Road Test Review – May

Family car shake-up, as eco myths exposed
This was a big month behind the scenes for the Auto Express road test team. Having been at the helm for nearly a decade, Oliver Marriage moved on to pastures new at Evo magazine, letting Chris Thorp take the driving seat as road test editor.

And what better way to start the new era than to get Auto Express into the news? We decided to get off the fence and tackle the latest crop of eco-branded models with a critical, unbiased eye. Top was Ford’s new Focus Econetic, which impressed us not only with its low emissions, but also its desirability. Less appealing was Honda’s Civic Hybrid – one of a few cars we branded a gimmick.

The test gained international press coverage, with our new road test editor doing radio interviews for stations in places as far-flung as Australia! But Chris nearly made the headlines for very different reasons during the shoot of May’s lead test, which saw a five-strong convoy of family cars head to North Wales.

It was all going so well until we failed to appreciate the idiosyncracies of Citroen’s electric parking brake. We recoiled in horror as the big French car rolled towards a ditch – and all five members of the team sprinted after it and just averted disaster. Our campaign to bring back conventional handbrakes continues…

Luxury roadster challenge
Mercedes SL vs Jaguar XKR cabrio (Issue 1,013)
Never underestimate the ability of manufacturers to bring in big improvements during a mid-life facelift. Along with a new look, the Mercedes SL received a thorough overhaul in May – and became a different car as a result. Its only problem came in the shape of the staggeringly capable Jaguar XKR cabrio – and the Brit’s honed dynamics enabled it to retain top spot.

Green or gimmick?
Eco special (Issue 1,012). How to cause an upset in one easy step – blow the whistle on the ‘green’ cars that don’t offer real world benefits. That’s what we did in Issue 1,012, when we told you which eco-branded models were likely to help reduce your impact on the environment, and which probably wouldn’t.

Our verdict? The Ford Focus ECOnetic, MINI Cooper Clubman D, VW Polo Bluemotion, SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive and the Toyota Prius all lived up to their claims of environmental friendliness. But the Skoda Fabia Greenline, Lexus GS450h and Honda Civic Hybrid ES were found guilty of jumping on the bandwagon.

Family car test
Honda Accord vs Ford Mondeo vs Mazda 6 vs Citroen C5 vs Renault Laguna (Issue 1,013). As its predecessor had been such a success, the new Honda Accord was under pressure to deliver. We had time to reflect on the way up to a huge solar panel in North Wales for the photoshoot – but the Japanese model’s strong handling and desirability couldn’t make up for its lack of practicality. So the Mondeo finished first, with the Mazda in third place, ahead of the Citroen and Renault.

BMW X6 vs rivals
Issue 1,014 – BMW X6 group. When BMW told us it was going to launch the X6 in Scotland, we couldn’t resist turning up with three rivals – each representing one of the three different sides of the unique newcomer’s character. All four cars promised to offer a unique experience, but which made the grade?

We were won over by the BMW’s novel new approach. The firm had created a car that was big, bold and bursting with torque. We decided the X6 was more alluring than the second-placed Audi A5, in spite of its taut handling. Mercedes’ CLS took third, while the Porsche Cayenne GTS trailed behind.

Tester’s notes – Right BMW at wrong time?
Few new cars have attracted as much controversy as the BMW X6. With its seemingly incompatible mix of coupé styling and SUV running gear, it appeared to be the answer to a question no one asked when it arrived here at the start of the summer.

However, it wasn’t long before we fell for its charms, after it saw off the Mercedes CLS, Audi A5 and Porsche Cayenne. Seven months later, was this the right choice? There’s no doubt the styling still splits opinion, but its sharp dynamics, incredible 3.0-litre diesel and superb cabin are hard to ignore, and continue to make it a great car to drive. Yet it appears potential buyers still aren’t convinced. There aren’t many X6s on UK roads – I’ve seen only one since the car’s May launch. The financial crisis and high fuel prices can’t be the only reasons for customers being deterred. In fact, the X6 might be an example of something we very rarely see – BMW launching the right car at the wrong time.
James Disdale
Road tester