Category: News

Dashboard cameras are fast becoming a common purchase among motorists, offering an unbiased and clear eyewitness account of incidents and accidents on the roads.

The market for these cameras has boomed in recent years, meaning there’s many to choose from – which can be intimidating if you’re unsure what to look for. We’ve picked seven of the best on the market today to help you find the right dash cam.

Nextbase 312GW

Quite possibly the best all-round option on the dash cam market is the Nextbase 312GW, thanks to a generous helping of features for its price.

It records footage in full HD 1080p at 30fps which can be streamed directly to a mobile device thanks to on-board WiFi. There’s also GPS and a G force recorder built into the compact camera, providing extensive data in the event of an accident.

Price: £99 (Halfords)

RoadHawk Vision

The RoadHawk Vision is a discreet way to have a dash cam in your car, thanks to a small cylinder design.

Despite this, it still offers plenty of bang for your buck. It can record 1296p ‘SuperHD’ resolution at 30fps, and also features a HDR sensor that optimises the image based on real-time lighting.

Price: £136.18 (Amazon.co.uk)

Z-Edge Z3

If you’re on a budget, the Z-Edge Z3 is one of the best ways to fit your car with a video recorded without breaking the bank.

It offers all the basics – 1080p recording, a built-in rechargeable battery and a 145-degree field of view to give a clear view of the road ahead. It even comes with a 32gb SD card, ensuring you’ve got plenty of room for footage out of the box.

Price: £79.99 (Amazon.co.uk)

Nextbase 612GW

Money no object? Then the feature-crammed Nextbase 612GW is the ultimate choice of dash cam currently on the market.

It boasts 4k video recording with a 150-degree wide viewing angle for the best possible footage, which can then be downloaded to mobile devices thanks to built in WiFi. There’s also ‘Intelligent Parking Mode’, which automatically begins recording when motion is detected, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to switch it on.

Price: £249.99 (Halfords)

Blackvue DR750S-2CH

Looking to cover both the front and rear of your car? The Blackvue DR750S-2CH offers just that.

Both lenses on the unit record in smooth 1080p, 60fps and are paired to a Sony STARVIS sensor which optimises lighting. Along with GPS logging and WiFi streaming, the camera also comes with free cloud storage – meaning videos uploaded to Blackvue’s service can be viewed anytime, anywhere.

Price: £349.95 (Halfords)

Garmin Dash Cam 55

The inconspicuous Garmin Dash Cam 55 boasts plenty of quirks and features to stand out on the market.

As well as 1440p recording, it offers voice control which allows you take a picture, record audio and save any particular moments without lifting your hands from the wheel. Plus, there’s even forward collision and lane departure warning technology – a bonus for any car not fitted with the systems.

Price: £149.99 (buy.garmin.com)

Roadeyes recSMART

Despite lacking a screen, the recSMART might just be one of the best buys on the market with no gimmicks, simply offering a way to record clear footage on the road.

The clear 2k resolution footage can be viewed from a mobile device using WiFi, which comes time-stamped and geotagged to provide an extremely accurate account of events. There’s also a wireless button bundled, so you can save notable events on the move.

Price: £139.90 (Amazon.co.uk)

McLaren has revealed a number of people have bought TWO Senna supercars – one to drive hard and one to stash away for the future.

The British firm’s latest hypercar, capable of reaching 211mph and hitting 60mph in 2.6 seconds, made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show alongside details of a track-focused GTR ‘concept’.

The £750,000 limited-run supercar – of which all 500 have already been sold – is powered by McLaren’s 789bhp 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8. This is the most powerful engine McLaren has ever put in a road car and also produces 800Nm of torque.

At the show, we chatted to Jolyon Nash, executive director of global sales and marketing for McLaren Automotive, who told us about the Senna, its buyers and how many of them already look at the brand’s cars as investments.

Our customers

‘It’s hard to make generalisations, but most of our customers are self-made individuals. A vast majority will be male, entrepreneurs and aged in their 40s to 50s. They are obviously successful, demanding people. But I think one of the things that differentiates us from other cars in the market we operate in is that our research indicates that people generally buy the car for how it drives. It’s the intricacies of the car that is important to buyers.’

The Senna name

‘There was a lot of debate in the company when we were thinking about what we should name this car. We decided with the Ultimate Series cars we should focus on having a name that you can easily attach emotion to. That is our strategy now. With Ultimate Series cars, we would like to have more of a nameplate than letters and numbers. With this car, since it is so hardcore and track-focused, we thought it would be the perfect car to pay homage to Ayrton Senna. He was probably the most uncompromising race driver, and legendary. It kind of fitted.’

I’ll take two

‘We’ve had a couple of customers who wanted to buy two. Sometimes it’s because they have two residences, and they want here and one there. Others it’s because they want to take one car and really work it hard, while they want to keep the other pristine and hardly used. We have a very strong demand for this car, and had sold out all 500 before we even announced it. We have to satisfy as many customers as we can.’

Choosing buyers

‘We did not specify things like how many of our cars customers must own before they get a Senna. We’re not quite formulaic. We like to be accessible. On the one hand, it’s a balancing act between rewarding your most loyal customers, who have been with us from the beginning. Those who, when the MP4-12C came out, were willing to invest in a totally new supercar brand, and have been with us ever since. We want to reward those customers, but also, since we are very much a growing brand, we also want to get new people in. We don’t want to be a case where to buy a special McLaren it’s dead man’s shoes.’

Numbers game

‘The car costs £750,000, but I think we’ve specced more than 60 cars now, and I’d hazard a guess that they probably cost about £840,000 on average. But there are obviously some extremes. It’s very easy to put on a visual carbon-fibre body like the one on display in Geneva and that’s about a £160,000 option. The total price for the car on display here is over £1m.’

Want it all

‘Some customers want to make the car special for them. And for them that may well mean they want things like visual carbon fibre. Others want to be more understated. They’ll just be unique about the colour and a few other bits and pieces. With this car, there are very few standard options. It’s the glass in the bottom doors, the glass in the roof and some stuff with the hi-fi system. Other than that, the sky’s the limit. Some people are much more conservative.’

Investment opportunity

‘The vast majority of customers, when they see a car like this, they just want to have it, it’s all desire. But also they see it as an investment. I think this car’s going to be another iconic McLaren. I really do think this will be a bit like the P1. A P1 is roughly £1.5m now. It has appreciated. I think the market, at the moment, has hit a bit of a plateau. I think things like a LaFerrari have come down a bit, so the market is flat, but they’re still worth considerably more than anyone would have paid for them new.’

The GTR

‘We haven’t started taking deposits, but we’re revealing a concept car. It isn’t finished, but it’s very close to what the finished article is going to be. Even before we started the process, we had a good number of expressions of interest – not formal, but “if you’re doing a GTR I’m interested” conversations. From the beginning we thought we’d do a GTR version, so we’re pretty comfortable that having shown the concept we will sell out very quickly – but we haven’t even agreed a price yet.

Caravanning is one of the most popular leisure activities in the UK, with thousands of people hitching up and heading out on to the open road each year.

However, towing a caravan requires a tow car which is fit for the job – and that’s why we’ve picked out 10 of the best that are on sale right now.

Land Rover Discovery

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. The Discovery makes for one of the best tow cars on sale today, and that’s down to a few crucial factors. It’s got space for seven, which means you can bring the whole family along for the ride, and it’s available with a variety of torquey engines that are ideal for pulling a caravan.

In addition, the Discovery is available with towing-specific assistance systems, and it can even be fitted with technology that will autonomously reverse and park the car and caravan together.

Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq follows a similar format to the Discovery. It’s available with seven seats, can be equipped with four-wheel-drive and has a range of strong diesel and petrol engines well-suited to towing life. However, it does this for a considerably lower price.

It’s also very spacious inside, and has a solid feel to it – though lacks the more expensive materials used in premium rivals.

Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento has recently been updated, with an aim to bring it more into line with premium rivals. This sees better in-car technology, as well as better interior plastics and materials. It’s also grown over the older model, meaning more space in the cabin.

However, there are some features here which makes the Sorento an ideal tow car choice. It’s rated to be able to tow 2.5 tonnes on a braked trailer, while a self-levelling rear-end has been fitted as standard, too.

Ssangyong Rexton

The Ssanyong Rexton may be at the more budget end of the tow car spectrum, but that makes it no less able to do the job than other cars on this list. Its utilitarian design will appeal to those who prefer their four-wheel-drives a little more rough-and-ready, while plenty of standard equipment will please eager button-pushers.

A Mercedes-sourced 2.2-litre diesel engine provides more than enough grunt for towing duties, though the ladder-frame chassis does mean it falls behind rivals in terms of overall ride comfort.

Jaguar I-Pace

This may not be the most conventional of choices – but hear us out. The new I-Pace is available with a tow bar, and thanks to 395bhp and a healthy 696Nm of instantly available torque, it could prove to be an exceptionally good tow car. Power is sent to all four wheels too, meaning plenty of traction.

Jaguar claims that the I-Pace will do up to 298 miles on a single charge and, while we’re unsure how much this would be affected by the added weight of a caravan, this could prove to be useful for low-cost holidaying.

Volvo XC90

The big Volvo XC90 is an ideal choice for those who want a reliable and stylish tow car option. Its interior is sleek and well-specified, while its exterior exhibits plenty of Scandinavian-inspired style. However, there’s more to the XC90 than looks alone.

It’s available with a hybrid powertrain, which is ideal for caravan owners thanks to its impressively brisk performance and low running costs. That said, with prices reaching more than £50,000, it’s certainly not one of the cheapest options on this list.

Skoda Octavia Scout

The award for the first estate car on this list goes to the Skoda Octavia Scout. Thanks to a powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine coupled to a full four-wheel-drive system, the Scout makes for an ideal tow car.

In addition, when you come to unhitch the trailer, you’re left with an estate car that will happily and comfortably eat up the motorway miles, too.

Volkswagen Amarok

Any pick-up makes for a decent tow car, but the Amarok is certainly one of the best. It’s rated to tow up to 3.1 tonnes – so there’s little that this Volkswagen won’t be able to pull along. Its large size also means it remains impressively stable during poor conditions and high winds, too.

The large load bed at the rear is ideal for bigger items, and there’s an optional cover for this should need to store them overnight.

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross

The little Suzuki SX4 certainly punches well above its weight, particularly considering the competitors it has on this list. A 1.6-litre diesel engine is the go-to choice for caravanners, as this offers the performance required while towing.

In addition, you can get the SX4 with Suzuki’s clever AllGrip all-wheel-drive technology, affording it with much better traction and stability than you’d expect for a car of this size.

Ford S-Max

Though MPVs are falling out of fashion somewhat with the increase in popularity of crossovers, there’s still a space for a quality people mover. That’s where the Ford S-Max comes in. With seven dedicated seats, it’s a comfortable people carrier, while optional all-wheel-drive makes it a solid choice from this list.

The S-Max makes sense if you’re looking to take the family away in comfort, while also being able to tow safely and effectively at the same time.

Advance orders are now being taken for the Polestar 1 hybrid performance car – the first to come from the Volvo spin-off brand.

Potential UK buyers of the electrified machine can secure a place in the production queue with a €2,500 (circa £2,220) deposit, which is fully refundable should any minds change. Applications to buy a Polestar 1 can be made online, with those successful then able to use a configurator to spec the car to their liking before ordering.

Final pricing hasn’t been revealed for the Swedish performance machine, but Polestar has confirmed that the car will only be available on subscription, requiring monthly payments. As well as the cost of the car, the payments will also cover servicing and give customers the option to rent Volvo vehicles plus other future Polestar models.

Thomas Ingenlath, chief executive of Polestar, said: “With over 7,000 people interested in owning a Polestar 1 since its reveal, we are extremely encouraged by the passion shown for our product. We will now take the next steps towards delivering this beautiful car to our first customers.”

Set to arrive in mid-2019, the Polestar 1 features an electric drivetrain supported by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 592bhp and 1,000Nm of torque. It’s also capable of travelling 90 miles on battery power alone.

This is the first car to come from the Volvo-owned brand, which was revealed as a spin-off in 2017. The Polestar 1 will be produced in China at a purpose-built facility in Chengdu that will finish construction later this year. Polestar plans to produce just 500 examples of the 1 annually.

Tyres of the future could help in the fight against air pollution – if this moss-filled concept becomes a reality.

Developed by American tyre manufacturer Goodyear, the Oxygene concept has been revealed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. It collects moisture from the road through its tread as well as carbon dioxide from the air, allowing photosynthesis to take place that results in clean oxygen being fed back into the atmosphere.

Your first chance to see our solution to a sustainable future @GimsSwiss. Welcome to the Goodyear family, Oxygene #GimsSwiss pic.twitter.com/u2vezMms6U

— Goodyear Tyres (@goodyear_uk) March 6, 2018

The firm claims that if the tyres were fitted to 2.5 million vehicles in Paris, almost 3,000 tons of oxygen would be created while more than 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide would be absorbed every year.

Not only does the tyre help air fight pollution, it also recycles some of the energy created during photosynthesis to power its on-board Li-Fi (light fidelity) technology. This uses LEDs to transmit data to communicate with other vehicles on the road, which Goodyear says “is critical to smart mobility management systems”.

Chris Delaney, president of Goodyear Europe, said: “Smarter, greener infrastructure and transport will be crucial in addressing the most pressing challenges of urban mobility and development. Oxygene is meant to challenge our thinking and help drive the debate around smart, safe and sustainable future mobility.

“By contributing in this way to cleaner air generation, the tyre could help enhance quality of life and health for city dwellers.”

Unless you’re an established name with heritage, you have to be innovative when you launch a supercar. The car has to look good, and it has to hit new heights of performance in exciting ways that differentiate it from the competition.

That, of course, is easier said than done, and even big manufacturers occasionally miss their targets when producing a supercar.

This list looks at six supercars that failed to deliver the features, figures – or perhaps even, any cars – that were promised to enthusiasts and customers alike.

Jaguar XJ220

The Jaguar XJ220 created buzz en mass when it was unveiled at the British International Motor Show in 1988. The press and the public were in unanimous approval, and several of the show’s elite visitors handed blank cheques to Jaguar, such was their excitement.

However, when the production version arrived in 1992, one critical element was missing; the 6.2-litre V12 engine showcased in the concept car. The motor was replaced by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6, which originally sat in the Metro 6R4 Group B rally car.

The car was still extremely quick for its day, but with the economy on the rocks at the time, and the car being different from what many early customers had seen in 1988, the XJ220 did not sell as Jaguar had hoped.

Consulier GTP

Believe it or not, this strange looking machine was one of America’s best performance car offerings in the early 90’s.

With less than 200bhp from a 2.2-Litre inline-four engine sourced from Chrysler, it was not a car for sheer, raw power. However, thanks to weighing just 998kg, it was surprisingly fast. In fact, company owner Warren Mosler decided to offer $25,000 to anyone who could perform a faster lap than the GTP in another road car, at any US racetrack in the country.

Car & Driver Magazine took up the challenge and beat it using a 1991 Chevrolet Corvette. However, Mosler claimed that the GTP used in the test was old and worn out from use at a racing school, and thus, he never paid up.

Ferrari F50

Why was the F50 a disappointment? In large part, because it had to follow on from the iconic F40.

On reflection, the shape of the F50 has become dated in rather short order. It is a very 90’s shape, and not the kind that has aged to perfection. The other issue was harping on about how much of the car was sourced from the 1990 Ferrari F1 racer – it set up aspirations of performance that the finished product simply could not live up to.

It was only going to be a car that failed to deliver the promise of a successor to the F40. The F50 really is a great supercar, but it’ll never be iconic.

Keating – all of them

Keating is the ultimate in supercar vapourware. Whether it’s the questionably stuck together Bolt, the new Berus (pictured), or the SKR/TKR/ZKR series of supercars shown in the late 2000’s, Keating has repeatedly shown willing, but never seems to get the job done. A majority of these cars have never been driven, and from what we can tell, very few if any have been sold.

Supercar vapourware is extremely common, but few are so consistently ambitious, with such consistently non-existent results.

MG XPower SV

The MG XPower SV was an odd beast. It looked insane, was rather more sedate than its styling would have you believe, and claimed to be a supercar when it was really more of a muscle car.

The car produced just 320bhp, though a later SV-R specification upped that figure to 385bhp. A factory-fitted nitrous kit was announced among a raft of ‘Club Sport’ specifications, though none of these go-faster options were ever made available before MG shut down in 2005, just two years after the XPower SV entered production.

Audi R8 TDI

The Audi R8 defied any and all sceptics when it was released in 2006, and did so even more when a V10 version debuted in 2008.

The ‘R8’ name is a nod to Audi’s Le Mans racing heritage. As the R8 road car was in its infancy, Audi were taking on Le Mans and winning, using a V12 diesel engine in the new R10. With this in mind, Audi also wanted to place a similar V12 into the R8 road car.

This idea entered development, but never made it to production due to the engineering challenges of fitting the engine into the R8. In light of today’s diesel climate, perhaps it’s for the best that this R8 variant never made it to production.

The Geneva Motor Show has thrown up some impressive pieces of technology that look certain to shape the future of the motoring industry – autonomous cars and even vehicles that can fly have appeared at this year’s show.

We’ve paced the halls and taken a look at some of the most interesting and high-tech concepts to come from the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Here they are.

PAL-V Liberty Flying Car

The PAL-V Liberty Flying car features two engines – one for use on the road and one for the air.

It can switch between flying and driving mode in between five and 10 minutes, with prices starting at around $400,000 (around £287,000).

Audi – Italdesign pop.up next

We’ve seen autonomous cars and we’ve seen flying cars – but this has to be one of the first times that we’ve seen the two combined.

The pop.up next concept has been designed to transport people via both road and air, and features a two-seater ‘pod’, which can be attached to either a car or a flying module. It’s aim is to help solve congestion issues in urban areas.

Hyundai Nexo fuel cell

Hyundai’s Nexo fuel cell vehicle makes its European debut at Geneva, and comes as the world’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV. Capable of travelling close to 500 miles on a single tank, it also features autonomous capabilities.

Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion

The fully autonomous Vizzion concept is the latest in Volkswagen’s I.D. range of cars, and is set to be available in 2022.

Though initially offered with conventional controls, the car is designed to be operated via augmented reality, gestures and voice commands.

Nissan IMx Kuro

The IMx Kuro is an evolution on the IMx concept showcased at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Now, it features a dark grey colour scheme but also, more importantly, a range of Nissan’s cutting-edge technologies, including Pro Pilot fully autonomous functionality.

It also gets Nissan’s brain-to-vehicle technology, which allows the car’s system to predict actions by monitoring the driver’s brainwaves.

Renault EZ-GO

Renault’s EZ-GO is another electric autonomous concept to feature at Geneva – but this one has been created with ridesharing in mind. Inside, there’s a wide open cabin with space for up to six passengers. As it’s capable of Level 4 autonomy, there’s no need for a driver – and this makes for a more spacious interior.

Jaguar I-Pace

Jaguar’s I-Pace is here to take on Tesla at its own game, offering up a close-to-300-mile all-electric range, as well as solid interior build quality. It’ll also hit 60mph in just 4.5 seconds.

It’s available to order now, with prices starting at £63,495.

Flying cars are no new idea, with companies for decades promising machinery that can take to both the skies and roads – but almost all fade away never to see the light of day. Well, thanks to Dutch company PAL-V, it looks like one may finally become reality.

This is the Liberty, the “world’s first flying car production model”, which has been unveiled at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. It’s been in development for a decade and is set to go on sale to the public in 2019.

Unlike most flying car concepts, which have fixed wings to create an aeroplane-like vehicle, the PAL-V Liberty adds a gyroplane engine and retractable propellers to a tilting sports car body – making it more akin to a helicopter.

This means it can take-off and land in a short distance – ideal for making this a practical vehicle both on the road and in the sky. Its Dutch manufacturer also claims this will allow it to fly in turbulent weather, when fixed-wing alternatives could not.

I give you… the HOMER MK2 pic.twitter.com/6CLvyvQ5Em

— James Baggott (@CarDealerEd) March 6, 2018

On the ground, the Liberty can achieve speeds of up to 106mph and, perhaps more impressively, 112mph while in the air. It can also cover 311 miles between fuel stops.

PAL-V is taking pre-orders now for interested customers, with first deliveries following next year. If you want one, now might be the time to start flying lessons as you’ll need a pilot’s licence to be able to take it to the sky.

Jaguar has pulled the covers off the hotly anticipated I-Pace – its first all-electric vehicle that it hopes will take the premium zero-emission fight to American giant Tesla.

The all-new crossover doesn’t use any of the firm’s existing car platforms – instead, it’s been made as an electric vehicle from the ground up. That means the aluminium structure has been built specifically for the twin electric motors and battery pack, improving weight distribution to improve handling.

This also means it can be roomier inside. Jaguar claims that cabin space is more comparable to a large SUV than the I-Pace’s crossover rivals – with the batteries in the floor and no large internal combustion engine up front, there’s more space for people and luggage.

Those motors produce a combined 395bhp and 696Nm of torque, propelling the car from zero to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds. Jaguar says the 90kWh lithium-ion battery offers a 298-mile range, while the sat nav system is designed to pick routes that will minimise battery use.

Rapid charging is also available, taking about 85 minutes to get to 80 per cent from empty using a 50kW DC charger. In addition, the I-Pace is compatible with 100kW chargers, which are being rolled out gradually across the public network and could chop the charge time in half.

To give the best range, Jaguar uses a battery pre-conditioning system, which can raise or lower the temperature of the battery. The British car maker says it’s also working on ways to prolong the battery life, with new recycling partnerships in the works.

The body has been designed with sports cars in mind to reflect the impressive performance on offer. The coupe-like silhouette is said to have been inspired by the firm’s C-X75 supercar concept, which was built for the James Bond movie Spectre. It features ‘active vanes’ in the grille that open when cooling is needed and close at all other times to redirect air through the bonnet scoop to minimise drag.

The new Jaguar I-Pace is available to order now, costing from £63,495.

On March 1 we say goodbye to the 67 number plate and hello to 18. If you’re looking for a new car, it’s a great time to buy to get that extra new feeling.

But what should you buy? We’ve looked back at the best cars to be released since the last plate change in September – with everything from hatchbacks to SUV and electric vehicles to diesel pick-up trucks, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Coming as the first SUV in Alfa’s history, the Stevlio blends sports car-like driving characteristics with all-wheel-drive capability. It’s certainly one of the quirkiest-looking SUVs on sale today, but features a range of economical diesels making it usable on a daily basis too – though a range-topping QV version remains for enthusiasts.

Alpine A110

Reborn Renault sub-brand Alpine’s first car is the A110, pitched as a competitor to the Porsche 718 Cayman. With the mighty Renaultsport division fully behind it, you’d hope that the A110 is good – and it is. With a peppy engine, gorgeous looks and incredibly involving handling, it’s one of the most satisfying cars to drive on the market today. It’s priced to compete with the big boys, but dynamically, it’s worth it.

Audi A5 Sportback

If you’re after a spacious, relatively practical saloon car with coupe looks, then the Audi A5 Sportback is the one for you. With a range of economical yet powerful diesel and petrol engines to choose from, as well as a variety of exterior trims and colours, it’s one of the best all-rounders on sale today. The interior is, as you’d expect, solidly built too.

Audi A8

When it comes to big German limos, the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series have a serious competitor in the new A8. It continues its predecessor’s reputation for discreet, under-the-radar luxury but adds in more technology than you can shake a stick at. It’s as autonomous a car as you can buy today, and replaces almost every physical button with a screen. Overkill? Sure, but it’s luxury overkill.

Audi Q5

Audi’s Q5 has been a popular option for families for some time, owing to its decent levels of interior space alongside excellent levels of safety. The latest Q5 is more tech-laden than ever before, with Audi’s new infotainment system providing plenty of functionality. It’s also more refined than the previous-generation, making it as well-suited to motorway runs as to the morning trip to school.

Audi R8 Spyder

A screaming V10 engine, glamorous supercar looks, 610bhp and four-wheel drive? Shockingly, this is not a vehicle from the stables of Lamborghini, but staid and sensible Audi. The second-generation R8 is one of the last bastions of naturally-aspirated supercar thrills, and makes a lot of sense as an ‘everyday’ supercar – being no harder to drive in town than an A3, but with rocketship performance underneath your right foot.

Audi TTRS

Small, compact, but powerful, the TTRS is an ideal car for UK roads. Featuring a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, it can hit 60mph in under four seconds before reaching a top speed of 155mph. It also – at a push – seats four, and has a decent size boot, making it usable on a daily basis too.

Audi RS4 Avant

Audi’s super-estate has entered 2018 in its fourth generation, with more power than ever before. Despite being two cylinders down from its V8 predecessor, the B9 RS4 has 443bhp and 600Nm of torque thanks to the addition of two turbochargers to its 2.9-litre V6 motor.That power is sent to all four wheels through a single-clutch transmission, resulting in a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds and a limited 155mph top speed.

BMW X2

The BMW X2 sees the German manufacturer entering into the ever-flourishing compact crossover market. What does it bring to the table? Sportier dynamics, for one. In addition, the X2’s premium cabin will find favour with those who like a little more luxury in their crossover, while that all-important badge appeal is there in spades.

Citroen C3 Aircross

Citroen’s quirky past is well and truly back, and the C3 Aircross proves it – sitting in the conservative compact crossover sector alongside cars such as the Mazda CX-3, it stands out by virtue of its kooky styling and intriguing plastic ‘Airbumps’. The interior is pretty quirky too, but it still works well as a family car – there’s plenty of room, a range of efficient engines and some interesting kit, such as a built-in dashcam.

DS 7 Crossback

DS Automobiles is the ‘premium’ arm of Citroen, and so far its products have been pretty poor. That’s all changed with the DS 7 Crossback. It’s hit the nail on the head with great value, an impressive driving experience, and near-German quality – it’s a genuine rival to big-selling rivals from BMW and Audi.

Ferrari GTC4Lusso T

Fancy a rear-wheel drive Ferrari but need the practicality of an estate car? Well, the GTC4Lusso T is the car for you. Its based on the existing GTC4Lusso, which is all-wheel drive, but replaces the V12 with a smaller 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 engine and loses the front differential. Despite the downsizing, it’s no slouch. It sends 601bhp through the rear wheels, meaning 0-60mph can be achieved in 3.3 seconds with a 199mph top speed. All with room for the dog…

Ford Fiesta

It’s a hard task to replace one of the best-selling cars of all time – but that’s exactly what Ford had to deal with when remaking the Fiesta. The Blue Oval managed to achieve just that, producing a new Fiesta which drives, looks and feels as sharp as the car it replaces. Though we’re yet to see the fire-breathing ST version, if this base car is anything to go by it’ll be a cracker.

Honda Civic

The Civic is traditionally the safe and sensible choice in the family hatchback sector, but this new model turns that on its head. Longer, wider and much lower than the outgoing car, it’s very stylish, and great to drive thanks to peppy engines and a fantastic manual gearshift. It’s also very spacious – there’s room for four adults and a class-leading boot. You can also opt for the fire-breathing Type R if you’re so inclined.

Hyundai i30N

When Hyundai announced that it would be making a powerful, front-wheel-drive hot hatch to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Renault Megane RS, many thought that it would never work. However, now it’s arrived, the i30N has proved to be an incredibly capable car, and one which can easily match more mainstream offerings. It’s also far cheaper, yet comes with plenty of kit – so it’s no bare-bones option, either.

Hyundai Kona

In what appears to have become a sea of compact crossovers, the Hyundai Kona, with its quirky styling and reasonably decent on-road handling, certainly stands out. It also comes with an impressive seven-year warranty, which means that even after a reasonably long period of motoring, you shouldn’t have to worry if things go wrong. Add in that the Kona will be very practical for most families, and you have a package which is hard to beat.

Infiniti QX50

Sharply styled yet impressively spacious, the Infiniti QX50 looks to conquer the hugely competitive SUV market. The car’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine features some high-tech features, too; it can alter its compression according to driver need – lowering when a more economical drive is needed or raising when performance is required. It’s a clever feature, and one which Infiniti hopes will transform the fortunes of the QX50.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake 

The Jaguar XF Sportbrake combines sleek, shooting-brake-style looks with plenty of practicality. A variety of neat storage touches ensure that the XF Sportbrake will be well-suited to family life, while a sporty drive means that winding country roads can be fun, too. An alternative to the likes of the BMW 3 Series Touring and Audi A4 Avant, this is certainly one well worth considering.

Kia Niro

The Niro is one of the latest hybrid vehicles to hit the market, but features more traditional styling to help it blend in a little more than other quirky-looking alternatives. Thanks to a combination of electric and petrol motors, Kia claims that the Niro will return up to 74.3mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting as low as 88g/km CO2 – meaning running costs should be kept to a minimum.

Kia Picanto

One of the most popular vehicles in the city car segment, the new Picanto had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, it more than matched expectation, with solid interior materials and a surprisingly refined drive ensuring the Picanto remained one of the best in class. Small capacity engines with a decent amount of power make the Picanto far more usable on the motorway than you’d expect, too.

Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is the ideal choice for those people who want a reliable, economical yet well-built small hatchback. It may not have the badge prestige of many rivals, but it counters this with plenty of standard equipment and a decent range of engines. Though the ride may be somewhat on the firm side, it’s still represents excellent value for money and is perfect for those who want no-frills motoring.

Kia Stinger GT

If you’re looking for a good looking, sporty alternative to more mainstream German saloon cars, then the Kia Stinger GT is the one for you. With dynamic styling and an equally as interesting drive, the Stinger isn’t what you’d expect from Kia. However, with a good range of engines as well as solid build quality, it’s really worth considering if you’re in the market for a decent saloon car.

Land Rover Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery has, for some time, come to represent all-weather capability as well as decent interior comfort. The last generation car was hugely popular, so the new version came to market with plenty to live up to. It delivered in almost all respects, thanks to clever off-road technology as well as more space than ever before for its seven cabin occupants. Some questioned its styling, but you couldn’t argue with its all-round ability.

Lexus LC

The Lexus LC is easily one of the most striking sports cars on sale today. Available with either a hybrid engine or a powerful 5.0-litre V8, it blends sports car performance with genuine grand touring ability. A cutting-edge interior matches the sharp exterior looks, while small rear seats and a decent boot endow the LC with the ability to cross continents without breaking a sweat.

Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster

The Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster is a slightly softer, convertible version of the track-focused GT R. However, don’t think it’s a slouch – a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 under its long, elegant bonnet provides a huge amount of power, while a sports exhaust gives it an intoxicating bellow. That softer suspension makes it a more comfortable long-distance cruiser, too.

Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate

If you’re looking to go very fast, yet do so in a lot of comfort, then the Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate is for you. This version also features one of the largest boots in the segment, meaning that it’s capable of swallowing large amounts of luggage. A 4.0-litre V8 engine produces close to 600bhp, while an advanced all-wheel-drive system helps keep the E63 planted in all manner of conditions.

Mercedes E-Class All Terrain

There’s nothing posher than a Mercedes estate car, but those who need occasional off-road capability were previously relegated to the brand’s range of SUVs. Enter the E-Class All Terrain, a jacked-up estate intended to compete with Audi’s A6 Allroad. It offers the same premium appeal as the standard Estate, but with enough ground clearance and grip to tackle the overflow car park at any racecourse in the country.

Mercedes X-Class

This is Mercedes’ first attempt at in the pick-up market. The X-Class isn’t your standard truck, bringing a wealth of technological and comfort features to the rugged pick-up market. But it does this while still retaining that grittiness that a truck should have. And with a cargo payload of 1092kg, it really does set a new bar in the comfortable-but-tough category.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi has revived the legendary Eclipse name — but this time, rather than an entry-level sports car, it’s the firm’s latest crossover with the aim of rivalling the likes of Nissan’s Qashqai, Renault’s Kadjar and Seat’s Ateca. Could this be the car to revive Mitsubishi’s less-than-stellar market performance as of late?

Nissan Leaf

The second-generation version of the world’s best-selling electric vehicle is a pretty big deal, and it doesn’t disappoint. Nissan has massively improved its styling, reduced the price and increased the range, making EV life ever-more tempting. If you’ve been on the fence about electric cars, now could be the time to take the leap.

Nissan Micra

The Micra has gone through a serious rebirth. While the previous model was one of the last cars you’d recommend to a friend, the latest model is a serious competitor. It shares plenty with the Renault Clio, so it gains an agile chassis and efficient engines, while the striking bodywork is sharp-edged and stylish. It’s also practical, with a spacious and premium-feeling interior.

Peugeot 5008

The old Peugeot 5008 was a traditional MPV, but its replacement model is an out-and-out SUV. Its striking looks mark it out from the competition, and it’s a really handsome offering – while still unmistakably a Peugeot. Inside, it has seven seats and an innovative cockpit including Peugeot’s high-set dials and centre console.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Those on the hunt for an incredibly powerful but surprisingly practical grand tourer have a new option. The sleek Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is the brand’s first ever estate – though it’s far from traditional – and can be had with everything from a mildly sensible diesel to a fire-breathing 671bhp hybrid powertrain. It’s priced to reflect the incredible engineering underneath, but for some it will be worth it.

Seat Arona

The Seat Arona is the Spanish manufacturer’s take on the compact SUV formula. It has the usual VW underpinnings, meaning guaranteed quality, but brings a bit of Spanish flair to the table. There’s currently two engine choices on offer in different states of tune, as well as generous equipment levels.

Skoda Karoq

The Karoq uses the same platform as the popular Volkswagen Tiguan and Seat Ateca meaning that despite its compact size, it’s able to offer plenty of interior space. In addition, its accompanying range of engines are impressively efficient – so those looking for lower running costs would do well to choose the Karoq.

Skoda Kodiaq

If you’re after a seven-seat SUV, you have lots of options – but the Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best. It’s probably one of the best family cars on the market today, with an incredibly practical interior and surprisingly dynamic drive. The mighty VW Group parts bin also lends it an excellent engine line-up and lots of interior kit.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer

The new Insignia Grand Tourer majors on a few things – sleek looks, big space, and impressive value. Opt for an entry-level petrol-powered car and this massive family estate will set you back less than any of the competition – and amazingly, you wouldn’t think it from the driver’s seat. Though it’s destined to flesh out company car fleets, the Insignia Sports Tourer is well worth a look.

Vauxhall Grandland X

Vauxhall’s last big SUV was the unloved Antara, but now the brand is having another crack at the market. With the help of now-parent brand PSA Peugeot Citroen, it’s launched the Grandland X, and it’s a vast improvement. It’s good-looking and has a range of engines borrowed from its Peugeot 3008 sister car. Add in plenty of kit for the money and you have a decent choice for a family car.

Volkswagen Polo

Now in its sixth generation, the Polo has been transformed for its latest incarnation to an angular and more attractive city car. The Polo is edging towards the premium end of the segment and provides good comfort and style options. Available in seven trims and with driver assistance equipment from the base spec, the Polo could be a popular city car choice when the plate change arrives.

Volkswagen T-Roc

The T-Roc is Volkswagen’s latest offering in the compact SUV segment. Solid and well-built, with a range of decent engines, it’s a good option for those who want a raised right height but without the bulkiness of a much larger SUV. With prices starting at £18,950 it’s competitive too, with plenty of standard equipment to keep button-pressers happy. A range of high-tech assistance features ensure that the T-Roc is one of the safest cars on the road today.

Volvo XC40

Volvo’s smallest SUV brings all the features of the larger XC60 and XC90 to a more stylish, city-friendly package. The resulting XC40 is a handsome-looking off-roader with a really lovely interior. It’s packed full of innovation too – from the reworked dashboard to the super-practical boot. Electric and hybrid versions are on their way, soon.