Road Test Review – June

Tests get sharp new look and a great fresh format
As temperatures start to rise, June marks the start of the road testing summer. Turning up to Auto Express HQ with a suntan never goes down well with office-based members of staff, but it certainly makes up for the windswept winter months.However, the hot weather is not without its drawbacks.

Although our convertible test in Issue 1,018 was one of the highlights of the year, unfortunately it left a lasting impression… Every one of us managed to get sunburned at the wheel of a drop-top!

A couple of weeks earlier, we had endured near-tropical rainstorms as we tried to arrange a crucial head-to-head. The all-new Ford Kuga group was to be shot in three parts (see tester’s notes, opposite) and involved
a tight photography schedule.

It started well in the centre of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey – we got a great urban shot with the Nissan Qashqai. Next, it was into the hills for some rough-roading and mountain biking. Then the heavens opened. The roads were too treacherous to drive on, let alone shoot on. Staff snapper Pete Gibson got just as drenched as road test editor Chris Thorp, who appeared on his bike in one mud-soaked image. Of course, it was well worth the effort – and formed a testing template which we would revisit twice before the end of the year.

Kuga mega test 
Ford Kuga vs rivals (Issue 1,016). For the first of our fresh-look road tests, we pulled out all the stops with the
all-new Ford Kuga. It took on the Honda CR-V, Nissan Qashqai and Suzuki Grand Vitara in three separate challenges. The Qashqai proved to be a better urban runabout, but the impressive Kuga came out on top in the other two duels. 

Downsizing your car
Trading down test (Issue 1,017). We’re all used to the concept of trading up to a better car, but is there ever a case for trading down? We lined up four practical models to see which could justify its price premium. The results sent ripples through the motor industry.

Hyundai’s i30 Estate provided the best blend of value and space, and secured a prestigious test victory. We were also impressed by the Honda Accord Tourer’s mix of desirability and versatility, but left unmoved by Volvo’s XC90 and Renault’s Grand Modus. Neither the smallest or the largest model in our test proved to be wise buys when catering for the needs of different-sized families.

Award winners test 
Driver Power champions shoot-out (Issue 1,015). Putting the new crop of Driver Power winners head-to-head with the latest class leaders provided a fascinating contest. In some cases, it was clear the reliability, design quality and durability demanded by new car customers is hard to come by.

It would be several months before Honda’s new Jazz was launched, but we reckoned the Mazda 2 was a match for the old model in June. The Ford Mondeo, Land Rover Freelander and Audi A4 all have what it takes to win Driver Power, too. We can’t wait to see how our crop of class champs fares in the 2009 survey.

Open-top special
Jaguar XKR cabrio, BMW 3-Series Convertible, Peugeot 207 CC, Audi A3 Cabrio (Issue 1,018). it wouldn’t be June without a cabriolet shoot-out, and we got in the mood for a scorching summer by picking the best drop-tops for any budget. Little did we know the season was to be a wash-out – but at least we caught plenty of rays on the south coast during this stunning photoshoot. It was the BMW 3-Series that impressed us most on the day with its great refinement and handling.

Tester’s notes - Change for the better!
It was all change back in June. To coincide with the launch of the redesigned pages of Auto Express, the road test section got a major makeover. We wanted to strengthen our position as the best review team in the business, and adapt to a changing car market.

And that’s how we ended up with the Ford Kuga test in Issue 1,018. Rather than a conventional format – with the newcomer taking on a trio of rivals – we pioneered an evaluation suited to cars which cross several areas of the market. As a result, the Ford went head-to-head with three very different rivals, and impressed us each time.

Another improvement was the cover page. Tapping out The Week Behind The Wheel is a real pleasure – I hope you enjoy reading it, too. And our snappers have risen to the challenge of producing a great cover image each week. Please E-mail me at chris_thorp@dennis.co.uk if there’s anything you’d like to see more of, or if you have any road test suggestions.
ChrIs thorp
Road test editor