Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Attractive Italian design and punchy, turbocharged petrol engines are the highlights of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta range. On its looks alone the Alfa Romeo Giulietta appears unbeatable, but sadly you don’t need to scratch far beneath the surface to uncover some serious compromises. The car looks great and has strong performance, but is hindered by occasionally average ride quality and – more crucially for a car with such obvious sporting intentions...

New Volkswagen Tiguan 2016

Early signs are good after our cold-weather test of the all-new 2016 VW Tiguan. Even from this early drive, it’s clear that VW is on track to score an SUV hit with the new Tiguan. It’s bigger, more refined and more capable than before, and its premium-feel cabin and extra practicality should make it a strong rival for everything from the Nissan Qashqai to the BMW X1. We’ll hold fire on a star rating until we’ve had a chance to sample the...

Renault Kwid

With over a billion inhabitants and not a lot of space, India is fast becoming a country obsessed with small cars. It’s a continuing growth market, and Renault has entered the fray with the tiny Kwid - a cheap but versatile city car that could eventually come to the UK as a Dacia. Renault invested 420 million Euros in the Kwid, with a modern platform sharing elements from the new Kadjar and Talisman. To appeal to the tastes of Indian...

Used Audi A3

A full used car buyer's guide on the Audi A3 covering the A3 Mk2 (2003-2013) and the A3 Mk3 (2012-date). Audi wasn’t the first maker to offer a posh small car, but it was the first to be successful. Until the original Audi A3 arrived in 1996, most contenders in this market were built down to a price. But when the A3 car appeared nearly 20 years ago, it cost as much as many models in the class above.  Things have changed a lot since...

Peugeot 308 SW

The 308 SW is a well equipped family estate with an efficient range of engines and a smart interior. There’s no doubt the latest 308 SW is a better proposition than the first generation car it replaced. It replaces its predecessor’s slack-jawed look with crisp, elegant styling as well as a great deal of load space for an attractive price. There’s a strong engine line-up too, especially if you’re looking for an economical diesel, although...

Fiat 500 X

The Fiat 500X is one of the more style-focused offerings in the compact SUV/crossover class. It does a good job of extending the iconic design cues of the 500 city car into this new segment. Not everyone will fall for the cutesy looks, but those who do will find it a practical lifestyle accessory – even if they only choose the two-wheel-drive City Look version. With a broad range of engines, and a chassis shared with the Jeep Renegade, ...

Fiat 500 L

If you like the looks of the Fiat 500L – and let’s face it not everyone does – the car makes a decent job of providing practical transport for families on a budget. Its voluminous body means there’s good head and leg-room for full-size adults, even when they’re three-up in the back. The seating arrangements are highly flexible too, and the maximum load capacity with seats folded flat is impressive. Less impressive are the handling characteristics,...

Maserati Ghibli

The Maserati Ghibli combines style and quality with sharp handling to rival the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. Maserati says it has studied what’s needed to succeed in the sporty large executive class, and the Ghibli certainly demonstrates ability when you get the chance to drive it quickly. In other words, it feels like a true Maserati when it needs to – even when it has got the diesel option under the bonnet. However, the Ghibli also...