comesmext ear surfaces perfectly smooth, and bbumps thump through the cabin with sueh force that you want to swerve around them, Refinement could also be betterbecause there's some wind noise down the sides of the car atmotorway speeds, although thisis far from terrbleand the engine isquietata steady cruise. Ifanything. we'd like the exhaust noteto soundalittefrutier | under hard acceleration, ‘Theinsidestory ‘The dashboard is similar tothe ‘one in the latest Blass, which means i's smarly styled, with circular air vents borrowed from the SIS supercar and an Infotainment screen that floats infront ofthe centreconsole Asinother Meres, you operate ‘many functions by srolling, through menus witha ingle cer errr Pes entree n—e control dial that’s positioned between the front seats, Unfortunately, these menus aren't = Py especially well laid ‘ut, sothe system can, Dedistracting rouse ‘on the move, 4 acomeatthesitehaear takesabitof geting used toas wel: the gear selector ‘on semi-auto cats loks ike {should be the wiper stalk while the electri parking brake iscounter intuitive, because you push it toapply the brake and pullittoreleaseit stil, these Bre more eccentricities than problems because you quickly Betused to them, Perceived quality s more ofan Issue because the rotary climate controls havea rather lightweight feeland most ofthe plastis out of getting used to’ Wonot thatthe cabin fees cheap, Aspartot ts strategy of targeting younger generation of arvers ‘with the new ArClass, Mercedes vl ‘tert with ful Phone integration from tauncty compatiblity with ‘ther smartphones wil follow later. The app-based system will cost ‘around £150 an integrate with the user's music brary. © mall SMS, Contacts, and Facebook and Twitter accounts ‘Aso included is personalised internet radio, which allows you to choose music by gente or ats, and listen to recommended playlists based on personal taste. Meanwhile, navigation iscateredfor by Garmin ‘mapping and internet streamed traffic updates. ‘Some of the switchgear takes abit Lesser versions may ‘make more sense er but isnt as plush as Volvo V40' (see p28), letalone the latest A3s, ‘More positively, theresa huge range ofseat and steering ‘wheel adjustment tohelp the driver get comfortable, and while the new A-Class isn’tas roomy as its predecessor, front and rear spaceare ona par with rivals ‘True the curve the rear side windows and the amount thatthe rear wheelarches intrude into the door openings mean its harder togetinto the back than tisin Golf, but you don't need to ‘contort yourselfas much as youdowith a1 Series, ‘The new A-Class should also bbe one ofthe safest carsinthe class to travel in. Every model will come with Attention Assist (Guhich monitors driver fatigue) anda radar controlled collision: prevention system, while the ‘options ist includes adaptive headlight, blindspot assist, Jane-keeping assist and speed Lnutassist (with speed sign recognition}. ‘The boot isshorterthan most rivals'andit isnt especially dep. However, the load lip is small, there'ssome extra storage space beneath the floor and the 60/40 split rear seats fold almost completely lat, How much wiliteost? The A-Class will start at £38,945, forthe entry-level Ai8o, which undercuts the price ofthe‘Every model will get Attention Assist’ ‘Acolision-prevention system wilalso be providedas standard teseasy toget comfortable, thankstolots cof seatand wheel adjustment Allows ‘youtomake calls send texts check thenews and weather Menusare controled viaadlalbetweenthe front seats Itsnota very intuitive system Dialsteelatouch flimsy andsomeplasticsare outofplaceina Mercedes cheapest BMW 1Series,and the forthcoming versions of the ‘Audi A3and Volvo Vgo. Running costs will also be ‘compettive;only the A2so averages less than sompg, Meanwhile, the most efficient diesel, the Aigo CDI manual, ‘manages 74.3mpgand qualifies, forthe lowly 13% company car tax band because is the fist Mercedes to dip under the roog/km CO, mark. ‘Aneco version ofthis engine, ‘with emissions closer to9og/km, will follow later, whileat the other ‘end ofthe range Mercedes wil add a 168bhp 24-litre diesel and four-wheel-drive Ags AMG model with a20 litre petrol engine that produces more thangoobhp. Stil as fun as this sounds, we reckon the cheaper versions of the A-Class wil make most sense thanks to theie impressive economy and low emissions. Given that we'vedriven only the A2so model, which suffers from an overly firm ride and will cost £26,855, we find ithard to recommend the A-Class atthe ‘moment. However, that could well change when we've tried lesser ‘models on standard suspension, Enginesize 16T 16T 20T «51D t8TD18TD Priee(es 18945 toe E25BSS the thee Power Tap adh 208bhp OTEK 107bM ADH O-62mph —_B2secBAsee GEC T13HeC 10GKeC 93sec ‘Tepspeed —25mmph_35mph 49H TeMph mph BO Economy Simpg Si4mpg 453mp9 743mp9 6€9mp9 —65Impg Conghkm/tax WANG WONGR AITO 9B/2K TONNER MINE Formoreinformation (S6HGH) —Mercoces clase IsuRANcEGROUPtbC AmBAGS Doone seatsS couourstc Prices ars be conf bat you soubeabletogetsomethng ofl ‘Volkswagen Gol onwhatcarcom Rear passenger spaceis good, butthe bootis shortand shallow: therearseates split and fold, though, andthe boot ips easy tonegotiate aucust20r | 21[ ‘he styling will take a little SCE OF Clee eon ea FORD'S NEW SUPER'SIZED Kuga is rotonlybiggerthan thecurrent | Paul Thienet fersionitsalsobeen festooned | Age 47 Lives Dartford Kent Withgadgets.Theseinclude rear | JobSalesmanager eats tha fold automatically and | Drives Vauxhall insignia hands-free tailgate mechanism, thas a new look, too. Ford tsa dead ringer for designed the carto appeal to Gal) Sroctstom err buyersaround the world soithad | CE atlottectrome on this tobebigenough tosuit American | car makesitlook very American, tastes yet smallenough toappeal | butthat'snot bad thing Itsa tothe more compact-lovingBits. | good-looking car. ‘So has it succeeded? Is the new inside, alot more 5 §| trans Alanticstyingenough to | understated andthe seats are 2 | Keepuktansofthequirky Kags | plush verycomtorate eve | happy? Weheldanexclusive ‘around 30.000 miles year for | preview ofthepreproductioncar | myjobsocomtortis portant 2 tofind out Ford Ku Ford's all-new SUV goes on sale early next year. We gave three readers a sneak preview and thnk this mic of eather and fabric does thejob. “The driving position i great, ‘and even though Fm tall have plenty of headroom. also really ke ‘thatall the contro are bul into the steering wheel One thing Lam abitconcerned about s the large rearview miror fd worry aboutit obscuring my view. really lice this SUV, though, and tink itcould be the car for me. The boot s big enough forall my kit and the fat ip wi make iteasy to slide thingsin and out. The Kuga would also do the ob a family ca. : le TAR iy Bee oes (ilo) tee Pico Pome Paul thoughtthe Kuga would beldeatforallof his work kit, “However ma company car driver soit all about the emissions. IfCO,is below 120g/kt wl the bl nicely‘It's bigger outside but not so much inside’ Robert layden was worried about rear passenger comfortinthe new Kuga Robert Clayden . ‘Age 69 Job Rete Readers’ Lives Witham, Essex SA ese Q ‘Is the Kuga worth Tmnotthatkeen on FE tevesgrrtsco waiting for rather rere Sa ® thanjoining tne is car's wheels are too large tugalsbigger anditallooksa it brash. was worrled about cabin space ee rei its alge car now butinteroe St? Phi Drayton-Moris roomstilseemsalitletight;alr ofthe slipper surfaces gets Paul Tene! think waitfor passengers neadsseemto brush __usedon. The boot onthe Kuga ths, defintely. The Evoque's theroot andfitingtreelarge {sa good size, though obviously very wel style, adultinthe backisabRoF “Tals ie that theinstruments but thinkthe Kuga wl be squeeze itcertainlyneedsthe _areclear, whl the crving ‘more practical and cheaper. panoramic sunoot would be poston andthe genera qualty ‘utecaustrophobicwithout. of theintertor ae good do. My Soda Yetisasmalercar wonder though the black Has the new Kuga ‘outside but seems toofterjust gloss nish onthe centre keptits unique ‘smuchcominide ie’ conse weulsebetbaay | sporting character water sking, and my ugh know modern Fords a, memes | orhasitbecome ‘my equipment around, andit also Kuga’ not the car for me: A CIONE? James Phitips has very good traction onsome Paul Bridgman ‘thas lst something of itsindvidualty, but there alot prefer about this car tothe old one. Everything bigger, but that ‘doesnt splits looks’ Paul Bridgman ‘Age 32 Job Car valeter Lives Brentwood Essex Drives Ford Kuga (Q) tsalotbiager than my Kuga. Tome t says ‘made BBL in America’ and think its = lostalitle fits personality Paulwasimpressed by Ford's AAthough the body's been attention tointerior detail ‘elongata, that hasnt spoiled it butthenew frontendstyiing wil thatight up ~ mine dot. which takealitiewhiletogrowonme. _hasalways annoyed me because Tilbe retired when avingsaldthattefact ts youcantse them the darn bigger is a plus. You can get three fact, Ilike the lighting throughout, I get my next car. scutsinthebacknow orevejust expect the ue stipsthat How easy isit tted andtheres moreroom in. detalthe dashboard the boot which makes ita lot ve always liked the Kugas to Pen and mmoreproctal Everyingsbeen dashocnrdondi think Forthas | OUL Of? DavidDuvat modernised. too andl thnk Ford playedRaiysofewithtnis one, | Paul Thane! Quite sy, The hasreatyistenedtopeopie though Rdoesseema ot Seats oretighbutthe step up taforedsaangthicrewcar. oour Yeu slows Wey isnt wha theselnbois offer ‘partcunriyikethenew.—omthebonnet” SUVs. andthe footwelis tom buttons on the steering wheel Therearforistow and prety J much fatright across" Whatcar.com exclusive Video: SS er on the new Fiesta isch) aucust 20m | 23Floats like/Stings like. The new Mercedes-Benz SL is the perfect balance of agility and power. Its aluminium bodyshell trims 125kg off the weight, while the muscular new 4.7litre V8 engine packs a 700Nm punch. The lithe SL-Class. Beauty with a sting in its tail. newslclass.co.ukents ee SURI a Omar (6.1). Combin:KEY POINT: THE new Ford Focus ST s significantly cheaper than its main rvals, the Renault Megane Renaultsport and Volkswagen Golf GTI. That's why, even though it Isnttas straight-line quickas those adversaries, iteould actually turn ‘ut tobe the cerebral choice for discerning hat-hatch aficionados. The engines essentially a development of the four eylinder 2o-itre turbocharged Ecoboost motor found inlesser Focus, ‘models although ithas been electronically remapped to produce 247bhp and 2solb ft ‘of torque. Along with the extra Power, the etunealso produces sharper throttle responses, while ‘rerouted induction pipe sends ‘adeep bellow into the cabin every time you stamp on the throttle, Ws prety fast too, witha ©-Gamph time of just 63 seconds, ‘STarips and rides incredibly well ‘It feels like arevelation compared with the previous ST’ Extra dials, ST badging and colour-coded Recaro sports seats inside Ford Focus ST What is it? A hot-shot version of Ford's sweet-handling Focus hatch Price from £21,995 On sale Now MPG 39.2 CO2 1699/km sothere’s more than enough punch to tear twostrips off the ‘Tarmacaway from the mark ‘Heneath the skin, there are none ofthe faney torque ster limiting ‘measures you find in some rivals, sothe steering wheel does tend. totugthis way and that under full power. tii easy to control simply by moderating your right foot pressure, and anyway, Itdoesn't impacton the fun too much, Don't go thinking the 20m Focus Tis ‘Supremely talented hothaten fire-breathing rev-hungry ‘monster, though. Infact, the engine iseffectivey all out of puff by sooorpm. butit does produces immense low-and ‘mid-range shove “The standard caralready rides and handles superbly, andto that the STadds beefier springs and dampers. a lowered rideheightand 18 inch alloys shod with low-profile tyres, The outcome smasses of grip and superb body control with very little degradation in ride quality Perhaps the most impressive aspect ofthis Focus ST however ishow neutral its frontto- rear weight balance feels Believe us, you'reanowner ofthe previous generation car with ts heavy old five-cylinder engine up front the ‘new car will fel like revelation, simply glides through comers likea skateron ie and feels genuinely lighton ts toes when youaskit tochange tection “The steering has been recalibrated so it's smooth, nicely ‘weighted and deadly accurate, andeextremely quick taking just 18 turns to go from lock to lock. Tha nutshell considering its cotstanding talents, its price and itsteal-world usability, ‘weld find itdificlt todo eer poe er ees oe — = ae co bo seo ce fees "ance Piet £21995 Once the hist sets scours wi ‘robe the ST seem an able tal Renault iéganeRspor Volkswagen Gl ci 26 | aucusra0e,‘There are no torque steer-limiting gizmos’ Despiteits 2501 to torque the Focus steering wheddoesritsquirm toomuch | | mus Latestsport version of | Maseratis four seat coupe gets | more power, revised suspension | anda few subtle styling tweaks, Itreplaces the Granturismos, Tenow hasan extra 2abhp from | the q7:itre V8, which means | performance seven more | What is it? Lexus’s answer to the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF [eee Price from £32,995 On sale July MPG 31.7-46.3 COz 141-207g/kmm —_| because the wolecar feel mor | alive the trot responses ‘THIS FOURTH: toomuch body Ahugelyadjustabledriving | quickenandtheenginenote GENERATION Lexus ‘movement forthese position and goodall sound ison | switehes froma muted V8 how! GSmarksasignificant | Cheaper hybridwil |} models to live up add tothe Gs's appeal. However, | to. full-on shriek, which echoes changeinthe rmakemoresense ff tothenew GS rearheadroomisquitetightfor_—_{ aroundevery town oruillage you | company's thinking #8 sporty billing those oversixfeettalland the | drivethrough. The suspension | Whilemost ofthe crs ‘Thehigh-ech dashboard features Lexus'fiddly_|alsostiffensup, keeping the car initscurrentrangeprioriise _GS4sohF Sport getscloserbecause Remote Touch interface fatter through comers although comfortandrefinementover __itfeelsmore controled andeager-Moreworryingly. the petol | thesteeringisrather slow. handling lexusreckonsthenew tochangedirection,ahough you. -modelaveragesjust3:7mpg, | Thenewlook bumpers and Sisthefirstofanewbreed that payforthiswitha esssettledide andwhilethe hybrid manages | LED headlightshave kept the willentertaindriversaswellas/(evenwhenthesofterdamper_463mpg.itstatsfrom£44995. _ { outsidelooking fresh, but the ‘cosset them. setting is selected) and the Fornow,theCSwillappeal to | Granturismo doesn't hide ts ‘Unusually foranexecutive __steeringremains vague. alimitedaudience,butitshould _j agesovellon the inside. saloon.itisntavalablewithany Thezo7bhpengine inthe2so_Tookalotmore tempting aterinj Uimately, there are more diesel engines Instead. theresa alzodisappoints feeling rather 20x3whenLexus introduces | sensible options; the new Porsche elitr petol V6 (badged GS2s0) weedy. Bycontrast. the 3sitreV6 cheaper lower-CO, hybrid model. oxtisbetterto drive, while the fag fandaGsqsohhybridmodel, _andelectriemotorinthe hybrid | Saofters similar visualand aural whicheombinesa3siitreV produceacombined s38bhpand [EY] Stvettinatrd || delights foraround ck less ‘with an electie motor deer strong performance i Both are available with two . | (OE e200 lypesof suspension stand i Lunuy spec cars have | conventional spans and — Pee. | pers, wheres the more : ie 7 = eet emereats pes ase eee ean B80 SSeS: covaniseoeerromcen ercmpsssienrcteere |x eve Seonrepeale sayeneeen csr, es, ‘eect STE aces mane | or = vettaherhicavincheer eketee 25, 2, mumeenare ame | Cota Septecetup tough Foe 2p ee aponye | Moment sme Ceitonweeagrncamyy SEO, Bee SEO ear can | SN MA, | smootherthan the ones you [Economy 317meq4¢5me9 Naser does co scouts 50 yurt tea Urata femora Finan vwatearcom AUGUST 200 | 27,Chrysler S00C ‘THE PREVIOUS 300 went off ale two years ago, but theres now anew version of thisboldly styled executive saloon, ‘Only one engine fs available: 3 litre V6 diesel that's smooth and strong. Unfortunately, t ppumpsouta lot more Co, than those in rival models from Audi and BMW emitting 185g/km, for19ig/km if you upgrade from {inch wheels to 20-inchers, ‘Surprisingly.one thing that doesnt suffer you go for larger alloysis the ride, which is generally sumptuous over rough roads. No matter what size of ‘wheels your 300¢ wears ts body becomes bit floaty when you drive over larger bumps at speed. ‘The standard five speed automatic ararees Lacnuceltscowto | What is it? Volvo's rival for the likes of the Audi A3 Sportback changedown when youaskfor | Price from £19,745 On sale Now MPG 51.4-78.5 CO2 94-136g/km aburstof acceleration, However youllbefarmore | THENEW'V4os Volvos first direct impressed by the interior which | rival for premium hatchbacks featureslotsofleather, chrome _j suchas the Volkswagen Golf, and wood, and isloaded with ki, { andalthough we'eyet to drive it ‘The 300C stil makes lttlesense in standard form we can see that asacompany car butifyou're {it will provides stem challenge. private buyer whofanciesalarge | _ Our testcarshad the optional saloon, isanappealingoption. {18-inch wheels; Volvo's engineers saythatthe models with 7.inch Instrumentscanbecustomised —_Stickwiththe7inchalloy wheels i eriecren |i niettnstmorecomtonany However inmostotherrespects_Insde-thecabintsoneofthe oad level. With thin ts highest thevgoisimpressvebody roll smartestinthecas including setting thereat sexs fol tocreste istightycontoledandtheear Volvostrademarkloating centre atoal ft oad area feels wel balanced console whiefancy gal ‘Atos therange testandard Teeengines-two petrol three insrwnentsthatyeu can equipment including Sluetonth, diesel alltubocharged~wilbe reconfigure toprioniis diferent lly wheels and climate contro) fvallablefromlauneh andthe Information ate optional looks impressive andthe ses threeteve wie sofa were Syocetsonaperwihthatia runnlagestsarscompettie the very good theGolfandaMW iSeries but! manual Dgaverages more than ‘ThemostpowerfulDy diesel theoptonalpanoramlcgass_Gsmpp while theDaretums clase High Opemissionsbutlotsofkit | issmooth and very st foofmatesheadroomtght _toSompgand staxedat ust butwefound fretting espedaliyinthe ese ‘Nel thelial judgement (CE 2 | series TheVo'sboot _untlwe'vedrvena standard Va, Optional automat letespecialy wide, buttherearealendy igs that gearbox tstoocager LLOROMEEEEM butitsavalablewith thisnew oho couldbeone ofthe suvers rie | tokickdown,sending “Couldbeone ofthe clever optional better cars in the class Sas sown |trcernie Hobecne ct ist ont ; renee ae [Soran MANES estate Re an Power ‘ZBebrp | the Da diesel, and not ‘space or raise the ivPra ex eee — oan | | Seeaons ctu shen Pecan = Zaawy [itumectsrtinctindgies —[iagaeaie NATOINZOTOR eemvcromet anexd Sopher Got |tehcieteaems «(gue eee teen | ee woouwcrnounso names? — | etytayOLN rapt ae ee Jengncricsinccratgucier, SSeS agua dnt Scentonestewner" — [thebyandisnovberemceras EEO 78599 Sno aaa 8 onreva Conchacaliveruingsnampg), — CO2s/inlax SAK TANCK BMW Series 8 ae so is destined to find only afew Baten REECE M OI treet ce TI mm 28 | AUGUST 2082 whstarcom‘The D2 diesel is the star of the rang Sub 1009 CO, and goodrefinementstandthe V4O'sentryleveceselingoodstead BTA Audi RS4 Avant What is it? The fastest version of Audi's normally sedate A4 wagon Price from £54,925 On sale Now MPG 26.4 CO, 249a/krn ‘THE REGULAR Ag Avant has alot going fort: fuel-efficient ‘engines; impressive refinement, ‘roomy cabin;anda well shaped boot. What it doesnt offeris Dilistering pace anda thunderous exhaust note That's where this hot Rsq Avant version comes in, Bath ts speed and its soundtrack come courtesy ‘ofa 44qbhp 4.itte V8, while lowered suspension puts it 20mm closerto the ground. Wellbuilt butnot specialenough Avantrides lower and has more purposeful styling tomatch its grunt There'salsoaquattro four-wheel-drive system that automaticaly varies the power sent othe front and rear wheels, ‘while the standard s tronic ddual-clutch gearbox blips the throttle when t’sin Dynamic ‘mode to keep downshifts smooth, The driving experience is further sharpened by acouple of enhancements. DynamicSteering Isgreat for those who want their RSq tobe equally athomein a range of situations; inComfort the steering fsaslightand effortless Cites ‘Great funvwith practicality rey asastandard Ad’, whereas Dynamic weights upeverything to giveasatisfying and engaging eel thats well sited to fast cornering, “Then there's the optional adjustable suspension, which lets you switch between a Dynamic ‘setting that’s so firm it can be used only onthesmoothest roads, and ‘Comfort setting that gives the 1Sga more forgivingride than the standard car. Beingan estate, the Sq isalsoa practical cholee;tcan swallow uptougzolitres of Iaggage. However, the e” reofthe imei puntnghcase ties inaee eaten a Siac Sophingy sods MiesSpsamasiciyguh matineaissbosbetopaythe iste onfoatiecrse fioweurnclabiceeute ck wbeped eed Zits re baying a buyers Fie Enginesize 4ave Pricefrom 50505 Power ‘tony o-camph ‘7c ‘Top speed Tamph Economy 25409 (Oz emfax 219/35 "anGer ICE E5525, Discounts maybe vase ter but tis IsAuds fogs aésothey wet be big MW NS Mercedes 052 AGEstate #6) Formore information SERED Ave RSA Avant ‘onwhatcarcom, Cabriolet GTI quick and responsive, but tshudders over bumps VW Golf Cabriolet GTI What i it? Four-seat convertiole with hot-hatch performance Price from £29,310 On sale Now MPG 372 CO, I77a/km ‘THE NEW GOLF Cabriolet GTI Isthefirst soft top version of Volkswagen's iconichot hatch foralmost 20 years. Ws instantly recognisable as. aGTI, with its'telephone-dial alloy wheels, twin exhausts and honeycomb grille witha red surround, However, like other Golf Cabriolets also has a fully electric fabric hood that ean be owered in 9s seconds Under the bonnet, you'l find the2.olitreturbo engine from the hatchback, and this helps the Cabriosprint from o-6amph in73 seconds~ just 0.4 seconds slowerthan the hatch In fact, Itfeels faster than the figures suggest because the engine loves torev, yet sjust as happy when you rely on cornear-thetop of isstongiow-and — MAAMAMASAESTEES yours spiced mid-range torgue. ‘Afestfunand _tocompete withthe TheCabrioGTIs —practiatconvertbie BMW 125i Convertible poised andalert eee andthe 20 TFSI handlingaddstothe fun, and there’ loads of grip. Unfortunately, ome rigidity has clearly been lost with the metal roof; sharp bumps send shudders through the Cabrio’ body, and its ride is more unsettled than the hatch's over patched-up roads Roof-up refinement is more Impressive and there's space for four adults in the beautifully built cabin although when the roofs down youdoneed to ita standard wind deflector overthe rear seats, (effectively turning thecarinto a two-seater), or there’ lotsof buffeting in the eabin, Ifyou're in the market fora fast four-seat convertible, the Golf Cabriolet GTI should stil be at~ versionorthe Audi a3 Cabriolet, yet it feels ‘more special than both. Just make sure you rally want a drop-top;, the GTThatchisbettertodrive and up to £3660 cheaper, ‘Steve Huntington Steventringforaawhscacom buyers Fie Enginesize 201 Pricefrom £29310 Power 208th o-samph Fase ‘Top speed vero Economy s72m03 Coz emrax ms Tanger ence 26947 ‘oucan area haggle more than £2000 othe price othe Cabriolet GT ‘Rd A abril 20751 8 6 BMW; Converite #8 For moreiinformation SEED VW Got anit ‘onwhatcarcom, watearcom AUGUST20B | 29SIMPLY CLEVER For those readers who voted for SKODA in the |D. Power Survey 2012, we'd lke to say a huge thank you. For more information please vist your loca retailer or skoda.co.uk fica ful connington frre Supe angen ig res DUkng TSS NAIN S85 (Gay ea urban S62 GN 748 BAY, combined SIC ae ak Cob onan he ODA ees ee ay ai‘Ttreally burbles’ Via At ‘TheGran Coupes twinturboceselengineisapeach Ponsiatesnamre | ee BMW Gran. "soccer (Mercedes j2iicyeomnts Coupé atten, MEL2Z5O CDI ioe, oe lee. oa Snes rae 640d erga Bluetec Goce comer aas Whats PEMWs fst tourdeor “Ouenatewtnoptont — {FUTTINGAFUGALourejnder ehepertarar | coupé Price from £63900 chassistweaks including four- {diesel engine into the Mercedes Everyone else should get inthe Combaton Mrcacetsietrand | 'ihenceengheniesifaly Tertledanper, [mathediotesvenspeed "UTERO 00 | | weevmenescenes ETRE snaitoptonal | stomatcgearox.tnls you've | | ciswasreleasedin Zo‘nchwwheels This | gotthesceerator ton the flor, | | 2005,staced Expensive but | combination makes} Youwon'thear much deselattle fa eke acccom fomethingofatrend stuming | therideveryim.no{Inthecabin because the box is forslinky four-door nee matterwhichoneof } configuredto change nto as high coupes. Since then, themany suspension | agearaspossbl.Keepingthe | SUYERSFILE ‘mostGerman manufacturers settings you choose Inthe sporier | engine revsiow.1(seconomical, Englnesize 2110 have introduced theirown take ones however, comers are too, with an ficial average Price trom £5300 ‘onthetheme,andthenew 6Series devoured with impeccable ofaz8mpe Power 20% ‘Gran Coupes BMWS contzoland surpesing agility. ITyou'vegotconcerssabout _ 0-62m0h S0.ee Unsurprisingly sbasedon "Wsagreatcar then butthere’s j gettingaroundinthe winter Topspeed 20mm thetwo-door series coupé. _onebig problem. While the 6god Economy sma | buttheextradoorsalsocome Gran Coupes far more powerful BY cOnaiemitax ‘esz3% | withanextended wheelbase. than equivalent versions ofthe = aos ena | Sonotoniyisgetngintothe Audiayand Mercedes CS, talso Boones. seats. couounsS { backeasier buttheresalsomore costsmany thousands mor. ‘ance met £13307 | legroom once you're there. The = Youshuldrthavetco much rouble | cabinis surprisingly rooms, in & ee cam eae etng acount and inockeso factand with uslous material, cam eaee Torus (cimateconollether SUVERSFILE maNsoeee seatsandawidescreensat-nav) its Engnestze alsoextremely sophisticated. Pree trom The first clase feel only Power thenew Boxster fels supremely improvesonce yourjourmeyis _0-62moh stable, whiletheengine revs under iay.Allsourcesof noise Topspeed Smoothly and swifly and the farebrilianly isolated andif you Eeonomy responsive steering gives you Syieeeteccrnesetce pier ro“ Paar twin-turbo dleselengine gveS Ol gtagyezqnour 4-49 amas the conditions. Therideisjustas Thusiehurlimicyoogucaion sammraowee weet | ORSTEY tee ging wihetheritsadieselatall Only angerrmecibe ‘THETHIRD-GENERATION Porsche compliant over poor roads, itcoentytosybutdortecect | Boxsterisnew from theground while body controls absolute. ‘huperedicion Jlup.promisingbetterdynamics, " Ifwehaveacrticim, fs that ‘onrnva efficiency and practicality than this version doesn sound as good ‘Aud A Sportback 8 8 the model replaces That's asthe which has louder more Porsche Foranera# # # | because nt only iit more guttural ovat high evs Coe) Formore informa irsalso lighter. GSeweM) Gnveserescrncome |” Youcanfindouthow the more a powerful version compares with Cabinisroomy andcomfortable Mnatcar the Mercedes LKSs AMG on @ a) page Go. Here, were concentrating ntheentrylevelcar which swaps Itspredecessors2g-ltreengine BUVER'SFILE ffora27.yetdevelopsanextra ——_—Enginesize 27 gbhpandsprintsfromo-Gamph Price rom e759 inlessthan sx seconds. Power 2sionp Whether you're driving iton O-62mph Seecc | motorways or tight B-roads, Top speed Imp 1 Economy 34mp9 coaghnitax ror IRSuRANEE GROUP ABAGS oons2.seavs2—— couounsi¢ "ance Piet £37509 Porschedealers dnt ofr dscounts so Yeucansave yours ime by nat asting ‘Rad ate #2 8% | ees Amr hon ig wheels don’thelp theride, but theGran Coupéhandles brilliantly | Boxster Ist troubled by potholes watearcom AUGUST 208 | 31Vauxhall Mokka Tio ee yi What is it? Vauxhall's answer to the Nissan Juke and Skoda Yeti Price from £14,000 (est) On sale November MPG tbc CO, tbc THEMOKKAISVauxhallsaest _ Amore fuekefficient sltingbelow ther4 theca wedrove weren't alse. bidtocrackthesUV mate tsa font wheel drive turbointherangewil What wecantellyu sthat hes smallermodelthanthecompany’s versonwilaobe -LofstotRe.but_beaffontwheetdrve spaceforfveadltsanda wide slow-seling Antara sowiltakeon svallablefrom launch, prichgtsgoing naturally aspirated rangeot adjustment tohelp the Caresuchas the Skoda Yt Butevenith the tobecrucial” —sibhpipetrol but driverget comfortable The Mokka doesn goonsale added weight (65k) of thisisnowherenearas The dashboard layouts very unllateautumn However, fourwheeldrivethsengine —_impreiswe,beeaseitecs gutless simllartotheastahatcback, fnginerstrom Vauntallore _offersiveysceierationand _lowdownanddoes' Iketorev which means there areioo many testingprototypesinGermang, good ngear flex The16we drvewasaneatler poorly markedbutons StL you WejonedthemtosceiftheMokka " Thesuspensiononthecarwe developmentearthantheig. Sogetltsofcubbie Ss worthwaling for: tcedscemedvellsetup.too;anditeltitbecause hada nat ths early sage cle Thefistearwetriedhada _youleawareofbumpsonthe significantly worse ride However, chat the Maka ha the potenti tufbocharged 38bhp ite Toad butthey don'tmakethe _—_-Mssteeringwelghtedupinamuch tobe one of theater sal SUVs petrolengiweandafourwhee’ rdeuncomfortableandbody _torelinsrwayhanthe!s. However Vauxhall sill needs Etvesysemthatsendsallofthe movementearetightlycontoled. "The inelmedetaunch wil sortafew things the Mokia i dvetothetrontwhelsinnormal "Only thesterngdsappointed, bear28bhprrliedieseLbutwe tobecompelive Conditions buttasfer upto becaueltwasslow towelghtup werent abletoty this 7 So%totherearswhenextta inturmsandinconsistentwhen—"Ttstooearlytoassesequaity, ERY) Svemtuningrs trations needed inal dds because many ofthe plastics in a ‘The1.4turbowedrovehadalotmorepunchthanthenon-turbo1.6 Dashboards dominated by confusing buttons, but cubbiesabound 32 | aucusr200‘It’s clear that the Mokka has potential’ \Vauntalsengineers need tosort te steering andride fist. though Toyota Yaris Hybrid ‘Wats it? Toyota’ supermini Sized hybrid Price from £14,995 On sale Now MPG 80,79 0; 794/ken INESSENCE, THE Yaris Hybrid is ‘asupermini sized version of the Toyota Prius. Both uses combination of petrol power alongside an electric motor and battery pack jsefuel efficiency and Despite the complexity of the hyybrid system, the Yaris couldn't ‘beeasier todrive Selec Drive, ‘Themajority of plasticsfeel hard Hybrid handles well, but there'stoomuch noise fromall quarters tickle thethrottleand you cantake _There'salso.afairamount of offusingelecric poweralone, wind noise generated by the large albeit fora limited distance ‘windscreen and door mirrors, Askforanythingmorethan even at moderate speeds At least pedestrian progress though, ‘the handling feels secure and the and the 5lirepetrolengine cuts lightsteering helps in ity streets inwith a cacophony of revsas “The Yarisisalsoone of the more the CVTgearboxtriesto blend spacious superminis, with plenty petrol power with electric ‘from for four, whileall-ound Even when itdoes, performance visibility is very good, Just s well, isntexactlystartingandits really, because you won't want to Impossibleto ignore spend time perusing the whining from rH the interior ixtures thetransmission — eal tings The andthewhirrofthe Lewemissions but Gverall design is regenerativebrakes _Walsdo tbetter ‘when slowing. devoid of even ‘modicum of fair Even so,ata fiver under isk the Yaris is currently or theoretical offust79g/km putsit into the 10% company ¢ get plenty ofstandard kit However iit were our choice, weld shift gears manually and go Fiesta Econetic foradiesel Enginesize 15h Pricefrom 14995 Power 7306 o-camph asec ‘Top speed 103mon Economy 079 (Oz emfax anon ‘anger mice £14995 ‘Tees youcan hope forisatew hundred paso ts particu Yas Ford esta cone. Volkswagen Pole Baton Formore information search ‘onwhatcarcom, the cheapest hybrid mnsale,anditdoa 'Sompg,ItsCO, output artaxband, Youalso Toyota Yaris ort convertibles we've carried away by the prospect of four seats, because the rear is snug for adults especially when the roof is up. Space is much better in the front, and while the dashboard isidentical to that ofa standard 6 Series aside froma few Medivision flourishes) that ‘means you get BMWs Drive control system, which isa model of simplicity, = ‘More ofan issues whether the ‘Therock-solid Convertibleisafine crulser,butnotagreat sportscar M6 Convertible isexciting enough orsitzy enough to justify its BMW M6 Convertible __ "22 aingwan What i it? BMW's fastest ever soft-op, witha price to match Price £98,995 On sale September MPG 274 CO; 239a/km ‘THATTHE NEWBMW M6 ConvertbleIsstratosphericaly fast shouldn't come asa surprise. Tedoes,aterallhave the MS super-saloon’ sszbhp q4itre twin-turbo V8 throbbing away tunderits bonnet, thetraction control, paddleshift The bigger news is how gearbox, and throttle and chassis unflappable the caris:ahost Settings can transform it from of electronic aids ensures it gets allthat power to the oad cleanly, ‘while chassis tweaks and upgraded brakes help it handle and stop better than lesser 6 Series models, “The M6 Convertible doesnt suffer from any of the shimrnies and wobbles normally associated ‘with large open-tops. In Fat it feelslikeoneofthemost solid Superb buildqualityandiDrive driven,andwith the gdb electrically oling "Min owing fast. roof place i's buttoo expensive asrefinedasthe {Series coupe. Just don't get too So,while afine car, wean think of several ‘vals that are both cheaper and ‘more capable. Ghartinatwhatorcom Enginesize saver Pricefrom £58995 Power S520 o-samph 435ee ‘Top speed "55m Economy anon Coz emrax oars Wat fer ableto get dicount Jaguar kr Porsche Formore information search ‘onwhatcarcom asoftsh cruiserto ‘harder sportscar. However i's never as ‘cushy asthe best grand tourersorinvolving ‘enough to thrill you like Porsche 911 can, the M6 Convertibles. ons and youstould be Convertible Cabell NW M6 Convertible avcust 20m | 33