Table of contents for 1842 in Auto Express

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks New look for family SUV Tweaks for interior, too “We expect Kia to take an evolutionary approach to the Sportage’s design, incorporating the new family face” WITH a heritage that dates back more than 30 years, the Kia Sportage is a crucial model in the company’s line-up. And to keep it competitive in the family SUV class, it’s getting a facelift. As confirmation, our spy photographers have caught the updated Sportage for the first time on the roads around Germany’s famous Nürburgring race tack. You can forget about bucket seats and a roll cage inside this test car, though – we’re looking beneath the revised Sportage’s heavy camouflage here to see what we can learn about the upcoming production version. As you might guess, we expect Kia to…

Price is right for new entry-level Enyaq EV THE Skoda Enyaq (above) has just had £2,000 lopped from its starting price, due to the introduction of the Enyaq 50. Available now, it costs from £36,970. Drawing power from a new 52kWh battery, it has up to 234 miles of range and uses a 168bhp motor that gives it a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds. Standard kit includes 19-inch wheels, LED lights and a touchscreen, while the 50 Edition gets additional kit and costs £38,585. Ferrari set to accept crypto payments FOLLOWING a trial in the US, Ferrari’s scheme to incorporate cryptocurrency payments into its dealer network will soon extend to Europe. By the end of the month, wealthy traders will be able to purchase their dream car anonymously using blockchain…

Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

A DECADE ago, and there was plenty of hype from the world’s car makers over fully autonomous, self-driving cars. But as the years have passed, the reality of the time and expense required to develop them has caused a reality check for some. In May, Renault Group said it would only focus on autonomous solutions in public transport. “Complete vehicle autonomy seems unlikely for the time being, given current regulations, customer expectations and the cost of the technology involved,” it said in a statement. It sounded eerily similar to Ford’s justification when it pulled out of autonomous-tech company Argo AI in 2022. It said: “The auto industry’s large-scale profitable commercialisation of Level 4 [fully driverless] systems will be further out than originally anticipated. “Profitable, fully autonomous vehicles at scale are…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk Running costs 32.5mpg (official) £76 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.6 seconds/155mph YOU could be forgiven for forgetting the BMW Z4 existed in today’s world of electric cars and SUVs, but it continues as one of the few front-engined, rear-drive roadsters still available in 2024. It’s in its third generation, but BMW has confirmed that there will not be a fourth. Before it calls time completely, though, the maker has come up with a new special edition. The M40i Handschalter takes the roadster’s most potent engine and pairs it with a six-speed manual transmission for the first time in this generation. It’s also been given a range of chassis tweaks, plus a unique Frozen Deep Green paint, combined with a caramel-coloured leather interior. The 3.0-litre engine itself is unchanged, and…

MODEL TESTED: Cooper E PRICE: £30,000 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 40.7kWh battery, 181bhp 181bhp Powertrain 1x e-motor 40.7kWh Battery/range 190 miles 7.3 secs Performance 99mph 210 litres Seats up/down 800 litres CONSIDERING that late versions of the outgoing MINI Electric cost as much as £35,000, a £30,000 starting point for the new car is competitive, given its boost in powertrain and in-car tech. An example specced up to the level of our test model will cost you £32,520. Tech highlights WHILE the last MINI Electric was adapted from the existing internal combustion-engined car, the Cooper E is completely separate from the petrol versions. Its architecture has been developed as part of a joint venture with Chinese maker Great Wall Automotive, and until 2026 the EV will be built in China, before…

WINNER MINI Cooper E 1st THE Cooper E continues where the old model left off, by offering buyers a sporty, desirable compact electric car that feels much posher than its tiny dimensions suggest. Improvements to both battery size and efficiency have made it a significantly more usable prospect than its predecessor, while the in-car tech, despite one or two flaws, is comfortably the best in the class. Much like an original MINI, the ride will prove to be too busy for some, and we’d like faster charging, but these points aside, it’s a great choice. INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information • Strong performance• Sharp handling• Excellent efficiency• Cabin design • Bouncy ride• Slow charging speeds• Small boot• Fiddly climate controls RUNNER-UP Peugeot E-208 2nd PEUGEOT has got a…

SAME CLASS Honda e AS with many of Honda’s best cars, the Honda e felt slightly ahead of its time. It looks almost as spectacular as the concept on which it was based, and its open cabin rivals the MINI for occasion. Ride, handling and performance are all superb, but it’s let down by a small battery and a high price – the penalties for early EV adoption. While this put people off when the car was new, the bonus for used buyers is that prices now start from as little as £14,000. • Brilliant design• Great to drive • Short range• Tiny boot SAME MONEY Volkswagen e-Golf THE size and range of the MINI confines it to second-car status for some drivers, and if that’s the case, the modest…

Steve_Walker@autovia.co.uk PRACTICALITY is the cornerstone of every family car, but even the most cleverly designed vehicles sometimes need a little help. So it was with our Nissan Ariya, which has benefited from a trip to Halfords, for a boost in its carrying capacity. The all-wheel-drive Ariya e-Force has a removable towbar that you can specify on any Ariya for just under £1,000. The 1,500kg maximum braked trailer towing capacity is pretty good for an EV. It means you can pull a moderately sized caravan, although we only needed a towbar-mounted bike carrier. The towing ball locks into place with a key and lives under the boot floor when not in use. It’s easy to attach, and because there’s very little space in the compartment for anything besides the puncture repair…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy DACIA is not your typical car company. And Denis Le Vot is certainly not your typical car-company boss. We’re two minutes into a journey around the Paris suburbs with the brand CEO at the wheel of the latest Duster, and he appears unable to resist pointing the wheels towards what look like fairly substantial speed bumps. “We can’t off road here, but let’s at least use this SUV properly!” he grins, as he gives his firm’s latest creation an impromptu shakedown over precisely the sort of road that many examples will face on the commute or school run. The newly crowned Auto Express Small SUV of the Year passes the test, in case you’re wondering, but that’s not why we’re here. The idea behind our visit is a…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy “With this bare shell, we were able to make parts to production standard and see how they fitted”NICOLAE ION Project manager MEET one of the unsung heroes of the new Dacia Duster. It’s not the idiot in the lab coat but rather the scruffy bodyshell behind him. For the past two years, it’s been hidden in an unassuming industrial unit in Titu, north-west of Bucharest in Romania. It’s here where Starkle, the unique plastic used in several of the new Duster’s exterior parts, has been turned from chemical theory into production reality. This is the base of Metaplast, the partner trusted by Dacia’s parent Renault Group to make sure Starkle works. Family owned, it has, over the past 30 years, expanded from domestic appliances to automotive, and then…

Milltek speeds in with new products MILLTEK Sport launched several new products at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The first was a premium performance exhaust for the brand-new Mini Cooper S. The exhaust is made from stainless steel and has visible exits that are reminiscent of the original R53 Cooper S. The firm also showed off a freeflow crossover pipe for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and lifestyle-focused accessories for the classic Land Rover Defender. All the products are on sale now. Visit millteksport.com for details. Don’t be a sap when cleaning tree mess AUTOGLYM has warned drivers of the dangers of using home-brew solutions or online hacks to remove tree sap from their cars. Hacks on social media recommend using substances such as hand gel, nail-polish remover or petrol,…

CO2/tax 0g/km Free-£410 Running costs 2.6miles/kWh (55 quattro) £31 full charge Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.8 seconds/118mph CONSIDERING the original Nissan Leaf arrived 13 years ago to take the electric car into the mainstream, it seems incredible that Audi didn’t produce its first EV until 2019. That car was the e-tron, and while it’s fair to say that this desirable SUV is rather more accomplished than Nissan’s family car, it’s clear that some of the world’s biggest car makers were very slow to move beyond petrol and diesel power. However, when the e-tron did arrive, we thought it was worth waiting for, because it quickly became one of our favourite EVs. In theory, the e-tron only had a short life because the nameplate was dropped last year. But in reality it…

WE love Skodas and they always do well in our Driver Power surveys, because they’re so easy to live with and such good value. The Kodiaq is a case in point, because while it’s a relatively costly car, it’s also Skoda’s biggest model, so you get a lot for your money. Offered with 1.4 (later 1.5) TSI or 2.0 TSI petrol engines, there was also a 2.0 TDI diesel with 114, 148 or 187bhp; a sporty vRS edition arrived in 2019, with a 237bhp 2.0 TDI engine. Even now, the Kodiaq acquits itself well with its technology, engines and equipment, but the Mk1 Kodiaq was never offered with hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. It’s still good to drive, though, with sharp steering, a comfy ride and decent agility, while performance…

UK car-manufacturing numbers fell through the floor in the last month or so. In June, the 27-per cent plunge (vs June ’23) was debilitating and, frankly, unsustainable for the British automotive business. But the disappointing numbers are explained away by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. All this was “expected” and “caused by multiple model changes” as “factories repurpose,” it stated. Also, don’t forget: “Manufacturers are retooling production lines to make electrified models.” Fair enough. But everything from model changes to retooling and repurposing in the short term aren’t the major, long-term problems. Bigger dilemmas by far go like this: we have to accept and deal with the fact that the usual suspects – Japan, Germany, South Korea, Spain, USA and France, in that order – already build more…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram Second-generation T-Roc will take design lead from Tiguan Powertrains and infotainment likely to come from latest Golf THE end is nigh for Volkswagen’s range of petrol, diesel and plug-in cars. The maker is winding down the introduction of new combustion-engined models as it looks ahead to an EV-only future. But before the switch, the German company will manage to sneak in one last all-new petrol model: the next-generation T-Roc crossover. It will follow in the wheeltracks of the revised Tiguan SUV, inheriting much of that car’s engine and interior tech, plus an evolutionary design in keeping with the updated family aesthetic. We expect to see the new T-Roc in 2025, and our exclusive images show how we think the car could look. Based on a set of revealing…

Tom_Jervis@autovia.co.uk @thomaswjervis THE Department for Transport “does not have a good understanding of the condition of local roads” – that’s the damning judgement of the National Audit Office (NAO) after its report into the state and maintenance of roads across England. The investigation by the independent body shows the extent of the Government’s disconnect with local councils, with DfT data suggesting that the quality of our roads has remained stable over time, despite complaints from motorists and the roadbuilding industry that conditions are worsening. Such ignorance can be linked to the minimal amount of data collection from local authorities. The NAO has found that there is no reporting requirement for classified roads. The Government says this is to “minimise administrative burdens”, but this doesn’t allow for the fact that such…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram AS much of a household name as Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, the Nissan Qashqai changed the automotive landscape when it arrived in the late noughties. Evolution has also seen it keep pace with newer rivals, and the latest, third-generation car has just been facelifted. The result is a sharp new look that brings the hybrid-powered family SUV into line with Nissan’s pure-electric Ariya flagship. There’s a new face, with an updated grille and fresh lighting. Those lights incorporate scrolling indicators for the first time, and to our eyes at least, it’s a successful nip and tuck – certainly from the front. At the rear, there’s a new bumper and silver trim for the tail-lights, ensuring even a layman can pick the old and new cars apart in…

Paul.Barker@carwow.co.uk @paulbarkerauto Running costs 19.9mpg (official) £123 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.3 seconds/193mph THE best place to start with Aston Martin’s mid-life revision for the DBX is with what isn’t, rather than what is, because two major things have been given the boot. Firstly, the standard 542bhp Aston Martin DBX model has gone, leaving only the 697bhp DBX707. Which is fine, because getting on for 90 per cent of buyers wanted that one anyway, so the brand didn’t see the point in carrying on with the regular model. The second removal is the only big thing that we criticised on the DBX, an opinion echoed by customers – the off-the-pace infotainment system. From launch, Aston deployed previous-generation Mercedes tech that would have let down a car costing a fraction of…

MODEL TESTED: E-208 GT PRICE: £32,850 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 54kWh battery, 154bhp 154bhp Powertrain 1x e-motor 54kWh Battery/range 248 miles 8.2 seconds Performance 93mph 309 litres Seats up/down 1,118 litres WE’RE testing the E-208 in the highest GT trim, which comes to £32,850. However, the car in these pictures also comes with a host of extras – including a £400 heat pump, which is standard on the MINI – lifting the total to £35,660. Tech highlights THANKS to the vast number of brands under the Stellantis umbrella, the same EV powertrains are shared across a wide number of vehicles. The set-up used by the E-208 here can also be found in a range of superminis and compact SUVs, including the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600e, Citroen e-C4 and…

SAME CLASS Fiat 500e ONLY Fiat can claim to have matched MINI’s success when it comes to drawing on its heritage. The 500’s adorable looks have been with us since 2007, but it wasn’t until 2020 that an electric version arrived. Many of the largest boxes it ticks match those of the MINI; it looks great inside and out, the tech is slick, but it isn’t quite as sophisticated to drive. Its motor specs aren’t quite on the level of its rivals here – you’ll need to go for a pricier option to get a 42kWh battery, and even then you’re stuck with a modest 118bhp motor – and the Italian model is even tighter in the back seats and the boot than the MINI. • Stylish inside and out•…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy “Team Duster was presented with a terrific opportunity to upgrade the Duster’s technology and powertrains” A SEA of muddy ruts stretches out before us. Wisps of steam are floating up from the tyres and engine bay, accompanied by a faint whiff of a well used transmission. It’s sunny overhead, but a week of solid rain has created treacherous conditions. And a giggling Frenchman is sitting beside me, telling me that I’m being far too cautious with the throttle pedal. This, it turns out, is where the Dacia Duster really earns its spurs. It’s perhaps the strongest link to the origins of this model that it remains one of very few SUVs of its size and price to be offered with both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The Duster…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk “I love that it’s a hybrid. Ours is an LPG model, but a change to hybrid would really suit us. We like to think that we’re eco conscious, but aren’t in a position to make the move to a full-electric car”SARAH WOODWARD Dacia Duster owner WE can think of few accessible new cars that have such a strong fan-base as the Dacia Duster. So to see how existing owners of the Romanian SUV feel about the new third-generation model, we’re at a studio in Oxfordshire to sound out the nameplate’s biggest fans, who could also potentially be its harshest critics. We have two versions of the newcomer on display in the studio, one in mid-spec Journey trim and the other a top-spec Extreme car, and the sense of excitement…

WE’VE all become increasingly reliant on our phones to help us with everyday life, and that includes at the wheel. Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto means you can access nearly all of the apps and communication methods from your phone while you are driving. Most cars built over the last few years have compatibility with CarPlay or Android Auto as standard, but it’s usually only the more expensive models that come with wireless capability. This means you don’t have to plug into the car using a cable in order to use it, which keeps the interior looking neat and makes it much more convenient for shorter journeys. You simply leave the phone in your pocket or handbag, and it switches on and links as soon as the car starts.…

WHEN we are looking for parts to fix or service a car, most of us will inevitably turn to the internet. Online suppliers offer unbeatable convenience, allowing you to check prices before having the order shipped straight to your front door. While many businesses offer parts, eBay is a good place to start and can often be the cheapest. The company has just revamped the way it sells bits for our cars, with more business suppliers listed and a fitment guarantee offered. To test eBay against the more traditional rivals, we priced up a mixed ‘basket’ of commonly used service parts for five cars. We also rated each of the sites for their ease of use and accuracy. While eBay offers the most comprehensive selection and, uniquely, includes used parts,…

THE original Sorento was launched in 2003, and by the time the Mk4 arrived in 2020, Kia had nailed the seven-seat SUV formula. The car came in hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms with a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine; a 2.2 diesel was also offered, but it came only in mid-range trim (the options were 2, 3 and 4). Launched on an all-new platform, the Sorento Mk4 is a lovely thing to own, because it’s roomy and well equipped. Cabin quality is good, too, and the ownership experience tends to be a breeze, thanks to decent levels of reliability and that impressive seven-year warranty, which is transferable between owners. But dynamically, the Sorento isn’t as good as the Skoda, because its engine has to work hard in such a big car;…

OPINION THE next T-Roc could be the last significant Volkswagen to be launched with petrol power, but the story of the popular crossover is unlikely to end with the car we’ve previewed here. Until comparatively recently, VW’s policy on the long-term future of some of its most famous badges was a little unclear. But under the guidance of boss Thomas Schäfer, the German giant has recommitted to at least one of its icons – the Golf. And in so doing, it has restricted at least some of its bespoke, electric ID. vehicles to a single production run. It’s easy to see how the forthcoming baby EV, previewed by the ID. 2all concept, could keep the Polo name running into the next decade. But we shouldn’t take this for granted; at…

BRACE yourselves: the violently vivid Genesis GV60 Magma that was revealed as a concept car just a few months ago has been confirmed for production. It’s set to arrive in Europe towards the end of 2025. We asked vehicle development boss Tyrone Johnson how the GV60 Magma will set itself apart from its Kia EV6 GT and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N siblings. “That’s the 10,000-dollar question,” he said. “Yes, it’s the same platform, but each of those other cars also has to find its way in the segment. Magma will do the same; what we’re trying to achieve is completely different.” Compared with the regular GV60, the Magma has a wider track, lowered suspension, a more aggressive front bumper and rear diffuser, plus a big spoiler at the back. It…

UNIQUE commissions and one-off models are becoming more popular in the world of luxury cars. Cadillac’s answer is the Sollei Concept (above), which it says represents the pinnacle of its new bespoke program. The car’s design makes a clear reference to the company’s ostentatious four-seat convertibles of the fifties and sixties. It borrows elements from the firm’s $400k (£310k) Celestiq electric flagship and gets a new body with an Art Deco cabin and a 55-inch screen. There’s mushroom-based bio fabric, milled aluminium and intricate wooden veneer across the cabin. The rear end is completely new, and features a thin light bar stretching across the bootlid, sitting above the illuminated risers that frame the rear bumper below. Cadillac hasn’t confirmed whether the car will go on sale, but various production-relevant design…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Steering wheels: it’s hip to be square FROM: Clyde Brown I’VE noticed of late the strange shapes of modern steering wheels. It reminds me of the Austin Allegro from the seventies that received quite a lot of criticism at the time for its so-called square ones. We all laughed at British Leyland, but maybe it had it right after all! A sign that things need to change FROM: Mike Bennett I AGREE with Mike Rutherford (Issue 1,838) about dirty road signage. National Highways and councils need to channel efforts into maintenance. It’s now a safety issue; overgrown vegetation and dirty signs are making it dangerous. It’s time for HS2 funds to finally…

WAYVE’S rise to prominence has come at a time when self-driving tech is under the microscope like never before, particularly in the United States, where there has been a swathe of negative headlines following some high-profile incidents involving so-called AV1.0 ‘robotaxis’. At the centre of the biggest storm has been General Motors’ subsidiary Cruise. Its driverless robotaxi service – which saw Chevrolet Bolts retrofitted with autonomous systems operating in specific geofenced areas – was expanding into a number of US cities, before an accident in San Francisco last October put the brakes on. The incident saw a pedestrian seriously injured after being dragged along the road for 20 feet by one of Cruise’s autonomous taxis, having originally being struck by a human-driven car. The company subsequently had its licences to…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram “It’s no 911, but it’s much more agile than the posh limos that it runs close for comfort” IT’S been a busy 12 months for Porsche. The launch of a new electric Macan, plus revised versions of the Taycan and Cayenne, not to mention a facelift and hybrid drive for the iconic 911, represents an awful lot of new metal. But that’s not the end of it, because there’s also a new Panamera saloon, which we’re driving here in the UK for the first time in its most basic guise. Rather than an all-new car, this is a heavy update of the existing model – although the cosmetic changes are subtle inside and out. At the front, the new Panamera can be spotted by its refreshed bumper, which…

THE MINI’s premium positioning might lead you to believe that it’ll be the pricier model of the two to buy and run, but it’s only in servicing where the Cooper E is more expensive. Although both cars deliver strong efficiency, the MINI’s advantage will save drivers a modest amount of cash, while our representative insurance quotes also see the MINI offering better value. It’s in the finance payments where the big difference emerges, though. Based on a three-year Personal Contract Purchase deal with a £5,000 customer deposit and a 10,000-mile annual limit, the MINI comes to £397 per month, undercutting the Peugeot by £65 a month. All-in, across the course of 36 months, the MINI costs £2,464 less. While Peugeot has been pretty punchy with both its interest rates (just…

ELECTRIC SUPERMINIS If you don’t want an electric SUV, a supermini EV is a great choice. Our experts have their say. “STEP up to the Cooper Electric SE and you’ll be getting your hands on a genuinely fun EV that delivers zero-emissions hot-hatch thrills. With this and the imminent arrival of the Alpine A290, it looks like an electric future doesn’t have to be boring.” John McIlroy Editor-at-large Rich Ingram Deputy editor “VOLKSWAGEN has been conspicuous by its absence in the small electric-car segment since the brilliant e-Up! was canned a few years ago. That should all change with the ID.2; we predict the electric supermini will cost from around £20,000 when sales begin in 2025.” Dawn Grant Picture editor “BY the end of the year, MINI’s range will be…

Pete_Gibson@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.2 seconds/124mph Running costs 42.7mpg (on test) £77 fill-up 30% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 580/1,630 litres “The C5 swallowed my bike and the kit I would need for Ride London” MY latest fleet car – a Citroen C5 Aircross – arrived at the Gibson house at a very useful time of year. I’m a keen cyclist and in a moment of madness I had decided to enter Ride London, a hundred-mile ride back in May that meant my bike needed be transported into the capital. It’s always a big advantage to be able to transport the bike securely inside the car without removing any wheels. With the second row of seats down, the C5 offers 1,630 litres of space, which swallowed the bike and all…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy MODELS that embody their brand’s entire values are rare these days. But ever since the modern Duster made its debut 14 years ago, leading the emerging Dacia badge into markets beyond eastern Europe, it has been at the core of the company’s DNA. A new Duster is a very big thing indeed for Dacia, then. So over the next 32 pages, we’re going to dive deep into its development. We’ll join engineers putting the four-wheel-drive version through its paces, sleep rough with the design chief, get the lowdown on the company’s future from CEO Denis Le Vot, roll the new model out in front of existing Duster owners, and even trek to Romania to visit the family-run company responsible for the Mk3 Duster’s cleverest materials. Oh, and just…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram MANY car brands trade on an outdoorsy, lifestyle-oriented image. But while we’re all familiar with the term ‘Chelsea Tractor’, Dacia claims its owners embrace their sense of adventure more than most. It’s part of the reason the maker so quickly introduced Stepway versions of its Sandero supermini (and Logan MCV – remember that?) when the brand launched in the UK over a decade ago. That rougher, tougher look struck a chord with buyers who were looking for SUV style and capability, but at an affordable price point. Like many of its competitors, Dacia has grown over the past 10 years, aiming ever upwards while retaining that inherent sense of value. The company is beginning to embrace electrification, too, but its cars still display refreshing honesty in a market…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram ONE hundred and fifteen miles per hour. If you’re hitting that on a track day, it’s pretty exciting. If you’re on a public road, then you better be in Germany on an autobahn, or you’ll be in a heap of trouble. But if you find yourself at 115mph skimming the surface of a dirt track so bumpy and rocky that it felt severe enough to shake a road car to pieces at just 20mph when you drove along it just half an hour ago, then you know that you’re riding in a very serious machine. And there’s a very serious chauffeur to thank for the physical and emotional rollercoaster you’re going through. The driver is Cristina Gutiérrez, the car is the Dacia Sandrider, and as a pair, they’re…

Porsche 911 60 Years Randy Leffingwell (Motorbooks, quartoknows.co.uk) Price: £45 Rating: THIS is a wonderful coffee-table book for any Porsche fan, which takes a unique approach by focusing on one specific 911 model from each year of production. There’s lots of material that’s presented really well. But not all of the author-supplied photos have the glamour of vintage press shots. Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green Henry Sanderson (Oneworld Publications, oneworld-publications.com) Price: £10.99 Rating: WHILE not specifically about electric cars, which form part of the world’s energy transition, this thought-provoking book has lots on the quagmire of geopolitics and supply chains, the underlying issues behind batteries and their core materials, plus the labour practices involved. Off Road Mud Truck Available for: iOS, Android Price:…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk LIKE the C3 Aircross, which came 20th in this year’s survey, the C3 hatch is on its way out, but in the meantime it’s racking up consistently strong reviews from owners. Running costs and value for money are where satisfaction is highest, but its ride and handling also impress, scoring third place in the ride comfort sub-category and 17th for handling. Scores elsewhere are mostly good rather than exceptional, but the C3 doesn’t fall down greatly in any categories, either. Its worst result anywhere in the survey is a 37th place for cabin storage spaces. The car’s switchgear, climate controls and infotainment set-up all hover around 30th place, which is just below the middle of the pack. WE SAID “It’s frugal and the ride is one of the softest…