2019-10-01_CAR_UK

(Marty) #1
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

We could’ve gone fully
stripped-out and hardcore
with the spec of our 414bhp
coupe, but we’ve kept it
usable and visually quite
modest. It’s finished in no-
cost Guards Red with the
standard 20-inch alloys,
and we’ve deleted the GT4
badge for a tidier rear end.
Isn’t the rear wing enough
of a telltale anyway?
Starting price: £75,348


Inside, the standard
alcantara interior pack
is supplemented by full
bucket seats with red
seatbelts (£3982), a
red-lined steering wheel
(£168), and the Chrono
Pack with red facia and
red instruments (£926).
We’ve replaced some of
the interior trim with gloss
carbon (£471) and added
an auto-dimming mirror
and rain sensor (£345).
Running total: £81,240
Since this is a properly
serious performance
car, we’ve added the
properly serious carbon
ceramic brakes with
black calipers (£6178) for
ultimate stopping power
on long trackdays. Full
LED headlights (£1397)
and cruise control (£228)
will be useful on the more
relaxed drive home after
a hard day’s thrashing,
while rear parking sensors
(£362) could avoid low-
mph embarrassment.
Total price: £89,405

SPEC EXPERT


BUILD THE PERFECT PORSCHE


718 CAYMAN GT4


As an everyday track car, it’s not far from perfect already

OCTOBER 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 153


SMART


FORTWO ★★★★★


> Wider than the last one, with a much better ride,
higher quality cabin and slicker auto > VERDICT A
brilliant city runabout, with an electric version that
makes sense
FORFOUR ★★★★★
> Renault/Merc tie-up means ForFour is
accomplished, with a classy cabin, although
ludicrous pricing seem at odds with targeted
budget city car buyers > VERDICT Its sister car, the
Renault Twingo, is more than two grand cheaper.
Work that out
SSANGYONG

KORANDO ★★★★★
> Borderline rubbish to drive but more practical
than the Teflon-coated trousers you’re probably
wearing if you’re giving it serious consideration
> VERDICT Huge, handy and hellish value, but
we’d have a used Nissan Qashqai or Mazda CX-5
any day
REXTON ★★★★★
> SY’s poshest SUV yet, which admittedly isn’t
saying a huge amount. Think old Discovery and
you’re not actually that far off > VERDICT Far less
rubbish than the last one
TURISMO ★★★★★
> Less odious than the old Rodius, but every bit as
practical, this giant seven-seater is slower than the
Crossrail boring machine > VERDICT Has minicab
written all over it, or soon will, which will handily
help disguise the ugliness
TIVOLI ★★★★★
> There’s no getting away from it: Korea’s
also-ran car maker has finally built a contender.
Great value, spacious and – get this – well-
finished inside > VERDICT If they do this again
the dross heritage is under threat
SUBARU

IMPREZA ★★★★★
> Yes, it still exists beyond the WRX and STi of
legend. No, you don’t want one. Boggo Impreza is
now reduced to a 1.6 or 2.0 petrol hatchback only
with optional CVT. Shudder > VERDICT Have you
got a brand new combine harvester? It’s probably
a better drive
LEVORG ★★★★★
> Impreza estate with a silly name. Single choice of
2.0 petrol with CVT auto and 4wd means it’s got
a silly drivetrain too > VERDICT Levorg is grovel
backwards; dealers may need to. Niche, as is all too
common with Subaru
XV ★★★★★
> We admire the engineering that goes into the
XV but you have to pay through the nose for it and
you’re limited to a petrol, all-wheel-drive and CVT
powertrain that dims the driving pleasure
> VERDICT Another very niche Subaru
FORESTER ★★★★★
> Appealingly functional square-rigger is the kind
of crossover that existed before we had ‘lifestyles’.
Good on road, great off it, not cheap > VERDICT A
solid old-school Subaru. Tweed cap, pipe, sheep
flock optional
OUTBACK ★★★★★
> The unloved last-generation Legacy’s only UK
legacy is this Allroad-style crossover. It’s huge
inside and the 4x4 look isn’t all for show > VERDICT
Dependable, not desirable
BRZ ★★★★★
> Pure and simple but under-nourished rear-wheel-
drive boxer coupe, crying out for a supercharger.
Toyota GT86 twin marginally more fun > VERDICT
Loveable car we wanted them to make but you
don’t want to buy
SUZUKI

CELERIO ★★★★★
> Braking-phobic city car is otherwise spacious,
full of kit and cheap. Three-cylinder petrol engine
only, plus all the handling vigour of a B&Q Value
wheelbarrow > VERDICT Dowdy and rowdy. Stop

complaining and be grateful you’ve got DAB and
a cupholder
SWIFT ★★★★★
> An unsung hero, and not just the excellent
134bhp Sport. Handles well, spacious and cheap.
Upgraded Dualjet motor sweet > VERDICT Buy one
and challenge anyone who questions your choice
to a fistfight
IGNIS ★★★★★
> N’awwww, isn’t it cute. Might look tiny but Ignis
has more room inside than most other cars this
cheap. Shame the stodgy dynamics don’t match the
adorable ’70s Suzuki Whizzkid-inspired looks
> VERDICT Good mix of cheap and cheerful, if not
exactly as fun as a Swift to drive
BALENO ★★★★★
> The biggest of Suzuki’s small cars, but not a Focus
rival by a long shot. Brand traits come through
here: hollow interior, bargain price but fun to
drive if you’re prepared to work with it > VERDICT
Practical, unpretentious, almost entirely forgettable
SX4 S-CROSS ★★★★★
> The cheap way to clone a Nissan Qashqai. Won’t
score any points for style – in fact you might be
encouraged by your kids (and everybody else’s
kids) to hide it at the back of the school car park.
Diesel is the best bet, if not an attractive one
> VERDICT A crossover to be cross over
JIMNY ★★★★★
> It’s a mini Tonka toy! Still supreme off road and,
now, there’s few else like it on sale. It’s slow, still
not great on road, but we know what we’d have
in a zombie apocalypse > VERDICT So incredibly
loveable we forgive its road manners
VITARA ★★★★★
> Two-tone cross-dresser to rival the Nissan Juke,
with handsome body and economical diesel
engine or a lively petrol, and genuine all-wheel-
drive ability. Cabin could do with some work,
though > VERDICT Rutting rhinos and pink paint a
thing of the past: it’s a serious family car now, but
still good value
TESLA

MODEL 3 ★★★★★
> An affordable electric vehicle you actually want
to drive? Say it ain’t so. Impressive performance,
taut but spine-breaking dynamics, clean interior
> VERDICT Musk’s watershed moment – if only he
could build them at anything approaching the rate
needed to meet global demand
MODEL S ★★★★★
> Electro-rocket covers ground like little else on the
planet, and in P100D guise is capable of delivering
kidney-thumping acceleration. The future, with
a cabin from the recent past > VERDICT Crush
supercars, emit nothing
MODEL X ★★★★★
> You can scare the bejeezus out of your six
passengers by reaching 62mph in 3.1 seconds. It’s
effective, albeit in one dimension. Looks like an
SUV holding its breath > VERDICT Musky
TOYOTA

AYGO ★★★★★
> Cramped city car with a characterful
three-pot motor is as cheap to run as it feels. See
also Citroën C1 and Peugeot 108 > VERDICT As
‘Up’hill struggles go, battling VW with this is like
climbing the north face of the Aygo
YARIS/GRMN ★★★★★
> Standard hatch is soulless, while costly hybrid
cuts fuel bills (and boot space). Feisty GRMN limited
edition is fun but ludicrously expensive – and sold
out in any case > VERDICT GRMN is the only one
that makes any kind of sense
COROLLA ★★★★★
> powertrains with oodles of room for your Like the RAV4, it combines nondescript
passengers, paying or otherwise. Half decent to
drive, too > VERDICT The Uber in front is a Toyota
CAMRY ★★★★★
> The humdrum saloon is back, now sharing
underpants with the Lexus ES. It’s a lot of room
four your money, allied to decent comfort and the
reasonable assumption that it will be super reliable
> VERDICT Would make an excellent taxi

TOTAL PRICE: £89,405

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