Fiat 500 Abarth
The 500 was launched last year as Fiat’s response to the retro popularity
of the new Mini and Beetle. Like them, it’s a modern take on a classic
from yesteryear, the dinky, and utterly charming city runabout beloved of teachers
and students back in the ‘60s.
It’s refreshing that, while the new 500 is a thoroughly modern car, Fiat
have been careful not to compromise the old format – the new 500 is as
small, light and ‘dinky’ as a car designed for modern conditions,
and under modern legislation, can be.
So, what’s Abarth? Well it’s to Fiat what Cooper is to Mini – a
stand-alone high performance division and their brief was to sprinkle magic
dust on the humble 500. The result is the best fun you can have with your pants
on.
Abarth understand that the 500’s diminutive size, low weight and charm
are its big plus points so they haven’t messed with the formula by adding
bulk, sophisticated gadgetry to improve handling or masses of extra power,
the route that many manufacturers have taken. It’s akin to Shane Williams
in a world of backs built like brick outhouses.
The new 500 strikes a good balance between the cutesy looks of the original
and modern (and no doubt more aerodynamic) lines befitting a 21st century car.
Abarth have made it a bit racier to look at with deeper side skirts, flared
arches and plenty of rebadging. Inside, the cabin also doffs its cap to the
original with painted metal panels on the dash, big retro dials and a quirkiness
that bucks current conservative trends. Build quality’s good and, though
a tight squeeze in the back, the cabin is comfortable with supportive semi-bucket
seats and a decent driving position. It’s well specced too with blue-tooth,
electrics and MP3 capability as standard.
Despite its performance edge, Abarth have not felt the need to boost power
to stupendous levels. The objective is not to produce a hardcore, tyre burner
but a fun, point and shoot, runabout. And in this respect it’s an unmitigated
success – the turbocharged 1.4 may only produce 133bhp but with plenty
of torque and a happy, revvy disposition that’s all that’s needed
to put a big smile on your face.
I should add that to get the best from the 500 it needs to be in Sport mode.
This sharpens throttle response, increases engine torque and adds weight to
the steering. Steering is nicely weighted, precise and direct and handling
is well balanced with an entertaining tendency to slight understeer. It grips
like a limpet making it a blast around B roads and you can be confident that
should you get too exuberant, its vented brakes and 5-star safety rating will
see you safe.
If you’re care free, want a car that’s bags of fun and looks it
then the 500 Abarth is spot-on and at only £13k it’s the perfect
antidote to these credit-crunched times.
Top speed: 128mph
0-62: 7.9secs
mpg: 43.4mpg
Price: £13,600
Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi 130
Despite its steady popularity over the last 15 odd years the Vectra never really
caught the public’s imagination. No surprise then that Vauxhall has pushed
the boat out to give the new Insignia genuine kerb appeal. Inside and out it’s
one of the best designed cars on the road and with an all-new platform its
talents are a lot more than skin-deep.
The Insignia’s design team has really tried to make the Insignia look
and feel special and they have produced a futuristic design that makes its
direct competitors look decidedly mundane. First impressions are great. Its
side profile, with its coupe-esque roofline, bares more than a passing resemblance
to the Jaguar XF but with sharper lines and from both the front and back its
width lends it a real sense of purpose.
Step inside and the theme continues with sweeping strokes that give the dash,
doors and transmission tunnel a unified, almost space-age, feel. Fortunately
they’ve stopped short of anything too outlandish ensuring that dials
and switchgear are sensibly laid out and easy to use. There’s plenty
of space and the seats are extremely supportive, even for long trips and adjust
to suit all sizes. Throw in a healthy spec list as standard including air con,
electrics, auto lights and cruise control, and you’ve got a cabin that’s
a relaxing, comfortable and satisfying place to be.
On the move, the comfort theme continues – ride is supple but firm enough
not to be wallowy, noise is well suppressed and the overall impression is one
of a very comfortable, capable mile-eater. Don’t mistake this as a sly
way of saying it doesn’t handle well, it does - the new platform produces
a well balanced, predictable and grippy drive at speed across country. The
flipside of a large family hatch is usually the sheer size and though you’re
conscious of the Insignia’s proportions when passing traffic on narrow
roads for the most part it hides its size well, thanks mainly to nicely weighted
steering and good handling. Added to this is a veritable array of technical
goodies including FlexRide, an adaptable suspension system and intelligent
headlights that react to driving conditions and direction.
Performance isn’t lacking either. As one would expect of a mainstream
manufacturer, there’s an engine option for most tastes ranging from the
entry level 140bhp 1.8 to a 250bhp V6 for petrol and a 2.0 ltr diesel with
either 130bhp or 160bhp. No surprise that the 130bhp diesel is expected to
be the best seller and it’s a nice torquey unit with a good balance of
zip and economy. But personally I’d be tempted to go for the 160bhp engine
for its overtaking prowess and its ability to deliver plenty of pace even when
pulling a full load.
Overall, Vauxhall have produced a great blend of comfort and drivability that
will meet the needs of the most fastidious drivers and delivered in a design
package that really looks the part too.
Top speed: 126mph
0-62: 10.7
mpg: 48.7
Price: from £18,625
Audi Q5 2.0TDI
Manufacturers have long since realised that hardly anyone buys a 4x4 to go
off-roading. What people really want is something that they can feel safe in,
has good visibility, is spacious enough for the kids and their trappings and
is good to pose about in. It’s also handy if it’s fast and capable
of a bit of off-roading or at the very least dealing with a bit of snow. Audi
were slow to get in on the 4x4 act but did a good job when they got round to
launching the Q7.
But since the launch of the Q7 the ground has shifted. People now want their
4x4 to handle as well as the best saloons and do their bit to save the planet
too (or least look as if they do) so it must be more frugal and less ostentatious.
Hence the plethora of compact 4x4s currently on the market - and the new Q5.
The Q5 may be a bit late to the party but it looks as though it’s going
to be the belle of the ball. First things first, it’s instantly recognisable
as an Audi being a straight cross between the Q7 and A4 in looks so it’s
handsome and stylish whilst being far less of a statement than the Q7.
The interior’s also trademark Audi with its top notch build quality and
first class aesthetics. It’s reasonably spacious with a good sized boot
and has a handy, though only optional, sliding rear bench. It’s a comfortable
and satisfying place to be as you’d expect from Audi.
Engines choices are limited to the Audi bulwarks of 2.0 TFSI petrol, which
is flexible and powerful and the punchy 2.0 and 3.0 ltr diesels which offer
the best mix of power and economy. The 2.0 diesel in our car was perfectly
adequate for most being smooth and refined yet possessing plenty of poke. It
suits the excellent DSG auto gearbox well but there’s always the decent
6speed for those that prefer a manual box. And so to the Q5’s coup de
gras – its handling. Thanks to its immense
grip, flat cornering and body control and nicely weighted steering the Q5 is
the most fun to drive 4x4 by a country mile. And Audi haven’t compromised
ride to get this level of handling, it’s impressively refined. Though
you have the added security of Audi’s excellent Quattro 4WD system this
isn’t a serious mud-plugger, it’s meant for the road.
And on the road, you won’t find a better 4x4 which is all that really
matters.
Top speed: 126mph
0-62: 9.5secs
mpg: 42.1
Price: from £27,070
Precious Metal