KIA Optima 1.6 CRDi 2 ISG Saloon… …put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). From being an also-ran when launched in the UK in 1991, Kia has become a serious challenger to the best from Japan and mainland Europe and the latest Optima D-segment saloon is a good example of why their rivals should worry. Built for a target audience, and not necessarily down to a … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
‘me’ micro electric – First Ever UK Road Test
In a Wheels-Alive ‘exclusive’, we bring you the very first UK road test drive report on the new ‘me’ ('micro electric') all-electric city vehicle. Ant Henson has taken to the streets of London to put this charming diminutive newcomer through its paces… With emissions-based road charging becoming the norm in the capital (and potentially soon other cities around the country), is it time to … [Read more...]
Skoda Karoq Scout – Road Test
SCOUT SPECIFICATION ADDS A RUGGED ELEMENT TO THE SKODA KAROQ MID-SIZED SUV… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives this newcomer. The Karoq is Skoda’s range of mid-sized SUVs available from £21,945 to £33,375. This wide range of prices covers petrol, diesel, manual, automatic, 2WD and 4WD models. Competitors are numerous in this mid-sized SUV sector and include the Dacia Duster, … [Read more...]
Sporty SEAT Ateca SUV – Road Test
SEAT Ateca FR 2.0TSI 4Drive DSG mid-sized SUV… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). If you ever thought SUVs were boring, then the SEAT Ateca FR 2.0TSi will change your mind in an instant. It is one of the growing families of SUVs, and that includes a number from SEAT and the rest of the parent VW Group, but it brings a little extra pizzazz to the family party. The proportions … [Read more...]
Lexus ES 300h – Road Test
FINALLY IN THE UK – THE EXECUTIVE CLASS LEXUS ES 300H SALOON… …Road-tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new seventh generation front wheel drive ES 300h self-charging petrol-electric hybrid D-segment executive class saloon is the first ES range ever to be sold in the UK and Western and Central Europe. It has replaced four generations of the GS rear wheel drive … [Read more...]
Audi TT Roadster quattro – Road Test
Audi TT Roadster 45TFSI 2.0 S-tronic 245hp quattro. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). If you believe that life is a beach, then the Audi TT has been riding on the crest of a wave. Its success over 21 years has been awesome and the envy of many manufacturers, not because it’s particularly clever but because it’s essentially simple and satisfying in any situation. For a … [Read more...]
Latest VW Tiguan Allspace Seven Seater – Road Test
2019 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN ALLSPACE 7-SEAT SUV… …Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Tiguan mid-sized SUV is Volkswagen third best selling model range in the UK behind the Golf and Polo hatchbacks. The five seater Tiguan and the larger seven seat Tiguan Allspace form the meat in the VW sandwich of their ever extending range of SUVs. Globally over five million Tiguans … [Read more...]
Hyundai Santa Fe seven seater – road test
The Hyundai Santa Fe Premium SE large SUV… …test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Hyundai Santa Fe has been the bedrock of the brand since launched in 2001, but it’s no dinosaur. The fourth generation of this highly popular large SUV is packed with the latest features and choices to please any family with the emphasis on enjoyment and living.Split over four trim … [Read more...]
Peugeot Rifter GT Line LONG BlueHDi 130 S&S seven seater MPV – Road Test
For some buyers in need of a seven seater, a more spacious MPV is a better bet than an SUV... Kim Henson test-drives the long wheelbase version of Peugeot’s diesel-powered Rifter, with seven adults aboard… (All words and photographs by Kim). As we have been reporting on ‘Wheels-Alive’, currently there is a huge UK market for SUVs (‘Sport Utility Vehicles’), seen by many as ‘fashionable’, and … [Read more...]
Kia Optima Sportswagen Diesel – Road Test
REVISED KIA OPTIMA SPORTSWAGON FEATURES NEW DIESEL ENGINE OPTION. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). For customers getting bored with their SUV or just plain put off by the ever increasing number of them on roads worldwide, perhaps it’s time to move on to the tried and trusted, more exclusive and traditional large estate. Despite manufacturers putting all their eggs in one basket … [Read more...]
Latest Honda CR-V – Hybrid – Road Test
NEW HONDA CR-V HYBRID SUV MODELS NOW ON SALE… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) has test-driven the newcomer. Billed by Honda as the world’s best-selling SUV with over 9.0 million sales in 150 countries since the first generation model was launched in 1995, the latest generation range was introduced towards the end of last year. However the new range had no diesel and no 2.0 litre VTEC … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Arteon – Road Test
VW Arteon R-Line 2.0 TDI 190hp auto. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Volkswagen is raising its game again. Introduced in late 2017, the VW Arteon large five door family hatchback is the flagship of the marque and is steadily expanding its line-up, and today runs to over 20 variants in the UK. There are seven petrol or diesel engine and powertrain options including manual, … [Read more...]
Mercedes-Benz A-Class – Road Test
LATEST MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS – BRITS BUY THEM MOST… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) puts one of the current models through its paces. The UK is the largest global market for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class range of five door hatchbacks and four door saloons. Over 340,000 have been sold since the first generation arrived in the UK in 1997. Last year a record 43,527 of them were sold in the … [Read more...]
Turbocharged 1.0 litre automatic MG ZS – Road Test
MG ZS 1.0T GDI Executive auto SUV – with a compact but big-hearted engine. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Sometimes it’s the little things that bring the biggest surprises, like the MG ZS SUV with a sub-1.0 litre petrol engine and an automatic gearbox. Now years ago you would have baulked at a five-seat family car with a 999cc engine and lumbered with an automatic … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Combo Life – Road Test
VAUXHALL COMBO LIFE FIVE SEATER – VERSATILE AND VALUE FOR MONEY MOTORING. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict… The Vauxhall Combo Life is one of a trilogy of new van derived MPV, multi-purpose vehicles also known as ‘people carriers’. Its stablemates are the Peugeot Rifter and Citroën Berlingo and they are all available with five and seven seat versions with standard or … [Read more...]
Revised Fiat 500X – Road Test
UPDATED FIAT 500X - FASHION AND FUNCTION COMBINED. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). With the on-going arrival of all-new SUVs of all sizes in full swing, the popular market sector also offers updated versions of SUVs which have been available for much longer. At the compact end of the SUV market one such revised and refreshed model range made its UK debut at the end of last … [Read more...]
Commercial break… Toyota Land Cruiser LCV – Road Test
Toyota Land Cruiser SWB Light Commercial Vehicle… Road-tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). In recent weeks I have watched a variety of documentaries from the wildest and most remote places on earth and while the presenters change with each programme there seems to be a satisfying, reassuring continuity as they are all conveyed in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Its reputation to … [Read more...]
New diesel powered Vauxhall Grandland X – Road Test
LATEST VAUXHALL GRANDLAND X – KEEPS CALM AND CARRIES ON. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Given the turmoil in the world’s car industry, the faltering global economy, falling sales, demonization of diesel engines and in the UK that touchy issue about Brexit, Vauxhall’s latest advertising strapline for their Grandland X mid-sized SUV, ‘Keeps Calm – Carries On’, looks like sensible … [Read more...]
SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate – Road Test
The SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate petrol auto SUV with 2WD... Test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Everyone likes surprises, especially if they give you even more than expected, such as with the SsangYong Tivoli SUV. I think it’s a bit of liberty calling it an SUV when the petrol version tested is only 2WD and is little more than a taller hatchback, but the Tivoli goes … [Read more...]
Latest Citroën Berlingo seven seater MPV – Road Test
New Citroën Berlingo functional as well as potentially fashionable… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives a seven seater version. MPV multi-purpose vehicles, or ‘people carriers’, as we knew them in their heydays of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, have lost out in terms of sales to the growing desirability of owing an SUV – ‘sports utility vehicle’. But manufacturers of MPV type … [Read more...]
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