Auto Express road tests: autumn 2013
Citroen C4 Picasso vs Renault Scenic vs VW Touran
September - Chobham, Surrey
Bold design has always been a Citroen hallmark – and the latest C4 Picasso is no exception. Yet underneath this car’s head-turning exterior beats the heart of atruly practical people carrier, as we found out when we put the newcomer to the test in late summer.
Highlights include a spacious, well thought out interior, excellent refinement and plenty of standard kit. But it was the quality and comfort that allowed the C4 to edge ahead of the facelifted Renault Scenic and take top honours. The worthy but dull VW Touran finished in a distant third place.
Lexus IS 300h vs BMW 320d vs Audi A4
September - Blyton, Lincolnshire
In a class where low CO2 emissions are all-important, a hybrid should do well. That was the thinking behind the new Lexus IS, which now comes in petrol-electric form.
Sub-100g/km emissions are a great place to start, but the Lexus couldn’t beat either rival in this compact exec saloon encounter. “The IS runs its competitors closer than ever... but the remote driving experience and lifeless steering count against it,” we said. First place went to BMW’s 320d EfficientDynamics, which mixes compelling company car appeal with genuine driver satisfaction.
MG3 vs Dacia Sandero vs Skoda Citigo
September - Nantwich, Cheshire
The MG3 was looking to exterminate its rivals when we got the keys to one of the first production cars and access to a hay bale Dalek for one of the more unusual header shots of the year.
But could the new baby see off the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Citigo with its mix of attractive prices, neat styling and the promise of engaging driving dynamics? A third place finish suggests it fell flat – although this result says as much about the quality of its rivals as it does about the MG3.
The Citigo again proved itself as one of the best cars on sale, while the practical Dacia is another former group test winner. What let the MG3 down? We felt it was held back by its mediocre engine, firm ride and low-rent interior. Crucially, in a test of value-led models, the newcomer trailed at the pumps, too: it returned only 32.6mpg, compared to the Skoda’s 48.7mpg.
BMW 4 Series vs Audi A5 vs Mercedes C-Class Coupe
October - Chepstow, Monmouthshire
October began with a bang this year as we tested a trio of brilliant executive coupés in unseasonal sunshine. We wanted to find out if the BMW 4 Series could replicate the success of the 3 Series Coupe it replaced and put its rivals in the shade. The answer was a resounding yes.
Audi’s A5 edged the Mercedes C-Class Coupé into third place thanks to its style, composed handling and classy cabin, but the 4 Series was in a league of its own, combining looks and practicality with great efficiency and driver engagement.
Tow Car of the Year: Skoda Superb
October - Millbrook, Bedfordshire
Every autumn, road tester Lesley Harris grabs her clipboard and heads to Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. There, she joins the Caravan Club as a guest judge at its annual Tow Car of the Year Awards – and pretty much every year, Skoda has a contender for the title.
It was the same story again this year as the brilliant Superb emerged victorious, with the judging panel praising its stability, performance and practicality in equal measure.
The arrival of the facelifted model means the Skoda flagship is more appealing and affordable than ever.
Audi A3 Saloon vs Mercedes CLA
October - Chobham, Surrey
Websites like Auto Express need a conveyor belt of new cars to keep the site filled with entertaining, interesting and relevant group tests. It’s a challenge, but every now and then, you get a slice of luck – like two prestige manufacturers launching new compact saloons at the same time.
We had been eager to bring together the stylish Mercedes CLA, with its dramatic, CLS-inspired styling, and Audi’s A3 Saloon ever since the two cars first broke cover. And when we did, a clear winner emerged.
Although the CLA had style on its side, the handsome Audi was more practical, better to drive and far more efficient.
Nissan Note vs Honda Jazz vs Ford Fiesta
October - Chobham, Surrey
Nissan has repositioned the Note as a stylish supermini rather than a practical mini-MPV, but we wanted to separate the marketing puff from the road test reality.
The Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz helped us in our quest in this test back in October, and the Note made a good fist of rivalling Ford’s best-seller.
Ultimately, the Nissan sits at the practical end of the supermini spectrum, so if you value space and versatility above all else, it will fit the bill. However, it didn’t take the place of the Fiesta as our class leader.
It did beat the Honda into third, though – and we think any car that finishes ahead of the well loved Jazz deserves a pat on the back.
Mercedes S-Class vs Range Rover vs Audi A8
October - Liverpool
Anything less than outright victory here would’ve been viewed as a disaster by Mercedes. A new S-Class isn’t launched very often, but every generation usually raises the benchmark in the luxury car market.
As the epitome of Mercedes brand values and engineering know-how, the flagship model sets the standard. However, this test would be no walkover, as the formidable new Range Rover and Audi A8 were on hand to see if the new S-Class could live up to the legend.
After driving hundreds of miles in each of our contenders, we came to the conclusion that if any model can lay claim to the title of ‘best car in the world’, it’s the big Mercedes. It’s bristling with technology, while its imperious refinement, cosseting luxury and incredible economy mark it out as the most capable, desirable and advanced car on the planet.
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross vs Skoda Yeti vs Nissan Qashqai
October - Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire
The family crossover class is unforgivingly competitive – but newcomer Suzuki has a proud pedigree when it comes to off-road models, and its Swift supermini is also an Auto Express favourite.
The Skoda Yeti and Nissan Qashqai are both being replaced in the new year, and their age counted against them here, as the new Suzuki SX4 S-Cross secured victory despite its limited rear seat space.
Lively handling, low running costs and a big boot gave it a narrow win over the Yeti, while the Qashqai ranked third – largely due to its relatively high price.
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion vs BMW 116d vs Toyota Auris
October - Millennium Bridge, Gateshead
The Golf BlueMotion has always been an efficient but slightly compromised family car – until now. With its six-speed box and revised engine, the new VW promises class-leading economy without any negative effect on the driving experience.
To put this claim to the test, we drove one all the way to Tyneside with a BMW 116d EfficientDynamics and Toyota Auris Hybrid for company. The Golf scored a narrow victory over the excellent 1 Series thanks to its better fuel returns, lower price and more spacious interior, while the uncomfortable Auris Hybrid wasn’t as good to drive or efficient as either rival. It came third.
BMW 5 Series vs Mercedes E-Class vs Jaguar XF
November - Rendlesham, Suffolk
The current 5 Series has ruled the exec car roost since its debut nearly four years ago, but that didn’t stop BMW treating the reigning champ to a mid-life refresh. Not that you’d know by looking at it, as the handsome four-door seemed virtually identical.
By contrast, Mercedes had been rather bolder with its facelifted E-Class. And these weren’t the only companies putting their big saloons under the knife, as Jaguar had just launched a more efficient and company car-friendly version of its desirable XF.
Ultimately, Jaguar and Mercedes’ efforts were fruitless, as the spacious, sharp-handling, beautifully built and cost-effective 5 Series continued its winning ways.
BMW X5 vs Range Rover Sport vs Porsche Cayenne
November - Chiddingstone Castle, Kent
It was late in the year when we delivered one of our biggest road test upsets of 2013. We expected a lot from the all-new, third-generation BMW X5, which aimed to build on the considerable success of its predecessors.
Yet despite impressive efficiency, low running costs and top-notch quality, the X5 was left languishing in last place due to its lacklustre driving dynamics and dull styling. The fight for victory was between the hugely impressive Porsche Cayenne Diesel S and the brilliant Range Rover Sport, with the desirable Brit taking the narrowest of wins.
