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...]
Brand new Toyota Corolla – First Impressions
GOODBYE TOYOTA AURIS – HELLO AGAIN TOYOTA COROLLA. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) explains and drives the new line-up… 14 years after the Toyota Auris name replaced the Corolla we see the return of the World’s best-selling car brand name – Corolla –å and it’s on sale in the UK from the new registration plate change month of March. The range is priced from £21,300 up to £30,340 with 21 … [Read more...]
Audi A4 Avant 40 TDI quattro – Road Test
2019 model year Audi A4 Avant 40TDI quattro tried and tested. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). While SUVs are the flavour of the season, there’re rich pickings for manufacturers and drivers in cars like the Audi A4 Avant. Most SUVs are rarely used to their full capacity or ability but an estate car, particularly a sporting estate like the Black Edition 40TDI quattro tested, … [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...]
Skoda Octavia vRS estate – Road Test
The Octavia vRS 2.0 TDI 184 hp estate offers space and pace… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Octavia C-segment range of five door Hatch and Estate models is Skoda’s best selling model range, accounting for 29% of their total UK sales. The Octavia is available with a wide range of engine options, four TSI petrol units and three TDI diesels, with power outputs ranging from 115 … [Read more...]
Latest Mazda6 Tourer – Road Test
Mazda6 Tourer Sport Nav 165hp upgraded... ...Assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Mazda6 range has undergone a transformation this year. Announced in July, the new Mazda6 series is significantly different and upgraded, compared with the previous generation, both outside and in. The emphasis has been to ramp up driving enjoyment and safety technology, with more … [Read more...]
New Audi A6 – First Impressions
New Audi A6 Saloon and Avant estate tried and tested... By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Audi’s success has been built on the sum of its parts, whether that’s quattro technology, TT-style or out-and-out performance through the wheels of the R8, but it’s also been piling up sales with estates. In the UK last year the A6 range saw an approximate 55/45 split between Saloon and … [Read more...]
Sporty SEAT Leon Cupra Estate – Road Test
The Leon Cupra 300 hp ST estate provides pace and space… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). SEAT’s Leon range of mid-sized C-segment models covers SC three door hatchbacks, Leon five door hatchbacks and ST five door estates, with a long list of 1.4 to 2.0 litre engines, both petrol and diesel, and with a comprehensive level of specifications with prices covering a huge scale from … [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...]
Latest Subaru Outback 4WD Estate – Road Test
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...]
