Description

With the registration plate change nearly upon us, the 68-plate September 2018 issue examines the best equipment to kit your new car out, and also a down-to-earth guide exploring whether diesel power is still right for you. We’re always been proud to offer useful, honest, practical advice, and this issue is no different.

Our cover story highlights that we’ve been driving the latest Ford Focus, and we’re not understating it when we say it’s a real cracker. Elsewhere it’s a real Hyundai-fest, as we test the new Santa Fe, the facelifted Tucson and the Kona diesel, as well as the Nexo fuel-cell vehicle and Kona Electric. Our road test team have also behind the wheel of the new BMW X4, the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, Jeep Wrangler, SsangYong Musso and facelifted edition of the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.

Mercedes-Benz’s X-Class pick-up comes face-to-face with the Volkswagen Amarok, and Toyota’s latest Land Cruiser gets the On Test treatment. In Eco Car, Tyler Heatley puts the facelifted BMW i8 Coupé through its paces in the New Forest, and he’s like a kid in a sweet shop.

We welcome three new cars to the long-term test fleet this month – the Honda Civic, Kia Stinger and Nissan Leaf, and wave goodbye to our Renault Scenic. That’s aside from a welcome return to Tuning News, focussing on the tuning and modifications market, and all your favourites, including Doctor Diesel, Marketplace, The Extra Mile, Buying, Maintaining and Selling, and the most up-to-date data section in the business.

Tested:

• BMW 220d xDrive M Sport Gran Tourer
• BMW X4 xDrive20d M Sport Automatic
• Ford Focus Titanium 1.5 TDCi Automatic
• Hyundai Kona 1.6 CRDi Premium SE Automatic
• Hyundai Kona Electric Premium SE
• Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi 48V Premium SE Automatic
• Hyundai Nexo Fuel-Cell-Vehicle
• Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium SE Automatic
• Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2.2 MultiJet II Automatic
• Mercedes-Benz X 220 d 4Matic Power Automatic
• Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 4 2.2 Di-D Automatic
• SsangYong Musso Saracen
• Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible 2.8 D-4D Automatic
• Volkswagen Amarok Highline 3.0 V6 TDI 4MATIC Permanent

Long-term test reports:

• Audi Q5 S line 2.0 TDI quattro
• Citroen C3 Aircross BlueHDi 120
• DS 3 Parthenon Cream PureTech 110
• Ford Kuga Vignale 2.0 TDCi AWD Automatic
• Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC SR
• Kia Stinger GT-Line S 2.2 CRDi Automatic
• Mazda CX-5 Sport Nav 2.2 AWD
• Nissan Leaf Tekna
• Peugeot 5008 GT BlueHDi 180
• Renault Scenic Dynamique S dCi 130
• SEAT Arona SE Technology 1.6 TDI
• Skoda Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4X4 DSG (7-seat)
• Suzuki Swift 1.0 Boosterjet Hybrid SZ5

Features:

• Is diesel power best for you?
• How to spec your ’68-plate’ new car

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI

Regulars

• News and views
• Marketplace
• Doctor Diesel
• Tuning News
• The Highway Cod
• The Extra Mile
• Buying, Selling and Maintaining
• Product Inspector
• Eco Car Bright Spark