16 Long Term Test Cars on The Road Racing to The Hill

OURCARS.
SEAT ARONA FR
PEUGEOT 5008
AUDIRSS
TESLA MODEL S 85D
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Two months into Arona ownership
and, as a daily driver, we're sold. But
can Wales help see off the fug of
pointlessness that dogs it?
After four months we know it's
practical family transport, but won't
it feel ungainly, heavy and slow in
this more driver-focused company?
Ours since late last year, the RS5
remains an enigma - it's good, but
is it good enough? Wet roads and a
long drive should help its cause.
This will be the Tesla's biggest
challenge in its six months with us:
an overnight trip to a part of the
country light on fast chargers.
Price as tested £21,270 Engine
1498cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 148bhp,
1841b ft Transmission 6-spd
manual, fwd Performance 8.3sec
0-62mph, 127mph, 115g/km CO2
Miles this month 1382 Total 3878
Our mpg 37.7 Official mpg 55.4
Price as tested £36,940 Engine
1997cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 181bhp,
4001b ft Transmission 6-spd auto,
fwd Performance 9.1sec 0-62mph,
131mph, 124g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1908 Total 7501 Our mpg
39.8 Official mpg 58.9
Price as tested £80,015 Engine
2894cc 24v turbo V6, 444bhp,
4431b ft Transmission 8-spd auto,
awd Performance 3.9sec 0-62mph,
155mph, 197g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1476 Total 6920 Our mpg
23.8 Official mpg 32.5
Price as tested £57,510 (approved
used) Engine twin e-motors,
510bhp Transmission1-spd auto,
awd Performance 5.2sec 0-62mph,
155mph, Og/km CO2 Miles this
month 527 Total 20,511 Our energy
consumption 392Wh/mile
SUZUKI SWIFT
BMW MS
KIA STINGER GT S
SKODA OCTAVIA vRS
It's spent 11 months impressing us
with its flickability and disappointing
us with its low-rent interior. Will
Wales change anything?
After making us almost explode
with pleasure when it arrived last
month, can the all-wheel-drive
saloon possibly keep it up?
After an encouraging first couple of
months, Snowdonia gives the Kia a
chance to show what it can do on
some proper driving roads.
Our vRS has spent five months
showing us that - like generations of
hot Skodas before it - it's a blend of
fun and function. But is that it?
Price astested £14,984 Engine
998cc 12v turbo 3-cyl, 108bhp,
1251b ft Transmission 5-spd
manual, fwd Performance 10.6sec
0-62mph, 121mph, 97g/km CO2
Miles this month 847 Total 10,858
Our mpg 58.8 Official mpg 65.7
Price as tested £102,825 Engine
4395cc 32v turbo V8, 591bhp,
5531b ft Gearbox 8-spd auto, awd
Performance 3.4sec 0-62mph,
155mph, 241g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1286 Total 4870 Our mpg
16.9 Official mpg 26.9
Price as tested £41,180 Engine
3342cc 24v turbo 6-cyl, 360bhp,
3761b ft Transmission 8-spd auto,
rwd Performance 4.9sec 0-62mph,
168mph, 225g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1254 Total 3213 Our mpg
23.3 Official mpg 28.5
Price as tested £36,850 Engine
1984cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 242bhp,
2371b ft Transmission 7-spd auto,
fwd Performance 6.5sec 0-62mph,
156mph, 146g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1216 Total 11,766 Our mpg
29.7 Official mpg 44.1
JAGUAR XF
SPORTBRAKE
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA
COUNTRY TOURER
MERCEDES-AMG C43
HYUNDAI i30N
PERFORMANCE
Now five months into our time
with the Jag it's proved solid but
uninspiring. Still, that huge boot
should be great for getting lunch.
Championed by Ben Whitworth
when it debuted last month, but
will the Vauxhall estate survive
exposure to the rest of us?
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Once Steve Moody clicked with
his C-Class coupe he wouldn't let
anyone else near it. Time for the rest
of us to finally get a drive.
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Now in its fifth month with CAR,
there's been barely a dissenting
whisper. But will this outing reveal
its hidden flaws? {Spoiler: no.)
Price as tested £49,615 Engine
1999cc 16v turbodiesel 4-cyl, 178bhp,
3171b ft Transmission 8-spd auto,
rwd Performance 8.8sec 0-62mph,
138mph, 120g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1773 Total 9190 Our mpg 43
Official mpg 61.4
Price as tested £35,685 Engine
1956cc 16v diesel 4-cyl, 207bhp,
3541b ft Transmission 8-spd auto,
awd Performance 7.7sec 0-62mph,
142mph, 39.8mpg, 188g/km CO2
Miles this month 869 Total 2898
Our mpg 31.7 Official mpg 39.8
Price as tested £56,870 Engine
2996cc 24v twin-turbo V6, 360bhp,
3781b ft Transmission 9-spd auto,
awd Performance 4.7sec 0-62mph,
155mph, 183g/km CO2 Miles this
month 984 Total 7377 Our mpg
28.4 Official mpg 35.3
Price £28,550 Engine 1998cc
16v 4-cyl turbo, 271bhp, 2601b ft
Transmission 6-spd manual, fwd
Performance 6.1sec 0-62mph,
155mph, 163g/km CO2 Milesthis
month 705 Total 5837 Our mpg
20.9 Official mpg 39.8
MERCEDES E·CLASS
ALL-TERRAIN
VW ARTEON
VOLVO XC60
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
Supremely practical, hugely
desirable, comfortable and sensible
- but the Mere hasn't faced any
challenging roads until now.
After four months chugging happily
around the Cotswolds, time for
Volvo's middle SUV to stretch its
legs and test its sat-nav.
Initial styling-related reservations
have disappeared over our six
months with the Type R. All we see
now is a very talented hot hatch.
Price as tested £61,260 Engine
2987cc 24v turbodiesel V6, 254bhp,
4571b ft Transmission 9-spd auto,
awd Performance 6.2sec 0-62mph,
155mph, 179g/km CO2 Miles this
month 1324 Total 7790 Our mpg
34.7 Official mpg 41.5
Price as tested £40,600 Engine
1984cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 187bhp,
2361b ft Transmission 7-spd DSG
auto, fwd Performance 7.7sec
0-62mph, 149mph, 135g/km CO2
Miles this month 1186 Total1750
Our mpg 36.5 Official mpg 47.1
Price as tested £49,535 Engine
1969cc 16v turbodiesel 4-cyl,
187bhp, 2951b ft Trans 8-spd auto,
awd Performance 8.4sec 0-62mph,
127mph, 136g/km CO2 Miles this
month 809 Total 3857 Our mpg
32.4 Official mpg 54.3
Price as tested £32,995 Engine
1996cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 316bhp,
2951b ft Transmission 6-spd
manual, fwd Performance 5.8sec
0-62mph, 169mph, 176g/km CO2
Miles this month 2004 Total 9034
Our mpg 32.0 Official mpg 36.7
2018 I The Best Cars as Your Choices 3