This is the Volkswagen

Polo R Line; a sporty, high-spec addition to the VW Polo

range.

The deeper, sportier bumpers and side sill extensions give the Polo R Line a more muscular look. It also gets a gloss black radiator grille with R Line badging and 16-inch alloys.

Darkened rear side windows and front foglights with a static cornering function complete the makeover.

Inside, the Polo R Line has aluminium door scuff plates, sports seats, leather steering wheel trim, aluminium pedal trim and black headlining.

Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, electric windows (four- for five-door models), electrically operated and heated door mirrors and ?multi-device interface? with USB input.

Three- and five-door models are available. Just one engine is offered ? a 104bhp 1.2 TSI petrol. Average fuel economy is 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions are 124g/km.

The VW Polo R Line is on sale now, at £15,195 for the 3dr and £15,815 for the 5dr. First deliveries are expected in July.

Leo Wilkinson

 What Car? True MPG

was launched this week, to help car buyers find out what fuel economy they can really expect from their next car.

With escalating fuel costs, there?s never been a greater demand to discover which cars have the best mpg. What Car? True MPG

, in association with Tesco Petrol Filling Stations, uses state-of-the-art testing equipment, on real roads, to tell you which cars will really save you money.

We?ve already tested many of the UK?s most popular cars and are rapidly building up our database. Here are our top 10 True MPG winners so far.

The Audi A1 was our 2011 Car of the Year and it remains hugely desirable. It?s fun to drive, affordable to own and has an interior that wouldn?t look out of place in Audi?s much more expensive models. The A1 1.4 TFSI 122 Sport averaged 46.9mpg in our True MPG tests, making it one of the most economical superminis we?ve tested.

It?s no surprise to see a BMW 3 Series

here. BMW has been at the forefront of fuel-saving technology over the last few years, with a range of clever ?Efficient Dynamics? features that makes its models more efficient than many rivals. In our tests the BMW 320d Sport saloon averaged 54.8mpg ? an impressive figure that adds to its sensational all-round appeal.

Big SUVs aren?t renowned for being especially economical, but the Land Rover Discovery

was one of the success stories in our True MPG tests. The Discovery 3.0 SV6 HSE averaged 30.7mpg. That?s just 1.5mpg shy of the official figure and a remarkable achievement for such a big, heavy car.

A big part of any supermini?s appeal is low running costs, but not all deliver as thoroughly on their promise as the Ford Fiesta. Our the hands of our expert testers, the Fiesta 1.25 82 Zetec averaged 42.3mpg. That?s an achievable real-world figure that betters some city cars'.

The Volkswagen Passat Estate

is the kind of car that covers huge mileages, so working out exactly how much you?re likely to spend on fuel is a key issue for buyers. The Passat 2.0 TDI 140 Bluemotion Tech SE did very well in our tests, with a 54.8mpg average that makes it very appealing for private and business users alike.

Good fuel economy and fun aren?t mutually exclusive, as the Mazda MX-5

emphatically proves. Pound-for-pound it remains one of the most enjoyable cars to drive for your money. It?s also comparatively cheap to buy, and our True MPG figures prove that its not as thirsty as you might think. The MX-5 1.8i SE averaged 35.1mpg in our tests, which is only 4.7mpg short of the official mpg figure.

If you need a big MPV, chances are you?ve got lots of mouths to feed and finances are tight. The good news is the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

is one of the stars of our True MPG tests so far. The Zafira Tourer 2.0 CDTi 165 SE S/S averaged 52.4mpg, making it the highest-scoring MPV by a considerable margin.

We?ve always been huge fans of the Volkswagen Golf

, which has won the small family category in our Car of the Year awards for the last four years. Our favourite model is the 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr, which did particularly well in our True MPG tests, averaging 43.3mpg. That?s an impressive return for a petrol model with good performance.

Only a few years ago, the thought of a big, powerful executive saloon that returns over 50mpg in real-world use was unimaginable. The BMW 5 Series saloon

does just that. In 520d Efficient Dynamics trim, it averaged a stunning 54.5mpg in our True MPG tests. That?s great news for the thousands of business users that demand a classy, roomy executive car, but want to keep fuel costs to a minimum.

Perhaps the biggest winner in our tests so far is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

. A range of efficiency-boosting measures have helped to make the S350L CDI Bluetec - a big, plush luxury saloon - as economical in our tests as some much smaller cars. More remarkable still, our True MPG average of 37.3mpg is 0.6mpg better than the official mpg figure.

Visit the True MPG

website to find the True MPG figure for your car, how we conduct our tests and advice on how to save fuel.

Leo Wilkinson

 Driving a Kia Picanto

could be a lot more costly than you think, while Mercedes-Benz S350L CDI Bluetec

owners should be paying less than expected to keep their car moving, according to real-world fuel efficiency figures from What Car?'s new True MPG

service.

What Car? True MPG

economy testing programme has revealed the cars that live up to and fall short of official Government figures when driven in real-world conditions on the UK's road network.

Official mpg figures are controlled by EU law and are conducted in laboratory conditions on rolling roads. However, What Car?'s True MPG takes the test to the UK's streets and uses real-world driving data to provide a powerful tool to help buyers choose the car that's right for them ? and their driving habits.

The Kia

Picanto 1.0 2 and Mercedes-Benz

S350L CDI Bluetec reveal the stark benefits of using What Car?'s True MPG, with the Kia supermini failing to thrive in real-world driving conditions, while the Mercedes' eco-friendly Bluetec model exceeds its official MPG expectations.

Kia's popular supermini records a What Car? True MPG average economy of 41.2mpg in our real-world driving tests, which is much less than the official laboratory-based figure of 67.3mpg.

A Picanto owner driving an average of 12,000 miles per year could pay around £2200 more for fuel than official figures suggest over a period of three years.

For example, comparing the difference between official mpg figures and What Car? True MPG data, the difference in purchase price between a Ford Fiesta 1.25 82 Zetec and the Kia Picanto 1.0 2 ? considering the additional expense of fuel over three years ? could shrink from £2750 to just £1435.

Hybrid cars calculation
If you are thinking about buying a hybrid car you should also take time to visit What Car?'s True MPG site. A Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 with an official average of 70mpg, was found by our testers to manage just 46mpg ? a shortfall of 24 miles. This equates to a driver travelling 12,000 miles a year, spending an extra £1821 over a three-year period.

Drivers looking to profit from real-world driving costs revealed by the What Car? initiative could do worse than considering the Mercedes-Benz S350L CDI Bluetec. The S-Class exceeds official expectations for its average economy by 2%, which equates to a saving of £105 over three years for a motorist doing 12,000 miles a year. Small change for a car that costs £64,610, but the What Car? True MPG initiative will reveal other cars that closely match or exceed official mileage expectations.

The Vauxhall Corsa

1.2i VVT Ecoflex SXi S/S also performs well, with only -1% variance from its official average mpg figure. This is particularly impressive for the supermini, which sits among larger, more sophisticated cars at this end of the True MPG scale. Relate this to a three-year period with the driver covering 12,000 miles a year, and the Corsa will add just £53 to the cost of the official mpg expectations.

Find out for yourself
If you're buying a car, then make sure you visit the True MPG

website to find the True MPG figure for the car you're considering ? and on the roads you drive.

Pete Barden

*Price comparisons are based on the average price per litre of unleaded and diesel week ending April 27, 2012. Data sourced from fuel price data is supplied by Experian Catalist in cooperation with Arval UK Ltd.

 You won't pay any road tax if you buy a new car in VED Band A

. Cars in this road tax band emit less than 100g/km of CO2, and because low emissions also mean high mpg, they are economical to run too.

Our database contains more than 230 cars that sit in road tax (VED) band A. To help you choose a good road-tax free car, here are our top 10.

The Chevrolet Volt

gives you all the benefits - and low running costs - of an electric car, but without the range anxiety. We think it?s brilliant.

Our 2011 Green Car of the Year is the Vauxhall Ampera

. It?s virtually identical to the Volt and uses the same technology, but it costs a bit more and isn?t as well equipped. It looks cooler, though.

Our Green Small Family Car of the Year 2011 is the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion 5dr

. It?s as desirable and classy as any Golf, and is very fuel-efficient.

Most superminis get good mpg, but few are as frugal as the Ford Fiesta Econetic

. It?s an excellent ?green? version of Ford?s supermini, with a superb - and very economical - turbodiesel engine.

If you want to have fun, but still get good mpg and keep road tax costs in check, the Mini Cooper 1.6D

is well worth a look. It?s a hoot to drive, has a smooth diesel engine and will hold its value well in the long run.

Peugeot?s 3008 Hybrid4

is rather pricey, but its diesel-electric hybrid powertrain gives incredible fuel economy and very low CO2 emissions. It also has a classy, practical cabin and is very well equipped.

As well as being cheap to buy, the Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi Blue Drive Active

has a diesel engine that keeps running costs to a minimum. As with every i30, it has lots of kit and a high-quality interior, too.

The Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion

is a great way to slash your fuel bills. Its three-cylinder engine gives an average 80.7mpg and CO2 emissions of just 91g/km. The usual VW Polo plus points remain, so it's also comfortable and classy.

We think the best electric car on sale is the Nissan Leaf

. It won't suit everyone's lifestyle, but if you can live with its limited range (and can afford to buy it) it's a pleasure to own, thanks to its strong performance and excellent refinement.

An average of 67.3mpg makes the Volkswagen Up 1.0 Bluemotion Tech Move Up

the most economical version of our 2012 Car of the Year. It?s the best city car you can buy, and one of the cheapest to own.

 What Car? has launched True MPG

, an exciting new initiative to give Britain?s car buyers the most realistic fuel economy information possible.

What Car? True MPG

, in association with Tesco Petrol Filling Stations, tests cars on real roads in exactly the same conditions that every motorist faces every day. Until now, the only information that?s been available is the car makers? own figures, which are determined under EU law and are conducted in laboratory conditions on rolling roads. Not any more. Car buyers can simply log on to whatcar.com/truempg and work out the fuel economy they can expect to get from their next new car using our exclusive True MPG tools.

'With rising fuel prices, the miles-per-gallon issue is high on every motorist's agenda. Countless car buyers are frustrated that they don't match the official government fuel figures. True MPG will allow motorists to select a car personalised to their driving needs and budget. We hope that it will become invaluable in the complex and emotional car-buying process,' said What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett.

What Car? tests the vehicles using a portable emissions-measurement system when the engines have reached normal operating temperature. The vehicles are then driven by two experienced engineers over a variety of roads including motorway, A- and B-roads, and through towns and villages.

The data from the testing considers driving style, changes in altitude, ambient temperature and humidity, and engine temperature. The state-of-the-art testing equipment is manufactured by Sensors Inc and is well proven globally. It has been used by vehicle and equipment manufacturers for both product development and testing.

Visit the True MPG

website to find the True MPG figure for your car, how we conduct our tests and advice on how to save fuel.

 This is the 2012 Subaru Legacy

, which has a range of improvements, including revised suspension and extra kit.

Exterior changes are limited to new door mirrors, one new paint colour and the addition of a sportier front bumper, grille and dark-tinted headlamp lenses for the top two trims. Confusingly, a face-lifted version - with new-look bumpers and grille - goes on sale in other markets this summer, but these changes won't filter through to UK models until late 2012.

For now, the most significant changes to the Legacy Tourer are to its 2.0-litre diesel engine. A range of new components have made it more efficient; average fuel economy improves from 46.3mpg to 49.6mpg, while CO2 emissions are cut from 161g/km to 149g/km.

Subaru

has dropped the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol model, so prices now start at £26,900. The 2.5 petrol model ? which has an automatic gearbox as standard ? starts at £29,075.

What?s the 2012 Subaru Legacy like to drive?
We drove the 2.0D model. Although it?s cleaner than before, the Legacy?s ?boxer? diesel engine (the pistons are placed horizontally, punching outwards) has the same 145bhp output. Performance is respectable, but the engine isn?t as flexible as you might expect, with rather lacklustre responses at low revs.

The engine is a little noisy, too, and sounds clattery at low revs. It?s unobtrusive once you?re up to speed, but the amount of road noise on the motorway means the Legacy isn?t as refined as a Ford Mondeo Estate

or Volkswagen Passat Estate

.

The Legacy isn?t as good to drive as those two rivals, either. On the plus side, standard four-wheel drive means excellent traction and there?s plenty of grip through corners. The handling is fine, too, but the Legacy always feels its size and the steering is slow to respond at speed.

Our test car was in top-spec SE Navplus trim, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels and sportier Bilstein dampers. In this guise, body control is good, but the ride is firm and sharper low-speed bumps thud through the cabin.

What?s the 2012 Subaru Legacy like inside?
The Legacy is a big car and its cabin is very practical. There?s generous head- and legroom in the front and rear, and a central rear passenger can sit in comfort.

There's a 526-litre loadspace with the rear seats up and 1677 litres when they?re folded, which means the Legacy Tourer is almost as roomy as a Ford Mondeo Estate, and that's saying something. Access is good and it?s easy to fold the rear seats flat.

Things are less rosy up front, because the Legacy?s dashboard looks like it?s from a different era. The controls and instruments are dated and the silver-on-silver colour scheme makes it tricky to find the button you?re after quickly.

Build quality is solid, but the cabin materials are drab and the Legacy?s interior isn?t classy enough for a car that costs close to ? and in some cases, more than ? £30,000.

Should I buy one?
At £26,900 the entry-level Legacy 2.0D S looks pricey, although there aren?t many rivals that provide standard four-wheel drive and as much space. Standard kit is generous, and includes climate control, automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth and electric driver?s seat adjustment. SE trim bumps the price up to £28,850, while the version we drove ? the SE Navplus ? costs £31,370.

Like all of its models, the Legacy comes with Subaru?s ?Everything Taken Care of? (ETCo) package as standard, which includes free minor bodywork and alloy wheel repairs, a monthly wash, and winter wheel and tyre storage.

Ultimately, the Legacy is too expensive to recommend. A Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec costs £4455 less than the entry-level version and is classier, more practical and better to drive. If you must have four-wheel drive, SUVs such as the Audi Q3

are much more appealing.

Rivals:
Audi Q3

Ford Mondeo Estate

What Car? says?


Leo Wilkinson

 This is the 2012 Legacy Tourer

, which has a range of improvements, including revised suspension and extra kit.

Exterior changes are limited to new door mirrors, one new paint colour and the addition of a sportier front bumper, grille and dark-tinted headlamp lenses for the top two trims. Confusingly, a face-lifted version - with new-look bumpers and grille - go on sale in other markets this summer, but these changes won't filter through to UK models until late 2012.

For now, the most significant changes to the Legacy Tourer are to its 2.0-litre diesel engine. A range of new components have made it more efficient; average fuel economy improves from 46.3mpg to 49.6mpg, while CO2 emissions are cut from 161g/km to 149g/km.

Subaru

has dropped the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol model, so prices now start at £26,900. The 2.5 petrol model ? which has an automatic gearbox as standard - starts at £29,075.

What?s the 2012 Subaru Legacy Tourer like to drive?
We drove the 2.0D model. Although it?s cleaner than before, the Legacy?s ?boxer? diesel engine (the pistons lie horizontally, punching outwards) has the same 145bhp output. Performance is respectable, but the engine isn?t as flexible as you might expect, with rather lacklustre responses at low revs.

The engine is on the noisy side, too, and sounds clattery at low revs. It?s unobtrusive once you?re up to speed, but the amount of road noise on the motorway means the Legacy Tourer isn?t as refined as a Ford Mondeo Estate

or Volkswagen Passat Estate

.

The Legacy isn?t as good to drive as those two rivals, either. On the plus side, standard four-wheel drive helps towards excellent traction and there?s plenty of grip through corners. The handling is fine, too, but the Legacy always feels its size and the steering is slow to respond at speed.

Our test car was in top-spec SE Navplus trim, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels and sportier Bilstein dampers. In this guise, body control is good, but the ride is firm and sharper low-speed bumps thud through the cabin.

What?s the 2012 Subaru Legacy Tourer like inside?
The Legacy Tourer is a big car and its cabin is very practical. There?s generous head- and legroom in the front and rear seats and a central rear passenger can sit in comfort.

There's a 526-litre loadspace with the rear seats up and 1677 litres when they?re folded, which means the Legacy Tourer is almost as roomy as a Ford Mondeo Estate, and that's saying something. Access is good, too, and it?s easy to fold the rear seats flat.

Things are less rosy up front, because the Legacy?s dashboard looks like it?s from a different era. The controls and instruments are dated and the silver-on-silver colourscheme makes it tricky to find the button you?re after quickly.

Build quality is solid, but the cabin materials are drab and the Legacy?s interior isn?t classy enough for a car that costs close to - and in some cases over - £30,000.

Should I buy one?
At £26,900 the entry-level Legacy Tourer 2.0D S looks pricey, although there aren?t many rivals that provide as much space and standard four-wheel drive. Standard kit is generous, and includes climate control, automatic lights and wipers, bluetooth and electric driver?s seat adjustment. SE trim bumps the price up to £28,850, while the version we drove ? the SE Navplus ? costs £31,370.

Like all of its models, the Legacy comes with Subaru?s ?Everything Taken Care Of? (Etco) package as standard, which includes free minor bodywork and alloy wheel repairs, a monthly wash and winter wheel and tyre storage.

Utimately, the Legacy is too expensive to recommend. A Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec costs £4455 less than the entry-level version and is classier, more practical and better to drive. If you must have four-wheel drive, SUVs such as the Audi Q3

are much more appealing.

Rivals:
Audi Q3

Ford Mondeo Estate

What Car? says?


Leo Wilkinson

 Audi

is launching four new high-performance S models; the S6

, S6 Avant, Audi S7

and S8.

All the new models are powered by the same twin-turbo V8 engine ? with varying outputs of up to 513bhp ? which features Audi's fuel-saving cylinder-on-demand technology. This eight-cylinder unit replaces the naturally aspirated V10 FSI engine and improves economy by up to 25%.

The quartet of new S models will be open to order from next month, with first deliveries in July. The cars will cost from £53,995 for the S6, up to £77,900 for the range-topping S8.

The Audi S6 and S6 Avant: In the S6 and S6 Avant, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine produces 414bhp and can slingshot the S6 from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, while the Avant is just a tenth behind at 4.7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155mph.

New systems include Audi's fuel-saving cylinder-on-demand technology, which shuts down four of the eight combustion chambers when demand is low ? during periods of motorway cruising, for example.

The downsized engine and new technology help to cut fuel consumption by up to 25% compared with the 5.2-litre V10. Average economy is now 29.4mpg for the S6 and 29.1mpg in the Avant.

Both the A6 and A6 Avant get a fast-shifting seven-speed S tronic gearbox, to transfer drive to the permanent four-wheel-drive system. This incorporates a sport differential, which allows variable torque distribution between the rear wheels.

The two new S models also get adaptive air suspension in its firmer Sport configuration, which lowers the body by 10mm. Both cars get 19-inch alloys and ventilated disc brakes; carbon-ceramic discs are an option.

Audi's Drive Select adaptive dynamics system ? which influences features such as throttle response, gearshifts, steering settings, power delivery, and air suspension performance ? is a standard fit on both variants. The driver can adjust the operation of these systems in five stages.

Both variants get Audi's active noise cancellation system, which broadcasts 'antiphase' sound via four cabin-mounted speakers to cancel out external noise that makes its way into the cabin.

The car gets a sporty appearance, too, with a front grille with chromed horizontal double bars. Another chrome strip adorns the front bumper, along with xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, and LED rear lights. The saloon gets a boot spoiler ? the Avant gets one on the roof ? while both get four elliptical chrome tailpipes.

Audi S7 Sportback: In the S7 Sportback, the new 414bhp 4.0-litre TFSI blasts the Audi from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, and on to a limited top speed of 155mph. The eight-cylinder unit uses Audi's cylinder-on-demand technology, which helps it achieve an average economy of 29.4mpg.

Delivery of power is taken care of by a seven-speed S tronic transmission, while the all-wheel-drive system has a sport differential acting on the rear wheels.

The S7 Sportback also has adaptive air suspension and the Audi Drive Select dynamics system.

Behind the 19-inch alloys are large, internally ventilated disc brakes front and rear. Their black calipers are stamped with S7 logos at the front. Carbonfibre-ceramic discs are available as an option. Other options include 21-inch alloys and dynamic steering, which varies adjust steering responses as speed increases.

Audi's active noise-cancellation system is also found on the S7.

Audi S8: The range-topping Audi S8 gets a 513bhp version of 4.0-litre engine. This propels it from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds, while top speed is electronically capped at 155mph.

Average economy for V8 is an impressive 28.0mpg, with CO2 emissions of 235g/km. This compares with the previous car's 5.2-litre V10, which recorded an average economy 21.4mpg in the equivalent test. This improvement of 6.6mpg is achieved despite a 69bhp increase in power. Cylinder-on-demand technology is also standard.

Power is transferred to the wheels through an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. The drivetrain includes a self-locking central differential, with a sport diff on the rear axle. During enthusiastic driving, this diverts the majority of the power to the outside wheels, which helps push the car through corners.

Like the other S models, the S8 also gets Audi's active noise-cancellation system as standard.

The S8's dynamics are aided by adaptive air suspension with variable damping, which can vary the ride height. This complements the dynamic steering, which uses virtually imperceptible corrections to stabilise handling when cornering on the limit. The all-wheel-drive system is also enhanced, as in the S6 and S7, by the sport differential that manages torque distribution between the rear wheels.

The S8 comes on 20-inch alloys, with 400mm disc brakes at the front and 365mm of stopping power at the rear. The matt black calipers up front are stamped with S8 logos. There's also the option of lighter carbonfibre ceramic discs.

Order books for the S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback and S8 open next month, with deliveries expected in July.

Prices
S6 saloon - £53,995
S6 Avant - £56,050
S7 Sportback - £61,995
S8 - £77,900

Pete Barden

 The all-new Ford Kuga

SUV doesn't go on sale until 2013, but we're offering you the chance to see this eagerly awaited car at an exclusive preview on May 4. Read on and sign-up here.

This version of the Kuga is not only bigger than the current car, but boasts a gadget-fest that includes automatic folding rear seats and a hands-free tailgate that you can open and close simply by waving your foot under the bumper.

If that sounds good, this will sound even better ? we're giving you the opportunity to test out the in-car technology at our exclusive, private viewing.

So, if you're in the market for an SUV that promises the ultimate in practicality, then get in touch and reserve your place for the essential hands-on research session.

When, where and how
This exclusive preview of the 2013 Ford Kuga will take place from 4:30pm-7pm on Friday, May 4, in Dunton, Essex. If you want to be part of the event, get in touch with the following details.

Send us the following details
•What car you currently drive
•Your occupation
•Your mobile phone number
•Where you'll be driving from on the day
•Why you?re interested in reviewing the Ford Kuga

Send your details to: readertestteam@haynet.com