Skip advert
Advertisement

Review of the year - March 09

This month is all about the hot 500, plus two very different tests inspired by the credit crunch

How to look good for less

The Geneva Motor Show means this is a traditionally barren month for testing. With makers focusing on showing off future models at one of the world’s top expos, few schedule new car launches for this busy time.

Thankfully, there was one newcomer we all wanted to get our hands on – the Abarth 500. The Fiat 500 wowed the world in 2008, and now it was time for the Italian firm’s sporting arm to shine. The hot baby arrived with a bang, but finding the right rival wasn’t easy. While the Abarth would not measure up to, say, Vauxhall’s Corsa VXR, it could shame most sporty city cars.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In the end, its first victim was Mitsubishi’s Colt Ralliart – which, despite proving that it had more than a touch of its big brother Evo’s DNA, simply couldn’t match the drama of the Abarth.

It was the immeasurable head- turning abilities of the feisty 500 that also earned it a place in a second March road test. Inspired by “get the look for less” features found in countless fashion mags, we applied the principle to cars. Could you really achieve the feel of the hottest models around at a fraction of the price? The answer for a nation in bargain-hunting mood was a resounding yes.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

1 Series

2021 BMW

1 Series

10,120 milesManualDiesel2.0L

Cash £19,990
View 1 Series
I-PACE

2023 Jaguar

I-PACE

20,565 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £24,497
View I-PACE
Formentor

2024 Cupra

Formentor

19,375 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £22,197
View Formentor
M135i

2024 BMW

M135i

28,542 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £26,990
View M135i

In a similar vein, we brought together four pairs of new cars at four different price points. At each budget we found one option to appeal to the heart and one to the head: Which you chose depended on how adventurous you were feeling in March!

Click any of the links below to catch up with all the rest of the year's most exciting stories.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Verdict

Tester's notes
I’m often asked how many miles I rack up every year, and the simple answer is I don’t know. With so many cars passing through the office, it’s hard to keep track of how far you’ve driven in a week, never mind a year.

One test this month had us travelling further than usual – and at a sedate pace too. In our rundown of the supermini sector’s economy heroes, we headed to Exmoor in Somerset to see just how frugal the latest crop of small cars really can be.

And that wasn’t the endof the cold weather for me, as I also headed off to the Geneva Motor Show to present some of the Auto Express video coverage. In a frenetic few hours, I got up close to a number of models in time for the films to be edited by the end of the day.

I was back just in time for our ‘how to look good for less’ test… after another lengthy drive, of course!

Ross Pinnock
Road test editor

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,800
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,271 off RRP*Used from £12,800
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,919 off RRP*Used from £15,200
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £6,040 off RRP*Used from £13,000
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: A Volkswagen Golf R Estate for less than a GTI
VW Golf R Estate - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: A Volkswagen Golf R Estate for less than a GTI

The Golf R Estate is one of the best performance estates around – and right now it’s criminally cheap. It’s our Deal of the Day for 9 June.
News
9 Jun 2025
New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet

The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range
Road tests
11 Jun 2025
Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results
Driver Power 2025 - header

Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results

The best new cars to own in the UK right now according to the people who already do. It’s the 2025 Driver Power results!
News
10 Jun 2025