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James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Larger Merc stake will allow Aston access to Merc tech • Sports car line-up to be refreshed, SUV range will grow MERCEDES looks set to acquire up to 20 per cent of Aston Martin and a place on Aston’s board by 2023 as part of a new deal that will see the British firm given Merc’s next-generation all-electric and plug-in hybrid drivetrain technology in return. Aston – which is now led by executive chairman Lawrence Stroll and former AMG boss Tobias Moers – says this deal will allow the company to reduce “the costs and risks of developing” its own next-generation all-electric and hybrid tech, so the brand can “focus its investments in other areas and expand its product portfolio.” Mercedes’ parent company Daimler has maintained a…

Ford to reveal electric Transit van this month A FULLY electric Ford Transit will be revealed later this month, and go on sale in the UK early next year. Previewed in a hazy teaser image (above), the electric van will be called the E-Transit. It will join a plug-in hybrid in the electrified line-up and is expected to have a range of around 200 miles on a single charge. The E-Transit forms one part of Ford’s $11.5billion (£8.9bn) investment in fully electric vehicles. Fire fear leads to Kuga PHEV battery swap ELSEWHERE at Ford, the company has confirmed it will replace the battery pack in all of its plug-in hybrid Kugas due to a fault that could result in a fire. The recall was issued in August, but Ford has…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • Latest stats reveal 11 per cent drop on roadside breath tests • Forces are continuing to use cameras to catch majority of speeders A DRAMATIC reduction in the number of dedicated police traffic officers has been blamed for a reduction in the number of people subjected to a roadside drink-drive breath test, while a huge reliance on cameras to detect speeding offences has also come under scrutiny. Home Office data shows the number of drivers receiving a roadside breath test for alcohol in 2019 was down 11 per cent on the previous year, and was at its lowest level on record. Yet the proportion of drivers testing over the proscribed limit for alcohol was at its highest level since 2007, with 16 per cent of those tested…

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…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Running costs 282.4mpg (off icial) £63 fill-up AT £45,599, the new Suzuki Across (based on the Toyota RAV4) is far from a car priced within the firm’s budget image. But this is no ordinary Suzuki, it’s a plug-in hybrid – the first for the brand – and it has actually beaten its Toyota sibling to the UK market by a month or so. Suzuki (which is helping Toyota in the Indian market in return) has made a couple of mild cosmetic tweaks – spot the grille and bumper changes – but otherwise the Across and the RAV4 are identical. That means alongside the 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine there’s an 18.1kWh battery onboard, linked to an electric motor. Electric-only running…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.5 seconds/149mph Running costs 42.2mpg (off icial) £67 fill-up WE had two main takeaways from our first encounter with the new BMW 4 Series (Issue 1,649). First is that in range-topping M440i xDrive trim, it’s deeply impressive. The second is that the shock of those looks – and the huge vertical kidney grilles in particular – still hasn’t sunk in. Now back in the UK and driving the 420i variant, it’s clear that the face will still take some getting used to. But we’ll all get over it eventually, especially when it’s so clear that BMW has created a talented two-door. With M Sport trim consistently the most popular among British buyers of the last 4 Series, it’s the only trim level available this time.…

83.59% DID YOU KNOW? Owners of Suzukis report the lowest proportion of faults, with a staggering 95 per cent having no issues, one of the lowest rates we’ve ever seen. Average share of owners with faults: 39% YOU really like the cabins in your Evoques, Discovery Sports and Range Rovers, highlighting comfortable front seats, spacious rears and good driver visibility. You also say Land Rover designs child-friendly cars and suspension systems that provide a smooth ride, indicating life in a Land Rover or Range Rover tends to be pleasant and relaxing. Less pleasant, however, would seem to be the running costs, with bottom-of-the-pack scores for servicing and fuel costs indicating deep pockets may be required for a used Land Rover. It’s also hard to ignore the high proportion of owners…

85.79% DID YOU KNOW? If smartphone connectivity is important to you, seek out a second-hand SEAT, because the manufacturer ranks top in this individual area. share of owners with faults: 29.12% THERE are a few decent scores nestling among Renault’s results. You consider the firm’s engines to sound pretty smooth, while you also report a pretty comfortable ride and enjoyable driving experience from your Kadjars, Clios and Capturs. Fuel economy is notably strong, too, with the French manufacturer placing fifth in this individual area. But we’re still in the bottom third of our results here, so it’s not all positive, and one area where used Renaults seem to disappoint is in the cabin, where so-so designs and build quality don’t seem to be standing the test of time. You also…

87.18% DID YOU KNOW? If you want a high-end product, you sometimes have to pay for it; with Porsche the best-rated maker for overall build quality, that seems to true on the used-car market. Average share of owners with faults: 17.13% A WELL-rounded set of results from Volkswagen, with the exterior and interior categories responsible for the brand’s highest marks. Owners of used VWs say their cars are impressively well screwed together on the outside, and although cabin quality is rated as average, driver visibility is partly responsible for the high mark for the interior. Second-hand Volkswagens are also pretty practical cars, you tell us, with a decent amount of storage inside and good rear legroom. But while fuel consumption is reportedly fairly decent, people tell us that maintaining their…

87.61% DID YOU KNOW? It’s always a good idea to check the various features and systems on a prospective buy work, not least because roughly one in five faults reported by owners was electrical. Average share of owners with faults: 24.14% ONE of the oldest, best-known brands on the planet, a used Mercedes makes an excellent proposition in most senses, although you may need deeper-than-average pockets to run one. That’s because owners tell us second-hand Mercs are expensive to service, and while fuel economy is said to be decent, auxiliary costs, such as insurance and road tax, get poorly graded. Elsewhere things are good, if not excellent. You love the infotainment systems Mercedes offers, say the firm’s cars feel safe and are pretty practical, while acceleration is strong, and you’re…

89.50% DID YOU KNOW? It seems there really is something ‘magic’ about the practicality of used Hondas; no other firm’s used cars have more flexible seating, or better-sized boots. Average share of owners with faults: 10.09% THIS is, without question, a deeply impressive set of scores that underline why Honda has built itself such a strong reputation over the years. Used models from the Japanese maker stand the test of time far better than cars from many rival brands. It’s true that Honda’s infotainment offerings are somewhat off the pace (and won’t get better over time) and some models could do with a little more power according to our results, but almost everywhere else you look in the scores on the left, things are positive for the firm. Practicality, reliability,…

MODELTESTED: Kia Sorento 1.6 Hybrid 2 PRICE: £38,845 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 226bhp Running costs 42.3mpg (on test) £77 fill/£150 or 34% tax Practicality Boot (7/5/2 seats up) 179/608/1,996 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 8.7 seconds/119mph THERE’S lots that’s new for this fourth-generation Sorento, not least its hybrid powertrain. This is expected to be the best-seller in 2 trim, which is priced from £38,845. Design & engineering KIA’S seven-seat Sorento SUV is all-new, with the N3 platform designed to accept this hybrid powertrain. The new platform means the Sorento’s wheelbase is 35mm longer than its predecessor’s, helping improve packaging inside despite only a minimal increase in overall length. There’s fully independent suspension at the rear, which is self-levelling on higher trim levels, but not on this 2 model. The 1.6-litre non-turbo petrol…

Kia Sorento 8-inch touchscreen Standard Key features: Twin-screen set-up This 2 model doesn’t benefit from Kia’s latest 10.25-inch touchscreen, yet the eight-inch unit is similarly good. The graphics could be a little sharper, but the speed it responds to your inputs is great. however, there’s no navigation as standard, so you end up not using the native system much; it makes more sense to hook up your smartphone through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto because these display well on the screen and offer good functionality. There’s a 12.3-inch digital dash, which is rather reminiscent of the set-up found in the latest Mercedes models; it gives the sorento a premium feel. Otherwise, 2 trim doesn’t have lots of features, apart from a reversing camera that’s a little grainy. still, there are…

CO2/tax 149-152g/km £150-£205 Running costs 48-49mpg (D5) £84 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.8 seconds/137mph Search more than 40,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee WHEN Volvo introduced the original XC90 in 2002, it created the seven-seat SUV and it went down a storm; the company couldn’t build the first XC90 fast enough. However, Volvo kept that first super-sized SUV on sale for more than a decade, by which time it was hopelessly outclassed. So when the second-generation XC90 was unveiled in 2014 it was overdue – and most definitely worth waiting for. Built on a new platform, the XC90 Mk2 is still a seven-seat SUV and, as you’d expect of a Volvo, it offers all of the latest safety and comfort features…

Alfa recommits to F1 and retains drivers ALFA Romeo has confirmed another year of its branding partnership with the Sauber Formula 1 team, as well as keeping drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovonazzi for another season. Team boss Frederic Vasseur commented: “I still see the passion and motivation in Kimi, while Antonio finished last year’s campaign strongly and he picked up where he left off and kept improving throughout 2020.” Gasly, Russell and Latifi stay put for ‘21 ITALIAN Grand Prix winner Pierre Gasly is staying with AlphaTauri F1 for 2021, quashing rumours that he would return to Red Bull, who dropped him in 2019. The run up to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola also saw Williams confirm that George Russell and Nicolas Latifi would remain on board…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • Third in series of i cars from BMW is SUV based on current X3 • On sale now, from £58,850; first deliveries due in summer 2021 BMW’s trailblazing i3 and i8 set out a bold and exciting statement for what the German manufacturer’s electrified future was going to look like. Given their sci-fi looks and space-age tech, anyone with an ounce of uncertainty about what the cars of tomorrow were going to be like only needed to glance in the direction of a BMW showroom to find out and get excited. What we have here then, the all-new BMW iX3, perhaps isn’t the third instalment of BMW’s i line-up you might have been expecting. It all looks a little bit,…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • New premium SUV revealed • Arrives in Europe late 2021 BMW and Audi are facing fresh competition in the premium SUV class, because Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis is gearing up to launch its GV70 in Europe. The new SUV will face models such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, and it shares its rear-wheel-drive platform with the forthcoming G70 saloon. Buyers will likely be offered the same range of engines, which includes a 251bhp 2.0-litre petrol and 199bhp 2.2-litre diesel. A 368bhp 3.3-litre turbo V6 with four-wheel drive is expected to top the line-up. The GV70’s design follows the direction of the G70 saloon, sharing a near-identical triangular radiator grille and quad LED headlamps – a design choice which is echoed at the rear, with a…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Touchscreen truth FROM: Alan Rea I WONDER what the longevity of touchscreens in older vehicles will be – how long will they work for? Can I expect 10 or 15-year-old tech to work? If it fails, how much will it cost to repair or replace? A good reason to keep physical controls. FROM: Alan Hands MANUFACTURERS need to listen to all their customers, not just the younger tech-savvy generations. Your reader Trevor Kerr (Issue 1,649) is right: rotary controls play a big part in vehicle functions and keeping eyes on the road. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “Touchscreens need to be placed to allow righthanded operation in right-hand-drive cars.”Cliff Cobb “I had a near miss in my car when I was trying to adjust the heater…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.8 seconds/155mph Running costs 24.6mpg (off icial) £95 fill-up CAPTAINS of industry are having to clean up their image these days. Premium car makers can provide plug-in versions of their most luxurious models for them, but there are buyers out there that still want something big, comfortable, quiet and fast. While Audi does have an electrified A8, it also offers its S8 flagship, a V8-powered super-saloon that sticks to the brand’s understated styling approach for its rapid S models. Rapid it most certainly is, too. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produces 563bhp and 800Nm of torque. The eight-speed auto handles this mostly smoothly, and with quattro four-wheel drive the chunky 2,305kg S8 will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds. There’s a muted rumble from under the bonnet;…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk NEWS about electrified classic cars has gone from a trickle to a flood recently as brands with strong heritage, such as Aston Martin and VW, as well as smaller engineering and restoration companies, jostle to come up with the right formula for preserving the iconic cars of the past for use in the zero-carbon future. The latest entrant is British company RBW, founded by security electronics businessman Peter Swain (the letters refer to his three children’s names). A long-time car enthusiast, Swain has owned a string of supercars over the years, but MG’s classic roadsters hold a special place in his heart: his first car at 17 was an MG Midget. He branched out into running a traditional classic-car sales and restoration business several years ago, but it was…

82.85% DID YOU KNOW? Want something comfortable to take the strain out of a long journey? Owners of second-hand Lexus models say the brand makes the best seats in the business. Average share of owners with faults: 19.05% FIAT owners definitely like how little their cars cost to run. Their second-hand Pandas, 500s and 124s bring with them reasonable fuel economy, as well as low expenditure when the time comes round to renew insurance or road tax, for example. Servicing costs are also impressively low, indicating these little Italian cars require appropriately small budgets. Trouble is, elsewhere it seems Fiats don’t make the best second-hand buys, with owners giving the lowest score for practicality in our results. That may be understandable given the diminutive size of many Fiat models, but…

85.06% DID YOU KNOW? The average proportion of owners reporting faults with their used cars was 22.76 per cent, compared with 14.6 per cent in our 2020 new car survey. Average share of owners with faults: 27.87% YOU’RE pretty impressed with the safety features Nissan fits to its cars, because results in this category are firmly in the top third of our rundown. You also report running your Qashqais, Jukes, Micras and X-Trails isn’t too costly, partly thanks to decent servicing bills and other costs such as road tax and insurance. Rear legroom also generates a decent individual mark, while Nissan’s sat-navs impress and connectivity is decent. Elsewhere, however, there aren’t a huge number of positive scores from owners of second-hand Nissans. You give the ride quality and handling middling…

86.93% DID YOU KNOW? Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but owners of second-hand Jaguars appear to behold their vehicles the most; the brand ranks top for overall exterior styling. Average share of owners with faults: 19.66% A STRONG score in the ride and handling category shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise for Mazda; this is a company behind the peerless MX-5 roadster, after all. Safety is another strong suit for owners of used Mazdas, while exterior looks and quality are also pretty well rated by buyers. Only slightly disappointing acceleration drags down the engine and gearbox score, but owners report they are very happy with Mazda’s gearboxes. Practicality gets something of a thumbs down, with the lowest mark in this category being due to…

87.47% DID YOU KNOW? If you buy a used car from a dealer and something goes seriosuly wrong within the first 30 days, you’re entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act. Average share of owners with faults: 28% WE’RE sure that Volvo’s reputation helped it to come top of the safety category, but when a company invents bonnet-based pedestrian airbags, three-point seatbelts and numerous other protective tech, it’s fair to say that such an accolade is deserved. Another hallmark of used Volvos are cabins that are well built and styled, as well as comfortable. While older models from the Swedish brand are more button-heavy and less achingly cool than the latest XC40, for example, they’re still very nice places to sit, partly thanks to impeccably comfortable seats.…

88.893% DID YOU KNOW? Used Mercedes models are said to have the most effective heating and air-conditioning systems, followed by Jaguar, with Honda being rated third best here. Average share of owners with faults: 18.24% IF you cover the numbers on the left and have a think about how Skoda does, you’ll probably be right in at least a couple of areas. Reckon owners say their Skodas are practical? You’d be correct. Think people would generally have polite things to say about running costs? Right again. And if you’d hazard a guess that Skoda drivers might like a little more in the way of involvement, you’d be on the money; but then you can’t really expect a car maker to get everything spot on, can you? No, this is a…

DID YOU KNOW? Lexus launched its first car in 1989. The LS took five years to develop by a team of almost 4,000 people; its V8 engine went through 973 prototypes. ROBERT Shipton from London bought his Lexus IS 300h Premier four years ago; at that time it was around two-years old and had covered 19,000 miles. “I was actually using a Lexus belonging to a family member who had gone abroad,” Robert told us. “I liked it so much that when the time came to get rid of my BMW, I went for the IS.” He and his wife use the Lexus for varied journeys all around the country, often taking their grandchildren with them on trips. Robert, a hairdresser by trade, says the best thing about owning a…

Running costs 33.3mpg (on test) £70 fill/£150 or 37% tax Practicality Boot (7/5/2 seats up) 270/560-765/2,005 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.6 seconds/131mph MODEL TESTED: Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TSI 190 SportLine PRICE: £38,880 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THE Kodiaq is at the sharp end of the seven-seat SUV class, and this SportLine trim, positioned towards the top of the Kodiaq range, is very close on price to the Sorento, starting from £38,880. Design & engineering THE Kodiaq has been on sale from late 2016, so it’s now one of the older large SUVs on sale. But updates throughout the car’s life have kept it at the cutting edge of the class, with new tech features, engines and trim levels, which this 2.0 TSI 190 4x4 DSG SportLine model represents. The Skoda’s…

NEW: SEAT Tarraco 2.0 TSI DSG 4x4 X’ce PRICE: £37,430 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp SEAT’s seven-seat Tarraco SUV is more affordable than both rivals here, yet in Xcellence spec gets a massive amount of kit that sees it compete with the Kia. The powertrain is the same as the Skoda’s so it’s great. It’s still our favourite seven-seat SUV. USED: Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine PRICE: £39,990 ENGINE: 2.0 4cyl PHEV, 385bhp FOR a little more than the Kia you could buy a two-year-old premium seven-seat plug-in hybrid. The XC90 T8 in desirable R-Design Pro trim has nearly as much space but more luxury, power and potential efficiency. P96: XC90 buyer’s guide…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 500/1,720 litres THE BMW X5 is causing quite a splash at Auto Express, taking a well-deserved win in our recent New Car Awards as best large premium SUV. And it was this xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model that swung it. I’ve been living with this car for four months now and, on the whole, have nothing but praise for it. The appeal for me was offering everything a big SUV should, with an all-electric range beyond the usual 20-something miles of most PHEVs. So far, I’m getting well over 40 miles from a charge, usually closer to 45. If the world was anything approaching normal right now, that would have pretty much covered my journey to and from the office each day. Like my mobile…

products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Dish the dirt on filthy mats I’VE taken over a car from a relative who has stopped driving. The interior is pretty dirty, particularly the mats. They are the originals and aren’t very worn, so I don’t want to replace them. What’s the best way to clean them? Max Shaw, E-mail A VACUUM them thoroughly first then apply a diluted all-purpose cleaner. Allow it to soak before brushing. An upholstery brush in a cordless drill can help here. The solution then needs to be wiped off or removed with a wet and dry vacuum. Finally, allow it to dry. Q Tracing the source of clogs THE windscreen washers on my car keep getting clogged. I’ve cleared them several times, but the problem returns. Is there a solution? Ken…

Mini test NEW PRODUCT Sealey Digital Tyre Pressure & Tread Depth Gauge with LED TSTPG12 Price: £15.32 Rating: Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk UNLIKE the other two here, the Sealey was a single digital unit, combining pressure and tread depth gauges. The large, backlit display as well as the LED nose light usefully stayed live for more than 30 seconds. We liked the ‘traffic light’ blocks that went from green to red as the depth gauge moved to 3.2mm and 2mm, showing it’s time to change a tyre. The pressure gauge had four scales and was accurate. It was an easy fit on the car tyre and it worked with the bike, albeit with a fumble. The only minus point was the disappointing instructions. HAVING the correct tyre pressures is only…

Join the debate now at autoexpress.co.uk/opinion LOOKING for a juicy, ever-worsening saga that continues to extract additional billions from citizens who’ve already paid more than enough tax? Look no further than the abomination that is the recently expanded London Congestion Charge, which now costs motorists £15 a day, or circa £4,000 a year for those who drive into the capital each weekday. It feels to me like legalised theft, an unjustified tax, daylight robbery, and financial punishment wrapped up as a justifiable ‘charge’ – which it ain’t! London, 2003, was its place and time of birth. But this doesn’t mean the only victims live in or around the capital. Con Charges are dumped on millions more in the suburbs and beyond who need to drive into London. Reckon this has…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Six new BMW EVs on the way • All-new cars, plus derivatives “New i4 won’t challenge Model 3 directly, but it will be a more style-conscious alternative to the Tesla” THE arrival of the new iX3 (Page 8) sees BMW tap into a potentially lucrative, but ultimately safe sector of the electric car market, with battery-powered SUVs growing in popularity. However, the firm’s next steps to expand its EV line-up will be far more adventurous, because we know that six new electric BMWs are on the horizon. These will include all-new models and electric versions of firm favourites, part of BMW’s promise to have 12 new EVs on sale by 2025. Forming a key element of the new-look BMW i line-up from 2021 will be a four-door…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale USED CAR SALES STATS 2.98 million used car sales in first half of 2020, despite 28.7 per cent hit due to Covid-19 1,129 used cars sold from Big Motoring World in Blue Bell Hill in August 2020 – up 50 per cent year-on-year 7.8 years average age of a car on the road THE way we buy cars has changed significantly over the past couple of decades. The used models you will see highlighted in our latest Driver Power ownership survey (page 33) can be purchased via a broker such as our sister company BuyaCar.co.uk, or they could be acquired via traditional private or trade methods. Many developments have been brought about by advances in computer technology, but the second-hand retail sector has altered in a big way…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.8 seconds/130mph Economy 47.1mpg 136g/km DESPITE having been around for more than 13 years, and being halfway through its third generation, the Hyundai i30 has never really earned the acclaim lavished on class rivals such as the VW Golf or Ford Focus. It’s competent but remains a slightly left-field choice. Even more niche is the i30 Fastback, which now comes exclusively with a new 157bhp 1.5 turbo petrol and in racy N Line trim. The visual updates are minor, but go some way towards making what was a rather forgettable-looking family car into something a bit more striking. A new LED lighting signature and reshaped bumper sharpen up the front, while gloss black trim on the lower edge of the bodywork and new 18-inch alloy…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE new-car market may be a vital engine of the UK economy, and is essential for driving improvements in cleaner, safer vehicles, but in terms of scale it’s dwarfed by the used sector, which sees roughly four times as many models change hands each and every year. So while Auto Express has a clear focus on bringing you in-depth news and reviews of the latest models, we also keep a close eye on the used market, and the latest instalment in our series of Driver Power ownership surveys is dedicated solely to people after a pre-loved car. We’ve done things slightly differently this year, focusing our data analytics on the makers whose cars you tell us make sound second-hand buys. Brands are nothing without their cars, though, and…

84.57% DID YOU KNOW? Running costs and infotainment had the lowest average category scores in our used-car survey, perhaps reflecting the toll the passing of years can take. Average share of owners with faults: 17.62% GIVEN the Fiesta remains almost permanently at the top of the UK’s best-sellers’ list, it’s a shame Ford doesn’t feature higher in our rankings, posting a set of scores that can best be described as middling. So while Ford’s latest design language cuts a dash and feels modern, buyers of used cars with the blue oval aren’t hugely taken with the looks of their cars, while also marking down the practicality they offer. You have nicer things to say about the infotainment systems, reporting Ford’s stereos sound good and its sat-navs are effective, although a…

86.12% DID YOU KNOW? If you’re in the market to replace the family car, the brand with the most child-friendly models on the used market is Lexus, followed by Subaru and SEAT. Average share of owners with faults: 14.02% MG is still a relatively small player on the scene, but the same could have been said for Hyundai within living memory. Yet now the Korean giant is one of the more significant actors on the motoring stage. As well as offering some deeply impressive models, the other thing that has helped the firm – as long as a car has been serviced in-line with requirements – is its five-year/unlimited mileage warranty that’s a massive boon to used buyers. Speaking of servicing, owners of used Hyundais grade the brand 12th out…

87.20% DID YOU KNOW? Different car makers have different areas of expertise, but if you’re after a used motor that’s easy to see out of, no firm does this better than Subaru. Average share of owners with faults: 16.92% THE British brand finishes just ahead of its parent company, and owners of used MINIs report similarly impressive engines and gearboxes to their BMW counterparts, but the infotainment is less highly rated. This could be because MINI buyers are generally younger and have higher expectations, or the trickledown nature of tech means some MINIs have older systems; it’s interesting to note that while sat-navs get a superb score, phone connectivity is rated poorly. Technology aside, there’s no doubting used MINIs deliver great handling although, just as with BMW’s models, their ride…

88.59% DID YOU KNOW? The new-car market is vital to the UK economy, but the used market is far busier, with 7.9 million second-hand sales last year, versus 2.3 million new registrations. Average share of owners with faults: 25.72% OUR Driver Power surveys repeatedly paint Subaru in a positive light, and this theme continues when looking at second-hand models, with a strong set of scores from the Japanese firm. Getting the negatives out of the way first, you report that servicing costs are on the high side, while fuel economy is so-so, as are ancillary costs. Aside from that, though, a used Subaru sounds like an appealing prospect. You like the way these cars drive, with good handling and effective brakes being highlighted. You also say Subarus offer excellent practicality,…

DID YOU KNOW? Porsche is best known for its sports cars, but of the 280,800 models sold by the Stuttgart-based firm last year, almost 200,000 were Cayenne and Macan SUVs. JOHN Tauwhare from Cambridgeshire bought his used Macan a year ago with 30,000 miles on the clock. He’d previously had a Porsche Cayenne and another Macan, followed by a BMW 225xe. John ended up missing the brawny feeling of a powerful diesel engine, though, so he decided to go back to a Macan. John, a chartered accountant, told us: “It’s more refined than the BMW and the drivetrain makes a lot of difference. I think it also has a better design, a more luxurious interior and mine has a lot more toys. “It’s nicer to have a car that’s a…

TOWING LOTS of previous-generation Sorento owners use their cars to tow, thanks to the 2.2-litre diesel’s strong torque. Opt for the 2.2 diesel in this new car, which is only available in mid-spec 3 trim, and you’ll be able to pull a useful 2,500kg. Be warned though, if you go for this hybrid, its limit is 1,650kg; the 2.0 TSI DSG-equipped Skoda’s limit is 2,000kg, which is a good deal better. SEVEN SEATS MAXIMUM space in each row isn’t the only important factor with a seven-seat SUV, as we’ve mentioned. Think about access, and about how you’re likely to use you car. If you’ll use the sixth and seventh seats only on the odd occasion, then the Skoda’s drawbacks won’t impact you quite as much. It has keyless operation and…

The Light Car Company Rocket Clive Neville (Porter Press, porterpress.co.uk) Price: £75 Rating: THE Rocket was the brainchild of legendary automotive designer Gordon Murray and racing driver Chris Craft. This big coffee table book is beautifully produced and is more than just pretty – it’s also a cracking read, engaging and massively detailed. Pricey but worth the cost. Cars We Loved in the 1990s Giles Chapman (The History Press, www.thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £9.99 Rating: WE’VE had books covering earlier decades, and now here’s one for millennials. It’s a fun nostalgia trip for anybody with a penchant for modern classics. Some curious inclusions (Daewoo Espero?) but nicely broken up with some history lessons, too. Stock Car Racing Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free Rating: App of the week Car Parts for Euro…

Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Will new-style batteries prove a no-charge panacea? I RECENTLY read about a new type of battery for electric cars, which allegedly does not need recharging and gives a 1,500-mile range. Is it too good to be true? PW, E-mail A IT sounds like you’re talking about aluminiumair batteries. While these would provide impressive EV ranges they have significant disadvantages, including the fact that while they don’t need to be recharged, they would have to be swapped when empty, and the old battery recycled. While aluminium-air batteries have applications in some fields, such as the military, car makers are concentrating on lithium-ion, solid-state and other technologies that can be recharged. Q Why is third-party more costly than comprehensive? WHEN I was young, one way to save money was to…