Description

The front cover of the July 2025 edition of Diesel&EcoCar magazine is cooler than a polar bear’s wobbly bits, with Alpine’s exciting new electric A390 taking centre stage. Elsewhere we’ve got the first news and pictures of Peugeot’s bid to revive the GTi name with the hot new E-208 GTi. Other cool cars include Renault’s 4 Savane 4×4 concept car, the Fiat Panda Manifesto that takes inspiration from the Sisley 4×4 special edition from back in 80s, and we’ve got a trio of brand-new Toyota models that will be in showrooms from early next year – the all-new RAV4 plug-in hybrid, the electric bZ4X Touring and the hybridised Toyota Aygo X. And as if that wasn’t enough, we bring you pictures of the facelifted Kia Sportage, the updated Genesis Electrified G80 that’s now available in long wheelbase guise, the full details about Nissan’s brand new electric Micra, Audi’s A6 e-Hybrid and the Leapmotor B10.

Our testers have been driving the stunning new DS No8, the BMW i5 Touring and the facelifted Genesis Electrified GV70, as well as dual motor four-wheel editions of both the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, the barnstorming Land Rover Discovery with new D350 diesel engine, as well as the BMW iX on UK turf for the first time.

This month it is our special awards issue, as we count down the very best electrified new cars of 2025. Every electric, plug-in hybrid, self-charging hybrid, mild hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle has been judged so that we could declare our definitive list. If you’re in the market for an electrified car, don’t order anything until you’ve checked out our essential guide.

Our used car buyer’s bible is all about the Mazda CX-5 Diesel (2021-onwards), and we have also examined three different generations of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The MG4 faces the Renault Megane E-Tech in secondhand shootout, and we ask the Doctor whether the Jaguar XE is a hero or a complete zero. This is in addition to all of your other favourite features including The Doctor, Fully Equipped, Bright Spark, and the most up-to-date data section in the magazine business. In automotive own goals, we discuss BMW and its ownership of Rover, and don’t forget to check out one of the newest columns, Grand Designs, that looks back at a groundbreaking concept car, as well as an interesting look at past prototypes, clay models and design sketches, some or all of which you may never have seen before. Finally, it’s the return of our resident legal expert, in The Legal Lane.

Tested:

• BMW i5 Touring M60 xDrive Automatic
• BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport Automatic
• DS No8 Étoile FWD Long Range Automatic
• Fiat Grande Panda Ibrida La Prima Automatic
• Genesis Electrified GV70 Luxury AWD Automatic
• Land Rover Discovery D350 AWD Metropolitan Edition Automatic
• Peugeot E-3008 Launch Edition Dual Motor AWD Automatic
• Peugeot E-5008 Launch Edition Dual Motor AWD Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Citroën ë-SpaceTourer XL You! 75kWh Automatic
• Cupra Tavascan V1 Automatic
• DS 4 Étoile Hybrid 136 Automatic
• Genesis Electrified GV70 Sport Automatic
• Renault Rafale E-Tech Iconic Esprit Alpine Automatic
• Skoda Superb Estate SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Vauxhall Grandland Electric Ultimate Automatic
• Volvo V90 Plus T6 AWD Automatic

Features:

• Electrified Top 50 – Car of the Year Awards
• Bright Spark
• Current affairs – Should I use air conditioning or open the windows?
• Day trip to… Silverstone museum
• Gadget Inspector
• Technology explained – Electric park brake
• The Doctor – advice column
• Tomorrow’s World – ZF new generation range extender technology, Volvo’s revolutionary new seatbelt
• You, the jury – Ban the width bollards?
• What’s on

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Generation Game – Mercedes-Benz A-Class – three generations examined
• Hero or zero – Jaguar XE
• Product watch – Pressure washers
• Remember this – Bentley Bentayga Diesel
• Secondhand shootout – MG4 vs Renault Scenic E-Tech

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• Mazda CX-5 Diesel (2021-onwards)

Data Files

• Denied diesels – SEAT Ateca 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Forgotten Concept – 1994 Toyota Prius
• Joy of Lists – Diesel Chryslers in the UK, to celebrate the brand’s 100th birthday
• Under development – UTAC Millbrook, Bedfordshire
• 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
• Tomorrow’s World
• Roadwatch
• You, the jury
• Fully equipped
• 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
• Grand Designs