ENGINES – Citroen had the good sense to ship the car with a sensible choice of small motors. And at this scale diesel power is luxury, not a necessity. The various … More »Not Two Good To Be True (Citroen C2 2003-2009)
ENGINES – As is often the case, the more recent the car the more engine options available for it. The good news is that there isn’t a duff motor in the A3 line-up, … More »Ringing Endorsement (Audi A3 Sportback 2004-2012)
ENGINES – Sensible people will go straight to models powered by diesel despite the presence of petrol alternatives. Not only is Volvo’s D5 diesel the most cost effective … More »Mud Plugger (Volvo XC90 2002-present day)
ENGINES – Unless you're made of money the petrol X5 can be an expensive car to run – especially if you opt for the V8. Alternatively you could go for a diesel X5. … More »Not Too Posh To Push (BMW X5 2000-2007)
ENGINES – Don’t expect to choose from a wide range of engines - it is a small car after all. If it’s just urban driving you’ll be doing, any of the petrol units … More »A Fusion of Smart Ideas (Ford Fusion, 2002-2012)
ENGINES – Petrol motors exist, but from a performance and economy viewpoint the diesel engines will be the smarter choice. Any will do the job, but if given a choice … More »Spacious Money Saver (Fiat Croma 2005-2007)
ENGINES – Realistically, if you don’t plan on racking up the miles, one of the small capacity petrol motors will be fine. They are quiet, refined and surprisingly … More »A Fresh Approach To Motoring (Volkswagen Polo 2002-2009)
ENGINES - Chevrolet has never been too hot on diesels so it’s a choice of two petrol motors here (1.6 and 1.8-litre), but given the car's modest price the petrol … More »Station Wagon’s Just The Ticket (Chevrolet Lacetti Station Wagon, 2005-2011)
ENGINES – Despite its size, there’s no shortage of choice in the Meriva's engine department. The mainly petrol line-up should cater for most wallets and needs, ranging … More »Upright Citizen (Vauxhall Meriva 2003-2010)
ENGINES - Both diesel and petrol units are available, with the high capacity motors offering a predictable mix of enhanced performance and refinement. Bucking this … More »Dare To Be Different (Alfa Romeo 147, 2001-2009)
ENGINES – It’s a simple life for Matiz owners as key to the car’s frugal, affordable character is the choice of engines. Powering this second generation Matiz is … More »Mighty Matiz (Chevrolet Matiz 2005-2009)
ENGINES – Recent years have seen an upturn in the performance of Citroen’s small engines, with the C3 Picasso and its ilk benefiting greatly improved performance … More »Wheeled Work Of Art (Citroen C3 Picasso 2009-present day)
ENGINES – Big SUVs means big engines, and Hyundai’s Santa Fe is no different. In a nod to its USA market roots you can have a V6 petrol motor, while the more sensible … More »Santa Fe Comes Early For Some (Hyundai Santa Fe 2006-2012)
ENGINES – With a good choice of both petrol and diesel engines, the deciding factor will be how many miles you do each year. Unless you pound the nation’s motorways … More »Taking It To The Max (Ford Focus C-Max, 2003-2010)