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Monthly Archives: August 2018

The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is now on sale in the UK, with three specs and a starting OTR price of £34,255.

A new 2.4-litre petrol engine pairs 133bhp (up from 119) with 94bhp from the rear motor and an extra 10% output from the drive battery which now has 13.8kWh capacity. Torque is also up, to 156lbf.ft from 140lbf.ft and a new WLTP combined efficiency figure reads 139mpg. Full EV range isn’t mind-blowing at 28 miles, but the Outlander is a plug-in hybrid, after all.

Shock absorbers – both front and rear – have been revised and the addition of a sport mode sharpens the throttle whilst Super All-Wheel Control balances power between the four corners. Snow mode is new, and assists with pulling off in slippery conditions and controls cornering on snow and ice. The steering ECU plus the steering ratio have been tweaked for more responsiveness, and the front disc brakes have been enlarged for more braking bite.

Inside, there have been updates to the seating and instrument cluster plus a brand new switchboard. The rear seating now features ventilation, whilst the USB charging points have been more conveniently placed.

Infotainment comes in the form of Mitsubishi’s Smartphone Link Display Audio which supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Heated front seats are standard, as is the heated windscreen and dual-zone climate control. The base Juro spec also includes keyless entry and push-button start, LED running lights and remote smartphone app compatibility.

The 4h trim builds on that of the Juro with a 360º camera, blind-spot warning and rear-cross traffic alert. The interior features a new black headlining, electric drivers seat and heated steering wheel and a powered tailgate. Front headlamps, high beam and front fog lights are all LED.

Top of the range 4hs receives adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning. Front and rear parking sensors are also standard, there’s an automated high-beam system and the inclusion of unintended acceleration mitigation system.

The Outlander PHEV Juro starts at £34,255 OTR. 4h pricing begins at £37,000 for 4h models and £39,100 for 4hs – and is on sale now.

The new Honda CR-V will come to the UK with four trims, the choice of 4WD and either five or seven seats when it enters showrooms at the end of September.

With two states of tune – 170bhp with a manual box and 228bhp in conjunction with CVT – the 1.5-litre VTEC turbo’d petrol engine covers the entire CR-V range.

S trim will only be available with 2WD – and therefore the stick shift – and five seats. SE gets the added choice of 4WD which is the only option on SR and EX models. The CR-V is available as a seven-seater on 4WD SE and SR models.

Standard equipment across all models consists of parking sensors and a rear camera plus Honda’s suite of safety tech. The SENSING pack comprises of collision mitigating braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist and departure warning, adaptive cruise and traffic sign recognition. Top spec SR and EX models also receive blind spot warning and cross traffic monitoring with CVT models also featuring low speed follow.

From SR upwards smart entry and start is introduced, as is a leather interior, active cornering lights and front window de-icer. Heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, hands-free tailgate and a panoramic sunroof feature in the range-topping EX.

Prices for the fifth-gen CR-V will start at £25,995 for 2WD S models, whilst 4WD options begin at £28,995 OTR for a manual, five-seat SE. Seven variants are introduced at £30,655 – again for a manual SE and the range tops out with the auto EX at £36,455.

Skoda have bolstered the stable of the Karoq by adding it to their Scout family.

In readying the SUV for the tougher stuff, 4WD is standard, along with the black wheel arches and heftier skid plates. Also standard are 19-inch alloys, which whilst they’re not ideal for a rocky route, they do look rather dashing.

The 1.5 TSi petrol unit joins the duo of 2.0-litre TDis with 148bhp and a six-speed manual or 187bhp and a seven-speed automatic.

Newly designed seats include black and brown contrasting seams and embroidered Scout lettering, the multifunction steering wheel is leather and there is also an LED package to add ambience to the cabin.

Skoda’s customisable virtual cockpit is included, as is an off-road driving mode. Little features of the SUV, such as the virtual pedal mechanism to open the boot, or the tip-to-close function to shut it again – pull gently on the boot lid and the Karoq will take the hint and close it for you.

The Paris Motor Show has been set as the destination for the Karoq Scout’s global debut.

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