2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 – Very first Drive Evaluation

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 interior

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 – Very first Drive Evaluation

Car evaluation: Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

This impressive new Mercedes is an energetic, sporty drive – but it does take a bit of acquiring utilized to, writes motor reviewer Tim Barnes-Clay.

Occasionally a pair of new shoes feels just right.

No blisters ever seem and they soon grow to be your go-to decision of footwear.

Initial discomfort

Other people lead to you a small discomfort at initial – but, after worn in, you really feel as although you’d in no way sauntered in anything else.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 AMG Sport I drove was really considerably in the latter category.

It took me a although fine-tuning the seat to give me the greatest driving position. I then had to adjust the steering wheel numerous times – and then get the lumbar help right.

For the 1st day I just couldn’t nail it and, squirming uncomfortably, I was convinced this automobile wasn’t for me.

Adjustments required

But, by the second day of my week with the Merc, I felt it was produced with my name on it.

Some car seats just call for a fast twiddle here and there and you’re all set up. 

I believe the CLA’s sports seats with integral headrests just take some obtaining employed to.

They’re sculpted in a curve-forward position, and make you feel like your head needs to go back more – although that could have been me getting fussy on the day the auto was delivered.

An exceptional machine

Anyway, enough of the seats and my hair-splitting: let me clarify why, on the entire, the CLA is an outstanding piece of German machinery.

Aesthetically, its proportions and dynamic design give the compact 4-door saloon-cum-coupé an unmistakable look.

The vehicle’;s striking characteristics incorporate the bonnet embedded in the front finish with energy-domes and a diamond-appear grille.

The light modules and LEDs behind the headlamp cover glass have been arranged in such a way as to produce a characteristic “flare effect” for the daytime driving lights and indicators.

‘Energetic and youthful’;

This light signet defines the car’;s energetic form and shapes a new, youthful Mercedes face.

The width-emphasising rear end exudes muscle and athleticism, featuring an interplay among convex and concave surfaces.

The gently sloping roof contour and the pronounced, hallmark curvature of the rear window, supply the CLA 250 AMG Sport with a coupé-style character from the rear, as well.

The exterior’;s progressive, sporty appearance is continued inside the Benz.

More seating troubles

All trim surfaces are galvanised in silver shadow, resulting in a cool-to-the-touch metallic finish.

The instrument panel incorporates 5 big round vents and there’s a prominent cost-free-standing show screen that features a black piano-lacquer-appear front panel with a flush-fitting silver frame.

In the back, the seats, once again, become a sticking point.

They are cramped for adults and not even the ideal match for 2 youngster seats, but my 8- and 5-year-old coped without as well significantly squabbling.

Spacious and precise

On the plus side, boot space is great for this variety of auto.

On the road, the CLA 250’s turbocharged 4-cylinder engine rocks for most situations.

The vehicle has exceptional grip when pushed by means of corners and its 6-speed automatic transmission climbs and descends excellently under stress.

Particularly noteworthy is the Mercedes’ direct steer system, which gives precise feedback in comparison with conventional power steering.

Security hasn’t been overlooked either, with quite a few driving assistance systems offering help and decreasing your workload behind the wheel.

Regular-match attributes include drowsiness detection and radar-based collision prevention help with adaptive brake assist, which assists to defend you from collisions from a speed of only 4mph.

Pros & cons

• Design and style √


• Steering √


• Grip √


• Safety kit √


• Rear seats X

Quick facts

• Max speed: 149mph


• -62 mph: 6.6 secs


• Combined mpg: 42.8


• Engine: 1991cc 4 cylinders 16 valve turbo petrol


• Max. energy (bhp): 208


• Max. torque (lb.ft): 258


• CO2: 154g/km


• Value: £33,440

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Car evaluation: Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Auto evaluation: VW Golf GT

Volkswagen has produced a quantity of improvements to its classic Golf. You may possibly not have thought it attainable, but the ideal just got better, says Tim Barnes-Clay.

Some automobiles are all incorrect. They’re ugly, uncomfortable or just simply awful to drive.

The VW Golf isn’t a single of these. It’s amongst the best. Seriously.

‘Like a fine wine’;

For any individual that’s been beamed down from Pluto, the VW Golf is a compact vehicle produced by the German manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across 6 generations.

The Golf Mk7 uses the exact same platform as the third-generation Audi A3, SEAT León and Škoda Octavia.

It was announced in Berlin in September 2012, prior to a public launch at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and won the Vehicle of the Year Japan Award 2013-2014, the initial time it was awarded to a European product.

The Golf is like a fine wine and only gets much better with age.

Changing with the occasions

Positive, there are enthusiasts who appreciate the Mk1 and Mk2 models much more than any other. I was there as soon as, owning 2 Mk2s.

As considerably as I nevertheless appreciate them, wants adjust – and now there’s no way I’d trade the GT 1.4 TSI 150 PS DSG I had on test for a classic 1970s or 80s Golf.

So why is the current VW Golf so excellent? Effectively, it delivers precise handling with high levels of ride comfort and driving pleasure.

Certainly, the Golf’s steering now provides far more agility in dynamic driving conditions, even though making certain high-speed stability, and straightforward manoeuvring in the city.

Pick a profile to suit

Also, the Golf is obtainable with driver profile choice tech, which enables you to choose from 4 modes – Eco, Sport, Standard and Individual.

And with a direct-shift gearbox (DSG) fitted, there’s a fifth option, Comfort.

A DSG box is great simply because it really is unlike a traditional automatic transmission.

Twin electronically controlled shafts handle gear choice, often anticipating your next shift.

This gives you quickly, smooth gear alterations and lively handling with unbroken acceleration.

Impressive engine

Below-the-bonnet technologies is superb.

My test car had the TSI engine with active cylinder management, which requires the short-term shutoff of the second and third cylinders.

This implies the engine can lessen fuel consumption by over half a litre per 100 kilometres.

Even with 2 cylinders, the 1.4 TSI runs just as quietly and with low vibration as with 4 active combustion chambers.

As a lot space as you need to have

Inside, the front seats go back fairly a distance, benefitting taller drivers, like me.

Surprisingly, this does not effect on these in the back a lot: rear legroom is excellent for a medium-sized hatchback.

There’s decent space for luggage, also, with a low sill to make loading effortless. 

In the cockpit, the centre console is angled towards the driver, providing you simpler access to auxiliary controls.

High-tech security

Gadgetry consists of a touchscreen program as common.

It operates with finger gestures that will be familiar if you are a smartphone user.

Functions also contain DAB digital radio, auxiliary inputs (including USB), Bluetooth telephone preparation and access to automobile trip details.

The most recent Golf has a number of reassuring security aids too.

Pre-crash protection

Normal is the multi-collision brake mechanism.

This automatically halts the vehicle soon after a collision, to minimize kinetic power substantially.

There’s also a pre-crash technique which detects the possibility of an accident.

It pre-tensions seatbelts and closes the windows and sunroof, leaving just a modest gap, to guarantee the very best possible protection from the airbags.

Now do you see why it’s 1 of the ideal motors on the industry?

Pros & cons

• Handling √


• Kit √


• Security √


• Relatively high-priced X

Fast information

• Max speed: 134 mph


• -62 mph: 72 secs


• Combined mpg: 60.1


• Engine: 1395 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo petrol


• Max. energy (bhp): 148


• Max. torque (lb/ft): 184


• CO2: 110 g/km


• Cost: £25,265

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Auto evaluation: VW Golf GT

Vehicle evaluation: New Mitsubishi Shogun

If you are searching for an off-roader than can actually provide beneath stress, the revamped Shogun fits the bill, says motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay.

In 1982 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation launched a brand new breed of automobile: a 4×4 which was challenging adequate to go where other people feared to tread, but which enjoyed the sort of sophisticated specification more generally related with best-finish saloons.

More than 30 years later the Shogun is a living legend.

Bold new look

The 2015 Mitsubishi Shogun has a bold new front end, distinguished by a deeper a lot more integrated grille and chic LED daytime running lights.

The design adjustments for this year represent a progressive evolution of the challenging-hitting Japanese off-roader.

Naturally, the Mitsubishi keeps its go-anywhere, self-assured and powerfully built presence.

This is characterised by its short front overhang, upright windscreen, sturdy higher flanks, flared wheel-arches and rear-mounted spare wheel.

‘Enormous and intimidating’;

These are all essential Shogun styling cues that underline its mud-plugging aptitude.

Indeed, standing next to the Shogun tends to make you feel quite tiny.

The car is huge and appears rather intimidating to drive.

But as soon as you haul yourself into the cabin, turn the important, choose “Drive” from the automatic gearbox and get rolling, any unease evaporates.

Take care on bends

By no means is the brute usually a delight to drive on the road although.

Confident, it’s easy to point the Shogun down a motorway and remain there, but any cross winds do knock you about a bit.

That’s no surprise as it is a tall car – and simply because of that you can also overlook tearing around bends on country roads, unless you like lots of lean.

Alternatively, the new Mitsubishi Shogun is about muscle and ruggedness.

The top-of-the-range extended wheel base SG4 model, on test right here, pulls like a train with its 3.2-litre, 194bhp, 4-cylinder diesel engine.

Reliable in rough terrain

It accelerates from -62mph in 11.1 seconds and top speed is 112mph.

More importantly it has low-ratio gearing and a differential lock to make certain you’ve got the best likelihood of getting it out of even the most challenging of non-tarmac conditions.

The Mitsubishi Shogun is not only a giant of a 4×4, its cabin feels solidly screwed together and comes crammed with luxury functions.

As nicely as improved sound deadening, SG4 trim brings leather seats, Bluetooth, a tyre pressure monitoring technique and a 5-speed automatic gearbox.

Comfortable and spacious

Staying inside the cabin of the Shogun, its multifunction show has reams of info obtainable.

This consists of a barometer and an altitude gauge, indicating that this is a car that has motoring potential stretching way beyond a farmer’s field.

The seats are comfy and supportive, and the huge glass region offers first-rate views of the road or rugged ground about you.

Rear seat space is colossal, and load capacity seems immeasurably big.

Optional 6-seater

A third row of seats can be popped up too, turning the Shogun into a 6-seater.

This is convenient if you’re taking a group of pals into the rough or you have got a posse of youngsters you need to have to drop off at school.

Away from the considerably commented luxury soft-roaders, heavy-duty workhorses such as the Shogun have carved out a exclusive niche in the market where capacity and dependability matter first and foremost.

Considering that a value reduce in July 2013, sales have gone from strength to strength.

With its new style and improved specification, the Mitsubishi Shogun now offers even far better worth for income.

Pros & cons

• Pulls well √


• Off-road ability √


• Spacious √


• Visibility √


• On-road manoeuvrability X

Quick information

• Max speed: 112mph


• -62 mph: 11.1 secs


• Combined mpg: 33.2


• Engine: 3200cc 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo diesel


• Max. power (bhp): 194


• Max. torque (lb/ft): 325


• CO2: 224 g/km


• Price tag: £37,489

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Vehicle evaluation: New Mitsubishi Shogun

Vehicle evaluation: Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke is like Marmite: you either really like it or you loathe it, writes automobile reviewer Tim Barnes-Clay.

The Nissan Juke is definitely is a peculiar automobile.

At 1st glance, it doesn’t appear sturdy, but it is, and it doesn’t give the impression of being a comfortable auto, except it is.

As I create this I still cannot make a decision whether I like the Juke on not.

Lack of space

It’s entertaining to drive – primarily because it pulls away from a standing commence very easily, albeit in an edgy manner.

In contrast, I do not like the lack of load space because, as a parent of 3 tiny youngsters, I want a boot which is bigger than the Juke’s.

The auto is a hotchpotch all round truly.

It has a lumpy, but oddly sensible look and the 2-wheel-drive Tekna 1.2 DIG-T version I tested looked like a wasp with its yellow and black paintjob.

Madcap motor

It is a car I can think about a creative sort liking.

Indeed it could work for somebody with their own enterprise who desires a madcap motor to stand out from the crowd.

The Juke is also a handy vehicle to have about in your totally free time.

For instance, if you are into towing, the 1.2 petrol turbo powered motor I drove will manage to pull up to 1250kg.

4-wheel drive version

And there’s also a 4-wheel drive version offered which will, in wintery or muddy rural surroundings, give a lot of additional traction.

But, what ever the purpose for driving it, you will locate the Juke turns heads.

So what is the nutty Nissan all about?

Well, the idea is that it brings all the advantages of the well-known Qashqai into a much more compact package.

SUV appeal plus sports vehicle charm

It’s what’s recognized as a “Crossover” since the Japanese motor manufacturer has fused the rugged appeal of an SUV with the charm of a sports car.

And there’s no denying the Juke injects some dynamism into the tiny vehicle segment, offering an option to the traditional, humdrum hatchback.

Standard equipment on all models contains LED daytime operating lamps, CD radio with an AUX-In socket, gearshift indicator to promote a much more efficient driving style and tyre pressure monitor.

Behind the wheel, you are greeted with the Nissan Dynamic Manage Method.

-62mph in 8.8 seconds

This is a central command and display module that enables you to alter the drive settings as nicely as control functions such as climate manage.

Moreover, the tech adopts diverse displays, colours and functions depending on the mode selected.

It all adds to the fun of being behind the wheel of this maverick motor.

With 108 horses below the bonnet, the Tekna 1.2 DIG-T manual model will do -62mph in 10.8 seconds and has a best speed of 111mph.

It feels a lot more rapidly than the black and white figures recommend, and you can tell Nissan meant this automobile to have a sporting character.

50.4mpg

At occasions it does feel slightly skittish but that just adds to the entertainment.

On leading of that, the petrol turbo unit officially returns up to 50.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 129g/km.

The Juke is manufactured alongside the Qashqai and Note at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Sunderland.

The Nissan Juke Tekna 1.2 DIG-T manual will set you back £17,670 on the road.

Pros & cons

• Quirky √


• Nippy √


• Kit √


• Divisive looks X


• Load space X

Fast information

• Max speed: 111 mph


• -62 mph: 10.8 secs


• Combined mpg: 50.4


• Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16v petrol turbo


• Max. energy (bhp): 113 at 4500 rpm


• Max. torque (lb/ft): 140 at 2000 rpm


• Max. towing weight (braked) 1250 kg


• CO2: 129 g/km


• Cost: £17,670 on the road

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Vehicle evaluation: Nissan Juke