A solid workhorse, with seven seats and a very comfortable ride.
Pros Excellent ride comfort Minimal NVH Half-decent looker Solid build quality Plenty of internal storage Great family car for the money Standard safety features
Cons Exceptionally poor infotainment system Outdated switchgear and cabin Poor bluetooth telephony Tough competition
The seven-seater Nissan X-Trail is currently the biggest SUV the firm builds. It’s a good-looking family car that rivals the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and the Skoda Kodiaq. The X-Trail’s interior has a similar design to the one found in the Nissan Qashqai, so it’s simple to use if a little uninspiring to look at, and the car’s standard five-inch touchscreen display means there isn’t a sea buttons to contend with. While there is plenty or room for five adults inside, the two seats that fold out from the boot are best reserved for children. Even with them in place, though, the X-Trail has enough boot space for a few suitcases.
Pros Comfortable Well-equipped Decent off-road
Cons Third row seats are a bit cramped Not exactly head-turning looks CVT automatic is not as good as rivals with DSG
The X-TRAIL TL is clearly not a 4WD as our beach run proved – and the diesel could be both more responsive at low rpm and more economical. However, this is a comfortable, quiet, smooth and sure-footed medium SUV with plenty of room for holiday gear in the back.
Pros Supple ride Comfortable, versatile interior LED headlights
Cons Lack of low-rpm grunt Fuel consumption higher than claimed Foot-operated parking brake
The Tonale is a beautiful concept vehicle that will strongly influence an upcoming subcompact crossover from the Italian company. It shares a streamlined appearance with other Alfa Romeo models, and the production version is expected to slot behind the Stelvio crossover in size and price. The Tonale concept also signals potential styling updates for future Alfa products, with its slim head- and taillights that house distinct lighting elements. Likewise, it previews a plug-in hybrid version that represents the automaker's first electrified model.
The 2020 Alfa Romeo Tonale was one of the surprises of the Geneva motor show and it’s fair to say concrete details are still a little thin on the ground. That said, it’s sized to be an alternative to cars like the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40 so you can expect it to have a starting price of around £28,000 rising to closer to £40,000 for the petrol-electric hybrid model you’ll read about later. You can expect the Alfa to go on sale towards the end of 2020.
