Road Tests
A bolt from the blue
With diesel more expensive than petrol, can clever technology prove that high fuel returns needn’t mean filling up from the black pump? Richard Gooding tests the Volkswagen Polo BlueGT with cylinder deactivation
Striking a good balance
The Honda Civic, with its new 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, promises an outstanding balance of high fuel economy, low emissions and dynamic performance. So has it achieved this?
Business as usual
A firm fleet favourite, the Ford Mondeo has received a raft of revisions, including the introduction of an environmental model aimed at the business market. Richard Gooding drives the 112g/km Ford Mondeo Zetec Business Edition 1.6 TDCi
Is it a masterpiece?
Roland Rendell is impressed by the real-world fuel-economy achieved in the Citroën C4 Picasso
Eco Golf brings economy to the fore
With lowest-ever emissions thanks to fuel-saving and environmental technologies, Volkswagen’s Golf BlueMotion has been reborn. Richard Gooding takes a closer look
Lime Dancing
With emissions of just 88g/km, Vauxhall’s Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX is one of the greenest superminis on the market. Richard Gooding gets in its groove
Sweden flexes its Eco-muscles
Roland Rendell finds the ability to chose between three driving modes on the Volvo V60 Plug-in diesel hybrid a real pleasure
A Nimble Giant
Honda has added its flagship 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine into the CR-V, giving drivers SUV size and practicality, with sub-120g/km emissions
An Appealing Apparition?
Small cars for fleets needn’t mean diesel-engined superminis. The petrol-powered Mitsubishi Mirage promises low emissions and good value. Richard Gooding sees if it’s just an illusion
The supersized Fiat 500
The Fiat 500L has been created for fans of the 500’s quirky character, but who need more space and practicality than the current two-door version gives.
Turning over a new leaf
Nissan hopes that its second generation Leaf will help stimulate a market that has so far failed to reach the giddy heights that many predicted, says Roland Rendell
Working class hero
The Ford Fiesta is the current darling of the small car market, but does it have what it takes to win over the car-derived van sector, too? Richard Gooding investigates
A real box-ticker
The third-generation Škoda Octavia is comfortable, spacious, and a real fleet car box-ticker