Estate

Hatchback

Saloon

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive, while the closely related Stelvio and smaller Tonale both competes in the booming SUV class.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.

There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

ATECA

C CLASS

FABIA

FIESTA

GOLF

LEAF

LEON

STELVIO

Temporary taxonomy to separate ZS EV from other models in the ZS range. Built by ChrisH 11/10/2019

ZS EV

another-mot-extension-unlikely-during-third-coronavirus-lockdown

During the UK's national lockdown that was introduced in March 2020, the Government decided to grant a six-month extension for many car MOTs. This was because many garages had decided to close in order to protect staff and customers, even though they weren't legally bound to, and many people were finding it difficult to get their car tested. However, during the lockdown in England that ran from 5 November to 2 December, garages and service departments were not being told to close again, and this time most of them did stay open, operating on Covid-safe guidelines implemented earlier in the year.Although a third lockdown was announced for England and Scotland on 5 January 2021, garages are allowed to continue to operate according to their new safety guidelines. And this means it's unlikely that a new MOT extension will be introduced. Although car showrooms had to close during the second lockdown, many dealerships continued to sell cars, using the online and other contact-free practices introduced when they reopened last summer. They will be allowed to do the same during the latest lockdown.

If your car is due for an MOT test soon, it's advisable to book it in as early as possible, though. The six-month extension on MOTs from the first lockdown applied to all cars with certificates expiring between 30 March and 31 July 2020; owners of cars with MOTs that ran out on or after 1 August 2020 had to book a retest as usual.With cars eligible for the extension not needing to be retested until six months after their original MOT expired, that means many owners of these cars will be getting their cars tested now and that's likely to mean test centres are busier than usual.Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show that only 2.1 million MOTs were carried out in April and May 2020, compared with 7.1 million over the same period in 2019. That means around five million cars due for an MOT didn't get put in for the test. With a third of all vehicles likely to fail the test the first time, that suggests around 1.6 million unsafe cars could now have valid MOT certificates because their current certificate has been extended.If you own one of the millions of cars that qualified for an MOT extension and you want to get a new MOT for it before the extra six months expires, this is possible.However, if you want to keep the same annual renewal date for your car's MOT as it had prior to the coronavirus pandemic, you can only get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before the current one runs out. So, if your MOT runs out on 2 December, the earliest you can get an MOT to keep the same renewal date for next year is 3 November. For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/coronavirus-advice-for-car-drivers">Read more: All the latest coronavirus advice for drivers &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

Another MOT extension unlikely during third coronavirus lockdown

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Five-star Euro NCAP rating and high scores across all four categories: adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable road user and safety assist  </li> <li>Standard-fit crash avoidance systems, including automatic emergency braking that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other vehicles</li> <li>Driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane support, that work together to reduce fatigue for motorway drivers</li> <li>A reasonably affordable purchase price, providing the potential to be a high-volume seller in order to make the biggest overall impact on safety</li></ul>

The What Car? Safety Award, sponsored by Thatcham Research, awards those cars that have achieved the highest Euro NCAP scores within the past year. The maximum score is five stars, with individual scores presented for&nbsp;the safety and protection of adult occupants, child occupants, vulnerable road users&nbsp;(such as pedestrians or cyclists)&nbsp;and its list of safety assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance.&nbsp;

The judges for our 2020 awards are: Matthew Avery, head of safety for&nbsp;Thatcham Research;&nbsp;Professor Pete Thomas, the director of the Transport Safety Research Centre at Loughborough University; Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP; and Claire Evans, What Car?'s consumer editor.&nbsp;

Safety Award

car-dealers-told-they-can-start-selling-and-delivering-cars-again

Car dealers have been told they can start selling and delivering cars again, so long as they abide by all social distancing regulations.The news confirms that car dealers are allowed to chat with customers online or over the phone - including completing the sale of cars - and to deliver vehicles so long as they follow strict contactless delivery protocols.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/how-contactless-car-delivery-can-help-you-buy-a-car-safely-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/n21341">Read more: How contactless car delivery can help you during the coronavirus crisis</a>A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy (BEIS) told Car Dealer Magazine: “We have asked non-essential shops like car dealerships and showrooms in England to close, unless they provide urgent car repairs and other necessary services.“They are all able to continue to sell cars remotely and deliver cars, as long as they follow our clear guidance from Public Health England to protect both employees who cannot work from home and their customers.”Many car dealers are already set up for online chat - either using their own systems or through portals such as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?’s New Car Buying marketplace</a>. However, this latest announcement is set to prompt many to engage more staff to deal with an anticipated surge in enquiries.Research by What Car? during the lockdown has recently revealed that 5% of visitors to its website are expecting to buy a new car within four weeks, and 20% as soon as lockdown ends, suggesting that there is pent-up demand among buyers. It also revealed that more than half of prospective buyers expect a reply to an enquiry from dealerships within half a day if they are going to do business with them.Because of this pent up demand, coupled with reduced supply because of factory closures, buyers have also been urged to move fast to secure stronger deals from retailers and manufacturers keen to do business. Latest data from What Car?’s Target Price mystery shoppers suggests there are still strong discounts available, but that they are likely to reduce as demand grows.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/coronavirus-advice-for-car-drivers">Read more: all the latest coronavirus advice for drivers &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

Car dealers told they can start selling and delivering cars again

what-are-car-companies-doing-to-help-me-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

What are car companies doing to help me during the coronavirus pandemic?

drivers-advised-to-book-mot-tests-early-to-avoid-long-delays

Drivers with cars due an MOT test in the next few months are being urged to book as soon as possible to avoid being caught out by a surge in demand.Many garages decided to close during the UK's first <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/coronavirus-advice-for-car-drivers">national Covid-19 lockdown</a>, leading to the Government granting a six-month MOT extension for vehicles that were due to be tested between 30 March and 31 July last year. As a result, a large number of vehicles now need the test at the same time.According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), nearly seven million MOTs are due to expire across England, Scotland and Wales during September and October – 1.3 million more than during the same two months of 2019.The AA’s head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, said: “MOT centres are already feeling the strain and with ‘Super September’ looming, savvy drivers should get ahead of the game. Usually people leave booking their MOT to the last possible moment, but they won’t have that luxury this time.”An MOT test involves the inspection of several areas of a vehicle to ensure they meet legal standards, including the brakes, lights, fuel system, mirrors, wipers and seatbelts.The test for cars costs a maximum of £54.85, and is required when a vehicle reaches three years old, and then every 12 months subsequently.Drivers can be fined up to £1000 for using a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate.

<h3 dir="ltr">The most common reasons for MOT test failure</h3>1. Lights and indicators 29.5% Includes blown bulbs and incorrectly aligned headlights.2. Suspension 20.2% Broken or corroded suspension springs are the main culprit, caused by Britain’s poor roads and cold, wet weather.3. Brakes 17.2% Covers worn-out brake pads or brake discs and leaks in the braking system.4. Tyres and wheels 10.9% Tread depth below the legal limit is the main issue, followed by bulges or cuts in tyre sidewalls and damaged wheels.5. Driver’s view 8.7% Includes any items that obscure the view forwards and cracks in the windscreen.6. Fuel and exhaust 5.4% Cars aren’t allowed to emit any visible smoke, plus emission levels are checked. A locking fuel filler cap and a fuel tank in reasonable condition are also required.7. Steering 3.0% Covers worn racks or other components.8. Seatbelts 2.2% Frayed or worn seatbelts, insecure anchorage points and belts that don’t retract properly are common issues.9. Bodywork and structure 1.9% Rust can be a major issue on older cars, especially if it’s on structural components.10. Number plates/VIN 0.9% Includes broken numberplate lights and plates that flout the legal requirements.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/mot-test-fail-rates-best-and-worst-models/n19766">Read more: Which cars are most (and least) likely to fail their MOT? &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

Drivers advised to book MOT tests early to avoid long delays

learning-to-drive-post-coronavirus

Taking driving lessons can be nerve-wracking for novice drivers at the best of times, but now there’s a whole new set of guidelines for them and their instructors to abide by to keep everyone safe from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/coronavirus-advice-for-car-drivers">Covid-19</a>. Driving lessons and tests have been on hold during England's third coronavirus lockdown, but they're restarting from 12 April. We went out on the road with a driving instructor and pupil last summer when lessons were back on after the first lockdown to see how things had changed. When lessons resumed in England on 4 July 2020 after being on hold for almost four months during the coronavirus lockdown, all participants were asked to wear face masks and use hand sanitiser before getting into the car. The guidelines from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also include advice on how instructors should contact their pupils ahead of each lesson and the correct way to sanitise their cars.

While quieter-than-usual roads will help to ease learners’ nerves, the hiatus has created a big backlog of novice drivers who are eager to get behind the wheel, so demand for lessons is likely to be high, and the extra precautions might mean that some instructors aren’t able to teach as many pupils each day. In addition, around 2500 of the UK’s 40,000 driving instructors are thought to have given up on the profession due to the pandemic. Don Harris, owner of the Hallmark School of Driving and membership secretary for the Association of Approved Driving Instructors, says there was a lack of information from the DVSA on how and when they would be able to get back to work, and that has pushed some instructors to close their driving schools. Trainee driving instructor licences last for only six months, with instructors being required to give lessons during that time, and they weren’t able to do this during lockdown. <h3>Before the lesson</h3>Learners will have to pay more attention to their attire than before. You will be asked to wear clothing that covers your arms and legs, and you might want to add an extra layer or two, because all lessons will take place with the car's windows open to maximise airflow. You can expect a phone call or text message from the instructor ahead of each lesson to check whether you or anyone you’ve been in contact with has had Covid-19 symptoms. If the answer to either of these questions is ‘yes’, the lesson will be postponed. The usual short-notice cancellation fee will be waived.

When the instructor gets to your house, they won’t knock on the door. They’ll first wipe down all the frequently touched surfaces in their car, including the steering wheel, gearlever, seatbelts, indicator and wiper stalks, door handles, rear-view mirror and door mirror adjusters. They’ll then meet you outside the car, and they might take your temperature as an added precaution. You’ll both put on disposable gloves and face masks before getting into the car, and you can expect the instructor to provide an alcohol spray to sanitise your gloves. <h3>During the lesson </h3>Prior to lessons restarting, there was some debate over whether instructors’ cars should be fitted with plastic screens between the front seats. However, there were concerns that they could be dangerous in an accident, especially if a car’s airbags went off, and it could prevent instructors from taking control of the car if necessary. There were also potential insurance implications, because the screens could have been regarded as modifications to the cars. Similarly, face visors were considered for teachers and pupils, but these haven’t been adopted by any of the driving schools we spoke to. Instead, instructors and pupils are being advised to look ahead rather than at each other as much as possible during the lesson.

<h3>At the end of the lesson </h3>Rather than you being given feedback and tips on the areas of your driving that need work while seated in the car, this will be done outside with the instructor standing a safe distance away from you. And the instructor is unlikely to make notes in a traditional logbook after each lesson. Because neither of you should handle items such as pens and notebooks and then share them with the other person, you might be asked to photograph comments and diagrams on message boards or tablets using your mobile phone, or the instructor might send you feedback later via an email or text message.<hr /><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/taking-your-driving-test-post-coronavirus/n21709">Next: How driving tests have changed &gt;&gt;</a></h2>Page 1 of 2

Learning to drive post-coronavirus