Author: Ryan Hirons

With the Government issuing advice for people to minimise the number of times they leave the house amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, especially for those with symptoms, it can be a bit of a boring time to be a petrolhead.

Those used to spending their spare time heading out in their car for mindless drives or going to motorsport events may suddenly find themselves with little to do in self-isolation. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get your car kicks while stuck in the house, so we’ve picked out a few of our favourites.

Build an R/C car

Being at home on your own presents itself as a perfect time to take up an all-consuming hobby, and radio-controlled car building is just one of those.

Though a lot of the fun with an R/C car is simply tearing up fields and gardens with them, which is when off-the-shelf ones can be a strong option, there’s nothing quite like making your own. Kits from the likes of Tamiya, HPi and Traxxas make for compelling options and are a great way to satisfyingly pass a lot of time. Just be prepared to spend quite a chunk of cash.

Take up sim racing

For a petrolhead, there are few things more enjoyable than the simple act of driving. Of course, that’s not an option if you’re in self-isolation and you’ll have to look elsewhere for your fix.

Sim racing can offer just that. If you own an Xbox or Playstation, Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo Sport provide an accessible way into virtual racing. Those looking to get a little more serious may want to invest in a full steering wheel and cockpit setup, which is perfect for more hardcore PC simulators like Assetto Corsa, rFactor and iRacing.

Read a Haynes manual to bolster mechanical knowledge

A refreshing way to pass some time is the good old method of picking up a book, and a Haynes manual is always a treat for a petrolhead.

Whether it’s to learn how to fix your own car or a family member’s, or simply tp bolster your knowledge on your dream machine, these detailed repair manuals can be therapeutic to just browse through. Perfect for the self-isolated, then.

In with the kids? Buy a Scalextric set

Self-isolation with kids in the house sounds like it will eventually drive you mad if you can’t keep them entertained, and that’s why we’re suggesting the classic Scalextric set.

Its popularity may have fallen by the wayside in the digital age, but there’s still a satisfying element to winning out on the slot car track. It’s also just a great way to share your love of cars with the little ones.

Binge video streaming sites

Let’s face it, in today’s world, most people just want to mindlessly binge TV while stuck at home and we’re no exceptions to this.

For petrolheads, there’s a great amount of content to watch. Netflix has just recently published the second series of ‘Drive To Survive’ which gives a great behind the scenes look at Formula One, while Amazon’s ‘The Grand Tour’ continues to be a big hitter for fans of Clarkson, Hammond and May. The BBC also has the latest ‘Top Gear’ episodes free on iPlayer, providing you have a TV licence.

That’s just to name a few, as well. There’s loads of motoring content to be found, so we’d recommend having a dive in.

Roads in central London will see new 20mph speed limits imposed as of next week, the Mayor of London has confirmed.

Taking to Twitter to break the news, Sadiq Khan revealed roads operated by Transport for London (TfL) within the congestion charge zone that currently have a 30mph limit will see that drop to 20mph as of Monday, March 2.

In the announcement, Khan tweeted: “Happy to report that the speed limit across TfL roads in central London will reduce from 30mph to 20mph from Monday 2 March. This new measure will save countless lives and eradicate serious injuries on our roads, whilst making it safer to walk and cycle around the capital.”

Lilli Matson, TfL chief health, safety and environment officer added: “Millions of walking and cycling journeys are made across our city every single day and a person is five times less likely to be fatally injured if hit at 20mph than at 30mph – it’s as straightforward as that.

Happy to report that the speed limit across @TfL roads in central London will reduce from 30mph to 20mph from Monday 2 March. This new measure will save countless lives and eradicate serious injuries on our roads, whilst making it safer to walk and cycle around the capital.

— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) February 27, 2020

“Ensuring the safety of Londoners and visitors is paramount, which is why we are introducing a safer speed limit for all road users in central London. It’s clear the new 20mph speed limits will not only save lives but will also encourage Londoners to travel in more active and sustainable ways.”

New signage will be in place imminently to highlight the speed limit changes, while plans for raised pedestrian crossings in ‘prominent locations’ including near Embankment and Tower Hill Underground stations are underway.

TfL says speed is a factor in ‘around 37 per cent’ of collisions in London that result in death or serious injury. The move to 20mph speed limits is part of TfL’s ‘Vision Zero’ commitment to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from the transport network by 2041, with ambitions to reduce limits more widely across the capital over the next five years as well.

Edmund King, president of motoring services firm the AA, said: “The AA view is that targeted 20 mph zones that have the support of the local community are welcome and can be effective. For example, drivers understand why speeds should be 20mph outside a school, playing fields or a residential cul-de-sac.

“The most effective 20mph zones are those backed by traffic calming such as interactive signs or changes to the road surface. There are some concerns that wide 20mph zones undermine the effectiveness of the targeted zones.

“However, during the day in central London average traffic speeds are around 7.4mph so signing the roads with 20 mph speeds is unlikely to slow down the traffic. Traffic has been at the speed of the horse and cart in central London for over a century and that is unlikely to change any time soon.”

A spokesperson for road safety charity Brake added: “The reduction of the speed limit on central London roads to 20mph is a huge boost for road safety across the capital. Slower speeds save lives and also make our streets more liveable environments, encouraging people to walk and cycle safely and confidently in their local area.

“A 20mph limit where people work, live and play is widely accepted as the safest option, with stopping distances at 20mph half those at 30mph. London is setting an example the rest of the UK should follow and we urge the Government to make 20mph the default speed for built-up areas across the country, helping make our streets safer and more welcoming.”

What is it?

An electric Mini isn’t all that new of an idea. In fact, you only have to wind back to 2008 for the firm’s first EV offering — the E — a car that was built in extremely limited numbers with none ever finding permanent public homes.

So, what we’re driving today has been rather a long time in the making. This is the Mini Electric, the car that lays claim to be the first mass-market electric Mini and what the firm is happy to describe as its biggest introduction since BMW took over the reins.

With the electric car market incredibly competitive now though — think the likes of the latest Renault Zoe, new Vauxhall Corsa-e and Peugeot e-208, plus the upcoming Honda e — can the Mini Electric make an impact worthy of the brand? We find out.

What’s new?

Of course, a major change to this Mini comes under the bonnet with its electric powertrain, but fundamental changes are very minimal in a bid to keep the brand’s trademarks at its core. Perhaps impressively, the Electric is even built on the same production line as petrol and diesel equivalents, which is currently a rarity in the industry.

Changes elsewhere include some optional visual tweaks to highlight its battery-powered prowess, though these are a free option in case you’d prefer to fly under the radar a bit, while it also becomes the first Mini to adopt a new ‘Level 1, 2, 3’ trim line-up that does away with individual cost options. Finally, a rather snazzy-looking digital display replaces traditional dials and gauges in front of the driver.

Starting the week by driving the Mini Electric. Fortunately, one with more doors than this. pic.twitter.com/qoAf0hioBl

— Ryan Hirons (@RyHirons) February 24, 2020

What’s under the bonnet?

Mini is launching the Electric in just one capacity, under ‘Cooper S’ guise, though it remains to be seen if more come down the line.

For now, though, that sole option is a 32.6kWh unit sending 182bhp and 270Nm of torque to the front wheels. Zero to 60mph comes in 7.1 seconds, which is just a touch shy of the lighter petrol Cooper S.

While the powertrain itself is pretty impressive — delivery of its grunt is sharp and predictable — the whole thing is hugely compromised by its range. Mini claims 145 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, though hopping into the freshly charged car (admittedly on a cold February day), we’re met with a readout of about 120 miles – and realistically you can expect to extract 90-100 miles of that before having to plug back in.

That may be fine for the urban dweller that covers very little distance, but it makes the Mini Electric an unviable prospect if long journeys are a common occurrence.

What’s it like to drive?

Fortunately, the switch over to electric hasn’t compromised what the Mini is so good at in the first place — driving fun.

Take it on a tasty looking back road and the chassis feels remarkably playful, with all of its agility able to be exposed well thanks to its potent powertrain. Its slight extra heft does leave the car a little more prone to understeer than a petrol Cooper S, but the spirit of its counterpart is very much there.

It’s just as at home around town, too. Tackling busy Oxford is a breeze thanks to its compact nature, the nimbleness of the car and strong visibility. Its ride is on the harsh side, however.

How does it look?

Rather than take some radical approach to design, Mini has opted to retain the core look of the car for the Electric with some mild tweaks here and there to hint at its electrically charged nature.

Up front, its grille outline remains but the unit itself is closed off and features a split yellow stripe through the centre, while colour-matching mirror caps and ‘E’ badging features around the car. Rounding out the look is a set of Electric-exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels.

Though we think these changes are pretty fitting, Mini also offers the ability to take these bits off for no cost in favour of more conventional colours and alloys if that’s your preference (as is the case with our pictured test car).

What’s it like inside?

Changes to the cabin are verging on non-existent for the Mini Electric, with the only ones of note being a digital display in place of traditional dials and gauges, as well as a yellow ‘S’ on its Cooper S-branded door sills.

Not that we’re complaining. The whole thing feels incredibly well put together, with a strong use of soft-touch materials in both the Level 2 and 3 trims we’ve had a crack in. Its new display is exceptionally clear too and does well to focus on key information on speed and charge without feeling overly cluttered in the way many digital driver displays here do.

It should be noted though that the Electric is only available as a three-door, so reaching those back seats is a pain. Boot space isn’t compromised though as the batteries sit towards the front of the car, retaining the hatch’s 211-litre capacity — though that lags behind the Vauxhall Corsa-e’s 267-litre offering and the Peugeot e-208’s 265 litres.

What’s the spec like?

Pricing for the Mini Electric kicks off at £24,400 (including the £3,500 government plug-in) in ‘Level 1’ guise. Equipment here includes automatic air conditioning, cruise control, automatic LED headlights, selectable driving modes, satellite navigation and rain-sensing wipers.

Moving up the £26,400 (grant inc.), ‘Level 2’ builds on that with auto-folding mirrors, a centre armrest, ambient interior lighting, a rear-view camera, heated seats, anthracite-coloured headlining and cloth/leatherette seats.

Topping the range is the £30,400 (grant inc.) ‘Level 3’. This adds full leather seats, matrix LED headlights, front parking sensors, a Harmon Kardon audio system, a head-up display, a panoramic glass sunroof, self-parking tech and illuminated dashboard panels.

Verdict

Mini has nailed it when it comes to keeping the Electric on-point with everything its internal combustion counterparts stand for. It’s a remarkably fun thing to drive — moreso than any small EV on sale at the moment — while continuing to deliver a comfortable and appropriately premium experience inside.

If your car doesn’t move many miles and space isn’t an issue, this could well be the perfect blend of guilt-free driving and actual enjoyment of a product. We suspect the headline lack of range will do no favours for those with range anxiety though, and will give rivals a leg up in getting customers into showrooms.

Facts at a glance

Model as tested: Mini Electric L3
Price: £24,400
Engine: 32.6kWh electric powertrain
Power (bhp): 182
Torque (Nm): 270
Max speed (mph): N/A
0-60mph: 7.1 seconds
Range (WLTP Combined): 145 miles

Flooded conditions are some of the absolute worst to drive in when it comes to UK roads. Standing water can very easily catch a driver out, and the possibility of flooding a vehicle is a large risk to the safety of a driver and can cost a fortune to sort out.

Though it’s best to avoid driving in floods at all, it may be a necessity. If you absolutely must get behind the wheel, here is some advice to follow to help you stay safe.

Avoid it if possible

The safest approach to driving in floods is to not do it at all. Unless your journey is absolutely necessary, it’s better to keep your car parked up and remain at home.

Instead of driving to the shops, take a walk if you can or discuss with your boss about working from home. Though some journeys by car are necessary, stay off the road if you can for your own safety.

Check the route ahead

Before getting into the car, use a mobile maps application and check local reports to see any potential hazards on your route.

Some roads on your journey could be heavily flooded, posing a strong risk to yourself and your car, or even be closed. Clear diversions may be in place, though that may not always be the case — so you may need to plan an alternative route.

#stormdennis is still lurking 😯
Heavy rain and strong gale force winds are still around🌨️💨
If you must drive, stay safe and make sure your vehicle's safe to drive🚗#dennisthemenace pic.twitter.com/A9MstUSePC

— Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (@DVSAgovuk) February 16, 2020

Pack an emergency kit

It’s worth having an emergency kit readily available in your car in the event you do become stranded while out in the flooded conditions.

We’d recommend packing at least a high-visibility jacket, a breakdown warning triangle and a torch at the bare minimum. Additionally, packing snacks, warm clothing, jump leads, a supply of drinks and a pair of wellies could all come in handy. A decent music playlist can help pass the time, too.

Have an emergency number stored in your phone

Though in the age of modern smartphones we always seem to be connected to the internet one way or another, there’s no guarantee of a signal while out on the roads.

With that in mind, having an emergency contact number as well as that of a breakdown provider stored in your phone’s contacts is worth the few seconds it takes. If you are stranded, you may be a little out of luck if you’re relying on Google to provide a number — so it could be a big help.

Perform basic vehicle checks

While it’s worth doing these before every journey, we’ll admit that it’s something most people tend to forego. In any harsh driving conditions, though, it’s very important to check your vehicle is in a safe condition though.

Test your headlights and brake lights are working, tyres are at a good level and that the tread depth on them is also comfortably above the legal limit of 1.6mm. You can test this using the edge of a 20p coin, which the tyre tread should come above — though we’d always recommend changing tyres before it gets near that level.

Turn your headlights on

Your headlights are working? Great, now make sure to keep them on. In floods, rain is almost guaranteed too which heavily reduces visibility.

Ensure your lights are on to give other motorists the best chance to see your vehicle, and also maximise your visibility in low light conditions. Fog lights may also be necessary, with the Highway Code stating they must be used if visibility drops below 100 metres.

Drive to the conditions — don’t aim for the speed limits

Remember that speed limits are not targets to hit — rather the maximum permitted for a particular road. In flooded conditions particularly, driving at a high speed greatly increases the likelihood of losing control of a vehicle, while also reducing a driver’s ability to react to a dangerous vehicle.

Don’t be afraid to drop to a much lower speed than permitted to give yourself more control of the car, and to be able to react to incidents ahead.

Allow extra room

Though you should always allow for a good amount of room to the car ahead in case of any dangers, that’s even more crucial in harsh driving conditions like flooding.

The likelihood of a hazard is much greater here than in clear weather, and you should adjust your driving accordingly. Giving a car in front more space allows for you to react to any sudden braking or hazards that you may otherwise not see beyond them.

Don’t test the waters

If you’re unsure of the depth of a puddle or large body of standing water, then avoid it if possible.

Testing the waters is not a good idea here, as you could find yourself driving into something incredibly deep and putting yourself in danger as well as heavily flooding your vehicle. Look for an alternative route, even if that means adding more time to your journey.

Don’t be afraid to take a break

If you need to take a few minutes to catch your concentration, wait for the conditions to clear or simply have a drink of coffee, don’t be afraid to take a break and find somewhere safe to park up.

What is it?

What you’re looking at here is a prototype version of the Toyota Yaris, with the fourth generation of the Japanese supermini set to arrive on the market in September.

Although the light masking would suggest otherwise, it’s a way off dealer forecourts for now, but Toyota has let us behind the wheel of this not-quite-but-very-nearly-production-ready version of the hybrid hatchback as it heads into its final phase of testing. With a new platform underneath its skin, a fresh development of the firm’s hybrid powertrain and more technology on board, there’s a lot of potential for the Yaris to be a success.

So, how is this Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo rival shaping up? We find out…

What’s new?

Playing a crucial role in this fourth generation of the Yaris is Toyota’s GA-B platform. A development of the TNGA underpinnings that its latest models (excluding the Supra) are sitting on, it’s said to offer hugely improved torsional rigidity and a driving position set lower in the car without growing too much outside.

What that theoretically means is a better driving car, as well as a more comfortable one. Also new here is its hybrid powertrain with an engine derived from the latest Corolla, as well as a lithium-ion battery pack. There’s a complete visual change from its predecessor on the outside, too.

View this post on Instagram

I know it may be difficult to see beyond all that camouflage, but yes, that is a Toyota Yaris. #Toyota #Yaris #carsofinstagram

A post shared by Ryan Hirons (@rth42) on Feb 3, 2020 at 7:52am PST

What’s under the bonnet?

Put simply, Toyota has taken the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the Corolla, knocked it down to three cylinders – which has dropped capacity to 1.5 litres – while linking it up to a new lithium-ion battery. Like the Yaris Hybrid before it, power is delivered to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.

With the car in pre-production phase, Toyota is holding off on full details for now, but we do know the system produces 114bhp and sends the car from 0-60mph in 10.1 seconds. The firm also claims 80 per cent of urban driving can be done on electric power alone, and although official fuel economy figures are some way off yet, we managed about 60mpg over our test run.

It’s apparent off the bat that this powertrain is leaps and bounds ahead of the one preceding it. Power delivery is much smoother, refinement is up across the board and the CVT no longer tries its best to let the power unit imitate an elephant in pain.

Take criticism with a pinch of salt until we get behind the wheel of the production-ready version, but we did find uphill driving to confuse the gearbox into a whirlwind of droning revs on occasion.

What’s it like to drive?

Toyota has gone in big on its claims of an improved drive thanks to the increased torsional rigidity and the minor alterations to the driving position to enhance the behind-the-wheel feel.

What doesn’t need to be put in numerical terms is the actual improvements. Immediately noticeable is how much more agile the car feels, which doesn’t translate to just more fun but crucially a car that’s very well-suited to tackling the urban jungle.

That said, it still feels off the pace of the thrills a regular Fiesta will deliver, and our prototype machine had something of a tendency to crash over bumps, though we’re told that’s something its engineers are looking at. We’ll wait to see if that’s a resolved issue down the line.

How does it look?

We know, that thin line of camouflage may make it incredibly hard to see the Toyota Yaris, but we can assure you it is indeed there.

Joking aside, the relatively exposed body means we’re well-positioned to deliver a verdict on the hatchback’s look. A more aggressive approach to design is one that has worked impressively well here, with its angry face delivering more on-road presence and a smart rear end that puts it at the forefront of the supermini beauty contest.

What’s it like inside?

Toyota’s efforts to improve the overall feel of the cabin have proven effective. The increased space up front between driver and passenger is an instant welcoming factor, while the newly engineered driving position is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessors’ imitation of driving a lorry that has offset pedals.

Boot capacity weighs in at 286 litres, which puts it a fair way off the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, though space in the back row is sufficient for the average-sized adult to cover a reasonable journey in.

With some of the cabin plastics in our test prototype said to be a way off production standard, we’ll wait to get behind the wheel of a market-ready car before passing judgement on overall quality.

What’s the spec like?

With its market arrival still some way off, exact pricing for the new Toyota Yaris is still a guess at this point — though Toyota has thrown around the word ‘competitive’ when pressed on the issue.

Keeping that in mind, plus a little extra for its hybrid guts, we’d speculate around £18,000 when it does go on sale later this year, though we’ll know for sure much closer to the time.

What we do know is that it’ll feature the firm’s Safety Sense suite of assistance technology across the board for no extra cost as it pursues a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Keep your eyes peeled to see if that comes to fruition.

Verdict

It may only be early days for the fourth-generation Toyota Yaris, but signs of the hybrid hatch being a real contender for the supermini crown shine through.

Drivability is much improved over its predecessor both around town and when things get a little twistier, and the overhauled powertrain has taken the hybrid from testing the waters in the last Yaris to a genuinely recommendable option over petrol rivals.

We’ll have to wait until later in the year before making a definitive verdict on the new Yaris, but things are looking good.

Facts at a glance

• Model as tested: Toyota Yaris prototype
• Price: TBA
• Engine: 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid
• Power (bhp): 114
• Torque (Nm): TBA
• Max speed (mph): TBA
• 0-60mph: 10.1 seconds
• MPG: TBA
• Emissions (g/km): 84 (provisional)

Iconic off-roading nameplate Hummer will make a return later this year as an all-electric vehicle.

Parent company General Motors had killed the brand off in 2010 for a variety of reasons, including the 2008 global recession, growing environmental issues and a failed Chinese acquisition of the brand.

It’s not returning as an independent manufacturer however, rather coming under the GMC (General Motors Company) brand in America. Details on the electric car are scarce at the moment, though a series of teaser videos hints at 1,000 horsepower, 0-60mph and 13,000 lb-ft of torque.

Get ready, the Quiet Revolution is coming. All-Electric. Zero emissions. Zero limits. The First Ever #GMCHummerEV https://t.co/faER1I7gRp pic.twitter.com/YWKkp6xxlD

— GMC (@GMC) January 30, 2020

A number of American reports have cast doubts on that last figure though, saying the figure is calculated in a different manner to one which cars typically have their torque measurement worked out.

At the end of each video, a glimpse of the front end of the car is seen. Little is given away, though a seven-slot grille and an LED lightbar stretching across the fascia is clear to see. It has also been confirmed the GMC Hummer will be revealed on March 20 this year, with an Autumn 2021 market introduction in North America.

No confirmation has been made on if or when the GMC Hummer will arrive in the UK, though previous Hummer vehicles were officially sold on these shores. That said, General Motors currently has no presence in the UK and has never marketed GMC vehicles here either.

With the electric revolution underway in the motoring world, more and more manufacturers are introducing EVs to the market.

From practical hatchbacks to high-performance hypercars, and everything in between, there’s at least one electric option in nearly every segment today. Can you recognise them, though? Take our quiz to put your knowledge to the test.

No matter if it’s a first car, second car, weekend runaround or something that’s just there to hop to the shops and back, it’s hard to go wrong when choosing a supermini.

Even with the rise of the SUV, this compact class continues to be the favourite for UK buyers and as a result, there is a vast range of choice in both the new and used market. We’ve laid ourselves out a generous £15,000 budget for the latter to see what options are out there…

Ford Fiesta

We’ll start with the car that’s established itself as the UK’s best selling car time and time again, and by a comfortable margin, too. Now in its seventh generation, the Fiesta continues to be a favourite in terms of driving dynamics, while offering a load of kit and quality too. Plus, its latest 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is one of the best-in-class powertrains.

With our budget, you can find yourself behind the wheel of a light-used, well-specced ST-Line X. New examples of this command a price of just under £20,000, so you can save a fair bit of cash for a car with just around 10,000 miles on the clock.

Audi A1

Audi introduced a new version of its popular A1 last year, meaning an influx of high-spec, low-mileage variants of the outgoing car fresh from the clutches of PCP deals on the market. A mixture of petrol and diesel options can be had, though we’d opt for 1.4 variants of the former if you’re an urban commuter.

Our budget brings high-spec S Line models with around 20,000 miles into the mix, bringing a partial leather interior and features like Bluetooth and DAB radio.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Most nearly-new hot hatches fall out of our budget, but the Suzuki Swift Sport is one that just comes within. Powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Swift Sport boasts a spritely 138bhp. That complete with its playful chassis creates a fun driving experience and one that’s arguably unrivalled at this price point.

£15,000 will secure an example with as little as 1,000 miles on the clock, a bargain considering factory-fresh examples start at £17,249, while standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, a touchscreen infotainment system and a suite of safety kit.

Renault Clio

Though the new Renault Clio has just recently arrived on the market, a handful of used examples are already available fresh from demonstration fleets. That may mean they’ve seen a fair few people get behind the wheel, but that’s unlikely to have left any lasting damage.

These are typically low-spec Iconic models with around 5,000 miles on the clock, meaning top-end Dynamique S Nav examples from the previous generation may offer more equipment, though that comes at the cost of an older-looking car, higher mileage and an interior sorely lacking compared with the new version.

Hyundai i20

In a class full of impressive offerings, it’s inevitable that a few cars in the supermini segment are going to be overlooked by the masses. It wouldn’t be unfair to call the Hyundai i20 one of these. That’s not to say it’s a bad car by any means – in fact, it’s rather quite good – it’s more the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa are household names and that shows in sales.

In the i20 though, there’s a lot of value for money to be had. At £15,000, an almost brand-new high-spec Premium Nav model can be easily had with a spritely 99bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine, with the car covered by a five-year warranty from the factory.

Mini Cooper

Few names are as iconic in motoring as the Mini Cooper, which would be reason alone to stick it on this list. More than that though, it’s a genuine contender to consider when shopping with a £15,000 budget.

Its nimble chassis and trademark cutesy looks make it one of the more desirable options in this part of the car market, and there’s no shortage of examples to be had at our price point. You could stump up for a more potent Cooper S, but our pick of the bunch would be the regular Cooper — offering nearly as much driving fun but with tidier examples falling into the budget.

Honda Jazz

Alright, so a Honda Jazz may be your nan’s car, but she has good taste if so. It’s not exactly going to get your pulses racing, but for a car that’s able to effortlessly get you from A to B without concerns of reliability.

As a new generation approaches, prices for the existing Jazz are ever-tumbling and that’s perfect on the value for money front. As this is written, £15,000 brings practically-new, range-topping Sport models just about into the fray — though expect that asking price to tumble further as the latest model comes to market.

Vauxhall Corsa

Though lagging ever so slightly behind the Ford Fiesta for UK supermini dominance, the Vauxhall Corsa is one of the go-to recommendations in any supermini budget. With a new model out recently too, there’s an array of deals to be had on the outgoing car.

If you really fancied, a boggo-spec brand new variant can be had in a £15,000 budget from a handful of dealers, but our money would be going on a high-grade example of the outgoing car. Ex-demo cars in Limited Edition cars fall within this bracket with less than 3,000 miles on the clock.

Skoda Fabia

Though the Skoda Fabia is a car that proves its talent at the lower end of its trim levels, its high-spec Monte Carlo grade offers a lot of bang for the buck if we’re shopping with a £15,000 budget.

A facelift came to the model in 2018, bringing with it improved tech and a sharper design headed up by new LED headlights. Though at new its range-topping form has a £17,475 starting price before options, an example loaded with kit at around 1,000 miles can easily be had in our budget.

Seat Ibiza

Arguably the most exciting-looking of the non-hot hatches on this list, the Seat Ibiza brings Spanish flair to proven VW Group underpinnings. The latest generation was introduced in 2017 and laid way for a new platform that also sits underneath the newest versions of the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo.

Its sporty-looking FR trim is commonly available within out £15,000 budget at mileage as low as 3,000, with a potent 113bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine sitting underneath the bonnet.

Lynx deodorant is an icon of gym changing rooms and thoughtless Christmas gifts across the UK, but now it’s looking to be just as at home in your car.

The popular Unilever-owned brand has released a range of car air fresheners, bringing some of its most popular scents to the cabin.

Available at launch as a Halfords exclusive, there is a variety of fresheners to choose from. The cheapest offering is a disc-shaped freshener designed to hang from the rear-view mirror and is available at £2.99.

For £3.99, a ‘gel can’ freshener that fits into a cup holder or door pocket is said to be a solution for a ‘long-lasting release’ of fragrance, while the same price can also secure a unit that clips to air-con vents. Smaller versions of the latter are available at £3.59.

Finally, those who just can’t get enough Lynx can opt for a refillable, vent-clipping freshener. This £7.99 unit incorporates a scented stick, which can be swapped out at any time for a replacement of a different smell — with packs of two sticks costing £1.99.

Scents available include Lynx’s Africa, Black, Ice Chill, Gold and Dark Temptation.

Mariana Freitas, car air freshener expert for Halfords, said: “Lynx is an instantly recognisable and iconic brand with fragrances and shower products loved by millions, so we are thrilled to be selling these exclusively for the next two months.

“It means that motorists will be able to bring Lynx fragrances into their cars with the ultimate car accessory – a long-lasting car freshener with a modern and high-end design. We know our customers love to look after their cars and hope this latest addition means they will be excited about keeping their car interiors smelling fresh.”

Flooded conditions are some of the absolute worst to drive in when it comes to UK roads. Standing water can very easily catch a driver out, and the possibility of flooding a vehicle is a large risk to the safety of a driver and can cost a fortune to sort out.

Though its best to avoid driving in floods at all, it may be a necessity. If you absolutely must get behind the wheel, here is some advice to follow to help you stay safe.

Avoid it if possible

The safest approach to driving in floods is to not do it at all. Unless your journey is absolutely necessary, it’s better to keep your car parked up and remain at home.

Instead of driving to the shops, take a walk if you can or discuss with your boss about working from home. Though some journeys by car are necessary, stay off the road if you can for your own safety.

Check the route ahead

Before getting into the car, use a mobile maps application and check local reports to see any potential hazards on your route.

Some roads on your journey could be heavily flooded, posing a strong risk to yourself and your car, or even be closed. Clear diversions may be in place, though that may not always be the case — so you may need to plan an alternative route.

Pack an emergency kit

It’s worth having an emergency kit readily available in your car in the event you do become stranded while out in the flooded conditions.

We’d recommend packing at least a high-visibility jacket, a breakdown warning triangle and a torch at the bare minimum. Additionally, packing snacks, warm clothing, jump leads, a supply of drinks and a pair of wellies could all come in handy. A decent music playlist can help pass the time, too.

Have an emergency number stored in your phone

Though in the age of modern smartphones we always seem to be connected to the internet one way or another, there’s no guarantee of signal while out on the roads.

With that in mind, having an emergency contact number as well as that of a breakdown provider stored in your phone’s contacts is worth the few seconds it takes. If you are stranded, you may be a little out of luck if you’re relying on Google to provide a number — so it could be a big help.

Perform basic vehicle checks

While it’s worth doing these before every journey, we’ll admit that it’s something most people tend to forego. In any harsh driving conditions, though, it’s very important to check your vehicle is in a safe condition though.

Test your headlights and brake lights are working, tyres are at a good level and that the tread depth on them is also comfortably above the legal limit of 1.6mm. You can test this using the edge of a 20p coin, which the tyre tread should come above — though we’d always recommend changing tyres before it gets near that level.

Turn your headlights on

Your headlights are working? Great, now make sure to keep them on. In floods, rain is almost guaranteed too which heavily reduces visibility.

Ensure your lights are on to give other motorists the best chance to see your vehicle, and also maximise your visibility in low light conditions. Fog lights may also be necessary, with the Highway Code stating they must be used if visibility drops below 100 metres.

Drive to the conditions — don’t aim for the speed limits

Remember that speed limits are not targets to hit — rather the maximum permitted for a particular road. In flooded conditions particularly, driving at a high speed greatly increases the likelihood of losing control of a vehicle, while also reducing a driver’s ability to react to a dangerous vehicle.

Don’t be afraid to drop to a much lower speed than permitted to give yourself more control of the car, and to be able to react to incidents ahead.

Allow extra room

Though you should always allow for a good amount of room to the car ahead in case of any dangers, that’s even more crucial in harsh driving conditions like flooding.

The likelihood of a hazard is much greater here than in clear weather, and you should adjust your driving accordingly. Giving a car in front more space allows for you to react to any sudden braking or hazards that you may otherwise not see beyond them.

Don’t test the waters

If you’re unsure of the depth of a puddle or large body of standing water, then avoid it if possible.

Testing the waters is not a good idea here, as you could find yourself driving into something incredibly deep and putting yourself in danger as well as heavily flooding your vehicle. Look for an alternative route, even if that means adding more time to your journey.

Don’t be afraid to take a break

If you need to take a few minutes to catch your concentration, wait for the conditions to clear or simply have a drink of coffee, don’t be afraid to take a break and find somewhere safe to park up.