Diesel & Eco Car – Issue 479 – October 2026

It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of testing, deep examination of new models and analysis of the results, as we countdown the hottest top 40 new diesel models on sale today. Don’t miss our definitive list of the best, most economical new cars on sale today – an area of the market that most other magazines no longer cover. We evaluate every single new diesel available for sale and give you all of the useful statistics and explain why they are worthy of inclusion in the 2026 definitive guide to diesel motoring.

Our testers have been driving the Volvo EX60, the excellent Kia EV2, the plug-in hybrid edition of the Jeep Compass, the superb Škoda Epiq, the rough and rugged KGM Musso diesel and the hot new Vauxhall Corsa GSE, as well as the Leapmotor B03X, the 2.2-litre diesel edition of the Isuzu D-Max and the new diesel engine in the Citroën SpaceTourer. We also welcome three new cars to the long-term fleet, including the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Fiat Grande Panda, but sadly it’s time for the KGM Torres EVX, Genesis GV60, Cupra Terramar and Toyota Yaris Cross to depart.

We’ve got the latest news and first photographs of the hot new Dacia Spring, the Audi A2 e-tron, Range Rover Electric, Polestar 4 SUV, facelifted Lexus NX, revised Renault Scenic and updates to the Volvo EC40 and EX40, as well as the first details of a substantial reorganisation within the Volkswagen Group.

In our used car area, we examine the KGM and SsangYong Rexton under the microscope, look at three iterations of the Ford Kuga in Generation Game, and ask whether the SEAT Exeo was a hero or zero. In Secondhand Shootout we compare the Jaguar F-Pace and the Mercedes-Benz GLC and we also look back at the Alfa Romeo Brera in Remember This.

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 Renault Next from 1996, 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:

  • Citroën SpaceTourer Max 2.2 Diesel Automatic
  • Isuzu D-MAX Double Cab 2.2 V-Cross Automatic
  • Jeep Compass e Plug-in hybrid Altitude Automatic
  • KGM Musso Rhino Diesel Automatic
  • Kia EV2 GT-Line Automatic
  • Leapmotor B03X Automatic
  • Škoda Epiq First Edition 55 Automatic
  • Vauxhall Corsa GSE Automatic
  • Volvo EX60 Plus P10 AWD Automatic

Long-term test reports:

  • Citroën C5 Aircross Max Plug-in Hybrid 195 Automatic
  • Cupra Terramar VZ2 1.5 eHybrid DSG Automatic
  • Dacia Jogger Extreme Hybrid 155 Automatic
  • DS No4 DS Performance Line Electric Automatic
  • Fiat Grande Panda La Prima 1.2 Hybrid Automatic
  • Genesis GV60 Pure Automatic
  • Honda HR-V e:HEV Advance Style Plus Automatic
  • Hyundai Ioniq 9 Ultimate AWD 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 – What’s in a name?
  • Current affairs – Why the driving range drops as the temperatures do
  • Gadget Inspector
  • Motorgrump – Parking woes
  • Technology explained – Apple CarPlay Ultra
  • The Doctor – advice column
  • The best versus the rest – Diesel classics

Buying, selling and maintaining

  • Generation Game – Ford Kuga – three generations explored
  • Hero or zero – SEAT Exeo
  • Product watch – Replacement tyres
  • Remember this – Alfa Romeo Brera
  • Secondhand shootout – Jaguar F-Pace vs Mercedes-Benz GLC
  • Used Car Buyer’s Guide – KGM and SsangYong Rexton

Data Files

  • Denied diesels – Chrysler 180
  • Forgotten Concept – Renault Next
  • Joy of Lists – Ford cars that sold as a different name outside of the UK
  • Under development – Toyota Belgium technical 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
  • 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

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Description

It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of testing, deep examination of new models and analysis of the results, as we countdown the hottest top 40 new diesel models on sale today. Don’t miss our definitive list of the best, most economical new cars on sale today – an area of the market that most other magazines no longer cover. We evaluate every single new diesel available for sale and give you all of the useful statistics and explain why they are worthy of inclusion in the 2026 definitive guide to diesel motoring.

Our testers have been driving the Volvo EX60, the excellent Kia EV2, the plug-in hybrid edition of the Jeep Compass, the superb Škoda Epiq, the rough and rugged KGM Musso diesel and the hot new Vauxhall Corsa GSE, as well as the Leapmotor B03X, the 2.2-litre diesel edition of the Isuzu D-Max and the new diesel engine in the Citroën SpaceTourer. We also welcome three new cars to the long-term fleet, including the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Fiat Grande Panda, but sadly it’s time for the KGM Torres EVX, Genesis GV60, Cupra Terramar and Toyota Yaris Cross to depart.

We’ve got the latest news and first photographs of the hot new Dacia Spring, the Audi A2 e-tron, Range Rover Electric, Polestar 4 SUV, facelifted Lexus NX, revised Renault Scenic and updates to the Volvo EC40 and EX40, as well as the first details of a substantial reorganisation within the Volkswagen Group.

In our used car area, we examine the KGM and SsangYong Rexton under the microscope, look at three iterations of the Ford Kuga in Generation Game, and ask whether the SEAT Exeo was a hero or zero. In Secondhand Shootout we compare the Jaguar F-Pace and the Mercedes-Benz GLC and we also look back at the Alfa Romeo Brera in Remember This.

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 Renault Next from 1996, 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:

  • Citroën SpaceTourer Max 2.2 Diesel Automatic
  • Isuzu D-MAX Double Cab 2.2 V-Cross Automatic
  • Jeep Compass e Plug-in hybrid Altitude Automatic
  • KGM Musso Rhino Diesel Automatic
  • Kia EV2 GT-Line Automatic
  • Leapmotor B03X Automatic
  • Škoda Epiq First Edition 55 Automatic
  • Vauxhall Corsa GSE Automatic
  • Volvo EX60 Plus P10 AWD Automatic

Long-term test reports:

  • Citroën C5 Aircross Max Plug-in Hybrid 195 Automatic
  • Cupra Terramar VZ2 1.5 eHybrid DSG Automatic
  • Dacia Jogger Extreme Hybrid 155 Automatic
  • DS No4 DS Performance Line Electric Automatic
  • Fiat Grande Panda La Prima 1.2 Hybrid Automatic
  • Genesis GV60 Pure Automatic
  • Honda HR-V e:HEV Advance Style Plus Automatic
  • Hyundai Ioniq 9 Ultimate AWD 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 – What’s in a name?
  • Current affairs – Why the driving range drops as the temperatures do
  • Gadget Inspector
  • Motorgrump – Parking woes
  • Technology explained – Apple CarPlay Ultra
  • The Doctor – advice column
  • The best versus the rest – Diesel classics

Buying, selling and maintaining

  • Generation Game – Ford Kuga – three generations explored
  • Hero or zero – SEAT Exeo
  • Product watch – Replacement tyres
  • Remember this – Alfa Romeo Brera
  • Secondhand shootout – Jaguar F-Pace vs Mercedes-Benz GLC
  • Used Car Buyer’s Guide – KGM and SsangYong Rexton

Data Files

  • Denied diesels – Chrysler 180
  • Forgotten Concept – Renault Next
  • Joy of Lists – Ford cars that sold as a different name outside of the UK
  • Under development – Toyota Belgium technical 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
  • 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

Additional information

Back Issue Options

Europe (£5.65 P&P), UK (£1.05 P&P), Worldwide (£8.40 P&P)

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