Martin Saarinen Got any car queries?

Q

4WD fuel economy puzzle ON paper my BMW 320i xdrive returns 41.5mpg, but this isn’t much off the 36.5mpg quoted for the 340i. How can this be, given my car is powered by a smaller engine? Geraint Evans, E-mail

A

IT’S partly down to the weight of the xdrive system. It adds 90kg to the 320i’s kerbweight, bringing it just 10kg shy of the 340i’s 1,605kg. All-wheel-drive systems also use more fuel, although official economy tests are conducted under lab conditions, which allow some cars to appear more efficient than they really are.

Q

What’s causing alerts? THE dashboard on my 2016 Auris has started to warn me that the Toyota Safety System is not working. The alerts usually come when I start driving. Do you know what could be causing this? Terry Parrott, E-mail

A

WE spoke to Toyota UK, which told us this issue could be due to the recent bouts of cold weather. If frost is covering any parts of the sensors on the windscreen, the system will stop working. Try giving the glass a thorough clean before setting off.

Q

Insurance prices on the up I WAS recently renewing the insurance on my Mazda 6, only to receive a higher quote than I did last year. I haven’t claimed for anything, nor received any points. How is this possible? Amir Eid, E-mail

A

INSURANCE prices have increased recently, as the Government has raised the Insurance Premium Tax from 6 to 12 per cent, and vehicle repair costs have gone up. Contact your insurer and ask for a better quote. If it won’t budge, shop around for a cheaper premium.