Description

Volvo’s new ES90 electric fastback is unveiled on the front cover of the April 2025 issue of Diesel&EcoCar magazine, and features alongside Kia’s EV4, EV2 Concept and PV5, the Volkswagen Every.1, Audi A6 Avant, facelifted Volvo XC60 and the dual motor versions of the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008. We’ve also got sneak spyshot glimpses of the Alpine A390, the BMW Neue Klasse and Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ power.

We’ve been trying out Toyota’s mighty Land Cruiser 2.8 D-4D, as well as the funky new Renault 5 E-Tech and the all-electric Ford Capri. Kia’s facelifted Sorento goes head-to-head with the latest Skoda Kodiaq – which of these mighty 4x4s is victorious? We welcome a Skoda Superb Estate to the long-term test fleet and wave goodbye to the MG ZS+ Hybrid, Suzuki Swift, Fiat 600e, and Renault Scenic E-Tech.

We take a trip to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome show at the NEC and this month’s used car buyer’s guide is all about the awesome Land Rover Defender 110. We examine three generations of the Skoda Superb, pitch the Peugeot 508 SW Peugeot Sport Engineered up against the Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered, and explore whether the Dodge Caliber was a hero or zero. In Tomorrow’s World we’ve got news of Toyota’s third generation Hydrogen fuel cell system, heel airbags from ZF, solid state batteries fitted to a Mercedes-Benz EQS test car, and we get word on Stellantis wackily researching about whether eggshells are viable to be used within tyres. This is in addition to all of your other favourite features including The Doctor, Motor Grump, Fully Equipped, Bright Spark, and the most up-to-date data section in the magazine business.

Tested:

• Ford Capri Premium Extended Range AWD Automatic
• Kia Sorento 3 2.2 CRDi Automatic
• Renault 5 E-Tech Techno Comfort Range Automatic
• Skoda Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4×4 DSG Automatic
• Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible 2.8 D-4D Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.3 PHEV 280 Q4 Veloce Automatic
• Cupra Tavascan V1 Automatic
• DS 4 Etoile Hybrid 136 Automatic
• Fiat 600e La Prima Automatic
• Genesis GV60 Premium RWD Single Motor Automatic
• MG ZS Hybrid+ Trophy Automatic
• Renault Scenic E-Tech Iconic Automatic
• Skoda Superb Estate SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Suzuki Swift 1.2 Ultra

Features:

• Bright Spark
• Camping, Caravan and Motorhome show 2025
• Current affairs – I’m moving house, can I take my charger with me, or do I need to buy a new one?
• Day trip to… British Commercial Vehicle Museum
• Gadget Inspector
• Motorgrump
• Technology explained – LED Matrix headlights
• The Doctor – advice column
• Tomorrow’s World – Heel airbags, Mercedes-Benz solid state batteries, Stellantis egg shell tyres, Toyota third-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems
• You, the jury – Taxing motorists based on weight and miles travelled
• What’s on

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Generation Game – Skoda Superb – three generations examined
• Hero or zero – Dodge Caliber
• Product watch – Airport parking
• Remember this – Daihatsu Charade
• Secondhand shootout – Peugeot 508 SW Peugeot Sport Engineered vs Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• Land Rover Defender 110 (2020-onwards)

Data Files

• Denied Hybrid – Volkswagen Tiguan/Tayron 2.0 TDI 4×4
• Forgotten Concept – 2014 Hyundai Intrado
• Joy of Lists – Diesel cars built at Cowley, Oxfordshire
• Megafactories – Volvo Ghent, Belgium
• The most comprehensive and up-to-data in the business

Regulars

• News and views
• News in pictures
• Motoring Morsels
• Refuelling Costs
• Day trip to…
• What’s On
• Gadget Inspector
• The Doctor
• This Month
• Current Affairs
• Tomorrow’s World
• Roadwatch
• You, the jury
• Fully equipped
• Motorgrump
• Bright Spark
• DM@il
• Tuning specialists directory
• Buying. Selling and Maintaining
• The Generation Game
• The Doctor’s Hero or Zero
• Marketplace Statistics
• Marketplace In The Pipeline
• Marketplace What’s New
• Data Files
• Next month