Kieron Fennelly assesses Audi’s compact SUV, in three cylinder 1.0 litre form… It has become almost impossible to keep up with the range of Audis now available – the company currently offers no fewer than 53 models in Britain and says it will launch 21 new models in the next couple of years. A much faster rate, it claims that its rivals at Mercedes and BMW. It has also gone from 0.5% of the UK … [Read more...]
Fiat 500X SUV – Road Test
Fiat’s 500X compact SUV – not to be forgotten. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Such has been the huge growth in demand for SUV/Crossover types of vehicles that manufacturers right across the car industry have flooded the market with their offerings so it’s easy to forget or overlook some of those that have been with us for a while. One such range is the Fiat 500X compact SUV, first … [Read more...]
Volvo’s XC40 breaks UK sales records…
XC40 becomes Volvo’s most successful new model ever to launch in the UK… Volvo's first ever compact SUV is selling at 2,000 cars a month, and the range-topping First Edition versions were virtually all sold before the car even arrived in showrooms. The XC40 has already been named European Car of the Year and What Car? Car of the Year The Volvo XC40 premium compact SUV is proving a smash hit … [Read more...]
Subaru XV compact SUV – Road Test
NEW SUBARU XV COMPACT SUV – A LIMITED RANGE WITH NICHE APPEAL. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Although Subaru is a brand with increasing sales in the North America and Australasia, in the UK the firm has always been and still is a niche choice, appealing to older customers with an individual desire to own something different. It is failing to attract a new generation of younger … [Read more...]
New Volvo XC40 – First Impressions
Volvo’s XC40 to arrive soon in the UK… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his thoughts… Volvo’s push with introducing new products continues with the arrival in April of the first models in their XC40 compact SUV range of 2WD and 4WD (AWD), petrol and diesel models, and to come plug-in hybrid and fully electric powered versions – to be added to the line-up later. The Volvo brand has … [Read more...]
2018 Ford EcoSport compact SUV – Road Test
Ford’s latest EcoSport compact SUV – better but not best. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his assessment… The latest Ford EcoSport compact SUV is the best yet after a troubled start in 2014. Under Ford’s then current ‘One Ford’ global vehicle policy, to meet the demand for SUVs, which started in 2010 and has grown rampantly since then, Ford brought their Brazilian designed chunky … [Read more...]
Hyundai Kona compact SUV – Road Test
Hyundai Kona has joined the congested compact SUV market… By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). On sale in the UK from the end of last year, the first turbocharged petrol powered models in the Hyundai Kona, compact SUV model line up were priced from £16,195 to £24,995 at launch but these have already risen to £16,445 to £25,245. Mid-year these petrol versions will be joined by two … [Read more...]
Mazda CX-3 Road Test
Keith Ward puts Mazda's CX-3 through its paces... Based on the admired Mazda 2 hatchback, the higher stance CX-3 impresses right away as one of the best-looking among compact SUV’s. A 14-strong range offers a choice of three engines - two petrol either 120 or 150 PS and a 105 PS diesel, permed with four trim levels and priced between £18,695 and £25,195, so not the cheapest in the … [Read more...]
MG ZS – Road Test
Chris Adamson comprehensively test drives MG’s compact SUV… (All words and photographs by Chris). Chris Adamson has been spending time getting to know MG’s new compact sport utility the ZS and discovers first impressions can be correct. As a motoring journalist I have attended hundreds of new vehicle launches over the years and they tend to follow a very similar format. You get a couple of … [Read more...]
SEAT Arona compact SUV – First Impressions
SEAT Arona Compact SUV... Another week, another SUV, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who gives his first impressions of this latest SEAT model. Another week arrives and yet another new range of SUV models is released into our new car market already overflowing with choices. This time it’s the SEAT Arona compact five door SUV, which is largely based on SEAT’s recently introduced … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Crossland X – First impressions
Chris Adamson gives his views on Vauxhall’s compact Crossland X SUV... (All words and photographs by Chris). Vauxhall was among the pioneers in the sports utility market here in the UK with the Frontera (remember that rather agricultural mud-plugger) even if it did borrow heavily from Isuzu in the first place. Times have moved on and everyone, including Vauxhall, has a model range bulging … [Read more...]
Volkswagen T-Roc – First impressions
Funky and glitzy looking – VW’s T-Roc compact SUV. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Yet another new range of compact SUVs is arriving now in the UK, this time it’s the VW T-Roc entering the German company’s 190 strong dealership this week. Television advertising with the T-Roc’s ‘Bam the Ram’ and advertising strapline ‘Born Confident’ launches on Boxing Day. It should make you smile in … [Read more...]
Hot off the press – Jaguar’s E-Pace First Impressions
Jaguar’s compact E-Pace first test drive. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Everyone loves a cub, at least that’s what Jaguar is hoping for with the arrival of its new smaller SUV next month. It will be the first production Jaguar ever not to be built in the UK with production taking place in Austria and China. In the UK it will be sold in one five-door, five-seat body-shape in … [Read more...]
Volvo XC60 – Road Test
Keith Ward puts Volvo’s latest compact SUV through its paces… VOLVO’s original XC60 compact SUV sold nearly 1m around the world in its nine-year production run, claims to be currently the best-selling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe, and attracts as many as 30 per cent of the Swedish brand’s customers. Thus this second generation version, new for 2017, commands interest. It reflects Volvo’s … [Read more...]
New MG ZS SUV – First Impressions
New kid on the block in the compact SUV market – MG's ZS has arrived... Words and all photos by Chris Adamson. (Note: The red car depicted in Chris's photos is the mid-range Excite version with the 1.5 litre engine and manual transmission; the white car is the range-topping best-seller 1.0 Auto in Exclusive trim.) Sales and marketing boss Matthew Cheyne is confidently predicting that in 2018 … [Read more...]
New Kia Stonic compact SUV – News and First Impressions
…And still new compact SUVs keep coming – Kia’s Stonic here this week. by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News Sales of SUVs of all sizes have reached record levels in Europe and the UK, and seemingly every week an additional new model joins the market place. The B-segment ‘supermini’ size area of the SUV market is the fastest growing and sales are expected to reach 2.2 million units … [Read more...]
Revised Renault Captur – Road Test
Updated Renault Captur Compact SUV wheeled out in the UK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Whilst the large all-new Koleos SUV has just been launched in the UK, Renault’s first generation of SUVs, the compact Captur, has received a number of updates to keep it market-fresh. Its styling and equipment changes mirror those of the Koleos and the mid-sized Kadjar but the engine and … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Crossland SUV – Road Test
New Vauxhall Crossland X – Yet another compact crossover on sale. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Such is the demand for compact B-segment five door Crossovers or SUVs as sales are booming, why just have one model range to offer when you can have two? That’s just what Vauxhall has done. They already have the highly successful Mokka X priced from £18,455 to £29,725, and now they … [Read more...]
MG XS – First Impressions
Motoring journalist and classic MG owner Chris Adamson has been taking a close look at the forthcoming MG XS – but sadly without the opportunity to drive it… (Words and photos by Chris) MG made its name worldwide with its range of practical and affordable two-seater sportscars so it’s somewhat frustrating for an MG enthusiast like myself to see the marque’s new Chinese owners developing a line … [Read more...]
Peugeot 2008 Road Test
The Peugeot 2008 Compact SUV – As Good As it Looks? By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). At this year's Paris Motor Show (1st to 16th October), new SUVs are at the heart of Peugeot’s model display as their parent company PSA moves to differentiate the style of models from their three brands of Citroen, Peugeot and DS. Peugeot is exhibiting the new 2008 compact SUV which is already on … [Read more...]