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New Car Buying
2 .0 TSI 19 0 4 x 4 188 TBC TBC 30.0-31.7 201-205
2 .0 TDI 15 0 148 123 9.8 44.8-46.3 161-165
2 .0 TDI 15 0 4 x 4 148 120-122 9.4-9.6 38.7-42.8 172-190
2 .0 TDI 19 0 4 x 4 187 130 8.3 38.7-39.2 188-191
2 .0 BiTDI 2 39 4 x 4 vRS 237 136 7.0 35.3 211SMART
Fortwo 3 dr hatch/open £ 12 ,110–£ 2 7,13 5 AAACC
Pricey two-seater has urban appeal but is short on performance
and handling. LxWxH 2695x1663x1555 Kerb weight 890kg
1.0 71 68 94 14.4-15.5 44.1-48.7 TBC
0 .9 90 87 96 10.4-11.7 44.1-49.6 TBC
Electric Drive 79 80 11.5-11.8 TBC 0Forfour 5 dr hatch £11,9 10 – £ 22 ,2 85 AAACC
Four doors give the Smart more mainstream practicality. Still
expensive, though. LxWxH 3495x1665x1555 Kerb weight 975kg
1.0 71 68 94 15.9-16.9 43.5-47.1 TBC
0 .9 90 87 102 11.2-11.9 45.6-47.9 TBC
Electric Drive 79 80 12.7 TBC 0SSANGYONG
Tivoli 5 dr SUV £ 14 ,4 95 – £ 2 1,4 95 AAABC
Trails the Duster as the best-value small crossover – but not by
much. LxWxH 4195x1795x1590 Kerb weight 1270kg
1.6 128 126 99-106 11.0-12.0 35.3-38.2 TBC
1.6d 115 113 107-109 12.0 45.3-54.3 TBCTivoli XLV 5 dr SUV £ 19 ,74 5 – £ 22 ,2 45 AAABC
Now grown in size for more practicality but that doesn’t increase
the Tivoli’s appeal. LxWxH 4440x1798x1635 Kerb weight 1405kg
1.6 128 126 99-106 11.0-12.0 34.9-37.2 TBC
1.6d 115 113 107-109 12.0 42.8-51.4 TBCKorando 5 dr SUV £ 18 ,9 95 – £ 25 ,4 95 AAACC
Good for a Ssangyong but poor by class standards.
LxWxH 4410x1830x1710 Kerb weight 1725kg
2 .2d 178 175 115 9.9 37.7-42.8 TBC
2 .2d 178 4 x 4 175 115 9.9 35.3 TBCMusso 5 dr SUV £ 25 ,13 3 -£ 35 ,0 33 AAACC
Practical pick-up has a refined engine and direct steering, but ride
needs refinement. LxWxH 5095x1950x1840 Kerb weight 2155kg
2 .2d 181 178 115-121 12.2 TBC TBCRexton 5 dr SUV £ 28 ,9 95 – £ 38 ,9 95 AAABC
A vast improvement. Better on the road but without ditching its
argicultural roots. LxWxH 4850x1960x1825 Kerb weight 2102kg
2 .2d 181 178 115 11.3-11.9 TBC TBCTur i smo 5 dr MPV £ 20 ,9 95 – £ 2 7,4 95 AAACC
Incredibly ungainly but offers huge real estate for the money.
LxWxH 5130x1915x1850 Kerb weight 2115kg
2 .2d 178 175 108-116 TBC TBC TBCSUBARU
Impreza 5 dr hatch £ 24 ,3 10 – £ 25 ,0 10 AAACC
Appealing hatchback has been steadily improved but still feels
old-fashioned. LxWxH 4415x1740x1465 Kerb weight 1374kg
1.6i 112 112 12.4 35.9 TBC
2 .0i 153 127 9.8 TBC TBCLevorg 5 dr estate £ 30 ,0 10 AAACC
Impressively practical but only offered with an automatic gearbox
and one trim. LxWxH 4690x1780x1490 Kerb weight 1568kg
1.6i 167 130 8.9 TBC TBCXV 5 dr SUV £ 25 ,3 10 – £ 28 ,5 10 AAACC
No-nonsense crossover doesn’t quite make enough sense.
LxWxH 4450x1780x1615 Kerb weight 1355kg
1.6i 112 109 13.9 35.3 TBC
2 .0i 154 120 10.4 TBC TBCForester 5 dr estate £ 30 ,0 00 – £ 32 ,5 00 AAACC
Solid, spacious and wilfully unsexy. A capable 4x4 nonetheless.
LxWxH 4610x1795x1735 Kerb weight 1488kg
2 .0i 15 0 148 118-119 10.6-11.8 32.2 TBCOutback 5 dr estate £ 29 ,9 95 – £ 33 ,0 10 AABCC
Acceptable in isolation but no class leader.
LxWxH 4815x1840x1605 Kerb weight 1612kg
2 .5i 172 130 10.2 33.0 TBCBRZ 2 dr coupé £ 2 7,0 25 – £ 28 ,5 10 AAAAA
The GT86’s half-brother looks great in Subaru blue. Cheaper, too.
LxWxH 4240x1775x1320 Kerb weight 1242kg
2 .0i 197 130-140 7.6-8.2 33.3 TBCSUZUKI
Celerio 5 dr hatch £ 8999 – £ 10 ,4 99 AAABC
Pleasing to drive, cheap to buy and decent to sit in. No-nonsense
and likeable for it. LxWxH 3600x1600x1540 Kerb weight 835kg
1.0 K 10 C Dualjet 66 96 13.0 58.8 TBCIgnis 5 dr hatch £11,8 49 – £ 14 ,8 49 AAAAC
Cute and rugged-looking 4x4 city car capable of tackling roadsbereft of asphalt. LxWxH 3700x1660x1595 Kerb weight 855kg
1.2 Dualjet 87 106 11.8 52.9 TBC
1.2 Dual jet SHVS 87 106 11.4 54.1 TBC
1.2 Dual jet SHVS 4 x 4 87 10 3 11.1 5 4.1 T B CJimny 3 dr SUV £ 15 ,4 99 – £17,9 99 AAABC
Charming 4x4 is capable and affordable but retains its dynamic
foibles. LxWxH 3645x1645x1725 Kerb weight 1135kg
1.5 VVT 100 90 11.9 32.2-35.8 178-198Swift 5 dr hatch £ 12 ,4 99 – £ 18 ,4 99 AAABC
Given mature looks, more equipment and a hybrid powertrain, but
it’s no class leader. LxWxH 3840x1735x1495 Kerb weight 890kg
1.2 Dualjet 87 111 11.9 55.4 115
1.2 Dual jet SHVS 4 x 4 87 105 12.6 49.7 128
1.0 Boosterjet 108 118-121 10.0-10.6 49.6-51.8 123-136
1.4 Boosterjet Sport 138 130 8.1 47.1 135Baleno 5 dr hatch £ 13 ,2 49 – £ 16 ,2 49 AAABC
Suzuki’s family-sized hatchback makes use of clever little engines.
LxWxH 3995x1745x1470 Kerb weight 920kg
1.0 Boosterjet 108 118-124 11.0-11.4 46.8-52.4 TBCVitara 5 dr SUV £ 16 ,9 99 – £ 25 ,6 49 AAABC
Utterly worthy addition to the class drives better than most.
LxWxH 4175x1775x1610 Kerb weight 1075kg
1.0 Boosterjet 108 111 11.5-12.5 39.4-45.9 139-162
1.4 Boosterjet 136 124 9.5-10.2 36.6-43.6 146-174S-Cross 5 dr SUV £17,4 99 – £ 26 ,0 99 AAABC
A worthy crossover if not a class leader. Refreshed looks give a
lease of life. LxWxH 4300x1785x1585 Kerb weight 1160kg
1.0 Boosterjet 108 106-112 11.0-12.4 404-44.9 120-131
1.0 Boosterjet Allgrip 108 109 12.0 39.2 127
1.4 Boosterjet Allgrip 136 124 10.2 37.7-38.8 141TESLA
Model S 5 dr hatch £ 72 ,8 50 -£ 84 ,14 0 AAAAB
Large range makes it not only a standout EV but also the future of
luxury motoring. LxWxH 4978x1963x1445 Kerb weight 2108kg
Standard range 323 140 4.2 TBC 0
Long range 602 155 4.1 TBC 0
Ludicrous Performance 602 155 2.4 TBC 0Model 3 4 dr saloon £ 38 ,9 00 -£ 49 ,4 00 AAAAC
Lowest-price, biggest-volume Tesla yet arrives in the UK after
wooing the US. LxWxH 4694x1849x1443 Kerb weight 1726kg
Standard range plus 346 140 5.3 TBC 0
Performance 4 49 162 3.2 TBC 0Model X 5 dr SUV £ 8 1,0 50 -£ 88 ,0 50 AAAAB
A genuine luxury seven-seat electric SUV which also has a large
range. LxWxH 5036x2070x1684 Kerb weight 2459k g
Long range 602 155 4.7 TBC 0
Ludicrous Performance 602 155 2.8 TBC 0TOYOTA
Aygo 3 dr hatch £ 9695 – £ 14 ,5 95 AAACC
Impactful styling does a lot to recommend it, but not as refined nor
as practical as some. LxWxH 3455x1615x1460 Kerb weight 840kg
1.0 VVT-i 71 99 13.8 45.8-57.7 TBCYar is 5 dr hatch £ 13 ,5 15 – £ 26 ,2 95 AAABC
Stylish interior but ultimately a scaled-down version of bigger
Toyotas. LxWxH 3495x1695x1510 Kerb weight 975kg
1.0 VVT- I 67 96 15.3 61.1-61.4 TBC
1.5 VVT- I 108 108 11.0-11.2 54.3-57.6 TBC
1.5 VVT- I Hybrid 71 102 11.8 67.3-76.3 TBC
1.8 VVT- I GRMN 206 143 6.3 TBC TBCC-HR 5 dr SUV £ 2 1,8 80 – £ 29 ,17 0 AAAAC
Coupé-shaped crossover certainly turns heads and impresses on
the road. LxWxH 4360x1795x1565 Kerb weight 1320kg
1.2 Turbo 112 114-118 10.9-11.1 39.7-41.5 TBC
1.2 Turbo AWD 112 111 11.4 34.0-34.4 TBC
1.8 VVT- I Hybrid 119 105 11.0 55.3-57.6 TBCCorolla 5 dr hatch £ 2 1,3 00 – £ 30 ,3 40 AAAAC
Rebranded hatch has rolling refinement, interior ambience and
affable handling. LxWxH 4370x1790x1435 Kerb weight 1340kg
1.2 VVT-I 114 124 9.3 39.2-44.8 128-132
1.8 VVT- I Hybrid 122 111 10.9 55.3-62.7 76-83
2 .0 VVT- I Hybrid 180 111 7.9 50.4-54.2 89Corolla Sports Tourer 5 dr estate £ 22 ,5 75 -£ 30 ,3 45 AAAAC
More practical estate bodystyle proves just as capable with hybrid
power. LxWxH 4650x1790x1435 Kerb weight 1440kg
1.2 VVT-I 114 124 9.6 41.5-4 4.1 128-132
1.8 VVT- I Hybrid 122 111 11.1 57.6-62.7 76-83
2 .0 VVT- I Hybrid 180 111 8.1 53.2 89RAV 4 5 dr SUV £ 29 ,6 35 – £ 36 ,6 40 AAACC
A solid option but ultimately outgunned by Korean competition.
LxWxH 4605x1845x1675 Kerb weight 1605kg
2 .5 Hybrid 194 112 8.4 48.7-50.4 TBC
2 .5 Hybrid AWD 194 112 8.4 47.8-48.7 TBCLand Cruiser 5 dr SUV £ 34 ,6 90 – £ 54 ,0 40 AAABC
A real go-anywhere vehicle. Totally rugged and available with
seven seats. LxWxH 4335x1885x1875 Kerb weight 2010kg
2 .8 D-4D 171 109 12.1-12.7 27.4-31.0 TBCGT 86 2 dr coupé £ 2 7,2 85 – £ 3 1,7 95 AAAAB
Almost the most fun you can have on a limited budget. Splendid.
LxWxH 4240x1775x1320 Kerb weight 1247kg
2 .0i 197 130-140 7.6-8.2 32.8-33.2 TBCSupra 2 dr coupé £ 52 ,6 95 -£ 54 ,0 00 AAAAC
Brings welcome muscle, fun and variety to the affordable sports
car class. LxWxH 4379x1292x1854 Kerb weight 1541kg
3 .0i 335 155 4.3 34.5 TBCPrius 5 dr hatch £ 24 ,2 45 – £ 28 ,3 50 AAAAC
Better all round compared with its predecessors. Challenging
looks, though. LxWxH 4540x1760x1470 Kerb weight 1375kg
1.8 VVT- i Hybrid 120 112 10.6 60.1-61.4 TBCPrius Plug-in Hybrid 5 dr hatch £ 3 1,6 95 – £ 33 ,8 95 AAAAC
Plug-in version is clever and appealing. Seems more comfortable in
its skin. LxWxH 4645x1760x1470 Kerb weight 1530kg
1.8 VVT- i Hybrid 120 101 11.1 235.4 TBCPrius+ 5 dr MPV £ 2 7,8 30 – £ 30 ,17 5 AAACC
Expensive, old and ugly variant of the Prius, but can carry seven.
LxWxH 4645x1775x1575 Kerb weight 1500kg
1.8 VVT- i Hybrid 132 103 11.3 47.0-48.7 TBCVAUXHALL
Viva 5 dr hatch £ 10 ,4 80 – £ 12 ,8 05 AAABC
Plenty of space but lacks its rivals’ equipment, joie de vivre and
refinement. LxWxH 3675x1595x1485 Kerb weight 939kg
1.0i 74 106 13.1-14.0 45.6 TBC
1.0i Rocks 72 106 13.1 45.6 TBCAdam 3 dr hatch £ 13 ,8 50 – £ 15 ,7 00 AAACC
Certainly looks the part, but there are better superminis ahead of
it. LxWxH 3698x1720x1484 Kerb weight 1101kg
1.2i 70 69 103 14.9 43.5-44.1 TBCCorsa 3 dr/5dr hatch £11,7 30 – £ 19 ,7 35 AAABC
Refined, stylish and practical, but its engines aren’t so good.
LxWxH 4021x1736x1479 Kerb weight 1141kg
1.4i 75 74 10 1 15.5 4 2. 2-4 3.5 T B C
1.4i 9 0 88 109 13.2 38.2-42.8 TBC
1.4i Turbo 100 98 115 11.0 42.8-43.5 TBC
1.4i Turbo 150 148 129 8.9 40.4-42.2 TBCAstra 5 dr hatch £ 18 ,9 00 – £ 26 ,0 30 AAAAC
Good handling and nice engines, but its working-class roots still
show through. LxWxH 4370x1809x1485 Kerb weight 1244kg
1.0i Turbo 105 103 121 10.5 45.6-47.9 TBC
1.4i Turbo 125 123 127 8.6 43.5-45.6 TBC
1.4i Turbo 150 148 134 7.8 38.2-44.1 TBC
1.6 CDTi 110 108 124 10.2 55.4-58.9 TBC
1.6 CDTi 13 6 134 127 9.0 48.7-57.6 TBCAstra Sports Tourer 5 dr estate £ 20 ,3 50 – £ 24 ,6 80 AAAAC
More composed and practical than the hatchback.
LxWxH 4702x1809x1510 Kerb weight 1273kg
1.0i Turbo 105 103 121 11.0 45.6-47.9 TBC
1.4i Turbo 125 123 127 9.0 43.5-45.6 TBC
1.4i Turbo 150 148 134 8.2 37.7-44.1 TBC
1.6 CDTi 110 108 121 10.7 54.3-58.9 TBC
1.6 CDTi 13 6 134 127 9.5 47.9-57.6 TBCInsignia Grand Sport 5 dr hatch £ 19 ,9 40 – £ 3 7,6 20 AAAAC
The good-looking and tech-filled Insignia makes an attractive
proposition. LxWxH 4897x1863x1455 Kerb weight 1714kg
1.5 Turbo 140 138 130 9.3 42.8-4 4.1 TBC
1.5 Turbo 165 162 138 8.4 38.7-44.1 TBC
1.6 Turbo 200 198 146 7.2 36.7-39.8 TBC
1.6 Turbo D 110 108 127 10.9 55.4-57.6 TBC
1.6 Turbo D 136 134 126-131 9.9-10.2 47.1-54.3 TBC
2 .0 Turbo D 170 167 139-140 8.2-8.4 43.5-51.4 TBC
2 .0 BiTurbo D 210 4 x 4 207 144 7.4-7.5 36.7 TBCInsignia Sports Tourer 5 dr estate £ 2 1,5 00 – £ 39 ,12 0 AAAAC
The practical version of the Insignia that aims to take the fight to
premium rivals. LxWxH 4986x1863x1514 Kerb weight 1487kg
1.5 Turbo 140 138 129 9.6 40.9-42.8 TBC
1.5 Turbo 165 162 135 8.6 37.7-42.8 TBC
1.6 Turbo 200 198 14 4 7.4 36.2-39.2 TBC
1.6 Turbo D 110 108 125 111.1 53.3-55.4 TBC
1.6 Turbo D 136 134 127-132 10.1-10.5 46.3-52.3 TBC
2 .0 Turbo D 170 167 137-139 8.4-8.6 42.2-49.6 TBC
2 .0 BiTurbo D 210 4 x 4 207 144 7.4-7.5 36.2-36.7 TBCInsignia Country Tourer 5 dr estate £ 2 7,15 0 – £ 30 ,3 65 AAAAC
Spacious estate gets a rugged makeover – and it doesn’t spoil the
fine formula. LxWxH 4986x1863x1514 Kerb weight 1666kg
2 .0 Turbo D 170 167 135-137 8.6-8.8 41.5-47.1 TBC
2 .0 Turbo D 170 4 x 4 167 135 9.3 41.5-47.1 TBC
2 .0 BiTurbo D 210 4 x 4 207 142 7.7 36.2 TBCRolls-Royce offered pre-war Britain the
last word in luxury, power and elegance.
The 1936 Phantom showed us how motoring
was supposed to be.
The V12 engine in the Phantom III was noticeably
different from its predecessors. The lack of
noise, even at speed, was a welcome but slightly
unnerving experience for our road test team.
There was simply no difference inside the car
when it was travelling at 50mph compared with
70mph, and no increase in stress or concern
for the driver. The car glided along the roads,
w h e t h e r t h e y w e r e i n n e r c i t y o r r u ra l. T h o s e w h o
wished to travel slowly in extreme comfort, or
equally those more interested in hurtling along as
fast as possible, would both be delighted with the
performance of the Phantom.
Given the high speeds at which the Phantom
was able to travel, the brakes in the model we
tested were excellent, confidently pulling the car
back with complete control over the situation.
Similar control was exhibited when cornering,
with hardly a trace of the body roll we expected.
Few cars of the time combined road travel
comfort and performance as successfully as
the Phantom III; it was easily the most advanced
passenger car we’d ever tested.
FOR Quiet ride, powerful engine, good handling
AGAINST Poor fuel economy, impractically
long body
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT...The Phantom IV was made from 1950, exclusively
for heads of state and royalty, with its new straight
eight better for long processions. The current
eighth generation arrived in 2017 and has the same
speed-with-luxury ideology as its predecessors.
The Phantom VIII received a rare five-star rating
from our road testers, who called it the “pinnacle
of motoring today”. And tomorrow? Rolls-Royce
has said a fully electric version is on the cards.
FACTFILEPrice £2600 Engine V12, 7340cc, petrol Power 165bhp
at 3000rpm Tor que na 0 -6 0 mph 16.8sec 0 -10 0 mph na
Standing quarter 86.96mph 50 -0mph na 60 -0mph na
70 -0mph na Top speed 87mph (approx) Economy 10.0mpg
GREATEST ROAD TESTS
OF ALL TIME
ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM III
LIMOUSINE TESTED 2.10.36