Er zijn auto’s waar je al iets bij voelt nog voor je de sleutel vastneemt. De Golf GTI is daar één van. Icoon, erfgoed, een referentie die al bijna vijftig jaar meedraait. Maar eerlijk: de voorbije jaren werd het allemaal wat… braaf. Sneller, ja. Maar minder karakter. Minder pit. Minder ziel.
Mercedes built the CLE 53 to replace both the C-Class and E-Class Coupe, and it mostly succeeds. A 445 hp straight-six, huge presence and clever AMG Active Ride Control make a near-two-tonne coupe feel nimble and special. The synthesised soundtrack and a steep price are the catches, but as a modern do-it-all AMG it works.
Tesla's third-ever model, the Model X, rolled into the market back in 2015 and has since seen many powertrains powering it. There's been a 60D, a 75D, a 90D, and a 100D since then
The Range Rover is available with seven seats for the first time, and the king loses none of its magic. The P530's new 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 is far cleaner than the old supercharged unit (11.5 l/100km on our run), the third row is genuinely usable, and the ride wafts like an S-Class. For a small premium over the standard car, it is close to faultless, if only it offered a hybrid.
From a V6 soundtrack to silent electrons, the Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 is Affalterbach's first proper high-performance EV saloon. At 2.5 tonnes it is heavy, but 476 hp, a rear-biased AWD system and a seriously reworked chassis hide it well. It is no V6 C 43, but it lives up to the AMG badge and points clearly to the future.
The 3 Series is a segment benchmark, and the plug-in 320e Touring makes a quietly convincing case for it as a daily driver. A 204 hp plug-in hybrid with 50 to 60 km of EV range, it still averaged under 5 l/100km on longer trips, stays practical and comfortable, and drives with more involvement than its rivals. The C-Class is comfier, but the BMW is the better driver's car.
The long-awaited second-generation BMW M2 arrived to criticism before anyone had driven it. Then you drive it, ideally with the manual gearbox, and it surprises you. Small, rear-driven and endlessly capable, the manual M2 might just be the best compact sports car on sale today.
We test the three-door Defender 90 with the 400 hp petrol straight-six and ask whether it makes sense. Practically it does not, the boot is tiny and it drinks 13 l/100km, but the short wheelbase brings the chassis alive, the six sounds sweet and it charms you completely. This is the Defender you buy with your heart.
A new MINI is always a big deal; it’s like the announcement of a new Mustang, a new FIAT 500, or a new 911. It’s an icon and one that will undergo a lot of scrutiny from their respective fanbase as to what has changed. So is this latest MINI successful in moving to the future without giving its fanbase the finger?
The 2023 BMW M3 Competition Touring is the fast estate enthusiasts dreamed of for 30 years, and it arrived at the perfect moment. A 510 hp straight-six, M xDrive traction and a 2WD party trick make it thrilling, while the 500-litre boot and comfy long-distance manners make it a two-car garage on its own. Near-perfect, and perfectly timed.
The Ranger Raptor is the second in Ford’s performance off-road line-up as the smaller alternative to the F-150 Raptor. But is it worthy of the Raptor moniker, or is it merely a badge exercise? Let’s dive in!
