Not convinced? November 18, 2013 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW ACTIVE HYBRID 3 PRICE: £40,560 0-62MPH: 5.3 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 139g/km MPG COMBINED: 47.9mpg The VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars VOLVO V60 PLUG-IN HYBRID PRICE: £43,775 0-62MPH: 6.1 secs TOP SPEED: 142mph CO2 G/KM: 48g/km MPG COMBINED: 155.2mpg The VERDICT: DESIGN [...]
Who says green has to mean dull? November 11, 2013 The powerful and attractive new Porsche Panamera is a vast improvement on first generation hybrids PORSCHE has been selling its hybrid Panamera since 2011 but this is its first plug-in car. Its predecessor, like other first generation hybrids, had an absurdly limited electric-only range of just two miles, which meant its hybrid components only served [...]
Not convinced? November 11, 2013 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW ActiveHybrid7 PRICE: £69,295 0-62MPH: 5.7 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 158g/km MPG COMBINED: 41.5mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four stars PERFORMANCE Four stars PRACTICALITY Four stars VALUE FOR MONEY Four stars MERCEDES S-CLASS HYBRID PRICE: £69,650 0-62MPH: 6.8 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 147g/km MPG COMBINED: 44.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four stars PERFORMANCE [...]
BMW electrifies driving in the city November 4, 2013 The German manufacturer’s first electric car is both a revelation and a bargain LOTS of companies claim their products are revolutionary. But when BMW says its new i3 electric car is ground-breaking, it means it. Usually, electric cars are bought by eco-conscious people on environmental grounds. Such cars are often compromised in terms of space and [...]
Not convinced? November 4, 2013 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… CITROEN C-ZERO PRICE: £21,216* 0-62MPH: 15.9 secs TOP SPEED: 80mph CO2 G/KM: Zero at tailpipe RANGE: 93 miles * (INC. PLUG-IN GRANT) THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two stars PERFORMANCE Two stars PRACTICALITY Two stars VALUE FOR MONEY Two stars NISSAN LEAF PRICE: £20,990* 0-62MPH: 11.9 secs TOP SPEED: 90mph CO2 G/KM: Zero at tailpipe [...]
The A3 compact saloon vs the hatch October 28, 2013 Audi is taking a punt on this new-ish segment. We find it has bags of character, if not the “oomph” factor IF THERE’S a niche to be filled in the car market, Audi is often the first there. And so it is with the new compact Audi A3 Saloon, the 47th model in Audi’s line [...]
Not convinced? October 28, 2013 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW 1 SERIES COUPE 120D PRICE: £24,145 0-62MPH: 7.6 SECS TOP SPEED: 142MPH CO2 G/KM: 124G/KM MPG COMBINED: 60.1MPG THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two stars PERFORMANCE Three stars PRACTICALITY Three stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three stars MERCEDES CLA 220 CDI SPORT PRICE: £29,355 0-62MPH: 8.2 SECS TOP SPEED: 143MPH CO2 G/KM: 117G/KM MPG COMBINED: 62.8MPG THE [...]
A smaller SUV that can’t compete October 21, 2013 The Chevrolet Trax is uglier, noisier and worse value than its Nissan, Peugeot and Renault equivalents OVER the last few years, SUVs have been shrinking. Small SUV crossovers – which are commonly offered with two-wheel drive, as well as four-wheel drive – have proved a big hit in the UK, particularly with city drivers who [...]
Mercedes but not as you know it October 14, 2013 The blisteringly fast A45 AMG is just the car to attract the younger audience the German carmaker craves IN case you hadn’t noticed, Mercedes-Benz has transformed its strange wedge-shaped and conservative little A-Class into one of the most stylish cars around. Gone is the unspeakably dull styling and comfort-focused setup of old. Instead the A-Class [...]
Not convinced? October 14, 2013 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… AUDI S3 PRICE: £32,120 0-62MPH: 4.8 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 159g/km MPG COMBINED: 40.9mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Four Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars BMW M135i PRICE: £32,255 0-62MPH: 4.9 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 175g/km MPG COMBINED: 37.7mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Four [...]