16 long term test cars on the road racing to the hill

OURCARS.
2018 I The Best Cars as Your Choices 2

OURCARS.
SEAT ARONA FR
Two months into Arona ownership
and, as a daily driver, we're sold. But
can Wales help see off the fug of
pointlessness that dogs it?
Price as tested £21,270Engine
1498cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 148bhp,
1841b ftTransmission 6-spd
manual, fwdPerformance 8.3sec
0-62mph, 127mph, 115g/km CO2
Milesthismonth 1382Total 3878
Our mpg 37.7Officialmpg 55.4
SUZUKI SWIFT
It's spent 11 months impressing us
withits flickability and disappointing
us with its low-rent interior. Will
Wales change anything?
Price astested £14,984Engine
1251b ftTransmission 5-spd
0-62mph, 121mph, 97g/km CO2
Miles this month 847Total 10,858
Our mpg 58.8Officialmpg 65.7
JAGUAR XF
SPORTBRAKE
Now five months into our time
with the Jag it's proved solid but
uninspiring. Still, that huge boot
should be greatfor getting lunch.
1999cc 16v turbodiesel 4-cyl, 178bhp,
3171bftTransmission 8-spd auto,
rwdPerformance 8.8sec 0-62mph,
138mph, 120g/km CO2Milesthis
month 1773Total 9190Ourmpg 43
Officialmpg 61.4
MERCEDES E·CLASS
ALL-TERRAIN
Supremely practical, hugely
desirable, comfortable and sensible
- but the Merehasn't faced any
challenging roads untilnow.
Priceas tested £61,260Engine
2987cc 24v turbodiesel V6, 254bhp,
4571b ftTransmission 9-spd auto,
awdPerformance 6.2sec 0-62mph,
155mph, 179g/km CO2Miles this
month 1324Total 7790Our mpg
34.7Official mpg 41.5
PEUGEOT 5008
After four months we know it's
practical family transport, but won't
itfeel ungainly,heavyand slow in
this more driver-focused company?
fwdPerformance 9.1sec 0-62mph,
39.8Officialmpg 58.9
BMW MS
After makingus almost explode
with pleasure when it arrived last
month, can theall-wheel-drive
saloon possibly keep it up?
4395cc 32v turbo V8, 591bhp,
5531b ftGearbox8-spd auto, awd
Performance 3.4sec 0-62mph,
16.9Official mpg26.9
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA
COUNTRY TOURER
Championedby Ben Whitworth
when it debuted last month, but
willthe Vauxhall estate survive
exposure to the rest of us?
1956cc 16vdiesel 4-cyl, 207bhp,
3541bft Transmission 8-spd auto,
142mph, 39.8mpg, 188g/km CO2
Miles this month 869Total 2898
Our mpg 31.7Official mpg 39.8
VW ARTEON
2361bftTransmission 7 -spd DSG
auto, fwdPerformance7.7sec
0-62mph, 149mph, 135g/km CO2
Milesthis month 1186Total1750
Ourmpg 36.5 Official mpg47.1
AUDIRSS
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Ourssince late last year, the RS5
remains an enigma -it's good, but
is it good enough? Wet roads and a
long driveshould help its cause.
2894cc24v turbo V6, 444bhp,
awdPerformance3.9sec 0-62mph,
month 1476Total 6920Ourmpg
KIA STINGER GT S
After an encouraging first couple of
months, Snowdonia gives the Kia a
chanceto show what it can do on
some properdriving roads.
rwdPerformance 4.9sec 0-62mph,
MERCEDES-AMG C43
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Once Steve Moody clicked with
his C-Classcoupe he wouldn't let
anyone else near it. Time for the rest
of us to finally get a drive.
2996cc 24v twin-turbo V6, 360bhp,
month 984Total 7377Ourmpg
VOLVO XC60
After four months chugginghappily
around the Cotswolds, time for
Volvo's middle SUV to stretch its
legs and test its sat-nav.
1969cc16v turbodiesel 4-cyl,
187bhp, 2951b ftTrans 8-spd auto,
32.4Officialmpg54.3
TESLA MODEL S 85D
Thiswillbe theTesla's biggest
challenge in its six months with us:
an overnighttrip to apart of the
country light on fast chargers.
Price astested £57,510 (approved
used)Engine twin e-motors,
510bhpTransmission1-spd auto,
awdPerformance5.2sec 0-62mph,
155mph, Og/km CO2Miles this
month 527Total 20,511Our energy
consumption392Wh/mile
SKODA OCTAVIA vRS
Our vRS hasspent five months
showing us that - like generations of
hot Skodas before it - it's a blend of
fun and function. But is that it?
Priceas tested £36,850Engine
2371b ftTransmission 7 -spd auto,
fwdPerformance6.5sec 0-62mph,
month 1216Total 11,766Ourmpg
HYUNDAI i30N
PERFORMANCE
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Now in itsfifth month with CAR,
there's been barely adissenting
whisper. But will this outing reveal
its hidden flaws? {Spoiler: no.)
Price £28,550Engine 1998cc
16v 4-cyl turbo, 271bhp, 2601b ft
Transmission 6-spd manual, fwd
Performance 6.1sec0-62mph,
155mph, 163g/km CO2 Milesthis
20.9Officialmpg 39.8
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
Initial styling-related reservations
have disappeared over our six
monthswith theType R. All we see
now is a very talented hot hatch.
Priceastested £32,995Engine
1996cc16v turbo 4-cyl, 316bhp,
2951b ftTransmission6-spd
0-62mph, 169mph, 176g/km CO2
Milesthismonth 2004Total9034
Ourmpg 32.0Official mpg36.7

vw
ARTEON
Pretty
replacementfor
the Passat
cc
Benwill, in just
17 miles or so,
complete this
overtake
--.......----_ -'-·
THE VOLVO'S TORQUE
BONUS IS NULLIFIED
BY ITS EXTRA WEIGHT
AND HEIGHT
•
VOLVO
XC60
Medium-sized
poshSUV
smugness
Arteon versus the SUV takeover
Families used to drive cars like the VW Arteon, being run by Ben Pulman.
Now they drive cars like Anthony's Volvo XC60. Progress?
HENEVERASELECTIONOFcarsgath
er i11 a windblown layby, their keys up for
grabs in a Tupperware box of opportunity,
some fobs will prove easier to purloin than
others.Unmissably bright thoughits paint
• is,such is the casewith Ben Pulman's VW.
The M5's keys are nowhere to be seen; ever. The Arteon's are
always there.So Igrab them.
The Phaeton was a great car. Quite why such a sublime
machine sank without trace is still baffling. (In 2014, VW sold
31 Phaetons in the UK. In 2015... eight.) But, in the context of a
mass manufacturer of 'people's cars' having desidees au dessous
desagare,it is entertainingto speculate on howthe LexusLS400
might havefared badged asaToyota.
I mention this because, at a time wherein the top-heavy
SUV/crossover mould - ably personified by our Volvo XC6o -
do1ni11ates our auto1notive topography, Volkswagen is
havinganother stabat the original prestige saloon format in the
form of the Arteon. Happily, the Arteon is a much better fit in
the Volkswagen line-up than the ill-fated Phaeton. It's spacious
enough to allow the unfeasibly long Mr Pulman to sit comfort
ably behind himself, comprehensively appointed and with no
W12 powerplant in sight. Lest we forget, as presented here, the
Arteon isalso a cool ninegrand less than the XC6o.
Followi11g Pul111an across fa1niliar yet endlessly enjoyable
Welsh roads, the sun quickly drying the tarmac just as soon as
the fast-moving cloud base stops throwing down rain, it strikes
thatin theVW,for themoney, youare well rewarded. Benrightly
describes the Volvo's interior as 'lovely', but so, in a somewhat
more Teutonic fashion, is that of the VW. Indeed, so comforta
ble and spacious is it that, but for the lack of evil-smelling dog
accommodation the ff-Cs would happily be prised from one to
t'other. Arteon estate,anyone?
Botl1 VW and Volvo major in suspension compliance focused
very much on.ride quality, a definite bonusfrom tl1e perspective
of otherfamilymembers.
However, while the XC6o may still be hustled along at a
respectablelick, thetorque bonusit enjoys over theArteonisnul
lified by extraweight and height. And whenit comes to B -roads,
the perceptibly quicker, moreresponsive and agile latter actually
entertainswhile thefarmermerelycopes.
You'll have to take n1y word for all of this, though, because
garnering feedback from colleagues at our gathering proved a
tad tricky: 'Have you tried the Volvo or the VW yet?' 'No not yet
but IwillWHO'SGOTTHEMs KEYS?' ►
ANTHONY FFRENCH-CONSTANT

-
JAGUAR
XF
Somespace,
some pace,
some grace
Six-cylinder leads
four, onthe road
and infact
•
BMW MS
Brilliant. But
£103,000
brilliant?
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KIA
STINGER
GT S
Korea's4-series
Gran Coupe
OURCARS.
Wlia s reel, rear
wlieel arive anct
drinksfuel lil<e a
loaded i.ancaste�?
MERCEDES
E-CLASS ALL-
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_,
TERRAIN
The acceptable
face of SUV

Proof, were it
needed, that the
5008 did noreal
off-roading (snapper
Al.ex did)
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THE ROAD RUNS UP
HIGH OVER BOGGY
MOORLAND IN WAVES
LIKE IT'S MELTED
---

- -
----
THINGS WE ARGUED ABOUT
The point ofthe
VWArteon
Notoriously hard
to-please Ben Barry
put the Civic Type
R down just long
enough to take the
Arteon for a spin.And
20 minutes later it
was back, brakes hot
like an F1 car's after
Q3. The verdict? 'It's
just transport, isn't
it?'Ouch. But true.
While theArteon's
fine lines promise
similarly fuzz-free
dynamics, the driving
experience actually
majors on languid
progress. Thrills
• are in short supply,
so frenzied Welsh
blats don't do the
VW any favours. But
with time, according
to its keeper Ben
Pulman, comes
understanding.
The XC60 is actually
better thanthe XC90
Nicer proportions,
less cash, less
intimidatingly massive
and nicer to drive -
how badly do you
need that third row of
seats?
The BMWMS being
just too big
Moaning about cars
getting bigger might
be nothing new, but
it's still entirely valid,
and narrow Welsh
roads make it a live
issue. TheM5 is right
on the cusp of being
too wide at 1903mm;
the 5cm slimmerM2
makes for far fewer
cold sweats and
involuntary gasps.
Are Audis detached
on purpose?
Time and again we
wish Audis - and
particularly RS Audis
- were more talkative,
less buttoned-up and
a little more alive.
Last month it was the
TTRS; this month
theRS5. But with the
livewireR8RWS it's
become clear that,
whenAudi wants to, it
can do it: ergo, most
of thetime it doesn't
want to. Shame.RS5
RWS please.
Mercedesis on one
hell of a roll rightnow
Alright, so theAll
Terrain didn't shine
here. But, by contrast
with theAudiRS5,
the C43 impressed
everybody. The
Mere range may
OURCARS.
be confusing in its
breadth and variety,
but this is no
problem when so
many of its cars
work so well.
The hot hatch as
blunt instrument
Hot hatches used to
be about balance,
playfulness and just
enough power to
make life interesting.
You only need 130bhp
when most of the time
you'remucking about
with lift-off oversteer
and four-wheel drifts.
Now they're like
supercars: deadly
serious, insanely fast
and too grippy to get
out of shape unless
you're very brave or
very talented. ►
2018 I THE BEST CARS AS YOUR CHOICES 8

'Youjust don't get it, that's all'
Championed by their impassioned owners, the wider CAR jury is more
reserved about the Audi RS5, Hyundai i30N and Peugeot 5008
SUSPECTED MY lo11g-term part11er l1ad a drinking prob
lem, but a trip away to Wales confirmed it. The i30N glugs
fuelat the best of times, butafter apasting at thehands of the
CAR teamit has an estimated eight miles left in the tank to
get back to base. Not ideal when the nearest petrol station is
13 miles away. Nursing it there is an adventure in itself: air-
con off, lift and coast, andJake Groves following behind in his
Swiftas emergency support.When we reach the Shell stationin
Betws -y-Coed, the estimated range has been displaying
hyphens instead of numbers for some time and the needle's
wrapped around the bottom of thefuelgauge. But wemake it.
Tl1at tl1e N ends the day running on vapours isn't a surprise;
demand for its keys runs high from the get-go. Ben Whitworth
returns particularly impressed: 'Feels
good connection withwhat's beneath them-yet at other times
it can feel flummoxed, alternating between washboard-firm
and beachball-bouncy. Titanically fast, though, as Oliver notes,
andhe'safan ofthesteeringtoo: 'Okay, notalotoffeel,butreally
welljudged-fast and responsive off-centre, and very accurate.'
And Miller can't stop telling people how brilliant it was on the
lon.gdriveover: 'So comfortable, so grippy and so, so fast when
youneed to pass slower traffic.'
In contrast with the sometimes fidgety RS5, Peugeot l1as
judged the 5008's ride perfectly -taut and composed on the
M6, with enough pliancy to absorb big bumps subtly. There's
body roll on windier roads, inevitable in a car of this type, but
ithandlestidilyfora suchabigbus.I'mnot suggesting it'sn1ore
fun than the RS5, but faced with a long
perfectly judged. I like the way the
engine doesn't just dump all its torque
in your lap at 2ooorpm; the mapping
cleverly meters it out, encouraging you
to wring the engine, rather tl1an drive
it like a diesel.' He adds: 'The steering's
weighty and direct, but not exactly fizz
ing with feedback. Name me a 25obhp
plus front-drive hatchthatis, though.'
If the i30N's so busy we should have
bought a fuel bowser, that's not the case
for Alex Tapley's 5008. A few venture
THE
STEROIDAL,
HULK-GREEN
AUDI RS5
SQUATS NEXT
TO THE 5008
motorwaydrive I'd plumpfor thePug.
Few are convinced the 5008's exterior
will age well, but hats off to Peugeot's
design studio for the bold interior, a
cabin that looks like it's gone straight
from a motor show concept car to the
street without being diluted. It's not a
paragon of ergonomic good practice,
and it could lear11 a thing or two from
theAudiabout fit andfinish-the5008's
dash and door cards don't line up, as if
designed using different units of meas
behind its miniature octagonal steering wheel to drive it while
it's being deployed as a camera car, but few fancy jumping into
the big Peugeot purely for the fun of it. Tapley, who's no slouch,
reckons we're missing out. 'It's your loss,' he tuts, quietly. 'Get
thehang ofit and therearen'tmanycarsit can'tkeep upwith.'
Maybe, but even Alex has to admit the Pug's lackingthe legs
tobotherBen Miller'sAudi, thesteroidal, Hulk-greenAudiRS5
squatting next to the 5008 at half its height. It's a funny one,
the RS5. In some ways, deeply appealing: wickedly fast, looks
a million dollars (if a tad fussy in detail) and unstoppable in
any weather-but still itleaves people cold. Wales should be the
RS5's natural habitat, and sometimesits adaptive dampersfeel
right athome-Ben Oliverin particularreckonsit strikes a nice
balance between shrugging off bumps and giving the driver a
Everything that's_
great about the-. . -. . -----5008'.
s design
stayedon theinsid
.,.
e
.....:r
_.Ill'
urement, and I swear the faciais higher on one side of the cabin
than the other. But likewise the son1bre RS5 interior could af
ford to take a leaf out the 5008's brave design sketchbook-and
its chassisaleafout of thei30N's driver engage1ne11t playbook.
Whitworth isn't convinced by the RS5 either: 'It feels con
fused-not raw and rabid enoughto be a realBMW M4orAlfa
Giulia Quadrifoglio rival, and not special enough to be awant
one GT. There'sno emotional attachment, nothing thathas me
mentally storingit in my fantasy garagewhen I eventuallypick
theright lottery numbers.'
I'd far rather go for a good drive in tl1e i30N than the RS5,
but it's the 5008 I find myself warming to most. Practical and
striking,itdeservesmore attention thanitgets. ►
JAMESTAYLOR

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5008
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steering wheel
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HYUNDAI
i30N
From nowhere
to hothatch
genius
-
OURCARS.
AUDIRS5
Notanother
aloofRS,
surely? �,..�
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worldcanrunan RS5
close on thirst. But the
i30N's one of them

OURCARS.
• ••
VAUXHALL
INSIGNIA
Luton's onlygone
and done an
Allroad
I •
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SKODA
OCTAVIA
vRS
Fuss-free speed
forthe Joneses
HONDA
CIVIC TYPE R
Ugly and brilliant -
like Velcro

OURCARS.
Flash, fast, feasible
You like the finer things in life but you also like rear doors and a boot.
Chances are you're looking at one of these three
FTHERE'SAconnection it's real-world desirability;a heady
blend of space, practicality,affordability and, from two of our
threeat least, apretty compellinglick ofspeed.
Let's turn to young MasterMoldrich's bewinged, blistered
and butchered Type R first. During the48 hoursin whichwe
turn swathes of Snowdoniainto our private test track, every
one hates the way the Civic looks but returns to base time and
again wearing toothpaste-advert smiles.
I think the Civic looks like a grotesque joke,inside and out,
but eventually I succumb to thei11evitable, take the Honda out
and wring it. It's good; if 3oobhp-plus front-drive hatches are
your thing, that is. Low-slung driving position, chunky and
tactile steering, brilliant gearshift, heroic brakes and superb
body co11trol - they all support tl1at ma11ic blown engine per
fectly, allowing the Civic to careen, scrabble and slither across
these punishingly sinewy Welsh roads with a level of driver
engagement that sweats your
palmsand dries yourmouth.
But good enough to excuse
its retina-scarring looks? Hell
no, though others are more
forgiving. 'I really don't know
what all the fuss is about,'
says Ben Miller, who's had
plenty of seat time in Curtis's
Civic. 'That said, I think the
Mercedes Unimog is a design
classic. The Civic is, however,
a sensational car to drive;
much of the precision, thrill
and speed of a 911 GT3 for a
fraction of the money. The new Renault Mega11e RS, when it
finallyshows up, will havetobe extraordinary.'
Chris Chilton's vRS 245 sitsattheother endof the taste spec
trum to the Honda. Primer-like Meteor Grey paintwork and
flash alloys aside, it all looks and feelsVW Group: crisp lines,
spacious accommodation, generouslevels of equipment andan
intelligently configured dash layout. Very class-swot neat and
tidy;very Skoda.
And so it proves on the road. If the Civic is rash and brash,
then the fast Octavia is mature and controlled. Irrespective of
paceand road conditions,it alwaysfeelsdelightfully poisedand
balanced. There's enough power and torque to ensure you cover
ground at indecent -if sub-Type R -rates but then the Skoda
never feels ragged or uncouth, even when you're squeezing
everylast drop of go-faster juice fromit.And on the roads that
varicose-vein their way between Ffestiniog and Bala much
squeezingist1ndertaken.
Zesty engine, satiny gearshifts from the seven-speed DSG,
sound body control from the DCC adjustable dampers and
a ride quality just on this side of firm all work harmoniously
together. Pity theheftysteering isn't chattier, but that electron
icallycontrolled LSD means you can sling the Octaviathrough
cornersthatwould sendopen-diffed rivalsintoawheel-turning
orgy ofundersteer, andinto the sheep-speckledWelsh country
side.It'sasurprisingly compellingpackage.
If I said the same about my new long-term Insignia, you
might have to coax your eyebrows back down from the ceiling.
Bt1t in a very different way this big family estate - a veritable
rarityin our SUV-obsessed times-hasplenty goingforit.
The Vauxhall's playing to its core strengths when it wafts
me up from Chichester toWales in the pre-dawn dark in high
speed, low-stress comfort.
With LED lights scything
-
through the gloom, muscular
bi-turbo diesel ticking over
at a lazy 2ooorpm, adaptive
dampers on their plumpest
setting and the Bose audio
punching out Old Dominion,
we cover the 300 miles in four
hours dead.
And then when it arrives at
the other side of the country,
this load-lugger puts its best
dynamic foot forward and
makes a pretty good fist
of masquerading as something sporty. Sure, 110 one poured
themselves out ofitsdriver's seatbegging to holdon to thekeys
for another B4391 strop-suchunseemlyfawning was reserved
for the Ms -but thecombination of entertainingly high levels
of wet-weather grip from its savvy GKN-sourced Twinster
torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive layout, and surprisingly taut
body control meantitisn't the understeeringblancmange most
expect. Needlessto say, thereturn trip to the sun11ysouth coast
the followingday wasdispatched with equal ease.
So, the11 - a determinedly unhinged hot hatch, a convinc
ing and punchy estate, and a family car that's surprisingly
accomplished when the roads getinteresting. Three seemi11gly
disparate cars united by embodying the best their makers have
to offer.Now,what's your poison?►
BEN WHITWORTH

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A rare shot of ttie
Swiftnot being
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MarkWalton
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SUZUKI
SWIFT
Not the Sport,
but surprisingly
sporty
Small. Perfectly formed?
Neat, lovable and good to drive, the only thing more fun
than an Arona on Welsh B-roads is a Suzuki Swift
HE TWO LEAST powerful, least expensive cars
here. But-hats off to the CAR extended family
neither isneglectedorlookeddow11upon.
In fact, both get a good amount of thumbs-ups.
Albeit son1e of that's inspired by the just-right
height of the Arona's boot when deployed as a
pic11ic table, or its easily accessed USB slots for phone chargi11g.
And at the end of the two days,Jake ends up back withhis Swift
andIendup backwith my Arona,without anybodyattempting
to wrestle them from us.
We're both perfectly happy about that. Jake's always liked
tl1e Swift, and finds new ways to like it in Wales, where the
narrowness of many of the roads favours small cars. But the
speedofsaidroads-and tl1eexcellence of some ofthe other cars
here-makesthe steering seem slightly lesssharp.
Mark Walton leads the cheerleading for the Swift. Yes, the
sameMarkWaltonwhoarrivesin Wales
and completely fearless.The shape of the thin steering wheel in
your hand, the way it turnsin so confidently, thefizzy engine-
it's all so much more lively and engaging than you expect. Not
entirelysure aboutthe styling,but otherwise Ireallylove it.'
Anthony ffrench-Constant'snot quite so sold. 'Like so many
thesedays, itisn't halfasgoodlooking as the carit replaces; the
perils of feeling the need to facelift every 20 months whether it
needs it or not. And the interior detailing is poor - everything
seems to be at least partially obscured by everything else. For
all that, it's ablast to chuckaround-takes me back to my first
car days. Nopower, so youlearned to drive everywhere without
touching tl1e brakes in fear of how long it would take to re
kindle thespeedscrubbed off.'
He's keener on the Arona: 'Phil McNamara told me tl1is is
the worst car Seat makes.In which case they really are on aroll
because Ithinkit's pretty spiffing.Looks good,bothinside and
at 150mph inthe Ms,sideways.
'I think the Swift's the real, unexpect
ed treat of this trip,' he tells n1e over a
refreshingCrunchie.'Blastingaround in
tl1e 592bhpBMW Msisabitlike ta1ning
lions or walking a tightrope - there's
alwaysan edge to the fun you have it in.
But in the Suzuki you can pedal along
joyfully,footmashedto the floor,flat out
I THINK THE
SWIFT IS
THE REAL,
UNEXPECTED
TREAT OF
THIS TRIP
out. Comfortable and nicely kitted out
with last-ge11eration VW tech that you
can stillunderstandanduse intuitively.
'Idon't know what'sunder the bonnet
[the VW Group'sfine 1.5Evafour] butit
biffsalongwithalacrity.I haven't hadso
much fun in something small and tall
since that wardrobe incident with the
Batmancostume and the Swarfega...' ►
COLIN OVERLAND
·•-�-
,,, '
'.
-,,-�..•• •

'After two h
.
ours
1n traffic I had
ch .
no
.
01ce but to
,n this, sadly..�
0
,-(' '.
I
' '
i/
�,·�·;
Possibly the only ____
time an Arona anda
Model Shave hunted
downa CivicType R
The Snowdonia verdict: What two days in Wales revealed about 16 very different cars
SEAT PEUGEOT AUDI TESLA
ARONA FR 5008 RS& MODELS
A generic VW Quirkily designed Straddling the As a big saloon
Group compact
. gran turismo and theModel Sspacious
crossover, but a crossover with a sports no man's scores highly, but
good one Gallic flavour land there are issues
' ,-
Spritely engine, Ride quality, Fast, refined and Rapid, roomy and
practical and cabin design, a top-notch cabin refined, and just. vast and versatile quality plain differenteasygoing
It's a heavier, Interior quality Thirsty, patchy Charging
costlier Ibiza not the best ride quality compromises
'
Impressed in OK todrive, Emotional The world is still
Wales with its wonderful to engagement just not quite ready
happy usability live with isn't there for Tesla
SUZUKI
SWIFT
Affordable small
car from a long
line of dynamic
liveliness
I t
Responsive,
engaging and
characterfuI
;I
Too much crude
cost-cutting
'
For a small,. .
1nexpens1ve car
this is a lot of fun
BMW
MS
2018's version of
supercar-bashing
performance
from a big saloon
Astonishing.
Don't fear the
changes
Price, lack of an
estate version
They didn't
engineer out the.passion
KIA SKODA
STINGER OCTAVIA vRS
A Korean car A generic VW
playing the Group fast estate
German game car, but a good
very well one
• •
Quick, Wonderful blend
comfortable and of poise, power
different and practicality
Steering takes Steering could
getting used to be more talkative
•
Impressive RS Audi any-
newcomer, but weather ability
it's no 440i without the cost

.(�I
JAGUAR XF
SPORTBRAKE
Family transport
with the promise
of dynamic
engagement
•
Roomy and
comfortable, with
a decent chassis
Oddly lacking
r
. .1n magic
Makes more sense
on paper than on
Welsh hill roads
VAUXHALL
INSIGNIA
Largely
unprom1s1ng
combination of
ill-matched bits
Soaks up the
miles, happy to
attack the bends
Not the sharpest
orcheapest
Go in with low
expectations, get. .a nice surprise
MERCEDES-
AMO C43
Reined-in by
AMG standards,
pumped for a
Mercedes
Responsive,
easily accessible
performance
A bit restrained
for some tastes
• I
£48k C43 makes
the £63kRS5
look nuts
HYUNDAI MERCEDES
130N E·CLASS
Like the Stinger, a 4x4 practicality
great and sudden without SUV
departure from size and weight
the norm
.
compromises
�
All the stuff we Most of what
love about hot makes an E great,
hatches and more rugged
Needs refilling On the wallowy
sometimes side
A driver's delight Regular E-Class is
chock full of the better buy for
character most of us
vw VOLVO HONDA
ARTEON XC60 CIVIC TYPE R
Somewhere All the class of Hot hatch stakes
between a Jetta the XC90 but keep rising; Type
and aContiGT, if in a better sized R badge means it
that helps package must be usable
• I •
Spacious, stylish, Delightfully Gearshift, body
well equipped, refined way to control, engine,
not slow get around steering...
Dull engine Tall and heavy Distractingly
choice, pricey when pushed wrong styling
• I
A lot more Lacking thrills, There's a beauty
fun than we but plenty to in tools this good
suspected compensate at their job

16 long term test cars on the road racing to the hill

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