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146 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | OCTOBER 2019
RS3 ★★★★★
> The superhatch/saloon for those lacking in
imagination and/or driving talent, RS3 struts its
stuff best in a straight line > VERDICT Only feel a
little bit ashamed for wanting one in preference to
something more nimble
A4 SALOON/AVANT/ALLROAD
★★★★★
> Lighter, smarter, better to drive than the last one –
and only microscopically different to look at
> VERDICT As you were, except inside, where tech
obsession offs elegance. Rivals remaining calm
RS4 ★★★★★
> Estate-only hot A4 ditches free-revving V8 for
RS5’s twin-turbo V6. Covers ground with impressive
pace and ease and just a tiny bit of proper driver
involvement > VERDICT An RS5 in a parka and
Timberland boots
A5 SPORTBACK ★★★★★
> More tech and even better quality doesn’t
compensate for a lack of personality. Better
looking, but so is Dorking after eight pints. You
could buy worse, but you’ll definitely get bored
> VERDICT It’s better to live in than to drive
A5 COUPE/CABRIO ★★★★★
> Deceptive bunny boiler – looks normal until you
realise it’s killed a TT and is wearing its face. Cue
B-road mayhem. Not really > VERDICT Even more
of an A4 in a frock than the last one, but still better
to drive, especially the S
RS5 ★★★★★
> Like a bouncer in a tailored suit, the hot A5’s
power bulges through the creases in its bodywork.
Twin-turbo V6 has full-bodied soundtrack; quattro
provides grip > VERDICT Four-seat express with
power to spare, but it’s not the most involving
A6 ★★★★★
> department, but the gap is much slimmer. BMW 5-series still edges it in the driving
Well-appointed, super comfortable, clever and
handsome. Still a bit dull, mind > VERDICT A cruise
missile for the outside lane of the M4
RS6 ★★★★★
REPLACED
SOON
> For wealthy mentalists who think the
S6’s 444bhp isn’t enough, RS6
delivers 25 per cent more and gives
the R8 V10 a hard time at the lights > VERDICT
Beautifully finished all-weather family wagon that
scares supercars silly
A7 SPORTBACK ★★★★★
> Think a more stylish A8 rather than A6 spin-off.
Capable of incredible wafting ability and grippier
than Spider-Man covered in superglue. Petrol
properly refined but diesel will make better sense in
the UK > VERDICT Stylish GT with sensible engines
RS7 ★★★★★
REPLACED
SOON
> Pricier, less practical RS6 with
fastback rear, same guts, but gets
clever rear diff as standard for
oversteer here, there and everywhere, given room
> VERDICT Get the naughtier, better-value RS6
A8 ★★★★★
> Ingolstadt’s limousine packs enough tech to
worry Skynet and avoids being wooden behind the
wheel so convincingly you’d think it had a different
badge on the front > VERDICT The new king in the
exec tech arms race
Q2 ★★★★★
> Odd-looking small crossover is like a Mini
Countryman that’s lost a battle with a set square
AUDI > FORD
CONTI GT CONVERTIBLE ★★★★★
> How many convertibles could get away with a
tweed roof? Cue shock and awe at the country
club. Shame it loses so much luggage space
> VERDICT Gorgeous, swift, built like a
Chesterfield sofa
FLYING SPUR ★★★★★
REPLACED
SOON
> Current Spur is sharper to drive,
sharper to look at, softer to sit in, and
feels less like a stretched Conti than
the previous one > VERDICT Think of it as a bargain
Roller rather than a pricey A8; due for replacement
in 2019
MULSANNE ★★★★★
> Huge, hand-built anachronism, with twin-
turbo V8 born in the ’50s, buffed to perfection,
and a field of cows sacrificed > VERDICT Buy
the Speed – any less outrageous display of
consumption is just poor form
BMW
1-SERIES ★★★★★
> While undergoing powertrain reconstructive
surgery it had a nose job too, and now manages
to look like a twin of the 2-series MPV > VERDICT
118d buyers won’t miss rwd; M135i fans might
2-SERIES COUPE/CABRIO ★★★★★
> Boot-faced booted 1-series is a Mustang with
a couple of A-levels. 218d is 8.9 to 62mph and
63mpg; four-cylinder 228i a cut-price, cut-down
M235i > VERDICT To look at it’s plainer than a
margarine sarnie, but TT and RCZ can’t touch its
space/pace combo
M240i ★★★★★
> Still hard to look at without squinting but sweet
six-cylinder is even more grunty. The perfect
2-series if you pretend the M2 doesn’t exist
> VERDICT Ignore the Golf R temptation
M2 COMPETITION ★★★★★
> The M2 turned up a notch, and now your only
option. M3 engine, new barkier exhaust and
tweaked dynamics > VERDICT An already great
package now even better
2-SERIES ACTIVE TOURER ★★★★★
BEST IN
CLASS
> Decent drive, great interior. Need to
cart OAP relatives around? Get the
seven-seat Gran Tourer. Boom boom!
> VERDICT The ultimate driving (to the park/
crèche/post office) machine
i3 ★★★★★
> One of BMW’s best cars is home to its finest
cabin. Electric version has short range; hybrid
is noisy and has a fuel tank like a flea’s hip flask
> VERDICT Carbon-chassis supermini, electric
power and £30k price. Did we wake up in 2045?
3-SERIES ★★★★★
> G20 isn’t the wildest upgrade but there’s a lot
going on under the skin. Chassis is so good on
M340i version we have high hopes for the next M3
> VERDICT Still the dynamic benchmark
3-SERIES TOURING ★★★★★
NEW
ENTRY
> As usual, the estate is prettier than
the saloon. Still comes with the
independently-opening rear window,
still drives well, still handles family life > VERDICT
It’s a cliché, but this really is all the car you need
4-SERIES COUPE/CABRIO ★★★★★
> 3-series in a shellsuit is subtly better to drive than
the saloon, but same great engine choices and
> VERDICT Nice enough to drive but still a nerd to
the Mini’s prom queen
Q3 ★★★★★
> Practical, comfy, handsome, well-built...
objectively, we could go on with the positives
> VERDICT Shame it’s a bit bland
Q5 ★★★★★
> Textbook Audi, in a good way: calm and
sophisticated to be in, pleasing to have on your
drive > VERDICT An extremely polished performer,
a considerable cut above so many other premium
SUVs
Q7 ★★★★★
> German heavy metal turns techno as Mk2 Q7
sheds weight despite megaload of extra gizmos
> VERDICT They thought of pretty much everything
but the charm
Q8 ★★★★★
> First coupe-SUV from Ingolstadt is as sound as you
would expect. The cabin might be different, and the
grille fresh, but is that enough to steer you away from
the formidable Q7? > VERDICT The glitziest car Audi
makes, with a limited choice of engines
E -TRON ★★★★★
> A bit tubby and plain when sat next to a Jaguar
i-Pace but Audi’s first all-electric car has all the
usual tech and refinement. It’s potentially one of
the most commercially important Audis ever, hence
the risk-averse approach > VERDICT Vorsprung
durch Elektrisch
TT COUPE/ROADSTER ★★★★★
> Brilliant coupe gets virtual dash and sharper
handling. Try 2.0 TFSI. Boot big, but the rear seat’s
for handbags only > VERDICT A proper real-world
sports car – but the same money buys an early R8
TT RS ★★★★★
> At the outer limits of the TT’s dynamic envelope, a
17 per cent power hike ekes 395bhp from five pots
and targets wounded Cayman > VERDICT Audi
springs the offside trap, rounds the keeper, but hits
the bar. So close!
R8 ★★★★★
> V10 is one of today’s most engaging engines
and delivers more spine tingles at the top end
than a McLaren Sports Series. All versions now hit
200mph > VERDICT Brilliant daily supercar with a
hint of wildness; and this from the same company
that’s played it so safe with the e-Tron
BAC
MONO ★★★★★
> Single-seat racer that took a wrong turn
out of the pits. Pushrod suspension, Cosworth-
tuned 2.3 Duratec and bath-like driving position
> VERDICT Sublime track tool with a six-figure price
BENTLEY
BE NTAYGA ★★★★★
> The World’s Fastest SUV matches 187mph top
speed with superb chassis. We flambéed the
brakes, btw. The diesel is dead, but a hybrid version
fills the ranks > VERDICT Super-luxurious options
include £110,000 Breitling clock. Or you could
spend the same on a two-bed semi in Crewe
CONTINENTAL GT ★★★★★
> Still heavy and thirsty, but few GTs can match its
interior, ride quality and performance > VERDICT
Used to be essentially a pricey Volkswagen; now a
great GT in its own right
almost as practical > VERDICT Crushes Audi’s A5.
Folding hardtop cabrio weighty but worth it if you
favour fresh air
4-SERIES GRAN COUPE ★★★★★
> Pretty and practical, like a bikini car wash,
hatchback GC costs £3k more than 3-series but has
standard leather. Five belts but four seats
> VERDICT Smart and useful, much more than a
niche exercise. But why isn’t this the 3-series?
M3 CS ★★★★★
> Way more of a thriller (in a good way) than the
regular, now defunct M3. Better sorted dynamically
and epic road feedback. But £86k?! That’s a lot
of money > VERDICT Finally, we get the version it
should have been all along
5-SERIES ★★★★★
> Smart, semi-autonomous and still the best in class
> VERDICT Spirit-crushingly good
M5 ★★★★★
> G30-generation V8 bruiser sends shove to all
four wheels but you can still drift it like Ken Block.
A sharp-suited and refined yet ballistically quick
autobahn prowler > VERDICT All-wheel drive hasn’t
ruined the M5
7-SERIES ★★★★★
> So high-tech, BMW must have ram-raided
Google’s R&D bunker, confident the ‘carbon core’
construction would enable it to drive back out.
Kidney grill bigger than the Channel Tunnel
> VERDICT Gesture control, remote parking, active
anti-roll – it’s got it all. But not quite the kudos of the
Mercedes-Benz S-Class...
8-SERIES ★★★★★
> Not quite the dramatic sports car we hoped for.
Still, it’s an incredibly impressive piece of kit, and
you can really hustle it on track. And that’s before
the M8 arrives > VERDICT Just be thankful a big V8
coupe like this exists at all
X1 ★★★★★
> Ugly old one sold by the bucket load; all-new
replacement is miles better to look at and to drive.
It’s a proper mini-SUV now > VERDICT It’s even
based on the front-drive Mini platform. Swallow that
bile, because it works well
X2 ★★★★★
> Sportier, arguably more stylish X1. Avoid the M
Sport X if you don’t want your SUV to look like Bond
villain Jaws > VERDICT Great to drive and well-built
inside, although not the most rational choice
X3 ★★★★★
> Studiously un-gangsta SUV offers a sweet blend
of handling and handiness > VERDICT The BMW
SUV we don’t hate ourselves for liking
X4 ★★★★★
> Blame the Evoque and people who bought the
X6 for this carbuncle. Priced at £4k-£5k more than
an X3, but better equipped and not terrible to drive
> VERDICT Depressing X3 spin-off for grown-ups
who still dream of being a professional footballer
X5 ★★★★★
> Luxurious, capable and very much at the forefront
of good handling in the posh SUV stakes. Even
bigger X7 is heading this way > VERDICT We’d still
take a 5-series Touring
X6 ★★★★★
> All the impracticality of a coupe and all the
wasteful high-centred mass of an SUV. Genius. If
you must, X40d gives best price/punch/parsimony
> VERDICT Pointless pimp wagon. Buy a Porsche
Cayenne or an X5
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