Description

Roll out the red carpet, turn on the lights, it’s time for this year’s glittering Diesel Top 50 Awards. Which car secured the top spot in the 2024 countdown, who were the winners, and who were the losers. Find out the car company that won the Editor’s Award for Innovation, which firm was recognised for being the Most Influential Diesel Car Maker, and what car was the Most Eagerly Awaited New Diesel Car for 2025? You can find out all of the answers to these questions in the October 2024 edition of Diesel&EcoCar.

We’ve also got news of Cupra’s new Terramar, the first photographs of Audi’s new Q5 SUV, and we take the wraps off the MG ZS Hybrid+. There’s also news of the updated Volvo XC90, the revised Honda HR-V and the all-new smart #5. We’ve got behind the wheel of the Renault Symbioz Hybrid, the chunky new Hyundai Santa Fe, the Volkswagen Passat Estate, the MINI Countryman Electric, and Renault’s facelifted Captur. In addition, the DS 9 has been put through its paces by the test team, in addition to Audi’s A3 in petrol guise, and the facelifted Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI.

We welcome a newcomer to the long-term test fleet, with a Skoda Kodiaq TDI arriving in the Diesel&EcoCar car park, just as we wave goodbye to the Citroën C4 X BlueHDi and Vauxhall Corsa Electric. This month’s used car buyer’s guide is all about the Lexus UX 250h, we examine three generations of DS 3, and in secondhand shootout, we explore the MG HS and Suzuki Across plug-in hybrids. We also look at the differences between Lithium-ion and Lithium iron phosphate batteries and Simon Hacker discusses whether private plates should be allowed. Elsewhere we explain the virtues of Apple CarPlay, take a look at Caffeine and Machine in Stratford upon Avon, and reveal our fresh new tuning section.

Tested:

• Audi A3 Black Edition 35 TFSI DSG Automatic
• DS 9 Opera E-Tense 4×4 360 Automatic
• Hyundai Santa Fe Premium 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid Automatic
• MINI Countryman E Exclusive Automatic
• Renault Captur E-Tech Techno Hybrid 145 Automatic
• Renault Symbioz E-Tech Iconic Esprit Alpine Hybrid 145 Automatic
• Skoda Octavia SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Volkswagen Passat Estate Elegance 1.5 eTSI DSG Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Citroen C4 X Max BlueHDi 130 Automatic
• Honda ZR-V e:HEV 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid Advance
• Peugeot E-308 GT Automatic
• SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0 TSI
• Skoda Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Vauxhall Corsa Electric Ultimate (154) Automatic

Features:

• Bright Spark
• Current affairs – what’s the difference between Lithium-ion and Lithium iron phosphate
• Day trip to… Caffeine and Machine, Stratford upon Avon
• Diesel Top 50 Awards
• Gadget Inspector
• Motorgrump
• Techzone – Renault pothole mapping and Volvo Breathe partnership
• Technology explained – Apple CarPlay
• The Doctor – advice column
• You, the jury – Should private plates be banned?
• What’s on

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Best Buys – Diesel Cars up to £40k
• Generation Game – DS 3 – three generations examined
• Hero or zero – Volkswagen Arteon
• Product watch – Breakdown services
• Remember this – Cadillac BLS
• Secondhand shootout – MG HS PHEV vs Suzuki Across PHEV

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• Lexus UX 250h

Data Files

• Denied Diesel – Renault Fuego Turbo D
• Forgotten Concept – 2011 Land Rover DC100
• Joy of Lists – Brands that started out as models or trim levels of other models
• Megafactories – Stellantis, Zaragoza
• 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
• Techzone
• You, the jury
• 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