Gerald Morgan gives his initial verdict on Volkswagen’s latest 2020 up! All variants are five door hatchbacks, powered by a 65 PS 1.0 litre petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a five speed manual gearbox. (The car featured, a ‘Black Edition' version, was equipped with VW’s Start/Stop system incorporating battery regeneration). (All word and photographs by Gerald; the opinions expressed … [Read more...]
SEAT Mii electric – Road Test
The SEAT Mii Electric city car could fit the bill. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). SEAT is dipping its toe in the fast flowing market waters with its Mii pure electric five-door city car and the promise of many stablemates over coming years. The Mii petrol models, replaced with the first all-electric car from the Spanish subsidiary of the German VW Group, shows how … [Read more...]
MINI Electric – Road Test
POSSIBLY THE RIGHT CAR AT THE RIGHT TIME AGAIN – THE NEW MINI ELECTRIC. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict... The original Mini designed by Sir Alec Issigonis came about because of the Suez crisis and the subsequent petrol rationing, creating a demand for affordable motoring. In an answer to that call the first petrol powered Mini rolled off the production line in Oxford … [Read more...]
Fiat 500 Rockstar – Road Test
Fiat 500 Rockstar hatchback lives up to its name. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). In my experience, if they are not larger than life, rock stars tend to be small and noisy performers, and the Fiat Rockstar lived up to expectations. Very much the noisy baby in the extensive Fiat family of city cars, the 500 has been one of its most successful and in 2019 passed the 3-million … [Read more...]
Audi A1 citycarver – Road Test
NEW AUDI A1 CITYCARVER FOR THE URBAN JUNGLE. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) is your guide… The citycarver (all lower case letters) is a five door supermini sector sized hatchback based on the Audi A1 Sportback but with pseudo-SUV styling. It is priced from £22,040 and it is aimed at urban jungle motoring says Audi, whatever that is. There is no 4WD option, all models are only front-wheel … [Read more...]
Hyundai i10 Play – Road Test
Summer in the city car – The Hyundai i10 Play... …Test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Schools are out and holidays are here, time to Play. The carefree approach mayn’t be what Hyundai had in mind but their city car is certainly light hearted and cheery. The i10 series is entry level to Hyundai range and comes in no less than seven trim levels, Play is second tier, … [Read more...]
Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line S – Road Test
Stands out from the crowd – the Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line S… …tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Kia Picanto city sized 1.0 T-GDI GT-Line S is a rarity, and it’s all the better for that. In a market dominated by so many look-alike, take-it-or-leave-it cars, the Picanto 5-door city car not only visually stands out but leaves others standing in the Formula Fun … [Read more...]
‘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...]
Abarth 595 Competizione 180 – Road Test
The Abarth 595 Competizione 180 Manual pocket-rocket. Fun in the city – test-driven by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency)... Brits used to relish small high performance cars, and thank goodness the Italians still build them like the Abarth 595 Competizione. While the UK may have grown up and developed a taste for family hot-hatches, there is still a lot to be enjoyed behind the wheel of … [Read more...]
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ3 Dualjet Road Test
Suzuki’s compact Celerio is a practical and willing five seater companion for any journey… Kim Henson test drives the Dualjet-powered 1.0 litre version, in SZ3 form. Suzuki has long excelled at producing small, economical models that are dependable, inexpensive to run and easy to own. The five door Celerio is primarily aimed at buyers in need of a city car, and examples sold in Europe are … [Read more...]
Kia’s First Quarter Century in the UK – and a Mini Road Test of the Picanto (in highest spec. form).
Kia’s 25 years in the UK and Growing Fast – and a review of their Picanto City Car. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). During 25 years of trading in the UK, Kia has sold over 750,000 cars. Almost half of those sales have been achieved in the last five years and the target is to reach the one million mark by 2020. Kia was established in South Korea in 1944 building bicycles, then … [Read more...]
Skoda Citigo Road Test
The Skoda Citigo – It’s Here in Black and White By David Miles (Miles Better New Agency) In the UK’s new car market, ‘A’ segment small City/Mini cars saw a big sales drop of 16.6% in 2015. It seems customers were lured away to larger ‘B’ segment supermini models, being marketed by cheap finance offers on low mileage used or pre-registered dealer stock cars. There was also a move by style and … [Read more...]
Citroën C1
Citroën’s happy little C1 city car has been replaced by a brand-new C1, complete with a smiley face. Citroën reckons the new car’s front has just that, along with the company’s trade-mark 3D rear lights. Tom Scanlan reports... In Citroën’s now-established tradition, the cars also come in a range of new colour combinations, both outside and in, and that will certainly help attract two main … [Read more...]
