Latest news with #supermini
Top Gear
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Toyota Yaris Review 2025
Page 2 The forgotten supermini. Or maybe the last one standing? Rivals like the Vauxhall Corsa soldier on of course, although the immensely popular Ford Fiesta has fallen on the battlefield. Anyway, the Mazda 2 has never been on par with those two, as evidenced by the latest top 10 UK sellers list. Just ask yourselves this, when did you last see one on the roads? We'll admit, mind, that we could ask you the same question of any car and you'll likely be unable to answer. Not without taking yourself away for half an hour and having a really long think about it. Doesn't help that the 2 is hardly the most eye-catching of cars, either; if you're looking to blend in, then this is an astute choice. But the 2 does have its merits, even if it's not as rounded as some of its rivals. Advertisement - Page continues below By not pretending to be something else. We like honest, unpretentious cars at Top Gear. And they don't come much more uncomplicated than the 2. The only engine (now diesel has been exorcised from the range) is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol unit with either 74bhp, 89bhp, or 113bhp. The latter pair can be had as mild hybrids, hitting up to 60mpg on paper. Said engine drives the front wheels through a six-speed 'box; manual or auto depends on trim choice. You can't get the supercharged SkyActiv-X engine out of the Mazda 3 and CX-30. No hot hatch version either, which is a bit of a pity, given what a great launchpad this chassis would be for a pocket rocket. Come on Mazda, give the Hyundai i20N a run for its money. Is that it? Just the one mild hybrid? No, actually. You can also get a more complex hybrid 2, inventively named… the 2 Hybrid. Although we don't reckon it's a real 2 as it's basically a Toyota Yaris with the badges swapped. We've not driven it in Mazda form, so if you want to know what it's like to drive we suggest you read our Toyota review… Sorry, where were we? Ah yes. It's a five-door only. There are four trim levels. And, seemingly as with every Mazda these days, it comes generously equipped. All models in the range feature navigation, cruise control, integrated Bluetooth and air conditioning, while upper trims get a colour head-up display, reversing camera, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Above all, though, it's very competitively priced, starting from just £18,615. That's pretty cheap these days. Advertisement - Page continues below Ah. While we approve of the simplicity of the engine range, Mazda insists on continuing its naturally aspirated fight. Meaning no turbocharger. And as much as we love naturally aspirated engines for their responsiveness and smooth power delivery, the 1.5-litre unit offered here is so meagre it's almost painful. You just don't get the immediate torque that you get from the 1.0-litre turbos we've been spoiled with over the years, which means acceleration is pitiful. The tiny 74bhp version only manages 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds and the 89bhp unit can only do 9.8s, which means progress is slow and motorway driving needs maximum concentration to keep the revs up. READ MORE This is the all-new MG3, a radically changed hybrid supermini The 113bhp version was brought back from the abyss a couple of years ago and only this feels remotely cut out for A roads and dual carriageways. Get your 2 with this one at all costs. That's a fairly damning verdict… Don't get us wrong, we still like the Mazda 2. A facelift in 2019 addressed some issues with the styling so it no longer looks like a buck-toothed beaver from the front. And nicer alloys and fancier headlights moved the game along too. But that was several years ago now and given this third-gen car first arrived in 2014 it's long overdue a thorough update, if not entire replacement. We suspect the market's shift towards crossovers means neither will happen… Why, what has the market got against superminis? You're asking the wrong people. But the supermini market is undoubtedly up against it. With the Fiesta exiting stage right it's left to the Mini hatch, Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, Peugeot 208, Hyundai i20 and a couple of others to show that small cars still belong on our roads. 'At nearly a decade old the 2 is beyond the pension threshold... and minor updates in 2023 haven't hidden that neglect' The Mazda 2 is a very rounded car, and the fact it's still here is a credit to a strong original design. The cabin is sensibly laid out and bucks that trend of sticking every function in the third sub-menu of a touchscreen; plus the handling is fabulous too. It's a pity the engine has the gusto of an empty crisp packet compared to the turbocharged units you'll get in most rivals. And as much as we'd like to say 'hurrah for having to wring a car's neck for once', to a great many folk, this will not be a selling point. You want a supermini to make your life easier, and having to manically downshift to keep pace with traffic is not what you need on a long journey. And at nearly a decade old the 2 is beyond the pension threshold, in car terms. The limited tech is just one area that should've been refreshed and minor updates in 2023 haven't hidden that neglect. We suspect that's because it's on the way out: get one now while you can still proudly claim to be defending one of the last bastions of natural aspiration. Page 3
Auto Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2025: MG3
MG blew us away last year when it entered the dwindling supermini market with a car that was not only compelling in isolation, but really stood out when it came to performance, efficiency and value for money. Now, 12 months later, the MG3 is our Affordable Hybrid winner for the second year on the trot. Advertisement - Article continues below While most hybrid small cars pair a breathless petrol engine with an equally weedy electric motor, the MG3 combines its power sources to produce a healthy 192bhp. The result is an impressive 0-62mph time of just eight seconds, making this a hatchback that feels peppy both in town and on the open road. Throw in an accomplished chassis and plenty of grip, and you've got a car that will comfortably show a Renault Clio or Toyota Yaris a clean pair of heels. Yet what matters most in this area of the market, and the reason we rate the MG3 so highly, is its efficiency. The MG's hybrid power comes mainly from its e-motor, which means most of the time it feels like an electric car. We love this style of driving, and it works wonders for fuel economy – our tests saw close to 50mpg without much effort at all, and considerably more with a lighter right foot. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Throw in a reasonably roomy cabin, strong equipment list and a seven-year warranty that beats the cover offered by many competitors – plus a price tag that undercuts all of its main rivals – and you're left with a set of ingredients that help make the MG3 our favourite Affordable Hybrid car of the Year for 2025. Advertisement - Article continues below Configure your perfect MG3 through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new MG3 from stock or top prices on used MG3 models... MG3 Hybrid+ Trophy (£20,995) You've two specs to choose from when it comes to picking your MG3: SE or Trophy. The difference is around £2,000, but it pales into insignificance if you're paying on a monthly finance deal. We'd fork out the extra to have the Trophy's 360-degree cameras and other equipment. While the affordable end of the market is understandably geared towards small cars, Dacia once again bucks the trend by offering space and practicality at an attractive price point. The Duster Hybrid isn't as affordable as the pure-petrol version, but it trumps its simpler sibling when it comes to running costs and driveability. We love it. No one has as much experience mixing petrol and electric quite like Toyota. The Yaris may be small, but that doesn't mean it isn't a mighty-fine affordable hybrid car. Super-efficient, good to drive and spacious enough for kids in the back, the Yaris finishes a close second to the excellent MG. Click on the gallery below to see all the winners of our 2025 New Car Awards... You can find all the information on our New Car Awards 2025 winners and the reasons why we chose them on the pages below. Just follow the links to read more… For the full New Car Awards experience, make sure you pick up a copy of our special 2025 New Car Awards collectors' edition of the Auto Express magazine, which will be available in shops from July 2nd. You can buy individual issues of Auto Express or subscribe for even bigger discounts on the print magazine cover price. You can also subscribe or download individual issues of our digital edition direct to your desktop, phone or tablet as well. Stay right up to date with the latest from the world of cars in 2025 and beyond, subscribe to our email newsletter and follow us on social media... Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging
Auto Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Supermini of the Year 2025: Fiat Grande Panda
When we first drove the new Grande Panda, we declared Fiat had played a blinder with a car that's both affordable and loaded with character – just like the original. Available as a petrol hybrid car or an electric car, the Fiat Grande Panda is a worthy bearer of an iconic name that has been around since 1980 in various forms. On the outside the Grande Panda uses that heritage intelligently from a styling perspective, but still has enough clever fresh touches to be very much the modern supermini. Advertisement - Article continues below The cabin is proof that an inexpensive car doesn't have to feel cheap. Although it's not loaded with plush soft-touch materials – this is a car kicking off from around £19,000 in hybrid form and £21,000 for the EV, after all – the interior is stylish and clever, and has as much character as the Italian supermini's chunky exterior. Front seat and boot space are both great for such a small car – although we'll gloss over the rear-seat room – and the Grande Panda is great to drive in its natural urban environment, where the cosseting low-speed ride defies the short wheelbase. And you're looking at an official figure of 52.3mpg for the 99bhp 1.2 hybrid, or a 199-mile range for the 111bhp electric model. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Grande Panda is everything a great little car should be. It's practical, sensible, comfortable, cheeky, fun, well priced and proof that Fiat still knows how to make a great small car. Our Find A Car service has the best deals out there on a new car from stock or top prices on used cars ... Fiat Grande Panda La Prima BEV (£23,975) Given that it's an urban runaround, we've plumped for the electric version of the Grande Panda, although the hybrid is almost as recommendable, and cheaper. LaPrima spec is worth the extra cost if you can afford it, although the entry Red, which is £3,000 less, retains the car's charm, just with less equipment. Our 2024 Supermini of the Year, and outgoing overall 2024 Car of the Year, has been relegated by its Panda sibling, but the Citroen C3 is still a cracking little car. Groundbreaking for what you get for the money, in both petrol and particularly electric form, the C3 is spacious for the class, comfy and easy to drive. Making sure retro is as cool as ever, the new Renault 5 has made a huge splash. Instantly recognisable as an R5, yet modern and fun to drive, the French hatchback has a sound, sensible foundation beneath it, thanks to its strong pricing and, with the larger battery fitted, an official range of 249 miles. Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging
Top Gear
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Lancia Ypsilon Driving, Engines & Performance
With just 109bhp and 151lb ft of torque available it's hardly rapid, and fully laden up Tuscan hills it feels like it could do with a little more poke. But in more normal circumstances it allows you to make smooth progress, and the hybrid assist means it's nippy enough off the mark in town. Sadly, we're yet to drive the Ypsilon Rally4 HF. Instead, we spent some time in the Ypsilon Hybrid, and if you're familiar with the powertrain from its Peugeot and Vauxhall/Opel applications then there won't be much here to surprise you. The six-speed dual-clutch gearbox is reasonably quick to respond too, and while there are paddles behind the steering wheel the response to your inputs is sluggish, so you'll probably rarely use them. What's it like on twisty roads? Interestingly, the steering is actually a bit heavier than you might expect. In the Peugeot you get that dinky little wheel and the steering itself feels overly-assisted, but the Ypsilon has a bit more heft to it and gives the Ypsilon a tad more feedback from the front wheels. Okay, it's hardly a Delta Integrale, but it's a decent effort for a small hybrid supermini. The Ypsilon corners fairly neutrally too without too much understeer, and the ride is fairly firm so there isn't too much body roll. That does mean that it's a little compromised over larger bumps in the road though, particularly if you've gone for a higher spec and 17in wheels. What about refinement? Most superminis are surprisingly competent grand tourers these days, and the Ypsilon is no different in hybrid guise. There's a little bit of road noise and motorway speeds, but wind noise is kept to a minimum and the powertrain generally sounds very refined. It's a grown-up small car, this.
Top Gear
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Lancia Ypsilon Interior Layout & Technology
The screens themselves are familiar Stellantis items, and the touchscreen can be a little sluggish to respond. The graphics are good though and the Lancia font helps to elevate this into posh supermini territory. Nice that the shortcut buttons have had their icons redesigned to be specific to Lancia too. Good little touches. This is where the Ypsilon sells itself against rivals from its own stable and beyond. The interior is a fantastic place to sit, with two 10.25in screens for the dial display and infotainment. Beneath the central touchscreen is a dinner plate-sized section which houses the wireless phone charging pad on top-spec LX models, but which Lancia also refers to as 'the first coffee table seen inside a car'. Perfect for a quick espresso while you're charging the electric version. How very Italian. Thankfully you get direct shortcuts to the active safety systems that you may want to turn off, and there are proper physical buttons on the steering wheel too. Most of the materials across the dash and higher up in the cabin are of good quality, but poke around lower down and you'll obviously find some cheaper plastics. Room in the rear seats is impressive for a small car, and the boot space in the hybrid is 352 litres. Yep, that's exactly the same as the 208s. Oh, and may we humbly suggest that you go for the top-spec Ypsilon LX and then spend a further €950 on the supremely orange 'premium seats in rust velvet with boiserie texture'? Not only do they look fantastically retro, but they're also supremely soft and comfortable. Plus, the driver's seat comes with a massage function.
