The Suzuki Swift SZ2 now available VAT free with a customer saving of £1,715. For more information call 0845 850 8800 or visit www.suzuki.co.uk Calls cost £0.035 per minute from BT landlines. Calls from non-BT phone lines will vary. *VAT parked offer is based on the Swift SZ2 3dr only available at £8,495, including a customer saving of £1,715, so it’s just like buying it VAT free. † Offer also available on the Swift SZ2 5dr available at £8,895 on the road, including a saving of £1,775. For full details please contact your local participating Suzuki Dealer. This offer is subject to availability for vehicles privately registered between 1st July 2011 and 30th September 2011 from participating Authorised Suzuki Dealers only. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. All prices and specifications are correct at time of going to press. Model shown is the Swift SZ2 5dr available at £8,895 † on the road (metallic paint at £399). Swift range official fuel consumption figures in mpg (L/100km): urban from 41.5 (6.8) to 55.4 (5.1), extra urban from 57.6 (4.9) to 78.5 (3.6), combined from 50.4 (5.6) to 67.3 (4.2). Official CO 2 emissions from 129g/km to 109g/km. Welcome

THERE ARE SOME stunning achievements among the leading contenders and winners in this year’s What Car? Green Car of the Year Awards (see p95). Even three years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine a sub-£10,000 car with the tech to return 67mpg, an executive saloon that emits just 119g/km of CO2, or a family-size SUV that betters that figure by 20g/km. Yet all of these propositions are now reality.

GREEN AWARDS 2011

That’s no longer the case, and as our overall winner proves, even the latest cutting-edge technology is designed to fit in with as many people’s lives as possible.

The line between cars classified as environmentally friendly and those regarded as merely normal has never looked more blurred – and given the potential fuel-

saving benefits in an era of record (and rising) prices at the petrol pumps, that’s a terrific trend for all of us.

Perhaps the greater achievement, though, is that so many of the eco-friendly stars require such little compromise. It used to be the case that ‘green’ meant ‘small’, ‘skinny tyres’, ‘hard ride’ and ‘noisy diesel’.

John McIlroy, magazine editor John.McIlroy@whatcar.com twitter.com/johnmcilroy

What our ratings mean

OUTSTANDING GOOD AVERAGE BELOW PAR POOR

Editor’s picks The Volkswagen Up is small, chic and classy. It’s exactly the type of small car VW should be building p22

Our used test this month covers the Honda Jazz and Nissan Note. Buy either and you’re on to a winner p121

If you want to save cash by going green you need to check out our Green Car of the Year winners p95

USED news

Straight-talking, straightforward buying advice for every car on sale starts on p137

The What Car? team

Chas Hallett Editor-in-chief Chas.Hallett@whatcar.com Responsible for making What Car? and whatcar.com the ultimate buyer’s guides.

John McIlroy Magazine editor John.McIlroy@whatcar.com John knows what’s important to car buyers, and is committed to making sure they get it.

Emma Butcher Consumer editor Emma.Butcher@whatcar.com Knows the consumer market inside out, and isn’t afraid to ruffle manufacturers’ feathers.

Andy Pringle Road test editor Andy.Pringle@whatcar.com Ensures that our tests are fair and rigorous, and that we give you the right verdict every time.

Pete Tullin Chief road tester Peter.Tullin@whatcar.com Pete has driven and assessed more than 5300 cars in his 15 years as a car tester.

Steve Huntingford New cars editor Steven.Huntingford@ whatcar.com Makes sure that What Car? readers find out about new cars first.

Will Nightingale Road tester Will.Nightingale@whatcar.com Studies the market carefully to know exactly what today’s car buyers need.

Iain Reid Web producer Iain.Reid@whatcar.com Iain heads up the team that runs our awardwinning website, whatcar.com.

Leo Wilkinson Deputy web editor Leo.Wilkinson@whatcar.com Leo’s nose for a news story ensures that whatcar.com is first for all the latest new car stories.

Matt Sanger Used car editor Matt.Sanger@whatcar.com A former car salesman, Matt uses the lessons he learned to get you the best used car deals.

Ivan Aistrop Content editor Ivan.Aistrop@whatcar.com Ensures accuracy and objectiveness across all of our publications.

Design Art editor Stephen Hopkins Senior designer Michele Hall Picture editor Anna Boyce Photography Chief photographer John Bradshaw Staff photographer Will Williams Production Group production editor Euan Doig Deputy production editor Barnaby Jones Online sub-editor Peter Barden Sub-editor Rob Keenan Video Video editor Peter Brown Video editing assistant Owen Marshall Data Database editor Rosie McMahon Database assistant Mark Pearson Consumer reporter Ian Jolly Office manager Charlene Harry 020 8267 5688 Media enquiries Karen Parry 020 8267 5553 Contributors Pat Hoy, David Motton whatcar.com NOVEMBER 2011 | 11