Road tests of the year 2012: August
August was an interesting month for road tests, here are our best
Volvo V40 vs Volkswagen Golf vs BMW 1 Series
Winner: BMW 1 Series Read the full test >>
When a car maker bills a new model as its most important in 20 years, you sit up and take notice. That’s exactly how Volvo described the new V40, so we picked a pair of tough rivals for its first test: the BMW 1 Series and VW Golf.
The V40 was extremely strong, and came very close to stealing victory, thanks to its appealing blend of stylish looks, comfortable cabin, outstanding safety kit and low running costs. However, while it easily beat the ageing MkVI Golf, a small boot and slightly less involving driving experience meant it had to narrowly give second best to the excellent 116d EfficientDynamics.
Renault Twizy vs car vs scooter vs public transport
Winner: Skoda Citigo Read the full test >>
The Renault Twizy is breaking the mould of urban commuting, so we compared it to three different travel options – rating it against a Skoda Citigo and a Piaggio scooter, as well as public transport.
Our starting point was Cobham in Surrey, and we timed each method of transport on a journey to our Central London offices. Of course, the results of such a test will be determined by your commute, but the Twizy impressed. It was cheaper and faster than public transport, and offered better weather protection than the rapid scooter. But with its rigid ride and limited practicality, the Renault finished second to the all-conquering Citigo.
Mercedes SL63 AMG vs Jag. XKR-S Convertible vs BMW M6 Convertible
Winner: Mercedes SL63 AMG Read the full test >>
High-performance open-top sports cars were our focus in late August, as we drove a trio of V8 rear-drive machines in beautiful sunshine.
All three had their talents: the Jaguar XK was huge fun and sounded great, the BMW M6 Convertible had space for four and a hi-tech chassis, while the Mercedes SL delivered sharp handling to go with its stomping straight-line pace.
But the heavyweight M6 wasn’t as agile as its rivals here, and the XKR-S didn’t offer much over the cheaper XK-R. That left the SL63 AMG as the winner, albeit a pricey one at £123,000.
