MOTORING VOLVO V40 CROSS COUNTRY CONTINUED.........
poise and flow of the car is very reassuring – you always feel fully in control. Pitched against comparable models from the VW Golf
and Audi A3 range among others, this Volvo offers a more distinctive and rather more classy image. The cabin is well designed for simplicity of use, yet with a nicely understated premium look. Trim materials are of good durable quality and the seating I found exceptionally comfortable. The dashboard layout puts most controls in a neat centre console which has around 40 buttons, which at a glance may seem confusing but in fact they are logically placed and easy to understand. My test model was the upper-range Cross Country Lux Nav, with the D4 engine, and priced
THIS VOLVO OFFERS A MORE DISTINCTIVE AND RATHER MORE CLASSY IMAGE.
at £28,770. Standard kit includes alloy wheels, sat nav, climate and cruise control, four power windows, Bluetooth, and leather upholstery. It also featured an array of options totalling £8,000 which included panoramic glass roof, park assist pilot, rear camera, collision warning with auto braking, driver alert system and other safety features, Winter pack, upgraded sound system and much more. Cross Country models also have slightly higher ground clearance and more chunky bumpers which help give the car a more eye-catching appearance. With multi-adjustable drivers seat and steering wheel
you get a good driving position, though the low roofline does mean taller drivers will have to duck slightly when they get in and out of the car. The boot is a good size and has a clever adjustable and dividable floor system which can also provide a completely flat load area. Top marks for versatility!
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
ESTATE GT The Volkswagen Passat has been around for over 40 years and has notched up sales of 22 million, so the new version, introduced a few months ago, had a lot to live up to. However, there will be no anxiety in the VW boardroom – the new Passat is an instant winner. Lighter, longer and more
roomy that its predecessor, it is also up to 14 per cent more fuel efficient, laden with more creature comforts and safety features and looks far more prestigious than the previous version. Passat estate prices start at £23, 870, with flagship versions
topping £37,000. The diesel only line-up - a petrol-electic hybrid will be available in October - offers 120 to 240 hp and the best seller will be the 150 hp SE model, with an esimated 80 per cent of sales going to business users. My test model was the
IT IS ALSO
EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD TO DRIVE. SMOOTH, QUIET, RESPONSIVE,
upper-range GT, with a 2.0 litre 188 hp engine and 6-speed DSG gearbox. Priced at £30,855 it is extremely well-kitted in standard form. But there is still plenty of scope for upgrading – the test model had over £5,000 worth of options including including Driver’s Assistance Pack Plus which included camera and radar assisted safety features. Exterior styling provides a real touch of class and the cabin
CONTROLLED – IT SOAKS UP THE SUPERLATIVES.
MOT, Maintenance and Repair of motor vehicles
01803 834234 Jawbone Hill • Dar tmouth
underlines that premium feel with a superior standard of fit and finish and use of high quality materials. The cabin accomodation can take five tall adults with no problems and the boot space is near best-in-class. The fold-down rear seats system is easy to use and the boot floor has a variable height. No doubt about it, the Passat is a very spacious, -very comfortable estate car. But the praise doesn’t stop there. It is also exceptionally
good to drive. Smooth, quiet, responsive, controlled – it soaks up the superlatives. There is power throughout the
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