Independent Reviews of New and Used Cars

the improved version of Volkswagen’s eighth generation Golf Estate is a very polished kind of compact station wagon. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

The fourth generation version of Škoda’s Octavia gets a light refresh as part of this Czech model’s mid-term update. Once, this car was the least sophisticated of all the Volkswagen Group’s family hatchback products. Not any more - thanks to mild hybrid electrified engine tech and cutting-edge media cabin provision. This car’s still bigger and better value than most of its rivals, pretty much a Passat-sized medium range model for the price of a Golf-sized one. And it’s clever enough, once again, to change the way you think about Škoda. Changes outside and in with this revised model are minimal. And the subtleness of this car’s mid-term is equally evident by the tiny updates made to the engine range. As before, the core of the range is made up of 1.5-litre TSI petrol or 2.0 TDI diesel engines, each with either 116PS or 150PS options. As previously, if you pay extra for the petrol unit with a DSG 7-speed automatic, you get the brand’s mHEV mild hybrid tech thrown in. The diesel, which remains unelectrified, comes in lower-powered form with a manual gearbox and in higher-powered guise with the DSG auto.

Toyota has reimagined what its go-anywhere Land Cruiser large SUV can be. Jonathan Crouch reports.

The Superb iV will be a rare find - but for a family customer who doesn’t want a diesel, it might be a potentially satisfying one. Yes, the quoted fuel and CO2 figures would be virtually impossible to achieve in real-world motoring, but then that’s the case with any plug-in or EV model you care to name. From new, we felt that prices were a little on the high side, but that’s a little less of an issue on the used market. Find the right car and we think you’ll find plenty to like here.

At a time of radical change in the motor industry, this fourth generation Yaris had to deliver - and by and large, it did. As with previous versions of this model, most will still choose this hybrid supermini for its superb refinement, its regularly achievable 50-60mpg economy and its tax-friendly sub-100g/km CO2 readings. The difference with this XP210 design though lay in the fact that these were no longer the only reasons why you might want one. As an alternative to a baby battery-powered full-electric small hatch, it may not be quite as good for the planet; but for most people, most of the time, it’s by far the better all-round choice. And the bottom line? Well ask yourself what you really need a supermini for and then see if this Yaris doesn’t tick every single box. Toyota, on this evidence, knows how to right a best seller.