Month: August 2018

Heads of state tend to be pretty staid in their transport choices – big, sobre limousines are usually the order of the day. But the head of the Catholic church is able to have a bit more fun with his choice of vehicle.

The Pope’s transport has to protect the pontiff, while allowing him to commune with the adoring crowds that characterise his visits. As such, a custom ‘Popemobile’ tends to be the vehicle of choice – affording his Holiness a commanding view of his surroundings atop a raised platform surrounded by bulletproof glass – deemed necessary after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981.

That’s not to say the Pope exclusively travels by Popemobile – there are a few other vehicles blessed enough for him to use.

Here are some of the best…

Mercedes M-Class Popemobile

This is perhaps the best-used and most recognisable Popemobile around. Based on a 2007 Mercedes M-Class SUV, it features a raised platform at the rear, with a full-height door and steps leading into it.

Inside, there’s a handrail so that his Holiness can stand and wave, but there’s also a pair of comfy seats in case the weight of all that Catholicism gets to be too much to handle.

Lamborghini Huracan

Being the Pope isn’t always easy – after all, if you were gifted a customised Lamborghini Huracan, you’d probably want to get in and go for a drive. But with the Vatican boasting so few roads, there’s little point in ownership – so when Pope Francis was given this gift by the Italian supercar manufacturer, he instead decided to sell it.

Resplendent in papal white with gold detailing, the Lamborghini fetched £630,000 for charity when RM Sotheby’s auctioned it off earlier this year. The Pope’s signature on the bonnet possibly helped the sale along.

Leyland Popemobile

When Pope John Paul II visited the UK for five days in 1982, he was transported around in something a little heftier than the traditional Popemobile – a necessary evil due to an attempt on his life just a year earlier. The response from the UK was this monster – the 24 ton Leyland Popemobile.

It rode on a Leyland Constructor chassis, which was chosen because of its ability off-road as well as impressive acceleration for a commercial vehicle. Visitors to the British Commercial Vehicle Museum can still see the first of two such popemobiles in all of its glory.

Renault 4

The current Pope, Francis, is well-known for being a very humble man – eschewing the finery of many of his predecessors and leading a less grand existence than you may expect. The same is reflected in his own personal transport, which is over thirty years old.

The Renault 4 was gifted to Francis by Father Renzo Zocca of Italy, and his Holiness uses it to nip about the Vatican.

Fiat Campagnola Popemobile

With the Vatican being fully surrounded by Italy, it’s no surprise that the pontiff spends a lot of his time in Fiat vehicles. This Campagnola is one of the more popular models, but fell out of favour in 1981 after an attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life. Since then, most Popemobiles have been fitted with bulletproof glass.

Seat Panda Popemobile

Not all Popemobiles have to be based on SUVs. This adorable Seat Panda – build on Fiat Panda designs under license by Spanish brand Seat – was used in 1982 during John Paul IIs visit to Spain.

Ferrari Enzo

The 400th and final Ferrari Enzo was gifted to John Paul II by Ferrari – another example of a Pope being given a supercar he can’t drive. It’s presented in a rare Rosso Scuderia colour, with a unique bare carbon-fibre spoiler.

It was auctioned off in 2005, sadly after the death of John Paul II – but his successor, Benedict XVI, received a cheque with the proceeds to be donated to charity. The Enzo was last sold in 2015 by RM Sotheby’s, making over $6 million.

Skoda Rapid

The latest transport to be used by his Holiness is slightly more auspicious than some of its predecessors. Set to be used by Francis on his visit to Dublin next week, the modified Rapid has been donated by Skoda of Ireland, and will be supplied with toughened glass, flag holders on the front wings and a custom armrest to keep the pontiff comfortable.

Skoda Ireland has announced it will lend its support to the 2018 World Meeting of Families – a yearly gathering of the Roman Catholic Church.

Part of this commitment includes providing the pontiff himself, Pope Francis, with transport. As such, when the Pope touches down at Dublin Airport he will be transported to Aras an Uachtarain, the Irish presidential residence, in the back of a specially modified Skoda Rapid.

Pope Francis is famed for his humble choice of vehicle, often choosing modest cars over the classic glass-sided ‘Popemobiles’ more associated with his position. He even drives himself around the Vatican in an ancient Renault 4.

https://twitter.com/SkodaIRL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1029670228270215168&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent-wordpress.pressassociation.com%2Farchives%2Fstory%2Fskoda-to-support-papal-visit-with-fleet-of-rapids

Fitting then, that one of Skoda’s humblest vehicles – sitting above only the Fabia and Citigo in the brand’s range – should transport the Pontiff around Ireland.

Of course, the Rapid has had a few changes to bring it up to Pope-spec. Skoda Ireland’s head of marketing, Raymond Leddy, spelled out the changes: “Three identical Skoda Rapid vehicles, each fitted with unique identification registration plates, have been reserved for the event.

“As part of the Papal fleet, we are commemorating Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland, with vehicle registration 182-C-1979 and, of course, marking this year’s event with vehicle registration 182-C-2018. 182-D-9093 is the primary vehicle, which, when the digits 9093 are inverted, spells out the word Pope.

“Each Skoda Rapid provided has been customised to requirements. Modified glass has been installed and each vehicle has been provided in a unique navy-blue colour as requested. Small chrome flag poles have also been installed to the passenger-side fenders, which will display the Vatican flag.”

There’s also beefed up window glass for extra protection and a custom armrest for the pontiff’s comfort.

As many as 500,000 people are expected to attend mass under Pope Francis in Dublin’s Phoenix Park during the event. A fleet of Karoq, Octavia and Superb models will provide support to the Pope’s staff and other dignitaries throughout the visit.

The humble hatchback makes the world go around, and despite the consistent rise in the popularity of SUVs, there’s still a place for them on the UK’s roads. There’s a bumper crop to pick from with the upcoming plate change too, and we’ve rounded up some of the best.

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta has been the UK’s best-selling car for a long time now, and that’ll likely continue well into the 68 plate and beyond. There’s a version for everyone, from first driver-spec 1.0 Titanium to the enthusiast-loved ST.

This latest model remains excellent to drive, just as its predecessor was. The interior has also received a much-needed update, bringing with it better technology levels as well as an all-round improvement in build quality.

Volkswagen Polo

The latest Polo is everything the old car was, but better. It’s a paragon of simplicity and solidity in the supermini class and, though it’s not as sharp as a Ford Fiesta, is still great to drive.

A new platform means that interior space has been improved, with better practicality another result of the change. The Polo remains a well-made product, that’s for sure, with rock-solid build quality complemented by decent cabin materials.

Kia Ceed

The Kia Ceed may look like just another hatchback, but it doesn’t drive like one – it’s genuinely dynamic and great in the corners, a surprising development from a brand more associated with long warranties and big boots. Though the Ceed still has both of those things too.

An economical range of petrol and diesel engines are available with the Ceed, along with the option of either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. In short, there’s a powertrain to suit everyone’s needs.

Seat Ibiza

The Ibiza may be virtually identical to the Polo under the skin, but there’s plenty to recommend this stylish Spanish supermini. It’s great to drive and comes with the very best engines that the Volkswagen Group has to offer, plus it’s usefully cheaper than the Polo, too.

The little Ibiza is a good looking car too, with plenty of high-quality touches helping to lift the car’s overall feel. It’s also practical, with a surprising amount of cabin space available despite the car’s small footprint.

Ford Focus

Now in its fourth-generation, the latest Ford Focus has recaptured what made the original so great — excellent driving dynamics, equipment to compete with its close rivals and decent practicality to boot.

This new Focus delivers a compelling drive alongside excellent practicality – and we’d keep our eyes peeled for an upcoming, ‘hot’ ST version too.

What is it?

Volkswagen Group hatchbacks are on something of a refresh trail at the moment, with the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza both recently entering new generations on the MQB A0 platform.

The Skoda Fabia though staggers on without new underpinnings — instead seeing a minor refresh for 2018.

It may be surprising on the face of things that the Czech firm hasn’t gone for a total overhaul, considering the availability of the new platform, but this generation of Fabia has only been around since 2015 — so it’s not exactly outdated just yet. Can a bit of nip and tuck justify be justified, though?

What’s new?

As far as facelifts go, the new Skoda Fabia pretty much meets the definition — minor changes to an already existing model.

Don’t expect a revolution here, but that’s not to say there hasn’t been some notable changes. A tweaked look comes thanks to new headlights, a larger grille and a fettled bumper, with LED daytime running lights now a standard feature.

New dashboard trims bring a new lease of life to the cabin, while more assistance tech makes this the safest Fabia to date. As for engines, there’s been little in the way of change — although the line-up now consists exclusively of petrol units, with three set to be offered in the UK.

What’s under the bonnet?

Powering our test car is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, here paired up to a five-speed manual gearbox, developing 94bhp and 160Nm of torque. It can take the estate from 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds and on to a 115mph top speed. As for efficiency, Skoda claims it can achieve 63mpg with CO2 emissions of 103g/km.

On paper, it doesn’t sound particularly fast — in fact, incredibly slow — but in reality, it’s quite spritely. Ok, we’re not suggesting it’ll give you a fright when you put your foot down, but there’s certainly enough go to have some fun with — and it’s definitely more than up to the job if you plan on using the car for getting around town.

What’s it like to drive?

Nothing has really changed in the way the Fabia drives, which means it’s still a pleasant experience behind the wheel.

It’s well suited for the town, thanks to light-but-not-overly so steering paired up with good all-round visibility, while the addition of a parking camera to our test car just made it that little bit easier to pinpoint.

Take it out on a B road, and it’s not the most dynamic of machinery — but by no means bad. It’s not quite as fun as rivals like the Ford Fiesta or Suzuki Swift when things get a little bit tighter, but it handles well and doesn’t roll around a huge amount.

Just Czeching out the countryside #Skoda #Fabia #czechrepublic #carsofinstagram

A post shared by Ryan Hirons (@rth42) on Aug 14, 2018 at 6:06am PDT

How does it look?

Although the updated Skoda Fabia looks largely the same as before, a little bit of nip and tuck has given the aesthetic a new lease of life.

Revised headlights, combined with a larger grille, give it a little more presence on the road and even creates a mini Superb-like look. LED daytime running lights as standard also means the whole range looks more premium than before. LED rear lights now feature on the options list, but it’s hard to see much difference than before without them.

It remains a good-looking car, and the tweaks mean it’s not yet showing its age — despite its VW Group stablemates brasher look as a result of the longer wheelbase on the MQB A0 platform.

What’s it like inside?

The Skoda Fabia benefits from some new dashboard trims with this facelift, which keeps it up to date.

Despite its relatively low price point, it doesn’t feel particularly cheap to be in and it’s genuinely quite pleasant. Monte Carlo trims brings sports seats and carbon-effect finishers, and while we like the former, the latter doesn’t really do much more than cheapen the interior.
As for space, our estate test car offers 530 litres of boot space — although rivals don’t come with such a body option. The hatch can store 330 litres of luggage with all seats in place — boasting more than the Ford Fiesta’s 292 litres, although less than the Seat Ibiza’s 355 litres.

What’s the spec like?

Keeping in line with usual facelift formalities, the updated Skoda Fabia gains more tech as standard — with more also joining the options list.

Every car now gets LED daytime running lights for no extra cost, while autonomous emergency braking also comes as part of the package.

Monte Carlo trim cars, as tested here, get climate control, LED rear lights and electric rear windows — along with styling upgrades in the form of a black-painted front spoiler, roof and matching floor mats.

For its £17,670 starting price, we think the Monte Carlo trim offers some pretty serious value for money — although those wanting to spend a little less wouldn’t be going wrong regardless of the trim. With the range starting at £12,840, the Skoda Fabia might just be one of the best bargains on the market.

Verdict

The updated Skoda Fabia is a facelift in its truest form — bringing minor touches and tweaks to a car that’s recognizable to a point you’d likely struggle to notice a difference unless you were told.

That’s no bad thing in this case, with the compact machine still proving that it has a lot to give despite the recent total refresh many rivals have gone for. It may not offer the most engaging of driving experiences, but as a daily machine, it’s definitely one of the best-valued packages in its segment.

Facts at a glance

Model as tested: Skoda Fabia Estate Monte Carlo
Price: £17,670
Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol
Power (bhp): 94
Torque (Nm): 160
Max speed (mph): 115
0-60mph: 10.7secs
MPG: 63
Emissions (g/km): 103

As far as car parts go, tyres are one of the most important – but also one of the most neglected.

Tyres are the car’s only contact with the road, and as such can make a huge impact on not just the driving experience, but also vehicle safety.

To keep yourself safe on the road, and to also get the best out of your car, it’s important to maintain the rubber on each wheel. Here are our tips for making the most of your tyres.

Cheap isn’t always the best

While it may be tempting to go for those £40 tyres from a brand nobody’s ever heard of, you could be doing more harm to your wallet in the long run.

A good set of tyres may cost more, but you’re likely to get better grip from them — helping to keep you safe. They will usually have a longer life too, saving you more down the line.

If in doubt about which tyres to fit to your car, consult your vehicle owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendations.

Keep them well inflated

Underinflated tyres have a higher rolling resistance than those at the correct level, increasing wear on the sidewall. To keep your tyres lasting longer, regularly check pressures and keep them at manufacturer recommendations — which can be found in the owner’s manual, and inside the door sill of many cars.

Watch the tread

Tread is the part of the tyre that contacts the road, and as a result, wears out. Not only is it important to ensure you have a good amount of tread for your own safety, it’s also a legal requirement to have at least 1.6mm of it on all four tyres.

An easy way to tell if your tread is sufficient is to place a 20p coin between the grooves. If any part of the rim of the coin is visible, then it’s time to get a new set of rubber.

Optimise your driving style

Find your right foot often pinned to the floor? Brake heavily? Corner hard? You’re probably doing some harm to your tyres.

A smoother, more consistent driving style puts less stress on rubber and results in less wear — ultimately meaning more time between changes, and less hit on your wallet.

Stay aligned

If your car’s wheels have gone out of alignment, the tyres will see more stress on a smaller contact patch. The result is quicker and uneven wear.
If you notice an uneven level of wear, take your car to a specialist to have alignment checked and corrected if necessary.

Rotation equals elongation

No matter how careful your driving style, new your tyres are or even if they’ve all been fitted at the same time — they’re going to wear unevenly.

This is usually down to where the power is sent. On most cars, the fronts will wear much faster than the rears – in most cases, they’re tasked with delivering power to the road, steering, and most of the braking. To get more life out of your tyres, swap the fronts and rears — most mechanics will do this during a service or MOT anyway, but it’s always worth asking beforehand if you’re not confident of doing the task yourself.

Rotating your tyres is also a necessity on cars with a part-time four-wheel drive system. These systems require all four tyres to be virtually identical for the best performance.

Seasonal rubber

While all-season tyres can offer plenty of grip all year round, splashing out for season-specific tyres can keep prepared for all eventualities.

Although ultimately more expensive, having a set of rubber for both summer and winter can leave you safer on the roads and also see less time between buying new tyres. Summer compounds operate at higher temperatures, offering better grip in hotter weather and lasting longer than harder rubber — which could potentially blister on hot surfaces.

Winter tyres operate at lower temperatures and also tend to have much more tread — ideal for clearing rain, snow and slush in the colder months of the year.

Check the spare tyre

It’s easy to forget about looking after a spare tyre — after all, you’ll ideally never have to use it.

In the event of a tyre failure though, it’s going to come in handy, so you’ll want to ensure its prepared to keep you safe before putting on a replacement tyre. Ensure the rubber hasn’t perished, and that it’s inflated to a good level.

Happy International Cat Day! Pet owners adore their moggies, but it’s fair to say that a great number of car owners do as well. In fact, there are few animals which have given so much to the motoring community, and we’ve rounded up some truly meow-vellous examples below.

We’re not kitten you, these fur-midable motors live up to their monikers and prove to the legions of dog owners that cats are truly the superior animal. After all, nobody would buy a Ford Corgi, would they?

Sit back, stretch out and cough up a dead bird while we take you through the best cars to be named after, inspired by or simply look like cats.

Jaguar

Initially the Swallow Sidecar Company, and then S.S Cars, the company built their first car under the Jaguar brand in 1935. Today, it offers two incarnations of the big cat logo – the classic ‘Leaper’ and the more striking ‘Growler’, which you’ll find adorning the grille of every modern Jag. Though the firm’s cars are virtually unrecognisable from the very first Jaguars, the company’s ethos of space, grace and pace is alive and well.

Matra Bagheera

Matra isn’t exactly a well-known name anymore, as the French brand was absorbed into Renault in 2003. But when functioning, it built some staggering cars. The Bagheera – whose name will be familiar to anybody who’s seen the Jungle Book – is a striking three-seat sports car that well lives up to its panther namesake.

Bowler Wildcat

This is one go-anywhere feline. An evolution on the Land Rover Defender, the Bowler Wildcat was available with a 5.0-litre V8 engine and a variety of hardcore off-road mechanicals, which helped it to conquer any terrain it encountered. Its origins in the Dakar Rally mean that it has been tried-and-tested in the harshest of environments, and made the Wildcat one tough moggy indeed.

Dodge Challenger Hellcat 

If you’re after all-out power, then look no further than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. It produces over 700bhp, thanks to a supercharged Hemi V8 engine. It’s all packaged up in a square, squat body that evokes all of the looks of a classic muscle car. This is one cat which few other cars will be able to out-pace.

Panther Six

The snazzily-named Panther was a British firm that liked to do things a little differently, often adding luxury fittings onto existing cars. The Six was rather different – an insane six-wheeled supercar with an 8.2-litre V8 engine, ridiculous luxury trimmings and some seriously bold claims of a 200mph top speed. Sadly, only two were ever built, and the record was never verified.

Nissan Leopard

You’d forgiven for having never heard of the Nissan Leopard — having been designed specifically for the Japanese market — but it had a real pounce about it.

Based on the Nissan Skyline (not the ultra-fast GT-R though, sadly), it was designed to chase the tail of the Toyota, er, Chaser. Although sales in it its home country weren’t terrible, it could never really claw its way into a lead over a respectable 19 years and four generations of production. Maybe some leopard print would’ve helped shift some…

Vauxhall Tigra

The Vauxhall Corsa might not seem the greatest place to start when building a small coupe named after a Tiger, but the Tigra actually managed to elevate itself over its rather humble underpinnings. Throughout two generations it remained sharply styled and rather popular, though it never rivalled the Ford Puma for driving dynamics.

Sunbeam Tiger

This particular cat-named car has humble beginnings, having been based on the Sunbeam Alpine roadster. The tiny four-cylinder engine in that reserved machine never had the roar you’d associate with a real performance machine, but that all changed when the legendary Carroll Shelby got his hands to it.

Out went the little motor and in came a 4.3-litre Ford V8 offering plenty of purr in the tiny package — creating the Sunbeam Tiger. Although it never gained the fame of the similar Shelby Cobra, this cool cat offered serious performance and easy modability — making it a favourite with hot rodders at the time.

Ford Cougar

Ford’s previous big coupe – the Probe – had not been well received. Contemporary road tests named it too soft, too stale and too American. The Cougar was to be the remedy to that, and it did a good job indeed.

Though we’re sad that the Probe’s pop-up headlights disappeared, the sharply-styled Cougar was excellent to drive and showed that Ford could still produce a large coupe that drove well.

Ford Puma

While the Puma was hardly purr-fect with its notorious rust problem, it was light on its feet and looked smart as well. And for those wanting a more angry kitten, Ford offered a limited edition ‘Racing’ version – developed by the Ford rallying team.

Plymouth Prowler

The Plymouth Prowler is an odd looking thing, right? Part car, part drag-racer, it looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. However, with a powerful V6 engine under the bonnet, this is very much a car of reality and even featured useful day-to-day touches like keyless entry and air conditioning. Mean and paw-pussful looking, there are few cars that look quite like the Prowler.

Seat Leon

The Leon name, just like the rest of the Seat range, is named after a locale in the manufacturer’s native Spain. However, since the Spanish word Leon translates to Lion, this in – in a tenuous sense – a car with a feline alias.

Nissan Leaf

This may be a stretch, as the humble electrically-powered Leaf has absolutely nothing to do with cats, felines or moggies. Although under the skin lies a lithium-ion battery – or Li-On, for short.

Peugeot

While the Peugeot moniker comes from the distinctly un-feline founder Armand, the brand is very much associated with lions thanks to its highly-recognisable logo.

The original Peugeot lion looks significantly different from today’s equivalent, with the logo depicting it on all four paws, walking on an arrow. This version was phased out in 1912, and the most recognisable Peugeot lion arrived in September 1975. The brand likes to pay homage to its lion heritage through its modern cars, which feature tail-lights designed to look like cat’s claw marks and often a trim level named ‘Feline’.

… we’ll show ourselves out.

For owners of petrol or diesel cars, fuelling up is a simple process that takes just a few minutes. If you drive an electric car though, it’s not as simple as visiting a petrol station.

Electric charging points aren’t always located in convenient spots and once you’re there, you’re in for a wait of at least half an hour before they put any meaningful juice in your car.

However, there’s one big advantage that electric cars have, and that’s the ability to charge at home. It’s something that EV manufacturers would love owners to consider more often – treating an electric car as they would a smartphone, and simply topping up every night for use the next day.

But how can you charge your electric car at home?

The first option is simply to use an existing plug socket. All electric cars are supplied with their own charging cables, which should be plenty long enough to stretch from a driveway to a conveniently located power socket inside your house.

There are disadvantages to this route. Charging from a standard plug socket takes a long time – you’ll probably need to plug in at dinnertime for a full battery the next morning. Routing cables can also be ugly or a treacherous trip hazard.

You can get around the latter by using an extension cable but many manufacturers discourage this on safety grounds, so check your owner’s manual.

The other choice is to install an external plug socket. This remains a slow charging option but is at least tidier, without cables trailing all over the place. You’ll need a qualified electrician to install it safely.

Finally, the best option for those who need a faster charge, you can install a home charging point. Many companies operate these points, and they connect directly to the mains supply to provide a faster charge. Most electric vehicles will be fully charged in a few hours.

Installation can be quite pricey but once in place this is the best option for electric vehicle charging at home.

The crossover class is a juggernaut, steamrolling sales of MPVs, hatchbacks and family saloons in its path. There’s no escaping it – buyers just like the combination of rugged styling, a high ride height and the feeling of security that a bulky crossover provides.

But as with every car class, not all crossovers are created equal and there are some real standouts on the market. We’ve sorted the wheat from the chaff and rounded up 10 of the best crossovers on sale today.

Seat Ateca

The Seat Ateca shares most if not all of its components with its siblings from the Volkswagen Group, but manages to retain a distinct identity – and for that, we love it. Thanks to a combination of a stiff but comfortable ride and really well-judged controls it’s one of the best crossovers on the market to drive, but it’s also spacious and feels premium inside.

Add in a list price lower than its Volkswagen Tiguan sibling and sharp exterior styling and the Ateca is a real winner.

Citroen C3 Aircross

The old Citroen C3 Picasso was one of the victims of the crossover craze. A compact MPV, it was ditched in Citroen’s range and replaced by this – the C3 Aircross.

With far more rugged styling, the Aircross is more styling and eye-catching than its older brother but retains that car’s practicality and ease of driving.

Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster has a unique selling point. It’s not just one of the cheapest crossovers you can buy today – it’s one of the cheapest cars, full stop, with a starting price of under £10,000.

Surprisingly that low price tag doesn’t have you scrabbling around in the dark ages either. Sure, the basic engine is a bit gutless, and bottom-spec models don’t even come with a radio, but step up a few trim grades and for the price of a basic city car you’ll get a very decently-equipped crossover with bags of room. It’s well worth considering if you’re on a budget.

Volkswagen T-Roc

It took Volkswagen a while to get in on the crossover game, but it didn’t hesitate in making up ground.

Launched just last year, the T-Roc boasts trademark Volkswagen quality and style, along with a strong range of engines. It’s also one of the best driving — thanks largely to the engineering input of Karsten Schebsdat, of Porsche fame.

Kia Sportage

It might surprise you to know that the Kia Sportage recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, over four model generations. Where does the time go?

Of course, since its introduction in 1993 the Sportage has undergone a total transformation, morphing from rough-and-ready South Korean tat into a genuinely good urban crossover. The current model is bang up-to-date, with refinements such as an optional hybrid powertrain and plush interiors.

Mazda CX-5

Mazda has a habit of producing some real hidden gems – cars that may not enjoy the sales success of their rivals but often beat them in key areas. The CX-5 is one of those, enjoying a great reliability record, good looks and most importantly, an absolutely brilliant drive.

The DNA of the MX-5 is alive and well in its crossover sibling, and the CX-5 is both entertaining and comfortable without being overly firm or sporty. It’s a genuine delight from such a non-premium manufacturer.

Suzuki Vitara

Although small in the broad scheme of things, the Vitara is the largest car Suzuki currently makes — and it’s also one of the best.

Not only does it look pretty good, but offers serious value for money, bags of practicality, competitive levels of efficiency and perhaps above all, Suzuki reliability. There’s no wonder it’s the brand’s best-seller in the UK.

Ford Fiesta Active

The Ford Fiesta is probably the best new car on the market — as sales figures will show — so it seems obvious a crossover version would be just as good.

Albeit little more than a slight ride height increase and some ‘rugged’ aesthetic tweaks, the Fiesta Active has all the ingredients for success. It maintains the impressive driving experience the regular hatch is so famed for, and brings a more commanding driving position. Better still, it actually offers improved ride quality over the car it’s based on.

Nissan Qashqai

The Qashqai is arguably the car which started the crossover craze, with Nissan choosing to produce it instead of the traditional Almera hatchback way back in 2007. Over a decade on, things have changed, but the Qashqai continues to retain its crown as Britain’s best-selling crossover.

And why shouldn’t it? Qashqais have proven easy to drive, easy to live with and easy to own, cheap to run and capable of slotting effortlessly into family life. Sure, it’s not the most exciting choice, but family transport rarely is.

Skoda Karoq

The supposed ‘budget’ arm of the VW Group has produced a really premium-feeling crossover in the Karoq. It’s actually around the same size as the Seat Ateca or VW Tiguan, but rivals the smaller Seat Arona for price.

There’s bags of room inside and the usual array of Volkswagen Group petrol and diesel engines under the bonnet. Add in sharp styling and Skoda’s excellent dealer service and you have a product that should provide faithful service for many families.

Hiring a car can be seriously useful. They can help you get around Spain on your summer holiday, make it possible to enjoy your dream American road trip or simply be a cost-efficient way to visit family in the Lake District.

With so many different cars available for hire, and a variety of providers, there’s a ton of choice out there and plenty of deals to be had – but how do you know if it’s the best deal for you?

Shop around

With a number of hire car providers on the market, there will inevitably be some that offer better deals than others.

While it may be easy to just book with the first company to come up in Google search, you could save plenty with some savvy shopping. Take advantage of the growing number of comparison sites that show the latest deals — and don’t be afraid to take that a step further and pick up the phone. Even the cheapest provider online may still be able to knock a few pounds off…

Book well in advance

Know you’re going to need a hire car for your holiday later in the year? Get it booked as soon as possible.

Providers will charge much more if you leave sorting a hire car until the last minute, as you’re left with few other options. Getting ahead of the game can not only save you pounds for simply booking well ahead of time, but it also gives you the flexibility to shop around for better deals.

Look at package deals

A number of package holidays now offer hire cars in the deal, and it could well be cheaper to head down this route.

All-in-one deals may not just save you a few pennies on the car, and not to mention time, but also on hotels, flights and even trips within your break.

Consider your size needs

Three of you heading on holiday? Then it may be best to avoid booking that seven-seat MPV.

Simple maths: the smaller and cheaper the car you opt for, the less it will cost you to hire. If you only need space for a few bags, then don’t be afraid to stick with that economy hatchback.

Limit your drivers

While adding more drivers to your car insurance can brings costs down, the opposite is true for a hire car.

Unless you absolutely need more than one or two drivers named on the hire car, it’s best to keep numbers low in order to keep the cost even lower.

Check the fuel policy

Fuel is such a trivial thing with cars, it’s easy to forget about it — but with hire cars, you could end up paying over the odds if you’re not careful.

Although most providers offer ‘full-to-full’ policies which mean you get the car with a topped-up tank and will be expected to return it like that — so you’ll only pay for the fuel you use — there’s some with ‘full-to-empty’.

‘Full-to-empty’ policies mean you pay for a full tank of fuel upfront and can return it empty. Sounds ideal, but you’re likely to pay a premium on the regular cost of fuel and you may not even use all of it — leaving you out of pocket. We’d recommend opting for ‘full-to-full’ when possible.

With a second United States Formula One Grand Prix being discussed among the sport’s hierarchy, and the championship in the midst of a summer break, Red Bull decided to make the most of this holiday by taking its 2011 world championship winning car on an American road trip.

In a new video, featuring race winner Daniel Ricciardo in the hot seat, the Red Bull RB7 F1 car is depicted driving across the US, starting with the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

Ricciardo says that he feels like Steve McQueen as he slides the car through the streets made famous in Bullitt, before making a ‘pitstop’ on San Francisco’s other crossing of the bay, the aptly-named Bay Bridge.

Monument Valley, Utah is the second destination for the film. A second stop and a pass on an RV owner and his dog leads to the next locale, Las Vegas, Nevada. Here we see a Formula One car with lights for the first time as Ricciardo darts along the Strip at night.

One encounter with Elvis and a piece of subtle product placement for team title sponsor Aston Martin later, and Ricciardo pulls up to hit the casinos, asking his team if he can start late the next day.

This is just the first 1,339 miles of a 4,187-mile trip. A video covering the second part of this nationwide adventure is expected to arrive soon.