budget – All about car

Leasing can be an affordable, practical route into having your own private car, but it’s not always easy to tell the good deals from the duds. The experts at our sister magazine What Car? work hard to find you the best pay-monthly schemes, taking into account mileage allowance, montly outlay, contract length and initial deposit. We’ll be bringing you the best deals they find from a different segment each week. This week, it’s budget family SUVs: 1. Dacia Duster 1.6 SCE Access £886 deposit, £148 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The cheapest SUV here is much more comfortable, refined and practical than its predecessor. Don’t expect engaging handling or scintillating pace but do expect to feel ever so slightly smug. 2. Ford Kuga 1.5 Ecoboost 120 Zetec £1140 deposit, £190 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The most expensive car in this selection is also the best to drive. The Kuga offers a blend of agility and body control that is, frankly, second to none. It’s a rare treat in a class that’s often lacking in both. 3. Hyundai Tucson 1.6 GDI SE Nav £1102 deposit, £184 per month, 36 months, 8000 miles per year The Tucson may not shine brightly in any particular area but is nevertheless a smart, capable and practical family SUV that’s also reliable and pretty likeable. SE Nav trim isn’t the cheapest but it’s our favourite. 4. Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T Visia £1098 deposit, £183 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The car that kick-started the current SUV craze continues to lead by covering more bases than most of the opposition. Some newer rivals may better it for driving pleasure but few are as well rounded. 5. Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI SE Technology £981 deposit, £164 per month, 24 months, 8000 miles per year Few will argue with the Karoq’s price but there’s more to this Skoda than the sound of pennies saved. In fact, it’s a great all-rounder with a composed ride, a good choice of engines and a spacious and versatile cabin. For more great personal business lease deals visit What Car?
Origin: Best lease deals of the week: Budget family SUVs

Renault has revealed its City K-ZE electric compact crossover at the Shanghai motor show ahead of sales starting in China later this year. The new model, which is understood to offer a 155-mile range on the NEDC test cycle, was first revealed in concept form at the Paris motor show last year and is a key part of the French’s firm’s plan to dramatically increase its sales in China. It becomes Renault’s smallest EV, sitting beneath the Zoe, being broadly similar in size to the conventionally powered Twingo, with a wheelbase of 2423mm and a boot capacity of 300 litres. Inside, the City K-ZE has an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone compatibility. It offers multiple charging modes, including a fast-charge function that can fill the battery from empty to 80% in 50 minutes. The City KZ-E will be built in China by eGT New Energy Automotive, a joint venture between the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng. It’s based on Renault and Nissan’s CMF-A platform, currently used on the Indian-market Renault Kwid and Datsun Redi-Go. Renault has previously said the platform will be modified heavily for the City K-ZE, both to accommodate the electirc powertrain and to fit the expectations of differing markets. While it will initially be launched in China, Renault says the City K-ZE has been designed to “European quality standards”. It’s due to be offered in a number of global markets, including Europe, if it proves a success in China. No decision has been made on where models for Europe would be built,
Origin: Renault City K-ZE: production version of budget EV revealed