
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 146)
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This week Steve Cropley and Matt Prior meet to talk Luca de Meo's exit from Renault, an unusually pleasurable slow driving experience in London, how Volkswagen could use in-wheel motors to create a 4wd ID2 R hot hatchback, the Triumph Spitfire, and much more besides including your correspondence.
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Top Gear
35 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Ford Ranger Review 2025
This is the Ford Ranger, and it's the best-selling pickup truck in the UK and Europe, although admittedly neither market is as intense as in the United States. There's not a great deal of competition, but any sensible shortlist will include the likes of the Isuzu D-Max, the Toyota Hilux and the VW Amarok. Blame emissions regulations for the lack of other rivals, though there's a heap of electric pickups on the way, and as of 2025 you can now have the Ranger as a sensible plug-in hybrid too. Advertisement - Page continues below Worth noting that the new Ranger – which arrived back in 2022 – and the VW Amarok are essentially the same underneath too courtesy of a tie-up between the two brands (more on that in a bit), while as ever the Ranger is available in single cab and double cab variants. So, what's new on the latest version? We'll start with the looks. At the front it gets an aggressive grille and smart 'C-clamp' LED headlights, while wider wheel arches improve the stance. The rear is dominated by the embossed Ranger name stamp in place of the old sticker, while it also gets a new light signature. It's a smart looking thing, no doubt. But it's had more than just a visual glow up from the previous gen truck, because beneath the muscular bodywork is an upgraded chassis that rides on a 50mm longer wheelbase and a 50mm wider track, meaning improved ride, handling and space. Inside, the cabin is dominated by the 10.1-inch or 12-inch portrait-style centre touchscreen which gets Ford's latest SYNC 4 infotainment system, while there's been a general uplift in quality compared with its predecessor to better cater to both work and family duties. More on that over on the Interior tab. Advertisement - Page continues below What about under the bonnet? The Ranger is available with the choice of two 2.0-litre turbodiesels producing 168bhp or 202bhp (though the single cab variant is only available with the lesser engine) plus a new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel pumping out 237bhp. Customers wanted a choice of more power and torque for towing heavy loads and extreme off-roading, says Ford. That and popping to the shops, presumably. Of course, if you're looking for even more grunt there's also the full-fat Ranger Raptor available with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 making 288bhp and 362lb ft of torque. You can read our full review of that monster by clicking here. Oh, and there's now also the Ranger PHEV, which pairs a 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder petrol engine with a 10-speed automatic gearbox, an electric motor and an 11.8kWh battery. That allows for 27 miles of all electric range, while the electric assistance means this is also the torquiest Ranger of all with 509lb ft available. Probably also worth mentioning here that the entry 2.0-litre turbodiesel gets a six-speed manual gearbox, while the upper-powered variant and V6 also get a 10-speed auto. Check out the Driving tab for more. But what's it like as a pickup? Headline figures include the ability to tow up to 3,500kg and a payload of up to 1,200kg. Single cab variants get two seats and a loadspace length of 2,332mm, while double cab variants get five seats and a loadspace length of 1,564mm. Meanwhile shifting the front wheels 50mm further forward has allowed for better approach and exit angles, while the wider track offers increased passenger space and a bed wide enough to fit a full-size pallet loaded sideways. Additional easter eggs include extra tie-down points to secure loads, dividers to stop timber or toolboxes sliding around, a tailgate that doubles as a work bench and an app-controlled lighting system to help you see what you're doing in the dark. Plus, if you go for the plug-in hybrid you can spec Ford's Pro Power Onboard tech which gives you power outlets in the truck bed and essentially allows you to use the Ranger as a giant power bank. How much does it cost? Prices in the UK start at £29,275 excluding VAT (as advertised by Ford because most buyers will be commercial customers) for the single cab, and £30,800 excluding VAT for the double cab. That's for the 2.0-litre four-pot in its weakest 168bhp tune, your sole available option for the single cab, remember. The double cab starts from £36,891 for the 2.0-litre in upper 202bhp tune, or £49,291 for the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. Again, that's without the tax added on. The plug-in hybrid petrol is only available as a double cab, with prices starting at £40,841. We'll run you through all the trim and engine combos over on the Buying tab, or else you'll be scrolling for a week. What's the verdict? ' Ford held more than 5,000 customer interviews when developing the new Ranger, and on this evidence the hard work has paid off ' We're told that Ford held more than 5,000 customer interviews and carried out dozens of workshops when developing the new Ranger, and on this evidence the hard work has paid off. It drives competently, the cabin is far posher than before (and smarter than the Hilux or D-Max), and there's more room for passengers and payloads alike. Sure, pickups are generally seen as a work tool rather than a family wagon, but spend some time in the new Ranger – particularly the plug-in hybrid – and it doesn't take long to convince you it could easily do both.


Auto Car
an hour ago
- Auto Car
Looking for the best hybrid? This VW just took top spot
Verdict Good Outstanding electric range and urban-running fuel economy Pleasant, understated, comfort-first dynamic character Blends compactness with usable space really expertly, like any other Golf Bad Costs 20% more than regular ICE options Compromises under-floor boot space Slightly iffy interior quality in places Volkswagen has put a new complexion on the case for the plug-in hybrid hatchback as a smart alternative to both traditional ICE and EV rivals. With nearly 70 miles of dependable real-world EV range, DC rapid charging included, and assertive, efficient and pleasant 'range-extended' running thereafter, the Golf eHybrid really does represent an appealing ownership proposition. This car enters a part of the market where PHEV options have sometimes struggled to produce really transformative electric range for an affordable price thus far. But this is a plug-in hybrid that genuinely is like an EV to drive a great deal of the time, and that isn't priced to take advantage of that. Our specification of choice would be the mid-range Style, because it gets nearly the same amount of equipment as the range-topping GTE, but for only an extra £1000 outlay over the entry-level car. Whichever version you go for, however, the Golf eHybrid could genuinely deliver lasting change to your motoring habits as one of the most versatile cars on sale today – and all from a position of calm reassurance. Model tested: Volkswagen Golf eHybrid Style Engine: 4cyls inline, 1498cc, turbocharged petrol; with 107bhp electric motor Transmission: 6-spd twin-clutch automatic Driveline layout: Front, transverse; front-wheel drive Model tested Volkswagen Golf eHybrid Style View all specs and rivals Engine 4cyls inline, 1498cc, turbocharged petrol; with 107bhp electric motor Transmission 6-spd twin-clutch automatic Driveline layout Front, transverse; front-wheel drive Battery size 25.7/19.7kWh (total/usable capacity) Fuel economy 941.6mpg (WLTP Combined) Electric power 107bhp, 258lb ft Electric range 88 miles (WLTP) Rivals Toyota Corolla Vauxhall Astra Plug-in Hybrid Cupra Leon PHEV Battery size 25.7/19.7kWh (total/usable capacity) Fuel economy 941.6mpg (WLTP Combined) Electric power 107bhp, 258lb ft Electric range 88 miles (WLTP) Rivals Toyota Corolla Vauxhall Astra Plug-in Hybrid Cupra Leon PHEV


Auto Car
an hour ago
- Auto Car
Tiny car, huge win: Grande Panda wins Best Small Car Award
Fiat will offer the Grande Panda with two combustion powertrain options: the Hybrid tested here and a pure-ICE version driven through a six-speed manual – although the latter has yet to be confirmed for the UK. As an aside, Fiat has also shown off a 4x4 concept, which is set to go into production and will probably use a version of this hybrid powertrain. The T-Gen3 hybrid powertrain comprises a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine that's linked to a 48V battery and a six-speed e-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission. A 29bhp electric motor is integrated into the e-DCT system, along with an inverter and central control unit. Fiat claims the unit enables the car to run on electric power alone during low-speed manoeuvres, with up to 0.6 miles of EV-only driving at speeds below 18mph. So we're talking a pretty mild system here, basically. The hybrid clearly can't match the EV when it comes to smooth power delivery or instant pick-up, but it's closer than you might expect for a small three-cylinder unit. In fact, it's actually quicker than the Electric version on the 0-62mph sprint, although we're talking 10sec rather than 11sec here. Still, the engine delivers its 109bhp pretty smoothly, with the hybrid unit working nicely to both smooth the gaps in power delivery and for a bit of electric-only running at lower speeds. The e-DCT box syncs reasonably well with the powertrain and it'll rarely feel short of shove in real-world use, and it doesn't feel out of its depth at motorway speeds. The powertrain isn't the last word in refinement and, like Shaggy, it can get a little raspy and gruff if you ask too much of it. Hard acceleration can leave the wheels scrabbling for traction, especially in wet conditions, but for untroubled daily use, it's a decent package.