Daily Mirror - 05.03.2020

Fuel economy and CO 2 * results for the MG3. Mpg (l/100km) (combined): 42.3 (6.7).

*CO 2 emissions: 140 g/km

Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO 2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical

procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted

(post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. †There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO 2 figures. The

CO 2 figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. ^Model shown

is MG ZS Excite in Dynamic Red paint at £14,740 On the Road (OTR). Offer subject to availability, on selected models at participating dealers

only. Personal Contract Purchase. Finance subject to status, T&Cs apply. Applicants must be 18+. MG Motor Financial Services, RH1 1SR. Offer

shown is available on MG ZS Excite 1.5 DOHC VTI-tech. 48 month term. £1,638.50 Customer Deposit. Optional Final Payment £4,989.50.

At the end of the agreement there are three options: 1) Pay the Optional Final Payment to own the vehicle, 2) Return the vehicle, or 3) Part

Exchange the vehicle where equity is available. Orders or registrations from 1st January 2020 until 31st March 2020.

VISIT MG.CO.UK TO FIND

YOUR LOCAL MG DEALER

8” colour touchscreen

apple carplaytm

Rear Parking sensor

VISIT MG.CO.UK TO FIND

4 year PCP From £14,045 OTR

^

value is always in season

£169

per

month

0% APR

Representative

^

mirror.co.uk THURSDAY 05.03.2020 DAILY MIRROR^43

DM1ST

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THE RIVALS

Jaguar E-Pace P250

R-Dynamic

Jag’s smallest SUV. Stylish and

with 245bhp on tap but

disappointing to drive.

£ 35 ,74 5

Cupra Ateca

Very similar offering to the

T-Roc R from Seat’s

performance brand.

£35,915

off-putting, even with a leather-

wrapped steering wheel.

Our car also has optional

leather at £2,155 and some

tasteless blue trim inserts at

£115. Don’t bother with either.

The gadgetry is up to scratch

though – VW ’s user friendly

8-inch touchscreen is

fitted. Best of all, the

heating is controlled

by knobs. The whole

lot’s finished off with

a 12.5-inch digital

instrument pack.

Despite being very

quick, the car is sure-

footed and comfy to

drive. Ours had the

£695 Dynamic Chassis Control

system, a worthwhile option.

In Comfort mode the T-Roc

R is impressively smooth over

town bumps. Race gets rid of

almost all body roll, but Normal

is the best setting, even on

twisty country roads.

The engine has

bags of shove and

the DSG gearbox is

excellent. The four-

wheel drive system

often sends most of

the torque to the

front wheels and the

result is extremely

stable handling. It’s

not as fun to drive as

a Golf R because it’s heavier and

taller, but it’s not far off. Big

brakes come from the Golf R’s

optional performance package

and are well up to the job.

The T-Roc R is a relative late-

comer to the hot compact SUV

club but it’s one of the most fun

to drive. More cars of this type

will follow with Ford no doubt

readying a hot ST version of its

new Puma.

If you’re a crossover fan, need

a practical family car but want

a lot of performance, this is a

good choice. Whether it beats

the Audi SQ2 or Cupra Ateca for

you will depend upon your

styling preferences.

Another launch that

has had to be done

digitally without us at

Geneva is the unveiling

of the new high-

performance VW Golf

models that include

that old favourite, the GTI, as

well as a hot GTD diesel and

plug-in hybrid GTE.

The GTI is fitted with a 245PS

petrol engine and a new DSG

gearbox. Styling includes a

honeycomb grille and rear

diffuser with twin exhaust tail

pipes. The GTE features a

plug-in hybrid powertrain that

uses the same GTI engine but

with a 13kWh battery and an EV

range that can roll along for a

maximum of 36 miles.

GolfS

WITh

DRIVE

with COLIN GOODWIN

vw’s compact crossover

fulfils the need for speed

Audi SQ2

Shares all the mechanicals with

the VW so your choice is mainly

down to badge and styling.

£36,125

‘‘Despite

being very

quick it’s

comfortable

to drive and

sure-footed

@MirrorMotoring

More reviews and

fantastic motoring news at

mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring

The organisers of the Donington Historic Festival have announced a tasty line-up of

events for the weekend May 1-3. There’ll be races for cars from the pre-war period

right up to the 1980s. Over lunch there’ll be demonstrations of historic Formula One

models as well as owners’ club members having an opportunity to drive their cars around

the track. Go to doningtonhistoric.com for more details and ticket information.

A fInE ARTEon

There’s something surprisingly appealing about the

Volkswagen Arteon. I thought it would be just

another rather ordinary saloon when it was

launched but when I drove one I really rather liked it.

Super-comfortable and long-legged, now

Volkswagen is cranking up the appeal by launching a

version in R-Line Edition trim.

Priced from £36,850, the R-Line Edition includes

VW’s Dynamic Chassis Control system as standard

together with 20in wheels and Moonstone Grey

paint with contrasting black roof and door mirror

cappings. A range of engines are available and also

four-wheel drive. Only 370 are coming to the UK so

don’t dawdle if you want one.

I should have been at the Geneva motor

show today, but it’s been cancelled because

of the coronavirus. It’s a shame because I

love nosing around the new cars and

quizzing their makers.

But here’s a prediction: I don’t think the

Geneva show will ever come back.

firstly, this cancellation might well have

bankrupted the organisers and secondly,

and this is the more likely reason, I think car

manufacturers will realise that they’ve got

just as much coverage in the media by

doing virtual launches of their cars online

and by carrying out interviews with bosses

via Skype instead of face to face.

If they also discover that not holding the

show has not cost them any hard sales,

then the temptation to save millions by not

going next year will be too hard to resist.

Already the frankfurt motor show has

been dropped. We are at the beginning of

the end of the traditional motor show. The

coronavirus has just accelerated it.

moToR ShoW

IS A no-ShoW