CONTENTS
Britain’s biggest and best car buyer’s guide
What’s new? 15 First drives, new models and news
Test centre 55 The UK’s most thorough car comparisons
Star Cars this month
Triple test Chic hatches, p56
Audi A3, Volvo V40
A3 takes interior quality to new heights; V40 replaces S40 and V50
Jaguar XF Sportbrake, Peugeot 208 GTI
Stylish executive estate; hot hatch recaptures 205 GTI’s spirit
34
First drives
Alfa Romeo Giulietta p33 Alpina D5 Biturbo p36 Bentley Continental GTC V8 p34 BMW 3 Series p39 BMW Hybrid 5 p31 BMW X1 p39 Fiat Panda p31 Fiat Punto p36 Ford Focus p32, 33 Hyundai i30 p34 Mercedes-Benz SL p30 Mini Roadster p38 Porsche 911 Cabriolet p37 Renault Scénic p33 Seat Exeo p37 Subaru XV p36 Vauxhall Zafira Tourer p39
News
Fiat unveils the 500L p42 MoT remains an annual test p48
Coming soon Brilliant cars just around the corner p50
32
36
37
16
24
New Volkswagen Beetle vs Mini Cooper S and Nissan Juke
56
Retro styling meets 21st century brashness. Which is the one to be seen in?
Twin test: small family cars New Mercedes-Benz B-Class vs Volkswagen Golf
Quick test: diesel drop-tops New Mercedes-Benz SLK vs Audi TT Roadster
Triple test: £30k cars New Audi A5 vs new Chevrolet Volt vs Range Rover Evoque
Quick triple test: superminis New Chevrolet Aveo vs Skoda Fabia vs Suzuki Swift
Quick test: small family cars New Honda Civic vs new Mazda 3
64
69
78 70
81
Our cars Final reports on our time with the BMW 5 Series Touring and Audi A2, plus reliability woes with our Audi A1, numberplate cloning, retro-fitting a DAB radio and dodgy automatic wipers
84
64
8 | APRIL 2012 whatcar.com