Description

It’s the updated Renault Megane on the front cover of the July 2026 issue of Diesel&EcoCar, with the dynamism and quality enhanced on the French firm’s pure electric mid-liner. We’ve also got the first pictures of the electric Ferrari Luce – which side of the fence do you sit on? Elsewhere there’s news of Ford’s plans to reinvigorate its European line-up, a look at Stellantis’ roadmap to greater profitability with a whole host of new models, and we look at the new Skoda Epiq, the Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI, the BYD Dolphin G, updated Jeep Avenger and the interesting Renault 4 JP4x4 concept car.

Our testers have been putting the baby Cupra Raval through its paces this month, along with the Toyota C-HR+, MG S9, Mitsubishi L200 diesel pick-up, Citroën Ë-C3 Urban Range, Leapmotor B10 Hybrid and the facelifted Peugeot 308. On the Our Cars fleet, we wave a fond farewell to the Jeep Avenger and Skoda Octavia Estate.

So, what should you buy and take along for your first trip out off-roading or green laning – our experts tell you about the essential kit to carry so you don’t run aground. We’ve also looked at the kind of tyres you’ll need when heading off the tarmac onto more challenging ground.

The Vauxhall Grandland diesel (2021 to 2024) is under the spotlight in this month’s used car buyer’s guide, and we also examine three different generations of the Honda HR-V. We pitch the hybrid versions of the Renault Clio up against the Toyota Yaris and ask whether the Mercedes-Benz X-Class was a hero or a zero. We also take a trip down memory lane, looking back at the Volvo S70 TDI. This is in addition to all of your other favourite features including Motorgrump, Fully Equipped, Bright Spark, and the most up-to-date data section in the magazine business. Don’t forget to check out one of our newest columns, Grand Designs, that places a spotlight on the Audi Nuvolari concept car from 2003, 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.

Tested:

• Citroen E-C3 Urban Range Plus Automatic
• Cupra Raval VZ Automatic
• Leapmotor B10 Hybrid Automatic
• MG S9 PHEV Premium Automatic
• Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian 2.4 DI-D Automatic
• Peugeot 308 Allure Hybrid 145 Automatic
• Toyota C-HR+ Design Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Abarth 600e Scorpionissima Automatic
• Citroen C5 Aircross Max Plug-in Hybrid 195 Automatic
• Cupra Terramar VZ2 e-Hybrid Automatic
• Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Automatic
• Jeep Avenger 4xe The North Face Edition 1.2 e-Hybrid Automatic
• Skoda Octavia Estate SE L 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
• Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport Hybrid 1.5 VVT-i Automatic
• Vauxhall Frontera GS Hybrid 145 Automatic
• Volvo XC90 Ultra T8 AWD Plug-in Hybrid Automatic

Features:

• Bright Spark – Redefining supercars in the electric era
• Current affairs – Different between total and usable battery capacity
• Gadget Inspector
• Motorgrump – Fuel crisis
• Technology explained – What is Trailer stability control?
• The Doctor – advice column
• You, the jury – lower speed limits during the fuel crisis?

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Generation Game – Honda HR-V – three generations explored
• Hero or zero – Mercedes-Benz X-Class
• Product watch – Airport parking
• Remember this – Volvo S70 TDI
• Secondhand shootout – Renault Clio Hybrid vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid

Used Car Buyer’s Guide

• Vauxhall Grandland Turbo D (2021 to 2024)

Data Files

• Denied diesels – Fiat Croma Turbo D i.d.
• Forgotten Concept – Audi Novulari
• Joy of Lists – Car names that have unsavoury translations in other languages
• Under development – Volvo Hallered proving ground
• 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
• 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
• The Legal Lane