Table of contents for 1870 in Auto Express

THE world of in-car tech is moving as fast as any digital development at the moment, so in this issue we’re looking at some different strands to see how they’re affecting drivers. The most obvious one is the replacement of control buttons with touchscreens in an attempt to reproduce the smartphone experience. There are various reasons why this works for brands: cleaner cabins, reduced cost, less heavy wiring running across the car and ever-increasing requirements for more features all make sense. But are touchscreens serving the driver, or actually making for a less pleasant experience? We took 10 cars with different touchscreen tech (see page 32), and thoroughly assessed how easy they are to use on the move – within the confines of a test track, of course – in…

THIS is the BMW Vision Driving Experience: a rolling laboratory built solely, we’ve been told, to push the limits of the manufacturer’s next-generation electric car platform and software. However, the only thing most people are going to see when they look at the gloriously maniacal saloon is a new M3. And we can’t blame them really, because the Vision Driving Experience (or VDX as we’re going to call it from now on) is based on BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse concept that was revealed in 2023, and previews the design of the all-new 3 Series coming next year, plus the next M3 that’s due to arrive in 2027. We also noticed that the VDX’s flared wheelarches, aggressive front bumper with its speed hum-pannihilating splitter, sizeable bootlid spoiler and illuminated kidney grilles…

THE covers are off the all new Kia EV4 – and a little earlier than expected. Ahead of the brand’s ‘EV Day’ later this month, we’ve been treated to an early peek at the firm’s all-new family car. The interior remains under wraps for now, but the exterior shows how closely Kia’s designers have stayed true to the EV4 concept from 2023. The front is all but indistinguishable, with identical headlamp clusters, plus a similar clamshell-style bonnet. Kia says the EV4 is designed to “enhance the appeal” of the maker’s EV range, “targeting a broad demographic”. It joins the recently launched EV3, as well as the larger EV6 and EV9. The mid-size EV5 SUV is also expected to go on sale in the UK later this year. To the sides,…

CONSULTATION has ended for Labour’s review of the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate, placing the ball firmly back in the Government’s court as car manufacturers continue to protest against the UK’s regime of EV sales targets and penalties. “In current market conditions, the cost of compliance under the scheme is unsustainable,” a spokesperson for Ford told Auto Express. “We need Government-backed incentives to boost consumer uptake for electric vehicles – without demand, the Mandate simply doesn’t work. We also need greater flexibility to be able to meet targets, including pooling van and car schemes, and including hybrid vehicles beyond 2026.” Ford is also urging the Government to pause the penalty regime for 2025 until the issues are sorted – currently car makers face big fines if they don’t meet a 28…

“Not only is the Shuttle good to drive, it’s also more refined than you’d imagine, especially as an EV” IF you’re looking for a serious amount of space – the kind that even a car-based MPV can’t provide – then you should skip straight past the usual candidates and three-row SUVs, and seriously consider a van-based people carrier. It’s the most cost-effective way of bagging a vehicle that can carry up to nine people – plus all their stuff – and do it with surprising levels of comfort and tech. Vans such as the Volkswagen Transporter and Ford Transit Custom, and their Shuttle and Tourneo MPV-based offspring, have come a long way in the past decade. You’ll see phrases such as ‘car-like handling’ bandied around, and it’s not hard to…

THE Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been a benchmark for electric family cars since it was launched in 2021, thanks to cutting-edge design and tech, a comfortable ride and a hugely spacious interior – all of which helped the oversized hatchback win the coveted title of Auto Express Car of the Year. Of course, a lot has changed in the EV world since then, and the Ioniq 5 faces more competition than ever from both new arrivals, including the Ford Explorer and Renault Scenic, as well as heavily updated old foes such as the Tesla Model Y. So now Hyundai has issued several upgrades for 2025, including bigger batteries that provide up to 354 miles of range, plus more standard kit, such as a heat pump, extra sound insulation to improve…

THE SPECIFICS OF THE TEST OUR test was conducted at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon in Warwickshire and we’re grateful for the loan of its Drivezone facility. It’s a short course that effectively mimics a 20mph-limited urban road environment with plenty of junctions and even a mini roundabout. For enthusiasts who are not turned on by touchscreens, the museum is also awash with beautiful classic cars featuring dashboards laden with varnished timber, painted metal, leather, chrome and Bakelite. For our test, we chose a trio of drivers with varying degrees of experience of touchscreen systems, and instructed them to complete an identical route around the Drivezone in each of our 10 test cars, while performing five commonly used touchscreen tasks. An Auto Express judge sat beside each driver to…

PROS Expensive-looking interface, main functions easy to locate, high resolution, bright touchscreen, physical shortcut buttons, reliable wired smartphone connectivity  CONS Lots of information to digest, no armrest, some shortcut toggles are tiny NOT many car makers have their very own infotainment system – and we’re not just talking about a few logos on top of a commonly-used layout either – but MBUX is truly bespoke to Mercedes and certainly helps to give the brand’s cabins a special environment. MBUX first arrived in 2018 on the Mercedes A-Class, but over the years it has evolved with more functionality to suit a variety of screen sizes. There’s the ‘Hyperscreen’ layout that is currently used on the S-Class and EQS, which comprises three panels with a total of 55.5-inches of display area. Then…

PROS Good-looking, feature-packed, plenty of showroom appeal CONS The touchscreens can be unresponsive, and it feels complicated to use when driving THERE’S no doubt the Peugeot i-Cockpit set-up looks enticing on first acquaintance. It comprises a pair of digital displays that sweep across the top of the dashboard, with a wide driver information screen butting up to a similarly sized central infotainment touchscreen. In the E-3008, there’s an extra smaller touchscreen below the central touchscreen, split into six areas. Peugeot calls this the i-Toggle panel, because you can programme the areas with individual functions, and after a fashion they mimic the toggle switches you might find on a more ‘analogue’ set-up. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect easily – and wirelessly – and you can select profiles for different drivers,…

PROS Smartphone-quick response, intelligent menus, large display CONS No CarPlay or Android Auto, not backed up by physical controls TESLA arguably invented the touchscreen infotainment system as we know it now. Its first cars, such as the Model S and X, had massive displays and new-age interface design, but it was the Model 3 and its floating 15.4-inch panel that brought this type of interface to the masses. So despite being more than five years old, Tesla’s system is still right at the top of the class in terms of ease of use, responsiveness and functionality. Model 3s are without any form of separate driver’s display, so the home screen uses a 60:40 split in its normal setting, with the right-hand side close to the driver having a consistent display…

IN terms of the Mazda model line-up, and the new-car market in general, the Mazda CX-30 falls between classes. It’s a small SUV that’s based on the same platform as the Mazda 3, but it doesn’t have the high-riding stance of the larger CX-5, and is more like a crossover in terms of its proportions. There are five trim levels – Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Homura, Exclusive-Line and Takumi – while there are two engines and two gearbox options on offer. Prices start from just under £26,000. ENGINES & PERFORMANCE MAZDA has always gone its own way with engineering, so while the majority of rival firms have embraced turbocharged petrol engines for a balance between performance and efficiency, the Japanese firm has stuck with natural aspiration. But the SkyActiv X engine at…

A dedicated leather cleaner is the best way to keep your interior clean and looking like new. To test each contender we used an off cut of high-quality, light-coloured automotive leather and marked it with soot, ink, make-up and grease. We rated how much effort was needed to remove the dirt and how the material felt after. VP’s new Hydrate-It Leather Care looks cheap at £8 for a half-litre and did a decent job of cleaning with less effort than the G3. But it can’t match the results of the Supernatural, which remains our Best Buy. WHILE leather upholstery might seem like it is easier to keep clean than fabric, over time it will still need attention. Dirt, sweat and dye from clothing can discolour the surface, especially on lighter…

USED PRICES FROM: £6,000 YEARS: 2017 to 2024 CO2: 115g/km FUEL ECONOMY: 56mpg (1.2 PureTech) BEST OPIONS: Metallic paint, space-saver spare wheel, glass roof THE Citroen C3 Aircross shares much with Vauxhall’s Crossland, and was replaced last year by a new model, but the outgoing car leaves on a high with a top-20 position in the Driver Power survey. Owners rate the Citroen most favourably for its overall value, in 10th, while they also like its low running costs, with the price of insurance coming seventh, and servicing in ninth place. Other good scores include fourth for seating flexibility and 14th for boot space. Owners also like the front-seat comfort, which came 11th, and they’re very impressed with the brakes, which came fifth, while the responsiveness of the steering notched…

FIAT isn’t giving up on the city car class, with the brand’s bosses revealing to Auto Express that it will build a new baby Panda – or Pandina, as it’s known internally. It will join the Grande Panda and its larger siblings we teased last year, and will come with a hybrid powertrain to satisfy European markets. Fiat’s CEO Olivier François told Auto Express: “We will do an A-segment Panda, maybe not this year, or next, but after that.” The news came during the launch of the Grande Panda, a new generation of B-segment models for the brand. The ‘Grande’ moniker also hints that a smaller sub-four-metre version that’s closer to the mould of the original Panda is on the cards. The A-segment Pandina will be 3.6 metres long. That’s…

THE Mk8 BMW 5 Series is less than two years old, but it’s already being tweaked for a mid-life update and we’ve caught it testing. While the model pictured is the M5, we’re confident most of the changes will apply to the regular 5 Series, the Touring estate and the all-electric i5. Since the current G60-generation 5 Series (G90 for the M5) went on sale in 2023, BMW has been teasing its Neue Klasse series, which will kick off later this year with a production version of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept – in essence a replacement for an iX3. The Neue Klasse Sedan will follow in 2026, which will launch the first all-electric 3 Series. Both these cars will use BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, and while the current…

HONDA and Nissan have agreed to terminate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a merger that would have seen the firms become the third-largest automotive company in the world. The proposed deal, which also included Mitsubishi Motors, has fallen apart – although Honda and Nissan both said in statements there will still be a “strategic partnership aimed at the era of intelligence and electrified vehicles”. Both firms cited the same reasons for the merger failing to materialise, stating: “Various options were considered regarding the structure of the business integration. Honda proposed changing the structure from establishing a joint holding company to a structure where it would be the parent organisation and Nissan the subsidiary through a share exchange.” However, an agreeable solution could not be reached with both companies needing…

SALES of used electric models have grown by over 50 per cent, with industry officials highlighting a “strong appetite” for EVs, but warning it won’t continue without Government-backed incentives. Figures from the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that over the course of last year, more than 188,000 used EVs were bought and sold - a 57.4 per cent increase. As a result, they now make up around 2.5 per cent of all used car sales. SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, said: “Record sales of [used] EVs demonstrate a strong appetite at lower price points.” He added: “Ongoing growth means maintaining that affordability, which requires meaningful fiscal incentives to stimulate consumer demand”.…

“This is a car built to a price, but there’s enough to distract you from worries over quality” ‘THE importance, worth or usefulness of something’. That is, apparently, the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of ‘value’. So while the Leapmotor T03 may not be the cheapest electric car on the market (albeit second only to the Dacia Spring) UK brand director Damien Dally, insists it is “the best-value” vehicle currently on sale. At first glance, that’s hard to argue. There is only one specification, but the equipment list is long – much longer than the Dacia’s, certainly. For £15,995 (or £199 per month with £199 down) you get alloys, a panoramic roof, all-round electric windows, a rear-view camera and keyless go. Inside, there’s a 10-inch touchscreen and eight-inch digital instrument cluster, air-conditioning,…

PRE-HEATING CAR APPS HEATED windscreens are fantastic for getting car journeys off to a seamless start on cold mornings, but why wait for your screen to melt the ice away when you can make your whole car toasty warm long before you even climb aboard? Electric powertrains and connectivity merge beautifully in the form of app-based car pre-heating systems. Set your desired cabin temperature and your departure time on your smartphone app, and your car makes sure it’s warmed and ready, melting any ice on the windows in the process. Alternatively, just turn the car’s climate control on remotely when you look out of the window and see mother nature doing her worst. Some cars with internal combustion engines can do this, but they usually need to start the motor.…

PROS Straightforward menu layouts, sharp graphics, easy smartphone pairing CONS Sightly laggy touch response, some competitors’ systems load faster WHILE some brands have a near-identical infotainment set-up throughout their ranges, Ford’s can vary from model to model. Some cars run a portrait orientation, and others, such as the Mustang we’re testing here, use a landscape layout. All run a variation of Ford’s SYNC software, although the Capri and Explorer use subtly different menu structures, reflecting the tech that’s available on the Volkswagen Group-sourced MEB platform. The layout of the Mustang’s SYNC 4 system is fairly no-nonsense. The homepage has various widgets and shortcuts, which take up different amounts of space based on their importance. To the right, there are shortcuts to Settings, Features and Apps, while slightly larger tiles for…

PROS Bright touchscreen, physical shortcut buttons, reliable wired smartphone connectivity CONS Occasionally laggy, the fonts, icons and on-screen toggle switches are very small STRAIGHT away, we need to acknowledge that the MG3 is the cheapest car in this test by far. Prices start from only £18,495, yet every model has a 10.25-inch touchscreen that is surprisingly clear and responsive, when you consider the price tag. It’s also running MG’s latest iSmart software – the same operating system that you’ll find in the new MG HS and MG ZS, too. The set-up is rather modest compared with some of the massive screens featured in the other cars here. But it gets the job done and is certainly a big improvement over the brand’s earlier efforts in this department. That said, you…

PROS Google system is seamless for Android users, physical buttons for key controls CONS Not so familiar for Apple users, some icons are small DIGITALLY speaking, Renault has been in bed with Google for some time. The OpenR Link multimedia system integrates the tech giant’s familiar tool box, including Google Maps, the Google Play app store and Google Assistant voice control, in an interface that borrows much from the Android smartphone operating system and Android Auto in-car app. Versions of it feature across Renault’s more recent models, including the all-electric Megane, Scenic and Renault 5. In the Megane and Scenic, the 12.3-inch portrait touchscreen uses a system of tiles to put your most used apps in view. It’s intuitive if you’re familiar with Android Auto, but Apple users may take…

PROS Android smartphone compatibility, Google Maps built in CONS Relatively small screen, no shortcut buttons VOLVO has followed the same route as Renault and incorporated Google’s Android Automotive operating system into its cars. It’s offered across the entire range, while sister brand Polestar uses the same set-up with its own fonts and graphics. However, despite the software behind the operating system being the same as the Renault Scenic’s in this test, the EC40’s is running on a nine-inch portrait touchscreen that was first introduced when the original XC40 arrived in 2017. The C40 coupé-SUV joined the line-up in 2021 and both it and the XC40 were revised in 2023 when Android Automotive was introduced and the electric versions changed their names. But the dash layout remained unchanged, so as well…

REGULAR readers may remember my colleague Alex Ingram spouting off in Issue 1,863 about how plug-in hybrids are pointless, and that “without religious battery charging, they just become overweight, thirsty internal combustion-engined cars”. Like him, I’m a self-confessed electric-car advocate and have been driving them almost daily for the past six or seven years. I’ve used them for all sorts of journeys and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve struggled to charge at motorway services. But I’m also a realist. I know how cautious the British buying public can be, and understand that switching to an EV from a trusty petrol or diesel car can feel like quite a leap. I also respect that for people who drive hundreds of miles a week, the prospect of…

A HOSEPIPE is considered to be a basic essential in any car-cleaning kit, allowing you to bring a supply of fresh water to your car for bucket filling and rinsing. It will also allow you to hook up a pressure washer to really help shift the dirt. But hoses can also be the most frustrating tool, especially when you are tired after a car-cleaning session. You need to stow the reluctant pipe without causing any kinks or leaving it vulnerable to damage. A hose reel will make tidying up much easier and keep the precious pipe protected, while connectors make it simple to latch onto the tap and plug in a pressure washer. Once you are finished, you can reel the hose up in seconds. Which of our seven reels can…

I’M more convinced than ever that the proposed 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE-powered cars can’t and won’t happen. The idea that these in-demand, factory-fresh personal mobility machines will be officially classed as illegal at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2029 is for the birds. It’s a half-baked idea that most makers, retailers and consumers didn’t ask for and don’t want. But if today’s car-clueless, motorist-bashing Government (or even the as-yet-unknown next one to be elected by summer ’29) still believes otherwise, I invite it to hold a referendum. It has the names and addresses of Britain’s circa 40 million driving licence holders, so just ask them the most important question of their driving lives: do they want new cars with internal combustion engines to be…

THE most anticipated new car of 2025 has been spotted cold-weather testing, revealing more of its hidden design secrets before a debut in full later this year. Unlike the highly curated pictures of a prototype released by Jaguar last year, these shots provide a clear insight into the new as-yet-unnamed GT’s wild proportions. Although the car is wearing camouflage, its sheer width is immediately apparent. Other elements, such as the exposed upper half of the doors, reveal an extremely sharp shoulder and flush handles that sit below small windows in frameless glass. The nose is still relatively well hidden, with the car on test still using makeshift headlights, but it is clear the long bonnet will sit low over the wheels for a sleek silhouette. The most interesting new angle,…

THE Peugeot E-5008 and E-3008 SUVs will soon be available with a new dual-motor powertrain that delivers 321bhp and all-wheel drive. The Dual Motor 325 set-up consists of a 250bhp electric motor on the front axle, plus a 110bhp e-motor for the rear wheels. It should be able to propel the E-5008 and E-3008 from 0-62mph in around eight seconds, although figures haven’t been confirmed yet. The same goes for range, but we expect the Dual Motor 325 set-up to get the same 73kWh battery as the base E-5008 and E-3008, so it should provide a range of around 300 miles. The E-5008, which until now has been offered only with seven seats, is also set to offer a five-seat layout. An added benefit of this is that five-seat models will…

STELLANTIS-backed Leapmotor will launch a total of six cars in the UK before the end of 2027, including an MG4-rivalling family hatch and a pair of new SUVs. Leapmotor International’s UK brand director, Damien Dally, told us that the T03 electric city car (see Page 22) and C10 SUV will be the two bookends, with no bigger or smaller models due. Following the T03 and C10, which will arrive in the coming weeks, will be the B10 (below), a rival for models such as the BYD Atto 3, Volkswagen ID.4 and forthcoming Skoda Elroq. It’s set to go on sale towards the end of this year. In 2026, the B10 will be joined by a family hatchback to take on the MG4 EV, plus a smaller hatch with its sights…

AUDI has finally followed arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes with a flagship executive model to take on the respective i5 and EQE, the latter of which isn’t available as a estate. The new A6 Avant is tested here in Performance specification – the 375bhp middle option of three A6 power choices, which span from 322bhp to 456bhp (plus the sporty 543bhp S6). It comes with a hefty 100kWh battery, plus an impressive official range figure of up to 437 miles, which compares strongly with 361 miles for the 83kWh battery in the entry-level model, and 417 miles for the quattro. But although the long and low Avant bodystyle looks classier and better proportioned than the more coupé-shaped Sportback, anyone thinking with their head rather than their heart will struggle to justify…

PROS Rotary controller and climate buttons both easier to use on the move than touchscreen CONS Lots of menus to delve through, some icons are too small or detailed THE Genesis interior is certainly classy, and a step above what you get with sister brands Hyundai and Kia in terms of material quality. There are plenty of buttons beneath the twin 12.3-inch screens and on the centre console, so this is not a set-up that runs everything through the displays. That’s much better for usability, especially on the move, but not as aesthetically pleasing as a button-free cabin. The Genesis system, also used by Hyundai, is called ccIC, which stands for connected car Integrated Cockpit. The two screens arc across a single display, with the one in front of the…

PROS Bright and colourful OLED display, wireless Apple CarPlay CONS Quite a few sub-menus, sat-nav software suffers from glitches JUST as with the rest of the modern MINI line-up, the Countryman pays tribute to its heritage by displaying the entirety of the dashboard on one central screen. The panel in question is a 10-inch OLED display that has plenty of colours, so it’s undoubtedly pretty to look at. While the graphics are sharp, there’s a lot of information on offer, so each section has its own smaller bit of display space, and this means things can get a bit busy. On the plus side, you can operate it while keeping an eye on your current speed. There are a couple of physical buttons, but most functions are operated via the…

PROS Huge, sharp touchscreen, intuitive infotainment system and brilliant Smart Dials CONS Voice commands aren’t always recognised AT a time when most car manufacturers are doing away with physical buttons and switches for the sake of minimalist cabin design, and in certain cases to cut their costs, Skoda has not only kept these controls, but also added extra functionality to create the Superb’s appropriately named ‘Smart Dials’. Each rotary dial houses a 32mm display, and is responsible for different functions that you can toggle between by pressing the centre. The outer two rotaries handle the cabin temperature and heated/ventilated seat controls, while the middle dial can manage up to four functions, including fan speed, drive modes and volume. You might think cramming so many options into these little controllers would…

MEASURING and comparing the ‘distraction’ potential of competing car touchscreen systems can never be an exact science, because in real life there’s always going to be a subjective or inconsistent human factor in the mix: the driver. Different people have a range of intuitive responses to graphics and menus; they may be more or less exact with their touchscreen inputs or simply require longer thinking pauses while responding to prompts provided by the system. And of course, some eyes are better than others at identifying smaller icons and letters. That’s why we selected a trio of drivers for our test to provide a range of responses, allowing us to generate a series of average times that are broadly representative of the majority of drivers. Having completed the test, and before…

WHEN the fourth-generation Suzuki Vitara landed in showrooms back in 2015, it marked a sea change for the company’s small SUV. Gone was the ladder-frame construction in favour of a lighter unibody shell, while front-wheel drive was the most common drivetrain configuration. A decade later, the Vitara’s basic structure remains the same, but it has been given regular updates to keep it fresh. The most recent of these introduced new safety kit and a revised trim structure, while the exterior had a freshen up with a new grille and wheels. Inside, both trim levels (Motion and Ultra) now feature a nine-inch touchscreen display and wireless smartphone connectivity. ENGINES & PERFORMANCE THERE are two engine options available in the Vitara. First up is the 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbocharged petrol that was originally…

MY attempts to scrub our long-term VW ID. Buzz clean tell you a couple of things. First, the sheer quantity of road grime highlights how it racked up the miles, and second, I loved it enough to roll my sleeves up and give it a good soaping before the bright yellow fun bus was taken away. We ended up sailing past the 11,000-mile mark in nine months, despite the range being one of its key drawbacks, along with the sometimes hellish infotainment system. Let’s get those negatives out of the way first. The range and efficiency were occasionally problematic, in that once the temperature dropped, the efficiency plunged from around 2.8 miles per kWh to the low twos. And the range dipped below 200 miles, which is enough to increase…

THE journey to a car-changing decision is a fascinating one. Whether it’s a new or used buy, at one end you have people who know exactly what make and model they want and just crack on, whereas others take a more meandering route to the set of keys that end up in their hand. I met up with a mate recently and, as it tends to when you work at Auto Express, the subject rolled round to his next car. He’s in the market for something fun that doesn’t need to be practical, which opens up plenty of possibilities. With a budget of around £5,000 (which we increased over the course of the chat), his Plan A was a good one; he was weighing up a MINI Cooper S, or…

ESTATES might be less popular than they once were, but the best ones are still spacious family-focused models that offer plenty of practicality. They’re often good to drive, too, and there’s plenty of choice when it comes to powertrain, with petrol, diesel, hybrid, PHEV and fully electric options. 1 Skoda Octavia Estate Prices from £28,370 IF ever there were proof that you don’t need to buy an SUV to cater for all your family needs, then the Skoda Octavia Estate is it. A previous winner of our Estate Car of the Year award, the Octavia wagon is one of the best all-rounders money can buy; little wonder when you consider that the hatchback it’s based on deservedly took our Family Car of the Year title in 2024. Brilliantly practical, with-easy-to-use…