Diesel&EcoCar Magazine

21 February 2020

A new decade means a new set of number plates, with the ‘20’ registrations set to grace dealer forecourts within weeks. The 1st March change is one of the biggest months of the year for new car sales, particularly for private buyers, so make sure that you’re fully armed and primed when negotiating a deal on your next car. In the March 2020 edition of Diesel Car & Eco Car we have a handy guide to choosing the perfect car, whether it be diesel, petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric or hydrogen fuel-cell. Peugeot is replacing both the 208 and 2008, and we’ve driven them both on UK roads. Should you cancel that order for a Fiesta or EcoSport or Corsa or Crossland X – there’s only one way to find out, by reading the latest edition of Diesel Car & Eco Car. We deliver our definitive verdict on both French newcomers. This month’s twin test compares two recently facelifted SUVs, the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. Which one is the best all-rounder? We’ve also driven the updated Ford Mondeo estate, as well as the all-new baby Hyundai i10, the mild hybrid Ford Puma and a similar system fitted to the Fiat 500 and Panda. Suzuki’s Swift Attitude has been put through its paces by our test team and the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered, packing 400bhp from its 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid petrol engine, is the last word in subtlety, with only gold brake calipers and seat belts helping it to stand out in a crowd. Mazda’s 3 Hatchback and Fastback are the subject of this month’s used car buyer’s guide, and we welcome Peugeot’s 508 SW to the long-term test fleet, while waving a fond farewell to the Honda Civic Saloon. On our news pages, there’s the first information on SEAT’s brand-new Leon Hatchback and Estate, the facelifted Renault Megane, the mildly updated Citroën C3 and the latest news on plans to ban fossil fuelled cars in 2035, as well as a pause for the opening of new smart motorways while their safety is evaluated.