Winners named in Auto Express Product Awards 2019
ONCE again, we brought you an invaluable round-up of the best motoring-related products on the market, with the Auto Express Product Awards 2019. Continental won our coveted Product of the Year prize for making a clean sweep in all of our seasonal tyre tests. We also handed out awards for washing and valeting products, drills, screenwashes, satellite-navigation units, headlight bulbs, dash cams, cordless vacuum cleaners and screwdrivers – plus pretty much anything else you could ever need for your car or garage.
THE Renault Clio may have slipped behind the more fashionable Captur SUV in the UK sales charts, but don’t let that detract from the supermini’s significance in the French brand’s portfolio.
Facing up to household names such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo is no mean feat, yet from the moment we took a seat inside the new Clio, it was clear that Renault had paid particular attention to cabin quality and ergonomics.
Our cover line – “French favourite is now posher than a Polo” – said it all, but the Clio delivered the goods on the road, too. We drove two versions: the TCe 100 with a six-speed manual box, and the punchier TCe 130 with a seven-speed auto. While neither quite displayed the Fiesta’s dynamic sparkle, both struck a decent balance between comfort and cornering prowess. Without any official pricing information we preferred the stronger car, although the entry-level model later gained an extra half-star when the costs became clearer.
With a hybrid version on the way, the all-new Renault Clio has all the ingredients necessary to take it right to the top of an increasingly crowded class.
OUR exclusive investigation revealed huge discrepancies in car battery costs, with some drivers paying as much as £1,250 for battery replacement at main dealers, while others spent as little as £98. We compiled a list of the UK’s 20 best-selling cars and contacted three franchised dealers across the country for prices. One Mercedes dealer quoted £1,248, while another charged just £315.
FAR from a cosmetic upgrade, the changes Ford made to its Ranger Raptor pick-up completely transformed the way it drove. It wasn’t perfect – the diesel engine was a little lacking, and the performance tweaks lowered the truck’s maximum payload – but as an engineering exercise it was an impressive bit of kit. Its ability to cover uneven ground at an alarming rate was something to behold.
JULY saw us explore the world of green-laning, taking a Land Rover Discovery off-road with the help of the Green Lane Association. We set off across the Welsh countryside, learning how to identify and stick to the legal routes as we went, as well as how to drive safely. If you’re willing to learn the jargon and stick to a code of conduct, it’s a great way to explore the capabilities of a 4x4.
FRESH from its win in our New Car Awards, the Skoda Scala took on two of the toughest challengers in the family car class, facing off against the venerable Volkswagen Golf and the latest Kia Ceed. But in 1.0 TSI petrol form, the Scala showed why it was an award-winner, with an unbeatable blend of practicality and technology at an affordable price.
Budget is key in this class, and Skoda once again proved that its value-focused offerings resonate with buyers. The Scala drove as well as the Golf, and although it didn’t quite stack up to the VW when it came to material quality, its price was low enough for it not to matter.
It also had the measure of the Kia for standard kit, with SE trim featuring all the toys a mid-spec family hatch really needs.
The Golf was toppled, the Scala reigned king. But with a new eighth-generation VW on the horizon and set to battle the Skoda in 2020, will we be writing the same this time next year?