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Friday, 10th of February 2012

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Latest Small Family Cars road tests

Chrysler Delta

1.6 MultiJet SE - Fiat’s control of Chrysler is spawning a peculiar mix of brands and model names. In Italy you can buy a Lancia (not a Chrysler) Voyager, while in the UK there is now the Chrysler (not the Lancia) Delta. This is a little like trying to mix oil with water, but such dilemmas aside, is the avant-garde D [...]

An image of the Chrysler Delta 1.6 MultiJet SE

BMW 1-Series

The BMW 1 Series is now into its second generation and BMW says it has been busy addressing all of the faults of the previous model. This means more rear seat space, a bigger boot and a more compliant ride. As an added bonus, the engines are more powerful, cleaner and more frugal, but the looks of t [...]

Peugeot 308

2011 - Peugeot has given the 308 a mid-life nip and tuck, which has the happy result of doing away with the earlier 308’s beaky nose and replacing it with a much smoother look. Overall, it’s a welcome update for the 308’s looks, while under the bonnet are revised engines for greater economy and lower emiss [...]

Mini Countryman

2011 - MINI has big aims for the Countryman. The model was invented because the brand was tired of losing people who had grown out of the MINI Hatch: the need for five doors by families was never likely to be sated by the ‘five-door’ MINI Clubman (two doors at the back and a rear passenger door on the ‘wro [...]

Honda Civic

Si VTEC Manual - Honda seems to be inching towards the premium marques when it comes to quality of materials and engine performance, and the all-important diesel alternative is now up to speed. The Si we drove comes in at £18,270 on the road and this is very competitively priced when you look around at the competiti [...]

An image of the Honda Civic Si VTEC Manual

Volvo C30

Electric - Volvo’s C30 electric is as yet a limited production EV set for trials with authorities and government fleets in Sweden later this year. Volvo has yet to decide if production of its first electric car is to be increased and if the C30 electric is ever to become publicly available. Nonetheless, the ca [...]

Ford Focus

2011 5-door - The all-new, third-generation Focus arrives in March, and it’s the company’s first truly global car. That the Focus has been a UK best-seller since 1998 was further incentive for Ford to get it right, but March 2011 also marks Ford of Britain’s centenary, so there’s more than a little corporate prid [...]

Mazda 3

1.6 D - Mazda has gone back to basics with its new 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine for its 3 hatchback. Gone are tricksy 16-valve engines in favour of an eight-valve unit, which also has the happy coincidence of reducing weight. With 117g/km carbon dioxide emissions, the latest Mazda 3 diesel makes sense for p [...]

Volkswagen Golf

2010 Bluemotion - The Volkswagen Golf, now on its sixth generation, has been a class leader in the small family segment ever since it was launched in 1974. It’s one of the cars that all new hatchbacks aspire to be. The latest iteration is the most refined yet and has numerous trim options and engines to choose from: [...]

An image of the Volkswagen Golf 2010 Bluemotion

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo is capitalising on its rejuvenated image in the UK thanks to the Mito with a follow-up five-door model. The Giulietta is a size bigger than the Mito to take on the mighty likes of the Golf and Audi A3, though the elephant in the Alfa’s room is the BMW 1 Series. To define itself as a sport [...]

SEAT Altea

SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive - With the new Altea Ecomotive, SEAT extends its extra green model line and adopts Stop/Start and Brake Energy Recovery systems for the first time. Using much of the same new technology as its Leon Ecomotive sibling, this capacious Spanish five-seater achieves over 60mpg and under 120g/km of CO2. [...]

An image of the SEAT Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive

SEAT Leon

Ecomotive SE 1.6 TDI CR - With the new Leon Ecomotive, SEAT extends its extra green model line and adopts Stop/Start and Brake Energy Recovery technologies for the first time. Helped by other consumption and emission cutting measures, this Spanish five-seater now dips below the crucial 100g/km CO2 figure, but it costs a litt [...]

An image of the SEAT Leon Ecomotive SE 1.6 TDI CR

Proton GEN-2

Persona ecoLogic - One of the very few cars you can buy from new which comes with a LPG tank, the Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic promises to save motorists a packet at the petrol station. The Malaysian car maker is also promising improved ride and handling thanks to the involvement of Proton-owned Lotus in the genesis of the G [...]

An image of the Proton GEN-2 Persona ecoLogic