Car Reviews

2019 Toyota GR Supra Pro Review

Some people nickname it the Toyota Zupr4 in print, because this fifth-generation Supra has been developed alongside the new BMW Z4 convertible. In fact, BMW alone is responsible for the Japanese coupe’s mechanical and electrical hardware, including the engine, gearbox, suspension, infotainment system and all the entire underlying structure. For some diehard fans who’ve patiently waited 17 years for a successor to the Mk4 Supra, this has been a problem. Crucially, though, the Toyota benefits from a stiffer coupe body, and its engineers have had the freedom to add their own fairy dust to the final set-up. The result is a sports car that might share much with the BMW Z4, but has a character of its own.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 2S Cabriolet Review

In Porsche 911 years, the Cabriolet is a baby, having only been around since 1982. But it’s long since established itself as a crucial member of the 911 family, and now there’s a new one, referred to by Porsche as the 992. There’s a choice of standard and more powerful S versions, both offered as either the rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2S or all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S. We’re testing the Carrera 2S, which costs £102,755.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Porsche 718 Cayman T 2019 Review

If a 718 Cayman GT4 is too pricey, there’s a good chance your Porsche dealer will suggest this Cayman T instead. The new model slots between the entry-level Cayman and Cayman S at £51,145, but it’s positioned as a less-is-more kind of driver’s car. Just like the 911 T in the Carrera line-up.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Lexus ES300h F Sport Review

The Lexus ES is a new nameplate in the UK, but the saloon has actually been around for seven generations now, and was introduced when Toyota launched its premium Lexus brand in 1989. For UK buyers, it effectively replaces the more familiar GS model, but with one big difference: the ES is front-wheel drive, not rear-wheel drive like the old GS. If you’re looking for a more spacious kind of premium car, the ES makes a strong case for itself – measuring 4975mm bumper-to-bumper it’s longer even than a BMW 5-series, but is more comparable to the far smaller 3-series in terms of pricing.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Jaguar E-Pace 180PS Diesel R-Dynamic S Review

The E-Pace is Jaguar’s first compact SUV, and follows the F-Pace, its first ever off-roader. It’s a big departure for a brand famous for saloons and sports cars, but the success of the F-Pace and rising popularity of small crossovers mean the E-Pace was inevitable.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Renault Megane R.S. Trophy

If a Golf GTI is the do-it-all hot hatch, the Megane R.S. tips the balance more aggressively towards driving excitement. For some buyers, though, that still isn’t enough, which is where this new Trophy model fits in. At £31,835 it represents a £4000 premium over the cheapest Megane R.S., but bundles together desirable equipment and includes otherwise unavailable extras.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Ferrari 488 Pista Review

If you’ve been lucky enough to drive a Ferrari 488 GTB, you probably didn’t complain that it needed more power, less weight and a sharper chassis. But that’s exactly what Ferrari has given the 488 Pista, to create a worthy successor to the hardcore 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale. The name means track in Italian.

Ben Barry

August 12, 2019

2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce

Most car makers start off sensibly with a new model, then build up to the high-performance halo. When Alfa launched the Giulia in 2016 – its first rear-wheel drive saloon since 1992 – it belted out of the blocks as the 500bhp Quadrifoglio. If it was an unusual strategy, it worked, and quickly established the Giulia as an exceptional driver’s car. The downside of such a powerful twin-turbocharged V6 model, of course, is expense, both the £64k asking price and the tyres and fuel you have to feed it. So if you want the Quadrifoglio’s brilliance on a budget, the Giulia Veloce is well worth a look. It costs from £38,260 and is on sale now.

Ben Barry

August 9, 2019

2019 BMW X7 Review

It’s two decades since BMW launched the X5, its first SUV, and proved its ultimate-driving-machine witchcraft could work on an off-roader. It’s repeated the trick on various occasions since, but this new X7 is the first time it’s actually moved up a segment. The new seven-seater pits BMW head-to-head against the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS. At launch, UK buyers can choose from a pair of 3.0-litre turbodiesels – a 30d offering 261bhp with 43.5mpg for £72,195, or a 50d with 394bhp that still tops 40mpg at £87,280. The six-cylinder 4.0i we’re testing is the only petrol model. It produces 335bhp, returns 32.5mpg and costs from £74,195. Later, we’ll get an M50i V8 petrol with more than 500bhp.

Ben Barry

August 9, 2019

2019 BMW M850i Review

The BMW 8-series might have recently returned to Munich’s line-up after a two-decade holiday, but BMW hasn’t really been absent from this market for 20 years. After all, the 6-series was sold for much of the intervening years and it too was a large two-plus-two coupe. But the 8-series underlines BMW’s ambition to move the concept upmarket, not least on price: the M850i we’re testing costs £97,500, where the now discontinued 650i M Sport was £74,570 in 2018. And it’s not even the priciest, fastest model – the M8 takes that crown.

Ben Barry

August 9, 2019

2018 Audi SQ5 Review

When Audi first introduced its SQ5 compact SUV in 2012, it was fitted with a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine. Then in 2017 a new generation model switched to a 3.0-litre petrol just as diesel fell from grace. Well, careful which pump you go for, because now the SQ5 has swung back to a 3.0-litre turbodiesel again. It’s on sale now, priced from £55,035, and remains the most high performance Q5 model available. Find used Audi SQ5 available on finance with ChooseMyCar as well as the full range of used Audi vehicles.

Ben Barry

August 9, 2019

2018 Audi A1 Sportback Review

BMW might have bought its way into the supermini market when it acquired Mini, but it also re-wrote the rules with premium pricing and endless customisation options. Audi wanted a piece of that action, and started from scratch with its A1 back in 2010. A huge 800,000 or so sales later, the second-generation A1 hopes to build on that success.

Ben Barry

August 9, 2019