Hot Hatch Motability

Refreshingly there is a good deal of choice for those that want a bit of ‘va va voom’ from their Motability car, the Hot(ish) Hatch contingent has grown quarter on quarter and there are some cracking offers too.

Seat Leon FR Technology

The 2017 Seat Leon sees minor changes on the outside, a reshaped front bumper now features a grille that has been stretched by 40mm, while three new exterior colours and alloy wheel designs are now available.  Seat have updated the inside of the Leon considerably, electric handbrake and ambient lighting have been added, but it is the Tech update that sets the Leon apart, available are wireless phone charging, Traffic sign Recognition and Traffic Jam Assist, which is able to bring the car to a complete stop before continuing automatically when the traffic begins to flow. Smartphone tech in greatly increased with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.

 

The Leon comes in three forms, three door SC, five door hatch and Estate (ST). All three are available with the Golf GTD sharing 2.0 litre diesel 181bhp engine.  The five door car can reach 62 miles per hour in 7.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 142 mph as a six speed manual or 140 mph fitted with the excellent 6 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Economy is 62.8 miles per gallon as a manual or 61.4 as an auto. The 150bhp 1.4 litre petrol with cylinder shut off is another option, it can hit 62 mph in 8 seconds and return 57.6 mpg as a 6 speed manual or seven speed dual clutch Automatic, amazingly it is available for Nil Advance Payment with either gearbox.

Spring Best Buy – Seat Leon ‘FR Technology ‘ 2.0 litre 184 bhp diesel  Manual 5 door  – Nil Advance payment (£58.31 wpms) or £399 AP (£62.00 wpms) as an Automatic

Spring Best Buy – Seat Leon ‘FR Technology ‘ 2.0 litre 184 bhp diesel  Manual ST Estate  –  £199 Advance payment (£60.65 wpms) or £499 AP (£62.67 wpms) as an Automatic

 

 

mini-5-door-seven-motability-carMini Seven Cooper S

The Limited Edition ‘Mini Seven’ is available as a three or five door Mini and in four colours: Blue, White, Black, and British Racing Green. Each shade features contrasting roof and door mirrors painted silver (a pair of silver racing stripes with brown highlights are an option). A set of 17-inch alloy wheels in a unique design round off the changes outside. The Seven’s cabin features part-leather seats and a light brown finish for the dashboard and door inserts. Standard equipment includes Bluetooth and USB connectivity, air conditioning, LED interior lighting, and a 6.5-inch colour display mounted in the centre of the dash. Special ‘Seven’ badging on the door sills and on the central screen surround give subtle reminders that this is a special edition model.

 

mini-seven-motability-car-dashThe Mini Seven is available with the Cooper and Cooper S petrol models, and the Cooper D and Cooper SD diesels. The Cooper S is a cracker, the twin turbo 2.0 litre petrol produces 189 brake horse power and 280Nm of torque from just 1,250rpm. Drive to the front wheels is through a six-speed manual gearbox or a six speed automatic. Top speed is 146mph and zero to 62mph takes 6.8 seconds. Officially the Combined Cycle fuel consumption is 49.6mpg. The engine is strong and very punchy during acceleration even from from low speeds and the engine noise builds in a smooth, flat way, rather than a roar. The Mini has a low centre of gravity and with 62% of the weight over the front (driven) wheels the claims of Go-Kart like handling are not unwarranted. *The 5 door car is £100 extra.

 Spring Best Buy – MINI 5 door Cooper S Seven (189bhp 2.0 litre petrol)  Manual –   £699 Advance Payment (£64.02 wpms) or £1299 as Automatic (£255 wpms)

 

 

Volkswagen Golf GTD Motability carVolkswagen Golf GTD

There is very little not to like about the Golf GTD, enhanced further with a mid life pep up with added tech and light clusters, it’s one our favorite looking cars on the Scheme. Distinguishable from the regular car by its deeper front bumper, honeycomb grille, twin-exit exhausts, bi-xenon headlamps, tailgate spoiler, 18-inch wheels and sitting on independent suspension reduced in height by 15mm. The GTD treads the line perfectly between a fast hatch and usable, comfortable family transport offering room for four adults and a useable shaped boot of 380 litres. On the inside the GTD gets the GTI’s trademark tartan interior trim (albeit in a subtle shade of grey) and a racy-looking flat-bottomed steering wheel, 6.5″ colour touch-screen control system for navigation, CD and radio functions, climate control and front and rear parking sensors.

 

Volkswagen Golf Estate GTD Motability car

GTD estate not available this quarter

The Golf GTD only comes with one engine, and that’s a punchy 2.0-litre diesel with 181 bhp, It’s the diesel’s grunt at low revs that you’ll first notice when you accelerate hard, and the acceleration will raise a grin. It’ll propel the GTD from a standstill to 62mph in 7.9 seconds and on to 141mph as a six-speed manual or a DSG automatic with the same number of gears. Fuel Economy very impressive with the Manual car returning a claimed 70.6 miles per gallon and the Automatic 65.7mpg.  The Golf GTD is a perfectly accomplished, quick diesel hatchback that has a lot of class.

Spring Best Buy – Volkswagen Golf GTD 181bhp 2.0 litre diesel Manual 3dr or 5dr  –   £1999 Advance Payment (£955 wpms) or £2499 as Automatic (£1455 wpms)

 

 

 

Ford Focus ST motability carFord Focus ST

The super practical Focus ST with 182bhp from the 2.0 litre diesel can return a claimed 67.3 miles per gallon as both a hatchback or the super looking estate. The engine produces 400Nm of torque (the GTD 380) with peak power arriving at 3,500rpm, but as with all diesel engines that’s largely irrelevant, what matters is you can access maximum torque from 2,000rpm to 2,750rpm so while 0-62mph takes a slightly lacklustre 8.1 seconds the extra grunt can take you from 31-62mph in a sprightly 6.9 seconds. To drive the ST is a treat, it is as balanced a car as it is engaging, the firm suspension is not uncomfortable but feels necessary, the engine sounds fantastic due to a sound symposia that delivers a purposeful, growling soundtrack that will no doubt please fast Ford enthusiasts.

 

Ford Focus ST motability car dashThe sporty theme is continued on the inside of the ST. Every car is kitted out with a wide range of standard kit including front Recaro sports seats, contrast piping, carbon fibre trim, extra gauges on the dash, a sports steering wheel, metal pedals, a metal gear lever and a generous distribution of ST badges throughout the cabin. Further up the range, Ford gives the Focus ST-2 half leather trim, dual climate control and a heated windscreen, the ST3 adds Bi-xenon headlights, cruise control and metallic alloy wheels with red painted brake callipers. The ST is now available as a six speed manual or a Powershift automatic, add £100 to the AP for the Estate car.

 WAutumn4§ Best Buy – Ford Focus ST3 182bhp 2.0 litre diesel   Manual –   £1295 Advance Payment (£251 wpms) or £1795 (£751 wpms) as powershift Automatic

 

 

Fiat Abarth 500 Motability car595 Abarth

The 595 Abarth has a 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 145 bhp as a five speed manual or robotised sequential automatic with steering wheel mounted paddles. You’ll hit 62mph in 7.8 seconds while still return 47.1 miles per gallon and the top speed of 127 mph can be reached without too much of a struggle. The engine revs quite freely, which makes it a fun car to drive – and fun, rather than outright performance is the key to understanding the Abarth.

 

 

Fiat Abarth 500 cc Motability carInternally there is no doubt that you are in an Abarth, while the layout remains the same as the standard 500, the bucket seats and turbo boost gauge give the game away. These larger bucket seats do eat into the rear legroom so what were small rear seats in the standard car are now even smaller.  There are luxuries such as bluetooth, manual air conditioning, electric windows and super stylish 8 spoke 16″Alloys but the Abarth is all about putting a smile on your face with a free revving engine and go kart handling. The 500C Abarth is a soft top version and nothing is lost from the handling or feel of the car, it even retains a ‘butchness’ you would not expect from a topless small car.

Prices are refreshingly realistic, the tin top car 595 has 145bhp (automatic only) at Nil Advance Payment (£58.05 wpms).  The rag top 595C is  Price reduced from previous quarter price£199 (£60.66 wpms) also auto only.

 

 

Kia Pro Ceed GT

Fitting a twin-scroll turbocharger to the normal 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine has boosted the power output by almost half and it now produces 201bhp and 265Nm of torque. It sprints from 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds and runs to a top speed of 143mph. Manual only priced at £1699 Advance Payment(£655 wpms).

 

Skoda Octavia vRS

The new vRS comes with either a 227bhp petrol engine that can hit 62 miles per hour in a blistering 6.7 seconds or the 181bhp diesel that is available with two of all wheel drive, this is not a slow car with a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds. Both engines can be paired to the hatchback or the estate car as a Manual or DSG Automatic. Priced at £1745 – £1995 Advance Payment