Description

It may be the last issue of 2024, but the December edition is no less exciting, with the return of our Christmas gift guide and the Diesel&EcoCar motoring themed Christmas Crossword. In addition, we’ve got first tests of the MINI Aceman, the Polestar 4, Dacia Duster Hybrid, MG3 Hybrid+, Renault Rafale PHEV, the Peugeot E-5008 and Audi Q7 TDI, as well as the Toyota Prius PHEV and Subaru Crosstrek.

We welcome an Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV to the long-term fleet, alongside a Suzuki Swift mild hybrid, though wave goodbye to the editor’s Peugeot E-308. We’ve got an A-to-Z guide to all of the new Chinese brands, some of whom you may not have heard of. If you want to know who owns what, what the new models will be, and when they are arriving, you can’t miss this invaluable guide.

In the Used Car section there’s a buyer’s guide on the facelifted Renault Kadjar, a look at three generations of SEAT Leon, and we tell you all about the new models arriving in showrooms soon. In our news pages there’s information on the new Suzuki e Vitara, the facelifted Vauxhall Mokka, the Hyundai Inster Cross, revised Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Initium hydrogen fuel-cell concept car, and a unique Kia Niro Tri-fuel that runs on petrol, has a hybrid drivetrain, and can also fill up with LPG. We’ve got the first news on Bentley’s future plans, and all of the changes that were made at the recent Autumn budget by the new Labour government.

Tested:

• Audi Q7 S line 50 TDI quattro Automatic
• Dacia Duster Journey Hybrid 140 Automatic
• MG3 Hybrid+ Trophy Automatic
• MINI Aceman SE Exclusive Automatic
• Peugeot E-5008 GT Automatic
• Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor Automatic
• Renault Rafale E-Tech Atelier Alpine Plug-in Hybrid 300 4×4 Automatic
• Subaru Crosstrek e-Boxer 2.0i Touring Autoamtic
• Toyota Prius PHEV Excel 2.0 VVT-i Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.3 PHEV 280 Q4 Veloce Automatic
• Fiat 600e La Prima Automatic
• Genesis GV60 Premium RWD Single Motor Automatic
• Peugeot E-308 GT Automatic
• Renault Scenic E-Tech Iconic Automatic
• SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0 TSI
• Skoda Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Suzuki Swift 1.2 Ultra

Features:

• A-to-Z Ultimate Guide to Chinese Cars
• Bright Spark
• Current affairs – What are the VED changes for EVs from April 2025?
• Day trip to… Cotswold Motor Museum
• Christmas Gadget Inspector
• Christmas Crossword
• Motorgrump
• Techzone – New advances in PHEV Battery Pack range
• Technology explained – Rain sensing windscreen wipers
• The Doctor – advice column
• You, the jury – Cars growing in size
• What’s on

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Best Buys – Self charging hybrid cars under £40k
• Generation Game – SEAT Leon – three generations examined
• Hero or zero – Toyota Highlander
• Product watch – Tyres
• Remember this – Ford Mondeo Mk1/2
• Secondhand shootout – Fiat 500e vs MINI Electric

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• Renault Kadjar Facelift

Data Files

• Denied Hybrid – Mitsubishi Colt
• Forgotten Concept – 2011 Volvo Universe Concept
• Joy of Lists – Hot hatch diesels
• Megafactories – Stellantis, Poissy, France
• 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
• 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