MOTORING
MOTORING NEWS The latest news on all things motoring. By Nick Fletcher
NEW RENAULT SCENIC Set to enter UK showrooms in November, the all-new Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic, both featuring 20-inch wheels as standard. The five-seat Scénic and the seven-seat Grand Scénic will be available with an 8.7inch portrait touchscreen, Multisense technology which enables the driver to alter the driving setup and cabin ambience and One-Touch Folding rear seats – controllable from the boot or dashboard. New Scénic also has the biggest storage capacity and boot space in its class. A range of petrol and diesel engines will be available from launch with a dCi 110 Hybrid Assist version offering CO2 emissions as low as 92g/km. Prices will be announced near the launch date but are expected to start at around £19,500.
ROAD TEST: VAUXHALL ASTRA ELITE NAV The Vauxhall Astra has been a very familiar name on the UK motoring scene for almost 40 years and the latest seventhgeneration model shows just why it has enjoyed such longterm success, writes NICK FLETCHER. Since first launched in 1979, the Astra has been a strong seller in the hatchback sector, vying with the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf at the top of the sales chart though not always perceived as having quite the same overall quality. But that is no longer the case. The latest Astra earns top marks on all counts – sleek styling, excellent driving dynamics, roomy interior, laden with latest technology and with a wide range of efficient petrol and diesel engines including a nifty 1.0 litre three-cylinder unit. Prices start at £16,145 for well-kitted entry versions, and diesel models will be the obvious choice for many, especially business users. My test model was a 1.6 litre bi-turbo diesel offering 159 hp. With a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph, it has sporty credentials yet can return a fuel economy figure of 67.3 mpg.
Standard kit on this Elite Nav flagship model, costing £22,815, includes 17-inch alloys, rear spoiler, leather trimmed sports seats, sat-nav, cruise control with speed limiter, dual-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers and On Star connectivity. The latest Astra is slightly smaller than its predecessor but thanks to clever design, has more interior space and is also 200kg lighter. The weight loss, chassis tuning and precise steering give the Astra outstanding handling without sacrificing ride comfort. The cabin has a much more premium look than previous Astras, with higher quality materials and the stylish dashboard dominated by a large easy-to-use touch-screen. Depending on trim level, you can get Apple CarPlay connectivity system or Android Auto depending on the type of smartphone you use, and OnStar navigation and 24/7 concierge system is available on higher-spec cars. Family space is important in this sector and here, the Astra scores well. It will take five adults in comfort and there is good rear head and leg room. Another plus-point is that the rear doors open wide to facilitate easy entry.
REVISED SUZUKI S-CROSS
162
Suzuki has given is S-Cross model a major facelift, with a more distinctive exterior look and an updated interior. It is priced from £14,999. There are 1.0-litre or 1.4-litre Boosterjet petrol engines or 1.6-litre DDiS engines offering class leading emissions and low fuel consumption and available in three grades; SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5. The new model has more upright front end styling offering a stronger and bolder road presence. Ground clearance is now slightly higher at 180mm versus 165mm and new design headlamps help provide both higher efficiency and a sharper look. All entry-level SZ4 models are equipped as standard with seven airbags, ESP, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio,air conditioning, Daytime Running Lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with speed limiter, air conditioning, heated door mirrors, black protective skid plates and black wheel arch extensions. Equipment for the top of the range SZ5 model includes Radar Brake Support,leather seat upholstery, heated front seats, double sliding panoramic sunroof and aluminium roof rails. CO2 emissions are low at just 113g/km for the 1.0-litre 2WD model and 119g/km with optional automatic transmission. The DDiS 2WD model achieves even lower CO2 emissions of 106g/km. Suzuki’s ALLGRIP system is available on SZ-T and SZ5 models. It has four driver-selectable modes for safe driving on diverse surfaces.