MAKE WAY FOR THE SWACE – A MID-SIZED ESTATE FROM SUZUKI VIA TOYOTA. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Suzuki Swace hybrid 5-door mid-sized estate is the second recent model to join the Suzuki range from their partnership with Toyota formed in 2019. Toyota also manufacture the Across large-ish Plug-in-Hybrid SUV which is based on the new RAV4 PHEV. The addition of Swace and Across … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Octavia Estate – Road Test
Skoda Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 150TDI – What’s not to like? By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). We live in a 24/7 world, expect everything to work at any time and not let us down. One guide to choosing a good car is looking at what police, ambulance and taxi companies use because they are on the road 24/7 and one of the most prolific of vehicles you’ll see is the … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Superb estate car – Road Test
REVISED SKODA SUPERB ESTATE DOES WHAT IT SAYS IN THE TITLE… …proclaims David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Skoda Superb large Estate and its five door Hatchback stablemate models have over the years not only pulled in huge global sales but have received numerous awards and accolades. These have been not just for its D-segment class-leading interior passenger and load space, but for its … [Read more...]
Kia Proceed 1.6 GDI GT estate – Road Test
Kia ProCeed 1.6T GDI GT family sports estate… …By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). On the back of their best-ever half-year sales performance, Kia has launched a series of updates across its range for 2020. As it prepares to roll out some new models and expand its electric model choices, the Korean car-maker cannot seem to let a wheel slip in the showrooms and takes every … [Read more...]
Latest Volkswagen Passat – First Impressions
REVISED VW PASSAT ESTATE PUT THROUGH ITS PACES... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Volkswagen has treasure in its 46-year old Passat name, now brightly polished into a gleaming facelifted eighth edition. From its launch in 1973 it is now the VW with the longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year and it even predates the Golf name by a … [Read more...]
Peugeot 508 SW estate car – Road Test
NEW PEUGEOT 508 SW ESTATE – LOADS OF SPACE AND STYLE. Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new Peugeot 508 SW five door five seater estates have recently come to market with prices starting from £26,845, but the wide range of engine choices and specification levels plus options can push the price up to almost £41,000. The new estate compliments the award winning … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla 2.0 Hybrid Touring Sports – Road Test
NEW BRITISH BUILT TOYOTA COROLLA 2.0 HYBRID TOURING SPORTS. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In March this year the Corolla name returned to the Toyota line-up of passenger cars 14 years after the Auris name replaced it. Like the Auris range it replaced, the 12th generation five-door Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports estate petrol and hybrid models are being built in the UK at … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer – Road Test
LONG LIFE VAUXHALL INSIGNIA SPORTS TOURER STILL MEASURES UP… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Launched in 2008 and facelifted in 2013, followed by continuous upgrades to specification. the Vauxhall Insignia range of five door D-segment Grand Sport hatchbacks, Sports Tourer and Country Tourer estates is a story of evolution and the latest models are still as fresh and competitive … [Read more...]
Latest Ford Focus – Road Test
FORD’S NEW FOCUS FAMILY GAINS ACTIVE MEMBERS… …by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Ford has added a new member to its Active family - the Ford Focus Active available as a five door hatchback or estate. It joins their Fiesta Active and Ka+ Active line-up. Ford Active models are termed crossovers models combining mild SUV styling whilst retaining the brand’s strong driving dynamics. … [Read more...]
Peugeot 308SW estate – Road Test
Peugeot 308 SW Tech Edition 130 auto estate car… Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Anyone who doubts the future of estate cars should take a long look at the Peugeot 308 SW series and see what it offers for the family who want space without the bulk of an SUV. The 308 series of hatchbacks and estates has been a backbone of the range for decades with different … [Read more...]
Latest Kia Proceed – Road Test
KIA’S NEW PROCEED – A SPORTS STYLED ALTERNATIVE TO AN ESTATE CAR. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives this fascinating newcomer. The ProCeed is what Kia calls a shooting brake and people of an older generation might remember shooting brakes as saloon cars, Hillmans, Humbers, Standards and such like, with a boxy load area, sometimes made of wood, with two side hinged rear … [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...]
Volvo V60 estate – Road Test
THE 2019 V60 CONTINUES VOLVO’S HERITAGE OF PRODUCING ESTATES. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives the latest version… Last year Volvo in the UK outperformed the new car market with sales. Whereas the market fell by 7%, Volvo increased their sales by 9% to achieve 50,319 registrations with their award-winning new range of models This year the brand is aiming for 60,000 plus … [Read more...]
Estate of the art? Audi’s smart A6 Avant load carrier – Road Test
THE NEW AUDI A6 AVANT – A VERY POSH LARGE ESTATE… Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The fifth generation Audi A6 Saloon and Avant estates are slowly coming to market. The 2.0 litre 40 four cylinder TDI and 3.0 50 V6 TDI turbodiesel (both with mild hybrid support) models with standard fit automatic transmissions were launched in September last year to the UK media and … [Read more...]
Latest Volvo V60 estate – Road Test
New Volvo V60 continues the company’s heritage of producing estates... …assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). For over 60 years Volvo has built roomy, practical estate cars and the second generation V60 mid-sized estate follows that tradition with a classy dynamic and elegant new range. Sold by Ford eight years ago, Volvo is now under the parentage of the Chinese Geely … [Read more...]
Audi RS4 Avant – Road Test
The Audi RS4 Avant 2.9TFSI quattro – pace and space. The Audi RS4 has come of age and matured into a stunning model in its latest semi-estate or Avant version, writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). RS4 production has been on and off since it was launched in 1999 and it is currently the fourth generation of the most driver-focused model in the immensely popular and wide Audi A4 … [Read more...]
Mercedes-Benz E-Class 350d AMG Line Estate – Road Test
Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) test drives another luxurious yet practical load carrier from Mercedes-Benz… The fashion of buying saloons and hatchbacks is looking distinctly outdated with the clamour for must-have SUVs showing no signs of easing off. But the other interesting trend is the turn towards quality estates which hold onto their value over longer periods, and which is … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Insignia Country Cruiser – Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the latest – 210 hp – Tourer addition to the Insignia range. Vauxhall’s first generation Insignia range of D-segment Hatchbacks and Tourer estates was launched in 2008 as a replacement for their Vectra models. The Insignia models received a facelift in 2013 and the second generation, rebranded Insignia Grand Sport for the five door hatchbacks and … [Read more...]
Mazda 6 Tourer – Road Test
Keith Ward test drives the Mazda 6 Tourer (estate car). WHILE a new, fourth generation Mazda 6 is on the far horizon, with a global unveiling at this month’s Los Angeles Motor Show, the current version continues to hold respect here. That is particularly in estate form, an old faithful which accounts for 70 per cent of the model's 8,000 UK sales to date (end of October) this year and is looked … [Read more...]
Skoda Octavia SE Technology Estate – Road Test
Keith Ward test drives a spacious Octavia estate from Skoda… Keen to maintain its status as their best-selling model in the UK – the choice of almost 30 per cent of their customers – Skoda this Spring (2017) gave a mid-term facelift to the popular Octavia. It’s a familiar formula: outwardly a restyled front end (wider grille, re-shaped lights) and indoors an obligatory catch-up with the … [Read more...]
