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148 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | APRIL 2019
3
NEW
ENTRY> Most stylish family hatch on the
market right now? It’s also great to
drive. Regular petrol engine is a little
lacklustre, so wait for the Skyactiv-X compression-
ignition petrol > VERDICT A hatch you should pay
attention to
6 SALOON/TOURER
> Boss won’t let you have a BMW 3-series? This
makes an impressive alternative. Handles well but
rides like the tyres have DTs > VERDICT Swoopily
styled, tax friendly, entertaining alternative to po-
faced VW Passat
CX-3
> Late arrival to compact crossover party is worth
a look thanks to smart cabin and crisp drive. Pity
about the firm ride > VERDICT Pricey, but better
than most rivals and well equipped
CX-5
> How an SUV should drive. Better than ever, and
yet it’s still unfairly ignored in favour of inferior
rivals > VERDICT It’s the closest you’ll ever get to a
five-seat MX-5
MX-5
> Shorter than the ’89 original, and in real terms
half the price. 1.5 sweet but a little slow; 158bhp 2.0
quicker but charismatically challenged
> VERDICT Brilliantly uncomplicated budget sports
car. Dink the GTI for this
MX-5 RF
> When a folding fabric roof above your head is
just too common to contemplate, pay more for the
heavier and more complicated RF and never fold
the bloody roof down anyway > VERDICT Right car
in the wrong spec
MERCEDESA-CLASS
> SharpIt’s only taken Merc four attempts to get right. looks and an interior swish enough to put
higher-class cars to shame – even if most of the
best kit is optional. Dynamically still a bit slushy
> VERDICT Finally, a compact hatch worthy of
being called a Merc
A45 AMG
REPLACED
SOON> Mad turbo four-pot makes 367bhp
and 350lb ft. Goes like a banker who
knows the game is up > VERDICT
Option the Dynamic Plus pack with LSD as well
B-CLASS
> Mercedes has resisted the temptation to turn
sort-of MPV into sort-of SUV. Hatchback handling
and fancy interior. Oddly short of useful cubbies,
though > VERDICT Like an A-Class, but taller. Who
knew?
C- CL A SS SALOON/ESTATE
> Mini-S-Class styling and almost all the same
cutting-edge on-board technology > VERDICT
BMW is still better to drive, but if you want a
relaxing techno cocoon, this is it
C-CLASS COUPE
> Sexpot C-Class 10cm longer and available with air
suspension. Still tight in the back for those with legs
> VERDICT Much more of an event than the BMW
4-series, but the latest Audi A5 is right back in the
game; a nice problem
C63 AMG
> Madder than ever with bi-turbo 4.0 V8; coupe
gets unique 12-link rear suspension for sharper
responses > VERDICT Mega traction and one of
the best turbo engines everE - CL A SS SALOON/ESTATE
> It may look like a fat C-Class but this techno
tour-de-force thinks it can drive better than you.
Exceptional interior out-luxes all comers
> VERDICT New four-cylinder diesel is so smooth it
churns motorway miles into butter
E-CLASS COUPE
> Swish, clever and satisfyingly capable, as long
as there’s six cylinders up front. Like coupes used
to be before everyone decided they needed to be
‘Ring-meisters > VERDICT Middle age has never
been so appealing
AMG E63
> Only AMG would offer the E63 with an
all-wheel-drive system that you can switch off
in Drift Mode (on the S version). Which is exactly
why you should buy one, and possibly open an
account at Kwik Fit at the same time > VERDICT Go
S or go home
CLS
> Comfy four-door coupe has great interior and
loads of tech, although it can’t match the original for
visual drama. AMG 53 is punchy
> VERDICT Slick
S-CLASS
BEST IN
CLASS> Enormously technically
accomplished, with camera-guided
ride quality and stacks of safety kit
> VERDICT Makes 7-series and A8 seem like
under-specified toys. Captains of industry should
insist on it
S-CLASS COUPE/CABRIOLET
> Over five metres of barking mad indulgence;
Coupe carries it off like Errol Flynn on a bender
> VERDICT Howard Hughes would approve, but he
went crazy in the end
S63/S65 AMG
> Twin-turbo 577bhp V8 and 621bhp V12 S-Class
variants, because being richer than the world isn’t
enough and you need to out-drag it, too
> VERDICT S63 V8 is bonkers, S65 V12 utterly
certifiable. Does your chauffeur deserve it?
GLA
> Confused A-Class on stilts with lifestyle
pretensions and a surplus of interior vents. GLA45
AMG is entertaining but unnecessary
> VERDICT An A-Class for the bewildered
GLC
> GLK replacement project, now available in right-
hand drive. Sounds like you shouldn’t care, but the
interior might just make you moist
> VERDICT Rivals are cheaper and better to drive
but GLC makes you feel special inside
G-CLASS
> Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks,
so long as you completely overhaul its entire
personality and physical structure. W464 still OTT
but now isn’t a pig to drive or sit in
> VERDICT A dinosaur that has evolved to avoid
extinction
GLE
> Seven-seat SUV dials up the refinement and
gadgets. Active air springs can make it tilt like a
Pendolino at speed or hop like a baller’s low-rider
> VERDICT No longer an also-ran plush-UV
GLS
> Luxo-monster seven-seater lacks Range Rover
panache but it’s comfy and refined, and the
infotainment doesn’t come from Poundland
> VERDICT A brilliant busMAZDA > NISSAN
segment as a Sopwith Camel is to executive short-
haul flights > VERDICT Want your kids to stay off
the roads? Buy them one
ASX
> Box-ticking small SUV feels like it was designed
on a spreadsheet. At least it’s cheap and well kitted
> VERDICT Best bought on the internet
ECLIPSE CROSS
> Last of the old Mitsubishis or first of the new
Renault-Nissan ones? Off-road ability says former,
but cushy ride and renewed interior quality says
latter > VERDICT Petrol-CVT combo sounds wrong
but it’s civilised and looks sharp
SHOGUN
> Old-school workhorse if your workplace is
covered in mud, oil or bomb craters. Big, noisy
diesel, chunky underpinnings and reliable, with
hose-down cabin > VERDICT If you don’t think you
need this car, you don’t need this car
OUTLANDER
> Midlife overhaul brings sleeker looks and
lifts cabin ambience by miles. Diesel still a bit
of a tractor but PHEV comfy and refined
> VERDICT The UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid
MORGAN3-WHEELER
> As comfortable as riding over Niagara Falls in a
barrel and equally sane. Not as quick as it feels, but
quick enough for a three-wheeler on bike tyres
> VERDICT Brilliant Caterham alternative without
the macho trackday posturing
AERO
> Droptop was first of the new-era Morgans and
goes it alone since Aero Supersports, Coupe and
Squiffy Perkins bought it at the Somme
> VERDICT Two worlds collide. And with 367bhp in
the front they may not be the only ones doing some
colliding
PLUS 4/FOUR FOUR/ROADSTER
> Entry-level Mog still with ‘traditional’ ash frame
and ‘traditional’ (ie awful) dynamics. Four-seat 4/4
is surprise eco champ: 44mpg > VERDICT Cheap,
considering the extensive craftsmanship, even at
£33k, but if you want an old car, buy an old car
PLUS 8
> Don’t be fooled by tally-ho styling, 8 is built on
‘modern’ bonded and riveted Aero chassis. Fidgety
like a child with worms > VERDICT Classic Morgan
style, modern BMW V8 poke, manners like a five-
term borstal veteran
NISSANMICRA
> So much better than the old car, the
current Micra is on Wikipedia right now
deleting all mention of its predecessor. Proves
that a car designed by Europeans will appeal to
Europeans > VERDICT Bigger and better, although
not all versions are equally good
JUKE
> Mould-breaking compact crossover; you think
it would look like that if the mould hadn’t broken?
Cheap interior and so-so dynamics belie the
hype > VERDICT Does it still count as ‘different’ if
everybody’s got one?
LEAF
> Leaf, and promises better range to boot, and single-Less gawky than the pioneering first-generation
pedal driving. Shame about the dull and unintuitiveSLC
> Buy the SLC43 AMG and it’s like an uglier but
cheaper F-Type with a nicer interior. Buy any other
SLC and you’ve lost your mind > VERDICT Come
back 718 Boxster, all is forgiven
SL
> The plastic surgeon was worth every penny.
Turning up the sporty makes the most of the super-
stiff structure, too > VERDICT Think twice about
that Ferrari California. No, seriously
AMG GT
> GT C is the very tasty sweet spot, GT R is track-
bred lunatic and ‘Ring fast-lapper. Whichever you
pick, it’s blessed with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and
jaw-dropping looks > VERDICT Got muscle, maybe
lacks finesse
AMG GT 4-DOOR
> Yes, it looks like a steroidal CLS and, yes, it’s a
tried-and-tested formula under the skin, but boy
does it work. Forget the E63 S, because this is
arguably AMG’s M5 rival. Pricey, mind > VERDICT
Ignore the confusing name, this thing’s good
MGMG 3
> Tough-looking, spacious supermini has handling
that lives up to the promise of that once-British
badge. As does the woeful build, crap engine and
concrete ride > VERDICT The Chinese are coming!
But so far they’ve only got to Tajikistan
GS
> Spacious, duck-faced SUV hamstrung by coarse
1.5 turbo petrol, shonky gearboxes and shoddy
interior. Actually handles okay, if you can hack the
firm ride > VERDICT Cheap, but not sufficiently so.
Dacia will sleep well tonight
ZS
> Looks a lot like a Chinese knock-off of a Mazda
CX-3 and has the knock-off driving dynamics, build
quality and price to match > VERDICT Stone dead
last in a very competitive sector, would still be last
in easier company
MINIHATCH/CONVERTIBLE
> Bigger and less charming, but comes with choice
of smooth and peppy engines, while ride has
improved without ruining handling. Britpop rear
lights a thorny issue for some > VERDICT Better
than ever to own, even if you love it slightly less
COOPER S/JCW
> BMW 2.0-litre four-pot-powered 228bhp JCW
most powerful Mini ever. Terrific fun, if a tad
synthetic > VERDICT Beware the options list
CLUBMAN
> Replace circus-freakery of old one with full
complement of portals, add longer wheelbase,
bigger boot; now bake > VERDICT Loaf-alike maxi-
Mini freshness, the grown-ups’ choice
COUNTRYMAN/PACEMAN
> A Mini SUV that drives like the hatch. Spacious,
solid inside and just funky enough, but expensive
> VERDICT A respectable family car now, rather
than just a chubby brand extension
MITSUBISHIMIRAGE
> Facelift can’t hide the Mirage’s catastrophic lack
of style or charm. As well suited to the small-car