Description

A bright, vibrant cover for the lovely weather we have been having of late, with your copy of Diesel&EcoCar magazine arriving in time for you to enjoy over the bank holiday weekend. In the May 2025 edition, we take a glimpse at the exciting new products coming from Nissan, including a new Micra, all-new Juke, updated Qashqai, and finally, a replacement for the Leaf.

Elsewhere we’ve got the first photos of the third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA, pictures of the updated Renault Austral, all-new Hyundai Nexo and updated Ioniq 6, as well as the bonkers Renault 5 Turbo 3E, the all-electric Toyota C-HR+, Skoda Elroq vRS, and MG S5 EV. We bring news of the upcoming arrival of the BYD Dolphin Surf, the Audi A5 e-Hybrid, smart #5 and Perseus EV, have sneak peek pictures of Skoda’s upcoming seven-seat electric SUV, and announce the first details about the Lexus RZ and Toyota b4ZX facelifts.

It’s a bumper month for new model tests, with the team getting behind the wheel of the BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport, the Citroën ë-C3, Ford Explorer, Leapmotor C10, Jeep Avenger 4xe and Abarth 600e Scorpionissima, as well as the Skoda Elroq, Citroën ë-C4, BMW iX, GWM Ora 03 GT, Vauxhall Mokka Electric and the updated Mazda CX-60 mild hybrid diesel. We welcome a Vauxhall Grandland Electric to the long-term fleet, as well as a Renault Rafale Hybrid and Genesis Electrified GV70, just as we wave a fond farewell to both the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Genesis GV60.

This month’s used car buyer’s guide is all about the Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 d, while Generation Game takes a look at three different incarnations of the 3 Series diesel saloon. We also pitch the Skoda Kamiq 1.6 TDI up against the Volkswagen T-Cross 1.6 TDI, and ask the Doctor whether the Peugeot 309 was really a hero or just one big zero. 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:

• Abarth 600e Scorpionissima Automatic
• BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport Automatic
• BMW iX M70 xDrive Automatic
• Citroen e-C3 Max Automatic
• Citroen e-C4 Max Automatic
• Ford Explorer Select Extended Range Automatic
• GWM Ora 03 GT Automatic
• Jeep Avenger 4xe The North Face Edition 1.2 eHybrid Automatic
• Leapmotor C10 Automatic
• Mazda CX-60 e-Skyactiv D AWD Takumi Automatic
• Skoda Elroq 85 Edition Automatic
• Vauxhall Mokka Electric GS 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 Electrified GV70 Sport Automatic
• Renault Rafale E-Tech Iconic Esprit Alpine Automatic
• Skoda Superb Estate SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Vauxhall Grandland Electric Ultimate Automatic

Features:

• Bright Spark
• Car cleaning and valeting special issue – getting rid of coffee stains
• Car cleaning and valeting special issue – wellbeing and mindful cleaning
• Current affairs – What is the BMW Neue Klasse all about?
• Day trip to… Brooklands museum
• Gadget Inspector
• Motorgrump
• Technology explained – Driver drowsiness detection
• The Doctor – advice column
• Tomorrow’s World – KGM to research hydrogen systems, BYD’s megawatt charging system, Four superbrains for BMW Nueue Klasse, Renault’s fireman access
• You, the jury – Should hitchhiking be banned?
• What’s on

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Generation Game – BMW 3 Series – three generations examined
• Hero or zero – Peugeot 309
• Product watch – Car shampoo
• Remember this – Fiat Idea
• Secondhand shootout – Skoda Kamiq 1.6 TDI vs Volkswagen T-Cross 1.6 TDI

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 d Coupe and Shooting Brake (2019 to 2025)

Data Files

• Denied Hybrid – Honda Accord e:HEV
• Forgotten Concept – 1999 Renault S.C.E.N.I.C.
• Joy of Lists – Diesel cars designed by Pininfarina
• Under development – JLR Gaydon
• 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
• Grand Designs