112 By the Dart • Motoring
of road presence thanks to its eye-catching front-end design, dominated by a large and unmistakable three- pointed badge. Inside the cabin also demands attention, with an
elegant design which features a big twin-dial binnacle and aircraft-style circular air-vents. Higher quality soft- touch materials also give the cabin a more elegant and luxurious ambiance. the featured model is the entry-
headlights and wipers. Range-topping AMG Line cars add subtle styling details, more potent looking bumpers and 18-inch wheels among extra features. underway, this B Class handles well but you do
level diesel, priced at £22,900, and utilising a 1.5 litre engine giving 109 hp. top speed is 118 mph, the 0-60 mph time 11.6 seconds. those stats are not outstanding by class standards but the fuel economy figure from this smaller engine is impressive – 70.6 mpg combined. entry-level se cars come with plenty of standard equipment, including 16-inch alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, iPod connectivity, reversing camera and city braking technology. sport models add extra kit including larger 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic
JuKE
some cars are all about looks and the eye-catching Nissan Juke crossover is a perfect example. The Juke appeals to people who want to stand out among the motoring masses and require a cool image and the Juke delivers on both counts. Its chunky yet curvy profile is unmistakable and with models accessibly priced from £13,920, the Juke has built up a devoted following. there are 1.6 litre petrol and 1.5 litre diesel engines available but proving very popular is the 115 hp 1.2 litre turbo petrol version which I tested recently. It blends nippy performance with good fuel economy. In Acenta trim, one up from entry
level, it costs £15,620 and comes with 17-inch alloys wheels, climate control, radio/CD/iPod unit, Bluetooth, power windows and a usB port among its standard kit. Despite its tall stance, the Juke handles well.
THE MAJOR PLUS-
POINTS OF THE B CLASS ARE ITS GENEROUS
SPACE FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR OCCUPANTS
notice a firmer ride than you would get in most hatchbacks, though the upside of this is that you get tighter body control and reassuring handling. the power delivery is smooth and while the car is not that quick off the mark, it does have decent mid-range flexibility. It is easy to get a good driving position as there is a lot of adjustment on the seat and steering wheel. Front visibility is good though the rear screen is rather shallow. the major plus-points of the B
Class are its generous space for both front and rear occupants, large boot providing almost 500 litres without folding the seats, its premium-look interior and of course the kudos that always comes with the Mercedes badge.
IT IS COMPOSED ON
THE CORNERS AND HAS A FIRM BUT ACCEPTABLY COMFORTABLE RIDE.
give clear speed and rev readings and the centre console functions are easy to use. there is good visibility from the
fronts seats though rear vision is somewhat restricted by a narrow screen and thick pillars. the sloping roof line also curbs headroom for taller occupants in the rear seats and the rear doors are quite narrow.
Load space is good – the boot is deep and benefits
It is composed on the corners and has a firm but acceptably comfortable ride. steering feedback is good and the 6-speed manual gearbox is slick and precise. It has light and nimble driving dynamics and is equally at home on urban roads or country lanes. the 0-60 mph time of 10.8 seconds is fairly typical of
the crossover class, top speed is 111 mph and the fuel economy is 49.6 mpg combined. the cabin is smart and well designed, with a logical layout of instruments and switchgear. Big twin dials
from a variable-height floor. the rear seats also fold flat, which helps when loading bulky items. Yet while the Juke scores well for practicality, for
many buyers the deciding factor is its exterior styling, which makes the car very distinctive. the crossover sector includes strong rivals such as the Juke’s own Qashqai stablemate, the Renault Captur and the recently launched Mazda CX-3, but the Juke arguably offers more visual charisma and importantly for younger buyers, more street-cred.
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