Description

With 2015 fast coming to a close, the January 2016 issue sneaks onto the newsstands on Christmas Eve ahead of the New Year, packed full of the latest news and reviews. And while the three wise men were famous for making a pilgrimage to see the baby Jesus, our very own wise man, Gavin Braithwaite-Smith, takes the latest Volvo XC90 in search of reindeer. It’s a marvellous story, one that you can’t miss.

There’s the latest news on the Volkswagen emissions scandal, and we’ve been testing the all-new Renault Megane, due on sale next summer, been behind the wheel of the Kia Optima and Nissan NP300 Navara, and tested the facelifted Jaguar XJ and DS 4, as well as driving the latest SsangYong Turismo and Suzuki SX4 automatic. Fiat’s 500X takes on the Honda HR-V in this month’s twin test, and we test the 2016 Mitsubishi Shogun, the Ford B-MAX with new 1.5 TDCi engine, as well as the Toyota Land Cruiser with its latest 2.8-litre D-4D powerplant. Our testers grab the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Skoda Superb and we also welcome the Honda HR-V as a new addition to the long-term test fleet.

This month’s reader’s drive is a rather special Rover 200 Series that has had an engine transplant, and there’s a really interesting feature on fuel quality and the part that additives play in diesel fuel technology. Finally, this month’s used car buyer’s guide is on the Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi. In our dedicated EcoCar section, we get behind the wheel of the Audi Q7 e-tron, as well as getting the first opportunity to test the Kia Niro and Optima Plug-in Hybrid, long before they are due to go on sale. Simon Hacker is the lucky owner of our latest addition to the long-term test fleet, running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for the next six months.

Tested:

• Audi Q7 e-tron 3.0 TDI quattro
• DS 4 Prestige BlueHDi 180 Automatic
• Fiat 500X Pop Star 1.6 MultiJet
• Ford B-MAX Titanium 1.5 TDCi (95)
• Honda HR-V 1.6 i-DTEC SE Navi
• Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6 Diesel R-Sport Automatic
• Kia Niro Hybrid
• Kia Optima 4 1.7 CRDi Automatic
• Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid
• Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-D SG4 LWB Automatic
• Nissan NP300 Navara N-Connecta 2.3 dCi Auto
• Renault Megane 1.6 dCi
• Skoda Superb SE L Executive 2.0 TDI (190) Automatic
• SsangYong Turismo 2.2 ELX Automatic
• Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ5 ALLGRIP Automatic
• Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible 2.8 D-4D Automatic
• Vauxhall Viva SE 1.0i ecoFLEX

Long-term test reports:

• Audi Q3 S line 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic Automatic
• Citroen C4 Cactus Feel BlueHDi 100 Airdream Pack
• Ford Mondeo Estate Titanium 2.0 TDCi (150) Automatic
• Honda HR-V 1.6 i-DTEC EX
• Kia Sorento KX-3 2.2 CRDi
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2.0 MIVEC GX4h
• Peugeot 308 GT BlueHDi 180 Automatic
• Renault Captur Dynamique Nav dCi 110
• Skoda Fabia SE L 1.4 TDI DSG Automatic
• Suzuki Vitara 1.6 DDiS SZ5 Urban ALLGRIP
• Volvo V60 Cross Country D3 Lux Nav Geartronic Automatic

Feature:

• Volvo XC90 in search of Reindeer drive story
• Reader’s Drives – 1993 Rover 220 GTD
• The art of blending diesel fuel and additives
• New Year Gadget Inspector Gift Guide
• Kia Ideas Festival

Used Car Buyer’s Guide:

• Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi (2012-on) 2WD and 4WD