Auto Express - No. 1718, 2 March 2022 (1)

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 53 IVDO.BLuKzSzWAGEN 54 KSpIAortage Price: From £50,000 (est) On sale: 2022 Price: From £26,765 On sale: Now VOLKSWAGEN will soon revive the Type 2 KIA is going for bold with its latest Sportage, multivan, but in pure-electric guise. It’ll be called which has been designed exclusively for Europe. the ID.Buzz and, as the name suggests, it’ll be Now in its fifth generation, the Korean machine built on the same MEB platform as the ID.3 hatch has premium rivals firmly in its sights. and ID.4 SUV. It’ll also be a rival for the Mercedes EQV as a premium electric people carrier. Underneath its head-turning skin, the new Sportage offers a range of electrified engines, Buyers will have a choice of battery packs with 48V mild-hybrid, self-charging hybrid and ranging in size from 48kWh to 111kWh, with the plug-in units joining a conventional diesel option. largest unit offering a maximum range of around 340 miles. The powertrains are familiar, too – the Inside, the upmarket feel is enhanced by the entry-level variant will have the same 201bhp curved digital dash and infotainment screen, electric motor as the ID.3, mounted on the rear while the Kia combines accurate handling with a axle, although a four-wheel-drive, dual-motor composed ride and impressive refinement. Factor variant with 295bhp is also expected. in the seven-year warranty and there’s no doubt the Sportage success story is set to continue. FAST FACT THE Tonale PHEV will travel 37 miles on a full charge; full-EV and hot Quadrifoglio version are possible, the brand says. 58 BAMCWTIV2ESTEORUIERSER PEOPLE carriers play second fiddle to SUVs these days, but that Price: From £30,365 hasn’t stopped BMW pulling the covers off an all-new 2 Series On sale: March 2022 Active Tourer. Longer, wider and taller than before, it features a remarkably roomy interior that boasts neat features such as a sliding rear bench and the firm’s iDrive 8 infotainment. The range offers a choice of two new mild-hybrid petrols and one diesel. These will be joined later by plug-in, four-wheel-drive 225xe and 230xe models. Special Issue 51

1N0E9WBRICLLAIARNST 59 ESKnOyaDqACoupé iV THE Skoda Enyaq iV is one of our favourite attention. The Enyaq Coupé iV gets a sloping Price: £40,000 (est) family EVs, blending the no-nonsense utility roofline to cut smoothly through the air. On sale: Spring 2022 we love from the Czech brand with slick interior tech, comfort and strong range. The flagship vRS model will be the first-ever electric Skoda from the manufacturer’s high- So the idea of a rakish coupé-SUV version, performance arm. Sending 295bhp to all four which squeezes an extra 10 miles of range wheels and covering the 0-62mph sprint in from the same electric powertrain thanks to 6.5 seconds, the sporty vRS should have the sleeker aerodynamics, certainly grabbed our potency to match the badge. Automedia SPYSHOT 62 P3OLESTAR 63 64PMOaRcSaCnHfEacelift NArISiySaAN Price: £60,000 (est) On sale: Early 2023 Price: From £48,970 On sale: Now Price: From £41,845 On sale: Summer POLESTAR made quite a mark when it was spun- THE facelifted Porsche Macan remains in a class of ONE of the first car brands to the EV table has off from Volvo as a brand in its own right. Soon the one for drivers seeking to blend genuinely sporty really kept us waiting for its second pure-electric all-electric firm will add more distance between dynamics with a practical SUV package. Chief model. Almost 12 years after the debut of the itself and Volvo by taking a unique styling direction among the changes is a completely revised, and Mk1 Leaf, Nissan will release the Ariya; an all- that will first be showcased by the Polestar 3. simplified, centre console, to the side of which electric family crossover that will compete with sits a new steering wheel taken from the 911. the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq iV. The rakish SUV will take on cars like the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron Sportback, and while it’s There is a new front bumper and rear diffuser, The new car is available to order now, with first mainly designed for the North American market, plus fresh paint and wheel options. The engine deliveries due this summer. Buyers can choose we’re due to get the 3 in the UK early next year. line-up starts with a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder from a 63kWh battery with a 223-mile range, or turbocharged unit, while the Macan S and GTS an 87kWh model that promises up to 310 miles. Technical details are yet to be confirmed, but retain their engines, but see increases of 26 and Rapid 130kW charging should ensure swift top- we understand it will share its SPA2 platform with 59bhp respectively. A new driver-focused Macan T ups, while Nissan says the 389bhp Performance the next Volvo XC90. Polestar insiders suggest edition will join the line-up soon, too. model will do the 0-62mph sprint in 5.1 seconds. that the 3 will aim for sporty driving dynamics. www.autoexpress.co.uk 52 Special Issue

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 60JDoAgCgIAer Price: From £14,995 On sale: Now DACIA has enjoyed a fine run of form recently, and that’s set to continue Automedia with the Jogger. Combining seven-seat versatility with rugged off-road style, the car is aimed at growing families with a sense of adventure. More importantly, it’ll be the first Dacia to benefit from hybrid power, using the 1.6-litre dual-electric-motor set-up seen in the Renault Clio. Also available is the tried-and-tested 1.0-litre turbo petrol unit. All versions will get air-con, parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking and a smartphone dock, while upgraded Media Display and Media Nav systems add an eight-inch touchscreen and Apple and Android Connectivity. 61 MG-ECRCLAESDSEfSacelift Price: From £110,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 AMID Mercedes’ flood of new electric SUVs, an update is heading the way SPYSHOT of an old favourite: the G-Class. The current model, introduced in 2018, marked a radical ground-up redesign of the iconic off-roader underneath, so we’re not expecting a huge number of revisions under the metal. With 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance likely to make its debut in the G-Class, this mid-life refresh will mainly focus on updated colour and trim options, minor styling and tech revisions, plus the introduction of the new 4x42 variant. This G-Class model, like the previous iteration, will use portal axles for significantly more ground clearance than the regular G. 65 BMW XM Price: From £145,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 IF you thought an XM was an angular eighties Citroen executive car, then think again. BMW has borrowed the two letters for its flagship high-performance SUV, which celebrates 50 years since its first standalone M division car, the exotic mid-engined M1. First shown as a bold concept late last year, the strikingly styled XM features a powerful plug-in hybrid system that combines a turbocharged V8 and an electric motor to deliver a combined output of around 740bhp and 1,000Nm of torque. Yet it should also be capable of 50 miles of electric running. Special Issue 53

N10E9WBRICLLAIARNST 66 F2E9R6RGATRBI IT’S back to the future for Ferrari, because its new seconds and 15 miles of electric range. With a Price: From £230,000 (est) compact sports car is the first to feature a mid- 50mm shorter wheelbase than the F8 Tributo, On sale: Late 2022 mounted V6 since the sixties Dino (although the the GTB is even more agile in the corners. brand says the Dino doesn’t officially count). Elsewhere, its aggressively styled body is Yet despite its historic connections, the 296 capable of generating up to 360kg of downforce GTB is bang-up-to-date. For starters, its 3.0-litre with the optional Asseto Fiorano pack, while engine is linked to a plug-in hybrid system that the Ferrari’s beautifully finished interior is delivers a staggering 819bhp, 0-62mph in 2.9 crammed with the latest technology. EIMXACGLUESIVE 69 70GJErEaPnd Cherokee AA1LP1I0NfEacelift Price: From £40,000 (est) On sale: Summer 2022 Price: From £49,905 On sale: Now AFTER years of playing second fiddle to upmarket THE car that kick-started Alpine’s recent rebirth 71 P4OLESTAR SUV competitors, Jeep is out to prove it still builds has been given a mid-life refresh. However, it’s the best 4x4 by far. Leading the charge is the clear the French brand didn’t want to mess with a Price: From £40,000 (est) all-new Grand Cherokee, which now promises winning formula, because the eye-catching retro- On sale: 2023 genuine premium appeal and cutting-edge tech. inspired design has been left largely unaltered. Inside are higher-quality materials, a slick Instead, there’s a revised trim line-up of A110, 10-inch infotainment set-up and acres of space. A110 GT and A110 S models, with the latter two There’s a new plug-in hybrid powertrain that getting a 296bhp version of the standard car’s combines a 2.0-litre petrol unit with two electric 249bhp turbo 1.8-litre unit. There are new materials motors for 370bhp and 31 miles of electric range. inside and an updated seven-inch infotainment Comfort is provided by soft air suspension, while system that’s available with a performance- Jeep’s sophisticated Quadra-Trac all-wheel-drive monitoring upgrade for use on track. Happily, system means unstoppable off-road performance. the suspension has been mainly left untouched. 54 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 67 NX-ITSrSaAilN Price: From £30,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 FOLLOWING hot on the Qashqai’s heels will be the fourth generation of its big brother, the X-Trail. Rivaling the likes of the Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008, the X-Trail shares much of its mechanical make-up with the Qashqai, such as the e-Power hybrid powertrain and advanced driver-assistance tech. But it has much chunkier styling, thanks to a bluff bonnet, a squared-off roofline for added practicality and a more imposing front grille, while the cabin will offer space for seven people, courtesy of a third row of seats. Up front the cabin will feature an overhauled dashboard design, complete with a new infotainment set-up that will most likely be shared with the Qashqai. 68 VT-ORoLKcSfWacAeGliEftN Price: From £23,000 (est) On sale: Spring 2022 THE T-Roc has been given a mid-life update. Volkswagen’s engineers have equipped the SUV with new front and rear bumpers, more modern lights and redesigned alloy wheels to help keep it looking fresh alongside newer rivals, such as the all-new Honda HR-V and the Toyota Yaris Cross. It’s much the same story inside, with buyers getting a new ‘floating’ infotainment screen mount, a foam-cushion dashboard pad and the same touch-sensitive climate controls found in the latest Golf. The engine range hasn’t changed over the previous model, but that means Volkswagen will continue to offer the sporty 296bhp T-Roc R in the updated SUV’s line-up. Avarvarii POLESTAR aims to achieve 290,000 that it is “slightly more ground 72 M2 HAyZbDrAid sales globally by 2025, and its fourth hugging, a bit more on the coupé type model to hit the road is likely to play of roofline” compared with the larger Price: From £20,300 On sale: Now a very large part in reaching that goal. SUV variant. He also hinted that it will be pitched with a starting price of just AS part of its deal with Toyota, Mazda has The Polestar 4 will face off against over £40,000. Under the skin, the 4 is rebadged its rival’s Yaris Hybrid, selling the the Tesla Model Y, and therefore will be likely to ride on all-new architecture Mazda 2 Hybrid alongside the old internal a sportier and smaller version of the 3. from its parent company Geely. combustion-engined version of the car. Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath told us Superminis are still big business in the UK, www.autoexpress.co.uk so it makes sense for Mazda, because its range is currently limited when it comes to electrified options. The Yaris’s mechanicals also make it one of the best hybrid superminis on sale. The Mazda adopts Toyota’s tech wholesale, including the interior design and infotainment. It offers up to a claimed 74.3mpg, but with prices starting at more than £20,000, it’s also pricey. Special Issue 55

1N0E9WBRICLLAIARNST 73 MPLOUSRG8 AGNTR NOT content with rolling into 2022 with plans for Morgans, while under the bonnet lurks a BMW- just one wild sports car, Morgan also showed us derived 4.8-litre V8 making upwards of 362bhp. Price: N/A the Plus 8 GTR. This menacing-looking iteration On sale: Sold out of the Malvern marque’s iconic shape is inspired Thanks to its side-exit exhaust, the GTR by the original Plus 8 GTR, which competed in should also produce a suitably thunderous endurance racing in the mid-nineties. soundtrack. But, if you’re tempted, the bad news is that you can’t have one. Morgan is Extreme aero, a louvred bonnet and centre- only building nine examples, and all of them lock wheels help it stand out from other have already sold for an undisclosed sum. Automedia 76 TCaUvPaRsAcan SPYSHOT 78 MSLERCEDES Price: From £45,000 (est) On sale: Early 2024 77 P91O1R‘SDCaHkEar’ Price: From £100,000 (est) On sale: Spring 2022 Price: From £115,000 (est) On sale: 2023 CUPRA’S ambitious plans after it was spun THE Porsche 911 has long been the go-to choice THE new SL lays down an important marker for off from parent brand SEAT continue with the for those after absolute performance on tarmac, Mercedes, because it shows the brand trying to Tavascan. Unveiled as a concept at the 2019 but a new version, possibly badged ‘Dakar’, will reboot a struggling sector. Sales of the last SL – Geneva Motor Show, the sleek all-electric broaden that to off-road terrain. It will be based once a staple of the firm’s range – had collapsed, so crossover is the firm’s flagship. on the refreshed version of the current model, but it might surprise some to see the badge live on. with a raised ride height and chunky body cladding. Based on the same MEB platform as the Born, However, it does so in sportier style, offering the Tavascan has a distinctive coupé-style roof There’s no official information, but the lack of up AMG GT-like thrills in a 2+2 package and a and is likely to retain the concept’s S-ducts in the air ducts along the sides of the car in the spy shots flexible suspension set-up that means the SL nose that help smooth airflow. Two electric motors and the suggestion of four-wheel drive mean the still promises to be comfortable cruising along, deliver four-wheel drive and 302bhp, while a 3.0-litre twin-turbo powertrain from the Carrera yet has more potential on a circuit. Power is 77kWh battery should give a range of around 280 4S or GTS 4 is likely to be fitted. Expect the new provided by a thundering turbocharged 4.0- miles. Lower-powered versions are expected to model to pack a sub-four-second 0-62mph time, litre V8 petrol engine developing 577bhp in the follow when the Cupra makes its debut in 2024. but deliver the potential to do this on the loose. SL 63. A plug-in hybrid version is coming too. 56 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 74 BDiAgCstIeAr 75 GMOurRraDyOTN.33 Price: From £20,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 Price: From £1.37m (plus tax) On sale: Sold out WHEN it comes to building cars that do what they EVEN in the world of hypercars, not many new say on the tin, few brands are as straightforward arrivals will be as exciting as the Gordon Murray as Dacia. The Bigster SUV, as its name suggests, Automotive T.33. Following the brand’s T.50 is set to be the largest model ever from the flagship, the newcomer is simpler, yet will deliver Romanian manufacturer. Measuring in at 4.6 just as many thrills. It features a regular two-seat metres long, it’s a similar size to the Skoda layout and ditches the more expensive car’s fan- Kodiaq, but will cost thousands less. assisted aerodynamics, but retains the mid- mounted 3.9-litre V12, albeit with ‘just’ 607bhp. There’s no word on whether there’ll be a seven-seat option, but with its rugged looks, Weighing only 1,090kg and with similar spacious interior and useful tech, the Bigster dimensions to a Porsche Cayman, the T.33 should won’t feel like a bargain-basement special. be staggeringly fast and agile. It’s not all good You can expect either a turbocharged 1.3-litre news, however, because just 100 examples of the petrol or a 1.6-litre hybrid, while four-wheel £1.37million (plus taxes) road racer are planned – drive and an automatic gearbox will be options. and, like its bigger brother, it’s already sold out. EXCLUSIVE Avarvarii IMAGE FAST FACT AS many models turn to electric, this new Morgan is delightfully old school – in both its design and its characterful V8 engine. 79 SKKaOroDqAfacelift WITH its subtly revised styling, the also improved passenger comfort Price: From £25,950 facelifted Skoda Karoq might not invite by fitting new seats, it claims. On sale: Now a second glance, but numerous tweaks and extra equipment make it well There’s a Karoq for pretty much www.autoexpress.co.uk worth a look if you’re after a versatile any buyer, too. The SE Drive trim and comfortable compact SUV. level represents great value, with plenty of kit and modern infotainment A new front grille, redesigned lights tech; the range of efficient petrol and tweaked styling at the rear mark engines delivers both acceptable out the new model, while Skoda has performance and affordable prices. Special Issue 57

1N0E9WBRICLLAIARNST 80 ELOVITJUAS WITH a maximum of 1,972bhp from its twin- as little as 18 minutes thanks to its rapid Price: From £2m electric-motor powertrain, the Evija is a Lotus 350kW charging tech. On sale: Sold out for a new era. The performance stats alone are eye-widening, with a 0-62mph sprint in less Standing as a halo model, the Evija’s styling than three seconds, a top speed of more than will influence elements of Lotus’s future vehicles, 200mph and a range of 215 miles from the including an SUV and a new all-electric sports 70kWh battery – which can be topped up in car. The Evija is an exciting model that sets the template for the brand’s future under Geely. Automedia SPYSHOT 83 CMXA-Z5DfAacelift 84 PFEuRroRsAaRnIgue 85 VTaOigLoKSWAGEN Price: From £29,610 On sale: Now Price: From £200,000 (est.) On sale: Late 2022 Price: From £21,960 On sale: Now WHILE Mazda has new SUVs on the way – which FERRARI will be heading from race tracks to rutted JUST in case there were concerns that Volkswagen are in the development phase – the Japanese tracks later this year, when it reveals its first SUV. didn’t have enough crossovers in its range, it has brand has also been hard at work updating its Aimed squarely at models like the Aston Martin launched another one. The Taigo is basically a family-favourite CX-5 SUV with sharper styling, DBX and Lamborghini Urus, the Purosangue is version of the South American-market Nivus SUV, a revised trim structure and more technology. described as an FUV, or Ferrari Utility Vehicle. which has been adapted for European buyers by adding more technology and an R-Line trim level. We’ve already driven the updated model The new car is expected to use a modified and can confirm it still offers the same great version of the Roma’s platform, while its engines While the coupé-like styling is different steering and balance of ride and handling that are likely to include a detuned plug-in hybrid to VW’s other European SUVs, there’s nothing the CX-5 is known for. But a lack of meaningful from the 296 GTB, a turbocharged V8 and a revolutionary about the Taigo. It’s based on the electrification and turbocharged petrol engines naturally aspirated V12. Expect dynamics geared same platform as the T-Cross crossover, and gets means performance and refinement, not to towards on-road agility, but with four-wheel drive the same range of petrol engines. Buyers are mention efficiency, are a little more limited and adjustable air suspension, this is one offered either a 94bhp or a 108bhp 1.0-litre compared with the latest rivals in this class. Prancing Horse that won’t mind getting muddy. three-cylinder, or a 148bhp 1.5-litre four-pot. 58 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

81 HIOYNUINQD6AI 109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Larson Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond Price: From £40,000 (est) On sale: Summer 2022 EIMXACGLUESIVE HYUNDAI’S relentless push upmarket will continue later this year when it pulls the wraps of its eagerly anticipated Ioniq 6. Aimed directly at the Tesla Model 3, the sleek four-door coupé promises to combine head- turning style and a luxurious interior with a claimed range of 311 miles. As our exclusive image shows, the newcomer takes its cues from the Prophecy concept, while under the skin it sits on a lengthened version of the advanced 800V E-GMP platform used on the smaller Ioniq 5. Top versions will use a 302bhp twin-motor set-up with a 77.4kWh battery, while there will also be a rear-drive entry-level version with a 58kWh pack. 82 VA1S2TOVNanMtaAgReTIN SPYSHOT Automedia Price: £180,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 ASTON is sending the pure ICE engine out in style, as it prepares the V12 Vantage. Promised to be the last Aston of its kind, it’s likely to squeeze the DBS’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 into the smaller Vantage body. It’s expected to deliver around 600bhp – enough to give a Porsche 911 Turbo sleepless nights – while also serving up a spine-tingling soundtrack. Elsewhere, suspension and steering tweaks mean the rear-wheel-drive Aston should be as at home on the track as it is on the road. And on the outside there will be some unique touches, including a larger grille, twin- exit exhausts and even-wider wheelarches. 86 GINREEONSADIER Price: From £48,000 On sale: Summer 2022 FANS of rough-and-tumble off-roaders should take note: the Ineos Grenadier is due to go on sale in the summer. Designed as a spiritual successor to the original Land Rover Defender, the Grenadier promises to combine unrivalled go-anywhere ability and ease-of-use with the latest tech. Underneath its boxy exterior is a permanent four-wheel-drive system with low-range gears for ultimate mud-plugging traction, while buyers can choose between petrol or diesel BMW-sourced, 3.0-litre, straight-six engines. Yet the newcomer also claims to be calm and composed on the road, plus it packs an interior that mixes hose-down practicality with cutting-edge infotainment. The car’s all-purpose approach is highlighted by the availability of a two-seater commercial variant, as well as practical passenger editions. www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 59

N10E9WBRICLLAIARNST 87 RRAONVGERE 88NLEXXUS THE all-new Lexus NX marks a big step for the brand, introducing Price: From £38,250 its first plug-in hybrid powertrain in 450h+ form. The 18.1kWh Price: From £94,400 On sale: Now On sale: Now battery offers more than 40 miles of electric range on a full charge, while the all-new infotainment system replaces the infuriating OVER the past 50 years or so, a new Range Rover touchpad with a slick touchscreen that has the latest connectivity. has been a once-a-decade occasion, with huge advances each time. The latest model is no Either way, the new NX (also available in 350h self-charging exception, sporting Land Rover’s new MLA-Flex form) boasts the same brilliant build quality we’ve come to platform, pure-combustion and plug-in hybrid expect from the brand, with first-rate ownership prospects. Plus power, plus an all-electric model due in 2024. the latest chassis architecture underneath means it’s comfortable and handles smartly, while there’s strong refinement, as you’d That increase in tech is only matched by an expect from a premium SUV with a big element of electrification. increase in price, with even entry-level models costing nearly £100,000. But if you value design and off-road ability, it’s a price worth paying. The sleek, uncluttered styling is spectacular, and this model should remain the benchmark for tackling the rough stuff. Few cars at any price can match the new Range Rover’s luxurious fit and finish. 91 ELOMTIRUAS UNDER Geely ownership Lotus has big plans for the future, starting with the Emira sports car. Based on a brand-new Price: From £59,995 platform, this mid-engined model will rival the Porsche 911 On sale: Summer 2022 for performance, handling and ownership appeal. The Emira will be available with a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 and a six-speed manual gearbox, or the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from Mercedes-AMG’s A 45 S, and we’ve already felt the car’s ability from the passenger seat with former F1 champ Jenson Button driving. Things bode well for Lotus’s new sports car, with lightweight technology at its heart. 60 Special Issue

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 89 LDAeNfeDnRdOerV1E3R0 903P0EU8GEOT Price: From £50,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 Price: From £24,635 On sale: Now THE latest Defender is the most upmarket and PEUGEOT will be responsible for one of 2022’s luxurious yet, but the British mud-plugging most significant releases. The 308 is the brand’s legend hasn’t forgotten its hard-working roots. latest family hatchback, and it aims to steal sales from class leaders like the VW Golf, Ford Focus Like the iconic original, the current car is soon and Skoda Octavia, with a level of kit and finish to be available as a double cab pick-up. Aimed at that we’ve come to expect from premium brands. flagship Ford Ranger trucks, the stretched 130 will be a larger passenger model, with a commercial It will offer a range of petrol and diesel engines pick-up variant also possible. It will seat five and and a couple of plug-in hybrid powertrains, the be available with a hose-down interior. most potent of which produces 222bhp, yet can cover up to 37 miles of electric-only driving. For those after a bigger Defender that retains the standard car’s lavish feel, then there will also The French manufacturer is on a roll with its be an eight-seater estate 130. Neither version of family car line-up, and our first encounters with the longer Land Rover is likely to be cheap to buy, the 308 suggest that it might give the five-door but few big off-roader rivals will be as capable. hatchback establishment quite a shake up. FAST FACT LarsonEXCLUSIVE AutomediaIMAGE THE NX’s battery takes around two hours and 45 minutes to charge to 100 per cent using a 7kW home wallbox. With a three-pin plug, it takes eight hours and 15 minutes. SPYSHOT 92 P91O1RGSCT3HERS 93 MMOorRgGaAnNSuper3 94 MArctuLAraREN Price: £150,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 (est) Price: From £35,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 Price: From £185,500 On sale: Now WHERE there’s a new Porsche 911 GT3, a hardcore ONE of the wackier cars due out this year will be McLAREN’S Artura PHEV broke cover last year, RS variant is sure to follow. The headline feature is the Morgan Super3. It will be available with what but we’re still yet to drive it. It promises 671bhp, a vast rear wing, inspired by the next generation the firm calls ‘personalities’: a range of different 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds and an all-electric range of Porsche’s GT3 R race cars. The wing hangs off colours and themes, many inspired by adventure of 19 miles. A new architecture to house the swan-neck mounts and is tipped to feature active and racing cars from the mid-20th century. 7.4kWh battery means more weight, but we’re elements similar to the Formula One DRS system. sure the Artura will have typical McLaren traits, But bringing the latest three-wheeler well such as precise steering and great handling. Prototypes spotted testing suggest the RS will into the 21st century is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder have bodywork stretched to cover a wider track, engine from Ford that takes the place of the The styling has a shrink-wrapped look and plus aggressive front and rear aero treatment. old car’s 2.0-litre twin-cylinder unit. While that lots of voids like its 720S bigger brother, while Technical details haven’t been given, but a version required some serious re-engineering to fit, the the cabin is an evolution of the brand’s former of the regular GT3’s 4.0-litre naturally aspirated basic formula is much the same: one driving Sport Series models. Extra efficiency and a flat-six with 520-530bhp is likely, feeding the wheel at the back, two skinny tyres at the front, performance boost from the electrification rear axle via a seven-speed PDK transmission. and lots of pure-driving fun to be had. on offer will usher in a new era for McLaren. www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 61

N10E9WBRICLLAIARNST IEMXACGLUESIVE Avarvarii 95 JBEaEbPy SUV Price: From £25,000 (est) On sale: Late 2024 WITH SUV sales still booming, it’s no surprise that Jeep is aiming to cash in on its rich off-roading reputation with an all-electric entry-level model. Due in showrooms before 2025, it will slot into the brand’s line-up below the current Renegade and use the STLA Small platform being developed by parent firm Stellantis. Designed for EV applications, it’s also capable of being engineered with four-wheel drive. No official details have been given, but a range of more than 200 miles is expected. 96 VSUitZaUraKIhybrid Price: £23,499 On sale: Now THE Suzuki Vitara has evolved from the rugged, chunky off-roader of the nineties to a slicker, more conventional crossover in 2022. With car-like road manners, low running costs and generous kit, it’s more suited to the tarmac than ever, and can be ordered with a mild-hybrid powertrain. This combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 33bhp electric motor, delivering efficiency potential of more than 50mpg. A six-speed automatic should make the driving experience easy and relaxing, while four-wheel drive is also available. It’s available in both SZ-T and SZ5 trim levels, and even the more basic option comes well equipped. EIMXACGLUESIVE Avarvarii 98 GVAraUnXdHlAanLLd 99 XVCO2LV0O 100 LCAOMUBNOT Price: From £2.5m (est Price: £25,810 On sale: Now Price: <£40,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022/2023 On sale: Early 2022 www.autoexpress.co.uk VAUXHALL has given the Grandland a thorough VOLVO’S range-topping Embla EV (p65) will be facelift, matching its styling and kit to that of the balanced out by a new entry-level SUV that will sit new Mokka and Astra. Updates include a new set below the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. It’ll of LED headlights, the firm’s “Vizor” front end follow the Embla into the showrooms, based on and a fresh dual-screen infotainment system, a fresh electric platform that has been developed which swaps the car’s manual climate controls for by the Swedish brand’s Chinese owner, Geely. a new touchscreen panel in the centre console. This small SUV has a lot riding on its shoulders, Another addition to the SUV’s spec sheet is too, because Volvo expects it to play a major role Night Vision tech, which uses infrared sensors to in increasing the brand’s global sales from around detect pedestrians and animals in the dark. The 800,000 units a year to 1.2 million by 2025. Like engine range has many carry-overs from the old the XC90 replacement, it’ll ditch the firm’s code- model, giving buyers a choice of 1.2-litre petrol, based badges for a dedicated name. Our image 1.5-litre diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. previews how the car could look when it arrives. 62 Special Issue

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 97 QNIASSSAHNQAI WE reviewed the latest Nissan Qashqai in depth a battery, which then powers a motor on the front Price: From £23,535 in 2021, but we will be getting our hands on axle. In theory this gives the smooth response of On sale: Now the most intriguing – and certainly the most an EV, the modest electric-only range of a hybrid, advanced – powertrain option in the crossover’s and the versatility of a combustion car, not to range later this year. mention the potential for low running costs. The Qashqai e-Power has a 1.5-litre engine If the technology works out, it should make sitting under the bonnet, but it doesn’t drive the the Qashqai one of the most fuel-efficient cars wheels directly. Instead, it generates energy for in the family crossover class. 101 SSMMAARRTT #1 Price: £35,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 T ARGCHHINI WHEN it comes to the Countach, lightning lines with carbon-fibre bodywork and a THE ForFour is the biggest car that Smart has t) really can strike twice. Nearly half a century state-of-the-art, hybrid-boosted 6.5-litre produced, but this will change when the Smart #1 since it pulled the covers off the iconic V12. The result is a crushing 803bhp that electric SUV lands later this year. It was previewed original, Lamborghini has launched an all- can launch the Lambo from 0-62mph in just by the Smart Concept #1 at the 2021 Munich new retro-inspired model in celebration. 2.8 seconds and on to a 221mph top speed. Motor Show, which revealed a cleaner design language that will be adopted by future Smarts. Called the Countach LPI 800 and loosely Just 112 examples are planned to roll out based on the four-wheel-drive Aventador, it of the manufacturer’s Sant’Agata factory, The car will have active grille intakes, flush combines the first car’s famously wedgy each costing an eye-watering £2.5million. door handles and similar smooth body surfacing to the concept, contributing to a drag coefficient www.autoexpress.co.uk of 0.29. It will use the new SEA EV platform from part-owners Geely. We expect a 70kWh battery and a range of more than 200 miles, with a single 260bhp electric motor driving the rear axle. Special Issue 63

1N0E9WBRICLLAIARNST EXCLUSIVE IMAGE Avarvarii 102 MCOINUI NTRYMANPrice: From £28,000 (est) On sale: 2023 THE next-generation MINI Countryman with combustion engines as well will hit the market in 2023, and it will as a fully electric option. be all change for the brand’s compact crossover. The car will move onto the Spy shots suggest that a fairly FAAR platform also used by the next significant growth in size is coming BMW X1. This architecture can for the new Countryman, which will accommodate a variety of powertrains, reposition the car as a rival for the likes and MINI has already confirmed that of the Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLA. And the new Countryman will be offered our exclusive image here shows how we think the new crossover will look. EXCLUSIVE Avarvarii 108 PORSCH IMAGE Price: £108,370 On sale: Now 106 107RSpAoNrGt E ROVER LREZXUS Price: From £70,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 Price: From £50,000 (est.) On sale: Summer 2022 EXPECT the new Range Rover Sport to mirror its LIKE many companies, Lexus is embracing the era big brother’s minimalist design when it goes on of full electrification, and its new RZ SUV will usher sale later this year. It will switch to Jaguar Land in this new chapter. It’s based on the e-TNGA platform Rover’s MLA architecture, which will allow a mild- also used by the Toyota bZ4X, and the 71.4kWh hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric line-up – battery gives a claimed range of about 280 miles. the latter powered by the same tech as the new BMW i5 and i7, after a deal between the firms. Lexus’s first standalone EV will make its debut in RZ 450e form, so expect solid performance The new Sport’s overall dimensions are with more of a focus on sporty dynamics than expected to remain close to the current model’s, you might imagine. What you can guarantee is but shorter front and rear overhangs could signal superb refinement and quality, and the RZ will an increase in interior space. Like other MLA- aim to carry the brand’s reputation for brilliant based models, the car will also get an 11.4-inch build and a fine ownership experience into the touchscreen powered by JLR’s Pivi Pro system. next generation of fully electric products. 64 Special Issue

109 BRILLIANT NEWCARS Fantastic new cars for 2022 and beyond 103 AM-ECRlCasEsDfEaScelift 104 GGEVN6E0SIS 105 VAAstUraXHALL Price: From £26,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 Price: From £40,000 (est) On sale: Summer 2022 Price: £23,275 On sale: Now GIVEN that Mercedes has a fleet of all-electric AMBITIOUS Korean premium brand Genesis is VAUXHALL has thrown everything it has at the cars on the horizon, the mid-life facelift heading finally starting its electrified charge, with the Mk8 Astra in an effort to knock the Volkswagen the way of the big selling A-Class hatchback – the GV60. The distinctively styled car sits on the same Golf off its perch. It has sharp new styling and fourth most popular new car in Britain in 2021 – E-GMP platform as the brilliant Hyundai Ioniq 5 tonnes of technology plus, for the first time, it’ll appear to be minor on the surface. and Kia EV6, but features even more tech, extra be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. driver-focused features and a luxurious interior. The system will have either 178bhp or 222bhp, Our spy shots highlight only minor revisions but you’ll have to wait until next year to get it. to the car’s styling front and rear, including new Targeting models such as the Polestar 2, the headlights and tail-lights. Meanwhile the rest of Genesis will be available with a choice of single The new Astra isn’t just a pretty face, either. the package of updates is likely to focus on new or twin motors, with power outputs ranging from It has 422 litres of boot space (41 litres more technology and infotainment when the updated 225 to 429bhp. A 77.4kWh battery delivers a than you get in the Golf) and there’s an arsenal car goes on sale towards the end of the year. range of up to 280 miles, while 800V architecture of sensors that feed into a sophisticated driver- allows for ultra-rapid charging. Unique features assistance system that can take control of the Both AMG models – the 302bhp A 35 and the include an optional Boost Mode for extra bursts car’s acceleration, braking and lane changes 415bhp A 45 S – will be retained in the line-up, of power when overtaking, plus a Drift Mode. on the motorway under supervision. along with the plug-in hybrid 250 e model. Automedia SPYSHOT 109 VXCO9LV0O E 718 CAYMAN GT4 RS Price: From £80,000 (est) On sale: Late 2022 THE 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the most aggressive incarnation of Porsche’s baby VOLVO is charging ahead with its electrification coupé. The track-focussed mid-engined model blends the 4.0-litre naturally strategy. The company plans for 50 per cent of aspirated flat-six from the 911 GT3 with carbon-fibre panels and adjustable its sales to be electric cars by 2025 – and the aero for a Nürburgring lap time 23.6 seconds quicker than the regular GT4. replacement for the XC90 will play a pivotal role in the transformation. It’ll also break the brand’s The engine has been detuned slightly compared with the 911 GT3, and is long-standing letter-number naming convention, fed air through its regular vents and additional ducting, which replaces the potentially wearing a new “Embla” badge. rear side windows. Its 493bhp and 450Nm drive a seven-speed PDK gearbox – no manual transmission is offered – and with launch control engaged, the Volvo hasn’t announced any specifications for RS can record a 3.4 second 0-62mph time and go on to a 196mph maximum. its new flagship SUV, but we know it’ll be based on an updated version of the company’s SPA2 underpinnings. It’s also shaping up as the most technologically advanced car the brand has made, with a sophisticated autonomous driving mode. Special Issue 65

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ROAD TESTS Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives 68 Special Issue

82 FIAT500 84 CITROEN e-BERLINGO Our man reveals why Electric MPV gets ready you’re in the money to tackle urban family with electric city car life in our hands A50udTiFQSI5e quattro S line L4e5x0uhs+NTXakumi Price: £54,300 Price: £59,700 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo plus e-motor, 295bhp Engine: 2.5-litre 4cyl plus 2 e-motors, 305bhp 0-62mph: 6.1 seconds 0-62mph: 6.3 seconds Test economy: 34.7mpg/7.6mpl Test economy: 48.9mpg/10.8mpl CO2: 35g/km Annual road tax: £480 CO2: 20-26g/km Annual road tax: £480 IF there’s one premium brand that knows Plug & play its way around hybrid drive systems better The Lexus NX 450h+ is the than any other, it’s Lexus. The company has company’s first plug-in Testers’ notes championed the mix of combustion and electric model. How does it compare power since the RX 400h was released back in against the Audi Q5 TFSI e? “With Lexus such a long-running and key 2005; it believed in the tech so much that it only player in the hybrid market, it’ll be interesting fleetingly tried diesel at a time when every other Pictures: Pete Gibson to see how well its know-how can be applied brand saw it as the direction for low emissions. when a plug is brought into the equation.” It’s maybe a little odd, then, that it’s taken until now for Lexus to produce its first plug-in hybrid. It Sean Carson comes in the form of the second-generation NX SUV, a car which has a wealth of petrol-electric Associate editor competitors to face up against. And it’s against tough competition here. In any Special Issue 69 of its forms, the Audi Q5 is a top-tier contender in the posh mid-size SUV class, and as the 50 TFSI e model, it offers the potential for lower running costs than any other variant in the range. Having sampled the NX in conventional hybrid form and discovering it’s one of Lexus’s most convincing models yet, now the plug-in hybrid 450h+ will show us what it’s capable of. www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTS Lexus NX vs Audi Q5 MODEL TESTED: Lexus NX 450h+ Takumi PRICE: £59,700 ENGINE: 2.5-litre 4cyl plus 2 e-motors, 305bhp THE NX 450h+ here is tested in top-spec Takumi trim. The only extra is Sonic Grey paint, Design & engineering 86L4THE second-generation NX certainly which adds £920 to the on-the-road price of £59,700. Running costs 4sco.r3e 48.9mpg (on test) £81 fill-up/£480 or 7% tax sports a similar angular shape to its predecessor on the outside, but the changes Practicality to this model extend well beyond a fancy new LED light bar that spans the tailgate. Boot (seats up/down) That’s because this version now sits on 525/1,436 litres Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, which is closely related to the underpinnings of the Toyota RAV4. Much like Performance that SUV, one of the key benefits has been the ability to install a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The set-up 0-62mph/top speed here features a 183bhp 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol 6.3 seconds/124mph engine combined with two electric motors. There’s one up front with the engine that matches its 183bhp Lexus NX output and has 270Nm of torque, while the one at the back is more modest, with 53bhp and 121Nm. First-ever plug-in hybrid mixes petrol and electric These three power sources don’t all produce their drive to good effect in a premium SUV package maximum at the same time, so Lexus quotes a total system output of 305bhp. www.autoexpress.co.uk The NX is still available as a conventional hybrid as before. This model has a total system output of 241bhp, and it’s available with a choice of either front-wheel drive or, for £1,000 extra, four-wheel drive. The latter features the same electric motor- driven rear axle as the plug-in model, so there’s no physical connection between the front and rear axles. Lexus has always managed to excel when it comes to cabin quality, and the NX features a smartly appointed interior. There’s an all-new layout, made necessary by the huge touchscreen that dominates the dashboard. 86L44sco.r3e Driving SINCE the Lexus has a more powerful electric motor than the Audi, it will be no surprise to learn that the NX feels the more sprightly and torquey of the cars when driving in zero-emissions mode. If there’s enough charge in the battery, the system defaults into a full-electric setting; like this, there’s more than enough power to keep up with traffic right up to motorway speeds. Even if you mash the accelerator, it won’t switch on the petrol engine. To access the NX’s full performance, you need to prod the hybrid button, at which point the 2.5-litre engine will help out when needed. It engages almost seamlessly, and while there’s a short delay for it to fully come on song under hard acceleration, the electric drive manages to cover off most of that pause. The NX feels every bit as quick as its 6.3-second 0-62mph time suggests, although at higher speeds the rate of acceleration tails off a little more than you might expect from a 305bhp output. One frequent criticism we’ve had of the NX’s E-CVT transmission in the past is that the engine can drone when full power is required. While that still applies here, it matters far less; the electrical systems are able to provide so much power that such noises rarely occur. For the most part, the engine just hums quietly away in the background. The NX handles a little more sharply than the Audi, although while the ride is comfortable for 70 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSLexus NX vs Audi Q5 Performance NX is faster than Q5 in all-electric mode, but overall it’s comfort that takes priority over performance Special Issue 71

ROAD TESTS Lexus NX vs Audi Q5 the most part, there’s a subtle underlying fidget from the suspension, which means that the Q5 Practicality 3.9IN terms of overall boot capacity, the ��NX has the Q5 beaten whether the seats just holds the edge in terms of comfort. score are up or down. The 525-litre load bay has some neat touches, too; the underfloor storage space, for example, is easily big enough to hold both the Type 2 and three-pin charging cables that come with New dials put energy gauge in the centre the car – something that isn’t possible in the Q5. of the display with extra info on either side But while the Lexus is larger overall, the Audi’s Metal shift paddles feel good to use, but we load bay is better shaped. The NX has quite a high found it better to let electronics take control boot floor, and when the back seats are folded flat, Plush leather seats are an exclusive addition it leaves a big step, which makes it a little tricky to to top-spec Takumi models in the NX range push larger items all the way through. With the rear bench dropped, there’s 1,436 litres of space Boot space – a nominal 31 litres more than you get in the Q5. Parking can be a tricky task in such large SUVs, High-set floor might Interior but higher-spec versions of the NX come with a be an issue for some system called a Panoramic View Monitor. Much like users, but space Plenty of leather, Land Rover’s Clearsight system, it projects an image underneath is big glossy plastic trim and of what’s in close proximity to the car via the main enough to store metal details help the display. This makes it very easy to position the cables (above) Lexus to feel like an Ownership 4.4LEXUS has a long-standing reputation upmarket product ��for providing customers with a great www.autoexpress.co.uk wheels close to kerbs and avoid other obstacles. score ownership experience, and our latest Driver Power satisfaction survey confirmed this once again. As a manufacturer, Lexus took 10th place overall of 29 brands, but the key stat is that fewer than 10 per cent of owners experienced faults with their vehicles, making Lexus one of the most reliable brands in the survey. In the unlikely event that something does go wrong, Lexus provides up to 10 years of warranty cover; the only catch being that the car must be serviced by a main dealer for that entire period. Its dealers scored extremely well in Driver Power, too, finishing second only to Porsche out of 21 networks. In contrast, Audi fared poorly, with its range Running costs �4.3 �IF you only cover short journeys, then taking 23rd and its dealers finishing a lowly 18th. score regular battery charges will help both of these cars to be incredibly cheap to run. However, drive further on petrol power more often, and there’s a big difference between the two. Once these two run low on battery charge, the Lexus is a much more efficient hybrid than the Audi. As a result the NX will average in the mid-40s for fuel economy, while the Q5 will struggle to get to 35mpg. That’s the difference between a fuel bill of £2,724 per 20,000 miles for the Lexus, and paying £1,115 more than that for the Audi over the same distance. Testers’ notes “Despite the look, those door handles are electrically actuated. We can help but think that a fared-in design would have looked neater.” Alex Ingram Chief reviewer 72 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSLexus NX vs Audi Q5 All offers and finance prices correct at time of going to press THROUGH THE RANGE Which trim level might suit you? THERE are three trim levels for the NX 450h+. Given that the base Premium Pack model gets a 9.8-inch touchscreen instead of the larger 14-inch system, we’d aim for the F Sport Premium Plus Pack. On a three-year PCP deal with a £5,000 deposit and a 10,000-mile annual limit, that means a jump from £703 to £865 per month. As standard, the Premium Pack model has 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, synthetic leather seats and blind-spot monitor, but F Sport adds 20-inch alloys, more-advanced LED lighting tech, full leather, heated and ventilated front seats with heated seats in the rear, a panoramic view monitor and various sporty exterior styling add-ons. The range is topped with the Takumi model. This adds a different 20-inch wheel designs, fully automated parking, a sunroof, wood trim inlays and a more comprehensive safety tech package. This lifts the total cost to £956 per month. Our choice: F Sport Premium Plus Pack NEXT CAR Buttons on centre console allow you to keep NX running in all-electric mode for longer Practicality Drive modes let you prioritise energy flow between petrol engine and electric motors Back seats are flatter than Q5’s, but rear space is slightly behind its German rival Lexus’s big 14-inch touchscreen is a massive improvement on past infotainment systems Special Issue 73

ROAD TESTS Lexus NX vs Audi Q5 MODEL TESTED: Audi Q5 50 TFSI e quattro S line PRICE: £54,300 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl plus e-motor, 295bhp THE Audi Q5 TFSI e is offered in six trim levels which, as we’ll see later, offer a wide range of pricing options. Here we have the S line model, which comes to £54,300 before options. Running costs Design & engineering 4sco.r3e 34.7mpg (on test) £79 fill-up/£480 or 11% tax 86L4WHILE both of these cars have petrol-electric drive systems, the focus Practicality of the hybrid tech has a very different bias. As we’ve seen, the Lexus gets most of its power from Boot (seats up/down) the electrical elements, while the Audi uses its 465/1,405 litres petrol engine for the majority of its shove. The 2.0-litre turbocharged unit makes 261bhp and Performance 370Nm of torque – far more than the 183bhp and 227Nm that the NX 450h’s combustion unit musters. 0-62mph/top speed However, the Audi’s electrical element is weaker; it 6.1 seconds/148mph only has 141bhp, and the overall power output of the Q5 50TFSI e is 10bhp down on the Lexus’s, at 295bhp. Audi Q5 TFSI e The Audi’s 17.9kWh battery is claimed to return 37 miles of range according to the official WLTP figures. A different balance between petrol and electric power That’s six miles fewer than its rival, despite the fact systems means Q5 offers an alternative take on PHEVs that the NX’s battery is only slightly larger, at 18.1kWh. Step inside, and the Audi’s level of finish is mostly www.autoexpress.co.uk impressive. Much of the switchgear operates with a more satisfying feel than the buttons in the NX, but then other touch points, such as the door grab handles, are finished in cheap-feeling hard plastic. Beside both the Lexus and some other rivals, the Q5’s design is starting to look a little dated, too. High-end Vorsprung models are equipped with a sophisticated air suspension system, but the rest of the Q5 range, including our test car, uses a simpler Driving 4.3EVEN with this more conventional 86L4suspension layout, the Audi still steel spring arrangement with adaptive dampers. score proves to feel marginally more compliant than the Lexus. There’s not much to separate the pair for overall ride comfort, but the Audi is slightly softer when hitting a bump, and is quicker to settle after it, too. It doesn’t translate into a sharp-handling car, though; the Q5 feels heavy through the corners compared with the Lexus, although it does have plenty of grip. The power deficiency in the Audi’s electrical system means that it can’t run in full EV mode as often as the NX, and the engine fires up to help out more frequently. The transition between electric and petrol modes is jerkier, especially under hard acceleration, but the Audi is slightly quicker, beating the NX 450h+ from 0-62mph by two tenths of a second, with a time of 6.1 seconds. The engine isn’t particularly tuneful when stretched, but it’s smoother than the Lexus’s larger unit, and the shifting of the Audi’s eight-speed automatic feels much more natural. If you choose to drive more keenly, the steering wheel-mounted paddles allow for manual control, and the gearbox responds crisply. It’s at higher speeds where the Audi has an edge. The extra power from the petrol engine means that it feels more punchy the quicker you travel (highlighted by its 148mph top speed, which is 24mph faster than the Lexus’s), but more significant is the Q5’s stability at motorway speeds, which is superb. There’s little to separate the two when it 74 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSLexus NX vs Audi Q5 Performance Powerful petrol engine boosts Q5’s responses at higher speeds. Ride is slightly more comfortable, too Special Issue 75

ROAD TESTS Lexus NX vs Audi Q5 comes to road and wind noise; both remain very Practicality 4.0WHILE the Lexus has a marginally ��better boot, the Audi has the edge for hushed and isolate their occupants well. score carrying passengers. That’s not to say that the NX is tight, it’s just that kneeroom in the Q5 is much more generous, and headroom is great, too. The floor feels lower in the back than in the Lexus; not only does that mean there’s more foot space Highly configurable Virtual Cockpit digital under the front seats, but occupants with longer legs dials are standard across the full Q5 line-up also get better under-thigh support from the seat Clear displays provide plenty of information squabs. The one downside comes with the central about your energy use and driving range seat; the backrest (the part which doubles as a fold-out Stubby plastic gear selectors don’t have the armrest) is hard, and there’s also a large central hump high-quality feel of Lexus’s metal shifters in the floor. In contrast, the centre seat in the NX is much more supportive and the floor hump is lower. Boot space There’s only one 12-volt socket in the back of the Q5; the Lexus also has a pair of USB-C ports. Isofix points Squarer floor are very easy to access behind plastic covers, though, layout means and there are further mounts on the front passenger Q5’s boot is easy seat. Deep door bins, a large glovebox and a small slot to load, although Interior for the Audi’s key are neat ideas up front, but there are there’s no space also a couple of fairly useless small cubbies, which are for charge leads Typical Audi build quality Ownership 3.9THE Q5 was tested by Euro NCAP in beneath it is found inside, although hard plastics do let the ��2017, when it scored a maximum five- cabin down a little good for storing little more than loose change. www.autoexpress.co.uk score star rating, with a particularly impressive 93 per cent score for adult occupant protection. All Q5s are equipped with a pop-up bonnet to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians, plus at least six airbags and an autonomous emergency braking system that can avoid or mitigate collisions from below 52mph. Reversing bumps should be fairly unlikely, thanks to a standard-fit rear-facing camera, but the images aren’t as sharp as the 360-degree set-up used by the Lexus. The latest NX is too new to have been rated by Euro NCAP yet, but every Lexus tested since 2005 has achieved five stars to the standards of the time, Running costs �4.2 �WHILE plug-in hybrids aren’t quite as including this car’s predecessor back in 2014. score affordable for company car users as fully electric vehicles, their low emissions mean that they manage to slip into low Benefit-in-Kind brackets. Categories are based on emissions and the distance that can be covered on electric power alone. Because the NX officially travels six miles further than the Q5, it sits in the seven per cent bracket, compared with the Audi’s 11 per cent group. That means a higher-rate income taxpayer would face deductions of £2,418 for the Audi, which is £706 more than Lexus drivers will have to face. Testers’ notes “The Q5’s predictive brake regen feels disconcerting. It physically moves the brake pedal away from you when it’s working. It can be switched off, though.” Alex Ingram Chief reviewer 76 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSLexus NX vs Audi Q5 THROUGH THE RANGE Which trim level might suit you? AUDI offers two TFSI e plug-in hybrid All offers and finance prices correct at time of going to press drivetrains in the Q5 – the 50 TFSI e driven here, or the 362bhp 55 TFSI e, which has a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds. Go for the 50 TFSI e and you have a choice between Sport, S line, Edition 1 and Vorsprung trims. On a three-year PCP deal with matching terms to the Lexus, the Sport model costs £772 a month, and includes a £2,500 deposit contribution from Audi. The S line version features 19-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights, privacy glass and part-leather upholstery among its kit list, and it costs £806 a month. The Edition 1 features 20-inch wheels, black exterior styling and fancier ambient lighting, but comes to £905 per month. At the top of the range, the Vorsprung is highly specified, with 21-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, OLED tail-lights, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, head-up display, and full suite of driver-assistance systems, but it costs a whopping £1,151 a month. Our choice: S line RIVALS Physical buttons and dials for climate control make the system easy to use on the move Practicality Audi offers plenty of options if you want to see how your energy consumption is going Space in the back is slightly better than in the NX, but middle seat is firm Eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox offers crisper shifts than NX’s E-CVT transmission Special Issue 77

ROAD TESTS Lexus NX vs Audi Q5 BMW X3 alternative Advantage MODEL: X3 xDrive30e M Sport X3’s user-friendly PRICE: £53,935 infotainment and ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl/e-motor well integrated POWER: 288bhp hybrid system mean it’s a strong BMW has recently wowed us with the contender ability of a couple of its fully electric vehicles, but it’s still very much involved premiu in the plug-in hybrid segment, too. The X3 xDrive30e has plenty of strengths, most of which stem from the fact that the X3 is generally just a very capable SUV, regardless of its powertrain. Even in two areas where the Lexus and Audi excel – build quality and comfort – the BMW has an edge over both, thanks to its flawless interior and soothing ride quality. The hybrid system is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox; it’s a great unit, and the X3’s drivetrain operates almost as smoothly as the Lexus’s, while feeling more engaging than the Audi’s. It’s in-car tech is still among the best in the business, too, with the mix of touchscreen and iDrive clickwheel still among the most intuitive set-ups out there. However, its electric-only range of 29 miles can’t match the distances that either the NX or the Q5 can manage. Standard kit is generous, with all versions getting a powered tailgate, LED headlights and parking sensors all round. Rivals: Four Jaguar F-Pace Performer MODEL: F-Pace P400e R-Dynamic S Plug-in F-Pace packs PRICE: £57,005 a punch in this ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl/e-motor company, and offers POWER: 398bhp a good balance between comfort WHILE a plug-in hybrid SUV nudging two and handling tonnes isn’t the first place most would head to search out a keen driving www.autoexpress.co.uk experience, the F-Pace sets itself apart from its rivals with a sharp chassis and great steering. It’s not at the expense of comfort, either; while it doesn’t quite match an X3 or an air-sprung Q5 for comfort, it’s still supple enough to relax all its occupants on a long journey. Performance is brilliant, too. Despite a price point that matches the competition here, its 398bhp output is a clear 93bhp more than the Lexus’s, and its 5.0-second 0-62mph time comfortably undercuts any of the other plug-in hybrid options. A mid-life facelift for the F-Pace range was most welcome inside, where a brilliant new infotainment set-up was introduced. It’s not as big as the new NX’s screen, but the graphics are even prettier, and loading times are similarly impressive. The fit and finish are great, while there’s loads of space in the back, too. An electric range of 32 miles is towards the lower end of the cars in this group, though. 78 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSLexus NX vs Audi Q5 Mercedes GLC SUVs Choices MODEL: GLC 300 e AMG Line GLC is cheaper to PRICE: £73,915 buy, but has less ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl/e-motor standard kit, while POWER: 316bhp petrol and diesel plug-in options are CONTRARY to what you might expect unique in this sector from Mercedes, the GLC is the least expensive contender in this premium There’s a growing list of electrically assisted SUVs plug-in hybrid segment. Prices start available to buy. We run down the best contenders from just under £50k, and for that you get a 17kWh battery and an electric range of 27 miles. An intuitive brake regeneration system lets you adjust its strength on the steering wheel- mounted paddles, but an official 117mpg rating is still poorer than its rivals. However, that price comes with a lack of kit; you need to add the £2,800 Premium Pack in order to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the £6,550 Premium Plus for a 360-degree parking camera, a panoramic sunroof and an electric driver’s seat. Unlike the alternatives here, though, it’s possible to opt for a plug-in powertrain with a diesel engine. The GLC 300 de swaps the 2.0-litre petrol for a torquey 2.0-litre diesel. Performance only takes a marginal hit (although it’s still a match for the Lexus on paper), but it does mean that it’s a little more frugal than the petrol alternative on longer journeys. um plug-in Volvo XC60 Extender MODEL: XC60 Recharge T6 Plus PRICE: £57,650 Update at the end ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl/e-motor of 2021 saw a bigger POWER: 335bhp battery added to the T6 so the XC60 HERE’S proof that if you’d rather not go can go further in down a predictable route, then there is zero-emissions mode another very capable alternative in the handsome shape of the XC60 Recharge. Special Issue 79 Volvo has committed to electrification sooner than many of its competitors, with every model in its line-up featuring at least some sort of hybrid tech, or even a fully electric powertrain. A late 2021 update introduced an 18.8kWh battery - the largest of any of the premium alternatives here – and it promises a range of up to 48 miles on electric power. That’s more than the Lexus, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the maximum charging speed is just 3.6kW, so a recharge takes almost twice as long. The Volvo compensates with strong performance – this T6 model covers the 0-62mph dash in 5.9 seconds – and a comfortable, relaxing ride. Refinement is great, but not quite a match for the Q5. Inside, there’s a gorgeous cabin and a Google-based infotainment system; some might prefer the more modest screen size compared with the Lexus, but it doesn’t quite offer the same versatility. www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTS Lexus NX vs Audi Q5 Infotainment Which multimedia system is best for music, sat-nav & connectivity? Lexus 4sco.r5e 90L4NX Lexus Link Pro Key features: Online real-time navigation A FEW seconds of using the Link Pro system had us wondering if any other brand has ever delivered such a vast improvement from one car’s infotainment system to the next. Gone is the old car’s small display and frustrating touchpad, replaced by a huge 14-inch screen. Some might find the screen is almost oppressively large and bright, but the night mode manages to take the edge off when it’s dark outside. The system looks great, responds well and loads incredibly quickly. Once you’ve typed in a postcode, the route boots up within seconds. The climate controls feature physical dials for the temperature, with the rest adjusted through the screen, and it works well. Finding any downsides is genuinely difficult. One minor flaw that we did discover is that with the lack of a home button, it’s difficult to quickly switch between the proprietary system and smartphone mirroring. FOR AND AGAINST Display Huge Responsive touchscreen, fast loading touchscreen display of navigation instructions has fantastic resolution; a customisable shortcut No home shortcut key, underwhelming page gives easy access digital instrument panel in comparison to often-used functions Audi 4sco.r2e 844LQ5 MMI Navigation Plus Key features: Wireless smartphone integration AUDI’S touchscreen looks tacked on to the top of the dash compared with the neatly integrated Lexus set-up, but it does mean information is only a quick glance away. The 10.1-inch screen looks small in this company, but Audi has long since mastered a slick user interface, so icons and on-screen keys are both easy to read and press. Loading times are fine when route planning, but they’re slower than in its rival. It’s one-nil to Lexus for the main display, but Audi has better digital dials. The Virtual Cockpit system looks fantastic and can be customised to prioritise driving data, navigation or entertainment functions. In contrast, the Lexus set-up looks a bit dated, especially since it’s next to a razor-sharp touchscreen. While Lexus offers a glorious Mark Levinson sound system in some NX models, the conventional system here sounds a little flat beside the Q5’s standard set-up. FOR AND AGAINST Mapping Q5’s screen Logical menu structure, neat isn’t as sharp as the NX’s, graphics, fantastic digital dials but it still looks smart. Smaller screen and longer The Google Earth loading times than the Lexus mapping graphics (above) are a highlight 80 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTSLexus NX vs Audi Q5 Figures Lexus DEPRECIATION Audi SERVICING headHead to NX 450h+ THESE cars hold Q5 S line BOTH cars are On the road price/total as tested Takumi on to roughly half 50 TFSI e quattro available with CHARGING Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) £59,700/£60,620 of their original £54,300/£54,975 service plans, but £29,623/49.6% value after three £27,660/50.9% Audi undercuts WHEN it comes to replenishing Depreciation £30,077 years, but the £26,640 its rival by £231 the batteries, there’s little to Annual tax liability std/higher rate £856/£1,712 Lexus lags just £1,209/£2,418 over two years. separate this pair. Plug them £1,634/£2,724 behind the Audi. £2,303/£3,839 into the sort of 7.4kW system Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) 41/£758/£480 43/£775/£480 TOWING that can be installed into a Insurance group/quote/VED £760 (2yrs) SPARE WHEEL £529 (2yrs) THE Audi is rated home, and it’ll take two and Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service 4,660/2,690mm LOSING much of 4,682/2,819mm to haul half a a half hours to fully charge Length/wheelbase 1,670/1,865mm the underfloor 1,662/1,893mm tonne more than the Audi’s battery. Height/width 4cyl in-line/2,487cc storage to the 4cyl in-line/1,984cc the Lexus, so it’s Powertrain 305bhp batteries means 295bhp the one to have The Lexus has a slightly Total system power 291Nm that there’s no 370 Nm if you own a larger battery and a marginally Total system torque 236/391 bhp/Nm* room for even a 141/350 bhp/Nm caravan or trailer. slower 6.6kW charge rate, so Electric motor power/torque 18.1kWh space-saver tyre. 17.9kWh the NX takes 15 minutes longer Battery size E-CVT auto/4wd 8-spd auto/4wd TURNING CIRCLE to top up – a difference that’s Transmission 55 litres/run flats MPG 54 litres/repair kit AUDI turns unlikely to be a deal breaker. 525/1,436 litres CHARGE these 465/1,405 litres marginally tighter, Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 1,990/550/1,500kg PHEVs regularly 2,075/585/2,000kg and its steering is TECH Boot capacity (seats up/down) 12.4 metres and do lots of 11.8 metres light enough to Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 10yrs (100k)/3yrs small journeys, 3yrs (60k)/3yrs make parking VENTURE into the upper 10th/2nd and the 23rd/18th manoeuvres easy. reaches of each car’s trim Turning circle N/A impressive official 93/86/73/58/5 (’17) structures, and both offer Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 6.3 secs/124mph economy figures 6.1 secs/148mph unique hi-tech gadgets that Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos 48.9/10.8 are possible. 34.7/7.6 set them apart. For the NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 256.8-313.9mpg 176.6mpg Lexus, that’s a digital 56.5-69mpl EQUIPMENT 38.8mpl rear-view mirror (below). 0-62mph/top speed 43 miles TO match the NX’s 37 miles Auto Express economy (mpg/mpl) 2h 45min spec, Q5 buyers 2h 30min The screen is free from 133/20-26g/km/7% would have to 188/35g/km/11% the obstruction caused WLTP combined Yes/yes/f&r/360o spend far more Yes/yes/f&r/yes by the rear seats (and people WLTP combined Yes/yes/yes/yes on Vorsprung trim. Yes/no/no/yes sitting in them), but can be Claimed EV range Yes/yes Paint on our test Yes/no switched off if you’d prefer Charge time (7.4kW source) Yes/yes NX costs £920. Part/yes conventional glass. In Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket £670/yes/yes/yes £675/yes/yes/yes Vorsprung trim, the Audi Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Yes/yes/yes/yes Yes/yes/yes/yes gets features such as Auto box/lane keep/blindspot/AEB Yes/yes/yes No/yes/yes massaging seats and organic Climate control/adaptive cruise LED tech for the tail-lights. Leather/heated seats Met paint/LEDs/keyless/pwr tailgate Sat-nav/digi dash/DAB/connectivity Wireless charge/CarPlay/Android Auto Results 1stLEXUS AUDI 2nd ROAD TEST THE main benefits of plug- DESPITE the second- in hybrids are lower fuel place finish, there’s still NLXEX4U50Sh and tax costs. On both counts the NX plenty to admire about the Audi. It’s is the superior car here. Its efficiency a little more comfortable than the MAR 2022 advantage over the Audi only grows Lexus, and the petrol engine gives larger when the battery is depleted, stronger performance out of town. too. Factor in excellent refinement and However, it feels more sluggish in quality, plus Lexus turning what was electric mode, and is much thirstier once a big negative – its infotainment as a hybrid. The Lexus feels like the tech – into one of the NX’s best points, fresher, more modern SUV, which and it’s a deserved winner. is why the Audi is our runner-up. AEB = Autonomous Emergency Braking. *183bhp/270Nm front motor, 53bhp/121Nm rear motor. In red = equipment fitted to our test car. Insurance quotes for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Residual values provided by CDL VIP Data. Acolsnosider Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate Here’s another Price: £47,890 Powertrain: tempting option. 73kWh battery, 301bhp IF you’re ready to make the jump to a full EV, then it’s hard to see what these cars offer that the Ioniq 5 lacks. The Hyundai is quicker than both, roomier inside, and even in its poshest trim is over £6,000 cheaper than the Audi. www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 81

OUR CARS Living with a Fiat 500 Budget You’re going to have to be more fiscally responsible if you want to buy an electric 500 today Cabin Compact dimensions mean interior is snug, but it’s packed with neat details Driving Electric 500 is great around town, with a smooth ride on its small wheels Fiat 500 THIRD REPORT Electrified city car is feeling the squeeze like everyone else James Brodie outside influences have made the model and dashboard fascia in the same colour. 10,000 miles a year works out at a more expensive than before, too. Fiat says that some new Passion models repayment of £356 a month. When we [email protected] are still available from stock at dealers, awarded the 500 our City Car of the Year @JPBrods Our car is a mid-spec Passion model, and though, so you can still get your title at our New Car Awards last summer, we’ve gone for the larger 42kWh battery and hands on a car like ours, you just highly specced Icon cars were going for INFLATION in the UK is at a 30-year more powerful 116bhp single electric motor. can’t order it new yourself. around £295 a month on similar terms. high. According to the Office for We’ve noted in these pages before that it’s National Statistics, the Retail Price Index perhaps the sweet spot of the range, because The £28,835 list price for the [RED] we use to calculate how fast prices on the it mixes decent, if not vast amounts of edition (before the Government’s Plug-in shelves are rising hit 7.8 per cent for standard equipment with the longer-range Car Grant) compares with the £26,995 January. With everything from food drivetrain and charging technology that’s basic price of our model at delivery last to clothes to how we warm our homes key to unlocking the 500’s appeal. And it does September, demonstrating that the and fuel our cars increasing in price, this while keeping the list price – and indeed 500 hasn’t been able to weather the storm the general cost of living is very the monthly repayments – reasonable. of rising prices, even with the extra much on the nation’s mind. equipment thrown in to soften the blow. It got me thinking that now could be But since its arrival on our fleet, Fiat a good time to assess our long-term Fiat has altered its UK line-up. Passion trim The reduction in the Government’s 500 from a new perspective. We’ve raved is no longer available, and in its place is a plug-in grant has also taken its toll, about how this is a small and relatively new model offered in partnership with the meaning that buyers have to fork out affordable electric car that seems to have HIV/Aids charity [RED]. Fiat’s price lists an extra £1,000 to get into a 500 now. an edge on its direct competitors, namely have been changed to reflect this. the MINI Electric and Honda e. It’s just Taken on a monthly PCP basis, it means as good to drive as those, but on paper The [RED] model is offered with both that the price has risen. A 10 per cent deposit it delivers more range for less the 24kWh and 42kWh batteries, and it’s on a 42kWh 500 [RED] over 36 months and money than either of them. positioned in a similar ballpark to our When boiled down to the absolute discontinued Passion car: while it costs “The 500 isn’t an exception to inflationary basic calculation of range versus cost, more, it also features additional standard pressures, and it’s pricier than before” we’ve trumpeted that this is an EV that equipment. For example, the 10.25-inch represents good value for money for a while infotainment screen that was an option now. However, the 500 isn’t an exception to on our car is standard on the [RED]. inflationary pressures of its own, and The new specification is a little 82 Special Issue more flamboyant, with red Fiat badges www.autoexpress.co.uk

OUR CARS Pete Gibson Second opinion Essentials “Cold weather has an impact on any electric car’s range, so it’s Fiat 500 handy that the Fiat 500 has different modes that are designed to Passion 87kW boost battery mileage. Switching from normal to Range adds a couple of miles, while the Sherpa setting reduces power and limits On fleet since: September 2021 the top speed to 50mph to add nearly 20 miles of extra range.” Price new: £26,995 (before Govt. grant) John McIlroy Deputy editor Engine: Single 116bhp electric motor, 42kWh battery www.autoexpress.co.uk CO2/tax: 0/gkm/£0 Options: Cloud Grey metallic paint (£1,000), 16-inch alloys (£350), wireless charging (£150), 10.25in touchscreen w. nav (£500) Insurance*: Group: 16D Quote: £446 Mileage: 4,468 miles Efficiency: 3.7mi/kWh Any problems? Infotainment glitches *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points. WE LIKE While the electric 500’s overall shape is the same as the petrol model’s, Fiat has managed to inject some fresh style with the car’s exterior details WE DON’T Graphics are sharp, but touchscreen has been prone to one or two crashes. One left us unable to access some functions, including Apple CarPlay Verdict THE 500 is still a fantastic electric city car that’s well priced, but the value proposition that existed at launch is beginning to fade a little. We still stongly recommend it as one of the best options in its class though. Special Issue 83

OUR CARS Swap shop Essentials After just a week in the C4, our man Citroen C4 PureTech 155 exchanged it for an S&S EAT8 Shine Plus all-electric Berlingo On fleet since: N/A Price new: £28,490 Engine: 1.2-litre 3cyl turbo petrol, 153bhp CO2/tax: 135-145g/km/£155 Options: Metallic paint (£545), sunroof (£800), City Park Pack Park Assist and 360 vision (£350), Citroën Smart Pad Support (£100), Driver’s seat: 4-way electric seat with manual longitudinal adjustment, lumbar adjustment and massage function (£150) Insurance*: Group: 22E Quote: £408 Mileage/mpg: N/A *Insurance quote for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points. WE LIKE Good-looking and surprisingly spacious, with loads of simple-to-use tech. Children impressed with optional extras, but they come at a price Citroen C4 and e-Berlingo FIRST REPORT A week in a C4 acts as a prelude Darren Wilson to life with Citroen’s new all-electric family car [email protected] FLEET cars can come thick and fast at camera with top-down vision was another snap of the cars together before the Stylish Our man’s family warmed to Auto Express. I have just given back the impressive feature, along with the wireless caramel-brown C4 disappeared. keys to our excellent Toyota RAV4 PHEV, but phone-charging slot. Most noticeable was the C4’s tech, but also liked its practical had to wait a week for its replacement – a the head-up display, with simple graphics My first impression of the e-Berlingo is side, transporting a big speaker (below) brand-new all-electric Citroen e-Berlingo illustrating the cruise control and limiter that it looks quite cool, in a very functional – so I was lucky enough to get a bonus week settings, plus a clear speed readout. It even sort of way. The orange details and exterior at the wheel of a new C4 to fill the gap. shows the speed limit on a clear sign, which mouldings help it look more car than van. This pseudo-SUV crossover is smaller flashes red if you get a bit heavy-footed. than the RAV4, of course, but any fears I had The boot space is vast, with up to 2,107 about downsizing were soon washed away Citroen’s infotainment system has been litres. That’s ideal for my current situation, by the Citroen’s mix of cool styling and criticised in the past, yet I have to say that with a son who’s recovering from a car gadgets. Both of my sons loved the interior I found it relatively straightforward. accident and still needs a wheelchair on comfort and styling, and they were quick occasion, plus a grandson with a big buggy. to hook up their iPads via the case and I didn’t do too many miles in the C4, but attachment mount, both of which slide I liked it. This car showcases Citroen’s focus However, the e-Berlingo is noticeably less out from the dash above the glovebox. on comfort, and although the relatively soft well equipped than the C4. It’s been a long The heated massage seats (£150) were suspension does mean a bit of body roll, it’s time since I’ve driven a test car that I’ve had also a big hit. But whereas my boys liked a small price to pay for the way the car soaks to turn a key to start, but that’s just a button- the options, I was more impressed by the up urban speed bumps and potholes. pushing habit I’ve developed. level of standard kit in this C4. With Shine Plus trim you get a driver We also found the car practical. I needed The first trip in my new car was a simple safety pack, featuring alerts, lane-departure to collect a bass speaker and two amplifiers dad-taxi run. Around town the e-Berlingo warning, traffic and sign recognition, and from storage for my eldest son, George. The used very little charge, especially in Brake adaptive cruise control. The reversing speaker was big and heavy, but fitted (just), mode which, with practice, should reduce although the high boot lip was a challenge. the need for me to press the brake pedal and send more power back to the battery. After just a week, the two sets of Citroen keys were swapped and I grabbed a quick I need to work on my motorway technique, though, because an 80-mile “My first impression is that the e-Berlingo round trip ate up 100 miles of the claimed looks cool, in a very functional sort of way” 180-mile range. True, it was cold and windy, but that’s Britain in winter, and the first two full charges of the car have only delivered up to 164 miles of range. Roll on summer. 84 Special Issue

OUR CARSLiving with a Citroen e-Berlingo Essentials Fleetwatch Citroen e-Berlingo Wading Flair XTR M 50kWh SUV or not, On fleet since: February 2022 our Captur Price new: £30,495 is out of its depth in Engine/batt.: 1x e-motor, 134bhp/ just a few 50kWh (182 miles WLTP) centimetres of water CO2/tax: 0g/km/£0 Options: Metallic paint (£575) Renault Captur Insurance*: Group: 20 Quote: £481 Mileage/mpg: N/A THE recent storms and associated flood waters inspired consumer editor Any problems? None so far Chris Rosamond to take a closer than usual look at our Renault Captur E-Tech hybrid’s user manual. Specifically, he was wondering whether the *Insurance quote for a 42-year-old in car’s high-voltage battery and hybrid electrics impose any limitations on Banbury, Oxon, with three points. the usability of the car when conditions are ‘borderline’. WE LIKE The amount of space “Do not drive through floods if the depth of water is above the lower edge of the wheel rims,” reads the clear instruction in the car’s manual. in the Berlingo is very welcome, And given that our Captur rides on 215/55 R18 tyres, that means water with Darren needing to transport no more than a few centimetres deep. his son’s wheelchair while he recovers from a car accident Chris looked up the details in the manual after driving through a flooded local road (and sending his 10-year-old son out in the teeth of a 70mph gale to grab a pic on his phone). Renault calls the Captur an SUV, which commonly translates as ‘sports utility vehicle’, but the manual provides a useful reminder that the extra inches of ride height don’t translate into additional capability – at least when it comes to wading depth. Code Four dots on steering wheel refer to Hyundai, but the firm’s name is not displayed in our car Hyundai Ioniq 5 OINurDfleEetX IN the last update on our reigning Car of the Year Audi Q4 e-tron Issues 1,711, 1,717 (Issue 1,715), Alex Ingram said he was surprised Citroen e-Berlingo that there’s no Hyundai logo inside the Ioniq 5. New arrival Cupra Formentor The car’s custodian, deputy editor John Issues 1,695, 1,702, 1,714 McIlroy, had a few E-mails on the subject, pointing out that the four squares on the centre Fiat 500 Second opinion WE DON’T Our e-Berlingo has boss of the wheel are, in fact, an oblique Issues 1,699, 1,710 reference to Hyundai. They stick with the 8-bit Ford Ranger “Having run an all-electric C4, I’m not surprised only just arrived, so it’s early days, pixel theme of the car – particularly obvious in Issues 1,694, 1,701, 1,713 by Darren’s enthusiasm. It’s one of the most but Darren was concerned how its headlights and tail-lights – but it turns out Hyundai Ioniq 5 convincing ‘family Citroens’ in a long time. Now quickly the range dropped on the that four dots is also Morse code for H. Issues 1,710, 1,715 he has to find out whether the e-Berlingo has motorway. He hasn’t been able to Lexus UX 300e charge it to the claimed 180-mile It’s a sign, perhaps, of just confident Hyundai Issue 1,713 enough of the same qualities.” range at home, either has been about this car since day one that it Nissan Qashqai feels it’s more important to stick with its styling Issues 1,707, 1,716 John McIlroy Deputy editor Verdict theme instead of reinforcing its own branding. Peugeot 508 SW The same, frankly, could be said for the outside Issue 1,714 www.autoexpress.co.uk WE’LL reserve full judgement until of the car, because while lots of people say that Polestar 2 we’ve had the car a little longer, but they like the ‘cool’ looks, precious few of them New arrival it’s already clear the e-Berlingo has seem aware that it is a Hyundai. plenty of space and looks cool. But Renault Capture-Tech while it seems frugal around town, Issues 1,705, 1,712 it’s less good on motorways in windy Skoda Enyaq weather. We’ll see if that improves. Issues 1,702, 1,712, 1,717 Your ultimate Vauxhall Mokka-e guide to buying Issues 1,696, 1,706 and owning an Volkswagen ID.3 electric car Issues 1,698, 1,704, 1,711, 1,717 Special Issue 85



PRODUCTS AdaKimms Visit autoexpress.co.uk for our extensive product archive Got a query? THHOISWTEKEKI’ST [email protected] Q Will space saver measure up? LMAcULNARCEHNEDGEAR I’VE just bought a car with an aftermarket space saver because the tyre repair kit that came with NEW PRODUCT it is no longer present. My car has 17-inch McLaren Castore sportswear wheels, but the space saver is 16 inches. Have I got the right one for my model? Prices: From £45 Mike Horne, E-mail Contact: mclarenstore.com, castore.com A IT is quite usual for a space saver to be smaller MCLAREN and leisurewear specialist Castore than the regular wheels, even when it’s supplied have unveiled their spring collection inspired as standard, because space savers cover by the form and colours of the supercar maker. multiple models and tyre options. Yours is safe It’s the pair’s third collaboration and is aimed to use, but it is only designed to be a temporary at both leisure and training wardrobes. solution to get you home or to somewhere you can get a damaged tyre fixed or replaced. Topping the Techlux line-up is the shell gilet at £125. It uses lightweight, water-resistant Q Switch to all-season tyres? fabric with high-stretch side panels. It’s also quilted for extra warmth and comes in a A ON our current car we swap between winter and combination of black and McLaren orange. summer tyres using a spare set of wheels. But we’re about to buy a used Ford Fiesta ST and The same lightweight performance has also won’t have a spare set for it, so we’re considering been applied to the Techlux quarter zip mid- changing to all-season tyres. Is this a good idea? layer. It is made from Castore’s breathable, John Thompson, E-mail moisture-wicking fabric with a collar designed for comfort around the neck and shoulders. IF you want to enjoy the Fiesta’s sharp handling then we’d stick with changing for the seasons. Performance Tees t-shirts, at £55, also use Even the best all-season tyres can’t match the a moisture-wicking, breathable material. Like sharpness of a summer design. If you can live the quarter zip they are available in teal, black with slightly softer handling and responses, or orange, while the Logo Tees (£45) use a soft, then going for all-season tyres would work well breathable fabric and come in teal or black. in the winters the majority of the UK gets. Finally, the Performance Shorts (£55) have Q Looking for bargain vacuum zipped pockets and are made from a moisture- wicking fabric in either black or navy blue. All A I’M looking at buying a vacuum for us to use items are available in sizes from XS to 2XL. in the garage and our car because we’ve just invested in a new cleaner for the house. “The collection is inspired by the What’s the best low-cost option? form and colours of Mclaren’s cars” James Hills, E-mail www.autoexpress.co.uk OUR current test winner is the Nilfisk Multi II 30T at around £140. If that’s beyond your budget, check out the Titan TTB775VAC from Screwfix. It was runner-up in our 2021 test and is now £10 cheaper than tested, at £49.99. It has a steel body, a 1,400W motor and a 2.4-metre hose. Special Issue 87

PRODUCTS New on the shelves ednveeewanlsst,&s Lego feeds need for speed Sim rigs put you in with performance car kits Brabham cockpit NEW PRODUCT LITTLE LAMBO BRABHAM has collaborated with Base Lego Speed Champions 2022 Performance Simulators for a run of The Lamborghini special-edition race sims to celebrate Price: from £17.99 Countach is one the marque. The sim rigs have classic Contact: lego.com of the new models Brabham liveries: the green and gold in Lego’s Speed of the 1966 BT19, the red, white and THERE’S something for all automotive Champions range, blue of 1978’s BT46B and the blue tastes in the latest additions to the Lego and comes complete and white of Nelson Piquet’s BT52. Speed Champions range. with a driver, crash helmet and spanner The cutting-edge sim rigs are built For fans of historic race cars, there’s the on a powder-coated steel frame and 291-piece 1970 Ferrari 512 M that took on NEW PRODUCT have a carbon-fibre pedal box and the mighty Porsche 917 in the World Sports Falken Azenis FK520 BPS race seat. They’re designed for Car Championship. This Lego tribute serious home gamers, professional measures 15cm in length when built and Price: £84.89 (225/45R17 94Y) drivers or eSports competitors. The comes complete with a driver figure. Contact: falkentyre.com sims cost £24,990 and can be ordered now from baseperformance.net. If you prefer your classics on the road, the GERMAN brand Falken says it has used its Danish firm has recreated a Lamborghini motorsport experience to create its new Continental gets the Countach, the subject of many young car flagship tyre, the Azenis FK520. nod for EQA tyres fans’ bedroom wall posters when it was launched. This Lego version is made from The UHP tyre is designed for larger high- MERCEDES will equip its EQA electric 262 pieces and is the same length as the performance cars and SUVs, and all versions SUV with Continental tyres as OEM Ferrari. It also comes with a driver figure. have a Y-speed rating (up to 186mph). equipment. The EcoContact 6 has been chosen for summer use and the The final single car kit brings the line-up It uses the race tyre’s Aramid reinforcing WinterContact TS 850 P for winter bang up to date with the all-electric Lotus for stability and precise steering, and is tyres. Both use Continental’s run-flat Evija hypercar. The 247-piece set has a stiffer and lighter than previous designs. tech for greater safety after a puncture. driver figure and, like the Lamborghini, The range is being rolled out and initially comes complete with a wrench for any has 81 sizes, covering 17 to 21-inch rims. The former was picked for its low running repairs to be carried out. All three rolling resistance and high mileage, models cost £17.99 and are suitable for plus short braking distance and children aged eight and over. cornering stability. It’ll be supplied for 18 to 20-inch rims. The WinterContact The final two new additions to the Lego TS 850 P provides improved traction line-up mix road and track models. For on snow and wet roads. motorsport fans there’s a Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 grand prix car paired with the London concours marque’s Project One hybrid sports car. classics up for sale The building set comprises 564 pieces and includes two driver figures. SALON Privé is to hit London for its inaugural Concours de Vente, a Aston Martin’s Valkyrie AMR Pro and concours event where all 60 classic Vantage GT3 make up the other 592-piece cars featured are for sale. Taking place set. Both kits cost £34.99 and are suitable between 21-23 April in the grounds of for builders aged nine and above. the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, the event will feature cars from respected UK 88 Special Issue and European specialist car dealers. Tickets cost between £50 to £75 depending on which day you’d like to attend and can be purchased online at salonprivelondon.com. www.autoexpress.co.uk

Mini test Dashcams PRODUCTS gbaomokess, & apps NEW PRODUCT The Great British Motorhome Vantrue X4S Travel Journal Price: £181.89 (plus SD card) Rating: AT THE DOUBLE Independently published (amazon.co.uk) Resolution: 4K and 1080p Price: £5.99 Rating: Contact: amazon.co.uk/vantrue Vantrue’s X4S offers the protection of front IF you, like so many others, THE Vantrue is the first combination we and rear cameras have indulged in a motorhome have tested where the main camera can or campervan purchase, this is record in 4K even when the rear device the ideal long-term glovebox is connected. This amount of incoming companion. Each trip can be data will fill up memory cards quickly, catalogued with your details, costs, but the X4S can accept a micro SD with highlights, locations and rating, so a capacity of up to 256GB. You’ll need over the course of a few years you to buy the card separately, though. can begin to build up your very own travel guide. It’s great for remembering the places Footage can be viewed on the built-in you’ve loved, and the ones you don’t need to return to. screen or via a simple app. The only mounting supplied is a clunky suction cup, Routemasters of though, which means it takes up space on the Universe the windscreen. We were also surprised to see that there are no GPS or speed stamps, Harry Rosehill (Safe Haven, which are important features if you need to safehavenbooks.co.uk) use video as evidence of an incident. Price: £12.99 Rating: But where Vantrue loses to Kenwood is in ROUTEMASTERS were just plain image stabilisation. While the footage when old buses once, but today stationary is crystal clear and better than the they’re everything from tea 501, it loses that clarity slightly on bumpy rooms to wedding transport. roads, especially at night or in bright sunlight. It’s fascinating to see how creative people are with this Vantrue cam focuses on 4k icon, and there are interesting titbits about Routemaster Tom Barnard download footage and go through the impressed us recently, so we tried its history and preservation, too. Great for bus fans, device’s menus and settings. range-topping DC4000 combined with but it’s hard for anyone not to be charmed. COMPETITION in the dash-cam the DCR1000 rear camera. It was a close market is really hotting up, and £200 Our previous sub-£200, two-camera battle, with the Ring offering great value JDM Racing Drag & Drift will now buy you a package that will winner has been Kenwood’s 501 when and the Vantrue true 4K footage. But the record good-quality, high-definition combined with the KCA-R100. It now Kenwood gave more stable images, Available for: iOS, Android footage at the front and rear of your car. faces the Vantrue X4S, which brings especially at night, and is the better all- Price: Free Rating: better-resolution footage at a cheaper round package. It takes the win here. At this price you can also expect WiFi price. Ring’s bargain-priced RDC3000 THERE are definite shades of Need for Speed connections and a dedicated app to Underground to this game, particularly in the car choice and customisation options. Of course, it’s NEWCOMER OUR PICK nowhere near as in-depth, but the graphics aren’t bad compared with that PS2-era original. While the racing’s Ring DC4000 & DCR1000 Kenwood 501 Ultimate Bundle surprisingly challenging in places, there’s little realism to be had. With Price: £99.99 & £26.99 (plus SD card) Price: £199.99 (including SD card) only the Rating: Rating: occasional ad, Resolution: 1440p & 1080p Contact: ringautomotive.co.uk Resolution: 1440p & 1080p Contact: kenwoodshop.co.uk it’s not a bad way to pass MOVING up Ring’s range SINCE we last tested the the time. from the test-winning 501, Kenwood has RSDC3000 to the bundled it together with App of the week DC4000 brings a rear-view camera, a 1440p recording and carry case, a 32GB SD Shell an increased 128GB card and a hardwire capacity for the SD card, kit. While the overall Available for: iOS, Android which is not included in the price is more, it seems Price: Free Rating: price of the package. like decent value compared with rivals, especially if you were SHELL’S app lets you collect The biggest difference planning to permanently connect points every time you fill up and between the DC4000 and the the camera to the car to benefit pay at the pump directly from the other cameras here is the lack from the parking protection. app. It’s fairly slick, easy to use of a screen; you have to run and was reliable every time we through the settings in the The footage isn’t as sharp as tried it. Worth a download if you app. But the plus side is that the Vantrue’s on smooth roads regularly visit a Shell station. the camera is small, discreet or while stationary, but it and won’t be a distraction. It’s seems to capture more detail Special Issue 89 good value, too, but it can’t in less-than-ideal conditions match the footage quality of and has that all-important the other cameras here. GPS information stamp. www.autoexpress.co.uk

PRODUCTS Online tyre retailers Blackcircles.com 2022 REOTTNAYLIRLINEEERS Website: blackcircles.com Which brands offer the best prices and Rating: websites when you want new tyres? Type: Direct, partner fit, mobile PRODUCTGROUP TEST BEST BUY WE’VE been recommending 2 | 3 | 2022 Blackcircles.com for many years and it’s kept Every week, we extensively test all the its spot at the top once again thanks to its latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. all-round ability. The site is extremely well Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look laid out and user-friendly, while the quick and responsive filtering options help to through our huge online test archive narrow down your selection. We especially liked the fact it gives a first-fitment date right at the start of your journey and that tyres come with a lifetime guarantee. It returned five of the six tyres we searched for and offered some of the best prices on test. TyreLeader 2022 Website: tyreleader.co.uk Rating: Type: Direct, partner fit, mobile RECOMMENDED THIS site made an impressive debut in 2020 and continues to shine. Prices were some of the best on test and the range of tyres offered was wide, with a handy stock indicator to show availability. It’s a very simple site, but that makes it easy to use, thanks to straightforward and quick filtering. We also liked the comparison tool, which allows you to compare tyres if you’re unsure what to buy. It’s a great alternative to our test winner if you can’t find the tyres or a suitable local fitter on their website. 90 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

PRODUCTSOnline tyre retailers Will Burton price. Now the internet does the job for you and tHeoswtewdethem comparing prices for the tyres you’ve picked TYRES are key to safety on the road and, has never been easier, plus you can buy them ALL sites offer the option to select tyre size or as we’ve proved in our tests over the years, online and arrange to get them fitted. enter a car registration to find the correct one. could be the difference between reaching your Our test focused on how quick the search was, destination or not. But they are also a major As we’ve seen before, though, not all online how easy it was to filter and find the tyres we expense and the temptation to buy based retailers are equal, because the pressure to were after, and how easy it was to select a fitter. on price can be hard to resist given the rising secure customers can see them offer extra costs throughout the economy. services, such as local fitting centres and We searched each site for some of the award- throwing in wheel alignment for free, along winning options from Auto Express’ tyre tests, and To make the most of your money when with super-keen prices. So which one should bonus points were awarded to those retailers who buying tyres used to involve ringing round you go to when you next need new tyres? We had both availability and competitive prices. multiple outlets, when the response was often clicked on 10 of the biggest names to find out. ‘what have you been quoted?’ rather than a Oponeo Website: oponeo.co.uk Rating: Type: Direct, partner fit WE’VE always scored Oponeo highly, but it doesn’t consistently rank well on search engines, meaning you may not come across the site without going direct. The search function is clear and simple, and filtering is responsive and easy to use. The colour-coded stock indicator is a welcome addition. It returned five out of six of the tyres we searched for and, while pricing was competitive, it was unclear whether it was inclusive of fitting. MyTyres. 2022 co.uk Website: mytyres.co.uk Rating: Type: Direct, partner fit RECOMMENDED ANOTHER strong eTyres performance for MyTyres, which was the Website: etyres.co.uk only retailer here to return results for every Rating: tyre. Its list of available stock is one of the Type: Direct, partner fit, mobile best around, perhaps unsurprising since it claims to be Europe’s biggest online tyre A NEW entry for 2022 is eTyres, which offers retailer. That said, it wasn’t our favourite the full set of fitting and delivery options, site to use, with a below-average interface and an impressive selection of tyres. The both for usability and design. Searching initial search is intuitive and clear, but once was a little clunky and the vast amount results are returned, the screens are a little of information wasn’t clearly displayed. overwhelming thanks to the multitude of Prices were competitive, but it was unclear colours and information. The filtering could if they included fitting or just delivery. be made simpler to help you narrow down your selection, too. We did like the earliest www.autoexpress.co.uk fitment date shown underneath each tyre, though. Prices listed were competitive. Special Issue 91

PRODUCTS Online tyre retailers ProTyre Website: protyre.co.uk Rating: Type: Partner fit WITH more than 150 centres around the UK, ProTyre is one of the biggest tyre retailers in the country. The website lets you buy tyres and book into a local garage, with the option for same-day fitting where available. We like the site, because its layout is useful and easy to follow, but the filtering system when searching for specific tyres is slow compared with rival websites. We were also disappointed to find that availability for the tyres we were searching for was limited. Asda Tyres Just Tyres Verdict Website: asdatyres.co.uk Website: justtyres.co.uk IT’S yet another win for Blackcircles.com, Rating: Rating: which once again proved to have the Type: Direct, partner fit Type: Partner fit most user-friendly site as well as tyre availability. Its prices were also among THE Asda Tyres website is not too dissimilar ONE of two national tyre retailers on test, some of the lowest on test. TyreLeader to eTyres (see Page 91) in that it’s a little Just Tyres offers fitment at one of its 40 impressed us for its pricing and overwhelming with colours and graphics centres across the UK. The website itself simplicity, while MyTyres was the only that detract from easily searching for your is fairly basic but relatively easy to use, online retailer to offer all of our tyres. tyres. Filtering could be better, but there although the search function could be more 1. Blackcircles.com are a lot of offers to be had on the site, it responsive when filtering options. There is 2. TyreLeader just takes a bit of work to get the best out no stock indicator and availability for the 3. MyTyres of it. Like some other rivals here, the site tyres we searched for was the poorest in offers earliest fitment dates at the outset, our test. Prices for those we could find, www.autoexpress.co.uk including some in just 24 hours. But it which included all fitting and a five-year failed to finish higher because availability warranty, were on par with the rest. for the tyres we searched for was limited. Tyre Shopper Also tested Rating: Love Tyres Rating: 92 Special Issue

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BUYING CARS ShTarilset-aHnester New and used buying advice from our team of experts 14th PLACE Got any car queries? [email protected] Ford Puma YOU TELL US Owners find plenty to like in their Q What can I do if the DAB SUVs, particularly the drivetrains and handling in my car isn’t working? A 2021 Results MY 2014 Mercedes SLK is fitted with DAB Q radio, which rarely works. I live in rural Essex Puma Factfile and assumed there was a problem with the signal, but the DAB systems in my other two Years: 2019 to present CO2: 122g/km INTERIOR Good scores across the board included high ratings for cars work fine. What do you think should I Fuel economy: 49.6mpg (1.0T 123) do to investigate this issue? Best options: LED headlights, 12.3-inch the Puma’s infotainment, connectivity and comfort, plus its build quality Glyn Pritchard, E-mail digital instrument cluster, heated seats ISSUES with the DAB system on Mercedes cars USED PRICES: From £19,000 of this era are quite common, if owners’ forums are to be believed, but they can usually be solved quite easily. That was the case here. You said that you spoke to your Mercedes dealer, who looked into the problem and discovered that there was a software update available. This was installed, free of charge, on your car and the DAB radio now works flawlessly. Do I need to do anything if my car is exempt from VED? I RECENTLY bought a used car. It’s a 65-plate and has a CO2 rating of 99g/km. Am I right in thinking I don’t have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) on this car and, if so, do I actually have to do anything at all regarding the tax? Ryan Page, E-mail OVERALL SCORE Bars show where model GOOD NOT SO GOOD A GIVEN that your car was first registered before finished out of 75 vehicles 1 April 2017, it falls into the previous VED 89.95% in our 2021 new car survey. “ACCELERATION is smooth “FUEL economy is not as good Q (commonly known as road tax) system. As The longer the bar the better and instant thanks to the mild- as it should be. It’s okay on a such, you’re right in thinking it costs nothing hybrid system. Good power long journey, but not on day- to tax if it produces 99g/km of CO2. Unless you Engine and gearbox 75 1 through the range to 70mph.” to-day local trips.” have a Direct Debit, you still have to go through Exterior “The stereo system is top “There is not a lot of legroom the process of taxing your car with the Driver quality – really good audio, in the rear seats, considering and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) every Interior and comfort the best I’ve had in any car.” it’s meant to be an SUV.” year, though. This involves filling in a short Practicality and space “Good interior storage spaces, “The autonomous emergency form online, but you won’t have to pay anything. including large glovebox and braking has triggered on Ride and handling seat pockets.” empty roads for no reason.” Who should pay for fault Safety features “Adaptive cruise control “The A-pillars could do with that developed at dealer? system works well and brakes being narrower. They restrict MPG and running costs appropriately in traffic.” visibility for the driver.” MY car was working fine and went to the Reliability and “Driver’s seat is comfortable “Ford should have made a dealer for a routine service. While there, it build quality enough for me to sit in on a hole under the boot floor to fit developed an electrical fault and I was given Infotainment, long journey with no issue.” a space-saver spare wheel.” the bill for a new ECU. Should the dealer pay “Sat-nav system is the best “The touchscreen for the for this because the car was in their care? connectivity and I have ever used.” infotainment could be bigger.” Name withheld, E-mail electrics “Very nice interior – not much “The driver’s seat isn’t as Value cheap plastic about.” adjustable as I’d like.” A YOU should first ask the dealer exactly what work had been carried out prior to the ECU WE SAID “The Puma’s best characteristic is failure. If anything relating to the electrics was being worked on, you can then ask them if that its drivetrain and you also rate its practicality. could have caused the issue. It will probably Sharp steering, a comfortable ride and strong be difficult to prove that they were at fault if brakes earn more praise, and it’s cheap to run.” they deny this, so you may end up having to foot the bill. However, considering the circumstances of the issue, it may be wise to ask for some sort of contribution. www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 95

In association with Search more than 50,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee Richard Dredge CO2/tax Running costs Performance THE 5 Series celebrates its 50th 102-143g/km 51-72mpg (520d) 0-62mph/top speed birthday this year. It was way back in 1972 that BMW launched its family saloon, and £155 £100 fill-up 7.3 seconds/146mph it would go on to become the enthusiast driver’s executive car of choice, with its NEED TO KNOW engaging dynamics, efficient and sonorous engines, and driver-focused cabin. AT first, the 530e saloon had a claimed electric-only range of Back in 1972 the idea of a plug-in hybrid 29 miles. From July 2019 a more would have been fanciful; the original efficient battery pack boosted the 5 Series wasn’t even offered as an estate. But range to 35 miles, or 30 miles in the intervening half a century BMW’s mid- with an xDrive transmission. size family car would adopt diesel engines, four-wheel drive, hybrid tech and more. BUYER’SGUIDE: BMW From the second-generation 5 Series there would also be an M5, just as there is with this Mk7. But that car deserves its own guide, so we stick with the more mainstream versions here, of which there are plenty. History THE 5 Series Mk7 went on sale in February 2017 in saloon form, codenamed G30. At launch BMW offered 187bhp 520d and 261bhp 530d diesels (both with xDrive four- wheel drive as an option), a 181bhp 530e plug-in hybrid, and a 335bhp 540i xDrive with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. Soon the firm added the 181bhp 520i and 228bhp 525d which, like the other models, came only with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Touring (estate, codenamed G31) arrived in June 2017 and a 518d joined the range soon after. A facelifted 5 Series arrived in July 2020, with refreshed styling, additional driver- assistance systems, new infotainment set- ups, and a 523bhp M550i xDrive option. By the end of the year a 545e xDrive plug-in hybrid had also been introduced. CHECK ON... PHEV The 530e had a 2.0-litre Spare wheel The M Sport had Fuel economy A 520d four-cylinder engine and a 9.2 or 12kWh run-flat tyres, but the SE had conventional battery pack. The 545e had a 3.0 six- tyres and a mobility kit. On all except the Efficient Dynamics was offered, with cylinder unit and an 11.2kWh battery. 530e, a space-saver spare was an option. an optimised transmission, reduced weight and emissions-control tech. 96 Special Issue

BMW5Series BUYING CARS EQUIPMENT There’s no shortage of cutting-edge tech in the 5 Series, including a class-leading infotainment system that’s operated by the iDrive rotary controller next to the gearlever 5 Series FROM £16,000 Its all-round ability made the 5 Series a multiple award-winner when new, and it’s a genuinely desirable used car Engines The 518d, 520d and Evexrpdeirctt’s DIMENSIONS Thanks to plenty of room for three in the rear seats, the 5 Series makes a fine family car, while the boot is 525d had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel Tristan Shale-Hester generous even in the saloon, with a capacity of 530 litres engine. The 530i had a 2.0 four-cylinder Deputy consumer petrol, and the 530d had a 3.0 six-cylinder. editor Special Issue 97 www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power BUYERS are spoilt for choice when shopping for an executive saloon or estate OUR VIEW car, but in our opinion the BMW 5 Series is one of the best on the market. It genuinely THE 5 Series made its Driver Power new-car survey debut in does everything well – something that can 2018, in 21st place out of 75 cars. By 2020 it had dropped to be said about very few cars. As always, it’s 40th, then in 2021 it was 49th. It took a top-20 place in just worth comparing different options – the one category (18th for connectivity), but among numerous highly accomplished Mercedes E-Class is relative high spots were the ride comfort, rear-seat legroom, certainly worth a look – but if you decide refinement and cabin quality. Owners were less keen on the to buy a good example of the 5 Series, you running costs, cabin versatility, safety features and value. can’t really go wrong, whatever the spec. YOUR VIEW Common faults CHRIS Cohen from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, owns a 2018 SOME owners have noticed rattles from 520d. He says: “I bought a BMW 330d in 2007 and as the the back seat, which can be caused by kids have got older I’ve moved up to a 5 Series; this is my the seatbelt buckles or the seat-folding second 520d. I’ve bought them all for the same reasons: mechanism (if fitted). The problem seems they’re great to drive, really well made and don’t cost a to be worse when the car is cold. Having six fortune to run. My 520d is also comfy, well equipped and recalls isn’t ideal, but it’s not bad, either. has been very reliable. For me it really is the perfect car.” “The 5 Series is one of the www.autoexpress.co.uk best executive cars for sale. It does everything well”

BUYING CARS BMW5Series How much? 2021 2020 2019 2018 Model £27,228 £24,745 £22,346 N/A £422 £377 £346 N/A 520d SE £26,319 Finance per month* £34,876 £31,948 £28,812 £385 530d M Sport £505 £461 £439 £21,958 Finance per month* £319 530e SE £30,658 £27,391 £24,551 £24,500 Finance per month* £437 £418 £356 £373 530e M Sport £31,219 Finance per month* £34,141 £30,723 £27,393 £457 540i xDrive M Sport £504 £423 £408 Finance per month* £41,789 £37,877 £34,155 £616 £589 £504 *Prices from BuyaCar.co.uk; quotes based on a 10% deposit WE found more than 2,000 BMW 5 Series for sale; three FIVE FROM SEVEN quarters were saloons, and more than half were diesels; In terms of its layout and one in four was a plug-in hybrid and one in five a petrol. features, the 5 Series’s cabin takes its cues from the larger The cheapest saloons cost £16,000 (for a 530e or 7 Series limousine. There’s a 520d SE on a 17-plate with 130,000 miles), but you’ll plenty of tech as standard struggle to buy a Touring for less than £20,000. We found a 17-plate, 70,000-mile 520d SE Touring for £19,500. www.autoexpress.co.uk The 530d starts at around £23,000 for a 70,000-mile, 17-plate SE. There are lots of 540is from £25,000; the M550i and 545e xDrive are rare. Both start at £65,000. Running costs Average CO2 Annual Insurance group MPG emissions road tax Model 30-38 40-50mpg 129-158g/km £155 35 48mpg 132g/km £155 520i 39-40 36-39mpg 164-176g/km £155 530i 36-43 128-201mpg 31-49g/km £145 540i xDrive 28-29 60-62mpg 116-119g/km £155 530e 30-40 51-72mpg 102-143g/km £155 518d 37 56-57mpg 128-131g/km £155 520d 41-45 46-53mpg 138-159g/km £155 525d 530d xDrive ALL 5 Series registered from 1 April 2017 cost £155pa to tax (hybrids: £145pa); those costing over £40k new are £490pa (hybrids: £480pa) from years two to six. LIKE all BMWs, the 5 Series comes with Condition-Based Servicing, which tells the driver when maintenance is required, based on oil levels, wear rates of individual components and how the vehicle is driven. With normal driving, an oil service is due every 16,000 miles or so. Because parts are replaced when necessary rather than according to a schedule, there are no fixed prices, but you’ll pay £277-£327 (depending on the engine) for an oil and filter change. Replace the air and fuel filters as well, and this jumps to £434-£514, while fresh brake fluid is required after three years, and then every other year, at £52-£63. Lifetime coolant is used and all engines are chain-driven, so there are no cambelts to replace. HANDLING It’s on the road where the 5 Series really stands out from its rivals. Not only is it comfortable and refined, it’s also the executive car that keen drivers will find the most rewarding 98 Special Issue

BMW5Series BUYING CARS Partwatch Dealer price Independent price Part £128.23 £28.04-£153.99 £285.56 £103.38-£610.48 Front brake pads (axle set) £143.00 Front brake discs (pair) £60.00 £10.00* £17.99-£44.99 Door mirror glass (electric) Front wiper set Interior Prices for a 2018 520d. Dealer figures supplied by BMW GB (www. bmw.co.uk). Independent prices from Euro Car Parts JUST about every aspect of the (www.eurocarparts.com). *Price from www.carwingmirrors.co.uk BMW 5 Series’ luxurious cabin QUALITY impresses: the clear dash design, Recalls Even when compared with the supportive seats, the quality of rivals from the likes of Audi the materials, the ample space for BMW has recalled the 5 Series G30 six times so far, the and Mercedes, the materials five people, and the infotainment first time in September 2017 because three cars made and build in the 5 Series are systems, which are class-leading in August 2017 had a faulty steering rack. A month later at the very top of the class in terms of both their ease of use the next recall was issued, because 307 cars built in and their responsiveness. August 2017 left the factory with problematic seatbelts. Boot space is excellent, at 530 Two recalls came in 2020, one in October and the next litres in the saloon; a folding rear in December, because some plug-in hybrids were fitted seat was an optional extra, so if with battery packs that could short circuit. Both times you find a car with this fitted, the solution was to fit new battery packs or replacement versatility is improved significantly. cells; 530es made between May and September 2020 As you would expect, the Touring’s were affected. The two most recent recalls came in carrying capacity is even better, at March 2021. The first was because some 5 Series made 570 litres with the rear seats up, or in January and February 2021 had faulty brake discs; the 1,700 litres with them folded. second was because sub-standard driveshafts were fitted to some cars made in June and July 2020. Which one? PRACTICALITY Whether it’s passengers INFOTAINMENT BMW’s system is class- or luggage you’re most worried about, leading and very easy to use, operated via YOU can’t really go wrong, whichever engine, the 5 Series handles both equally well the rotary iDrive controller in the centre transmission, bodystyle or trim you pick. Buy console. Sat-nav is standard on all models a diesel or plug-in hybrid and you should be equipment. The Audi A6 offers these, too, rewarded with excellent economy; the petrol and while it’s not as engaging to drive, it’s every case the BMW has come out on top, Contacts engines are impressive, but far less frugal. hugely desirable. The Jaguar XF is getting so it’s no wonder that it was our Executive dated, but it looks great and is enjoyable Car of the Year in our 2017 New Car Awards Official The xDrive four-wheel-drive transmission to drive, plus there’s ample cabin space. – and then again in both subsequent years. www.bmw.co.uk provides excellent traction in wintry Since then the Mercedes E-Class has stolen Forums conditions compared with the rear-wheel- All three of these come in saloon and the BMW’s thunder, but don’t let that put https://forum.bmw5.co.uk drive alternative, but you pay a big penalty estate forms, which is also the case with you off, because the 5 Series is every bit in fuel economy, so simply buying winter Volvo’s well equipped and incredibly safe as desirable as it has always been. www.bimmerforums.co.uk tyres instead might be the best option. S90/V90. We’d consider the Lexus GS and its successor, the ES, too. They’re both well www.bmw5series.org All 5 Series are generously equipped, equipped, incredibly reliable and extremely with the entry-level SE having 17-inch or refined, but not as rewarding to drive. https://g30.bimmerpost.com 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, LED Verdict headlights, navigation, and front and rear parking sensors, plus heated front seats SOME cars may excel in one way or another, with part-electric adjustment. The M Sport but occasionally a consummate all-rounder trim is largely cosmetic, with a bodykit and shows just how good the modern family car sportier details, but upgraded brakes and can be. The BMW 5 Series is just such a bigger wheels (18/19-inch) are included. vehicle, and while you pay for such talent, the best things in life are never cheap. Alternatives Since the seventh-generation 5 Series THE Mercedes E-Class gives the 5 Series was launched we’ve pitted it against the the hardest time, with its wide model Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class, Volvo S90 and range, excellent engines, impressive build V90, plus the Lexus ES and Jaguar XF. In quality, roomy cabin and lots of hi-tech www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 99

In association with Search more than 50,000 cars with competitive finance. Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee Kia Optima Volkswagen Passat Sportswagon PHEV Estate GTE Years: 2017 to date Years: 2015 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol-electric, 202bhp Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl turbo-petrol-electric, 215bhp Transmission: 6-spd auto/fwd Kerbweight: 1,815kg Transmission: 6-spd auto/fwd Kerbweight: 1,735kg 0-60mph: 9.4 secs Top speed: 119mph 0-60mph: 7.6 secs Top speed: 140mph Boot capacity (seats up): 440 litres Boot capacity (seats up): 483 litres Ins. group: 25 Official econ./CO2: 188.3mpg/33g/km Ins. group: 26 Official econ./CO2: 180.8mpg/40g/km INTERIOR There’s no shortage of kit and CABIN Passat interior is up the high it’s well made, but the Optima’s cabin standards you’d expect from VW, with a premium feel and good build quality doesn’t feel as upmarket as the Passat’s www.autoexpress.co.uk 100 Special Issue