Description

It’s the fight of the gargantuan SUVs in the September 2026 edition of Diesel&EcoCar, as we bring news of the imposing new Audi Q9 and the Genesis GV90. In addition, there’s the first stories on the new Mercedes-Benz GLA and updated C-Class, a preview of the Audi A2 e-tron, a look at the interior of the upcoming Jaguar Type 01 and a look at the facelifted Bentley Flying Spur. There’s news of the Ford and Geely deal at the Valencia factory, a look at the next Hyundai Tucson and the unfortunately named Geely Monjaro.

We’ve been testing the Lexus ES, the Lepas L8, updated Jeep Avenger, Peugeot 408 and Vauxhall Astra, as well as putting the Renault Austral and Volkswagen Golf Match e-Hybrid through their paces. We welcome the Dacia Jogger, DS No4 and Hyundai Inster to the long-term fleet and wave goodbye to the Abarth 600e. The Jogger reports are particularly exciting because we haven’t got just one reporter, we have a whole family reviewing the Dacia for the next six months.

In our used car section, it’s all about the Volvo XC90 B5 (2019 to 2023) in this month’s handy buyer’s guide, and we look at three different versions of the BMW X5 in Generation Game. We ask whether the Fiat 500L MPW was a hero or zero and look back at the Rover 75 Long Wheelbase. In secondhand shootout we take a look at the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Juke hybrids and in our new column Hammertime we examine a selection of auction classics, including a classic Unimog, a Rover 75 Tourer, Volvo XC70 and BMW 635d. This month’s marketplace interview sees Jeep Managing Director, Kris Cholmondeley spoken to about the future of the American brand, with some interesting insights into what makes the marque different. With the ’76-plate’ motors released from showrooms this week we examine the changes to the Motability scheme and take a look at the Cherished Plate transfer system that the DVLA operates.

This is in addition to all of your other favourite features including The Doctor, 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 SEAT Bolero 330 BT from 1998, 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.

The September 2026 edition of Diesel&EcoCar magazine is on sale now. You can order a copy at www.dieselcar.com/shop and have it delivered free to your front door, with post and packaging taken care of by us. If you haven’t already done so, why not subscribe and save even more money. We have a range of different offers, including a pay as you go option that is paid monthly, but saves on the cover price. Visit www.dieselcar.com/shop or call our subscriptions hotline on 01268 288515 for a rundown of the latest special offers and deals.

By logging onto www.pocketmags.com, you can order of our extensive stock of digital back issues and even buy yourself a digital edition that works on the iPad and iPhone, Android, PC, Mac or Kindle. Alternatively, Diesel&EcoCar is also available on iTunes via the App Store on your Apple device.

Tested:

• Jeep Avenger 1.2 e-Hybrid 85^th Anniversary Automatic
• Lepas L8 PHEV Elevate Automatic
• Lexus ES 350e Premium Plus Automatic
• Peugeot 408 GT Premium 1.2 Mild Hybrid Automatic
• Renault Austral E-Tech Iconic Esprit Alpine Hybrid Automatic
• Vauxhall Astra Ultimate Electric Automatic
• Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Ultimate 1.2 Mild Hybrid Automatic
• Volkswagen Golf Match 1.5 TSI e-Hybrid Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Abarth 600e Scorpionissima Automatic
• Citroën C5 Aircross Max Plug-in Hybrid 195 Automatic
• Cupra Terramar VZ2 1.5 eHybrid DSG Automatic
• Dacia Jogger Extreme Hybrid 155 Automatic
• DS N^o4 DS Performance Line Electric Automatic
• Genesis GV60 Pure Automatic
• Hyundai Inster Cross Automatic
• Isuzu D-Max Double Cab V-Cross Automatic
• KGM Torres EVX K50 Automatic
• Renault Megane E-Tech Iconic Esprit Alpine Comfort Range Automatic
• Škoda Octavia SportLine 1.5 E-Tec DSG Automatic
• Suzuki e Vitara 61kWh Motion 2WD Automatic
• Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport Hybrid 1.5 VVT-i Automatic
• Vauxhall Frontera GS 1.2 Hybrid 145 (5-seat) Automatic

Features:

• Bright Spark – 50 years on
• Current affairs – Safety when charging
• Gadget Inspector
• Motorgrump – Two versus four wheels
• Technology explained – Active scan suspension
• The Doctor – advice column
• The best versus the rest – Rear-wheel drive cars

Buying, selling and maintaining

• Generation Game – BMW X5 – three generations explored
• Hero or zero – Fiat 500L MPW
• Product watch – Windscreen wipers
• Remember this – Rover 75 Long Wheelbase
• Secondhand shootout – Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Juke Hybrids
• Used Car Buyer’s Guide – Volvo XC90 B5 (2019 to 2023)

Data Files

• Denied diesels – Hyundai Alcazar
• Forgotten Concept – SEAT Bolero 330 BT
• Joy of Lists – All the cars that were prettier as estates, rather than saloons
• Under development – Cupra Martorell, Spain development centre
• 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
• The Legal Lane
• Techzone
• The best versus the rest
• Motorgrump
• Fully equipped
• Bright Spark
• DM@il
• Selling and Maintaining
• The Generation Game
• The Doctor’s Hero or Zero
• Marketplace Interview
• Marketplace Statistics
• Marketplace in the Pipeline
• Marketplace What’s New
• Data Files
• Next month
• Grand Designs