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THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Which?: 01992 878329 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: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumerombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510…

Essentials PRACTICALITY Logan MCV Stepway serves up a spacious and comfortable interior, while the recent facelift has improved ergonomics and storage areas. However, some hard plastics highlight the budget status of Dacia’s new estate EQUIPMENT Lauréate trim is the basic option on this model, and includes a seveninch touchscreen infotainment system incorporating Bluetooth and sat-nav, plus rear parking sensors, cruise control and hill-start assist as standard equipment Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.8 seconds/107mph Running costs 80.7mpg (official) £60 fill-up @Jimmybrods DACIA’S reputation for no-frills motoring is maturing nicely, allowing the Renault-owned brand to add a few niche models to its all-too-sensible line-up. The latest arrival is the Logan MCV Stepway, the firm’s take on a jacked-up family estate car. It’s a cheaper alternative to the likes of the Skoda Octavia Scout…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI 190 DSG 4MOTION PRICE: £34,905 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THE Passat is in its seventh generation, but the high-riding Alltrack has only been around since 2011. It mates Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive to an estate body and raised suspension. It’s available with one trim level and two engine outputs, and it’s the more powerful £34,905 version we test here. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.2 LIKE most of VW’s latest models, the Passat is underpinned by its scalable MQB architecture, which combines light weight with strength. The Alltrack’s 2.0 TDI engine is transversely mounted, and in this application it’s mated to a DSG twin-clutch gearbox that drives a Haldex-controlled four-wheel-drive system. Suspension is via struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle, but…

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT score 4.4 Discover Navigation Standard Key features: Apple CarPlay, nav, DAB THE car in our pictures had VW’s previous-generation infotainment, but order today and you’ll get the latest kit that first appeared in the Golf. It features an eight-inch screen, DAB radio, Bluetooth, USB and Think Blue trip computer that gives efficient driving tips. Also included is the Car Net ‘App Connect’, which brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone capability, plus sat-nav and a three-year subscription to online services. The unit has the crispest graphics here, and the straightforward menu system rivals the Audi’s for ease of use. Like the old set-up, there’s a motion sensor that brings up hot keys when your hand approaches the screen, while the touch menu buttons respond well. You can upgrade…

PRICE £129.95 “If it weren’t for the polarised filter and good night vision, the 512G would have lost this test” THE Nextbase 512G Ultra has been our favourite dash cam for more than a year, but it’s starting to show its age. Nextbase is about to launch a replacement, but in the meantime, the 512G is facing ever more competition. The latest arrival is RoadEyes’ recSMART, which records in crisp 1440p resolution, and has mobile and WiFi connectivity, all features the 512G misses out on. We tested them head to head to see if the French cam can topple our champ. Quality of footage was key for us, especially in low-light situations. Ease of use was another priority, while price was our final consideration. If it hadn’t been for the…

Dear Lawrence, I’m after a comfortable diesel estate or MPV for my business with a big boot and folding seats. What will £8,000 get me? Jon Petterson Nairn, Highland Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk CARS THE ALL-ROUND CHOICE Ford Mondeo FOR: Nice to drive, refined, decent value AGAINST: Superb is roomier, so-so reliability ANYONE considering a large used estate should look at a Mondeo as a matter of course. It’s the go-to family car for good reason – it looks smart, is very well equipped and offers plenty of space. It’s comfortable, sharp to drive and refined, and although the base engines struggle slightly for power, a 2.0-litre diesel is quick enough. We tracked down a 2010 2.0 TDCi Titanium X with 62,000 miles on the clock for £7,495. THE SPACIOUS CHOICE Skoda…

First for news every week ▪ Sharply styled coupé to spawn a new performance model range ▪ Petrol and diesel line-up will be topped by 600bhp-plus M8 BMW is in the midst of its most aggressive product expansion ever, and the company used last weekend’s exclusive Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy to unveil its new Concept 8 Series. A close-to-production design study, the Concept 8 Series will morph into a showroom model next year. Following in its footsteps will be a broadening of the line-up to include cars such as an 8 Series Convertible and a fourdoor Gran Coupé. The arrival of the 8 Series is a direct result of BMW repositioning the current 6 Series Coupé so that it has a genuine competitor for the Mercedes S-Class Coupé…

@AE_Consumer THE General Election on 8 June is looming large, and the political parties are fighting hard for every possible vote. Amid all the promises and pledges, it can be difficult to get a picture of what the main parties would actually do in office, and how those policies will impact motorists. There are some big motoring issues on the table this time around. The fallout from the diesel emissions scandal has stoked fears over emissions and air quality. Scrappage schemes, toxin taxes and diesel bans have been mooted. Then there’s Brexit, and how the UK’s departure from the European Union will affect vehicle prices and the UK’s manufacturing industry. Add in deteriorating roads, autonomous and electric cars, the debate over road infrastructure improvements, as well as concerns about roads…

FIVE years after Subaru launched the BRZ, these latest spy shots suggest that the Japanese manufacturer is cooking up a more focused version of its rear-wheeldrive performance coupé. However, Auto Express understands that rather than being a fully fledged STi, this prototype is more likely to be a ‘tuned by STi’ model. The shots reveal the pumpedup look Subaru has planned for its fettled coupé, the most eye-catching modification being the introduction of a huge rear wing. A more aggressive-looking bodykit, larger alloy wheels and more powerful brakes can also be picked out. Under the bonnet, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine will remain, but power is unlikely to stray very far from the 197bhp output of the standard model. Instead, visual and chassis tweaks are likely to be the newcomer’s…

@SamNaylor_AE THE regular Skoda Rapid isn’t exactly a big seller in Britain, because its Spaceback brother accounts for four out of five sales in the range. This diesel version is an even less common option in the line-up – it’s mostly bought by fleet customers – and even if you total up all the Rapid sales in this country, there aren’t that many of them. It’s easy to see the reasons behind this when you get in the Rapid hatchback, even after its latest facelift. A few changes to the lights and bumpers, plus some new interior trim, have tightened up the looks, but the car still feels old-fashioned. Hard plastic trim means it feels reasonably well built, but not very luxurious; even Skoda’s Citigo city car beats it for…

MODEL TESTED: Audi A4 Allroad 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic PRICE: £37,820 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp IT’S fair to say the Audi A4 has had a lukewarm reception at Auto Express. While it’s beautifully built and has one of the classiest cabins around, it lacks the dynamic polish to mix it with the best. Can the Allroad version’s blend of rugged design and upmarket appeal revive the model’s fortunes? We test it in 2.0 TDI guise, which weighs in at a hefty £37,820; the car in our pictures is a Sport model. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.0 THE A4 Avant is a handsome but unassuming estate car, and the Allroad additions give it a little extra kerb appeal. The most obvious changes are the chunky plastic wheelarches and sills, plus…

Lego Group B rally cars gain support TWO proposed additions to the Lego range have been taking the Internet by storm. After the Lego community voted for a Caterham 620R set, the latest candidates are a pair of Group B rally cars: a Peugeot 205 T16 and Lancia Delta S4 (above). Both models have been built by Lego community user AbFab1974, and would be added to the Speed Champions line. Lego-loving rally fans who would love to own either car can vote at www.ideas.lego.com if they would like to see them produced. New Alloygators fit more wheel sizes ALLOYGATOR’S wheel protector is well known to Auto Express; it won our Product of the Year award in 2014. Now the company has released the improved Alloygator Exclusive. The original Alloygator fits…

First Principles: The Official Biography of Keith Duckworth OBE Norman Burr (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £32.50 Rating: KEITH Duckworth is a motorsport hero who is most famous for the Cosworth DFV (Double Four Valve) engine, the dominant Formula One powerplant for many years. This book covers much more of his life than just that engine, though. Balancing technical info and personal insight, it’s a good read for fans of F1 or engineering. Ayrton Senna: The Last Night Ercole Colombo (Skira, www.skira.net) Price: £34.95 Rating: THIS is simply a coffee table book filled with wonderful, emotive pictures of triple Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna. It covers his triumphs and tribulations. The volume finishes on a poignant note, as the title may suggest, at Imola, Italy, where he died during the…

FORMER Volkswagen works WRC driver Andreas Mikkelsen has been signed by Citroen for Rally Sardinia later this month. Since Volkswagen’s sudden withdrawal from the Word Rally Championship at the end of last year, the 27-year-old Norwegian and his co-driver Anders Jaeger have been competing in the second-tier WRC2 category in a Skoda Fabia, winning the class at the series’ Monte Carlo and Corsica rounds. The deal is a one-off for the Italian leg of the championship for now and Citroen says that young Frenchman Stephane Lefebvre will return to the wheel of a C3 WRC for Rally Poland at the beginning of July. Commenting on the deal, Mikkelsen said: “It’s an open secret that I have been looking for a solution to keep competing in the top category of the…

@stevefowle EXCLUSIVE IMAGES “Financing agreement has freed up capital to be ploughed into new models, including mid-engined Ferrari 488 rival” ASTON Martin’s revival under CEO Andy Palmer is gathering pace with a host of new models planned to follow hot on the heels of the new DB11. A recently revealed new financing agreement has freed up further capital to be ploughed straight back into new models, including a mid-engined Ferrari 488 rival. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Palmer revealed his company’s strategy for seven core new models in seven years, up to 2023 when the DB11 will be replaced by the DB12. “We have one car every year for the next seven years. It starts with our GT cars: DB11, Vantage and Vanquish,” explained Palmer. “In 2019 we’ll have DBX,…

It’s a touch of black magic for A4 range AUDI has added a new A4 Black Edition to its line-up – priced from £32,350. Available as a saloon or Avant (above), Black Edition models feature a set of 19-inch alloys in a matt titanium finish. The specification also includes black surrounds for the door mirrors, front grille, air intakes and windows. The trim is available on every engine variant in the range, bar the hot S4. Boost for Lotus as Geely takes control VOLVO’S owner Geely has announced it will take a controlling stake in British sports car brand Lotus. To acquire the brand, the Chinese company has taken a 49 per cent stake in Lotus’ parent company Proton, but it’s share in Lotus is 51 per cent. As part…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Videowatch THIS week we drive Volvo’s new XC60 and bring you full details of Skoda’s new Karoq SUV. All at youtube.com/Autoexpress. We hit road in cool new Volvo XC60 THE mid-sized SUV market is a difficult nut to crack. Jaguar’s F-Pace went to the top of the tree last year, beating the Germans with its great looks and by being the best to drive. But what’s the new Volvo XC60 like? This latest car really is a mini XC90 and is brimming with tech, safety and subtle Swedish style. Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler climbs behind the wheel to give his verdict. All the details on new Skoda Karoq FROM one SUV to another; the new Skoda Karoq has already begun life with controversy – the Yeti-replacing small SUV has…

What do you think? mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4jD FROM: Wiley INTERESTING to see the GTI badge roll down the product line. I look forward to a more fun up!. The extra power should make it interesting, especially around town; I just hope the suspension won’t be too firm, and I’m not sure about the synthetic exhaust note. FROM: RogerSavage THE up! GTI is pricey, at £17,000. I’d rather spend my money on an Abarth 595 or MINI Cooper S. Small, fun cars work best when they’re cheap. I’m not sold on the hot up!; the performance is unlikely to match the expectations many have about a GTI-badged VW. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “Good to see a car…

MODEL TESTED: Subaru Outback 2.0D SE Premium Lineartronic PRICE: £34,995 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE rugged Outback has been the flagship of the Subaru range since its introduction in 2014. Mixing the brand’s famed off-road ability and engineering integrity with estate car practicality and a dash of luxury, the all-wheel-drive machine is an alternative choice to the usual premium suspects. There’s a choice of petrol and diesel flat-four engines, and it’s the latter we test here in £34,995 SE Premium Lineartronic guise. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 3.9 ORIGINALLY launched as part of the Legacy line-up two decades ago, the Outback became a standalone model when the current version appeared three years ago. The latest version still shares most of its mechanical make-up with the Legacy saloon, although that model isn’t…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for our extensive product archive Products THIS WEEK’S HOT KIT NEW PRODUCT Maximagion Car Art Price: From £12.84 Contact: www.maximagion.com DECORATING your home or indeed yourself with images of cars is perhaps the ultimate petrolhead statement. There’s no denying, though, that some automotive interior design choices can be really tacky. But a classy new series of prints from Dutch company Maximagion aims to rise above that. With a series of automotive designs penned by young artist Max Morel, Maximagion has a series of images available either as wall prints or T-shirts, featuring iconic cars in profile. The images range from humble Minis right up to supercars, such as the Lamborghini Aventador. There are even a couple of Ford custom hot rods available, if you fancy something…

PRICE £139.90 NEW PRODUCT RoadEyes recSMART Price: £139.90 Rating: Contact: www.amazon.co.uk THE recSMART has an easy-to-use magnetic mount. It’s also the first dash cam we’ve tested that has a wireless remote, allowing you to capture and store 10-second video clips at the press of a button. The 1440p footage at 25fps is clearer in normal light conditions compared with the 512G’s, but in very bright settings, such as under direct sunlight, the Nextbase has the upper hand. We also found the recSMART couldn’t quite capture the same detail at night, especially licence plates from afar. The recSMART doesn’t come with a screen, so we downloaded the free RoadEyes app to review and edit footage. We could link to the camera using WiFi, but the connection wasn’t always the best, and…

Eurohike Picnic Kit & Backpack Price: £40 Rating: Contact: 0161 393 7060, millets.co.uk BEST BUY YOU want for little with this backpack. We were impressed with the quickrelease, insulated zip-up bottle and rug holders, and also the spacious food storage compartment. The top-mounted handle boasts extra padding for easy carrying and the reverse side of the fleece rug is waterproof. Included equipment is very good. Add in an attractive Nautical Stripe design and you have a winner. Trespass Deluxe Four Person Picnic Pack Price: £37.99 Rating: Contact: 0345 640 3030, argos.co.uk RECOMMENDED THIS picnic pack boasts virtually all of our winner’s features, including a waterproof fleece rug and insulated bottle carrier. The contents are of a similar quality to the Eurohike, although the inclusion of an all-metal multitool compensated for…

IT’S been around for seven years and sold in big numbers, but the Nissan Juke still stands out on our roads – there’s nothing else like it. With its bold nose, swooping roofline and unique profile the Juke cuts a dash, but Nissan didn’t just take a chance with this distinctive supermini- SUV – it created a whole new segment. Until the Juke arrived in 2010, crossovers had generally been bigger cars and while the compact dimensions mean the Juke is compromised, there are plenty of owners who wouldn’t have anything else. There’s no doubt that the pioneering Nissan polarises opinions with its design, but as a used buy there’s still plenty to like. History THE Juke arrived in September 2010, with a 1.6-litre petrol engine in normally aspirated or…

Mike Rutherford Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “It’s almost as if we drivers don’t exist in the eyes of our would-be leaders. But like our cars, we’re here to stay” THERE’S now an unwritten rule among the main national political parties to ban certain words. Car occupants, workers, traffic jams, manufacturers and the costs of commuting by car are just some of them. I know this because I’ve been ploughing through their manifestos in which public transport users and cyclists often get sympathetic mentions – and lucrative promised subsidies – while unsubsidised car drivers and passengers don’t. It’s almost as if we don’t exist in the eyes of our wouldbe leaders. But like our cars, we’re here to stay. At least the Conservatives recognise this by loosely…