Skip advert
Advertisement

Small Turbos Group Test

Turbo engines are more popular than ever, but are they any better than standard units? We try three of the best of each

Small Turbos Group Test

Think turbo, and you’re more likely to imagine a flame- spitting racing car or high-performance road machine than an economical hatchback. But times are changing.

What used to be a favourite way of boosting performance for sporty models is fast becoming the norm for ordinary variants instead. The thinking behind this is simple. Small turbocharged petrol engines are supposed to provide the best of both worlds – the pace of a bigger normally aspirated unit with the emissions and economy of a smaller one.

Advertisement - Article continues below

And they’re cropping up in a variety of sectors, as manufacturers scramble to launch new engines. To find out if the latest turbo models live up to the claims, we’ve chosen three of the best and put them up against more conventional rivals.

The latest firm to hop on the turbo bandwagon is Vauxhall. Its Insignia family car is now available with a 177bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine. Up against it is another fresh face in the large family car market, but the 2.0-litre Toyota Avensis is designed to maximise economy rather than pace. Will it be blown away by the powerful Vauxhall? We try estate versions of both.

In our compact family car match-up, Volkswagen’s latest Golf renews its rivalry with the Honda Civic. But will the VW’s 1.4-litre TSI be able to live with the British-built hatch’s high-revving i-VTEC engine?

In our final head-to-head, the Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet Sporting faces Suzuki’s 1.6-litre Swift Sport. Given the Italians’ reputation for producing racy small cars, you’d expect the turbocharged Grande Punto to be in pole position – but does it take the chequered flag?

Our pairings highlight a major difference in philosophy between manufacturers from the East and West, as European firms have been the quickest on the turbo uptake. Let’s find out if they’re good enough to see off their Japanese rivals...

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025