Cars with stop-start technology are available in every shape and size imaginable. But where do you test seven of the newest stop-and-go models around?Bristol, famous for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, has the worst traffic congestion in the UK outside London, according to the AA. And that makes it the perfect place to put the latest stop-start cars through their paces.
With our location decided, all we needed was a line-up to prove there really is a stop-start model to suit every budget. We selected seven cars to represent every major market sector.
Leading them off is Smart’s ForTwo. With its new micro hybrid drive (mhd) system and tiny engine, it should be at home on city streets. Following it is the revised Citroen C2, with an automated manual gearbox to make urban driving easier.
Our supermini choice is one for sun worshippers as well as eco warriors – the new MINI Convertible has arrived in time for summer, and gets emission-busting stop-start technology. So does Toyota’s latest Auris – and it also has a new 1.33-litre petrol engine. Will it be able to deal with Bristol’s morning peak?
This is the first time we’ve tested Honda’s all-new family hybrid, the Insight. It lines up next to VW’s spacious Passat BlueMotion. For executive car buyers, we’ve brought along the BMW 320d, complete with the company’s class-leading EfficientDynamics hardware.
The differences between our cars mean we won’t pick an overall winner – we just want to see how they cope with a rush-hour drive through one of the UK’s busiest urban centres.
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