MINI Countryman Cooper 4×4 Review

1. Exterior

The MINI Countryman is controversial. Not only is it the first ever MINI with five doors, it’s the first with four-wheel drive and to top it all – the first ever MINI 4×4. So, many big changes in a range which dates its evolution to the early 1960s are sure to cause a stir. And so it proved during our week with the Countryman, as it proved to be a real head turner. Some loved it, others described it as a MINI XXL.

2. Interior

MINI Hatch and Clubman drivers sitting in the Countryman will need a second to adjust. Everything is familiar, from the steering wheel to the toggle-switch controls, and yet the view out gives away its extra size and height. It’s a good place to be, with high-quality finishes which shame some luxury saloons. The huge central speedometer isn’t really for telling speed – it’s more a design feature – which might irritate some. The screen inside it is far less likely to polarise opinion, thanks to its clear and attractive graphics.

3. Practicality

This car is the answer for MINI owners who had to look elsewhere for a more practical car. Now the same brand can provide a car with spacious rear seats – which slide forwards and backwards to increase boot space or leg room – a 350-litre boot and plentiful headroom. Fold the rear seats down and there’s 1,170 litres of space – almost as much as in a Volkswagen Golf. There are plenty of MINI accessories too, from tailor-made bike racks to luggage nets. The Countryman is available with two separate rear seats or a three-seat rear bench for the same price. Models with two rear seats feature a metal rail running through the centre of the car, to which various MINI accessories can be fitted.

Proton GEN-2 Review

1. Exterior

The Proton GEN-2 signalled a design shift for the Malaysian manufacturer, which had long adapted vehicles based on Mitsubishi models and now had a clean sheet of paper. It wanted to create something more curvaceous, aerodynamic and to take inspiration from Lotus, the sportscar manufacturer largely owned by Proton. The result is largely successful, the GEN-2 looking quite European in its design.

2. Interior

Sadly, this is the GEN-2 saloons weakest area – you can’t help but feel the interior is like a step back in time to cars of a decade ago. The Chevrolet Cruze has a much more modern cabin, while the more expensive, but wholly mainstream, Vauxhall Astra, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf are leagues ahead in their interior quality. The plastic dashboard feels brittle and scratchy, while the upholstery looks out-dated. Soft seats prove comfortable, so long as you are under six feet tall, at which point there’s a lack of headroom. Rear legroom is good, but head space is an issue here too. Top models get a black and red steering wheel and leather trim, which is far better, but still disappointing.

3. Practicality

As long as you aren’t too tall, the GEN-2 is a practical car, with plenty of space for four occupants and a good boot. It has 460 litres of luggage space and expands to 850 litres with the rear seats folded down. EcoLogic models fitted with an LPG tank in the boot do not have luggage space greatly reduced owing to its fitment in the spare wheel well beneath the boot floor.

Aston Martin Virage Review

1. Exterior

Aston Martin evidently doesn’t do sweeping styling changes as the Virage’s details are only mildly tweaked over the DB9 it’s based on despite a completely different name. It’s the filler in the range between the DB9 and DBS, though it’s more chiselled than the DB9 and less extrovert than the DBS, which makes it the most visually appealing of the three cars. That’s as true with this Volante drop-top as it is the coupé; the open-topped model suits its slightly more contemporary lines and larger, multi-spoke alloys particularly well. As head-turners go there’s little to equal it, which is the point really.

2. Interior

If you thought the exterior changes over the DB9 Volante were subtle then those inside are even less obvious. There have been some revisions, but it’s still very much the neat metal, wood and fine leather combination we’ve come to expect from Aston Martin. Those instruments might look fantastic, but get the sun on them and they’re not easy to read, and the minor controls aren’t particularly intuitive. Still, with some time – and there are worse places to spend time – it all becomes familiar in its operation.

3. Practicality

A Virage Volante is about as indulgent a purchase as it gets so it’s unlikely that practicalities will be high on the agenda. For a convertible that can reach 186mph it does reasonably well though, with a boot that’s not comically small, and a pair of rear ‘seats’ that can be used as additional luggage space – putting people in them for any length of time would be cruel. There’s some oddment stowage around the cabin, but not a huge amount. Travel in style, but light…

Aston Martin Virage coupe Review

1. Exterior

If the DB9 is a head turning work of automotive art then the Aston Martin Virage is an absolute masterpiece. The changes are subtle, but details like the re-profiled grille, revised wings and the new headlamps all combine to create an edgier, more contemporary take on the DB9’s elegant lines. Not hugely adventurous stuff from Aston Martin admittedly, but enough to allow the Virage fulfil its role as the middle-ground between the DB9 and DBS. Sat alongside a DB9, the Virage is tauter and more chiselled, though it manages to eschew the DBS’s rather extrovert, somewhat aftermarket styling.

2. Interior

Like the exterior there are few real surprises inside the Virage for those used to the cabin of a DB9. That does mean there is plenty of beautifully finished leather, high gloss wood and brushed metal. Unsurprisingly, it’s styled particularly neatly, Aston’s mix of materials particularly nicely judged – even the Volvo-sourced air vents. It might be easy on the eye, but aside for the obvious big push buttons for the automatic transmission – the Virage not being offered with a manual – the smaller controls are a bit fiddly.

3. Practicality

The specification says 2+2, but you’ll need to be flexible and small to fit in the rear of the Virage. Best then not to bother trying and instead specify the optional hard-backed sports seats. This means losing the rear seats altogether and using the shelves for additional luggage space. The boot will take a golf bag or two, but getting them in won’t be particularly easy. Soft bags are best for the boot then. In the cabin there’s decent oddment storage, though the glovebox isn’t huge – think sunglasses and iPod only.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf hatchback Review

1. Exterior

The standard Alfa Romeo Giulietta stands out in a car park, but the Cloverleaf version really is a head-turner. Distinctive 18-inch alloys and a lower ride height lend the car a sporty appearance. This is added to by twin, chrome-tipped exhausts and a relatively restrained body kit. Alfa’s signature ‘hidden’ rear door handles lend the Giulietta the appearance of a three-door hatchback and the shapely rear lights accentuate that. Some buyers may not appreciate the large white Cloverleaf badge fitted to the front wings, but overall this is one of the most attractive hot hatches on sale today.

2. Interior

The dashboard design in every Alfa Romeo Giulietta is attractive and modern – and feels well-made. A black leather interior is standard on the Cloverleaf and it makes the car seem even more special. The controls are sensibly laid out and the design of the alloy gear knob and toggle switches harks back to early Alfa Romeos. Overall it’s a more distinctive cabin than is found in most of the Giulietta’s rivals.

3. Practicality

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf is as spacious as the Ford Focus andVolkswagen Golf. However, the rear seats can feel a little claustrophobic due to the dark trim and the shape of the side windows. The latter also hampers the driver’s visibility. We found the pedals too close together and there’s very little room on the left of the clutch to put your foot. That said, there’s a wide range of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel and boot space is decent at 350 litres.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback Review

1. Exterior

Read pretty much any Alfa Romeo review on Auto Trader and you’ll find that the exterior design is one of the areas in which this Italian company excels, and it’s no different here. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s heavily tapered nose looks superb with its sleek headlights, prominent three-sided grille and spoiler. The strong shoulder line that runs the length of the car lends just the right amount of aggression, and it’s perfectly balanced by the heavily sculpted rear end that incorporates lights that are interesting rather than contrived.

2. Interior

Alfa’s designers have done a great job of blending traditional styling touches with modern. The result is a cabin that’s inviting, easy to use and clear. A huge insert in the dash dominates, finished in black piano wood or aluminium. This finish is replicated elsewhere in the cabin and it contrasts nicely with the other colours used throughout the interior. The key thing though is that the materials look high-quality and everything feels as though it’s been assembled with care. The seats look nothing short of sensational, but their slightly convex shape make them uncomfortable on long journeys and there isn’t as much support as you’d expect.

3. Practicality

The Giulietta is offered in five-door hatchback form only, so from a practicality point of view things look promising. Certainly, for passengers it’s generally good news as there’s ample head and leg room for anyone in the front or the rear – it’s not over-generous, but there should be enough for most people. Where the Giulietta falls down is with the boot space, because with the rear seats folded it can stow just 350 litres, and with the seats folded this jumps to all of 750 litres. This compares with the five-door BMW 1 series, which can hold a much more useful 1150 litres with the rear seats stowed, but just 330 litres with them in place.

Lexus RX 4×4 Review

1. Exterior

The original Lexus RX 4×4 was rather handsome, but a bit of a wallflower, but its replacement is the complete opposite. Few could call it pretty, but it certainly stands out, if not always for the right reasons. It’s immediately identifiable as a Lexus hybrid, with its chrome trimmings and silver and blue badging.

2. Interior

It’s a little more conventional in the cabin, but although built to an impeccable standard, it doesn’t make you feel as special as when you’re sat in either aBMW X5 or Mercedes ML. The command screen will be familiar to anyone who’s driven a Lexus, or an upmarket Toyota, and works slickly and intuitively. Lexus has moved the iDrive-type interface used to operate ancillary controls to the next level, with an ergonomically-designed ‘mouse’. It takes a little getting used to, but works very well.

3. Practicality

The Lexus RX 450h should offer plenty of space for most owners, but its 496 litre boot lags behind its rivals because of the location of the battery packs beneath the boot floor. There’s lots of space for occupants too, and the rear seats slide back and forth to maximise leg room of boot space. Visibility is good thanks to large mirrors.

Renault Clio Sport Tourer estate

1. Exterior

The transformation from five-door hatchback to estate doesn’t make one of the prettiest estate cars on the market, instead making the Renault Clio Sport Tourer look rather bulbous and overweight. The facelift in 2009 didn’t help either, transforming the supermini from a rather stylish hatch into a gawky looking, ill-proportioned small car.

2. Interior

The inside of the Clio is relatively stylish, but it is showing its age compared with more modern rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. The silver appliqués and trim lift the cabin considerably and break up the swathes of grey plastic. The dials are clear, and all of the controls logically arranged around the cabin. The audio system is located too far down on the centre console though, but there are steering wheel controls standard on all models. The TomTom sat-nav that comes on top models is extremely easy to use and is a major selling point.

3. Practicality

There’s considerably more space inside than the Clio hatchback, with 439 litres of luggage room with the seats up. Fold them down, and there’s 1,277 litres of space. This compares well with the SEAT Ibiza ST and Skoda Fabiaestate. There’s a decent amount of space for four, with ample head and legroom. And the seats are just about right, combining the right level of support and comfort in equal measure, while offering plenty of adjustment. Disappointingly, the steering column is only adjustable for rake, and not for reach. Though not necessarily important in this size of car, all Clio Sport Tourers can tow up to 1,200kg.