Description

As the launch date for the new ‘15’ plate cars looms, DieselCar delivers all the essential information on getting the best deal possible when buying a new car. If you’re in the market for an updated motor, you really can’t miss our invaluable buying advice.

In our news pages, there’s the first photos of Renault’s Qashqai squasher, the Kadjar, as well as information on the latest BMW 1 Series set to hit the roads in March. There’s news of the Volkswagen Golf GTD Estate, the Volvo S60 Cross Country and SsangYong’s latest entrant into the compact crossover market, the Tivoli SUV. We’ve been testing a pair of hot diesels, the Ford Focus ST TDCi and Peugeot 308 GT BlueHDi 180, and got behind the wheel of the new Kia Sorento and facelifted Honda CR-V. We drive Skoda’s Fabia hatchback and estate, and test the updated Porsche Cayenne and all-new Passat Estate. Ford’s updated Focus goes head-to-head with Nissan’s new medium contender, the Pulsar – which one grabs class honours?

In our brand-new EcoCar supplement, we test a pair of secret plug-in hybrid BMWs, test the Suzuki Celerio city car and drive both the Mercedes-Benz C 300 BlueTec Hybrid and the Citroën C1 Airscape. There’s news of Honda’s latest NSX – now with hybrid power – and a run down on the micro car market in the UK, together with a comprehensive feature on pure hybrids. In our used car section, there’s a warning about making sure you’ve got a spare remote key fob when buying a second-hand car, and the used car buyer’s guide covers the best-selling small car in the UK, the Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi. There’s all the favourites, too, including Doctor Diesel, The Extra Mile, Marketplace, High Mile Club and a brand new feature called Reader’s Drives, which uncovers fascinating and unusual cars lurking in readers’ garages and on their driveways. There’s also the most up-to-date data section in the business, listing every diesel and alternatively fuelled car, and sub-100g/km petrol vehicle in the business.

Tested:

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDM-2 Exclusive TCT Automatic
• Citroen C1 Airscape Feel PureTech 82 5-door
• Ford Focus Titanium X 1.5 TDCi (118) 5-door
• Ford Focus ST-2 2.0 TDCi 5-door
• Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC EX 4WD Automatic
• Kia Sorento KX-2 2.2 CRDi Automatic
• Mercedes-Benz C 300 BlueTec Hybrid Sport
• Nissan Pulsar Tekna 1.5 dCi
• Peugeot 308 SW GT BlueHDi 180 Automatic
• Porsche Cayenne Diesel
• Skoda Fabia SE L 1.4 TDI (89)
• Skoda Fabia Estate SE L 1.4 TDI (89)
• Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ4
• Volkswagen Passat Estate S 2.0 TDI (148)

Long-term test reports

• Audi A7 SE Executive 3.0 TDI quattro Automatic
• Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Exclusive+ BlueHDi 150 Automatic
• Ford Tourneo Connect Titanium 1.6 TDCi (114)
• Honda Civic Tourer SR 1.6 i-DTEC
• Mitsubishi ASX 4 2.2 DI-D 4WD Automatic
• Peugeot 308 SW Allure 1.6 BlueHDi 120
• Renault Clio Dynamique MediaNav dCi 90
• Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TDI CR
• Volkswagen Sharan SE 2.0 TDI (148) DSG Automatic
• Volvo V40 Cross Country D4 SE Nav Geartronic

Used car buyer’s guide

• Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi (2008-2012)