Car review

The artist formerly known as Ssangyong returns with a chunky family crossover "Adventure starts here", says KGM, in a reflection of the brand's newly stated modus operandi: 'powered by toughness'.Sorry, KGM? That's Korea Green Mobility or Korea Genuinely Made, depending on who you ask, and it's Ssangyong reincarnated.Korea's perennially overlooked car maker was bought out yet again last year after a long period of uncertainty and underinvestment under Mahindra, and it apparently faces a bright new future as a vendor of smartly styled and electrified SUVs. The revolution starts here, with the Torres, a 4700mm five-seat crossover that's slightly larger than the Korando and slightly smaller than the Rexton (Mahindra-developed models due boldly styled replacements in the next year or so).On sale now with a front-driven petrol powertrain, the Torres will soon also be available with four-wheel-drive and in electric form, and it's easiest thought of as a left-field alternative to the likes of the MG HS and Dacia Duster.In size and price terms, though, it will inevitably come onto the radar of a fair few prospective Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan Qashqai buyers - enticing whom will be no small feat for KGM.

The Countryman EV is an immensely likeable, well-resolved electric SUV With so many EVs offering almost indistinguishable power delivery and driving characteristics, assessing them sometimes feels like a game of Top Trumps merely comparing ranges, battery capacities, charging rates, number of motors, sizes of touchscreen and the like.But with the new Mini Countryman SE All4, the first electric version of the new third-gener, let’s start with something far more subjective: how charming it is. Really, it’s lovely.Electric power suits the Mini brand well. The upbeat, premium but friendly styling that Mini is aiming for meshes well with the calm and relaxing dynamics and instant zip that battery-powered cars offer.And with its spacious interior, retro design flourishes and infotainment that sit just the right side of cheesy, this family SUV shows great potential as the British brand accelerates its transition. That gives it considerable appeal. Enough to overlook some statistics that might be unexceptional in a game of Top Trumps? Let’s see.

The longest-lived car in the VW line-up gets one final generation - and the brand pulls out all the stops The Volkswagen Passat has been in production for more than 50 years, during which time it has captured more than 30 million sales worldwide.It may not be as widely celebrated as the smaller Volkswagen Golf, but its 1973 introduction preceded that of the hatchback by almost a year, making it the longest-lived car in the Volkswagen line-up.It’s important to point this out because the new ninth-generation Passat seen here is most likely the last to be offered with combustion engines. As the recent launches of the similarly sized Volkswagen ID 7 saloon and ID 7 Touring estate have brought into clear focus, the future of Volkswagen is fully electric.Not that Volkswagen has merely updated the Mk8 Passat. The Mk9 is based on a heavily revised version of its predecessor’s platform, called the MQB Evo.It brings internal changes to its rear-end design for added rigidity and to facilitate a range of new vibration-reducing measures; it has larger dimensions; it offers a range of re-engineered petrol and hybrid drivetrains; and, in a bid to steal sales from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, it features a higher-quality interior with contemporary technology and greater space and versatility.A sister model to the new third-generation Skoda Superb Estate, alongside which it will be made at the Volkswagen Group’s factory in Bratislava, Slovenia, the Passat will be offered exclusively as an estate.

Electric version of V-Class seeks to deliver an even more luxurious service to wealthy passengers You could argue that the Mercedes-Benz EQV, the electric alternative to the Mercedes V-Class, gets very close to being the perfect battery-powered car.The MPV is generous in size and tall, so a big battery (90kWh in this case) slips underneath it a treat, with little to no sacrifice in floor height or head room.It’s also one of those vehicles likely to do constant city-to-airport runs, so its journeys will be regular and fairly short, which somewhat mitigates the slightly disappointing 110kW maximum charging rate.It’s also built for a wide range of loading conditions, be it six passengers plus luggage or just two passengers with luxurious, reclining, S-Class-style seats and essentially the entire load bay to themselves.And of course there's the fact that Mercedes bills this as the most luxurious electric people mover in the business.It prices it as such, too: reckon on little or not change from £90,000 before options. Is it worth the money? Let's find out. 

Can the hottest Astra make for a thrilling and cost-effective used purchase, or is it just too unruly? Is the Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR the hot hatch bargain of the year?Around £6000 will get you a 2012-reg car with a full service history and 95,000 miles on the clock. That’s around £4500 less than the equivalent Volkswagen Scirocco R and £2500 or so less than a Renault Mégane RS 250. So you can buy one and have money left for fuel, insurance and servicing – but should you?In fact, far from being a one-trick pony in familiar Vauxhall VXR style, the front-wheel-drive GTC VXR is an impressively rounded performance coupé that’s as happy cruising the motorway as it is dispatching corners.It’s well built, surprisingly roomy front and back and brimming with kit. It doesn’t look half bad outside either, while inside you could actually accuse it of being a little too classy. (A-pillar and rear visibility are poor, though.)It was launched in 2012 as the range-topper in the three-door Astra GTC line-up and bowed out in 2018, long after the new, seventh-generation Astra had gone on sale. Its predecessor, the Astra VXR, had won many admirers and, with rivals jostling for position, the pressure was on Vauxhall to deliver something better still.Accordingly, it gave the incoming model a new twin-scroll turbocharged all-alloy 2.0-litre engine from the Insignia but this time producing 276bhp and 295lb ft.Then, to keep the front wheels pointing the right way, it fitted the General Motors HiPer Strut suspension system that improves grip and allows more power to be applied during cornering.To reduce torque steer further, it added a motorsport-derived mechanical limited-slip differential by Drexler. FlexRide adaptive dampers gave a choice of three suspension modes: VXR, Sport and Normal.Our testers were impressed, praising the GTC VXR’s in-gear acceleration, sophisticated ride, smooth and accurate steering, composure and astonishing grip levels in fast corners, barely perceptible torque steer, strong Brembo brakes and cruising refinement.We awarded it four out of five stars, deducting a star for the way the rear end didn’t seem quite as willing to join the party as the front.“The VXR remains a touch inert,” we reported. “Its cornering all feels like it’s being done by the front end. The rear is faithful but lift off or turn in while trail-braking and there’s very little evidence, even with the stability control switched completely out, that the back end is willing to pitch in.”At least there was plenty else to occupy the driver, including a VXR button, which, when pressed, called up heightened levels of damper, throttle and steering control.Options for the car included VXR Performance seats with heat control and powered bolster adjustment (sports seats were fitted as standard), sat-nav (included with Navi 650 and 950 IntelliLink infotainment systems) and, most prized of all, the Aero pack, comprising 20in alloys, extended side sills and a bi-plane spoiler. It cost less than £1000 and most first owners chose it.Today, there’s a reasonable number of used VXRs to choose from, and despite the model being discontinued in 2018, some are approved used examples offering a belt and braces purchase. So what are you waiting for?