What Car?

Every year, we get the latest electric vehicles (EVs) together and drive them until they die to see how far they can really go on a charge. But while several brands have produced winners based on that metric, there’s one that has always reigned supreme when it comes to efficiency:Tesla. Now, not so long ago, when electricity was cheap, efficiency didn’t seem to matter that much. However, at today’s inflated prices it’s a very important consideration, and one of the reasons why the new Mercedes-Benz CLA has the potential to be a game-changer. If it lives up to the hype, it will use energy even more sparingly than the Tesla Model 3. And there are a host of other reasons why it could be one of 2025’s most important new…

Upmarket family SUV gets more efficient mild hybrid engines and a high-tech interior as it enters its third generation On sale April Price from £49,980 GIVEN AUDI’S PLAN for a fully electric line-up in just eight years, it’s put a surprising amount of effort into the new Audi Q5. Then again, a mere light refresh of its global best seller would have been more than a little risky. So, what’s changed? Well, the big headline is that the third generation of Audi’s BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC rival is the first SUV to use Audi’s new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) underpinnings, which made their debut on the A5 last year. These aren’t entirely ‘new’, then, but some major upgrades were needed to accommodate the brand’s latest fuel-saving mild hybrid technology.…

THE BYD ATTO 2’s name takes inspiration from the attosecond. It’s a measurement of time that equates to one-quadrillionth of a second – or, roughly how long it will take you to regret allowing your passengers to use the car’s in-built karaoke machine. BYD’s latest car for the UK arrives with fully electric power and an expected price to pitch it right in the midst of the small electric SUV pack. It fits between the smaller BYD Dolphin and bigger BYD Atto 3, to compete with the likes of the Kia EV3 and Smart #1. The Atto 2 is powered by a 51.1kWh (usable capacity) battery that feeds a 174bhp electric motor, driving the front wheels. Its 7.9sec 0-62mph time is fairly swift by the standards of the class, and…

SUBARU HAS ONE of the most loyal customer bases of any car company; its Forester SUV is said to have a repeat ownership rate of 70%, with owners being hooked on its durability and off-road credentials. That’s as may be, but the Forester remains a niche choice in the UK, with just 2419 cars sold last year. To put that into context, Kia sold 46,163 Sportages over the same period. So, how to attract more buyers without alienating the regulars? Well, this sixth-generation model doesn’t stray too far from the Forester recipe of old (it’s essentially a heavy update of its predecessor), but in an effort to add sparkle, it’s been treated to an all-new design inside and out, along with some mechanical tweaks to improve the way it drives.…

LOOKING BACK AT Volvo’s heritage, big, sensible estates were once the brand’s best-known products; practicality was its middle name. Now that its attention is more focused on sports utility vehicles, the rugged new EX30 Cross Country is here to underline the fact that the ‘U’ in ‘SUV’ is still a Volvo priority. The Cross Country badge first appeared in 1997 on the rump of a Volvo V70 estate that was tweaked to better handle life away from the beaten track. Likewise, the EX30 Cross Country has four-wheel drive and raised suspension, together with all-terrain tyres as an option for its 18in wheels. It joins the Subaru Solterra in being among the handful of electric SUVs with genuine rough-road capability. Based on the EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra, the Cross Country…

IF VARIETY IS the spice of life, then Alfa Romeo’s Junior line-up just got a bit more flavourful. That’s because it’s now available with petrol power with this new Ibrida hybrid version, alongside the existing all-electric model. The Ibrida will act as the new entry point into the Junior range. It uses the same mild hybrid engine set-up as in its stablemates from within the Stellantis group, such as the Citroën C4, Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger. This combines a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 28bhp electric motor and a six-speed automatic gearbox. As with its counterparts, that combination delivers a total of 134bhp in the Junior Ibrida – matching the Lexus LBX. It’s quicker than that rival, though, with the 0-62mph sprint officially taking 8.9sec. However, some versions…