Table of contents for 1773 in Auto Express

Cupra takes EV lead as SEAT steps back SEAT’S future continues to look uncertain, after the firm’s CEO Wayne Griffiths (above) placed his focus firmly on sister brand Cupra during a joint annual press conference. Cupra enjoyed strong growth in 2022, helping the SEAT Group to one of the best results in its history. The company has also attracted major investment to help produce cheaper EVs at its plant near Barcelona. But when asked about plans for future electric SEATs, Griffiths said: “Our focus is on the three EVs [the forthcoming Tavascan, Terramar and Urban Rebel] for Cupra. The future is electric; that means for our company, the future is Cupra. We cannot electrify both brands at once.” It’s believed that SEAT’s future may lie in more focused urban-mobility solutions,…

GENESIS is looking to expand its EV line-up with a MINI Electric and Fiat 500e-rivalling small car, inspired by the Genesis Mint concept first shown at the 2019 New York Motor Show. Brand bosses say there is strong demand for a supermini-sized EV, particularly from customers wanting premium cars in the UK and Europe. Head of Genesis product planning, Mark Choi, told us: “We are looking at expanding our models. One of the key requests we get, especially from Europe, is a smaller-segment model such as the Mint. We are looking into a smaller model for the European market. But the time is to be determined”. The Mint (below) was unveiled as a “luxury car for the city”. It was created through a joint project between studios in Europe, the United…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @matt_201 IT was around this time last year that the last-ever fourth-generation Ford Mondeo rolled off the production line in Valencia, Spain. And while Ford has made a successor of sorts, the fifth-generation car that bears the name is a different sort of proposition, and one reserved only for the Chinese market. The Mondeo then, as far as anyone in the west should be concerned, is dead. Wind back the clock to the mid-nineties, and such a prospect would have seemed inconceivable. This was a car Ford sold nearly 130,000 of in the UK alone in its first year of production, rocketing it to the top of the country’s best-sellers list. It was the car that spearheaded a turnaround for a manufacturer that had long been stagnating, while proving…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram SINCE the Cupra Born was launched in late 2021, it has been addressing many of the Volkswagen ID.3’s failings. Despite being much the same car underneath, the VW has been criticised for its glitchy tech and low-rent interior, so much so that the German brand recently brought forward the car’s mid-life facelift by almost 18 months. But until now, we’d only tested higher-spec versions of the Cupra, so it was impossible to say with any confidence that all Borns benefitted from the same premium feel. We’ve currently got a bells-and-whistles 77kWh V3 model on the Auto Express long-term fleet, so it’s only fair we run the rule over the opposite end of the Born spectrum: an entry-level V1 with the smaller 58kWh battery. First impressions of the basic…

IF you want to finance either car on a three-year PCP agreement, the Nissan comes out on top by quite a margin. Based on the representative quotes from each brand’s own website, a 36-month deal with a £5,000 deposit and 10,000 mile annual limit comes to £621 per month for the Nissan, while the Kia is a significant £165 per month more. That’s a difference of £5,940 over the course of three years just for the monthly payments. Both makers offer a similar rate of interest, have a similar optional final payment (£24,181 for the X-Trail and £26,203 for the Sorento) and throw in a £500 deposit contribution. The Nissan builds on that PCP advantage with its other expenses. Its service plan works out as slightly cheaper than the Kia’s,…

FAMILY SUVS There is plenty to think about when it comes to these two seven-seat family-car competitors Matt Robinson Deputy executive editor “THIS pair of SUVs are loaded with tech and feel just a little bit posh, but if you don’t care about those things and want to save a heap of cash, why not get a Dacia Jogger instead? It’s got just as much space and is decent to drive – and it’s even available as a hybrid.” John McIlroy Deputy editor “THE Kia is a solid all-rounder, but the X-Trail has managed to highlight some of its key flaws. Combustion powertrains tend to be a Kia weak link, which is why we’re really excited to see what the fully electric EV9 will offer buyers.” Dawn Grant Picture editor…

SAVE 43% ON THE SHOP PRICE After your initial 6 issue trial, your subscription will continue at £28.99 every 13 issues representing a saving of 43% on the shop price. FREE DELIVERY Never miss an issue with every copy delivered straight to your doorstep. FULLY FLEXIBLE You are able to cancel at any time using a dedicated customer portal or by getting in touch. YOUR FREE GIFT Money is tight, make your screenwash go further with a free gift of CarPlan Demon Shot Screenwash Booster. Demon Shot is a new, innovative screenwash booster from CarPlan. Demon Shot can either be diluted with water or used neat to boost your existing screenwash temperature, meaning it is ideal for emergency or routine top ups. One bottle of Demon Shot makes up to…

The Spirit of Saab Vaughan Grylls (Batsford Books, batsfordbooks.com) Price: £12.99 Rating: WHEN it comes to brands with an interesting story to tell, you can’t go wrong with Saab. This book takes you through all the classics, right up to the last cars to be produced. For such an inexpensive book, it’s well produced, with loads of full-page photography and chatty text that’s factual without being too dry. Minibus Mania Malcolm Batten (Amberley, amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: THE minibus is a small but important part of the UK’s public-transport history, and if such a topic sounds dry to you, then you won’t enjoy this book. Plenty of bus enthusiasts will, though, because it succinctly sums up the role of the minibus in building new routes and in rural communities. It’s…

Rising star Sharp joins BRDC driver scheme LOUIS Sharp is one of the hottest young prospects in motorsport, and his efforts have been acknowledged by the British Racing Drivers Club, which has signed him up to its Rising Star scheme. The 15 year-old New Zealander races for the Rodin Carlin team (above) in the British F4 Championship, where he finished fourth in his debut season last year. For 2023, the young Kiwi will be one of the favourites for the championship as he gets closer to his dream of racing in Formula One. F1 support series rev up for Melbourne IN 2022, the FIA announced Albert Park would host the Australian Grand Prix until 2035, and the circuit would be added to the Formula 2 and Formula 3 race calendars,…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler • Swoopy-looking profile for electric coupé-SUV • VW-sourced powertrain shared with Explorer PERHAPS we all have a Ford Capri memory. In Britain, the car holds an evocative grip on many petrolheads, rarely seen on our roads these days, though once a common fixture on driveways up and down the land. The “car you always promised yourself”, as Ford marketed it, made a big impact not only on TV, but also in real-world Britain of the seventies and eighties. And now – after decades of rumours – Auto Express can reveal that it’s finally coming back. The iconic name, which adorned Ford coupés from 1969 to 1986, will be the next classic badge to be revived by the brand, following the successful launch of the Bronco in the US…

• Model replaces 500X/500L • Uses electric 500 platform HERE’S proof that Fiat is planning to add a second all-electric vehicle to its line-up in the near future: a new zero-emissions 500 SUV caught undergoing tests. Originally scooped by Auto Express almost two years ago (Issue 1,627), the new model is designed to ultimately replace both the combustion-engined 500X and 500L. We referenced it in 2020 as the ‘500XL’ but it has emerged more recently that the car will probably carry the Fiat 600 name. The spy shots reveal that the 600 will draw far more on the SUV styling cues of the 500X than the semi-MPV profile of the 500L. There’s a jacked-up look – albeit one that also clearly references the current 500, including the use of a…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale • 37,000 miles of road in poor condition • £14billion of funding required AN astonishing 18 per cent of roads in England and Wales will be undriveable in five years’ time, unless billions of pounds of investment is made, according to a new report. The Asphalt Industry Alliance’s (AIA) Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey suggests that one in five roads – equivalent to 37,000 miles – are in such poor condition that they have less than five years of life left in them. A total of around £14billion is needed to fix every pothole in England and Wales. This estimate is £2billion higher than that made in last year’s ALARM survey and £5billion more than was needed in 2012. The Government recently announced an additional £200million…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Concept showcases possible construction techniques, materials and tech for future Citroens • Short test drive underlines EV’s promise ITS parent group Stellantis is pushing ahead with electrification, but in the future, what use will Citroen make of the technologies at its disposal? The answer – or at least, the one that we’ve been shown so far – is the Oli. It’s a pointer to how the French manufacturer is going to approach mobility beyond the cheap-but-limited Ami quadricycle. And we’ve come to an exhibition hall in Hampshire to get behind the wheel. The Oli is designed to be light; the roof and bonnet are constructed from honeycomb cardboard, and the seats are made up from just three components. There are some clever design tricks to boost efficiency,…

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) 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…

IT’S well in excess of 20 years since Mk1 Mondeo production ceased, and time hasn’t been kind to the survivors, because few remain. Models that are more obvious choices for preservation – such as the ST24 and ST200 – tend to be sold at a hefty premium, but you might find a bargain. If you do find something less exotic, such as our GLX test car, it could prove to be a bargain-priced modern classic, costing as little as £1,500. Just bear in mind that if you only look for pre-facelift cars, you might be waiting a while, because there are far more post-update examples around. Whichever you go for, keep a keen eye out for rust. It’s worth checking the whole car thoroughly, but the sills and rear wings…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks Running costs 40.9mpg (off icial) £66 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.5 seconds/136mph ANOTHER year, another name adorning the evergreen Mazda MX-5. This time it’s Homura, and it’s the new range-topping variant of the world’s best-selling sports car. Homura replaces the old GT Sport Tech edition of the MX-5 and at £32,350, it’s around £1,500 more expensive. Don’t start looking for huge visual changes, because there aren’t any beyond some red Brembo brake calipers adapted from those on the 30th-anniversary model from 2019. Elsewhere, the black leather of the lesser Exclusive-Line trim level is swapped out for ‘Light Stone’ Nappa leather and the forged 17-inch BBS alloy wheels (exclusive to the Homura) look the part. Heated door mirrors are also fitted as standard. The Homura can only be specced…

210 bhp Powertrain 1.5 litre 3cyl 55 litres Fuel tank £81 fill up 7.0 secs Performance 111mph 120/485 litres 7/5/2 seats 1,298 litres OVER its four generations, the X-Trail has transformed from a rugged 4x4 into a slick, contemporary SUV that boasts some of the most intriguing technology in its class. In high-spec Tekna trim, this range-topping hybrid and the addition of a third row of seats lifts the price to £45,485. Tech highlights WHILE the body looks new, under the skin the latest X-Trail rides on an adapted version of the platform used by its predecessor, the Mk3 X-Trail. At 2,706mm, the wheelbase is within a millimetre of the car it replaces, and there’s only a negligible difference in the overall length, too. The key update for the fourth-generation…

WINNER 1st Nissan X-Trail THE Nissan X-Trail takes the win here, thanks in no small part to its excellent value for money. Whether you take finance or buy outright, the newcomer should be much cheaper to run than its rival from Kia over the course of three years. But look beyond the money and there are plenty more reasons to appreciate it. The X-Trail handles neatly, and its hybrid powertrain is smoother than the Sorento’s. The cabin feels well put together, too. True, it’s not without its flaws, but there’s still enough here to see off the Kia. • Smooth hybrid powertrain• Competitive finance costs• Smart cabin• Wieldy chassis • Road noise• Small third-row seats• Inconsistent ride INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information RUNNER-UP 2nd Kia Sorento IF you need…

SAME CLASS Lexus RX 450h FEW brands know hybrids as well as Lexus and parent company Toyota, which makes the RX 450h an ideal premium alternative to the Nissan and Kia on the used market. A silky V6 petrol is paired with an electric motor for excellent refinement, while the cabin is flawlessly finished in beautiful materials. Those third-row seats aren’t as accommodating as the ones in the X-Trail, though, and the infotainment system is frustrating. • Smooth hybrid powertrain• Build quality • Poor infotainment• Cramped third row seats SAME MONEY Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design THE XC90 scores points for genuinely having space for seven adults; those sitting in the rearmost row won’t feel short-changed in the slightest. It’s a comfortable and relaxing cabin further forward, too, and the soothing…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 410/1,220 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.9 seconds/112mph PREVIOUS generations of Honda Civic – particularly the last Mk10 model – are a common sight on British roads, but this Mk11 model still seems to be a bit of a rarity. In the three months since our Civic arrived, I’ve only seen one other in the wild. I’m sure this is simply due to the Mk11 being a new model launched in the midst of supply-chain issues, and that in due course you’ll be able to spot them all over the place. At the moment, however, our Civic is drawing more attention than I would ever expect from a run-of-the-mill family hatch. One lady approached me in a supermarket car park to ask how I was…

Milltek gives new M3 Touring exhaust boost THE M3 Touring has only been in BMW’s model line-up for a few months, but Milltek Sport has already launched new performance exhaust systems for the eagerly anticipated super-estate. Manufactured in the UK, the new exhausts build on the factory set-up and are claimed to enhance sound, quality, performance and aesthetics, while retaining everyday usability. Regardless of the variation buyers choose, they’ll get twin three-inch stainless-steel pipework and a choice of five 4.5-inch tips. For more details or to find your nearest Milltek Sport stockist, visit millteksport.com/dealers. Fresh range offers a brake with tradition BRITISH Motor Heritage and Tex Automotive are offering a wide range of brake discs and pads that are ideal for classic cars. The EBC brake parts cover models from…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 29|3|2023 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive A CLEAN interior makes your car a more relaxing place to be, plus it will help get a better price when you sell it. But, your seats, carpets and trim are forever being attacked by dust, food, grit, mud, leaves and, for many of us, pet hair, which need clearing up. Using a cordless vacuum is easier than dragging your house cleaner to the car, trailing a mains cable. Over time, battery life has lengthened and performance has improved, with features such as anti-twist brush-bars to solve the problem of hair in the rollers. But which is the best…

WHICH tired, old quarter of the multi-billion-pound automotive business is in desperate need of a positive disruptor to steam in, kick ass and create the retailing revolution motorists have long deserved? The traditional and highly lucrative, servicing, repair, replacement parts and MoT industry, of course. It’s barely changed in the past four decades. This I can confirm because a) I owned an ageing German car that often visited Halfords, Kwik Fit and Euro Car Parts outlets in the early eighties, and b) I currently possess a different ageing German car, which returned to the same trio of companies this month. My verdict after conducting a comparison between then and now? Well, 40 years ago these three firms were okay (not great, not bad, just okay), and they remain just about…

A PURE-electric successor for the Vauxhall Grandland SUV will arrive in 2024, the brand has announced. The new model was confirmed within details of a £114m investment plan for Stellantis’ plant in Eisenach, Germany, where it will be built. The Grandland – introduced as the Grandland X in 2017 – was Vauxhall’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle. Its all-electric successor is expected to be one of the first models to be based on the new STLA architecture, although this medium-sized variant is unlikely to use the largest 104kWh battery capacity that the platform allows.…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Volkswagen ID.2all FROM: Lee Robbie EVEN if the production version of this car does cost around £22,000, what good is that to those of us who still drive old bangers? Maybe we’ll end up like Cuba, with everyone sticking to old petrol and diesel cars. FROM: RD NOT sure I believe the price promises Volkswagen is making. Say this car is set to cost the equivalent of £22,000 on release. At the current rate of inflation, it could end up being closer to £30,000 by the time it actually goes on sale. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “The ID.3 was a big disappointment. EVs are great,…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.2 seconds/140mph “The almost total lack of road or tyre noise is particularly impressive” WITH the news that the Mercedes A-Class won’t be directly replaced as part of the firm’s plans to move upmarket, this round of revisions for the 2023 model year is something of a last hurrah for the popular premium hatchback. The A-Class has been a hit with buyers ever since the third generation switched to a traditional hatchback layout in 2012. The current Mk4 cemented the A-Class’s popularity with competitive finance offers, too, and thousands of examples have found homes across the country. For the 2023 update, there are subtle revisions to the exterior that include adaptive LED headlights for every model in the range, while LED tail-lights are also standard.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Electric motor Power/range 402bhp/322 miles Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 569/1,637 litres AUDI’S e-tron was the car that gave the German brand a foothold in the EV market – something to tempt potential customers away from Tesla or even Jaguar’s I-Pace. Now there’s a hefty update, including not only the typical refreshed look but also a larger battery capacity and, unusually, a new name. The fundamentals haven’t changed; the Q8 e-tron remains a jumbo-sized EV that’s based on a modified version of the same platform that underpins the conventionally powered Q7 and Porsche’s Cayenne. The exterior changes are most noticeable at the front, where you get a new single-frame grille, different badges and a light bar that stretches between the headlights. The tweaks are even more subtle inside, where…

226 bhp Powertrain 1.6 litre 4cyl 67 litres Fuel tank £99 fill up 9.0 secs Performance 120mph 179/608 litres 7/5/2 seats 1,996 litres THE car you see in these images is a Kia Sorento in ‘3’ trim, but a recent update to the line-up means that the only choice now is a new Edition model. When paired with the hybrid powertrain, the Sorento Edition is more expensive than the X-Trail, with prices starting at £50,995. However, as we’ll find out later, the Korean SUV is very well equipped for the money. Tech highlights AS with the X-Trail, the Sorento we have on test uses a hybrid powertrain. It combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an 86bhp electric motor that draws energy from a 1.49kWh battery (roughly three quarters the…

SAME CLASS Skoda Kodiaq SE Exec. 2.0 TSI THIS is the car that stops our test pair getting higher star ratings. The Kodiaq drives as sweetly as the Nissan, has almost as much space in the back as the Kia, and gets a slicker infotainment system than either model. While it lacks hybrid tech, the 2.0 TSI petrol engine compensates with performance that is almost on a par with the X-Trail’s. It’s thirstier, but that’s offset by the finance payments; on the same PCP terms we’ve used on p44, the Skoda costs £572 per month – £49 less than the Nissan. If you’d prefer sharper style, then the SEAT Tarraco is mechanically similar to the Skoda and costs roughly the same. • Great to drive• Spacious• Strong value • No…

Pete_Baiden@autovia.co.uk @PeteBaiden Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 548/1,574 litres Running costs 65.6mpg (on test) £510 or 12% tax Running costs 65.6mpg (on test) £510 or 12% tax Peugeot’s current line-up is the perfect example of this, because the new 408 is now available to buy in the UK. It’s designed to offer ‘practicality and style’ and sits between the 308 and 508. The French brand expects it to sell in big numbers, but if you were in the market for a new car, why would you opt for it over something like the 308 SW that we’re currently running on our fleet? On paper it offers almost everything the 408 does at a cheaper price. To find out why the 408 exists, I got behind the wheel of a GT Hybrid…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk FAQ All-season tyres Should I fit them? AFTER the snowfalls we had at the start of March, many drivers are likely to have thought about how they could avoid getting stranded. Tyres are the single biggest factor when it comes to keeping going on snow. Forget investing in a four-wheel-drive car. It may get further than a 2WD alternative, but it will stop long before a car with any drivetrain configuration on winter or all-season tyres. March is not when you should be considering winter tyres because it’s about time to change back to summer designs. But all-season tyres could well be an option come replacement time or as next winter approaches. Is the switch worth it? Our tests have shown on snow there is no…

WHILE technology in the electronics industry seems to move at a dizzying pace, dash cams seem to have become a bit stuck in a rut. There haven’t been any recent innovations that have made a significant impact in the market. MioFive has produced an interesting system, though. It’s now available with a rear camera to increase the available protection at a previously unseen level of quality, with 4K front and 2K rear recording simultaneously. The price is half that of some other 4K cameras, too. It’s compact and performs well in most conditions. If you need a dash cam for ‘emergency’ occasions when you have been involved in an incident, it works well. But the app is clunky and extracting video clips is frustrating. The Kenwood doesn’t deliver the ultimate…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk BMW can take some comfort from the fact that its 5 Series places above its arch-rival, the Mercedes E-Class, in the chart, and has improved its ranking by two places over the previous year’s Driver Power new-car survey. However, a 47th place in Driver Power 2022 is still not anything to be proud of for this premium executive saloon and estate. Owners give an above-average score for the smoothness of the 5 Series’ gearbox, ride comfort, rear legroom and the quality of the interior. Its highest ranking is an 18th place for smartphone connectivity. The running costs – especially for servicing – and lack of standard safety features are irritations, with rankings in the bottom 10 places. WE SAID “BMW’s executive saloon has long been considered one of the…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks • Teams head to Melbourne • Can anyone stop Red Bull? THE Australian Grand Prix is next up on the Formula One calendar, and while the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Red Bull in the past (it’s only won there once), the team will arrive as the firm favourite to take victory on Sunday. Which Red Bull driver will lead the way is a little less clear after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Of course, Max Verstappen will be odds-on to reach the chequered flag first, but team-mate Sergio Perez showed great pace to secure victory. Perez seems to excel when it comes to street circuits, so he might fancy his chances at Albert Park – especially if Verstappen continues to…