H-J of new cars
From the new Honda CR-V to the stunning Jaguar F-Type, here are the best new cars for 2013 from H to J
Honda Civic diesel On sale: Mid-2013Price: From £18,000
A 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine should breathe new life into the Civic from the middle of next year. It’s built at the Swindon plant in Wiltshire, and Honda says it’s lighter than any other similarly sized diesel on sale. The engine’s figures are impressive – it claims 78.5mpg fuel economy, 94g/km of CO2 and 300Nm of torque.
Honda Civic Estate On sale: Late 2013Price: From £18,500 (est.)
Honda has announced it’ll build an estate version of the Civic. It released this shadowy teaser picture at the recent Paris Motor Show, and confirmed the car will be built in the UK – but that’s it. So to find out more, we’ll have to wait for the concept, due next year. Big things are expected, as the Civic hatch already has a bigger boot – at 477 litres – than a Ford Focus estate.
Honda CR-V On sale: NowPrice: From £21,395
Honda was among the first to jump on the SUV bandwagon, and the CR-V has moved on a fair bit since 1997. This all-new British-built model isn’t the most distinctive car to look at, but it offers loads of space in its upmarket cabin. Neat touches include rear seats which fall flat either at the pull of a lever in the boot, or a toggle on the seat squab. It’s a shame there isn’t a seven-seat version to compete with the new Hyundai Santa Fe, although Honda is offering a front-wheel-drive model this time.
Driven it: Tom Phillips“The new CR-V offers a safe, comfortable drive. It’s an ideal buy for families, too, as it provides so much space for the driver, passengers and all their luggage.”
Honda CR-Z facelift On sale: Mid-2013Price: From £18,500 (est.)
The Honda CR-Z – the first hybrid to feature a manual transmission – has been given a power boost from 122bhp to 135bhp. A lithium-ion battery also replaces the current car’s nickel-metal hydride unit. It will be just as green, too, with Honda saying that there will be no change to the current car’s 117g/km CO2 emissions.
Hyundai i30 3-door On sale: DecemberPrice: From £15,000 (est.)
Sporty three-door Hyundai i30 is marked out from the five-door model by a more angular windscreen, new bumpers, a mesh grille and a new wheel design. It will get the same engines as the five-door, and a choice of six-speed manual or auto gearboxes.
Hyundai Santa Fe On sale: NowPrice: From £25,495
Value for money is a big selling point for any Hyundai. And although the new Santa Fe is considerably more expensive than before, it’s leagues ahead in terms of style and quality, inside and out. The SUV still competes keenly with its rivals on spec, with the option of five or seven seats key to its appeal. If you’ve got a big family, the third-row seats offer a decent amount of space for children, and can even accommodate adults on short trips. The Santa Fe drives well, offering a very refined, quiet and comfortable ride. It feels well built, too, plus, alongside a decent level of equipment, you still get the company’s five-year Triple Care warranty as standard.
Driven it: Tom Phillips“The Santa Fe looks like a car from the class above, and it’s comfortable and well equipped inside. Plus, it provides seven-seater flexibility.”
Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel On sale: NowPrice: £100,800
A V8-powered SUV that hits 170mph? That’s what we can expect from the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel. The double F1 world champion has put his name to the SUV, which features a 414bhp 5.0-litre V8. Inside, there’s carbon-look trim, a numbered plaque and seats embroidered with Vettel logos.
Infiniti LE Concept On sale: 2014Price: From £45,000 (est.)
This is Infiniti’s potent, luxurious take on the Nissan Leaf. The styling takes cues from the Emerge-E sports car, and a hi-tech infotainment system can pre-book EV sockets. Charging is wireless, with 30 minutes giving 80 per cent capacity, and a full charge provides a 100-mile range.
Jaguar F-Type On sale: Spring 2013Price: From £58,500
Jaguar is staking its reputation as a maker of great sports cars on the new F-Type. On the face of it, the brand is playing fairly safe with its new Porsche 911 rival’s layout, sticking to the traditional front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car formula. But beneath the two-seater soft-top’s smooth, E-Type-influenced body, there’s an adaptive chassis and lightweight aluminium construction. At launch there’ll be a new supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, offered in two outputs, or a 490bhp supercharged V8 giving 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds. All F-Types get an eight-speed paddleshift box and will drive as well as the Porsche, says Jaguar.
Jaguar XFR-S On sale: 2013Price: From £70,000 (est.)
Jaguar’s new XFR-S will use the same 550bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 as the impressive XKR-S coupe and convertible. The supersaloon also gets an aggressive bodykit and larger wheels. It should rocket from 0-62mph in less than 4.5 seconds.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake On sale: NowPrice: From £31,940
The Sportbrake expands the XF range to compete with the Audi A6 Avant and BMW 5 Series Touring. It offers a choice of three diesels – 163bhp or 190bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder engines, or a 240bhp 3.0-litre V6 – while the plush luggage area features a 60:40-split fold rear seat and offers a massive 1,675 litres of load space.
