Month: April 2019

There was once a time when manufacturers didn’t offer more than a couple of years of warranty coverage. Though the models available today are infinitely more sophisticated than they used to be, car brands have so much confidence in the quality of their engineering that some will offer coverage for more than the average driver will ever need.

It’s always useful to have a warranty covering your car – they ensure that unexpected failures don’t leave you out of pocket. Manufacturer warranties will cover the failure of components that don’t live as long as they should – with exceptions for consumables, such as tyres or clutches.

Provided you keep up with servicing, a good manufacturer warranty should ensure that even if your motoring isn’t trouble-free, it’s at least sorted for you without expensive repair bills. These are the manufacturers that offer the longest coverage…

SsangYong

Who? You may not have ever heard of this Korean brand – SsangYong’s been little more than a bit player in the UK car market for years. It produces a range of off-roaders and SUVs, and it’s so confident in their reliability that it offers them with the longest warranty currently available in the UK.

All of SsangYong’s models, including the hardworking Musso pickup, are guaranteed for a seven-year period – and best of all, there’s a sky-high 150,000 mile limit. Combined with strong value, it’s definitely a selling point – even if SsangYong’s models aren’t necessarily the best on the market.

Kia

When Kia introduced its then-industry leading seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty, its cars were fairly unimpressive machines. But the brand’s gone from strength to strength, and it’s now the equal of any European brand when it comes to its model line-up. The warranty is merely a deal-sweetener at this point.

Hyundai

Kia’s sister brand won’t warrant its cars for quite as long – Hyundai’s coverage stops at five years. It is, however, an unlimited mileage policy, so it could be the best choice for high-mileage drivers. Best of all, the brand will also cover its halo ‘N’ performance cars under this warranty – and it’s not invalidated if owners head out onto the track. That’s unique in this industry and a big pull for anybody considering a Hyundai hot hatchback.

Toyota

Japanese brand Toyota has such a strong reputation for reliability that it’s perhaps surprising that its warranty ‘only’ extends to five years and 100,000 miles. It does, however, cover all aspects of its cars hybrid systems on models such as the Prius and Yaris.

Subaru

Subaru offers a curious mix of rufty-tufty off-roaders and performance-orientated cars in its UK lineup, but despite the hard use these models are likely to get it matches Toyota with its five-year, 100,000 mile warranty coverage.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi matches Hyundai, Toyota and Subaru with a five-year warranty, though it’s not great for high mileage drivers with a low 62,500 mile limit.

By now, there’s a good chance you’re aware of the hype surrounding the Tesla Model 3. The hotly-anticipated electric saloon has been in the works for years, and has been available globally for a bit of time now — and it looks set to finally arrive on UK shores later this year.

Sure, most will be looking at it for its impressive electric range — but others may be thinking about the abundance of tech and features Tesla tends to pack into its cars. What if you don’t want to wait though?

Well, for the £27,000 the Model 3 is available from in the US (although after import fees, taxes and other bits and bobs it’s likely to be higher here), the used market can provide you with some of the best lightly used luxury cars around. Here’s what we found…

Mercedes S Class

It doesn’t really get much more luxurious than a Mercedes S-Class, does it? These models are traditionally a technological tour de force, debuting features that tend to be at least 5-10 years ahead of the norm. With all this tech on board, you might wonder if the S-Class can still offer the basics – a cosseting ride, superb interior and smooth engine. Luckily, it can. They’re absolute bargains on the used market, but all those electronics can be temperamental, so do make sure you’re buying from someone reputable.

BMW 7 Series

There are few cars quite as synonymous with both prestige and dynamic driving as the BMW 7 Series. Historically it’s always managed to toe the line between a high-end, luxurious barge and a sporty driving saloon well – and the 2012 model is no different. Though this generation of 7 may have been one of the least impressive visually, it still delivered when it came to in-car tech and performance.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

Why have a cutting-edge electric car when you could have yourself a slab of fine, handcrafted British motoring royalty? Running costs aside, the 1994 Silver Spirit showcases an attention to detail that you’ll struggle to find on even modern luxury cars, and its postcode-sized grille will be hard to miss at all occasions.

Alpina D5

If you want a sporty saloon with good driving dynamics and a premium badge, then you’ll likely be tempted by a BMW. However, if you’re after a car with the famous blue and white badge, but with a touch more performance, then there’s Alpina. In particular the 2014 D5 stands out for this list; it offers breathtaking performance but with an understated design to keep you flying under the radar.

Audi A8

Coming up alongside the Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7 Series in the luxo-saloon segment is Audi’s A8. Available with a variety of engines it may not be the most exciting of cars, but it delivers when it comes to outright comfort and build quality, too. The 2015 model showcased a new, sharper look – and a grille the size of a county.

Jaguar XJ

There’s always a sense that the owner of a big Jaguar is a good sort. Though the brand doesn’t really compete with its German rivals in some areas, there’s a certain class about the XJ that makes it ideal for those who want to stand out a bit from the norm. They’re also brilliant to drive, especially if you opt for one of the V8 petrol models.

Hyundai Genesis

Alright, so you’ve probably never heard of the Hyundai Genesis. Why would you? After all, the ever-reliable HowManyLeft will tell you just 47 of them are registered on UK roads. It was Hyundai’s ill-fated attempt to establish itself as a luxury brand and was swiftly brushed under the rug. The thing is though, it has all the hallmarks of a real luxury car — bags of kit, premium materials everywhere in the cabin and something of a ‘I’m better than you’ style direction. Unlike German rivals, it’s unlikely to break down anytime soon as well.

Infiniti Q60

Okay, so Infiniti may be a forgotten player in the UK market, even to the point where it will soon be exiting the European scene altogether, having failed to gain traction in a hotly-contested luxury segment. The result of that though is there’s some pretty new and interesting cars to be had on the cheap — and here’s where the Q60 steps in. Based on bulletproof Nissan internals, the Q60 provides a stylish look and one that’s going to stand out on the road. It’s far from the best equipped on this list, but it is the newest — with examples as recent as 2018 with comfortably less than 10,000 miles on the clock available within budget.

Lexus LS460

When Lexus entered the luxury car market in the ‘90s, it did so in a uniquely Japanese way. By admitting that it couldn’t match European brands for heritage or dynamics, it concentrated on building cars as beautifully as possible. The results speak for themselves, and you can find Lexuses tooling around very happily with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock. This LS460 does somewhat fly under the radar, but many will like that – and its creamy smooth V8 is well worth the money.

Volkswagen Phaeton

Wait, a Volkswagen? VW isn’t known for its luxury vehicles, but remember, it does own Porsche, Audi and Bentley – so it’s got the technical know-how to make one work. The Phaeton was just such a car. With the underpinnings — and engine — from a Bentley Continental, this beast of a car was the ultimate in understated luxury. After all, the truly classy don’t need to shout about their wealth. V6 diesel models make the most sense today, but it could prove difficult to avoid the lure of a W12 petrol…

The humble van. Spacious, dependable but not historically all that fast. However, a new wave of these load-luggers capable of giving hot hatches a run for their money are hitting the road.

We’re checking out some of the quickest vans on sale today.

Ford Transit Custom

it would be a crying shame not be able to include the famous Transit on this list, and fortunately enough, there’s a fast one in its line-up. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine, it’s not the quickest on this list, but does boast a respectable amount of poke.

It’ll go from 0-60mph in just over 11 seconds, which we’ll admit isn’t all that quick — but it’s certainly peppier than most Transits in the range.

Volkswagen Transporter

Whereas the Transit is more akin to a run-of-the-mill Fiesta in the performance stakes, the Transporter chimes in at a Golf GTI level. Thanks to a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 201bhp, it’ll crack 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds — which is quick, even by road car levels.

You can have the Transporter with a quick-shifting DSG gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles, letting you have that F1-style driving experience when behind the wheel.

Mercedes-Benz Vito

Weighing in against the Volkswagen Transporter in the premium van segment is this — the Mercedes-Benz Vito. It can be fitted with a 188bhp, 2.1-litre turbocharged diesel engine (the most powerful unit in the range), which allows it to go from 0-60mph in nine seconds — so it can’t quite match the Transporter’s turn of pace.

That said, the 188bhp model is also rear-wheel drive, so you could argue it’s the more sporting choice — though it mostly means that you’re able to carry a bigger payload with less fuss.

Peugeot Expert

The Expert is Peugeot’s offering in the medium van sector, and it too uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, here stoked to the tune of 178bhp. Unloaded, it’ll actually match the Transporter’s 0-60mph time, and it’ll top out at a heady 115mph.

Fitted with an eight-speed automatic, the Expert is only available with this powertrain in ‘long’ wheelbase set-ups, meaning you’ve more room to play with too.

Renault Trafic

Renault’s Trafic is another key competitor in the van segment. The range-topper packs a twin-turbocharged diesel engine with 138bhp — which is considerably less than the other vans on this list.

Still, it manages to do 0-60mph in a respectable 10.6 seconds — so it’s far from the slowest out there. There’s also 340Nm of torque on offer, meaning there’s plenty of low-down punch available too.