Skoda has announced that first versions of its performance Octavia vRS will hit the market at the end of the month priced from £31,495.
Both a hatch and estate version will be available, with the latter commanding a slightly higher price tag of £32,695.
The Octavia vRS will initially be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 245hp, though a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel and a plug-in hybrid version will also join the ranks over the coming months.
That initial petrol-powered variant will send power through a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox and be capable of hitting 60mph from zero in 6.5 seconds. It also benefits from a ride height lowered by 1.5cm over the standard Octavia, as well as an electronic limited-slip differential.
Both the estate and hatch benefit from redesigned front and rear bumpers with a variety of black details, while the door mirror housings and window frames are also finished in gloss black.
The hatch also gets gloss black aero flaps and diffuser at the rear while the estate benefits from gloss black roof rails.
Inside, there’s a new multifunction steering wheel, heated front sport seats, ambient lighting and aluminium pedals. The vRS also benefits from Skoda’s latest digital instrument display panel, along with a ten-inch central display. All cars also get full LED Matrix headlights, adaptive cruise control and parking sensors.
Though prices for the petrol Octavia vRS have been announced this week, prices for the other powertrains in the range will be revealed at a later date.
Vauxhall has revealed its facelifted Crossland compact SUV, dropping the ‘X’ moniker used on its predecessor.
The new Crossland, which is set to arrive in the UK early next year, brings a bold new exterior look which takes many cues from the recently-revealed Mokka.
New LED headlights and the redesigned Vauxhall badge sit at the front, while at the rear you’ll find tinted lights and a gloss-black tailgate surface.
Available with either 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, the Crossland also features front and rear skid plates for a more rugged look. A sporty SRi variant will also benefit from a black roof with red window accents.
Turning to the cabin and Vauxhall has introduced an eight-inch colour touchscreen which features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offers a 410-litre boot as standard, though this can be increased to 520 litres by sliding the rear seats forwards. Drop them completely and boot space increases to 1,255 litres.
A range of assistance systems have also been fitted, including a driver drowsiness alert and forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking.
When it comes to powertrains, drivers will be able to choose from a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol – available in three states of tune – along with a 1.5-litre diesel which is offered in two different power outputs. More powerful units are available with a six-speed automatic gearbox, but the vast majority of engines are linked to a manual gearbox as standard.
Jaguar has unveiled facelifted versions of the XF saloon and estate, as well as minor updates to the smaller XE saloon, and has slashed the pricing of both models.
Both models get the firm’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system and new mild-hybrid powertrains, but it’s the XF that’s the big news here as the BMW 5 Series rival receives its first major refresh since its reveal more than five years ago.
The XF gains a new look that follows a similar update to the F-Pace SUV, including a fresh grille, new bumpers and full LED headlights. But it’s the interior that’s seen the biggest change, where a new 11-inch curved touchscreen sits alongside a 12-inch digital instrument system to give the cabin a far more modern feel.
It also comes integrated with an e-sim for enhanced connectivity functions, while over-the-air updates will keep the systems up-to-date at all times. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also both now included as standard.
Elsewhere inside, there are new massaging seats, greater interior storage and a new centre console that features wireless smartphone charging. As an optional extra, there is a new system called ‘Active Road Noise Cancellation’ that delivers sound waves that cancel out any noise caused by vibrations from the road surface to offer a more hushed driving experience.
Moving over to the smaller Audi A4-rivalling XE saloon, changes are more limited as this saloon was only facelifted last year, though it also benefits from the new Pivi Pro media system on a smaller ten-inch screen. A new R-Dynamic Black trim is also available, which comprises black 19-inch alloy wheels with red brake callipers and a black design kit.
On both the XE and XF, Jaguar has slimmed the range significantly – halving the number of derivatives available compared to before and focusing on the models that sell best and retain the most value.
Both models are available with the same choice of four-cylinder engines – a new 204hp diesel that’s 24hp more powerful than the one it replaces and a petrol with either 250hp or 300hp. The diesel also gains new 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to maximise efficiency. Plug-in hybrid powertrains remain off the cards, though.
The slimmed-down range has also allowed Jaguar to cut prices on both by as much as 18%, with the XE available from £29,635 and the XF from £32,585, or £35,990 in Sportbrake (estate) form – undercutting rivals from BMW and Mercedes by some margin.
Both the updated XF and XE models are available to order now.
This is the new Polestar 2, and it’s the first solely electric vehicle to be produced by the company since it became a standalone entity separate from Volvo. We’ve already seen the Polestar 1, which utilised a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but the 2 is best seen as the firm’s first mass-market car with an electric setup designed to appeal to those who want an everyday EV.
It’s also aligned to take on a certain US-based electric car manufacturer at its own game. So can it hold its own in a quickly expanding segment? We’ve been behind the wheel to find out.
The Polestar 2 is a car that’s packed with innovation and features, so needless to say there’s a lot to talk about. It sits somewhere between a regular saloon and a slightly raised-up crossover, giving a more commanding view of the road ahead without being a fully-fledged SUV.
Inside, it’s brimmed with technology and it features full Google assistant capability. This means that, unlike many rival systems, all of the voice-activated systems genuinely work – but we’ll get on to that in more detail later on.
It essentially sits on the same platform as the Volvo XC40, but don’t go thinking that this is some parts-bin EV – this is a bespoke car for a very bespoke-feeling company.
How does it look?
To say the Polestar 2 looks otherworldly is to somewhat underplay just how mad this car looks out on the road. Of course, there are some subtle Volvo design cues there – the Thor’s Hammer headlights up front are the most noticeable – but in terms of outright design execution, the 2 is right up there. It turns heads wherever it goes with our space-age white vehicle standing out against pretty much anything it drove alongside.
The car’s layout, with a relatively raised seating point but a low-slung ride height, does give it rather strange dimensions but in this instance, it just works. Certainly against other EVs currently on sale, it’s refreshingly bold without being too over-the-top.
What’s the spec like?
Polestar has pitched the 2’s starting price at just under the £50,000 bracket, which allows it to benefit from the Government’s £3,000 plug-in car grant – so things are already off to a value-in-mind start. Even so, there’s a healthy amount of standard equipment including climate control, heated front and rear seats and adaptive cruise control.
The tech on offer is excellent too. The 11-inch touchscreen which dominates the cabin is one of the first to use a Google-made operating system and, as a result, it’s effortlessly clear to use and responsive, too. As we’ve mentioned, the voice control system is also intuitive and user friendly – just say ‘Hey Google’, state a command and it’ll do it. Looking for a charger or wanting to enter an address into the nav? This system will handle it all. Apple iPhone owners can connect and stream via Bluetooth, but full Apple CarPlay functionality won’t be available until sometime next year.
In terms of safety, just remember that Polestar is from the Volvo family. Therefore, it has been designed with safety as a priority rather than an afterthought. The Polestar 2 hasn’t been subjected to Euro NCAP crash testing yet because – like everything else – the labs have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s fair to expect that it will perform pretty well.
What’s it like inside?
Much like the simplistic exterior, the interior is a masterstroke in how to make a little look like a lot. It’s not a cabin which is strewn with buttons nor too many screens, just one central display which features a pleasing lack of menus. As a result, it’s a relaxing place to sit, with the elevated view of the road ahead giving a more commanding feel to those behind the wheel.
Space in the back is decent enough, though headroom could be a touch tight for taller passengers. There’s 405 litres of boot space which is bolstered by an additional 41 litres of load area under the boot floor. Polestar has also incorporated a clever ‘flip-up’ boot divider which helps to keep the area organised, while you can also fold the rear seats down to open up the boot area to a healthy 1,095 litres.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Polestar 2 uses a dual-motor EV setup, which sees a motor placed on each axle. With a 78kWh battery pack, it develops just over 400hp and an impressive 660Nm of torque, allowing for a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 127mph. Of course, all of this is dealt out with zero-emission eco-friendliness.
What about range though? Polestar claims up to 292 miles on a single charge which, though coming just under the magical 300-mile bracket, is likely to be enough for most people. It’ll accept a rapid 150kW charge too, which would see the batteries taken from 0-80% in just 40 minutes. If you want to charge back at home via a wall box, you’re looking at 12 hours for a 0-100% recharge.
What’s it like to drive?
We’d argue that if you looked at any car with more than 400hp and over 600Nm of torque you’d expect it to punch pretty hard in the performance stakes, and that’s certainly the case with the Polestar 2. Stamp the throttle and the instant torque on offer thrusts you forward with ferocity, the numbers on the dash increasing in a scarcely believable fashion.
Acceleration tests aside, the 2 goes about daily duties in an elegant manner. The whisper-silent powertrain makes the whole car quiet and refined, though a small amount of wind noise from the roof did disrupt the peace somewhat.
Our car, in Performance Pack setup, rode on adjustable Ohlins dampers which, despite being an addition which will find favour with motoring enthusiasts, deals the 2 a ride which is simply too firm. It’s almost certain that, with these swapped in favour of a more everyday suspension setup, that the 2 will ride in a more composed fashion. But elsewhere things are superb; the steering is well-weighted and accurate and, despite weighing more than two tonnes, it goes round corners in an admirably flat way.
Verdict
Given that the 2 is only Polestar’s second vehicle – and first full EV – you could cut it a bit of slack if things weren’t quite as they should be. However, there’s little need as the 2 is a fully-fledged, brilliantly executed vehicle that feels just as good to drive as it is to look at. Cleverly packaged and featuring some innovative tech, it’s very much the real deal.
Polestar is expected to announce a cheaper, smaller battery version of the 2 shortly, lowering the entry price and further extending its appeal. If you were already looking at a Tesla Model 3, then we’d give the Polestar 2 a fair amount of consideration before you go through with a purchase – that’s for sure.
Kia has revealed prices and specifications for its updated Picanto and Rio models, bringing a raft of changes and upgrades to two of its smallest models.
Exterior-wise, the ‘tiger nose’ grille on GT-Line and X-Line Picanto variants has been given a new textured surround, which sweeps into the lower part of the headlights.
Redesigned headlights combine with new LED daytime running lights while LED combination lamps sit at the rear. A new choice of eight paint finishes is now available, while a new alloy wheel with a 16-spoke design has been added too.
Inside, the Picanto benefits from a larger eight-inch touchscreen system, which as well as Bluetooth connectivity brings both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. It also delivers live traffic information, weather forecasts and local fuel prices, too.
Cleaner, more efficient engines have been added, with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit with 100hp available alongside a naturally aspirated, 67hp 1.0-litre unit in the range. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard on all engines, though a five-speed automatic is available on all grades except entry-level ‘1’.
A range of new assistance systems has been added too, with forward collision avoidance assist, vehicle stability management and torque vectoring included on all cars up from ‘2’ specification.
Prices for the new Picanto start from £10,745 with the 67hp petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox.
The Rio, meanwhile, also benefits from a series of changes too. It too receives an updated front grille, as well as a lower and wider front bumper. A new set of 16-inch alloy wheels has been introduced too while two new exterior colours have been added.
The Rio also receives the same eight-inch touchscreen as the Picanto, included as standard on ‘2’ specification models and above. These cars also get a new four-inch display in the cluster ahead of the driver.
A new mild-hybrid engine has been added to give the Rio a cleaner, more efficient edge. The new turbocharged 1.0-litre unit is linked with a 48-volt mild-hybrid, which helps to improve fuel efficiency while giving an added boost to performance. It’s available with either a manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission.
A new 1.25-litre engine has also been added, with the four-cylinder, 16-valve unit bringing increased efficiency benefits over the existing range of engines.
Those hoping for a roaring September to offset months of dealership closures and poor sales will be somewhat disappointed with results published today. Overall new car registrations were down 4% on the same month last year, although private sales were only down by 1%.
We published our usual market analysis this morning, and now we turn to a more detailed look at the ten best-selling cars for September. It’s always a big month for private buyers, who tend to be more enthusiastic about the twice-yearly number plate changes than fleet buyers, but this year that was even more noticeable as fleet registrations continue to be weak. That has also played a part in shaping this month’s top ten list, with some new faces and a few poor results from some models that rely heavily on fleet sales.
The UK’s best-selling cars, September 2020
1. Vauxhall Corsa
The Corsa roared back to the top of the charts in September – despite recording 18% fewer sales than the same month last year – continuing an impressive run for the new Vauxhall supermini. To add further cause for celebration, it also overtook the Ford Focus to move into second place in year-to-date registrations. With only three months to go this year, it seems unlikely that the Corsa can catch its arch enemy, the Ford Fiesta, for overall full-year sales honours, but it might run it close.
The petrol and diesel versions of the new Corsa currently hold an Expert Rating of 72% on our unique aggregator scale, based on 24 reviews we have gathered so far. That puts it in the bottom half of the supermini class, although the all-electric Corsa-e does score slightly better with an Expert Rating of 74%.
Once again, the Ford Fiesta has to play second fiddle to the Vauxhall Corsa in the monthly sales race. Like the Corsa, Fiesta registrations were down 18% compared to last September against an overall market that was down just 4%. In year-to-date sales, the Fiesta still leads the Corsa by more than 3,700 units, so it’s likely to hold onto its crown as Britain’s best-selling car for another year, but it will probably be a close fight unless Ford can slow the Corsa’s momentum.
The Fiesta currently holds an Expert Rating of 82% in The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating index, which aggregates reviews from 21 of the UK’s top motoring websites. This is a two-point slip in the last month, which now drops the Fiesta behind the SEAT Ibiza as class leader – although it’s still 10% better than the Corsa, so hopefully that will cheer up Blue Oval fans.
After slipping down to sixth place in August, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class rebounded to an excellent third place in September – although like the top two, its registrations were down 18% on the same month last year. Interestingly, that means that the top three places in September 2020 were exactly the same as September 2019.
The A-Class has an Expert Rating of 77% in The Car Expert’s unique aggregated Expert Rating index, based on 41 UK reviews. It ranks highly for safety, winning awards from Euro NCAP, Thatcham and What Car?for its protective qualities.
It was a good month for the Volkswagen Polo, which rose from seventh place in August to fourth in September. That helped the Polo cement its eighth place in year-to-date registrations, closing in on the Mini for seventh place with only three months to go in 2020.
The Polo holds an Expert Rating of 80% in The Car Expert’s New Car Ratings calculator, which is good but still a few points behind its Spanish cousin, the SEAT Ibiza.
From a glass-half-empty approach, the Volkswagen Golf fell from second place last month to fifth this month, despite a much better year-on-year performance than the top three cars. That will be at least partly due to the fleet market underperforming relative to the private new car market. But from a glass-half-full point of view, it was a much better result than the Ford Focus managed, which allowed the Golf to leapfrog its arch-rival in the year-to-date sales race.
We’re beginning to see more local reviews of UK-spec Golf models being published in the media (as opposed to the initial reviews that took place at the international media launch), and the Golf’s formerly stellar Expert Rating is gradually starting to slip – although it’s still the top-ranked car in its class. The much-vaunted ‘all-digital’ interior has drawn criticism from several reviewers who have found it inferior to the more conventional cabin of the previous-generation model.
After a surprising absence from the August best-sellers list, the Nissan Qashqai bounced back into the top ten in September. It also retains its title as the best-selling British-built car over the Mini hatch, and looks set to hold onto that title for another year with only three months to go.
The ageing Nissan Qashqai currently holds an Expert Rating of 74% in our New Car Ratings database, which is midfield for the compact crossover segment and in the bottom half of scores for a top ten-selling car. A replacement is due to be revealed later this year, although the timeframe may be subject to change in light of the chaotic economic conditions currently enveloping the industry.
The new Ford Puma makes its second appearance in as many months with a very creditable seventh place. Given the drop in sales for both Fiesta and Focus, it may be that there has been some cannibalisation among existing Ford customers going on. As long as those customers are staying within the Blue Oval family, Ford is unlikely to be too bothered.
The bug-eyed small SUV has been popular with critics, currently holding a rating of 84% on our unique Expert Rating index. This remains a best-in-class result, but it has slipped a couple of points in the last month as we’ve added some new reviews and other sources have revised their initial opinions. A hot new ST version may help swing that score back upwards in coming months, however.
Like the Nissan Qashqai, the Mini hatch was another car that disappeared in August then reappeared in September. The new-plate registration months are traditionally good for Mini, so eighth place may actually be a bit of a disappointment for the brand’s BMW overlords.
It was another good month for the Mini hatch, eighth in July after being fifth last month and still holding seventh place in year-to-date registrations. The electric model has now launched as well, which certainly won’t do sales any harm.
The Mini hatch holds a very solid score of 80% in our Expert Ratings aggregator, which is better than most cars in its class despite being much older than many of its rivals. We’ve now indexed the new Mini Electric model as well, and interestingly its score is currently only 73% – although this may change by a few points (eother up or down) as more reviews are published.
The brilliant little Volvo XC40 makes its second appearance in the top ten list, having previouly popped up during lockdown in May. It may be another quirk of a relatively strong consumer market/weak fleet market, and the addition of a plug-in hybrid version will probably help as well. Another factor is that Volvo has been working closely with car buying site Carwow, which reported today that the XC40 was the most popular car sold through its service in September.
The XC40 is the class leader among small SUV/crossover models, with an Expert Rating of 85%. A new plug-in hybrid model has recently joined the range, while a fully-electric version is now in production and set to arrive either later this year or early 2021.
If you are a fan of terrible puns, you could say that Ford really lost its focus in September, as the brands family hatch fell from third place last month to tenth this month. It was also nearly 30% behind its registration numbers for last September against an overall market that was only down 4%.
The Focus was almost certainly the victim of a weak fleet market as well as its arch-rival, the new Volkswagen Golf, arriving in dealerships in large numbers to tempt away potential Focus customers.
A poor September result also means that the Focus has fallen from second place to fourth in year-to-date registrations, slipping behind the Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Golf. It’s neck-and neck between Focus and Golf right now, but the momentum is certainly with the VW at the moment and it looks favourite to defeat the Focus in full-year sales in jut three months’ time.
The Ford Focus currently holds an Expert Rating of 80% in our Expert Ratings database, which is better than most rivals but still a couple of points off the new Volkswagen Golf based on its reviews to date.
There had been a lot of optimistic noises from various industry sources about how a backlog of orders and pent-up demand would generate a big month for new car sales in September, but that looks to have largely been wishful thinking, with a disappointing set of results published this morning.
New car registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that the overall market was down more than 4% on the same month last year, resulting in the lowest number of September registrations since the twice-yearly number plate system was introduced back in 1999.
Data paints a bleak picture
Since dealerships started reopening across the UK in June, there has been the expectation that a lot of the registration results for June/July/August would have been the delivery of pre-lockdown orders, while most new customers would be placing orders for September delivery with the latest 70-plate number plates.
There have been mixed messages from the automotive world over the last few months, with some sources predicting a bumper September as the oft-repeated “pent-up demand” from three months of closed dealerships was finally released. Others were more cautious, suggesting that customer traffic was still slow.
September registrations always include a lot of orders placed in between April and August by customers who want the latest number plates on their new car. The fact that numbers were still down despite the “pent-up demand” shows that the underlying market is still very weak. With the likelihood of further movement restrictions and job losses set to affect much of the UK in the run-up to Christmas, the prospects for new car sales for the rest of 2020 look grim.
Source: SMMT
Consumer sales continue to lead the way
As has been the case since dealers reopened in June, the private new car market has outperformed the fleet market, as companies delay or reduce spending as much as possible. The consumer market is being largely propped up by returning PCP finance business, as customers can’t afford to pay out their balloon amounts and are essentially forced into buying another new or used car.
Private new car sales were down 1% compared to last September, while fleet registrations fell nearly 6%. Business registrations, which only make up 2-3% of new car sales anyway, were down 32% year-on-year. With business conditions looking bleak for the foreseeable future, the car industry will be frantically trying to cut supply of affected models. Which brings us onto the subject of diesel…
Electrified cars outsell diesels for the first time
Consumer sales outnumbered fleet registrations in September for the first time in many years, which contributed to another terrible month for diesel car registrations as diesel sales rely heavily on fleet customers.
We suggested a few months ago that the coronavirus could kill off diesel cars altogether, and today’s results showed that electrified cars (hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully-electric cars) outsold diesel cars for the first time. To do so in one of the biggest sales months of the year is even more significant.
Several car manufacturers have been withdrawing their diesel engines from sale, and even some models that are largely reliant on diesel engines have been dropped. The silver lining in all this is that it might finally slow down the diesel-powered SUV juggernaut and lead customers back to traditional saloons and estates (which are generally much better vehicles anyway, to be frank).
Source: SMMT
Good month, bad month
Against an overall market that was down 4% compared to last year, there was quite a lot of volatility in how different manufacturers performed.
Audi did particularly well, jumping to third overall in the market behind perennial best-sellers Ford and Volkswagen. Budget brand MG also recorded another massive month – up 170% year-on-year – continuing its relentless rise up the charts and having already sold more cars in the first nine months of this year than it did in all of 2019.
The 2020 supermini slugfest continued in September, with the new Vauxhall Corsa regaining top spot from its arch enemy, the Ford Fiesta. The Volkswagen Polo also had a good month to finish fourth in a strong month for small cars.
Source: SMMT
With September always being a strong consumer month, combined with a weak fleet market, there were a couple of surprises in this month’s top ten. The Ford Puma ranked seventh and the Volvo XC40 popped up in ninth place, while the Ford Focus fell to tenth place. This means that both the Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Golf have now overtaken the Focus in year-to-date registrations.
As always, we’ll have a deeper dive into the monthly top ten in the next few days.
BMW has revealed its new 4 Series Convertible, with the drop-top variant joining the recently-introduced coupé model.
All cars come in M Sport specification as standard and come with full LED headlights regardless of trim level. The folding fabric roof, meanwhile, has been designed to deliver the robustness of a retractable hard top with the ‘appeal of a fabric roof’, according to BMW, combining large panels and a flush-fitting rear window.
Several layers of insulation also ensure that the roof retains the car’s refinement, yet it’s 40% lighter than the outgoing car’s metal retractable roof. It’s able to open or close within 18 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph.
Inside, all cars get leather upholstery as standard as well as three-zone climate control, electric seats and a reversing camera. As already mentioned, all cars come in M Sport specification as standard, which brings large front air intakes and a sculpted rear apron as well as 18-inch alloy wheels and full M Sport suspension.
A digital instrument cluster measuring 12 inches is fitted as standard, sitting alongside a ten-inch display which houses all of the main infotainment functions. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, too.
A new M440i xDrive model has been added too, bringing a six-cylinder petrol engine and sitting as the flagship in the range. As well as a full M Sport differential, it gets contrast red brake calipers and 19-inch light M alloy wheels.
It’s joined in the range by two four-cylinder petrol units – badged 420i and 430i – while a four-cylinder diesel engine badged 420d will also be available. A more powerful 430d will also hit the market, albeit later in 2021. The former will achieve up to 67.3mpg, with the latter returning a claimed 50.4mpg.
At the top of the range of diesels sits a twin-turbocharged M440d xDrive. As well as the added capability of all-wheel-drive, this model can return up to 44.8mpg while emitting 165g/km of CO2.
All cars come with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.
A wider range of assistance systems has been included in the new 4 Series Convertible compared with its predecessor, bringing features such as lane departure warning, speed limit info and park distance control.
First UK deliveries of the new BMW 4 Series Convertible are expected in March, with prices starting from £45,785.
Polestar has confirmed that it will create a production version of its sleek Precept concept car.
Revealed earlier this year, the Precept was a showcase for the Swedish firm’s future design direction, as well as demonstrating the technology and sustainable materials that would feature in its road cars.
However, after receiving a positive reception, Polestar says it will build a road-going version at a new facility in China that the firm says will be carbon neutral.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: ‘Stunning. Spectacular. Cutting-edge. We’d like to see it on the road!’ – this is what the press wrote about Precept and the public said, ‘We want it’, so we decided to build it.
“Consumers want to see change from this industry – not just dreams. Now, Precept becomes an even stronger statement. We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our cars and our business. The aim has to be climate neutrality, even though I recognise that is a long-term goal.”
Polestar says its ambition is to bring the Precept concept’s sustainably sourced interior into production. The car used materials including recycled PET bottles, reclaimed fishing nets, recycled cork vinyl and a flax-based composite.
The company is pushing sustainability in the automotive industry. Earlier this month, it pledged to publish the climate impact of its electric vehicles and called on other car manufacturers to do the same.
MG has introduced a pair of new electrified models, bolstering the firm’s low-emissions presence.
The new MG 5 arrives as the UK’s first fully-electric estate car and joins the ZS EV in the firm’s range of electric cars. Thanks to a 115kW electric motor, the MG5 will go from 0-60mph in just over eight seconds, while a 52.2kWh battery allows for a claimed electric range of 214 miles. However, this can be increased to 276 miles if the car is used solely for urban driving.
A zero to 80% charge can also be achieved in just 50 minutes when using a rapid charger, too, while a full charge at home using a domestic wallbox will take around eight and a half hours.
With the rear seats in place there’s 464 litres of boot space, or 1,456 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
Prices start from £24,495 for the MG 5 after the Government’s plug-in car grant and it’s available in one of two trim levels – Excite and Exclusive.
MG HS plug-in hybrid
MG 5 electric estate car
The second car to be announced is a new plug-in hybrid MG HS, which combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 90kW electric motor to provide excellent efficiency levels as well as an electric-only range of 32 miles. A new ten-speed automatic transmission has been fitted to ensure that both the petrol and electric motors deliver optimal efficiency, with CO2 emissions figures rated at just 43g/km.
Using a Type 2 fast charger, the MG HS can be charged from zero to 100% in just three hours.
The MG HS plug-in hybrid is priced from £29,995 and is available in two trim levels – Excite and Exclusive – which both pack plenty of standard equipment.
Both models are due to go on sale in the final part of this year, and each is covered by MG’s seven-year warranty.
Dacia has completed its range refresh with the launch of a new Sandero and Sandero Stepway.
The models have become popular as the least expensive new cars on sale in the UK, something that is unlikely to change despite an expected price increase when the pair go on sale in February 2021.
Both cars now sit on a new platform, which brings with it advancements in technology such as increased active and passive safety features, new engines and new transmissions.
The cars’ dimensions are the same as before, but the exterior styling is slightly different, with smoother lines and a more sloped windscreen. Both front and rear lights now get Dacia’s new Y-shaped light signature, while LED headlights are standard across the range.
The higher-riding Stepway version gets a ribbed and domed bonnet, chrome Stepway logo under the front grille and a metal skid plate front and rear to protect the car when taken off the beaten track.
It also gets modular roof bars that look like regular items, but they’re adjustable using a provided key. They can be dismantled to create a roof rack that can carry up to 80kg.
Convenience features vary depending on model and trim, but standard equipment includes a smartphone holder, on-board computer screen and speed limiter. Other equipment such as automatic air conditioning, keyless entry, reversing camera and automatic windscreen wipers come as standard too.
Both models get a turbocharged 1.0-litre engine, which is available with a six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions, as well as an LPG bi-fuel option, which is another 1.0-litre unit that’s only available with a manual.
The Sandero is also available with an entry-level naturally aspirated 1.0-litre engine, which can only be had with a five-speed manual.
The new Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway both go on sale in February 2021, with deliveries expected to begin in the Spring.
The Toyota Yaris is a five-door supermini-class hatchback. This model is the all-new fourth generation, which was launched in the UK in summer 2020. While the previous model included a hybrid model, the new version is hybrid-only.
Unusually for a new model, the new Yaris is actually shorter than the old model, although better packaging means it’s roomier inside. There is also a high-performance model on the way called the GR Yaris, however this is an almost completely different car and won’t be included here.
The Toyota Yaris has been praised for its packaging and refined hybrid powertrain, which makes good use of its electric power in urban driving. It also scored very highly in the latest Euro NCAP crash testing programme. However, the starting price is quite high and the interior lacks the flair of some rivals.
As of January 2026, the Toyota Yaris has a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 74%. It scores top marks for its low running costs and CO2 emissions, while its safety rating and reliability record are also good. However, its media review scores are only average, while Toyota’s new car warranty is also off the pace compared to some rivals.
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid Dynamic “Practicality levels may be down ever so slightly, but the new Toyota Yaris remains a truly attractive proposition in the small car segment.” Author: Jack Evans Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: GR Sport (2023) Score: 6 / 10 “It’s a shame Toyota hasn’t pushed the Yaris GR Sport further towards the performance realm, because it’s a long way from encroaching on GR Yaris territory. For £25,000, there are also plenty of compelling superminis with more dynamic flair.” Read review
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid automatic Dynamic Score: 8 / 10 “The latest Toyota Yaris is right in the mix, and should be on the shortlist of any supermini buyer – especially those who do most of their driving around town. We’d suggest steering clear of high-end editions, though – on grounds of both value and ride quality.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.8 / 10 “Packing a hybrid powertrain into a supermini-sized car is no mean feat, Toyota’s electrified expertise very much in evidence in this all-new Yaris. A new platform, a greater emphasis on handling and bold styling add up to an appealing package which is expensive but should be fuss-free to own and drive.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid automatic Icon Score: 8 / 10 “The new Toyota Yaris isn’t class-leading when it comes to its interior, but it is good enough. It is also competitively priced and tax-friendly, it drives well and should provide excellent real-world economy, with 60mpg easily achievable.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Toyota’s Fiesta-rival is newer, more economical, and just possibly a little bit smarter than the Blue Oval’s iconic supermini.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Toyota has taken the efficiency and generous standard kit levels of the previous Yaris and made it a lot more desirable thanks to its stunning looks and enjoyable driving experience. “ Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is the ideal supermini for navigating towns and suburbs.” (Andy Goodwin) Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid Design Score: 8.2 / 10 “Good looks, great emissions figures and a decent level of standard specification are all major plus points, although it doesn’t always feel the most premium of superminis.” Read review
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid Dynamic “Other superminis may beat the Yaris in specific areas, but overall the newest Toyota is a bit of a winner.” Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: Range overview “Striking new Toyota Yaris has dramatic styling and bold looks, and better fuel economy.” Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The latest Yaris Hybrid is a major step forward from its predecessor and should be more of a worry for its rivals.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: Range overview “All in all, the new Yaris has moved on to take Toyota into fresh territory in the small car market and it is genuinely a little model with big car features.” Read review
Fleetworld
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid automatic Design Score: 6 / 10 “More of the refinement, practicality and efficiency that the Toyota Yaris is known for, with a welcome dollop of neat design and driver appeal. If you can live with the limitations of the hybrid drivetrain.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview “The Toyota Yaris promises sharp styling, great manoeuvrability, excellent cost-of-ownership, comfort, quality and the clever application of new technologies, including multimedia functions and a new hybrid engine.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “The Toyota Yaris has been transformed from dull to dynamic. Bold styling is combined with a quality interior and efficient hybrid tech.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Toyota’s self-charging hybrid Yaris makes more sense than ever” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview “All in all, the Toyota Yaris is miles better than before. Younger, fresher, nicer to drive, full of kit, and decent value. Definitely worth a look.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid Dynamic Score: 8 / 10 “This new Toyota Yaris is better to drive than any that has gone before and is probably better than a cooking Yaris needs to be. If you drive in urban conditions you should see the sort of mid-sixties miles per gallon as claimed and the interior is of high quality and pleasing to live with.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Efficient, interesting looking and updated inside, but the Toyota Yaris remains forgettable to drive.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Toyota Yaris was initially assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2020, where it scored a five-star rating. It was reassessed in December 2025 under the latest, tougher, protocols, where it was downgraded to a four-star rating. It’s not that the car has got any less safe after five years, simply that the standard for a five-star ranking is raised every three years or so.
This is still a good result for a supermini-class small car, and compares well against most of the Yaris’ rivals.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Clean Air Index: 6.3 / 10 Energy Efficiency Index: 7.4 / 10 Greenhouse Gas Index: 5.9 / 10
The Toyota Yaris received a 3.5-star rating from Green NCAP in February 2021. Green NCAP said: “The new Yaris comes in hybrid form, a 1.5-litre petrol engine being supplemented by an electric motor. Together, they deliver some impressive results. On-road emissions of NOx and CO are very low, and the particulate number is well controlled.
“The car scores well in energy efficiency and its emissions of greenhouse gases are, in the case of CH4 and N2O, vanishingly small. All in all, the Yaris achieves a well-deserved 3½ star rating.”
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 86 Average repair cost: £293.93 Last updated: April 2025
The Toyota Yaris has a good reliability rating of 92%, according to warranty data provided exclusively to us by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to both this generation Yaris and previous (pre-2020) generations, which is good news if you are considering a used Toyota Yaris.
Across all categories, the repair bills claimed under warranty to date have been very inexpensive. All in all, the Yaris looks like being a reliable choice as a used car.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Hybrid models
66 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Hybrid models
95 g/km
A
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
14
A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£148
A
Year 2
£413
A
Year 3
£669
A
Year 4
£845
A
Year 5
£1,113
A
Overall
£3,188
A
If you’re looking for a new car that’s cheap to run, the Toyota Yaris is a very good place to start. In fact, it scores an ‘A’ in every category of our running costs data, provided exclusively to The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data.
On top of the perfect set of scores you see above, which are based on the average results for the whole Yaris range, the fuller range of data shows that every single version of the Yaris scores an ‘A’ in every category – an extraordinarily good result.
If you’re looking at a used Yaris, it’s also pleasing to see that servicing costs remain low for five years from new (which is as far out as our data goes) and probably forever after that.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Toyota Yaris has received
2023
EcoCar Electrified Top 50 – Best Hybrid Small Car
2021
European Car of the Year
UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Supermini
Auto Express Awards – Best Affordable Hybrid Car
Carwow Awards – Best Small Hybrid
Business Car Awards – Best Small Car
2020
Auto Express Awards – Best Affordable Hybrid Car
Similar cars
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James, from north London, has asked a very good question about used car pricing practices at dealerships. So good, in fact, that it has become the topic of our latest car buying advice article.
James was looking at a used car advertised online for £12,995 and decided to visit the dealership to look at the car. But when he arrived… “I discovered that the car was priced at £14,995. When I questioned the salesman, I was told that the higher price was correct and I must have been mistaken. Upon further questioning, the sales executive went off into the manager’s office, and when he came back he said that it had been a mistake and had now been corrected. Am I entitled to try and hold them to the lower price?”
It is not unusual for used car dealers to advertise the same car at different prices on different websites, or to have a higher price on the car window and a lower price advertised on the web. There are usually two reasons for this:
If a customer hasn’t seen the lower price advertised elsewhere, the dealer can try and sell the car at the higher price; or
The dealer can claim that the car has ‘already been reduced’ to the lower price, to try make the car look like a better deal. This strategy is used to stop a customer haggling for a lower price.
I have dealt with many dubious used car pricing practices, and plenty of used car dealers are very slippery at handling the question of “Isn’t this car advertised for less on the internet?”
Usually, the dealer will ‘suddenly remember’ that it has ‘only just been reduced this morning’ or make up some nonsense about ‘web-only offers’, or mutter something about how they ‘haven’t had enough time to update the price in the car window’.
It doesn’t really matter what the excuse is; they are simply trying it on – and then trying to cover it up when they realise you actually know what you’re talking about.
Used car pricing – anything goes
The reality is that there is no recommended retail price for a used car – a seller, whether private or dealer, is entitled to ask whatever price they like for their car. It’s simple capitalism, with supply and demand determining the price.
Although it’s not illegal for a dealer to advertise the same car at two (or more) different prices, it’s not exactly an example of outstanding business ethics if their used car pricing is handled like this as a matter of course.
James’ situation is a step more serious, as he claims that the dealer refused to sell him the car at the advertised price. We are no longer talking about a dealer omitting to mention that a car is advertised and available for a cheaper price, but actually refusing to honour their own advertised pricing.
These days, this sort of behaviour is thankfully becoming rare. Most dealers advertise their cars on several different websites, and can easily alter their used car pricing in seconds. In the past, an error in an old-style newspaper or magazine ad couldn’t be changed once it had been printed (assuming that it is a genuine error, rather than simply a dubious selling technique).
In this sort of situation, you need to have proof of the lower advertised price. With online ads, it is easy for you to look up the advertised price on your smartphone in seconds, but a dealer can also change their advertised price just as quickly, so always print out the advertisement before you visit the dealership.
If you hold your ground, and if you start mentioning phrases like ‘false advertising’ and ‘breach of trading standards’, dealers will generally concede fairly quickly. But is this the sort of dealer you want to be buying your car from?
Used car pricing – are you getting the best deal?
In the world of used car pricing, a dealer sets a car’s price based on what they hope to get and by what similar cars are being advertised for.
A salesman is not obliged to offer you a lower price, just as a customer is not obliged to pay a higher asking price. It comes down to who wants the deal more and is prepared to concede more ground, or who is better at negotiating a deal.
Audi has given the coupé treatment to its mid-sized Q5 as the firm expands its range of SUV into ever-narrowing niches.
The Audi Q5 Sportback joins the Q3 and e-tron Sportback models, with a liftback rear end design compared to the more upright styling of the standard SUV.
It will launch with a choice of two diesel and one petrol engine. The entry level options are both 2.0-litre units making 204hp, badged as 40 TDI and 40 TFSI. A high-performance SQ5 Sportback will also be available, with a 347hp diesel engine, while a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid unit will be available at a later date.
The styling is largely similar to the existing Audi Q5, but the Sportback version’s roofline begins to taper down from the middle of the roof to give that liftback-style appearance. In top-spec Vorsprung models, the rear lights have OLED technology that splits the light into six segments that can be controlled differently. Customers can choose from three different rear light signatures when they order the car.
Inside, all UK cars are fitted with Audi Virtual Cockpit with its 12-inch panoramic display, as well as satellite navigation and internet connectivity. The Vorsprung trim adds a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, head-up display, wireless charging and more.
The redesigned rear end means that the Q5 Sportback loses some boot space compared to its regular Q5 sibling, down 40 litres from 550 to 510 litres. Folding the rear seats flat increases this to 1,480 litres, and Vorsprung models get a sliding rear bench that can add up to 60 litres when pushed forward as far as possible. The difference will be more noticeable when you’re loading up to maximum levels to go away on holiday, but Audi conveniently doesn’t provide load volumes for luggage loaded above the window line.
The Audi Q5 Sportback is due to go on sale in the first half of 2021, with Sport, S line, Vorsprung and Edition One specifications available at launch.
Mazda has confirmed that the MX-30 will go on sale in the UK from March 2021 with prices starting at £25,545 after the plug-in car grant is applied.
The electric crossover will be available with three trim levels called SE-L Lux, Sport Lux and GT Sport Tech, as well as a high-spec First Edition that will be limited to just 500 examples.
Standard equipment includes LED headlights, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, satellite navigation and a head-up display. All cars are equipped with a Type 2 AC charging cable and 50kW charging capabilities.
The first cars to go on sale in March are the First Edition models, with orders open now and prices starting at £27,495. Upgraded equipment includes adaptive LED headlights, satin D-pillar trim and LED rear lights, while inside it gets a grey cloth and leatherette upholstery.
It will be joined later by the other models, with the entry SE-L Lux getting 18-inch alloy wheels, black door mirrors and grille, and a choice of five colours.
Upgrade to the £27,545 Sport Lux and there’s a different set of 18-inch alloy wheels, power adjustable seats with lumbar support and keyless entry.
The range-topping GT Sport Tech starts at £29,845 with a light grey cloth interior or £30,045 with a dark grey cabin with brown artificial leather upholstery. Extra equipment includes front wiper de-icer, an electric sunroof, heated steering wheel and 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Jeremy Thomson, managing director of Mazda Motors UK, said: “Our first all-electric Mazda heralds an exciting start to Mazda’s second century in business. With the First Edition MX-30 order book now open, customers in the UK can reserve a car for just £800 for delivery early in 2021.
“Part of Mazda’s multi-solution approach to efficient vehicles, the launch of our first pure electric car is a milestone moment for the brand and a landmark moment for our dealers and customers here in the UK.”
The Mazda MX-30 comes equipped with a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery that provides up to 124 miles of range. First Edition orders can be made online now, and Mazda is planning opportunities for prospective customers to view and test drive models soon.
If you’re looking for a sensible family car, two models have long stood out – the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf. However, the SEAT Leon has long been an appealing alternative, sharing much of its underpinnings with the Golf but with more interesting styling and a more playful driving experience.
That’s still true of the latest model, which is a similar size to its German cousin but with sharper looks and the same excellent build quality – yet like for like it costs less. It all seems a bit too good to be true, so let’s delve a little deeper.
SEAT has given the Leon a pretty comprehensive makeover for the fourth generation, as part of a 1.1 billion euro investment in its model range. It gets that smart new exterior look, updated interior design and technology, and the latest generation of Volkswagen Group engines – with a plug-in hybrid on the way.
Being based on the latest MQB Evo platform has allowed SEAT to add more connected services, advanced driving assistance systems and more safety technology, while also being bigger and more practical than before.
How does it look?
Although we were testing an FR model – meaning it had sporty-looking bumpers and smart 17-inch alloy wheels – the dull grey paint made it more subdued than we would have liked. You don’t need to go mad, but a bolder colour such as the metallic red (a no-cost extra) would be preferable.
A particular highlight of the new Leon is the full-width rear light, which gives off a futuristic look when driving at night while adding a splash of colour to the rear during the day. SEAT’s penchant for sharp creases in its cars’ styling continues to serve it well, taking a similar silhouette to the Golf but injecting a little more character.
What’s the spec like?
Prices for the SE Dynamic start at £20,995, with equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, LED headlights and tail lights, front and rear fog lights, digital cockpit, ten-inch infotainment screen with sat nav, cloth upholstery, air conditioning and cruise control.
However, upgrade to the FR, and prices start from £23,185. For the extra cash, you get a different 17-inch alloy wheel design with an optional upgrade to 18-inch wheels, dynamic indicators, rain-sensing wipers and a wireless phone charger. On top of that, there’s the lower, stiffer suspension and sporty body kit.
As yet, the SEAT Leon has not been put through its crash-testing paces by Euro NCAP, thanks to our old friend Covid-19. Euro NCAP has now resumed testing, but there will be a bit of a backlog of cars to work through so we may not have results for the Leon for some months.
What’s the SEAT Leon like inside?
Sorry to keep going on about the Golf, but with the new one recently released and the Leon sharing so much with it, it’s tough to not make comparisons. Again, inside, the Leon borrows heavily from the new Volkswagen, having the same minimalist interior.
The dashboard has a large central screen for the infotainment and a digital instrument binnacle ahead of the driver, with minimal physical buttons. It looks fantastic, with SEAT doing a great job of elevating the premium feel of the cabin while keeping it cool and modern with lots of sharp angles in the design.
However, the downside is that navigating menus while on the move to change simple settings like the climate controls becomes annoying quickly. The sooner manufacturers move away from fitting everything behind a screen the better.
What’s under the bonnet?
There are currently three petrol engines and one diesel available, with the trim level dictating which are available. Opt for the standard SE Dynamic trim, and the petrols are a 110hp 1.0-litre and 130hp 1.5-litre, while the diesel is a 115hp 2.0-litre unit, each with a six-speed manual gearbox.
However, upgrade to the sporty-looking FR trim and you have the choice of the two petrols, as well as a 1.5-litre unit making 150hp, which is available with both the manual or a seven-speed automatic.
For everyday driving the 130hp unit is more than enough, but if you’re looking for something with a bit more pizazz for family duties, an FR model with 150hp could be your best bet. Should you do many motorway miles the diesel will be ideal, though it does limit you to the SE Dynamic trim.
What’s the SEAT Leon like to drive?
We got behind the wheel of the FR trim, which has traditionally been the sportier of SEAT’s specifications. However, the latest generation does appear to have lost some of that light-footed sparkle that was evident in its predecessor – it’s closer to a Golf in mannerisms than ever before.
However, that’s not necessarily a criticism, because it’s immediately obvious that this is one of the most pleasant, fuss-free driving experiences in the segment. The ride is comfortable despite the FR’s slightly stiffer suspension, and the steering light enough that city driving is a breeze while still being stable at motorway speeds. A great all-rounder, then.
Verdict
There’s no two ways about it – the new SEAT Leon is a brilliant car. It looks great, it’s practical, it’s quiet and comfortable to drive, and comes packed full of kit. The down side? The Golf does all of those things, and the extra cash won’t be too offensive when divided across the monthly payments of a finance deal.
The thing is, its greatest negative is the existence of the Golf, but it’s also a positive. It has all the great things the VW does but without forcing you to accept the dull, predictable choice – and if you can get dependability and character in one hit, why wouldn’t you? That minor saving could allow you to tick a couple of option boxes to make it even better value for money, too.
Rolls-Royce has introduced a new Extended version of its new Ghost luxury saloon.
Some 17cm longer than the standard car, the change brings – according to Rolls-Royce – ‘greater space and legroom for rear-seat occupants’.
Inside, an optional reclining ‘serenity seat’ can be selected, bringing a level of comfort which the Goodwood-based company likens to a business jet cabin. A champagne fridge has been installed between the two rear chairs, which features two different cooling modes.
A new micro-environment purification system (MEPS) system enhances the existing air filtration technology to further improve the cabin air quality in the car and is capable of detecting if the level of airborne contaminants is too high. If so, the air is then passed through a nanofleece filter which can remove all of the ultra-fine particles.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “New Ghost is the result of in-depth dialogue with Rolls-Royce’s diverse and global customer base. Many of them asked the marque to create a motor car that provides the indulgence of enhanced rear space within the interior suite with no compromise to driving dynamics.
“Ghost Extended answers this customer demand by creating a product that augments both their business and lifestyle requirements.”
New laser headlights are already included, while a range of assistance systems ensure that the safety levels in the Ghost match the level of luxury it offers.
The Ghost Extended retains the same 6.75-litre V12 engine as the standard Ghost, while 100kg of acoustic sound deadening ensures that the cabin remains as hushed as possible.
BMW has finally revealed its new M3 and M4 sports cars after several weeks of teasers.
Set to arrive in the UK next March, the new models boast up to 510hp from a new six-cylinder engine. The cars – which will only be available in high-performance Competition form – will also be available with optional xDrive four-wheel-drive for the first time. They’ll follow from the initially rear-wheel-drive cars which will hit showrooms first.
An increase in performance over the cars they replace means that acceleration times have sharpened; both cars will go from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph, though an optional drivers package can lift that to 180mph. All cars use an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox as standard.
The styling of the cars is radically different from the preceding models, showcasing a huge front set of grilles. They also debut a strikingly different look to the regular BMW 3 Series, but feature a similar grille to that used on the new 4 Series. It sits in the middle of full LED headlights, while flared arches and wide front air intakes give both cars an aggressive appearance.
Around the back, you’ll find sharp LED tail lights, while quad exhaust pipes – which have become such a recognisable feature of M3 and M4 cars – are fitted as standard.
The M3 is 10cm longer than its predecessor and almost 3cm wider too, while both M3 and M4 cars have a ride height which is ever so slightly lifted over the older cars. Inside, you’ll find newly developed sports seats which can be fitted with ventilation, while an M Sport steering wheel incorporates M mode buttons to help the driver easily switch between car settings. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included as standard, too.
The M3 and M4 can both be fitted with an optional M Drive Professional system which allows for greater adjustability of the traction control and also brings a Drift Analyser which can record and rate driving statistics.
The new BMW M3 and BMW M4 models are, as mentioned, estimated to arrive in the UK next March, and prices are expected to sit around £65,000 for the M3 and £70,000 for the M4.
Loyal home and car insurance customers could find themselves paying significantly more than new customers, the City regulator has found.
Ten million policies across home and car insurance are held by people who have been with their provider for at least five years, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is proposing a radical shake-up of firms’ pricing.
It analysed the prices paid by new customers and those who have been with the same provider for more than five years.
As shown in the graphic above, the differences in car insurance prices paid for a typical risk was £85. New customers pay an average of £285 for their car insurance, while customers who have been with their insurance provider for more than five years pay an average of £370.
Similar patterns are found in building insurance, contents insurance, and combined building and contents insurance.
The FCA said that firms use complex techniques to identify customers who are more likely to renew with them. They then increase prices to these customers at renewal each year, resulting in some consumers paying very high prices.
The regulator said many of these consumers are unaware of this, mistakenly believing that their provider is offering them a competitive price at renewal.
In addition, some firms use practices that can discourage consumers from shopping around, including by making it more difficult to cancel automatic renewal.
And just because consumers often switch, it does not mean they will always get the best price.
Even people who switch regularly are not always offered firms’ lowest prices, the FCA said.
Kia has freshened up its distinctive Stinger saloon, bringing a range of updates to the company’s flagship model.
New LED headlights have been included with matching LED daytime running lights, while the lights at the rear of the car have been updated too. New turn signals which each contain ten individual LED units, have been arranged to resemble the appearance of a chequered flag.
In addition, a new 19-inch aluminium wheel design has been included on the Stinger. An additional colour – ‘Ascot Green’ – has been added to the list of Kia’s exterior shades too.
Inside the overall look of the cabin remains unchanged, though the materials have been lifted slightly to improve the perception of quality. A new metallic finish has been added to sections of the steering wheel, while the rear-view mirror has been given a clean, frameless design.
A new upgraded ten-inch infotainment and navigation system has been fitted to the middle of the dash, and it incorporates both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A seven-inch digital display has also been included in the instrument cluster which displays key information such as speed and revs.
2021 Kia Stinger | The ar Expert
Kia has also removed the less powerful engines from the line-up – leaving just the 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 powertrain as the only option. It delivers 370hp and 510Nm of torque, resulting in a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds. In fact, the new engine makes the Stinger the fastest-accelerating Kia ever sold in Europe.
A new range of assistance systems have been included too, while existing ones have been upgraded in order to make the Stinger even safer.
Prices and full specifications for the Stinger have yet to be announced.
Vauxhall has confirmed pricing and specifications for its new Mokka and electric Mokka-e.
Priced from £20,735 – and £30,840 for the Mokka-e after the Government’s plug-in grant – the Mokka is available to order now and first deliveries are expected to begin in April 2021.
Based on a new platform, the Mokka is now 120kg lighter than the outgoing model, yet still provides up to 350 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place – regardless of which powertrain is selected.
Inside, there’s a two-screen setup with a pair of displays measuring up to 12 inches in size, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard.
The new Mokka-e joins the Corsa-e in Vauxhall’s range of electric vehicles and is powered by a 50kWh battery and 100kW electric motor as standard. It arrives with a claimed range of up to 201 miles from a single charge and supports 100kW rapid DC charging too, with an 80% charge taking just 30 minutes via this outlet.
A series of conventional petrol and diesel engines will also be available, with a single 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol sitting alongside a 1.5-litre diesel in the range.
Entry-level SE models benefit from 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, which also brings a seven-inch colour touchscreen and automatic emergency braking included in the entry price – among other features.
Next up is SRi trim which adds 18-inch wheels, black contrast details and cruise control, while SRi Nav Premium brings satellite navigation and a ten-inch touchscreen. Elite Nav models gain rear parking sensors and a 180-degree parking camera, and moving up Elite Nav Premium brings a 12-inch driver instrument cluster.
Finally, Ultimate Nav adds keyless entry, wireless mobile phone charging, 18-inch alloy wheels and LED matrix headlights – among other features.
Mini has launched a limited edition version of its three-door Cooper S hatch to commemorate its 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win.
Called the Paddy Hopkirk Edition, it’s named after the Northern Irish rally driver who took his classic Mini Cooper S to victory. It’s also limited to just 100 units.
Along with English co-pilot Henry Liddon, Hopkirk became one of the biggest names in British motorsport. His victory was made all the more impressive because of the fact the pair beat rivals with much more powerful cars, beginning Mini’s legacy as a giant killer in motorsport.
The new edition remembers that win with a large number 37 on the doors – the number Hopkirk raced to victory in. It also gets lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels, high-gloss black finishes to various exterior parts, and an Alcantara steering wheel inside.
Other features include a ‘Paddy Hopkirk Monte Carlo’ sticker set and a single white bonnet stripe that has ‘33 EJB’ etched into it – the number plate of the winning car. This model also gets some optional equipment included as standard, such as the Navigation and Comfort Packs, as well as various parts finished in piano black.
Performance is unchanged from the regular Mini Cooper S hatch, which means a 2.0-litre petrol engine generating 192hp and a 0-60mph time of less than seven seconds.
The Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition can be ordered now, with prices starting at £27,045 and deliveries commencing in November 2020.
Gone are the days when small electric cars came with tiny electric ranges. It used to be accepted that you should buy a small EV for urban life, with a petrol or diesel model for those longer journeys.
However, battery technology has advanced to the point where we have this Peugeot e-208 – a supermini with a 217-mile range. In theory, then, it would take a pretty serious road trip to drain the battery, so let’s get behind the wheel to see if this compact car is all you could ever need.
Peugeot works on the theory that buyers don’t want separate electric models, so instead it builds its existing models with the ability to fit a battery pack and electric motor. That means there’s nothing truly bespoke here, getting the same cool styling inside and out as petrol and diesel models.
However, because of the weight of the batteries, the e-208 does have some suspension tweaks to improve handling, because the standard kit wouldn’t be up to the job.
How does it look?
There’s no denying Peugeot’s styling is fantastic at the moment. Everything the firm makes has chic character that its rivals can only dream of, even when it comes to traditionally dull segments like MPVs.
This is especially true of the 208, which has a premium look that stands out from the crowd, particularly thanks to the ‘three-claw’ headlight design up front, LED lights all around, and that sleek black bar across the rear. It also does little to shout about being an EV, with a small, simple ‘e’ logo beside the badging at the back.
What’s the spec like?
The e-208 is available with six different trim levels, which means there’s plenty of variety depending on your budget – though with the entry level Active trim starting at £29,025 and the top-spec GT model starting at £33,275, the high-spec models feel like better value, especially when the difference is only about £20 per month on finance. (All prices here are before the government’s plug-in car grant.)
Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch touchscreen, LED daytime running lights and air conditioning, while the top-spec GT trim gets 17-inch wheels, a 10-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, and adaptive cruise control.
Our test car had the mid-spec Allure trim, which felt well-equipped and left us wanting for nothing. Prices start at £30,225 and include 17-inch wheels in a different design to the GT, the cool 3D i-Cockpit, wireless phone charging and automatic air conditioning.
What’s the Peugeot e-208 like inside?
Again, the design and execution is largely fantastic. The interior is full of funky angles that make it a genuinely interesting place to be, but this isn’t at the sacrifice of high quality materials.
It does suffer from the usual Peugeot driving position problem, where the wheel has been designed to look over at the instrument binnacle, but for many people the top of the rim blocks your view, so it’s tough to even know how fast you’re going. It’s a shame, because the 3D i-Cockpit is a brilliant bit of design that’s fun yet informative to look at.
What’s under the bonnet?
The e-208 gets a 136bhp electric motor, which is fed by a 50kWh battery that’s responsible for that impressive 217-mile range. Many buyers are concerned about how their battery degrades over time, so Peugeot offers an eight-year or 100,000-mile guarantee on its batteries, and will test it at every service to see how much capacity has reduced.
Acceleration is unsurprisingly brisk – those are impressive performance figures for what is a small (though admittedly quite heavy) car. With a 0-60mph time of about eight seconds, it’s in the ballpark of small hot hatches, and it certainly feels that way. Around town that responsiveness is welcome too, making urban driving a breeze.
What’s the Peugeot e-208 like to drive?
Those short, sharp bursts of acceleration are great fun, but there’s a lot more to this supermini than that. In built up areas where that performance is irrelevant, it presents itself as a delightful way to dart through traffic, while the silent motors mean it’s always relaxing.
It’s surprisingly good on the motorway, too, with the extra weight of the batteries likely contributing to it being more composed at high speed. However, that does also mean that on a twisty road, you feel the extra weight, making it slightly less agile than its internal combustion engine-powered equivalents.
Verdict
The Peugeot e-208 is a fantastic supermini, offering style and a fun driving experience in equal measure. With its 217-mile range and well-mannered motorway character, it’s genuinely capable of being used on longer journeys.
Its size means it’s not the most practical car in the world, but if you’re looking for a car in this segment – even if you hadn’t originally been considering an electric vehicle – the e-208 should be high on your shopping list.
Model as tested: Peugeot e-208 Allure Price: £27,225* Motor unit: 100kW electric motor Gearbox: Single-speed automatic *includes £3,000 plug-in car grant
Power: 140 hp Torque: 300 Nm Top speed: 93 mph 0-60mph: 7.9 seconds
Battery size: 50 kWh Battery range: 217 miles Euro NCAP safety rating:Four stars (2019) TCE Expert Rating:76% (as of September 2020)
The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a mid-sized SUV available with either five or seven seats. It is based on the smaller GLA model, although it is closer in size to the larger GLC. The GLB arrived in the UK in late 2019.
The GLB is available with either a petrol or diesel engine – unlike the smaller GLA, which is also offered as a plug-in hybrid. There is also a high-performance model called the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 – we have a separate page for this model.
It has received praise from reviewers for its comfort, safety and advanced technology; however, it has been criticised for limited practicality compared to similarly-priced rivals and for only offering a limited choice of engines.
As of July 2025, the Mercedes-Benz GLB holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 66% on our unique Expert Rating Index. It gets good grades for its low CO2 emissions, but its safety rating and media review scores are only average and its running costs are high.
Body style: Mid-sized SUV/crossover Engines: petrol, diesel Price: From £39,825 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2019 Last updated: Spring 2023 Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The Mercedes GLB is a small, stylish SUV with a posh cabin and seven seats, but alternatives are more practical, cheaper and come with a greater choice of engines.”
Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a stylish family SUV with an upmarket interior and seating for seven.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220 d Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz GLB 220 d is certainly the most competent rival yet for the Land Rover’s baby seven-seater Discovery Sport. It offers strong performance and refinement, along with a better-finished cabin and more coherent in-car tech, but you will have to forego some boot space to get it.” Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz GLB puts practicality above all else, and looks all the better for it. It’s not, by any stretch of the imagination, exciting to drive but it is comfortable and refined, and has one of the finest interiors in its class. A truly worthy contender for your next family car.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.4 / 10 “A further spin-off from the A-Class hatchback family, the Mercedes-Benz GLB is both a compact SUV and a seven-seat family car in one. Where its GLA brother aims for the younger, crossover crowd the more upright GLB goes out and out for practicality and usability.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d 4Matic AMG Line Premium Score: 8 / 10 “Up to now, there was a clear gap in the Mercedes-Benz range. We can imagine many drivers with Mercedes-Benz on their choice lists -particularly if they have a family – feeling the GLB is the model best suited to their needs.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range review Score: 8 / 10 “If you opt for a seven-seat GLB (a five-seat version is available), you might be pleasantly surprised with how much room there is, not just in the third row, but all-round.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 220d AMG Line “New GLB crowns Mercedes’ broad small car range and offers seven-seat practicality (just about), or plenty of passenger and luggage space for five, in a nice-driving package that looks the part as a mini off-roader.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d 4Matic Score: 6 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz GLB is ideal for when Postman Pat goes first class – and is fine if you don’t have an issue with how it looks.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Unless you’re willing to spend mega money on a larger model, we don’t think there’s a more desirable seven-seat SUV on the market. The Mercedes-Benz GLB has got a superb interior and – provided you avoid the AMG model – shouldn’t cost a fortune to run.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview “Four ISOFIX child seat points will appeal to families, as will its various driver assistance systems that have trickled down the range from the S-Class.” Read review
Model reviewed: Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 “The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is an entertaining SUV oddity. In fact there’s nothing else quite like it, and it’s executed in the usual Mercedes-Benz way – with a quality interior and entertaining driving experience. Its biggest catch, however, is going to be the price which is expected to be in the region of £50,000.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a convincing, if pricey, option. Space in the third row of seats isn’t far off the Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento, yet in return you get a car that’s nicer to drive, has a better interior and features the all-important Mercedes-Benz badge.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview “Mercedes-Benz bills its new GLB as the ultimate all rounder — and it might be just that” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d AMG Line Premium Plus Score: 8 / 10 “Surprisingly better than it has a right to be, this B-class on stilts has a great ride quality and decent body control (at least it does on air suspension, although that isn’t available in the UK) and the interior of the top models is gorgeous. You will look like Postman Pat, though.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Not a bad effort from Mercedes. Will do very well, even if the Disco Sport is more likeable and Kodiaq more practical” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of July 2025, the Mercedes-Benz GLB has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of July 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mercedes-Benz GLB to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the GLB, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
39 mpg
D
37 – 50 mpg
B – D
Diesel models
48 mpg
C
45 – 50 mpg
B – C
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
164 g/km
C
159 – 172 g/km
C – C
Diesel models
156 g/km
B
148 – 166 g/km
B – C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
30
C
27 – 50
B – F
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£275
C
Year 2
£669
C
Year 3
£1,208
C
Year 4
£1,383
C
Year 5
£1,853
C
Overall
£5,388
C
Running costs for the Mercedes-Benz GLB range are a mixed bag, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel economy is disappointing for petrol models and around the market average for diesel-engined versions. Compared to the rest of the mid-sized SUV sector, the car’s service and maintenance costs are pretty average. Based on data from the UK’s insurance group assessor, Thatcham Research, insurance costs are also likely to be around the market average.
Awards
Significant UK trophies and awards that the Mercedes-Benz GLB has received
2021
Carwow Awards – Best Family SUV
2020
Parkers New Car Awards – Best Medium Family Car
Business Car Awards – Best Premium Large SUV
Similar cars
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When the first Volkswagen Touareg arrived all the way back in 2003, it was one of a relatively new breed of SUVs. Prior to that, MPVs had reigned supreme, but it was soon clear that high-riding, luxurious models like the Touareg would soon become the go-to option for those who wanted a more commanding view of the road ahead as well as the space and practicality desired by families.
Fast forward to the present day and it’s clear that the SUV segment is more popular than ever. The Touareg isn’t one of a few in this segment anymore, either, with plenty of rivals now here to contend with. Let’s find out how it compares.
Placed as Volkswagen’s flagship SUV, the Touareg has been blessed with all of the bells and whistles you could possibly want. Though launched back in 2018, it’s been kept up to date thanks to a sharp digital cockpit, a large central screen and an emphasis on driver comfort. Whereas other models try and put a focus on performance, the Touareg is an SUV that has been designed to be capable, cosseting and practical.
It’s also packed with driver assistance systems to ensure that both occupants and pedestrians are kept as safe as possible, while new lightweight materials aim to improve efficiency too.
The SEL Tech trim tested here was added to the range last winter, along with an entry-level SE specification and a Black Edition trim for the R-Line model. Overall, the Volkswagen Touareg holds a current Expert Rating of 73% on The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating index, based on 22 different UK reviews. That puts it well behind slightly more expensive cars like the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, but ahead of the Lexus RX and Maserati Levante.
How does it look?
Against the current crop of SUVs, the Touareg’s refined, rather understated design is actually quite refreshing. It doesn’t shout about its own existence, but merely gets the process of design done in rather classy fashion.
We’ll admit that the huge chrome grille up front is hard to miss, but the whole look of the car is executed without too much flamboyance. If you want an SUV which doesn’t shout too hard about being an SUV, then the Touareg is the car for you.
What’s the spec like?
‘Our’ test car came in SEL Tech specification which brings a whole host of standard equipment for its £52,055 entry price. For that, you get a 15-inch central infotainment display bolstered by a 12-inch customisable driver display in the space you’d expect to find the conventional dials. Apple CarPay and Android Auto are both included too, so you can make the most of that huge display by connecting your smartphone and mirroring its functions there.
Our test car also came with a smattering of options that helped to bump its price up to £59,010. These included the aforementioned air suspension as well as a power folding tow bar (£1,130), a full driver assistance package with features such as emergency assist, front cross traffic assistant and traffic jam assist (£1,000) and aquamarine blue ultra metallic paint (£1,215).
Though the options do help to bolster the overall package, the level of standard equipment offered with the Touareg is so comprehensive that there’s really little need to go near the options list unless you absolutely need to.
Safety-wise, the Volkswagen Touareg was awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2018, with a very solid set of scores in all four categories (adult protection, child protection, veulnerable road user protection and crash avoidance).
What’s the Volkswagen Touareg like inside?
The Touareg has been designed with practicality in mind, which is why its cabin is large and spacious with plenty of space for five to sit comfortably. The front seats are well supported without being overly firm while there’s a good degree of space for those sitting in the back, too. Of course, given the car’s large proportions there’s plenty of headroom, so even taller drivers and passengers will be able to get comfortable.
The seats-up boot space is huge at 810 litres, while this can be extended up to 1,800 litres by folding the seats down. In short, if you need more space you’re probably better off opting for a van. It’s square and easy to access too and despite a relatively high load height, there’s no lip so placing larger items into the back shouldn’t prove too taxing.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Touareg uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine which brings robust and torquey performance befitting a car of this type. There’s 231hp on tap, while a healthy 500Nm will be a welcome figure to those who plan on using their Touareg for towing. Power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and Volkswagen says it’ll take just over seven seconds for the Touareg to hit 60mph from a dead stop. All in, it’ll do 135mph.
When it comes to efficiency, the Touareg is pretty much on par for the segment. Combined it should return 34.6mpg, while CO2 emissions sit at 214g/km. It’s also packed with off-road tech, with permanent four-wheel-drive bolstered by a self-locking central differential with switchable off-road driving programmes designed to ensure that very little stops the Touareg from going forwards.
What’s the Volkswagen Touareg like to drive?
It’s easy to get set up in the driving seat of the Touareg. There’s plenty of adjustability with the seat and wheel and once you’re comfy, there’s a great view out of the road ahead thanks to that raised ride height. The immediate SUV box is ticked, then.
Out on the road, it’s quiet and comfortable while the optional air suspension on our test car (an extra £1,705) brings a sumptuous level of ride quality that is hard to achieve with standard steel springs. It also means that, should you want to, you can firm the ride up for when more corners come into sight.
But though the engine is punchy and gives the Touareg a lot more performance than the figures might suggest, this isn’t a car you’ll be wanting to take through the bends. In fairness, this isn’t a car pitched as a lap-time breaker, so we can cut it a fair amount of slack for not tracking through corners with racecar precision.
Verdict
The Volkswagen Touareg might represent somewhat of an old guard of SUVs, but it’s still a wonderfully well-rounded choice in the segment. It’s comfortable, practical and well-styled while also being exceptionally well-appointed inside.
It might not feel like the cutting-edge of SUVs, but if you’re after a large car with space for every eventuality and a torquey diesel engine capable of pulling you out of all situations, then the Touareg remains an admirable choice.
