Video: Dom Joly’s guide to school-run SUVs
HELLO! I'M IN A SCHOOL-RUN SUV!
YOU MIGHT know Dom Joly as TV’s funnyman, from Trigger Happy TV, Fool Britannia and even I’m a Celebrity…, but he doesn’t spend all his time playing pranks. As in millions of houses across the country the daily routine at the Joly household involves the school run – so we thought we’d ask him to put five school-run SUVs through their paces.
In this video Driving’s unconventional reviewer takes five family-friendly cars for a spin. Is the Ford Kuga favoured by cougars? Will the Volkswagen Tiguan’s cushioned ride stop him spilling a drink? Can a child be sick out of the rear window of a Citroën Cactus? These are just some of the vital questions for every school-run mum and dad that are addressed by Dom in his exclusive video for The Sunday Times.
Watch Dom put them through some unconventional tests and then check out Driving’s verdict from our thorough review of each model.
Citroën C4 Cactus
It sounds like something cowboys do their best to avoid in the desert but is actually an affordable hatchback for families who want something that looks a bit different. However, in trying to be unusual, the C4 Cactus introduces all sorts of practical oversights that outweigh its fashionable, dare-to-be-different design.
- Read Driving’s full review of the Citroën C4 Cactus
- Browse the used Citroën C4 Cactus for sale on driving.co.uk
Ford Kuga
When the second-generation Ford Kuga was launched in early 2013, we suggested drivers had better get used to the sight of SUVs on Britain’s roads. How right we were. Sales are booming and the Kuga shows what it is drivers like about this type of car: they are now good to drive, offer a commanding view of the world around them and make a gallon of fuel go further than a handful of miles.
Mazda CX-5
This was the school-run SUV that got Dom Joly’s vote – and it gets our vote too. The CX-5 delivers a winning mix of driving enjoyment, a practical and comfortable cabin and competitive running costs for its class (especially the diesel). Sensible touches such as back seats that lower using a one-touch level from the boot show someone at Mazda has applied attention to detail throughout the CX-5.
Renault Captur
Jeremy Clarkson found the Renault Captur to be a car that “tries to appeal to everyone” and in doing so “suits nobody”. Harsh? Well, we liked its family-friendly cabin, with neat touches including independent seats with removable, washable covers, storage areas hidden under the floor and the frugal diesel engine. But the ride was too firm to send the children off to sleep.
- Read Jeremy Clarkson’s review of the Renault Captur
- Browse the used Renault Capturs for sale on driving.co.uk
Volkswagen Tiguan
Predictably, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a safe choice for those after a compact SUV. Volkswagen has a habit of making cars that are hard to fault, and this is one of them. It drives much like a hatchback car, the interior feels impressive and there is enough space in the cabin to cater for the needs of a young family. However, Mazda’s CX-5 is better to drive and Ford’s Kuga is more spacious.
- Read Driving’s full review of the Volkswagen Tiguan
- Browse the used Volkswagen Tiguans for sale on driving.co.uk
YOU MIGHT know Dom Joly as TV’s funnyman, from Trigger Happy TV, Fool Britannia and even I’m a Celebrity…, but he doesn’t spend all his time playing pranks. As in millions of houses across the country the daily routine at the Joly household involves the school run – so we thought we’d ask him to put five school-run SUVs through their paces.
In this video Driving’s unconventional reviewer takes five family-friendly cars for a spin. Is the Ford Kuga favoured by cougars? Will the Volkswagen Tiguan’s cushioned ride stop him spilling a drink? Can a child be sick out of the rear window of a Citroën Cactus? These are just some of the vital questions for every school-run mum and dad that are addressed by Dom in his exclusive video for The Sunday Times.
Watch Dom put them through some unconventional tests and then check out Driving’s verdict from our thorough review of each model.
Citroën C4 Cactus
It sounds like something cowboys do their best to avoid in the desert but is actually an affordable hatchback for families who want something that looks a bit different. However, in trying to be unusual, the C4 Cactus introduces all sorts of practical oversights that outweigh its fashionable, dare-to-be-different design.
- Read Driving’s full review of the Citroën C4 Cactus
- Browse the used Citroën C4 Cactus for sale on driving.co.uk
Ford Kuga
When the second-generation Ford Kuga was launched in early 2013, we suggested drivers had better get used to the sight of SUVs on Britain’s roads. How right we were. Sales are booming and the Kuga shows what it is drivers like about this type of car: they are now good to drive, offer a commanding view of the world around them and make a gallon of fuel go further than a handful of miles.
Mazda CX-5
This was the school-run SUV that got Dom Joly’s vote – and it gets our vote too. The CX-5 delivers a winning mix of driving enjoyment, a practical and comfortable cabin and competitive running costs for its class (especially the diesel). Sensible touches such as back seats that lower using a one-touch level from the boot show someone at Mazda has applied attention to detail throughout the CX-5.
Renault Captur
Jeremy Clarkson found the Renault Captur to be a car that “tries to appeal to everyone” and in doing so “suits nobody”. Harsh? Well, we liked its family-friendly cabin, with neat touches including independent seats with removable, washable covers, storage areas hidden under the floor and the frugal diesel engine. But the ride was too firm to send the children off to sleep.
- Read Jeremy Clarkson’s review of the Renault Captur
- Browse the used Renault Capturs for sale on driving.co.uk
Volkswagen Tiguan
Predictably, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a safe choice for those after a compact SUV. Volkswagen has a habit of making cars that are hard to fault, and this is one of them. It drives much like a hatchback car, the interior feels impressive and there is enough space in the cabin to cater for the needs of a young family. However, Mazda’s CX-5 is better to drive and Ford’s Kuga is more spacious.
