Currently reading: Autocar magazine 17 August – out now
What’s the most fun-to-drive car on sale for less than £25k? Two roadsters and three hot hatches go head to head

In this week’s issue we pit the Ford Fiesta ST200, Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy and DS 3 Performance against the Fiat 124 Spider and Mazda MX-5, to see which is the best sub-£25k sports car.

We also examine Mercedes’s EV future and speak to the experts about buying a used Honda Civic Type R.

There’s news from Bugatti about its revived £2 million Galibier supercar, the latest on Audi’s Tesla Model S rival and an inside scoop on an all-electric Porsche SUV.

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Plus, we question whether the Google car is at the end of the road following strict US law changes.

Also in this issue:

We take to the German countryside in the new, all-wheel-drive Alpina B7 Biturbo, which produces a bonkers 600bhp from its twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

Then it’s back to Hertfordshire in the handsome but brutish-sounding Jaguar F-Type SVR, and over to Wales in a new Mercedes-Benz E 350 d in AMG Line trim.

And this week we subject the new Renault Mégane to Autocar’s 5282nd road test. Will the striking French hatch impress in 1.5 dCi spec?

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Features:

After deciding which affordable performance car would get our £25k, we meet rally star turned M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson to talk about his company’s exciting future.

London’s Hexagon Classics has opened a museum where you can buy the cars on show. Naturally we arranged a visit to gawk at the machinery.

And finally, who better to teach us the art of drifting than someone who does it for a living? We get behind the wheel of a 1300bhp Nissan GT-R and take lessons in going sideways.

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Our long term test cars:

A shiny red V8 Ford Mustang joins the fleet and attracts a lot of positive attention, while the Volvo XC90 demonstrates the pros of having a back-up source of electric power.

The Nissan Navara proves its worth when brimmed with camera gear and the Renault Kadjar goes on a fossil-hunting expedition.

There are also updates for the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Seat Ibiza Cupra and Skoda Superb estate.

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Deals:

This week in our used section we look at tempting special-edition models and skim the classifieds for the best secondhand deals.

The Mk2 Honda Civic Type R is our used car in focus, with expert advice to help you find the best available. Plus, for those not interested in a high-revving Honda, we offer five hot hatch alternatives that can be had for under £5k and under.

Where to buy:

Autocar magazine is available through all good newsagents and for download from Zinio and the Apple iTunes store.

You can also buy one-off copies of Autocar magazine from Newsstand and Magsdirect, delivered to your door the morning after.

Alternatively, never miss an issue – subscribe to Autocar magazine today.

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