Auto Express – July 30, 2019

34 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Yourtopmodelsto own

BESTPREMIUM SMALL CAR

Fiat 500

THEFiat500continuestowinfavourinour DriverPowersurvey, evenaftermorethan adecadeonsale.Itsfunkylooksplayabig partinitsstatusasthebestpremiumsmall car,withthoseclassic,retrolinesclearlystill holdingappeal.Youalsolovehowuser- friendlyandwelllaidoutthe500’smajor controlsare.Whileitsengineandgearbox receivedafairlyaveragerating,youpraised theFiat’srideandhandling,withowners oftensinglingoutthefuntobehadbehind thewheelofsportyAbarthmodels.Another topspotforthe500cameintheeconomy section;notonlyisthisclassylittlecar cheaptofillup,butyoualsosaidservicing andinsurancecostsareaffordable.

BESTSUPERMINI

Kia Rio

KIA’SRiodidn’tdoatallbadlyinlastyear’s DriverPowerpoll,whenittook36thplace overall,butits21stplacingin2019was evenbetter.Thehighscorewasthoroughly deserved;youweremostimpressedbythe Rio’srunningcosts,anditsfueleconomyin particular,whichwassaidtobettermany rivals’.Youalsolikedhowwellbuiltthecar isoutsideandin,withthecabinreceiving praiseforthecomfortofthefrontseatsand thevisibilityfrombehindthewheel.You reportedthatstrongreliabilitywenthand- in-handwithhighlevelsofbuildquality and,whentheRiodidneedaserviceor someotherattentionatadealership,the costoftheworkdidn’tbreakthebank.

BESTFAMILYCAR

Mazda 6

THEthird-generationMazda6performed staggeringlywellinDriverPower2019, claiming11thplaceoverallandproving thatthetraditionalsalooncarisstillalive andkicking.Noothermodelinoursurvey scoredmorehighlyforexteriorfitand finish,whilethecar’sinteriorreceived impressivelystrongscores,too.You foundthe6engagingtodrive,thanksto theresponsivenessofitsbrakesand steering,andalsosaidthatitishugely practical,especiallywhenitcametorear- seatlegroom.TheMazda’sinfotainment systemgeneratedanotherbatchofhigh scores,withownerscomplimentingits smartphoneconnectivityandsat-nav.

BESTMID-SIZE SUV

Peugeot 3008

OURDriverPower2018newcarwinnermay nothavemanagedtomakeitadoublein 2019,butthePeugeot3008stillclaimed astrongseventhplaceoverallandwonits class,withpositivescoresacrosstheboard. Interiordesignwasoneofthe3008’s strongestpoints–youlovedthestylish feelofthecabin.Theinfotainmentwas alsorateduptoscratch,aswasthedriving experience,withtheengineandgearbox receivingsignificantpraise.Youweren’t frustratedbythepracticality,either,while therideandhandlingdidn’tdisappoint. Safetyprovedtobeanotherstrength,and yousaidthePeugeotwasreliable,well builtandaffordabletorun.

BESTSMALL SUV

SEAT Arona

SEAT wasthefirstVWGroupbrandtobe givenashotatcrackingthesmallSUV formula,andtheSpanishfirmseemsto havedoneitinstyle.InitsinauguralDriver Powerentrythisyear,theAronaachieved 17thplaceoverallandtoppedthesmall SUVcategory.Yougavestrongmarksforits stereo,smartphoneconnectivityandsat- nav, allofwhichweresaidtobetop-notch. YouwerealsoimpressedbythisSUV’s funkylooks,aswellasthedesignofits interior.Runningcostsweregradedasa positive,too,whiletherideandhandling weremorethanadequateforBritishroads, yousaid.Thetransmission,meanwhile, wasthesubjectofsomeacclaimaswell.

BESTPREMIUM MID-SIZE SUV

VolvoXC60

THEsleekandpopularVolvoXC60claimed 16thplaceintheoverallranking,partly thankstoitsstunninglooks.Thesemade apositivefirstimpressionthatcontinued onceyouclimbedaboard.Yousaidthe XC60’sinterioriswellput-togetherand offersbothdecentrearlegroomand impressivevisibility,whileyouwon’t findabetterratingforfront-seatcomfort anywhereinoursurvey.Asyouwould expectfromaVolvo,safetywasanother bigwinfortheXC60;infact,itsawoffall thecompetitioninthiscategory.Youwere happywiththeSwedishSUV’sreliability, too,whileitsinfotainmentsystemwasto yourliking,aswasoverallbuildquality.

BESTCITYCAR

Kia Picanto

YOUchosethethird-generationKia Picantoasthisyear’sbestnewcity car,helpingitclimbfrom66thplace overallin2018toanimpressive29th in2019.Stylishlooksandahigh- qualityexteriorimpressed,whileyou werealsowonoverbyitslowservicing costs,plusgoodreliabilityandoverall buildquality.YoualsosaidtheKia’s cabiniscomfortableandwelldesigned. Whilethereweresomegrumbles aboutthestereo,theinfotainmentwas generallypraised.Andyoutoldusthat thePicantofeelslikeasafecar,too, despiteitssmallproportions.

BESTLARGE SUV

Kia Sorento

FOURTHplaceinDriverPower2019 wenttotheKiaSorento,helpingitwin thetitleofbestlargeSUV.Itbeatall competitorsinthepracticalitycategory, whileanumberofownerstoldusthat theKoreanmodelmakesafantastic towcar.TheSorento’ssat-navand stereoearnedplentyofpraise,while yousaytheinterioroffersawinning combinationofcomfortandstyle. You’refondofthewaytheKiaSUV looksontheoutside,too,andfound thatitssolidbuildquality–along withanarrayofsafetysystems– inspiredconfidenceontheroad.

Here arethe winnersineach category,based on your ownership experiences

BESTCARS 2019

ULTIMATE GUIDETO

BUYINGACAR