Countdown to carbon taxIn the last of our series, Paddy Comynreviews the price changes set to affect a wide range of brands
JAGUAR
Thanks to its expanded range of diesel offerings, Jaguar can now report falls in price on all its oil-burning offerings.
The 2.0-litre diesel X-Type falls into band C, with road tax of €290 with a starting price of €34,300, down €6,700 on the current price.
The 2.2-litre diesel is in band D with a manual transmission, but band E when fitted with an automatic box.
That pushes the road tax for automatics up by €170 to €600, although the new price still drops by €4,800 to €40,870.
The 3.0-litre petrol now carries a price tag of €53,840, compared to the diesels price of €47,625.
Prices for the new XF range remain relatively stable, with both the 2.7-litre diesel and 3-litre petrol versions all recording falls of 3-4 per cent in price.
Jaguar seems to have absorbed some of the tax hit on the 3-litre petrol versions in order to maintain price at the same as their diesel equivalents. Both the 2.7-litre diesel and the 3-litre petrol variants in Luxury specification are priced at €67,380. However, road tax remains €1,000 a year less on the diesel models.
For its flagship XJ models, all fall into the top two tax bands, with the diesels benefiting from the lower of the two and recording minor price drops of just €1,185 to €91,900.
There are two rather quirky price changes at the upper end. The 4.2-litre XJR records a drop in price by nearly €6,000 to €139,445, while the XK 4.2-litre SC coupé falls €210 to €143,635.
Rush to buy:XF 4.2 Premium luxury
Wait to July 1st:Any of the diesel versions
SAAB
Perhaps the most noticeable change in the Saab range has been the decision to drop the 1.8-litre petrol engines from its 9-3 saloon range. While the 150bhp version is still included in the convertible range, neither it nor the 122bhp saloon versions survive the changeover in saloon format.
These were the entry-price engines in the current tax regime but from July 1st that crown will falls to the 1.9-litre diesel range. In Linear specification, the 1.9-litre Tid falls in price from €39,590 to €34,580.
Saab's other fuel option is the E85-compliant biopower version, which will now start at €38,000, down from €42,280. However its road tax is €600.
In terms of its flagship 9-5 range, its the same story with diesel versions going down slightly in price and petrol versions rising.
However, in this model, the biopower versions actually rise in price, with the 2.0t Linear version up €1,420 to €47,505. Other specification versions rise accordingly. Here again the 1.9 Tid engine benefits the most from the changes, with its Linear format dropping from €45,800 to €44,470.
Rush to buy:Saab 9-5 2.0t Biopower
Wait until July 1st:Diesels
ALFA ROMEO
Alfa Romeo doesn't have a lot to shout about in its new price list - the diesel models fall in price thanks to the 1.9-litre JTD engine residing in band D. Prices for the 147 now start at €23,650. The Alfa GT 1.9-litre also sits in band D, with prices from €36,195. The 1.9 JTD 8V is now the entry point at €34,450.
Rush now to buy:Brera
Wait until July 1st:159 diesel
CHEVROLET
Chevrolet see reductions in many of their models, with the Matiz falling by €750-€1,000, the Kalos by €350-€400 and the Aveo by between €500-€1,500. There are no price increases on the Lacetti or Tacuma, but there is a €1,000-€1,100 increase on the Epica petrol. The Epica diesel joins the line-up, with prices starting at €26,995. Just one of the Captiva SUV models fall in price, with the majority increasing by €1,000-€1,500 as the all-wheel drive models are in band F.
Rush now to buy:Captiva
Wait until July 1st:Any of their small cars
CHRYSLER
Chrysler reduced the prices of some of their models in May, before the VRT changes and the Sebring was one of these - it now costs €32,995 in either petrol or diesel. The 300C diesel has dropped in price by €2,495, while the Voyager 2.4-litre petrol has increased by €4,070. The Grand Voyager does not increase in price but there is a new version for €74,895.
Rush now to buy:Voyager petrol
Wait until July 1st:300C diesel
CITROËN
As most of Citroën's cars are quite fuel efficient, this means that a large majority of their range reside in bands A, B and C. All of the C1 range, with its 1.0-litre petrol engine are in band A. All models drop in price by €1,145-€1.350. The petrol models of the C2 range are in band B, falling by €1,055-€1,390, and the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre diesel models in band A, with reductions of between €1,620-€2,059.
The C3 range is pretty slow selling but with similar engines to the C2, the petrol models fall by €645-€1,395, while the 1.4-litre diesel falls by €1,595. The C4 1.6-litre HDi diesel falls in price by €2,495-€3,250. Similarly there are further reductions to the already bargain price Xsara Picasso range. While the 1.6-litre petrol increases by €1,050, the 1.6-litre diesel drops in price by €2,395.
The 1.8-litre petrol engine in the C4 Picasso rises by €1,200-€1,450. The reverse is true for the diesel models with the 1.6-litre sitting in band C and prices falling by €1,700-€2,200. The 2.0-litre HDi diesel in the 7-seater version falls by €3,300.
For the recently launched C5, the 1.6-litre HDi diesels fall in price by €1,095-€3,295 depending on the model. The petrol 1.8-litre will increase in price by €1,150-€1,225.
Rush now to buy:C-Crosser
Wait until July 1st:C5 diesel
DAIHATSU
Daihatsu's price list sees some minor changes. The starting price of the Sirion falls by €1,145 to €12,350. The Terios SUV increases in price by €1,004, while the Copen cabriolet with its 1.3-litre petrol engine drops in price by €1,050.
Rush now to buy:Terios
Wait until July 1st:Copen
DODGE
Dodge decreased the price of their Caliber in May and it is this new price that remains for the 2.0-litre diesel version at €24,775. The Nitro increases in price by €4,100.
Rush now to buy:Nitro
Wait until July 1st:Caliber
HONDA
Only two of Honda's individual models increase in price, with most falling or staying the same. All of the Jazz supermini models drop by €1,352-€1,712. The Civic also drops by €390-€3,244, with the largest savings on the 109g/km band A Civic Hybrid which also receives a €2,500 VRT rebate.
The Type R increases in price by €1,164. The FR-V MPV does not get a price increase. Only one model of the Accord, the 2.0-litre automatic, increases in price, while the rest fall in price by €1,230-€3,305, with the biggest savings on the 2.2-litre diesel. The CR-V 2.0-litre petrol doesn't increase in price despite an increase in VRT from 30-32 per cent, but the road tax increases from €590 to €1,000. The diesel models fall by €1,346-€1,651. There is no price increase on the Legend.
Rush now to buy:Civic Type R
Wait until July 1st:Civic Hybrid
HYUNDAI
Hyundai's i10 manual will cost €11,995, with the Getz supermini coming down in price by €1,000 to €12,995. The diesel version of the Accent is in band A and drops by €1,300. The worthy i30 sees its petrol model reduce in price by €655, with the diesel models, which fall into band B, coming down in price by €2,225. The Matrix diesel falls by €2,345 to €19,000.
The Korean firm's Santa Fe SUV 2.2-litre diesel drops by €1,095-€1,405. The smaller Tucson in either petrol or diesel drops in price by €1,000 and there are considerable savings on the Sonata, with the 2.0-litre petrol model falling by €4,650. There is no price change to the coupé.
Rush now to buy:No rush
Wait until July 1st:All of them, especially the i30 diesel
JEEP CHEROKEE
The Jeep Cherokee range has been trimmed to two passenger models, with no price increase from the May prices and the Grand Cherokee model increases in price by €5,500 for the Laredo model. The Jeep Patriot range drops in price by €2,300 thanks to its band E engine to €32,495 and the Wrangler, which saw a price drop in May, gets a price increase, up from €35,395 starting off, to €38,695.
Rush now to buy:Grand Cherokee
Wait until July 1st:Patriot
MITSUBISHI
Mitsubishi's Colt drops significantly as a result of the VRT changes, with the entry-level model dropping by €2,005 to €12,495 making it something of a bargain. The new 1.5-litre diesel automatic falls into band A, and at €16,493 for the 5-door, it would be worth considering. The Colt cabriolet drops by €203-€230, while the Lancer 1.5 drops by €275-€1,234. The 1.5-litre manual Lancer is in band C. The fantastic Lancer Evo X increases in price by €4,785-€4,985 so buy that now if possible.
The Grandis MPV 2.0-litre diesel falls by €866-€962, into band E, while the 2.4-litre petrol automatic increases by €3,032. The Outlander SUV falls by €962-€2,000, while the passenger version of the Pajero increases to band G, with prices increasing by €3,822-€5,452. L200 models aren't affected.
Rush now to buy:Passenger Pajero models, Evo X
Wait until July 1st:Colt, Lancer 1.5 petrol
NISSAN
Nissan's range does well out of the new VRT regime. All versions of the Note drop in price, with the largest savings on the 1.5-litre diesel versions, €1,800 off the SXE diesel version.
The Qashqai looks set to remain in demand this summer as all but one model drop in price. The pick of the bunch will be the 1.5d SVE, which falls by €2,500 to €27,895. However be warned, the 4x4 models of the Qashqai increase in price. The news is also not so good however for the Pathfinder SUV, which jumps in price by €3,000-€3,400.
Rush now to buy:Pathfinder or 350Z
Wait until July 1st:Qashqai diesel or X-Trail diesel
OPEL
Opel's range of cars fares pretty well from the VRT changes. The Agila was never priced pre-July, so at €11,495-€17,395 the price doesn't change.
The Corsa comes down in most cases. Highlights include the 1.3-litre Club CDTi, falling by €1,215. There are also reductions to the 1.0-litre, 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol versions.
In the Astra range, the big sellers, the 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6-litre petrol come down in price, with savings of as much as €1,400 in some cases. The bigger price drops are on the diesel models. Opel will offer a new 1.6-litre petrol engine in the Zafira which falls into band D and the rest of the petrol range increases in price. The manual 1.7-litre diesel and 1.9-litre diesel fall in price by €1,650-€2,645. The Antara will increase in price by €1,050-€3,050.
Rush now to buy:Antara
Wait until July 1st:Most of the diesel range
PEUGEOT
Fifty-eight of Peugeot's 84 models will have price reductions. All models in the 107 range fall into band A. Prices for the 107 fall by €1,275-€1,395.
The 207 range, for the most part, falls in price, with all the hatchback and SW models all falling in price apart from the GTi model. Price reductions are €325-€2,994. There are even savings on the 207 coupé cabriolet, with the 1.6-litre petrol version dropping by €1,715-€1,840. The 1.6-litre automatic and 1.6-litre 150bhp increase in price however.
The 307 range continues to be offered alongside the 308 range and there is some good value to be had, with eight out of the 11 models falling in price, with €2,860 off versions with the 90bhp 1.6-litre diesel. However it is the 308 range where the range earns its stripes with just one of the 16 models increasing in price. Elsewhere in the range there are savings from €355-€3,445, with the 1.6-litre HDi diesel offering band A performance, which is really very impressive. The 308 SE 1.6 HDi 90 5dr at €21,885 will make a great buy.
The 407 saloon range really only did well in diesel anyway, so news that the 1.6-litre diesel falls in price by around €3,500 is hardly surprising. The 2.0-litre diesel also falls in price by €3,655 since it drops from 30 per cent VRT to 20 per cent.
Rush now to buy:207 GTi
Wait until July 1st:Pretty much everything else worth buying
RENAULT
Models in the Twingo, Clio, Grand Modus, Scenic, Grand Scenic and Laguna ranges come down in price with some models dropping by up to €3,500. The Clio 1.5-litre dCi drops by €2,350. The Megane 1.5 dCi falls into band B, so there is a €2,350 saving off the price of it, while the Scenic Conquest 1.5 dCi sits in band B and there is a price drop of €3,500 on it.
There are also decent savings on the popular 1.5-litre dCi diesel version of the Grand Scenic, which falls by €2,900. Renault has adopted a new Eco2 range and models within that must emit less than 140g of CO2. These models fall into band a and band B in the new VRT and tax regime.
The 1.5-litre diesel Grand Scenic is the only seven-seater MPV to fall into band B. Only a handful of the passenger car range are in band F, namely the Renault Clio 197, the Megane 225, the Laguna GT205 and all versions of the Espace.
Rush now to buy:ClioSport, Megane 225
Wait until July 1st:Clio diesel
KIA
All Kia Picanto models come down by €1,000. All manual Rio models come down €900 or €950 for petrol models, while the 1.5-litre diesel falls into band A, with prices down by €1,850. Cee'd petrol models come down by €400 with diesels coming down by €1,850. The 7-seater Carens diesel drops by €2,200.
Rush now to buy:Kia Sorento
Wait until July 1st:Carens diesel and Cee'd diesel
MINI
It is good news for the Mini range, with all models except the Cooper convertible and Cooper S convertible falling in price. The biggest price drop however is for the diesel model, which drops by over €3,000. You will also pay just €100 per annum road tax on the car, making it a very cheap car to run. Even the high performance Cooper S hatchback falls in price by €1,696 thanks to its low emissions.
Rush now to buy:Cooper S convertible
Wait until July 1st:Cooper diesel
SEAT
Seat's Ibiza petrol is a band B car; with diesel a band A model. The new model with its 1.2-litre petrol engine is a band B car. The Leon 1.9-litre TDi comes down in price, as do diesel versions of the Cordoba, Altea and Altea XL. Savings include €1,800 on the Leon 1.9-litre diesel and €1,780 off the Altea 1.9 diesel.
Rush now to buy:Leon Cupra
Wait until July 1st:Leon Diesel
SKODA
Skoda's entire Fabia range drops in price, with the basic model getting reductions of between €280 for the 1.4 petrol to €1,985 for the 1.4 TDI 80bhp. Even the larger 1.9-litre diesel falls by €1,870. Expect a shift away from the petrol to diesel Octavia models, with the 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol models increasing in price. The diesels fall in price, with savings of up to €4,215 in some cases.
There are savings on Roomster and Superb diesel models too, with highlights including €2,270 off the 1.9-litre Roomster Scout and €1,900 off the Superb Elegance.
Rush now to buy:Octavia petrol models
Wait until July 1st:Most of the diesels
SUBARU
With only two diesel models in the range, the Subaru Legacy and Outback diesel models should become popular, priced at €29,995 and €38,495 as these will be band C cars. The 1.5-litre Impreza does not increase in price but the 2.0R increases by €1,000 and the STi increases by €6,500.
Rush now to buy:Impreza STI
Wait until July 1st:New diesel Legacy and Outback
SUZUKI
Suzuki Swift models see price reductions and the 1.3-litre diesel is now €16,495 making it very good value. The standard 1.3-litre model drops by €800. There are no price increases on the SX4 range, but the Grand Vitara 1.6-litre petrol 3-door increases by €2,800 and the 1.9-litre 5-door diesel increases by €4,000.
Rush now to buy:Grand Vitara
Wait until July 1st:Swift
LAND ROVER
While the new VRT and road tax laws were designed to discourage SUV ownership, this might not have the desired effect in the case of some Land Rover models. The basic Freelander model comes down by €3,033 even though it sits in Band F. There are now automatic versions of the diesel Freelander available. There are price increases on all the Discovery models, with an increase of €1,770 on the popular SE 7-seater. All models will be in Band G from July 1st.
Rush now to buy:Range Rover Sport and Range Rover
Wait until July 1st:Freelander