What Car UK 01.2022

RAV BAINES

‘Deliberate or accidental lane deviation is Age 51
a factor in around one in five fatal collisions’ Job Company director
Drives 2019 Volvo XC90

“My car has a suite of active
safety features and I leave
them all switched on. I think
it’s great that Volvos have more advanced
driver aids than many other cars; the brand
doesn’t make enough noise about them.
“Of the cars here, some brands seem
to have skimped on how lane-keeping
assistance is implemented. I found the
system on the Mercedes best, because it
felt unobtrusive; it nudged the car back
to a safer position on the road rather than
forcing it. The Golf, on the other hand, was
too assertive for my liking and felt like it
was treating its driver like an idiot.
“A head-up display proved helpful by
making the lane support graphics more
visible in the windscreen. The cars fitted
with head-up displays in this test [the
Hyundai, Mercedes and Polestar] provided
a clearer view of where they were in
relation to the lane and the roadside.
“All car makers should ensure their lane
support systems inspire confidence rather
than dent it. In particular, cheaper cars
should have well-sorted systems, because
they’re the volume sellers and that means
the technology will reach the widest
possible audience, keeping more drivers
safe at those rare moments when their
mind is elsewhere while they’re driving.”

Favourite system Mercedes-Benz C-Class

JOHN BUTLER from now on. After all, “However, having tried the systems in
everyone makes mistakes several makes and models, I now appreciate
Age 75 Job Retired occasionally when that they can respond in very different ways,
Drives 2020 Tesla Model 3 Long driving, and without and some are nicer to live with than others.”
Range, 2004 Porsche Boxster the assistance of
these aids, one loss of Favourite system Hyundai Ioniq 5
“I liked the Hyundai’s lane- concentration or slip
keeping system best; it was could cost you your life.
assertive but not too intrusive,
keeping the car in its lane and not letting “I believe there’s still
it veer off the edge of the road. It felt like a lot of development
the most dependable system, giving me needed to make all lane
confidence that it would help if I started to get support systems user-
into a sticky situation. friendly enough to be
“That said, the Mercedes was also very good accepted by the public,
at preventing the car from driving into the though. At present, most
verge. In contrast, the system in the RAV4 was drivers don’t understand
the least proactive; it almost felt like it wasn’t what the systems do, and those selling cars
going to help out at all, especially when I drove don’t properly explain the technology to
close to the edge of the road. buyers, so I suspect that many drivers simply
“Taking part in this test has changed my aren’t using them. In many cases they’ll try
perception of automated lane-keeping one system and find it intrusive, and then
assistance systems. I didn’t take much notice incorrectly think all systems are the same.
of the system in my Tesla previously, but I will

whatcar.com January 2022 51

MALCOLM EDWARDS

Age 57 Job Business
development manager
Drives 2017 Skoda
Octavia vRS, 1990
Porsche 944 Cabriolet

“I was surprised by the
variation in the lane support systems fitted
to the five cars we drove on the track. The
way they’re implemented feels as different
as the engines and gearboxes in each car.

“I was particularly surprised how much
more heavy-handed the Golf’s system is
in operation to that of my Skoda Octavia.
It was too intrusive when it did cut in and
spoiled what was otherwise a great car.

“I was impressed by the systems in the
Mercedes and Polestar; both of them were
gentler in their approach than the systems
in my car and the Golf, yet they were more
effective at keeping the car in a safe position
on the road than the RAV4’s. I didn’t feel
as though that car’s system would react
strongly enough to prevent an accident.

“I was most impressed by the Polestar’s
system, in particular how it differentiated
between the three stages of operation:
warning if the car starts to drift out of its
lane, actively keeping it in the lane and
stopping it drifting off the edge of the road.

“I think all cars should have lane-keeping
assistance as standard, but while it’s still an
option on some models, I’m happy to pay
extra for it because it makes me feel more
secure on long drives.”

Favourite system Polestar 2

JOHN ARMSTRONG-DENBY “The Polestar’s system was also good, being the driving experience. They should allow
natural and balanced in its application. It’s you to make decisions for yourself, such as
Age 47Job Finance director just a bit more overt than the Mercedes’ one, being able to cross the broken white lines
Drives 2020 Land Rover so it would take a bit of getting used to. when it’s safe to do so.”
Discovery, 2006 Porsche 911
Cabriolet  “Of the others, I found the RAV4’s the least Favourite system Mercedes-Benz C-Class
useful; it was barely noticeable when it cut in.
“Although my 911 is too old Although this might suit
to have many electronic aids, some people, I’d worry
my Discovery is loaded with that it could be ignored
all the latest toys, including lane-keeping and drivers might not
assistance and automatic emergency braking, make full use of it.
and I use the systems a fair bit, especially on
motorways and dual carriageways. Its lane- “The Golf was at
keeping assistance works well, but having the other end of the
tried the lane support systems in the cars in spectrum; it was so
this test, I have to concede that those in the extreme when it activated
C-Class and Polestar 2 are more sophisticated that I felt it was too
and easier to live with. aggressive and found it
“The Mercedes’ system in particular really rather off-putting.
gels with the driving experience, cutting in
when necessary but not bothering me at other “For me, assistance
times; even though I’ve never been a huge systems should always
Mercedes fan, it’s the best system here. work in the background
rather than dominating

52 January 2022 whatcar.com

‘Lane support systems must work unobtrusively SAYS...
in the background if they are to win favour’
We share Thatcham’s
No one in our reader test concern that lane support
team was left in any doubt systems aren’t always
about the benefits that lane designed with the driving
experience in mind.
support systems bring
While the Volkswagen
Golf’s camera-based
system certainly works and
earns the car points in Euro
NCAP tests, the fact that it
aggravates drivers to the
extent that they might want
to switch it off suggests that
a rethink is needed.

Fortunately, there are signs
that manufacturers are
catching on; new systems
from Hyundai, Mercedes-
Benz and Polestar all
received compliments from
our reader test team.

Opinion was unanimous,
though, that lane support
systems must operate
unobtrusively in the
background if they are to
find universal favour among
drivers.They should offer a
helping hand to ease the
strain of driving, rather than
brusquely forcing drivers to
alter their behaviour.

ANDY COOPER “I was also interested and their dealers ensure these features are
to discover that the active properly demonstrated during test drives,
Age 58 Job Company director safety technologies in otherwise many car owners won’t get the full
Drives 2019 Tesla Model 3 the electric cars on test benefit of them.”
Long Range appeared to be so well
integrated. The Polestar Favourite system Mercedes-Benz C-Class
“I’m really interested in in particular did a
automated car systems. In fact, good job of behaving
I’m a bit of an early adopter differently when the
when it comes to new car car crossed broken and
technology; that’s why I bought the Model 3, solid white lines.
and added the Full Self Driving system to my
car, even though I can’t yet use it on UK roads. “That said, I would be
So, I was intrigued to see how the lane-keeping happy to live with any
systems on other cars compared with mine. of the models in my top
“In order of best to worst, I rated them as three. As well as being
follows: Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Hyundai, equipped with systems
Volkswagen and Toyota. It was a close-run that help rather than hinder the driver, all
thing between the RAV4 and Golf, though; the three can be had with head-up displays, which
former wasn’t active enough and the latter I find far less distracting than looking down at
was so overt that it would become aggravating. a dash display or sideways at a central screen.
Overall, I preferred the way the Mercedes
system felt when it activated; it was noticeable “One thing the test has brought home to
but not so insistent that it was annoying. me is the fact that it’s vital that car makers

whatcar.com January 2022 53

ADVICE

How to spec your £

Audi Q4 e-tron SCAN FOR
A GREAT DEAL
If you’re in the market for an electric SUV with a luxurious interior, a decent range, ON THIS CAR
space for your family and a price tag that won’t break your budget, the Audi Q4
e-tron is a strong contender. Go for the mid-range 40 S line model and the car will be
capable of officially covering up to 308 miles between charges, and you’ll have most
of your kit needs covered. Here’s what else we’d choose from Audi’s options list.

BEST BUY
Audi Q4 e-tron
40 S line

List price £47,090
Target Price £47,090

Options we’d add
Heat pump (£950),
suspension with damper
control (£725), metallic
paint (£575), Function
Package (£325), steering
wheel with energy
recuperation paddles
(£285)

Total cost of options
£2860

Buy this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals

54 January 2022 whatcar.com

At just £285,Audi’s upgraded steering wheel
with energy recuperation paddles is a must-
have, because it allows you to tailor how much
braking energy is harvested and fed back
into the car’s battery.There are three levels to
choose from, and on its highest setting you
can mostly drive the Q4 using one pedal.

A heat pump (£950) is an efficient way of
heating and cooling the car’s interior, given
that electric vehicles don’t have a combustion
engine to draw warmth from.The heat pump
can reduce the impact on range caused by
using the climate control – something that will
come in especially handy during the winter.

Unless you’re a fan of solid Pebble Grey, you’ll
have to pay an additional £575 to add a
splash of colour to your Q4. We think it’s better
to do so, because selecting any one of the
seven additional metallic paint finishes will
make your Q4 stand out and boost the resale
value when the time comes to move on.

If you value tailoring your car’s ride comfort
to your needs, it’s worth choosing Audi’s
suspension with damper control for £725. It
allows you to select from different suspension
modes using a button on the centre console.
Auto and Comfort suit the Q4 especially well,
soaking up ruts and bumps with ease.

The Function Package (£325) adds a height-
adjustable boot floor, which is handy because
it minimises the Q4’s loading lip and thus
makes getting your luggage in and out easier.
It also includes a removable cargo net to stop
loose items from rolling around, as well as nets
on the backs of the front seats for extra storage.

whatcar.com January 2022 55

ADVICE

WHAT
DOES IT
COST TO GO
GREEN?

We compare a host of hybrid and electric models with their regular petrol
and diesel counterparts to find out which fuel type makes the most sense

Petrol Diesel Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Electric

Claire Evans each to find out if switching to a greener model costs. Some EVs have minimal servicing bills,
[email protected] will save money or put a hole in your finances. but others can easily outstrip petrol and diesel
models, so if you’re on a tight monthly budget,
THERE ARE PLENTY of compelling reasons why The biggest expense of buying a new car is it’s worth investigating this expense up front.
we should park up our conventional petrol depreciation, so this should be your number
and diesel cars and get behind the wheel of one concern, especially if you’re considering As long as you can charge an EV cheaply
a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric model an expensive pure electric model. You can at home or for free at work (we’ve based our
instead. Reduced CO2 and harmful exhaust save money by buying via our online New Car calculations on a 20p per kWh electricity cost),
emissions are major incentives for people to Buying service at or below our Target Price, so you’ll be quids in compared with car owners
stop driving older, more polluting vehicles in we’ve based our sums on these figures rather who have to make regular trips to fuel stations,
urban areas, and cheaper running costs from than the cars’ list prices. where petrol and diesel prices are skyrocketing.
using electricity are another big appeal.
Higher purchase prices tend to translate into However, it’s a combination of all these
However, overall ownership costs are also an pricier insurance premiums, so this is another factors that determines which is the most
important consideration. And with a growing concern for anyone considering trading into a affordable fuel option for you. So, we’ve
number of new models being offered in a greener model. And although electric vehicles rounded up the data on some of our top-rated
variety of fuel types, from petrol through to (EVs) should, in theory, need less maintenance models in five popular car classes to reveal
electric, you need to crunch the numbers for than their conventional counterparts, there’s which are the cheapest to own over three years
quite a disparity when it comes to servicing and 36,000 miles.
56 January 2022 whatcar.com

Family cars 1

As well as developing electrified models, CHEAPEST
car makers have been working on the eco TO OWN
credentials of their conventional models.
Mild hybrid systems that reduce emissions
and boost fuel economy have been added
to petrol and diesel cars, but these variants
can be pricier to buy, negating any savings.

That’s the case with the Volkswagen Golf.
The mild hybrid 1.5 eTSI petrol model costs
£2422 more to buy than the regular petrol,
and that makes it £2138 pricier to run for
three years. In fact, the regular 1.5 petrol is
the cheapest of all the Golf models to own.
On the other hand, the plug-in hybrid Golf
costs by far the most to buy and is the most
expensive for insurance and servicing.

None of them is as affordable to own as
Volkswagen’s electric-only ID.3, though.A
£2500 government grant for sub-£35,000
EVs means that although the ID.3 costs
about £5500 more to buy than the regular
petrol Golf, it’ll save you more than £1000 in
the long run, because it holds its value well
and it’ll cost far less in juice and car tax.

If you’re considering a Hyundai Ioniq
instead, the electric version is
also your best option. However,
the difference between it
and the hybrid model over
three years is only around
£360, so the latter still makes
good sense for anyone not
ready to make the leap to a
full EV, whereas the plug-in
hybrid is quite a bit pricier.

Electric Hyundai Ioniq
is cheaper to run than
hybrid and PHEV versions

‘Of the Golf and ID.3
models, the plug-in
hybrid GTE costs the
most to buy and run’

How they compare

Make and model Fuel List price Target 3yr/36k Depreciation Insurance Servicing Road Fuel Total 3yr
type Price cost cost
value tax
£31,545* £1582 £16,616
Volkswagen ID.3 58kWh Pro Performance Life Electric £32,255* £23,467 £16,850 £12,195 £1749 £1090 Nil £4317 £17,778
£24,470 £24,439 £12,550 £10,917 £1204 £810 £530 £2990 £17,887
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI 150 Life Petrol £25,485 £25,889 £12,075 £12,364 £1291 £712 £530 £4317 £19,916
£27,000 £36,700 £13,050 £12,839 £1428 £802 £530 £2340 £24,228
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 110 Life Diesel £36,700 £31,997* £18,625 £18,075 £2011 £1512 £290 £1429 £18,776
£33,050* £24,499 £14,175 £15,322 £1304 £721 £3534 £19,139
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI 150 Life MH petrol £25,945 £28.736 £11,500 £12,999 £1350 £816 Nil £1775 £20,891
£30,450 £12,175 £16,561 £1412 £853 £440
Volkswagen Golf GTE 1.4 TSI PHEV £290

Hyundai Ioniq 100kW Premium 38kWh Electric

Hyundai Ioniq 1.6 GDI Hybrid Premium Hybrid

Hyundai Ioniq 1.6 GDI PHEV Premium PHEV

*Not including £2500 government grant

whatcar.com January 2022 57

ADVICE

Small SUVs Go electric with the
Kona and petrol with
One thing the Hyundai Kona gives buyers
is choice: it can be had in petrol, hybrid or the T-Roc (below)
electric forms. If ownership costs are your
priority, the electric model is the best option. 1
Although it costs the most for depreciation
and insurance, it’s by far the most CHEAPEST
affordable for road tax and fuel, and that, TO OWN
combined with the government grant when
buying, makes it around £500 cheaper to to save you money unless you do big miles.
run than the hybrid over three years. Although it’s cheaper to fuel than the petrol, it
costs £2405 more to buy in the first place, and
The purchase price of the mild hybrid higher depreciation and insurance mean it will
petrol Kona is considerably lower than cost about £500 more to own in the long term.
those of its siblings, but once you factor in
the cost of fuel, road tax and servicing, it
becomes the priciest of the line-up in the
long term, by about £1000 over the Electric.

Diesels are a dwindling presence in the
small SUV class, but the Volkswagen T-Roc is
one of the few that can still be had with this
type of engine. However, the diesel isn’t likely

How they compare

Make and model Fuel List price Target 3yr/36k Depreciation Insurance Servicing Road Fuel Total 3yr
type Price value tax cost cost

Hyundai Kona 39kWh SE Connect Electric £30,450* £29,705* £14,175 £13,030 £1477 £773 Nil £1493 £16,773
£22,740 £12,000 £10,740 £1227 £987 £460 £3853 £17,267
Hyundai Kona 1.6 GDI Hybrid SE Connect Hybrid £23,995 £20,193 £9875 £10,318 £1199 £1014 £530 £4711 £17,772
£25,339 £13,625 £11,714 £1338 £1119 £530 £5185 £19,886
Hyundai Kona 1.0 T-GDI 48V MHEV SE Connect MH petrol £21,265 £27,636 £13,600 £14,036 £1455 £1017 £530 £3324 £20,362

Volkswagen T-Roc 1.5 150 TSI Evo Black Edition Petrol £26,490

Volkswagen T-Roc 2.0 TDI 150 Evo Black Edition Diesel £28,895

*Not including £2500 government grant

Family SUVs an electric family SUV.Although it costs £6182 less than the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It’s
more to buy (including grant) than the Niro also the cheapest XC40 to own, thanks to
The Kia e-Niro is our top-rated small EV for hybrid, cheaper servicing, tax and fuel costs insurance and servicing bills that are both
long journeys, because it has a relatively mean it costs £2079 less over three years. at least £300 less than those for the PHEV;
long range (282 miles officially and 253 this helps to counteract the petrol model’s
miles in our real-world test). It also looks The plug-in hybrid Niro isn’t such a great significantly higher fuel costs.
like a good bet financially if you’re after bet for cash-conscious buyers. It’s £5658 more
than the regular hybrid up front, and while Although the pure electric Recharge
1 Twin Plus costs far less than other XC40s
more affordable tax and when it comes to servicing, road tax
CHEAPEST fuel costs help owners claw and fuel, its high initial purchase price
TO OWN back some money, it’ll still means owners stand to lose a whopping
set you back £2019 more £26,100 in depreciation, making it the
over three years. priciest XC40 to live with.

Volvo’s XC40 is our top-
rated family SUV, and we
think the petrol model is the
one for private buyers to go
for, because it represents the
best value for money. It costs
£2857 less to buy than the
mild hybrid petrol and £6620

Kia e-Niro has a long range
and is very affordable to run

How they compare Fuel List price Target 3yr/36k Depreciation Insurance Servicing Road Fuel Total 3yr
type Price value tax cost cost
Make and model £15,695 £1402 £770
Electric £34,995* £34,995* £16,800 £14,363 £1490 £1180 Nil £1634 £19,501
Kia e-Niro Long Range 2 Hybrid £27,865 £26,313 £11,950 £18,821 £1447 £1014 £460 £4087 £21,580
Kia Niro 1.6 GDI Hybrid 3 PHEV £32,705 £31,971 £13,150 £11,989 £1301 £1223 £460 £1857 £23,599
Kia Niro 1.6 GDI PHEV 3 Petrol £32,880 £30,989 £19,000 £15,959 £1648 £1562 £865 £5493 £20,871
Volvo XC40 1.5 T3 R-Design PHEV £39,445 £37,609 £21,650 £12,946 £1569 £1551 £290 £2462 £21,921
Volvo XC40 Recharge T4 MH petrol £35,920 £33,846 £20,900 £26,100 £3214 £826 £865 £5426 £22,357
Volvo XC40 2.0 B4P R-Design Electric £52,950 £52,950 £26,850 £670 £1951 £32,761
Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Plus

*Not including £2500 government grant

58 January 2022 whatcar.com

Running costs by fuel type

Large SUVs petrol X3 saves owners £2125 over three years Diesel X3 cost less 1
and is the main contributing factor to it costing to own than other
If you’re after the most affordable BMW £1662 less to live with. versions, including iX3 CHEAPEST
X3, diesel power is your best option.The TO OWN
superior economy of the xDrive20d over the However, the lower tax and fuel costs of
the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid X3 also make it
appealing.Although it costs £6378 more to
buy, the additional cost over three years
compared with the diesel is only £1956.

The BMW iX3 is our top-rated electric
SUV, because it’s practical and has an
official range of 279 miles. However, its
£60,970 purchase price makes it the
most costly car here for depreciation,
and it’s also the priciest for insurance
and servicing, resulting in a £7424 higher
outlay over three years.

How they compare Fuel List price Target 3yr/36K Depreciation Insurance Servicing Road Fuel Total 3yr
type Price Value tax cost cost
Make and model £46,110
Diesel £45,170 £43,319 24,025 £19,294 £1830 £1737 £1875 £3921 £28,657
1. BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport Petrol £52,400 £42,459 23,550 £18,909 £1821 £1668 £1875 £6046 £30,319
2. BMW X3 xDrive20i M Sport PHEV £60,970 £49,697 26,975 £22,722 £2663 £1681 £975 £2572 £30,613
3. BMW X3 xDrive30e M Sport Electric £60,970 31,875 £ 29,095 £2541 £1906 £ 670 £1869 £36,081
4. BMW iX3 M Sport

Executive cars SAYS...

Model 3’s low running Going green is good for the planet, and in
costs easily negate its many instances it can be the best option
higher purchase price for your finances too, with the electric
versions of the Hyundai Ioniq and Kona,
1 plus the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen
ID.3 EVs, being cheaper to run than their
The plug-in hybrid BMW 330e CHEAPEST £1890 less. It also looks like a sound hybrid and petrol equivalents. However,
is our top-scoring executive TO OWN buy over the 330e; although the EVs with far higher purchase prices than
car, beating rivals for driving purchase price difference is £8235, their counterparts can hit buyers hard
with big depreciation losses and high
enjoyment and company car tax you’ll work out £3423 better off than a insurance premiums, as the BMW iX3 and
Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin demonstrate.
savings for business users. However, 330e buyer over three years, thanks to
If you want to stick with petrol and are
it’s a pricier private buy than a petrol or cheaper servicing, road tax and fuel costs. tempted by the fuel-saving promises of
mild hybrids, make sure you compare
diesel 3 Series for every aspect of ownership their costs with other models in the range
first.They can be pricier overall than the
except fuel, and its above-£40k purchase regular versions of the same models (and
even a full hybrid in the case of the Kona).
price means it suffers the biggest hit of
Plug-in hybrids make great sense if you
depreciation and highest road tax. If you’re mostly do short journeys and can charge
up regularly at home or work, but their
on a tight budget, a petrol 3 Series will cost higher purchase prices often negate any
savings and can make them the costliest
£1533 less to live with and a diesel £1399. options.The difference isn’t huge with
the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq and XC40,
However, if you’re after an affordable though, making the PHEV versions still
worth considering.
electric exec, you would do well to consider

a Tesla Model 3. Even though it costs

£14,018 more to buy than a 320i, your

ownership costs after three years will be

How they compare Fuel List price Target 3yr/36k Depreciation Insurance Servicing Road Fuel Total 3yr
type Price Value tax cost cost
Make and model £48,490 £17,265 £3216 £1030
Electric £36,790 £48,490 £31,225 £15,797 £ 2216 £1181 £670 £1020 £23,201
Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus Petrol £39,665 £34,472 £18,675 £17,982 £2089 £1230 £865 £5032 £25,091
BMW 320i M Sport Diesel £42,545 £37,157 £19,175 £19,005 £3095 £1475 £865 £3059 £25,225
BMW 320d M Sport PHEV £40,255 £21,250 £960 £2089 £26,624
BMW 330e

whatcar.com January 2022 59

ADVICE

#AskWhatCar Got a car-related
problem that you
can’t resolve?
Get in touch with us at
[email protected]
with your name, contact
details and what the
problem is, plus photos,
and we’ll try to help.
Claire Evans
[email protected]

Ben’s Mustang has had six new
steering racks in the attempts to fix it

How long should I wait for
my car to be repaired?

I bought my dream car – a 2017 Ford Mustang off because the cost of repairs didn’t exceed If the work was being financed via an
V8 – in 2020, but I’ve hardly been able to drive its value, and partly because it didn’t seem insurance claim, “the onus is on the insurer to
it since a crash in October that year relegated unreasonable for me to wait four to six months have the rectification work carried out within
it to a Ford workshop. for the car to be fixed. a reasonable timeframe, and to determine
whether the car can be considered a total loss”,
After the accident, the car needed a new I’m at my wits’ end. Can you give me any it said. We were advised to pursue the dispute
steering rack as part of the repair work, but help or advice? through the Financial Ombudsman; Ben did
the independent repairer working for my Ben Tatman this and a new investigation was opened.
insurer,Admiral, wasn’t able to fit this, so the
Mustang was taken to Allen Ford of Nuneaton WHAT CAR? SAYS… It took some weeks for the sixth steering
in November 2020. I was expecting to get it We asked Ford to look into what could be done system to arrive at the dealership, but when it
back within a couple of weeks and was given to either fix Ben’s Mustang or concede that it was finally fitted, in late August, it worked. By
a small hatchback as a courtesy car. couldn’t be repaired so that it could be declared then, the car was due for a fairly major service
a write-off. Ford spent some time investigating and an MOT test, which would cost around
However, I had great difficulty getting any the case and told us in June that the preferred £400. Ford paid for both of these to be done.
meaningful updates from Admiral throughout solution was to fit a fifth new steering rack. We Ben was also reimbursed the £80 he’d paid to
November and December. I made a formal felt it was fair to give Ford one more chance. transfer a private numberplate off the car.
complaint to them in late 2020, and to the
Financial Ombudsman, suggesting that Although this attempt also failed for the There were also some issues with damage to
Admiral should write off the car if it couldn’t be same reason, Ford said its engineers believed the car’s bodywork, but these were put right,
repaired, rather than leaving me waiting. they really did understand why the previous and as a goodwill gesture, Ford gave Ben £500
repairs hadn’t worked and could now fix the to go some way towards making up for the
In early 2021,Allen Ford told me that when car, so a sixth steering system was ordered. massive delay in fixing the car.
it fitted the new steering rack into the car, Neither we nor Ben were given any details
it hadn’t been able to calibrate it with the on what would make the system function So, after nearly a year without his car, Ben
associated electrical systems. Once the properly, so we contacted The Motor was reunited with the Mustang in September.
calibration process had failed, the steering Ombudsman to see if it had any guidelines A couple of weeks later, he received more good
rack wouldn’t work in the car at all, so another for car makers unable to repair vehicles news: the Financial Ombudsman’s preliminary
one would need to be ordered.Thinking it had within a set timeframe. We were told that it ruling on the case was that Admiral should
identified the problem, the dealership fitted the could only deal with complaints where the have settled the claim sooner and that it should
second new steering rack, with the same result. customer had paid for the repairs. pay Ben £300 as compensation.

Ford sent a master technician to check ‘The new steering Although he was pleased and relieved to
the car over and there were discussions with rack couldn’t be finally get his car back, Ben was understandably
Mustang experts in America over how to fix it. calibrated to work unhappy about the long wait he’d endured.
Following advice on how to get the rack and with other electrics’ He said: “I believe other Mustang owners and
electronics to communicate with each other, people looking to buy this car should be made
two more steering systems were ordered and aware that there appears to be a major issue
duly fitted, but neither of them worked. with the steering rack. And as for the fact that
I’ve been kept waiting for 10 months, I believe
In April, I was told that my complaint to the the customer service policies of both Admiral
Financial Ombudsman hadn’t been upheld, and Ford are totally wrong.”
partly because the car couldn’t be written

60 January 2022 whatcar.com

Why the wait to fit However, we’d recommend that you USEFUL
my home charger? CONTACTS
complain to the dealership and to WHO CAN
I recently took delivery of a new Mazda
MX-30 electric car, which I love. I was Mazda’s customer service department HELP
impressed when I heard that the car
would come with a free home charger. and ask if they are able to provide any Check if
However, I’ve now found out that the a vehicle
charger isn’t going to be fitted for at compensation or a goodwill gesture has been
least six months. Should the dealership recalled
have told me there would be a delay, for the delay. This might allow you to
and is there anything I can do about it? gov.uk/check-
cancel the order, rather than waiting for vehicle-recall
Richard Murray
the free unit to be fitted, and look for a New car,
WHAT CAR? SAYS… service,
You are not alone in experiencing a different supplier who can install one repair and
delay in getting a home charger fitted; warranty issues
we’ve heard similar stories from other sooner. As long as you get the wallbox
readers, and our recommendation is themotorombudsman.org
that if a home wallbox is included in the fitted before April 2022,
deal when buying a new car, you ask for Citizens
written confirmation of the date of fitting you’ll be able to take FULL TIME Advice
when taking up the offer. advantage of the The MX-30 has a
Government’s home relatively small battery, citizensadvice.org.uk
Your Mazda dealer should have told you charger grant of £350, so fully charging it via
there was likely to be a delay in getting which should cover a typical 7kW home Check a
the charger fitted, if it knew about this, most of the cost. charger won’t take too car has a
but we suspect that at dealership level it long: about five and valid MOT test
is unlikely to have any contact with the certificate
installer and would simply have made the a half hours.
referral to them on your behalf. gov.uk/check-mot-status

What Car?
New Car
Buying

whatcar.com/
new-car-deals

Tiguan delay could lead to extra road tax Trading
Standards
I’d be grateful if you can confirm the additional VED. However, I’ve If this price exceeds the £40k limit,
whether my new car will be liable for spoken to other dealers who say the additional rate of £335 a year for nationaltrading
the additional £335 of vehicle excise the car’s price will be taken when years two to six will apply. standards.co.uk
duty (VED) payable on cars costing it is registered shortly before I take
more than £40,000. delivery of it, and that means I will Although the hold-up isn’t the Financial
get a nasty shock when renewing fault of the dealer or Volkswagen, Conduct
I ordered a new Volkswagen the tax. Which dealer is correct? it would be decent of them to offer Authority
Tiguan on 1 June, and the list price Jim Porteous you something to make up for this
was just under £40,000 when the and encourage you not to cancel the fca.org.uk
options I’d chosen were taken into WHAT CAR? SAYS… order. We’d suggest you contact the
account. However, the car is now The second dealer is correct: the supplying dealer and ask if there’s Check
unlikely to be delivered before car’s current list and options prices anything they can do, such as giving car crash
December due to the computer will be used to calculate its overall you vouchers towards the cost of safety ratings
chip shortage, and the list and price and it’s not possible to use a future service work, to cover some
options prices have gone up. If I previous price. or all of the additional cost. It might euroncap.com
were to configure the same car now, also be worth lodging a complaint
it would cost about £41,000. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing with Volkswagen customer services, Motability
Agency confirmed that it’s the list because you might want to request
The supplying dealer says the price on the day before the car is first compensation via them if you have motability.co.uk
price I agreed is locked in and registered and taxed that applies. no joy with the dealer.
that I will not be liable to pay What Car?
advice

whatcar.com/advice

Get all the advice you need at whatcar.com/advice. Alternatively, go to Twitter and use the hashtag #AskWhatCar

whatcar.com January 2022 61



PRODUCTS

12V multi-socket adapters

These devices convert a single 12V ‘lighter’ socket into an array of power
outlets, allowing you to charge multiple devices on the go at the same

time. For more reviews, go to whatcar.com/class/product-reviews

TESTING PROCESS BEST BUY

TO FIND THE 12V ADAPTERS
best multi-socket
adapters on sale, 1 Carpoint 4 Way Socket
we evaluated each
unit for ease of Price £14.85 Buy from
use, taking into arrowgeneralsupply.co.uk
account cable Max total current 10 amps
length, ease
of mounting, The main advantage of this model
compatibility with is its slide-on/off mounting plate.
outlets of differing You can permanently mount it
diameters, and with the screws supplied or use
whether it allows the adhesive pad instead, or you
safe use of a can leave the plate off and stash
cigarette lighter. the adapter in a cubbyhole. Its
Extra credit 1.3m-long conventional lead
was given for doesn’t tug on the socket as
illumination and hard as the Ring RMS4’s coiled
battery voltage one. If the Carpoint came with
indicators, which socket illumination and a voltage
can be useful if monitor it’d be perfect, but it does
you need to power provide tidy covers you can fit over
high-current the empty sockets, and there’s an
accessories such LED to show when it’s live.
as tyre inflators. WHAT CAR? SAYS
We’ll focus on
dedicated 12V-to-
USB adapters in
the next issue.

12V ADAPTERS

2 Ring RMS4 3 Ring RMS10 4 Ring RMS13 5 Carpoint 2-Way Socket

Price £9.99 Buy from Amazon Price £17.95 Buy from Amazon Price £17 Buy from Amazon Price £4.72 Buy from Amazon
Max total current 8 amps Max total current 10 amps Max total current 10 amps or farnell.com
Max total current 8 amps
Like the other adapters from The RMS10 is designed to sit Like the RMS10, this adapter sits
Ring, the RMS4 is nicely finished snugly in a car’s cupholder, and snugly in most cupholders and This adapter is literally a power
and features illuminated sockets, its coiled 1m power lead prevents has a handy self-coiling lead. plug that leads to two individual
a battery level indicator and a the cable from becoming untidy. It The main difference is that it has 12V sockets at the end of 20cm
power plug that can be used provides two 12V sockets and two a tethered micro-USB plug on a wires.That’s quite a practical
with 12V sockets of various USB Type A ports, and plus points retractable lead in place of the design, helping to declutter the
diameters. One socket is also include a battery voltage monitor USB Type A ports. While some will centre console while devices are
heat shielded, so it’s safe to use and a power plug that fits sockets find this useful, we’d rather have charging. However, at its sub-fiver
with a cigarette lighter.The pull of various sizes. However, we’re regular USB ports.The two units price, it isn’t bristling with extras;
from its 1m coiled lead can be less keen on the price and the share the same plus points, but the unlit sockets don’t seem
a nuisance if you don’t want to disappointing maximum current again, the paltry one amp USB particularly robust and the power
screw the unit down, though. of one amp for both USB ports. output limits its appeal. plug isn’t a universal fit.
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

whatcar.com January 2022 63

COMPARISONS

Origin of
the species

the Nissan Qashqai, but now the latest evolution
faces pressure from the new Honda HR-V

Photography: John Bradshaw

Nissan Qashqai
1.3 DiG-T MH 158
Tekna+ Xtronic

List price £36,575
Target Price £33,860
Tested here in automatic
form, the third-generation
Qashqai promises to be
the most practical yet

NEW

Honda HR-V
i-MMD eCVT
Advance Style

List price £31,660
Target Price £31,660
It’s moved up a class in
terms of size, plus the latest
HR-V offers sleek looks

and hybrid power

COMPARISON

OU DON’T USE HONDA HR-V

Y a search engine, BEST FOR
you Google, and HANDLING
you don’t vacuum
There’s a fair bit of body
your floor, you lean through corners in
the HR-V, but it feels nicely
Hoover (or balanced front to rear, and
the steering lets you place
possibly Dyson) it. Yes, occasionally the car accurately

a service or product is so successful

that it becomes a verb.

Similarly, certain cars end up

transcending their brands. For

example, a manufacturer might

think it’s produced a new family

SUV, but to the rest of the world

it’s launching a new Qashqai,

regardless of whether or not the

brand in question is Nissan. So,

how can a rival break this curse?

Well, it’s not enough to simply

mimic the benchmark; you need

to find a way to stand out. And the

new Honda HR-V looks like it has

the potential to do just that.

Not only is it strikingly styled

and quite a bit bigger than its

predecessor, but it’s available

exclusively with hybrid power, so it

promises to be unusually cheap to

run. Okay, it’s not exactly cheap to

buy in the range-topping form that

we’re testing here, but it comes

well equipped to compensate.

To test its mettle, we’ve lined

the HR-V up against the Qashqai

itself – specifically the new,

third-generation version, with the

more powerful of the two petrol

engines it’s available with and an

automatic gearbox. Once again,

we’ve gone for the top trim.

So, does the latest Qashqai

have a unique selling point of its

own beyond the greater brand

recognition it enjoys? And which

of these cars better deserves to be a

household name? Let’s find out.

DRIVING
Performance, ride,
handling, refinement

The hybrid system in the HR-V The HR-V’s rear seat bases can be folded up to create a second load area; Advance Style models get a premium audio system
is one that doesn’t require you
to plug in and charge up. This
is obviously good news for
convenience, and still allows you
to run on pure electric power for
much of the time in stop-start
traffic. However, it also means
that on quieter or faster roads, it
isn’t long before the 1.5-litre petrol
engine needs to join the party.

Unfortunately, when it does and
you try to accelerate even gently,
the experience isn’t what you’d call
relaxing. The engine starts revving
hard and sounds horribly coarse,
almost as though you’re stuck in
first gear, although in reality the
engine is acting as a generator and
trying to ensure that the electric
motors have enough juice. You also
feel vibrations through the pedals
and steering wheel, and none of
this subsides until you reach your
intended speed.

66 January 2022 whatcar.com

Honda HR-V vs Nissan Qashqai

NISSAN QASHQAI By contrast, the turbocharged
1.3-litre petrol unit in the Qashqai
Despite offering superior remains smooth and relatively
body control and stopping muted at all times. It’s possibly
power, the Qashqai is the helped by the fact that its starter
less reassuring car on motor can act as a generator,
winding roads, due to its capturing energy that would
oddly weighted steering otherwise be lost when slowing
down, before using this to reduce
Like the HR-V, the Qashqai comes with powerful LED headlights; the Xtronic auto gearbox contributes to impressive refinement the strain on the engine when you
put your foot down.

However, the bigger reason is
that while the Qashqai comes
with a type of automatic gearbox –
called a CVT – that you’d think
would make it buzz in the same
manic way as the HR-V, it actually
does a good impression of a
conventional auto, keeping revs to
a sensible level unless you put your
foot down hard.

As a bonus, the Qashqai’s
gearbox disguises the lack of
low-down oomph that’s all too
obvious when you combine the
same engine with the manual
alternative. In fact, the Qashqai
is a stronger performer than the
HR-V, whether you’re accelerating
away from a standstill or looking to
build speed on the move.

This isn’t such a surprise when
you consider that it produces more
power and torque than the HR-V.
But what might come as a shock
is that the Qashqai is often the
quieter car when you’re driving at
town speeds, even though it can’t
run solely on electric power in the
way that the HR-V can. The reason
is that the HR-V lets in more road
and suspension noise. Meanwhile,
on the motorway, these unwanted
sounds continue to be more
intrusive than they are in the
Qashqai and are joined by quite a
bit of wind noise from around the
windscreen pillars.

More positively, the HR-V has
soft suspension that allows it to
waft along pleasantly most of
the time, taking the sting out of
lumps and bumps in the road
surface slightly better than the
Qashqai. However, you pay for this
cushiness with a less settled feel on
motorways and undulating roads.

The HR-V also leans over more
dramatically than the Qashqai in
bends, but while it’s not remotely
sporty, the handling feels safe and
predictable, thanks to accurate
steering that weights up in a
natural, progressive way.

By contrast, the Qashqai’s
steering feels a little too light to
begin with, then gains weight
suddenly and excessively when
you turn the wheel beyond a
certain point. This doesn’t stop
the car from gripping the road
gamely, but you don’t trust it as
instinctively as you do its rival.

As compensation, the Qashqai
offers superior stopping power. In
our tests, it needed 1.4 metres

whatcar.com January 2022 67

COMPARISON

less road to stop from 30mph and HONDA HR-V
3.6 metres less to pull up from
70mph. In both situations, that 2 1 The HR-V’s dashboard
could be the difference between design is arguably the
a close call and an accident, more stimulating of the
although each car is equipped with two, and the standard of
automatic emergency braking to construction throughout the
try to prevent you from running car is hard to fault
into other road users.
2 Part-digital, part-
BEHIND THE WHEEL analogue instruments are
Driving position, visibility, easy enough to read, but
build quality they look dated compared
with the Qashqai’s fully
Unlike some rivals, these cars 1 digital set-up
both seat you quite high, which
makes them feel like proper SUVs 3 The relationship between
and is good for forward visibility. the steering wheel and the
However, while the HR-V also keeps pedals is spot on, and you
over-the-shoulder blindspots to a sit quite high in the HR-V.
minimum, the Qashqai is let down However, you do have to
by a rising windowline and thick 3 adjust its seat manually
rear pillars.
950mm
You’ll be grateful, then, that
Nissan fits front and rear parking 900mm
sensors and a 360-degree bird’s eye
view camera as standard; the HR-V 1380mm 1430mm
also has sensors front and rear, but 770mm
its camera merely provides a view 1060mm
of what’s directly behind.
Most HR-Vs offer 319 760mm 470mm
Go for the Qashqai and you litres of boot space, but
also get an electrically adjustable the Advance Style model 1000-1130mm
driver’s seat, which makes it easier gets just 304 litres,
to find your ideal driving position because its upgraded
than with the manual seat of the sound system takes up
HR-V. Plus, the Qashqai is more one of the side storage
likely to keep you comfortable on a compartments
long trip, because it’s the only one
with adjustable lumbar support. Boot 304-1290 litres
Suitcases 5
Another handy feature that’s
fitted to the Qashqai but not the INFOTAINMENT
HR-V is a head-up display, which
projects important information, The HR-V comes
such as your speed, onto the with built-in sat-nav,
windscreen, so that you can keep a wireless phone
your eyes on the road. Both cars, charging pad and
meanwhile, have well-ordered a 9.0in touchscreen,
dashboards and simple rotary although the latter
climate controls. is rather prone to
reflections that can
The HR-V and Qashqai are make it tricky to read.
also closely matched when you To make matters worse,
consider interior quality, with the graphics look
each feeling built to last. That said, fuzzy, and Honda’s
the HR-V has a slight advantage operating system isn’t
in this area, being uniformly solid very intuitive or quick
throughout, whereas you’ll notice to respond.Thankfully,
a few rough edges and irregular it’s possible to bypass it
panel gaps in the Qashqai if by using Apple CarPlay
you go looking for them. Nissan or Android Auto
compensates by throwing more smartphone mirroring;
pleasing, soft-touch plastics at the you can connect to
Qashqai’s dashboard. either wirelessly.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY
Front space, rear space,
seating flexibility, boot

The Qashqai gives front seat
occupants slightly more head and
leg room than the HR-V. However,
in truth, both cars will keep even
the lankiest of folk happy.

Instead, it’s in the back that
there are significant differences,
with the Qashqai having enough
knee room for six-footers but

68 January 2022 whatcar.com

Honda HR-V vs Nissan Qashqai

NISSAN QASHQAI BEST the HR-V offering so much of it
DRIVING
1 2 POSITION 1 The Qashqai’s interior that you could be in a chauffeur-
driven limousine. Or at least you
955mm
1410mm features lots of pleasing could if it wasn’t for the fact that
695mm
soft-touch plastics, while head room is actually pretty tight,
The Qashqai’s boot
isn’t just bigger; it also the climate control whereas the Qashqai has plenty,
benefits from a two-part
height adjustable floor switches and knobs are even though Tekna+ versions come
that can double as a
divider to stop smaller nicely damped with a panoramic glass roof.
items of luggage from
sliding around You also get less shoulder room
Boot 479-1422 litres
Suitcases 7 2 Tekna+ models come in the HR-V, and its central rear

with a head-up display that seat is narrow and quite a bit

projects useful information, higher than the outer two. This

such as your speed and all adds up to the Qashqai being

sat-nav instructions, onto far better suited to carrying three

the windscreen people side by side in the back.

The official figures suggest that

3 An excellent driving the Qashqai has a much bigger

position is complemented boot, too, and our tests confirm

by electrically adjustable that; we managed to fit seven

seats with adjustable carry-on suitcases in, compared

3 lumbar support and a with just five in the HR-V’s.

massage function Adding to the Qashqai’s

practicality is a height-adjustable

boot floor made up of two

individual planks that go across

the load area widthways. When

these are in their higher setting,

they ensure that there’s no lip at

the entrance of the boot to heave

luggage over (that said, the HR-V’s

960mm boot lip is only small).
The planks are also reversible,

with one side carpeted and the

other providing a wipe-clean

1450mm surface. Or, if you prefer, you
can position one of the planks
1070mm

vertically to divide the boot space

in two and prevent smaller items

from sliding around.

BEST The HR-V counters with a small
BOOT underfloor area towards the rear
SPACE of its boot that’s ideal for keeping

muddy shoes away from other

luggage. And while both cars have

rear seats that fold in a 60/40

split and lie completely flat once

850mm 425mm down, the HR-V has a further trick
to boost versatility, in the form of

seat bases that can be flipped up

1035-1445mm like those in a cinema. This leaves

you with space for a dog, a few pot

plants or even a bike.

BEST INFOTAINMENT BUYING AND OWNING
SYSTEM Costs, equipment, reliability,
The Qashqai matches safety and security
the HR-V in offering
sat-nav, wireless phone In the range-topping trims we’re
charging and a 9.0in testing, the Qashqai is pricier than
touchscreen. Plus, its the HR-V to the tune of almost
infotainment menus £5000. However, that gap shrinks
are more intuitive and when you factor in discounts;
are complemented by while you can’t get anything off
physical buttons and the HR-V at the moment, Nissan
knobs. Its graphics look dealers will already knock £2715 off
just as dated as the the latest Qashqai.
HR-V’s, though, and the
screen can be similarly The Qashqai also sits in a lower
sluggish to respond insurance group, but the HR-V
to prods.Again, you counters with cheaper servicing,
can get around this by slightly stronger predicted resale
mirroring your phone values and much greater efficiency.
via Apple CarPlay or Indeed, it averaged 48.4mpg on our
Android Auto, although fuel economy test loop, compared
only the former is with the Qashqai’s 33.6mpg.
wireless here.
If you add up all of the costs that
a private cash buyer can expect

whatcar.com January 2022 69

COMPARISON

WHAT THEY WILL COST All prices correct at time of testing Nissan Qashqai RESALE VALUE BY YEAR ■ Honda HR-V
List price £36,575 ■ Nissan Qashqai
Honda HR-V Target Price £33,860 35,000
List price £31,660 30,000 £17,061
Target Price £31,660 25,000 £16,346

£

SCAN TO BUY 20,000 Value £
THIS CAR NOW

PCP FINANCE COSTS 15,000
0 year
Four-year term, £3000 customer deposit, 10,000 miles per year 1 year 2 years 3 years
THREE-YEAR COST
Monthly cost £390 £459 ■ Depreciation ■ Insurance
Honda HR-V ■ Servicing ■ Road tax ■ Petrol (test MPG)
Manufacturer £500 £750
deposit contribution

Optional final payment £13,940 £14,632 £15,314 £821 £4572

Representative APR 5.0% 3.9% Total
£23,502
Excess mileage charge 8p per mile 8p per mile

Other fees £10 option to purchase None £2505 £290
£16,799 £1455
CONTRACT HIRE Nissan Qashqai £6585

Three-year term, six-month deposit, 8000 miles per year Total
£26,695
Monthly cost na £354

COMPANY CAR TAX £1566 £290
0 5000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000
For 40% tax payers, until April 2022, 2023, 2024

Monthly cost £241, £251, £251 £399, £411, £411

to face over a three-year, 36,000- As for which makes the cheaper your money, including dual-zone Likewise, the list of safety
mile ownership period, choosing company car, it’s a difference of climate control, ambient interior kit that each comes with is
the HR-V over the Qashqai is likely around £160 per month in favour lighting and a heated steering comprehensive; lane-keeping
to save you just over £3000. of the HR-V when you look at wheel. Both cars come with heated assistance and blindspot
benefit-in-kind tax. front seats, too, although only monitoring are included, as is rear
What’s more, it’s a similar story the Qashqai’s can treat you to a cross-traffic alert to prevent you
if you take out a PCP finance deal, Still, whichever contender you massage as well. from accidentally reversing into
instead of buying outright. Put choose, you get a lot of luxuries for the path of a passing car.
down a £3000 deposit and sign
up to a four-year contract with a ‘Both have heated seats, but only the These models are too new to
10,000-mile annual limit and the Qashqai can treat you to a massage’ have featured in the 2021 What
Qashqai will set you back £459 per Car? Reliability Survey, but Honda
month – £69 more than an HR-V ranked 14th out of 30 brands,
on the same terms. while Nissan was down in 27th.

70 January 2022 whatcar.com

STATS AND SPECS Nissan Qashqai Honda HR-V vs Nissan Qashqai
Honda HR-V 1.3 DiG-T MH 158 Tekna+ Xtronic
i-MMD eCVT Advance Style SAYS
1625mm
1582mm If you’re a company driver, it’s hard to look
past the new HR-V, because your benefit-
2090mm 2140mm in-kind tax bills will be so much lower.And
even if you’re a private buyer – as more
710mm 790mm people reading this will be – the financial
savings it offers over the Qashqai are big
2610mm 2665mm enough to be tempting.
4340mm 4425mm
Width 2028mm Turning circle 11.3m Width 2085mm Turning circle 11.5m The trouble is, the HR-V isn’t a very
practical choice, aside from its clever
KEY FACTS 4cyl, 1498cc, petrol, plus two Engine 4cyl, 1332cc, turbo, petrol fold-up rear seats. Plus, we can’t emphasise
Engine electric motors enough how noisy its engine is.
129bhp at 6000rpm Peak power 156bhp at 5000rpm
Peak power 187lb ft at 4500rpm Peak torque 199lb ft at 1800-3750rpm So, yes the HR-V will be better for your
Peak torque 1-spd automatic Gearbox CVT automatic bank balance, but the Qashqai is the car
Gearbox 1401kg Kerb weight 1580kg that will be easier and more enjoyable
Kerb weight 225/50 R18 Tyre size (std) 235/45 R20 to live with. For that reason, we reckon it’s
Tyre size (std) 40 litres Fuel tank 55 litres worth the extra it costs if you’re buying
Fuel tank 96g/km CO2 emissions 146g/km outright or on finance.
CO2 emissions
1
FUEL ECONOMY
Save £2715 at whatcar.com/new-car-deals
TEST MPG Average 48.4mpg TEST MPG Average 33.6mpg Nissan Qashqai
For Great driving position; classy interior;
OFFICIAL MPG Low speed 61.4mpg OFFICIAL MPG Low speed 35.5mpg more practical; very well equipped;
SAFETY High speed 61.4mpg High speed 51.6mpg stronger performance; much quieter
Extra-high speed 39.8mpg Extra-high speed 40.9mpg Against More expensive, even with
Combined 52.3mpg Combined 43.8mpg discounts; not that efficient; slightly firmer
low-speed ride; oddly weighted steering
Euro NCAP rating Euro NCAP rating Recommended options
Not tested Not tested None

PERFORMANCE 2

0-60mph Top 0-60mph Top
9.4sec speed 8.8sec speed

106mph 124mph

Acceleration Acceleration But this car at whatcar.com/new-car-deals
30-70mph in kickdown 9.6sec 30-70mph in kickdown 8.7sec
Honda HR-V
30-50mph in kickdown 3.5sec 30-50mph in kickdown 3.5sec For Cheaper to buy, finance or run as a
company car; excellent fuel economy;
50-70mph in kickdown 6.1sec 50-70mph in kickdown 5.2sec clever rear seats; reassuring handling

Braking Braking Against Incredibly noisy engine; small
30-0mph 9.2m 30-0mph 7.8m boot; tight rear head room; uncomfortable
70-0mph 46.2m 70-0mph 42.6m central rear seat; dated infotainment

Noise Noise Recommended options
At 30mph 61.5dB At 30mph 60.5dB None
At 70mph 68.6dB At 70mph 66.2dB

Location Millbrook Proving Ground Weather conditions Dry Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T MH 158 Tekna+ Xtronic with Ceramic Grey
metallic paint (£745)
CARS PICTURED

Honda HR-V iMMD eCVT Advance Style with Premium Sunlight White Pearl
two-tone paint (£750)

EQUIPMENT Adaptive Keyless Climate Electric/ Adjustable Leather Apple Wireless Head-up Parking Rear-view/ Metallic
cruise entry/start control heated lumbar upholstery CarPlay/ phone display sensors 360-degree paint
Standard Not available control front seats support Android Auto charging front/rear
/ (2-zone) Part* camera £550
Honda HR-V / (2-zone) / / / £745
Nissan Qashqai / / / /
/
*Synthetic leather

whatcar.com January 2022 71

COMPARISON

Don’t sweat
the haul stuff

Pick-ups aren’t just workhorses for farmers and tradesmen;
they can also serve as family vehicles. Let’s see which
of the latest crop gets the job done best

Photography: John Bradshaw

Toyota Hilux
2.8 D-4D 204
Invincible X auto

List price £42,145
Target Price £42,145
Legendary for its off-road
prowess and toughness,
the Hilux now has a big,
2.8-litre diesel engine,

but it’s the priciest
of our quartet

Ssangyong
Musso

2.2 e-XDi Saracen
auto

List price £36,528
Target Price £36,528
The Musso is not only the
cheapest of our pick-ups to
buy but also comes lavishly
equipped. Can it compete
as a workhorse, though?

72 January 2022 whatcar.com

Ford Ranger LIMEY: THE CULL
2.0 Ecoblue 213
Wildtrak auto B in the pick-up
class has been
List price £41,576 so bloody that
Target Price £41,576
Our reigning Pick-up of the it could feature
Year packs the most power
and offers many of the in a Quentin
comforts and features of
regular passenger cars Tarantino movie, with more than

NEW half of the models on sale a couple
Isuzu D-Max
1.9 V-Cross auto of years ago having gone the way

List price £39,245 of Vincent Vega. So, why is this?
Target Price £39,245
Isuzu is another brand with Well, ever-tightening emissions
a long history of making
rugged work vehicles, the regulations have led to many
latest of which is this all-new
D-Max. Its modernity should brands discontinuing their
give it some advantages
when it comes to tech highest-polluting vehicles to

avoid being hit with big EU fines,

with pick-ups chief among those

in the firing line. However, the

ones that remain can still make

a lot of sense as company ‘cars’,

because they qualify for a flat

benefit-in-kind tax rate that’s

much lower than those based

on list price and CO2 emissions,

assuming you’re using them only

for incidental personal purposes.

Our reigning champion,

the Ford Ranger, is among the

survivors. Despite having the most

powerful engine in this test, it has

the lowest CO2 output, helped by a

trick 10-speed automatic gearbox

that maximises efficiency.

The Ranger is closely matched

for muscle by the Toyota Hilux,

one of its main rivals. Toyota’s

venerable pick-up now comes with

an enlarged, 2.8-litre diesel engine.

There are no changes under

the bonnet of the Ssangyong

Musso, which is one of the

most affordable pick-ups you can

buy yet comes with loads of kit,

especially in the top-spec Saracen

trim we’re testing here.

But can any of these pick-ups

beat the all-new Isuzu D-Max,

which offers a level of safety

technology more worthy of a high-

end passenger car than a rugged

working vehicle? On paper, it looks

like a blockbuster new entry, but

how does it stack up in reality?

whatcar.com January 2022 73

COMPARISON

KEY FACTS

Engine 4cyl, 1995cc, diesel

Peak power 210bhp at 3500rpm

Ford Ranger Peak torque 369Ib ft at 1750-2000rpm

Gearbox 10-spd automatic

Top speed 112mph

Kerb weight 2246kg

FORD’S HUGE F-150 is the world’s Fuel tank 80 litres

best-selling pick-up truck. And CO2 201g/km
plenty of the things that make it FUEL ECONOMY
so popular have filtered down to

its little brother, from its clever Test 26.3mpg

spring-loaded tailgate (which is by Official 36.7mpg

far the easiest of the four to close) PERFORMANCE
to the easy-to-engage four-wheel

drive system and the well laid out Acceleration

interior with chunky buttons. 0-60mph 9.5sec

That interior has been updated 30-70mph in kickdown 9.3sec

over the years, so that it now 30-50mph in kickdown 3.8sec

features an 8.0in infotainment 50-70mph in kickdown 5.5sec

touchscreen that runs the same 30-60mph while towing* 12.5sec

software as most Ford passenger

cars. Plus, there are plenty of nice Braking

materials to lift the ambience, 30-0mph 9.0m 70-0mph 49.0m

including contrasting stitching for 30-0mph while towing* 10.7m

the leather upholstery.

The Ranger is the comfiest Noise

of our contenders inside, and At 30mph 58.9dB At 70mph 67.2dB

that starts with its supportive *Pulling a 1900kg+ caravan
driver’s seat. All of our testers

could find a driving position

that worked, despite the steering

wheel adjusting only for height.

And while your kids might not

appreciate the absence of air vents

in the back, they’ll not want for

charging options, with both a 12V

and 230V three-pin socket fitted. 970mm
Perhaps the best thing of all
1430mm 970mm
about the Ranger, though, is how it

drives. The steering is the quickest 690mm 1440mm
to respond and has an accuracy
that’s quite car-like. What’s more, 1060mm

the Ranger has the most settled

ride of our contenders, laden or There’s plenty of space for four adults to sit in comfort in the Ranger, which equals the Musso for the most head room front and rear

unladen. Sure, you’re aware of

bumps in the road, but it lessens

their impact impressively.

Performance is another

strength, with the Ranger posting

the quickest acceleration times

of our quartet, even though

its automatic gearbox can be 1
indecisive at times – not ideal

when it has 10 ratios to choose

from. The gruff engine note is

ever-present, even when cruising

on the motorway, although

the Ranger is relatively good at

shutting out wind and road noise. 2
As for off-road ability, the

Ranger acquits itself well. True, its

road-biased tyres have a harder

time finding traction than the

knobbly ones fitted to the Hilux, 3
but excellent axle articulation

meant we never got stuck, even in

arduous conditions.

Another area in which the

Ranger stands out is servicing

costs, helped by Ford’s massive

dealer network and competitive 1 Infotainment system is the most 2 Chunky knobs and switches for 3 Wheel doesn’t adjust for reach
rates. Your maintenance bills over user-friendly here, although it has the air-con and other secondary and there’s no lumbar adjustment,
three years will be at least half the smallest screen, at 8.0in functions are a doddle to use but driving position is still sound
those of the other three, with the

Hilux being the priciest.

74 January 2022 whatcar.com

Ford Ranger vs Isuzu D-Max vs Ssangyong Musso vs Toyota Hilux

KEY FACTS

Engine 4cyl, 1898cc, diesel

Peak power 162bhp at 3600rpm

Peak torque 266Ib ft at 2000-2500rpm
Gearbox 6-spd automatic

2 Top speed 112mph
3
Kerb weight 2030kg
Fuel tank 76 litres

CO2 241g/km

FUEL ECONOMY

Test 32.0mpg
Official 30.7mpg

PERFORMANCE

Acceleration
0-60mph 11.7sec
30-70mph in kickdown 12.8sec
30-50mph in kickdown 4.7sec
50-70mph in kickdown 8.1sec
30-60mph while towing* 17.4sec

1 Braking
30-0mph 9.0m 70-0mph 47.4m
1 Cupholders between the 30-0mph while towing* 10.5m
front seats can either chill
or warm your drink 2 There’s no built-in sat-nav; you 3 Small information display Noise
have to use phone mirroring between the instrument dials At 30mph 59.0dB At 70mph 68.4dB
instead if you want route guidance looks rather dated
*Pulling a 1900kg+ caravan

Isuzu D-Max 925mm 940mm
1450mm
THE ISUZU D-MAX may not 720mm 1465mm
have the brand image of the
Toyota Hilux or be as instantly 1055mm
recognisable as the Ranger, but it
has long been a solid choice for D-Max has the most rear leg room but the least front head room, although there’s still good clearance for a tall driver’s head
people who need a work tool.
national speed limit roads except
The new one moves things motorways. However, the D-Max
upmarket, though, thanks to a accelerates the slowest, and its
smarter interior, with soft-touch engine often needs to be revved
plastic used across the dashboard, hard just to keep pace with
neat toggle switches for the traffic, highlighting how coarse
air-con, and a 9.0in touchscreen. it is. That’s a pity, because the
Unfortunately, that screen is suspension actually keeps clunks
nowhere near as intuitive as the to a minimum. The ride over
Ranger’s, and it’s the only one here bigger bumps isn’t as bouncy as
that doesn’t have built-in sat-nav; the Hilux’s, and the D-Max deals
you’ll have to utilise a navigation with scruffy surfaces better than
app via Android Auto or wireless the stiffer Musso.
Apple CarPlay instead.
The steering is surprisingly light
More positively, finding a at low speeds, too, helping when
comfortable driving position isn’t making tight manoeuvres. And
difficult, because there’s a greater you won’t find yourself wrestling
range of adjustment than you with the wheel going over rutted
get in the Ranger; specifically, the terrain. In fact, the D-Max feels
steering wheel moves in and out right at home off road, where it
as well as up and down. coped with everything we could
throw at it.
You’re also surrounded by
useful storage cubbies, including The D-Max is alone in passing
space for a 1.5-litre bottle of water the most up-to-date Euro NCAP
in each door – ideal for hot days crash test with five stars; the Hilux
on the building site. And rear also got five, but in less stringent
seat passengers get air vents and tests. Still, that’s better than the
a USB socket between them. Musso, which has never been
tested, while the Ranger’s rating
Because the D-Max weighs is so old that it has expired.
less than 2040kg, you can drive
it at regular car speed limits, whatcar.com January 2022 75
whereas its three heavier rivals
are restricted to 50mph on all

COMPARISON

Ssangyong 2
Musso

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE to the theory 1
that paying more for something 3
always pays dividends, the
Musso – the least expensive of 1 Musso is smartest inside, with the 2 Dashboard top and infotainment 3 Despite being the cheapest to
our contenders – isn’t for you. nicest materials and the biggest screen can cause reflections in buy, the Musso comes with heated
However, if you want value for infotainment screen (9.2in) the windscreen at night and ventilated front seats
money, stick with us.
970mm 970mm
In a number of ways, the
Musso is one of the best pick- 1505mm 1525mm
ups available, especially if you 700mm
spend a lot of time at the wheel.
It’s plusher than any of its rivals, 1070mm
with lots of soft plastic over the
top of the dashboard, a generous Broad interior and a relatively low central floor hump make the Musso the best for seating three side by side in the rear seats
helping of what looks like leather
surrounding the air-con controls,
and genuine Nappa leather seat
upholstery in Saracen models.

The front seats are not only
heated but also cooled – a real
bonus when you consider the
price. What’s more, the digital
displays look quite flash and
respond swiftly, including the
9.2in infotainment touchscreen.

Ssangyong hasn’t skimped
on sound-deadening material,
either; the Musso registered the
lowest noise readings of the four.
Its engine is refined by pick-up
standards, even when you demand
a burst of power, plus wind and
road noise levels are low.

You could even class the Musso
as being nimble, thanks to limited
body lean in corners. However,

KEY FACTS this has been achieved by making
the suspension relatively stiff,
Engine 4cyl, 2157cc, diesel resulting in an unsettled ride and
Peak power 179bhp at 3800rpm constant patter at speed. You also
Peak torque 310Ib ft at 1600-2600rpm feel plenty of shudders over lumpy
Gearbox 6-spd automatic asphalt, along with kickback
Top speed 115mph through the steering wheel; the
Kerb weight 2155kg latter can be really disconcerting
Fuel tank 75 litres if you hit a mid-corner bump.
CO2 214g/km
Those shudders also make the
FUEL ECONOMY Musso feel the least comfortable
off road and can lead to you going
Test 26.3mpg quite slowly. That’s far from ideal,
Official 29.5mpg because you need momentum
to make up for its shortage
PERFORMANCE of traction; blame limited
suspension articulation and the
Acceleration lack of a locking rear differential.
0-60mph 10.9sec Indeed, the Musso was the only
30-70mph in kickdown 12.4sec pick-up that managed to get stuck
30-50mph in kickdown 4.6sec on our off-road test route.
50-70mph in kickdown 7.8sec
30-60mph while towing* 16.7sec Depreciation also gets the better
of the Musso, which will be the
Braking costliest to own for private buyers
30-0mph 9.1m 70-0mph 49.3m in the long run. Conversely, opting
30-0mph while towing* 11.8m for the most expensive truck – the
Hilux – would be smarter because
Noise of how well it holds onto its value,
At 30mph 57.3dB At 70mph 66.9dB although it’s the D-Max that is
cheapest to run overall.
*Pulling a 1900kg+ caravan

76 January 2022 whatcar.com

Ford Ranger vs Isuzu D-Max vs Ssangyong Musso vs Toyota Hilux

KEY FACTS

Engine 4cyl, 2755cc, diesel Toyota Hilux
Peak power 201bhp at 3000rpm
Peak torque 369Ib ft at 1600-2800rpm THE HILUX HAS been around in
Gearbox 6-spd automatic one form or another since 1968,
Top speed 108mph so it’s safe to say Toyota has
Kerb weight 2125kg plenty of experience at building
Fuel tank 80 litres pick-ups. The Hilux also happens
CO2 246g/km to be the workhorse of choice on
the Royal Windsor estate, so if it’s
FUEL ECONOMY good enough for the Queen, it
should be good enough for you
Test 28.2mpg and me, right?
Official 30.0mpg
Well, inside, maybe not. You
PERFORMANCE can’t knock its construction,
but in terms of plushness,
Acceleration the Musso does things better,
0-60mph 10.2sec despite being much cheaper to
30-70mph in kickdown 9.9sec buy. Even when you compare
30-50mph in kickdown 3.7sec infotainment systems, the Musso
50-70mph in kickdown 6.2sec has the edge over the Hilux,
30-60mph while towing* 13.0sec despite the latter now featuring
full smartphone connectivity.
Braking
30-0mph 8.7m 70-0mph 49.9m You’ll also find yourself sitting
30-0mph while towing* 10.7m surprisingly close to your front
passenger, because of how narrow
Noise the Hilux is on the inside. And
At 30mph 57.4dB At 70mph 67.1dB things don’t improve in the rear
seats, where it has the least head
*Pulling a 1900kg+ caravan and leg room.

920mm 960mm On the other hand, the new
1430mm 2.8-litre engine is hard to fault.
1410mm It’s got loads of mid-range punch
640mm to allow you to build speed
effortlessly when required, plus
1060mm it’s linked to a responsive six-
speed automatic gearbox.
Rear leg room is tightest in the Hilux; passengers will struggle to get their feet under the front seats. High floor hurts head room, too
The trouble is, the Hilux
3 isn’t particularly nice to drive
1 in other respects. It starts with
unnecessarily heavy steering
2 that is also very slow to respond
to your inputs.
1 Interior feels built to last 2 Standard JBL audio system 3 Lofty driving position affords a
but isn’t as well finished as sounds good and helps drown out good view out, but, as in the Ranger, There isn’t a huge amount of
those of its cheaper rivals the clatter of the diesel engine there’s no adjustable lumbar support grip on the road, either, and the
Hilux leans over disconcertingly
in corners. Nor does it ride well,
bucking over bumps and suffering
an unpleasant twisting motion
in corners brought about by its
soft front suspension being at
odds with its stiff rear end.

When you head off road,
though, the Hilux excels. Its
lockable rear differential and
generous suspension travel
keep the knobbly off-road tyres
clamped to the ground, and we
found that the Hilux had no
trouble chewing through mud,
finding traction in places where
you’d swear there wasn’t any.

If you’re looking at long-term
ownership, the Hilux comes with
the most generous warranty (10
years or 100,000 miles), provided
you stick to franchised Toyota
dealers for servicing. The Musso is
covered for up to 150,000 miles,
whereas the Ranger has the least
cover, at three years and a mere
60,000 miles.

whatcar.com January 2022 77

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Ford Ranger vs Isuzu D-Max vs Ssangyong Musso vs Toyota Hilux COMPARISON

FORD RANGER Maximum payload 1024kg

510mm Maximum payload while towing 254kg
1120-1530mm
1460-1560mm Maximum trailer weight (braked) 3500kg Best for towing

1240mm Width 2020mm Turning circle 12.7m OUR CONTENDERS ARE all
capable of pulling a braked trailer
Ranger is widest between the rear wheel arches and its tailgate is easiest to close 1848mm 850mm weighing up to 3500kg, but the
ISUZU D-MAX muscular Ranger makes it look
3220mm easiest. It yanked our test caravan
490mm from 30-60mph in 12.5sec in our
5362mm test, making it not just quicker
than its rivals but a veritable
Ground clearance 229mm supercar next to the D-Max, which
took 17.4sec. Indeed, the latter is
Approach/departure angles 28deg/28deg slow enough to make you second
guess pulling into traffic.
Breakover/tilt angles 25deg/35deg
True, the D-Max stopped in the
Wading depth 800mm shortest distance with the caravan
on the back, but it pulled to the
Maximum payload 1070kg right at the same time, whereas
the Ranger – which went only
Maximum payload while towing 470kg slightly farther before coming to a
standstill – felt the most stable.
Maximum trailer weight (braked) 3500kg
High-speed stability is also
Width 2170mm Turning circle 12.5m impressive in the Ranger, and
it keeps itself and the caravan
1790mm 870mm under control in an emergency
lane change, whereas the slower
1100-1520mm 3125mm steering of the Hilux makes
1450mm this sort of manoeuvre more
5265mm challenging and can cause the
1365mm caravan to weave in a somewhat
Ground clearance 235mm unnerving manner.
D-Max is alone in having a hydraulic damper to slow the rate of its tailgate’s descent
Approach/departure angles 31deg/24deg Instead, it’s the Musso that
you might want to consider as an
Breakover/tilt angles 22deg/na alternative to the Ranger if you
tow regularly; it performs almost
Wading depth 800mm as well in terms of stability and
trailer control.
SSANGYONG MUSSO
Best for carrying
Maximum payload 1095kg
ALL OF OUR contenders have a
Maximum payload while towing 1095kg maximum payload of more than
a tonne, but when it comes to
Maximum trailer weight (braked) 3500kg hauling things in its load bed, the
Musso is the one to beat. Not only
Width 2170mm Turning circle 13.0m does it have the highest payload
(1095kg) but it can lug all of that
575mm 1840mm 830mm weight even when it’s pulling
a 3500kg trailer, whereas the
1105-1590mm 3100mm Ranger, for example, is restricted
1325mm to 254kg in those circumstances.
5095mm
1370mm The Musso also has the widest
Ground clearance 215mm load bed and aperture, and it’s the
Bed is relatively short but wide and deep, so Musso can still hold a Euro-size pallet only one to come with a protective
TOYOTA HILUX Approach/departure angles 23deg/23deg bed liner. The only limitation is
that its bed is the shortest.
475mm Breakover/tilt angles 20deg/na
By contrast, the Ranger has the
Wading depth 350mm longest bed, although it narrows
towards the bulkhead, meaning
Maximum payload 1015kg you can’t use the full length if you
happen to be transporting broad
Maximum payload while towing 675kg sheets of plywood.

Maximum trailer weight (braked) 3500kg Although the Hilux has the next
longest bed, its shallowness limits
Width 2010mm Turning circle 11.8m the height of what you can carry,
and it’s the narrowest between
1815mm 900mm the rear wheel arches.

1080-1550mm 3085mm As for the D-Max, it sits
1510mm somewhere in the middle,
5330mm providing a decent rather than
1320mm exceptionally sized load area and
Ground clearance 293mm the second-highest payload.
Hilux’s bed is shallower than rivals’ and narrower between arches; tailgate is heavy
Approach/departure angles 29deg/26deg

Breakover/tilt angles 23deg/45deg

Wading depth 700mm

whatcar.com January 2022 79

COMPARISON

WHAT THEY WILL COST

Ford Ranger Isuzu D-Max Ssangyong Musso Toyota Hilux

List price inc VAT £41,576 £39,245 £36,528 £42,145
List price ex VAT £34,651 £32,759 £30,495 £35,175
£513, £513, £513 £484, £484, £484 £451, £451, £451 £520, £520, £520
Company car tax (40%)
£117 £117 £117 £117
(per month, until April 2022, 2023, 2024) £563 £662 £485 £467

Contract hire (per month)

PCP finance (per month)

Three years, £4000 deposit, 12,000 miles per year

THREE-YEAR COST ■ Depreciation ■ Insurance ■ Servicing ■ Road tax ■ Fuel (test MPG)

Ford Ranger £18,709 £637 £7662

Isuzu D-Max Total
£30,507
Ssangyong Musso
£2949 £550
Toyota Hilux £1335
£16,483 £6297
0 5000
EQUIPMENT Total
£27,899
Standard Not available
£3234 £550
Ford Ranger
Isuzu D-Max £20,090 £1368 £7662
Ssangyong Musso
Toyota Hilux Total
£33,255
All prices include VAT
£3585 £550
£7145
£15,594 £1571

£3297 £550 Total
20,000 £28,157
10,000 15,000 25,000 30,000
35,000

Load bed Locking rear Cruise Leather Adjustable Tow bar/ Parking Reversing Load bed Trailer Electric seats Heated/
liner differential control/ seats lumbar electric sensors camera/ roll cover stability driver/front ventilated
adaptive support power front/rear 360deg assist passenger front seats
£300 £1380
£380 / £480 / / £1578 / /
/ / / £1734 / /
/ £612 / / £1549 / /
/ / / / /
£409 £553

£719

Ford Ranger vs Isuzu D-Max vs Ssangyong Musso vs Toyota Hilux

1

Ford Ranger 3 4

For Strongest performance;
best to drive; most comfortable
ride; longest load bed

Against Gruff engine; indecisive
automatic gearbox; Euro NCAP
safety rating has expired

Recommended options Load bed
roll cover (£1380), Wildtrak Driver
Assistance Pack (£1350), plastic
bed liner (£300)

2

Ssangyong Musso Toyota Hilux Isuzu D-Max

For Cheapest to buy; best for load lugging; For Unstoppable off road; good engine For Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating; best
quietest; smartest interior and gearbox combo; slow depreciation fuel economy; capable off road

Against Steep depreciation; jiggly ride; Against Terrible ride; heavy steering; Against Not powerful enough; noisy
least capable off road sloppy handling; least spacious inside engine; fiddly infotainment; no sat-nav

Recommended options Load bed roll Recommended options Load bed roll Recommended options Load bed roll
cover (£1734) cover (£1549), plastic bed liner (£409) cover (£1578), plastic bed liner (£380)

SAYS

The D-Max finishes last in don’t get in the way of it interior. If only it had a bit Go to whatcar.com for all
this test, mainly because it performing as a working of extra power and rode in the latest comparison tests
desperately needs a more vehicle, so for us it has the a more settled fashion, it and keep up to date with
potent engine. It may be edge over the D-Max. But could have won overall. the latest from What Car?
fine when lightly loaded, not the other two. on our social media channels
but add people, cargo or a However, we still think the
trailer and it struggles. The Musso proves that Ranger is the best choice youtube.com/whatcar
you don’t have to spend for most people, because
You also have to put up big to get an excellent it combines all of the facebook.com/whatcar
with some significant flaws pick-up. In fact, if you tow practicality you expect
in the Hilux – in particular, a trailer regularly, it might from a pick-up with @whatcar
its sloppy handling and even be your best option. strong performance,
uncomfortable ride. It’s also the most refined composed handling and whatcar_official
However, these issues choice with the nicest impressive comfort.

whatcar.com January 2022 81

OUR CARS

FIRST
REPORT

Kiall has gone for our recommended Allure trim, which features classy touches such as ‘piano key’ shortcut buttons for the infotainment; automatic ’box should aid ease of use

Peugeot 5008 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure EAT8 S&S with ease, as long as its third row of seats is
folded flat into the boot floor.
We’re finding out whether this refreshed large SUV
suits a high-mileage driver who needs lots of space I’ve gone for the 129bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine
(1.2 Puretech 130 in Peugeot speak) and Allure
Kiall Garrett because my role as a What Car? videographer trim. Sitting just above entry-level Active,
[email protected] means I regularly have to carry around Allure includes a 10.0in touchscreen with
tripods, suitcases, cameras, laptops, cleaning Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone
I’VE BEEN A fan of the facelifted Peugeot gear, cables and rain covers (lots of them). By mirroring, blindspot monitoring, dual-zone
5008 ever since we filmed our YouTube video contrast, the 5008’s boot can take all of my kit climate control and a camera with a 180-degree
review of it earlier this year. To my eyes, it’s birds’ eye view to help with parking.
a real head-turner, and one of the few cars RIVALS
that manages to offer the dimensions of a True, you don’t get the heated front seats
large, practical SUV without having an Hyundai Santa Fe Kia Sorento and adaptive cruise control found on pricier
awkward or bulky design. trims, but I’ve got all of the equipment I need.
Combines space Related to the Santa And given how stylish the 5008 looks in
As a result, it stood out as an obvious choice for seven adults with Fe and just as good, standard form, I don’t feel like I’m missing
when the time came to replace my Mini a supple ride and but with an even out by doing without the sporty visual tweaks
Countryman. Over the years, the 5008 has been loads of standard kit. longer warranty. that the GT spec brings.
a regular winner at our annual Car of the Year
Awards and, thanks to that aforementioned Deciding which engine to go for was even
facelift, it now features a tidier front end, LED simpler. The 1.2 Puretech is the only petrol
headlights, an upgraded infotainment system option available with Allure, and I didn’t fancy
and more standard safety equipment. going for a diesel and becoming a pariah
to my friends – however unfair that status
The Countryman was just about big enough might have been.
for my needs, but I did have to pack carefully,
To get the more powerful 1.6 Puretech
engine, I’d have needed to go up a few trim
levels. But I did choose to stretch to the
optional eight-speed automatic gearbox,

82 January 2022 whatcar.com

Ride comfort is impressive, especially at higher speeds No petrol or diesel, but
Neil thought he’d be able
‘The interior feels
classy and well built; to use a rapid charger
most rivals look bland
by comparison’

rather than sticking with the six-speed manual Vauxhall Mokka-e 50kWh Elite Nav Premium
that’s standard, because I cover a lot of miles
and suspected it would be a much more Public chargers let us down not once but twice as
relaxing option. our electric small SUV gets desperate for a top-up

With this engine and gearbox combination, Neil Winn home and use the slower, 7kW Source London
the 5008 has an official fuel economy figure [email protected] charger that is located on the street near my
of 46.0mpg, which seems good for such a big flat. Usually, I try to avoid this, because you’re
SUV. And don’t go thinking that you’ll see Mileage 1350 List price £34,580 (not including  charged by the minute, not by the kilowatt
much lower numbers in the real world; I’m £2500 gov’t grant) Target Price £34,580 delivered, but by this point I was pretty
already averaging close to 43mpg without Price as tested £35,230 Test range 151 miles desperate for a charge.
really trying, so I’m looking forward to seeing
what’s possible when I drive specifically with DURING THE RECENT fuel panic, when filling Mercifully, when I arrived, the bay in front
efficiency in mind. stations up and down the country ran out of of the unit was free, so I hastily grabbed my
petrol, I saw friends and family suffering from Type 2 cable out of the boot and scanned the
While I haven’t had the 5008 for long, I’ve range anxiety in their conventional cars – a QR code on the machine with my phone. This
already been able to get some miles under its rather novel experience. However, without then directed me to the Source London website,
belt. Whether you’re in town, on rough country the ability to charge my fully electric Vauxhall where I could input my card details – a lengthy
roads or on the motorway, it offers a really Mokka-e at home, the smugness I felt turned process but one that I was happy to go through,
comfortable and calming driving experience. out to be short-lived. Let me explain. provided it worked.
I’ve been particularly impressed by how
smooth the ride is at higher speeds; this bodes Despite living in an affluent London suburb After selecting the correct charging location
well for my regular journeys to and from where every third car now appears to be on my phone and hitting ‘Start charge’, I
video shoots around the country. electric, there is a surprising shortage of fast plugged the car in and waited for the surge of
public chargers nearby. Indeed, the closest electrons to make their way to the Mokka-e’s
What’s impressed me most of all, though, one to me is a 150kW Shell Recharge unit that battery. But, sadly, they never came.
is the interior. Most rivals look bland by is 20 minutes away.
comparison, and although I could have had After much unplugging and replugging and
ambient lighting and some fancier materials It is located on a well-lit forecourt, even changing payment cards without success,
if I’d gone up a trim, my Allure-spec 5008 still though, so shortly after taking delivery of I gave the Source London helpline a call. Once
feels classy and well built. my Mokka-e, I ordered a Shell Recharge fob again, I was told that the machine I was trying
(you have to register your credit card details to use had been out of order for a few days.
In addition, while Peugeot’s i-Cockpit layout online) to make the charging process a little
(which gives you an unusually small steering more straightforward. So, I accepted defeat, drove to the What Car?
wheel that you look over rather than through office in the Mokka-e and popped it on a slow
to see the instruments) can cause issues in its Driving onto the forecourt during the charge from a wallbox. Now, luckily, thanks to
hatchbacks, there are no such problems in the fuel shortage, I was first met with a ‘Sorry, my line of work, there were alternative vehicles
5008. I can have the wheel exactly where I want no fuel’ sign; cue said smugness as I drove to go home in – an option that I’m very aware
it without blocking the digital dials. around the hastily constructed barrier. I wouldn’t be open to many other electric car
then proceeded to park the Mokka-e in the owners. And what did I take? A fully fuelled
So, with good fuel economy, a comfortable generous-sized bay, scanned my fob on the diesel Toyota Land Cruiser. The future, eh?
ride, big practicality and that interesting machine and plugged in, only to find that I
interior, the 5008 feels tailor-made for me. wasn’t receiving any charge. A slow charger would have done the job, if it had worked
Here’s hoping it continues to impress as
much as it has so far. I figured it must be down to the fob, so
I repeated the start-up process with my
LOGBOOK contactless debit card. The machine appeared
to accept the card but, once again, when I
Peugeot 5008 checked the digital instruments inside the
1.2 Puretech 130 Allure EAT8 S&S Mokka-e, no charge was being delivered.

Mileage 3158 In the end, I called the helpline number on
List price £33,470 Target Price £32,104 the side of the machine and was told by an
Price as tested £34,045 apologetic customer service representative that
Options fitted Celebes Blue metallic it had been out of order for a number of days.
paint (£575)
Test economy 42.7mpg Oh well, I thought, I’ll just have to drive back
Official economy 46.0mpg

whatcar.com January 2022 83

Toyota Highlander 2.5 Hybrid AWD-i Excel Jaguar E-Pace

Our hybrid seven-seat SUV is ticking not only the D200 R-Dynamic SE
practicality box but also the one labelled ‘ease of use’
Mileage 6800 List price £42,075
Max Edleston squeeze it all into. Everything from coffee cups Target Price £40,349 Price as tested
[email protected] to flash guns are swallowed without fuss. £47,260 Test economy 41.0mpg

Mileage 8922 List price £50,610 Unlike in some other Toyota models, the IT’S AS IF my Jaguar E-Pace is getting mardy
Target Price £48,878 Price as tested Highlander’s infotainment system is another at me for forcing a change of lifestyle upon
£50,595 Test economy 36.7mpg strength. Its 8.0in touchscreen is the ideal it.After scenic jaunts to Devon and the
size, in my book, being big enough to show Peak District early in our time together, the
I’VE HAD MY Toyota Highlander for only a you everything clearly, but not so big that it’s mundanity of my regular working life might
couple of months, but I’ve already put several distracting. Proper physical shortcut buttons well have come as a shock, manifesting itself
thousand miles on the clock. And while the make it easy to navigate between the menus as a glitch with the power steering.
good news is that this large, seven-seat SUV and keep sub-menus to a minimum.
is proving every bit as practical as I’d hoped, One morning, on a short urban journey, a
the better news is it’s making my life easy in On top of that, the smartphone mirroring ‘power steering assistance reduced’ warning
other ways, too. works brilliantly alongside Toyota’s own came up on the digital instrument panel.
software, allowing you to quickly switch from ‘Reduced’ was an understatement; even
For example, its lane-keeping assistance Apple Maps to the Highlander’s DAB radio Geoff Capes would have found bringing the
technology positions the car just right, instead selector and back again. car to a tidy kerbside halt a bit of an effort.
of trying to steer me too close to one side of
the lane or letting the car bounce from side to Initially, I was also impressed by Toyota’s As you do, I turned the engine off and
side like a pinball, in the way that some rival decision to place the wireless phone charger on again, at which point normal service
systems can do. in the cubby beneath the armrest, so that was resumed. Hopefully the issue won’t
your phone is out of reach and you’re not return, or it will be me, not the car, that’s
When you combine this with adaptive cruise tempted to use it. However, I then realised that the grumpy one. JB
control to keep me a safe distance from the car the Highlander doesn’t have wireless phone
in front, long motorway journeys are far less mirroring, so you have to plug your phone Audi E-tron Sportback
tiring than you might expect. in, making the charging pad redundant. It’s
not even as if one of my passengers is likely 55 quattro 96kWh S line
Then there’s the Highlander’s well thought to use the pad, because USB ports are dotted
out interior. No matter how much clutter I’m abundantly around the interior – a blessing Mileage 3120 List price £80,675
travelling with – and given my line of work that helps me to keep my photographic kit Target Price £76,677 Price as tested
as a photographer, sometimes there’s a lot – topped up on the go, I might add. £84,795 Test range 230 miles
there are more than enough storage spaces to
My only other gripe is that some of the IT’S RARE TO get something for nothing,
Phone charging pad is proving less useful than expected materials used for the Highlander’s centre but you do with electric cars like my Audi
console feel a bit cheap. Given that the car E-tron Sportback.
costs more than £50,000, I’d expect to see less
shiny plastic and more leather, such as you You see, they feature regenerative braking,
find in rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe whereby the motors that usually power the
and Kia Sorento. car become generators when you lift off
the accelerator.As a result, when you’re
These are relatively minor issues, though, slowing down or descending a hill, you get
and overall I look forward to spending many free energy. Indeed, on a particularly steep
more hours on the road with the Highlander, hill near my parents’ house, I can add four
because I know that I’ll arrive at my destination miles of range.
feeling fresh and unstressed, with the
Highlander – thanks to its hybrid engine To adjust the strength of the regenerative
technology – having used a relatively small braking, you simply pull on one of two
amount of fuel along the way. paddles behind the steering wheel; the left
one increases the amount of energy that’s
recovered, with the side effect that you slow
quicker, and the right one decreases it, so
you can coast for longer. SH

84 January 2022 whatcar.com

OUR CARS

Mini 5dr Cooper Sport

FINAL
REPORT

Chris has found
several similarities
between his Mini and
his old Rover 800

The Mini hatchback may was standing still. It’s a car that doesn’t take It says a lot that the Mini won me over
still have its flaws, but its itself too seriously, with amusing features despite its shortcomings, and that brings me
considerable charms such as the facility to set the big LED ring back to the Rover. When my grandad bought
have won us over that surrounds the infotainment screen it in the 1990s, he could have chosen an Audi
to illuminate in a way that matches the A6 or a BMW 5 Series for the same money, and
Chris Haining movement of the rev counter needle, or to both were objectively much better cars. He
[email protected] follow the beat of your music. wanted the Rover, though. He identified with it.

THE MINI FACTORY in Cowley, near Oxford, Then there’s Wanda the economy goldfish, ‘Wantability’ is the Mini’s stock in trade.
has a long and storied history. Last year, my who rewarded efficient driving with playful You could say that it lives in a parallel category
five-door Mini Cooper Sport rolled off the backflips, and those Union Flag tail-lights; they to other small cars; the Honda Jazz rules the
production line there, but cars have been built border on the tacky and polarise opinion, but I roost for practicality, the Volkswagen Polo is
on the site for almost a century, wearing Mini, came to enjoy their sheer truculence. the go-to for a blend of quality and comfort,
Austin, Morris, Triumph and even Honda and the Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza duke it out
badges. Rover badges, too. In fact, the silver 800 All this cheeriness distracted me from the for handling honours. If you want personality
pictured above emerged from the same facility Mini’s flaws, but they can’t be ignored entirely. and individuality, though, I reckon the Mini
24 years before my Mini. It once belonged to Certain small car rivals, including the Ibiza, is the one to choose.
my grandfather, and I now cherish it myself. trounce it when it comes to practicality.
I’ve certainly fallen for its esoteric charms,
The Rover is here because the more I drive I chose the five-door on the basis that its and I’m not the only one. If my car’s strong
the Mini, the more I think about my Rover. extra doors provide easier access to the rear trade-in value is anything to go by, dealers
That’s not because the two are in any way seats, and there’s more leg room for whoever’s must have a steady stream of customers who
similar – they really aren’t – but because of how sitting in them. However, the tiny front doors yearn to go on a Mini adventure of their own.
I connected with the Mini. It got beneath my left a narrow gap for me to squeeze through,
skin in a way that few cars manage to. and my cumbersome frame required that LOGBOOK
I move the steering wheel and seat as far
I initially chose the Mini because I fondly back as they’d go. That meant any leg room Mini 5dr Cooper Sport
remembered the fun I’d had in previous for a passenger sitting directly behind me
versions, and it didn’t take long for it to live up disappeared anyway. Mileage 2990
to those memories. For at least part of every List price £21,965 Target Price £21,117
trip I made in it, the Mini had me grinning. My biggest gripe concerns road noise, Price as tested £27,385
Indeed, while it doesn’t corner with quite the though. I’ve rarely heard such a big difference Test economy 48.2mpg
enthusiasm of the Seat Ibiza I ran previously, it between the coarse concrete and smooth Official economy 49.6mpg
has a more easygoing feel that brought me joy Tarmac sections of the A12 than in the Mini. Dealer price now £24,473
even when I wasn’t pushing it hard. The tyres roar and the suspension hums to Private price now £21,754
create a drone that drowns out the engine noise Trade-in price now £21,978
In fact, I found the Mini fun even when it and does its best to smother the stereo, rather Running costs (excluding depreciation)
spoiling long journeys. It’s just as well, then, Fuel £435
that the Mini did such a good job of persuading
me to take the twisty route home.

whatcar.com January 2022 85

Mazda MX-30 145 Sport Lux FIRST
REPORT

MX-30’s standout
features include rear-
hinged rear doors and

a classy interior

Does a relatively short Having said that, this is a very different car step up. You’re treated to lashings of
range matter in an from the Zoe, and I don’t just mean in terms high-quality leather, a standalone 7.0in
electric car if you live in of size or class. More than anything, the thing infotainment screen with sophisticated
the city? We’re finding out most people worry about when running an graphics, and a sculptured centre console. It
EV is how far it can go on a charge, and in really does feel like a premium product.
Louis Shaw that department my new car is rather less
[email protected] impressive (on paper, at least) than the Zoe. The Early driving impressions are good. The
MX-30 can officially cover 124 miles on a single MX-30 feels nicely tied down, turning in
A WISE PERSON once said: “If you don’t look charge, compared with the Zoe’s 245 miles. with a sense of urgency and balance. It’s also
back at your car after you’ve parked it, you’ve comfortable, proving especially forgiving
bought the wrong model.” And one thing I can Mazda says the fact that the MX-30 has on the nasty, pothole-strewn London streets
say about my new Mazda MX-30 at this early a relatively small battery (with a 30kWh near my home.
stage is that it’s making me owl-neck more than usable capacity to the Zoe’s 41kWh) is better
the night-time predator itself. It’s a stunning for the environment and that larger ones, Refinement is another highlight. I’ve yet
thing to behold, and I’m reminded of that every being heavier, tend to spoil the car’s driving to get on the motorway proper, but on busy
time someone stops me to ask about it in the dynamics. It also says that for longer journeys, dual carriageways there’s hardly any road roar
street, or at a car wash, rest stop or public park. most people have a bigger second car. While and, of course, no engine noise. At the end of
Take note, supercar owners: you don’t need to that might be true, I fear they’ve forgotten every journey, I feel calm and refreshed.
spend big money to get the world staring. the merits of owning a single car, both for the
environment and the wallet. Over the next few months, I aim to prove
The fact that the MX-30 is difficult to that the MX-30 isn’t just for those with a
pigeonhole only adds to the intrigue. Although So, what of the spec? Well, an entry-level second car that runs on petrol or diesel. The
it looks compact in photos, at 4.4 metres long SE-L Lux model will set you back £26,045 (after range is unquestionably a concern, but because
it’s the size of a regular family SUV, but with the the Government’s £2500 EV grant has been I have a relatively short commute, I’m hopeful
sloping roofline of a coupé. It also differs from factored in), but I’ve opted for Sport Lux trim, that it won’t turn out to be a deal-breaker.
most other cars in having rear-hinged rear which adds £2000 to the price but brings
doors, like those of the BMW i3 (and Mazda’s plenty of useful extras. LOGBOOK
earlier RX-8 sports car). And it’s electric.
For starters, you get more supportive seats, Mazda MX-30 145 Sport Lux
While my recently departed Renault Zoe which are heated, and rear privacy glass for an
was the first electric vehicle (EV) I’d lived with, added level of security when parked up with Mileage 523
I now feel like something of a veteran when valuables aboard. But most appealing of all List price £30,545 (not including £2500
it comes to battery-powered cars and took to me is the keyless entry. I never used to be a government grant)
delivery of the MX-30 unafraid of what the fan, but having now had several cars with this Target Price £29,588
future might hold. In fact, I’m relishing the feature, I appreciate the convenience of being Price as tested £32,045
opportunity to continue the EV lifestyle. able to walk away with bags in hand and trust Options fitted Polymetal Grey metallic paint
the car to lock up behind me. with Brilliant Black roof (£1500)
Test range 117 miles
We’ve got used to Mazdas having high- Official range 124 miles
quality interiors, but the MX-30’s is another

86 January 2022 whatcar.com

OUR CARS

Volvo V90 Recharge T6 Inscription

Jim Holder
[email protected]

Mileage 1948 List price room across the rear bench for Honda Jazz
£58,300 Target Price £58,300 three adults to sit in comfort for an
Price as tested £65,440 hour or so.The V90 is wider than 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid EX eCVT
Test economy 45.9mpg the rival Audi A6 Avant, and it’s
here that it really tells. What’s more, Darren Moss
WHAT DO YOU want from an estate no one needed to balance bags [email protected]
car above all else? Most likely on their knees, because the boot
space, and the V90 delivers in is large and usable, with no load Mileage 1341 List price Then there are the cupholders.
every area. lip to hamper you as you load up
and a practical, square shape. £22,500 Target Price £21,259 You might think these couldn’t
For starters, there’s plenty of
room up front, complemented In this area, the V90 pretty much Price as tested £22,995 make a big difference, but my
by seating that adjusts every matches the A6.The Mercedes-
which way, and a plethora of Benz E-Class Estate can take even Test economy 61.4mpg go-to travel mug is (a) large and
cubbyholes. Only the shallower- more, but it’s debatable how
than-expected central storage much more space anyone could (b) has quite a protruding handle.
area slightly lets it down. It’s really want or need.
worth noting, too, that the huge IT’S FRIDAY EVENING and I’ve That means it doesn’t quite fit
panoramic glass roof – a feature Everyone arrived fresh, happy
that bathes the interior in light – and with enough wetsuits, towels got 164 miles to cover in my into most cupholders, which can
does nothing to compromise and the like for a great trip away.
head room for me, at 195cm tall. Adding another layer of lustre, Honda Jazz.You see, I’ve taken cause it to leak and make things
the V90 returned 41mpg on the
There’s no compromise in 350-mile run there and back. to spending the odd weekend sticky with coffee residue.
the back, either, as some test That’s despite setting off with its
volunteers discovered while being electric-only capability all but in Norfolk, at the idyllic seaside In the Jazz, though, each front
taken to Norfolk on holiday in a drained by a previous outing.
fully loaded car. Sitting behind town of Wells-next-the-Sea. It’s the occupant gets a wide, deep
two tall adults, they not only had While that’s well below my
enough room to stretch their legs, everyday average of just over
but were also able to sit three 50mpg (boosted by lots of sub-25-
abreast – comfortably enough mile trips on electricity alone), it’s
to catch a few extra winks before still decent, given the worst-case
hitting the beach. scenario of running at motorway
speeds and on country lanes with
In fact, there’s probably enough no battery charge.

kind of location that features on cupholder in the top of the

postcards, and the perfect place dashboard that’s the ideal size for

to unwind after a big week at my mug. So, I can face the hold-

work. But right now it’s not getting ups with a caffeine hit close to

much closer, because the M25 hand – and not have to mop up

motorway around London is the centre console later.

heavily congested. Finally, despite being a small

Thankfully, the Jazz has car that spends 90% of its time

everything needed to keep me being used for local journeys, my

feeling calm and fresh in the Jazz is very comfortable when I

traffic nightmare.The standard-fit have to spend a long time behind

four-speaker stereo is sending the wheel, thanks to a supportive

soothing sounds through the seat and a ride that’s capable of

interior with pleasant clarity, while wafting me along the motorway

the adaptive cruise control and with creamy smoothness.

lane-keeping assistance systems Having eventually made it

mean that, when I am moving, the to Norfolk, I met up with family

car is helping out. and we spent the next day

together being

tourists.That meant

cramming four

people and their

luggage into my car,

but the Jazz’s boot

took all of our bags

and the pushchair

needed to transport

my young niece

around with ease.

Versatile? I think that

could be my Jazz’s

The Jazz has just the place for an oversized travel mug middle name.

With comfort and space to burn, the V90 aced a fully loaded run to Norfolk and back ‘The boot took all of our bags and
my niece’s pushchair with ease’

whatcar.com January 2022 87

USED CARS

Porsche 718 Boxster

BUYING GUIDE
The current Boxster is one of the finest-handling sports cars

you can buy – and it now makes a tempting used buy

In production 2016-present Price from £35,000 Our favourite 718 Boxster 2.0

Oliver Young
[email protected]

PORSCHE KNOWS HOW to build a sports car. also get electric windows, air-con, bright xenon and a Sport Chrono pack that gives you launch
Its expertise spans more than 70 years, and the headlights, part-Alcantara seats and 18in alloy control and several modes to help tailor your
Boxster distils it into a very arresting package. wheels. The Boxster S adds 19in wheels. driving experience. As well as the six-cylinder
In current 718 form, it’s been around for five engine, stepping up to the GTS also brings an
years and is now a compelling used buy. While the Boxster T has the same engine upgrade to adaptive suspension and a sports
and power output as the entry-level model, exhaust that allows the Boxster to really sing.
If you have your heart set on one of Porsche’s Porsche describes it as “a purist’s sports car”,
legendary flat six engines, though, you might and it comes with performance-enhancing WHAT’S IT LIKE?
want to look before you leap; when introducing goodies to suit. As well as lowered suspension, The Boxster is at its best on a twisty road. It’s
the 718, Porsche decided instead to use a range you get 20in wheels, a mechanical limited-slip precise, balanced and confidence-inspiring in
of turbocharged flat fours. These consisted of a differential to help apply power in corners,
295bhp 2.0-litre for the standard car, a 345bhp RIVALS
2.5-litre for the S and a 360bhp 2.5-litre for the Spot-on driving position will fit most drivers like a glove
Boxster GTS that arrived in 2018. Audi TT RS Roadster Jaguar F-Type
Convertible
As a result, overall performance – as well as Effortlessly quick,
fuel economy – was improved, but at the cost and capable on Dramatic V6 and V8
of the operatic soundtrack and that last bit the twisties, but the engines, but not as
of high-rev grunt that came with the flat six. Boxster is more fun. sharp as the Boxster.
Salvation came in 2019 with the 414bhp Spyder,
which reinstated the flat six in 4.0-litre form,
with a 395bhp GTS 4.0 following suit in 2020.

Every Boxster comes with a crisp-looking,
easy-to-use 7.0in infotainment touchscreen,
with Bluetooth, a DAB radio and sat-nav, as
well as Apple CarPlay phone mirroring so you
can use iPhone apps via the car’s screen. You

88 January 2022 whatcar.com

GOOD SCAN TO
Engaging handling FIND USED
Lusty performance 718 BOXSTERS
Superb craftsmanship FOR SALE

BAD Front and rear boots can each take a couple of soft bags
Some engines lack charisma

Not that well equipped
Pricey to run

Soft roof opens or closes Infotainment comes via a responsive 7.0in touchscreen
in around nine seconds
at the touch of a button

boots – one in the nose and the ONES WE FOUND complained about the quality of
other behind the engine – that will the paintwork.

take a few soft weekend bags. The Boxster didn’t perform well

in the latest What Car? Reliability

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? Survey, finishing last out of the

Around £35,000 should net eight models that made up the

you a 2016 Boxster with high to coupé, convertible and sports

average mileage. A similar S will 2016 Porsche 718 car category. Bodywork was the

cost around £43,000 and a 2.5 GTS Boxster, 13,000 miles main problem area, followed by

circa £50,000. Price £39,980 the suspension, and the faults

At the time of writing, you’re often took a long time to put

unlikely to find a bargain GTS 2018 Porsche 718 right. Meanwhile, Porsche ranked

Even the entry-level 4.0; there aren’t many around Boxster S, 23,300 a disappointing 25th out of 30
model is more fun than many
and they start at around £80,000 miles Price £51,995 brands in the same survey.
faster, pricier sports cars
– more than the starting price
the corners, making it fun and rewarding to
drive. The steering is direct and the accelerator from new. The same is true with 2020 Porsche 718 WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?
responds crisply, plus – purists rejoice – you
get a slick six-speed manual gearbox. Mind the Spyder; you’ll need at least Boxster GTS 4.0, 1700 We adore the six-cylinder GTS 4.0;
you, the optional seven-speed dual-clutch
automatic, dubbed PDK, is excellent, too. £92,000 to secure one of those. miles Price £79,980 it has all the drama – and more

No Boxster is a slouch; even the 295bhp Better news is that the 718 – that you got with the earlier
2.0-litre model does 0-62mph in 4.9sec with
the PDK automatic gearbox. In automatic form, range as a whole is reasonably Boxsters, yet it’s just as usable
though, the GTS 4.0 shrinks that time to 4.0sec.
The manual version actually takes 0.5sec economical – as sports cars go. Officially, the every day as the four-cylinder cars. The Spyder
longer, but we’d argue that it’s a price worth
paying, because the manual delivers a more entry-level 2.0-litre can return 32.5mpg, and is even more exciting, but its less practical roof
involving, engaging driving experience.
even the GTS 4.0 manages a decent 28.0mpg. arrangement makes it harder to live with.
Inside, the Boxster is comfortable and well
put together, with a high-quality feel to all the Insurance groups are high, though, and, However, because you have to pay over the
switches and buttons. The driving position
is easy to get accustomed to and visibility is because all 718 Boxsters were more than odds to buy either of those versions, neither
reasonable for such a low-slung roadster, plus
many cars will have been specified with the £40,000 when new, owners will have to pay out is the 718 Boxster to buy used at the moment
optional rear sensors or rear-view camera for
assistance when parking. an extra £335 per year in car tax for years two (unless you’re considering squirrelling one

There’s enough room for two to sit without to six, on top of the £155 per year that applies to away as an investment). No, for less than half
brushing shoulders, and although luggage
space is rather limited, you do get two handy all petrol and diesel cars registered after April the price of a GTS 4.0, you can pick up an entry-

2017. Tax on cars registered before that date is level 2.0-litre model and still find yourself the

determined by CO2 emissions. owner of a fast, thrilling and sweet-handling

sports car. That’s the one we’d go for.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

Repairs and parts can be costly, so check the SAYS
bodywork carefully for signs of damage, and

ensure that the electric soft-top is in good A joy to drive, and refined
condition and operates as it should. and comfortable enough

Boxsters of this generation don’t have the

best reliability record. On early examples, that you can use it every day
problems have been reported with the PDK

automatic ’boxes, while some owners have

whatcar.com January 2022 89

USED CARS

Price today BMW 5 Series 530d xDrive M Sport
List price when new £49,265
£23,000* Available from 2017-present

Six-cylinder diesel, four-wheel-drive version of our
favourite luxury saloon will take some beating

Half-price luxury cruises

Buy either of these luxury saloons at four years old and you'll save nearly
£27,000 off their price new. But should you go BMW 5 Series or Jaguar XF?

BMW 5 SERIES JAGUAR XF

2
2

3

1 1

1 Rotary infotainment 3 Photography: John Bradshaw
controller is easy to use
and means you don’t 2 The interior exudes 3 You had to pay extra 1 Gear selector is a dial 2 An 8.0in infotainment 3 Overall interior
have to look down to class and was available from new for adjustable that rises from the centre touchscreen was quality is disappointing;
change settings from new with a range lumbar support in the console when you hit the standard; this upgraded there are lots of plush
of wood and metal 5 Series, but it does have starter button, adding a Pro version matches the materials, but many of
dashboard finishes wider seats than the XF touch of class 5 Series’ 10.2in size the fittings feel flimsy

90 January 2022 whatcar.com

BMW 5 SERIES BMW 5 Series vs Jaguar XF

Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 Diesel S BEST
List price when new £49,995 RIDE
Available from 2015-present

XF packs more under-bonnet muscle than
the 5 Series and has sportier pretensions

Price today

£23,000*

The 5 Series is a terrific motorway cruiser, with a hushed interior and a smooth ride
JAGUAR XF

*Price today is based on a 2017 model with average mileage and full service history,correct at time of writing Rear-wheel drive XF has less traction and can’t soak up bumps as well as the 5 Series

WE SUSPECT WE’RE not alone in DRIVING both saloons accelerate similarly improve agility. It never involves
feeling a bit gloomy at this time Performance, ride, briskly, and only a gentle squeeze you in the experience of going
of year – so how about a luxury handling, refinement of your right foot is needed to blast around corners as well as the XF,
car to lift your spirits? past slower-moving traffic. but its steering is far from numb.
For the price of a V6 diesel XF,
We’re talking about something you could have had a 530d with You’ll probably want your What’s more, the 5 Series can
with a sumptuous interior, a ride optional four-wheel drive when luxury car to pamper you rather actually corner at higher speeds
like a magic carpet, and an engine new. This makes it less of a handful than goading you to drive faster than the XF, because it grips the
so hushed and smooth that you’ll in slippery conditions than the all the time, but when a snaking road better. It feels more planted
wonder if you actually started it. standard rear-wheel-drive car, and stretch of empty road does open at high speeds in a straight line,
it’s on the one we’re testing here. up ahead, the XF will put a bigger too, and isolates you far better
But wait, you say, it’ll cost me smile on your face. Its steering is from engine, wind and road noise.
an awful lot of money to buy a The extra traction largely quick and precise and provides If you do lots of motorway miles,
luxury car. Well, not necessarily. explains why the 5 Series was plenty of feel through the wheel, the 5 Series should get you to your
We’re testing out two choices that, quicker off the mark in our tests. while the nose responds instantly destination feeling more relaxed.
at four years old, will set you back When you plant your right foot, it to even the tiniest steering inputs.
less than half the price of a new surges to 30mph with no drama Ride comfort is arguably the
one. In fact, you’ll get a luxury at all, while the rear-wheel-drive The 5 Series feels bigger and most important trait of a luxury
saloon for the same money as a XF tends to spin its wheels as it more grown-up. It doesn’t react as car, and the 5 Series does well
far more humble family SUV. struggles to transfer its power to eagerly when you turn the wheel, here too. Our test car had another
Feeling better now? Yes, so are we. the road – especially in the damp. even if you find a car with Integral option – the Variable Damper
Once you’re on the move, though, Active Steering. This option allows Control (VDC) suspension – and
For many, a luxury car means the rear wheels to turn slightly to with this, it delivers the full
the BMW 5 Series (it was our 2021 BMW 5 SERIES
Luxury Car of the Year, after all), JAGUAR XF
so that’s what we’re starting with.
Here, because we’re in need of BEST
extra pampering, we’re testing it SYSTEM
in 3.0-litre six-cylinder 530d form,
which gives it the sort of pace that
was once the preserve of full-on
performance cars.

We’ve chosen to pitch it up
against one of the 5 Series’ closest
adversaries, the ever-graceful
Jaguar XF. The version we’ve
picked has a 3.0-litre diesel engine
too, and is even more potent.

whatcar.com January 2022 91

USED CARS Boots’ suitcase-carrying capacities are measured
with a 560x350x230mm Antler suitcase, with the rear
BMW 5 SERIES seatbacks in place and up to the parcel shelf

BEST
BOOT
SPACE

950mm

1890mm 440-530mm 940mm

800-1400mm 1450mm 1510mm 1110mm
680mm

Boot 530 litres Four adults will have no trouble getting comfy, and 5 Series is better for carrying three in the back due to its extra
Suitcases 5 width. Boot is slightly smaller but a better shape. Split-folding rear seats – standard in XF – were optional in 5 Series

magic carpet effect on the worst twice before choosing the XF. Yes, technique quickly becomes second widest point, but not quite as long
roads, smothering potholes and its dashboard is mostly soft to the nature, so it’s a doddle to make as the XF’s. BMW charged extra
staying beautifully controlled on touch and there’s plenty of leather phone calls via Bluetooth, tap a for split-folding rear seats, while
the motorway. We’d recommend (on the seats, steering wheel and destination into the sat-nav or Jaguar fits them as standard.
trying to find a car with VDC even parts of the dashboard), but play music that’s stored on your
fitted, but few buyers optioned it nothing feels particularly plush phone through the car’s stereo. BUYING AND OWNING
from new; without it, the ride is or expensive. Some buttons and Costs, equipment, reliability,
firmer, albeit still smoother than switches are surprisingly flimsy. You might think that the XF’s safety and security
the XF’s. The XF is by no means touchscreen interface would be
uncomfortable, but you feel more You won’t have any such gripes really intuitive, but it isn’t laid New, these two cars cost roughly
of the bumps you drive over, about the 5 Series. In fact, few cars out as well as the 5 Series’ system the same, coming in at just under
whatever the speed. in any price bracket have such and is slower to respond to inputs. £50,000. Now, bought at four
well-appointed interiors. You’ll find It’s also more distracting to use years old as here, they’ll set you
BEHIND THE WHEEL top-quality materials everywhere while you’re driving, potentially back around £23,000.
Driving position, visibility, you look or touch, and build quality forcing you to take your eyes off
build quality to rival a nuclear bunker. the road ahead for longer. As far as running costs go, the
XF will be slightly pricier to
If you’re expecting your luxury The 5 Series also has the better The fact that the standard insure (by roughly £60 over three
saloon to yield a classy interior infotainment system. Its standard screen in the XF is relatively small years), while servicing will be
to while away the hours in, think 10.2in widescreen can be controlled (8.0in) doesn’t help; some of the around £800 more than for the
by touch or with the physical dial icons are fairly hard to hit. If you 5 Series over the same period.
BMW 5 SERIES between the front seats. The dial can, find a car with the upgraded NEDC official tests – which were
10.2in Pro system, which is more prevalent when these two cars
sophisticated and responds faster. were new – show that the XF will
also cost more to fuel. You can
You’re not likely to have any expect to fork out about £200
trouble finding a comfortable more over three years if you do an
driving position in either of our average mileage.
contenders. The XF’s seat is lower
and more sports car-like, with a It’s worth considering the
high window line and a tall centre 5 Series’ more impressive record
console between you and your for reliability, too. In the most
front seat passenger. The 5 Series recent What Car? Reliability
feels more like a traditional luxury Survey, covering cars of this age,
limo, with wider seats and an airier the 5 Series finished top in the
driver environment. However, luxury car class, while the XF
it’s a pity that BMW charged extra finished fourth out of six. BMW
from new for adjustable lumbar finished in 13th place out of 30
support, which can help keep manufacturers in the same survey,
your lower back properly while Jaguar came in 21st place.
supported on longer trips.
Both cars are tested here in their
When fitted with optional xDrive four-wheel drive, the 5 Series is quicker off the mark SPACE AND PRACTICALITY range-topping trims, so there’s
Front space, rear space, been no scrimping on luxuries.
JAGUAR XF seating flexibility, boot You get 19in alloy wheels, climate
control, heated leather seats,
BEST Both cars will carry four adults automatic xenon headlights,
HANDLING easily enough, although rear rain-sensing wipers and front and
leg room is less generous in the rear parking sensors. The XF also
5 Series. Equally, rear head room adds keyless entry. Automatic
could be better in the XF, and it’s emergency braking, which is
also the narrower car, so carrying designed to stop you accidentally
three people in the back is more running into the car in front, is
of a squeeze. standard on both cars. They each
achieved a full five-star rating
There’s hardly anything in it for when they were tested under the
outright boot space. The 5 Series’ Euro NCAP safety procedure.
load bay is taller and broader at its

‘The XF is hugely likeable, but the
5 Series is simply the better car’On twisting roads, the XF is the best fun to drive, with quicker responses and more feel

92 January 2022 whatcar.com

BMW 5 Series vs Jaguar XF

JAGUAR XF

BEST
REAR
SPACE

2080mm 450mm 940mm

810-1230mm 920mm 1450mm
1390mm
790mm 1110mm

Boot 540 litres Rear seat passengers have more leg room than in 5 Series, but optional panoramic glass roof eats into head room.
Suitcases na Boot opening is narrower, so it’s trickier to load anything wide. Driving position is lower, giving a sportier feel

STATS AND SPECS Jaguar XF WHAT CAR? SAYS
BMW 5 Series 3.0 V6 Diesel S
530d xDrive M Sport These are both great cars at
1460mm bargain prices, but victory here
1470mm goes to the indomitable 530d.
It’s impressively refined, rides
670mm 690mm beautifully and corners with a
level of composure that few
2980mm 2960mm other luxury cars can match. If
4940mm 4950mm keeping running costs down is
Width 2130mm Turning circle 12.4m Width 2080mm Turning circle 11.6m your priority, the 520d is a better
option, but for anything else, the
KEY FACTS 6cyl, 2993cc, diesel Engine 6cyl, 2993cc, diesel 530d is a real tour de force.
361bhp at 4000rpm Peak power 296bhp at 4000rpm
Engine 457lb ft at 2000rpm Peak torque 516Ib ft at 2000rpm The XF is still a likeable car
Peak power 8-spd automatic Gearbox 8-spd automatic that’s great fun to drive, thanks
Peak torque 66 litres Tank 66 litres to sharp steering, a strong engine
Gearbox 138g/km (NEDC) CO2 emissions 144g/km (NEDC) and agile handling. It looks great,
Fuel tank too. If you remain tempted by
CO2 emissions its feline charms, we don’t
blame you one jot.
FUEL ECONOMY
1
TRUE MPG Average na TRUE MPG Average 38.1mpg
OFFICIAL MPG Town na OFFICIAL MPG Town 26.6mpg
Motorway na Motorway 37.1mpg
Rural na Rural 51.3mpg
NEDC combined 53.2mpg NEDC combined 51.4mpg

SAFETY

Euro NCAP rating (2017) yxyxyxyxyx Euro NCAP rating (2015) yxyxyxyxyx

All protection 91% 85% 81% 59% All protection 92% 84% 80% 83%

PERFORMANCE Weather conditions Damp Buy this car at whatcar.com/used-cars

0-60mph Top 0-60mph Top BMW 5 Series
5.4sec speed 6.2sec speed For More refined; great to drive and ride in;
plusher interior
155mph 155mph Against Not as economical as the 520d
version

Acceleration Acceleration 2
30-70mph in kickdown 5.7sec 30-70mph in kickdown 5.8sec
30-50mph in kickdown 2.4sec 30-50mph in kickdown 2.5sec Buy this car at whatcar.com/used-cars
50-70mph in kickdown 3.3sec 50-70mph in kickdown 3.3sec Jaguar XF
Braking Braking For Eager steering and handling;
30-0mph 9.3m 70-0mph 51.2m 30-0mph 9.9m 70-0mph 53.1m strong engine
Noise Noise Against Disappointing interior; noisier;
At 30mph na At 70mph na At 30mph na At 70mph na fiddly infotainment system

CARS PICTURED Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 Diesel S with Italian Racing Red paint, Black Pack, 19in Blade
gloss black alloys and panoramic glass roof
BMW 520d SE with Sophisto Grey metallic paint
2017 Jaguar XF 3.0d V6 S, 56,000 miles
ONES WE FOUND Price £20,499
2017 BMW 530d M Sport, 59,000 miles
Price £21,990

whatcar.com January 2022 93



Buyer’s
guide

Class by class,
the best new cars,
reviewed and rated

‘We’ve got
BeevsetrByunyesefodr’

WHAT CAR? TEAM

96 Small cars | 97 Family cars | 98 Hot hatches | 99 Small SUVs
100 Family SUVs | 101 Large SUVs | 102 Executive cars | 104 Small electric cars

105 Large electric cars | 106 Luxury cars | 107 Luxury SUVs | 108 MPVs
109 Estates | 110 Convertibles | 111 Coupés | 112 Coupé SUVs
113 Sports SUVs | 114 Sports cars | 115 Performance cars

Key information: Fuel economy figures and electric car ranges are official results achieved in WLTP testing

Go to whatcar.com/new-car-deals for the most up-to-date Target Prices January 2022 95

Small cars

2

1 Honda Jazz Our pick 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SR Volkswagen Polo Despite the
List price £20,960 fashion for
THE JAZZ IS the small car to beat for Target Price £19,807 Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 Match SUVs, the
passenger space, and its unique and MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km List price £18,660 Target Price £18,660 traditional
incredibly flexible rear seating only For Remarkably spacious, with great MPG 53.3 CO2 120g/km small car
adds to its practicality. It’s neither the seating flexibility; strong performance; For Supple ride; classy and spacious remains the
most fun car in the class (that’s the Ford lots of standard kit; holds value well interior; little wind or road noise most popular
Fiesta) nor the most comfortable (that’s Against Pricey by small car standards; Against Weak entry-level engine; safety type on the
the Peugeot 208), but with excellent not the quietest cruiser; disappointing nothing special; Ford Fiesta is more fun road, with
visibility, it’s definitely easy to drive. infotainment system WHAT CAR? SAYS the likes
Hybrid power also makes it really cheap WHAT CAR? SAYS of the Ford
to fuel, and slow depreciation helps 3 Fiesta and
make up for high prices. 5 Vauxhall
Dacia Sandero Corsa
4 generally
Our pick 1.0 TCe 90 Comfort among the
List price £12,045 Target Price £12,045 top sellers
MPG 53.3 CO2 120g/km overall. The
For Amazingly cheap; well equipped; best small
comfy ride; roomy interior; big boot cars are
Against Not exactly fun to drive; some brilliant all-
rivals are quieter; poor safety rating rounders and
WHAT CAR? SAYS easy to drive,
with modern
6 BEST TO safety kit as
standard,
DRIVE but value
for money
heads the
priority list.

Peugeot 208 Seat Ibiza Ford Fiesta

Our pick 1.2 Puretech 100 Allure Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 FR Our pick 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid 125 ST-Line
List price £19,610 Target Price £18,537 List price £19,580 Target Price £18,346 Edition 5dr List price £21,365 Target
MPG 53.0 CO2 118g/km MPG 52.3 CO2 123g/km Price £20,310 MPG 54.4 CO2 117g/km
For Very comfortable; best engine is For Entertaining handling; spacious by For Superb to drive; good economy
punchy and frugal; high-quality interior small car standards; well equipped and emissions; smart inside
Against Flawed driving position; so-so Against Hard plastics; road noise; Skoda Against Some rivals are better value;
infotainment; quite expensive Fabia is cheaper with same engine important safety kit costs extra
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

7 8 9 10 BEST FOR
THE CITY

Audi A1 Toyota Yaris Skoda Fabia Hyundai i10

Our pick 30 TFSI Sport Our pick 1.5 VVT-i Hybrid Icon Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE Our pick 1.2 MPI SE Connect
List price £21,565 List price £20,210 List price £16,175 List price £14,995
Target Price £20,945 Target Price £19,100 Target Price £16,175 Target Price £14,215
MPG 52.3 CO2 124g/km MPG 68.8 CO2 92g/km MPG 53.3 CO2 121g/km MPG 52.3 CO2 124g/km
For Tidy handling; quiet cruiser For Top economy; reliability record For Spacious; competitively priced For Easy to park and manoeuvre
Against Stingy kit; Mini is plusher Against Infotainment; rear space Against Hard plastics; jiggly ride Against Pricey to buy with cash
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

96 January 2022 whatcar.com/new-car-deals

BUYER’S GUIDE

Family cars

2

1 Seat Leon Skoda Octavia There are
plenty of
AS A FAMILY car, the latest Leon gets the Our pick 1.5 TSI Evo 130 FR Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE Technology types
basics right by offering a big boot and List price £24,515 List price £23,380 Target Price £23,380 of car that
even more space for passengers than the Target Price £22,847 MPG 52.3 CO2 123g/km make good
gigantic Skoda Octavia. But it also serves MPG 50.4 CO2 127g/km For Relaxed motorway ride; enormous family
up a very welcome slice of fun and costs For Great handling; smart, spacious boot; plush and practical interior transport,
less to run than you’d think. interior; punchy yet frugal petrol Against You hear wind and suspension but here
engines; generous standard spec noise; air-con controls are fiddly we’re looking
Don’t go thinking that the Leon feels Against Ride is on the firm side; more WHAT CAR? SAYS at traditional
even remotely hairshirt, either. It’s every wind and road noise than some rivals; hatchbacks:
bit as smart inside as the more expensive very few optional extras available 3 BEST FOR large enough
Volkswagen Golf, while its infotainment WHAT CAR? SAYS to fit the
system is more user-friendly. VALUE family inside,
yet compact
4 BEST TO 5 Skoda Scala enough to be
easy and
DRIVE Our pick 1.0 TSI 110 SE enjoyable
List price £19,575 Target Price £17,419 to drive.
MPG 53.3 CO2 120g/km The best
For Spacious rear seats and a practical also offer a
boot; comfortable ride; cheap to buy comfortable
Against Interior has a budget feel in ride, good
places; comparatively noisy at speed quality
WHAT CAR? SAYS and lots of
standard
6 equipment
for a
reasonable
price.

Ford Focus Audi A3 Sportback Volkswagen Golf

Our pick 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid 125 ST-Line Our pick 40 TFSIe Sport Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 Life
Edition List price £24,665 Target Price List price £34,005 Target Price £32,840 List price £25,080 Target Price £24,051
£23,262 MPG 54.3 CO2 117g/km MPG 282.5 CO2 25g/km MPG 52.3 CO2 123g/km
For Agile handling, precise steering, For Fine ride and handling balance; For Supremely comfy with adaptive
well equipped; roomy in the back great driving position; efficient hybrid suspension; tidy handling; quiet cruiser
Against Low-rent interior; engine not Against Fiddly infotainment system; Against Infotainment system is full of
the strongest; quite expensive materials are good rather than great bugs; interior quality could be better
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

7 BEST 8 9 10

INTERIOR

BMW 1 Series Toyota Corolla Mercedes-Benz A-Class Mazda 3

Our pick 118i M Sport auto Our pick 1.8 Hybrid Icon Tech Our pick A200 Sport auto Our pick 2.0 e-Skyactiv-G SE-L Lux
List price £30,105 List price £26,060 List price £28,750 List price £23,055
Target Price £29,236 Target Price £24,866 Target Price £27,918 Target Price £22,085
MPG 47.9 CO2 134g/km MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km MPG 46.3 CO2 120g/km MPG 51.4 CO2 124g/km
For Quality feel; user-friendly dash For Very frugal; good standard kit For Supple ride; special interior For Upmarket feel; refined at speed
Against Small boot; road noise Against Cramped in the back Against Below-par reliability Against Visibility; tight in the back
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

Go to whatcar.com/new-car-deals for the most up-to-date Target Prices January 2022 97

Hot hatches BEST FOR
PRACTICALITY
2

Honda Civic Type R Hot hatches
should make
Our pick 2.0 VTEC Turbo GT even the most
List price £36,415 Target Price £36,415 mundane
MPG 33.2 CO2 193g/km of drives feel
For Handles brilliantly; surprisingly magical by
comfortable; spacious interior blending
Against Infotainment system is poor; entertaining
engine could sound more special handling
WHAT CAR? SAYS with easily
accessible
3 BEST FOR performance.
This ability
VALUE to entertain,
however,
1 Toyota GR Yaris shouldn’t
come at the
THE GR YARIS is a truly special Our pick 1.6 Circuit Pack Ford Fiesta ST expense of
machine that feels tailor-made for List price £33,520 running
tackling a British B-road. With its small Target Price £33,520 Our pick 1.5 ST-2 Performance Pack 3dr costs, and
proportions, clever four-wheel drive MPG 34.4 CO2 186g/km List price £22,905 Target Price £22,283 because a hot
system and firecracker of an engine, its For An absolute riot in the bends; MPG 42.8 CO2 149g/km hatch is often
performance is incredibly accessible, incredible traction and acceleration off For Fun to drive, with loads of grip and a family’s
yet it’s also fast enough to frighten the line; tempting finance deals a cracking engine; very well priced sole car, it
thoroughbred sports cars. Against Limited rear seat and boot Against Too easily upset by bumps; also needs to
space; interior too similar to a regular interior feels a bit ordinary be well
For pure driving thrills, hot hatches Yaris’s; small range of options WHAT CAR? SAYS equipped and
don’t get any better. And yet it’s well WHAT CAR? SAYS reasonably
priced and should be fairly cheap to run. practical.

4 5 6 BEST FOR

BIG SPENDERS

Volkswagen Golf R Hyundai i20 N Mercedes-AMG A45

Our pick 2.0 TSI 320 4Motion DSG Our pick 1.6 T-GDi 204 Our pick 2.0 S 4Matic+
List price £40,025 Target Price £38,391 List price £24,995 Target Price £23,805 List price £51,235 Target Price £51,235
MPG 36.2 CO2 177g/km MPG 40.4 CO2 158g/km MPG 31.4 CO2 204g/km
For Agile handling; comfy ride; strong For Easy to drive quickly; lots of safety For Savage performance; quick-shifting
performance; easy to live with kit; comfier ride than Fiesta ST automatic gearbox; immense grip
Against Woeful infotainment and dash Against Engine laggy at low revs; not Against Lacks the handling delicacy of
layout; quality doesn’t befit price quite as exciting to drive as Fiesta ST some rivals; super-expensive to buy
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

789 10

Renault Mégane RS Volkswagen Golf GTI Audi S3 Hyundai i30 N

Our pick 1.8 300 Trophy Our pick 2.0 TSI 300 Clubsport Our pick TFSI quattro S tronic Our pick 2.0 T-GDi 275
List price £38,035 List price £37,925 List price £38,870 Performance List price £33,745
Target Price £34,256 Target Price £37,100 Target Price £38,311 Target Price £33,745
MPG 33.6 CO2 191g/km MPG 38.2 CO2 167g/km MPG 34.9 CO2 183g/km MPG 34.0 CO2 188g/km
For Agile handling; quiet cruiser For Comfy and refined; lots of grip For Grippy, precise handling For Precise handling; lots of kit
Against Ride is on the firm side Against Poor infotainment Against Firm ride; fiddly screen Against Not as fast as rivals
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

98 January 2022 whatcar.com/new-car-deals

Small SUVs BUYER’S GUIDE

2 BEST FOR
PRACTICALITY

Skoda Kamiq A small SUV
faces a very
Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE tough brief.
List price £20,570 Target Price £18,926 Its compact
MPG 49.6 CO2 128g/km size mustn’t
For Spacious inside; big boot; low come at the
running costs; comfortable ride expense of
Against Driving position is more hatch practicality
than SUV; not especially well equipped and should
WHAT CAR? SAYS be reflected
by low
3 BEST FOR running
costs. It
COMFORT should ride
as well as a
1 Ford Puma Our pick 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid 155 Volkswagen T-Roc much bigger
ST-Line car, too, yet
THE PUMA IS a joy to drive, because List price £23,995 Target Price £22,690 Our pick 1.0 TSI 110 Design maintain a
it’s super-nimble for a small SUV, while MPG 50.4 CO2 126g/km List price £24,965 Target Price £23,883 sure sense
the steering gives you a real sense of For Great fun to drive, yet rides bumps MPG 42.8 CO2 138g/km of fun. And,
connection with the front wheels. These well; remarkable blend of performance For Good ride and handling balance; with a keen
are things you’ll appreciate no matter and economy; big, clever boot well equipped; long safety kit roster eye on family
what type of road you’re driving on. Against Space in the back is adequate Against Interior feels cheap; rear seat life, safety
rather than outstanding; over-the- arrangement could be more flexible should be
True, rear seat space is only so-so, but shoulder visibility could be better WHAT CAR? SAYS high on its
the Puma is still surprisingly practical, WHAT CAR? SAYS agenda.
thanks to a huge boot with a height-
adjustable floor. It’s also well equipped, 5 BEST 6
strong on safety and very fuel-efficient.
INTERIOR
4

Volkswagen T-Cross Audi Q2 Peugeot 2008

Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE Our pick 35 TFSI S line Our pick 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure
List price £20,950 Target Price £20,197 List price £30,755 Target Price £29,264 Premium List price £24,215 Target Price
MPG 48.7 CO2 132g/km MPG 45.6 CO2 141g/km £22,877 MPG 52.6 CO2 121g/km
For Good balance between ride and For Handles very tidily; plush materials; For Stylish and well-equipped interior;
handling; spacious, flexible interior excellent infotainment system quiet cruiser; peppy, efficient engine
Against Pricier than many rivals; you’ll Against Not especially roomy; firm ride; Against So-so infotainment; driving
want to add a few optional extras quite expensive to buy position won’t suit everyone; tight in rear
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

7 8 9 10

Seat Arona Nissan Juke Hyundai Bayon Kia Stonic

Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE Technology Our pick 1.0 DIG-T 117 N-Connecta Our pick 1.0 T-GDi Mild Hybrid 120 Our pick 1.0T GDi 2
List price £20,510 List price £22,440 Premium List price £23,245 List price £18,900
Target Price £19,003 Target Price £20,510 Target Price £21,787 Target Price £17,774
MPG 51.4 CO2 124g/km MPG 47.9 CO2 134g/km MPG 53.3 CO2 121g/km MPG 52.3 CO2 122g/km
For Fun to drive; plenty of space For Smart interior; excellent safety For Roomy in back seats; lots of kit For Punchy petrol engine; agile
Against Hard plastics; road roar Against Unsettled ride; quite noisy Against You sit low; so-so quality Against A bit firm; pricey on a PCP
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

Go to whatcar.com/new-car-deals for the most up-to-date Target Prices January 2022 99

Family SUVs

2 BEST

INTERIOR

Range Rover Evoque Family SUVs
must be the
Our pick P300e R-Dynamic S automotive
List price £45,950 Target Price £44,458 equivalent
MPG 143.1 CO2 44g/km of a Swiss
For Classy materials; great driving Army knife,
position; comfy ride; superb residuals providing
Against High price; a fair bit of body sufficient
lean; Land Rover’s reliability record space to carry
WHAT CAR? SAYS your family
and all their
3 BEST FOR luggage,
while also
PRACTICALITY offering
the sort of
1 Volvo XC40 Our pick T3 R-Design auto Skoda Karoq comfort
List price £34,430 that ensures
IT MAY HAVE been a few years since we Target Price £32,446 Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE L long
voted Volvo’s most affordable SUV our MPG 38.2 CO2 166g/km List price £27,615 Target Price £25,944 journeys
overall Car of the Year, but it remains a For Stylish, high-quality interior; big and MPG 42.8 CO2 150g/km aren’t a
hugely desirable product that’s backed clever boot; supple ride on most For Outstanding practicality; cosseting chore. The
up by real substance. versions; comprehensive safety kit ride; best engine is peppy yet efficient very best also
Against Fiddly infotainment system; Against Not as fun to drive as Seat handle well,
The XC40 blends generous passenger lacks the rear seat flexibility of some Ateca; suspension is a bit noisy feel classy
space and a practical boot with a quality rivals; body sways around a bit WHAT CAR? SAYS inside and
interior and the sort of top-notch safety WHAT CAR? SAYS have wallet-
you expect from the brand. Plus, our friendly
recommended version has plenty of 56 running
poke and comes well equipped. costs.

4

Nissan Qashqai Seat Ateca BMW X1

Our pick 1.3 DIG-T 158 Tekna Our pick 1.5 TSI Evo 150 FR Our pick sDrive18d SE auto
List price £32,015 Target Price £29,528 List price £28,570 Target Price £26,080 List price £33,330 Target Price £31,559
MPG 44.1 CO2 145g/km MPG 42.8 CO2 150g/km MPG 52.3 CO2 141g/km
For Comfy ride; great driving position; For Plenty of kit as standard; great to For Practical and high-quality interior;
very well equipped; smart interior drive; good performance; roomy inside superb infotainment; fine handling
Against Weak performance at low revs; Against Interior isn’t that plush; some Against Too much road noise; diesels
uninspiring handling; not many options rivals have more versatile seating sound a bit gruff; ride is on the firm side
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

7 8 9 10

Volkswagen Tiguan Hyundai Tucson Peugeot 3008 Audi Q3

Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 Life DSG Our pick 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid SE Our pick 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure Our pick 35 TFSI Sport S tronic
List price £30,640 Connect List price £32,510 List price £29,155 List price £33,795
Target Price £29,244 Target Price £30,529 Target Price £27,254 Target Price £32,234
MPG 40.4 CO2 159g/km MPG 50.4 CO2 127g/km MPG 48.0 CO2 133g/km MPG 43.5 CO2 148g/km
For Agile; flexible seating; lots of kit For Frugal hybrid; feels well made For Plush materials; good to drive For Relatively agile; lots of space
Against Laggy auto gearbox Against Choppy ride; lots of lean Against Sluggish touchscreen Against Interior quality disappoints
WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS WHAT CAR? SAYS

100 January 2022 whatcar.com/new-car-deals