2018 Subaru Outback 4WD estate – Safe, solid and soul-less… ...says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The updated Subaru Outback continues to be a 4WD crossover estate, conservatively styled and still very much a niche model from a niche brand but with a loyal customer following. For the 2018 model year the range is limited to just two variants, the £29,995 SE and £33,010 SE Premium. … [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...]
Kia – LOTS of News and Optima Sportswagon PHEV – First Impressions
Kia keeping their eyes on the balls – and other news… By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). History and Sales Brand awareness through sponsorship is vital in these days of a very competitive and sometimes struggling new car market with diesel emissions and uncertainty over Brexit the latest issues to unsettle buyers. Kia was founded in 1946 in South Korea, and their imports to the UK … [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yet practical load carrier from Mercedes-Benz… The fashion of buying saloons and hatchbacks is looking distinctly outdated with the clamour for must-have SUVs showing no signs of easing off.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...]
Latest Volvo V90 T6 AWD Cross Country Pro Estate – Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives the 2018 Volvo V90 T6 AWD Cross Country Pro Estate – with petrol option instead of diesel, but is this actually better? With the demonisation of diesel powered vehicles and the significant fall in oil-burner sales, a fall in the UK new car market of 25.6% in January on top of the 17.1% for the whole of 2017, it’s only natural that manufacturers … [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...]
Latest and Outstandingly-economical Dacia Logan MCV – Road Test
2017 Dacia Logan MCV Runs on Air – Well Almost! By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Before I tell you anything about the 2017 Dacia brand, their sales, their low prices, I must explain the headline. My Dacia Logan MCV (Maximum Capacity Vehicle) family five door estate with a 1.5 Renault sourced dCi 90 hp turbodiesel engine returned an unbelievable 86.07mpg during my week long test driving … [Read more...]
Latest Volvo V90 estate – Road Test
Sporty looking D5 Powerpulse and R-Design model added to the Volvo V90 estate range… By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Volvo has been producing big estate cars for over 60 years, having been established in 1927. And under their current ownership/partnership of the Chinese Geely Holding company since 2010, the premium Swedish brand now goes from strength to strength introducing high … [Read more...]
SEAT Leon ST estate – Road Test
The new SEAT Leon ST estate – Small engine but big on space… By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Launched in April this year the revised SEAT Leon range of SC three door coupé, five door hatchbacks and ST estates is available with nearly 70 derivates and prices ranging from £17,455 to nearly £34,500. It is supported by a wide range of petrol and diesel engine options from the diminutive … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer – First Impressions
Vauxhall's Latest Insignia Sports Tourer – More Litres to the Pound. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a first look. With the second generation Vauxhall Insignia five door D-segment hatchback having been launched in the UK in April with the grand title of Insignia Grand Sport, now the Sports Tourer variants are joining the line up. To follow in September is the Country Tourer estate … [Read more...]
Skoda’s revised Octavia range – plus Octavia estate Road Test
2017 updated Skoda Octavia line-up – incorporating a substantial estate car variant. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his views – and offers some useful advice on choosing the best version of the Octavia for you… The 2017 revised Skoda Octavia range of C-segment five door Hatchbacks and Estates have recently gone on sale and all retain their class-leading roominess plus high … [Read more...]
Volvo V90 D4 AWD Cross Country – Kim’s (brief) First Impressions
Kim Henson briefly samples Volvo’s state-of-the-art V90 D4 AWD Cross Country estate. In line with developments in engineering and computer systems generally, the rapid pace of change in terms of automotive technological innovation is clear when driving any vehicle produced in the last year or two, and especially so in the case of so-called ‘premium’ brands. This generalisation is certainly … [Read more...]
2017 Subaru Levorg Sports Estate Road Test
Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) samples Subaru’s latest estate… The Subaru Levorg is not what you might call eye-candy, but it has EyeSight. That’s the latest all-embracing collision avoidance technology which reduces the likelihood and severity of accidents. It may not be in the forefront of your mind when looking for an all-purpose 4x4 quality estate, but the Levorg really can … [Read more...]
VW Passat GTE Hybrid Estate Road Test
Chris Adamson test drives Volkswagen’s spacious plug-in hybrid Passat estate... Volkswagen is fighting back from the emissions rigging scandal and the latest Passat shows that they are returning to their technological best with a stylish and hugely practical plug-in hybrid. First unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2014 – before all the ‘diesel-gate’ crisis – the Passat GTE Hybrid … [Read more...]
Renault Mégane Sport Tourer First Impressions
Renault’s Mégane Sport Tourer... Assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The eagerly awaited estate version of the new Renault Mégane brings additional room and practicality to the range. Mechanically the same as the immensely popular Mégane Hatchback, the Sport Tourer offers a basic boot space with a low load floor of 521 litres (18.40 cu.ft), but folding away the … [Read more...]
Best Christmas Car? Volvo V90 Road Test
Best Christmas Car? Keith Ward nominates the Volvo V90… FIRST sign of a change in season – you are grateful for the optional Winter Pack fitted to this Volvo V90. So – heated windscreen and washer nozzles, a headlight cleaning system and, really spoiling yourself, a heated steering wheel. That’s a total £525 to you sir, madam. That other winter boon of heated front seats is fitted as … [Read more...]
New Volvo V90 Estate Road Test
Grace, Space and Pace… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the latest Volvo V90 estate car – voted 2016 Scottish Car of the Year. In September Volvo launched their premium brand graceful and sophisticated S90 large saloon and the V90 estate models. S90 saloons are priced from £32,555 and rise to £42,055. The more popular V90 estates start from £34,555 and rise to £44,055. Volvo … [Read more...]
VW Golf Estate R Road Test
Wolfsburg in Sheep’s Clothing? Volkswagen’s Golf Estate R test-driven by Tom Scanlan. There's nothing else on the long, straight country road. The Golf R is at a standstill. I check the mirrors again and then shove my foot hard down on the pedal. Growl-Pop, Growl-Pop from the exhaust... I've hit 70 or more maybe in about six seconds and the sound and feel is intoxicating. The VW'S 6-speed … [Read more...]
