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...]
Volkswagen Golf Estate Alltrack Road Test
The VW Golf Estate Alltrack – Takes the Rough with the Smooth… Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Despite Volkswagen’s emissions indiscretions they are still the top selling brand in Europe although their global profits have fallen by 20%. Their range of Golf models is the Europe’s best selling model range overall. An addition to the Golf Estate range is the Alltrack which adds … [Read more...]
New MINI Clubman ALL4 Estate First Impressions
The New MINI Clubman ALL4 Estate – Now Built in Oxford. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The MINI Clubman estate with ALL4 is the first all-wheel-drive MINI to come off the Plant Oxford production lines. The SUV styled MINI Countryman ALL4 versions to date have been built by Magna Steyr in Austria. The Clubman ALL4 line-up comprises the Cooper S and Cooper SD, and prices start from … [Read more...]
VW Passat Estate Business – Wheels-Alive Road Test
Keith Ward is your guide... This is the eighth generation of the Passat, which since its launch in 1973 has racked up over 22 million sales worldwide and going on for half a million in the UK, where the estate version consistently outsells the saloon, £1,530 cheaper. Its star is not fading – in its latest form the Passat was named Europe’s Car of the Year 2015. And a telling tribute to its … [Read more...]
New MINI Clubman estate Wheels-Alive Road Test
Bigger is Better for the New MINI Clubman models Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The MINI is now in its third generation under the ownership of the BMW Group. The three door Hatch arrived first in 2015 followed by the five door Hatch and now the new larger Clubman models. The Convertible Hatch will arrive in March this year, the Clubman ALL4 in April and the new Countryman and … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb range-topping Laurin and Klement 4×4 estate Road Test
Skoda’s Latest Superb Estate – Mostly Lives up to its Name... says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Note from Kim: Recently on Wheels-Alive, Keith Ward assessed the 150 horsepower 2.0 TDi SE L Executive manual transmission front wheel drive variant; by contrast David gives his verdict on the range-topping Laurin and Klement specification 190 horsepower 2.0 TDi four wheel drive version … [Read more...]
BMW 218 Active Tourer
Kieron Fennelly tries BMW's stylish front wheel drive 218 Active Tourer The last decade has been a confusing time for BMW purists: the range has expanded bewilderingly and the three roundels badge now seems to adorn all manner of crossovers, hatchbacks and hunchbacks (which BMW calls ‘GT’s). Gone are the high revving, naturally aspirated straight six and V8 petrol engines, replaced by … [Read more...]
New Mazda6
by Chris Adamson In the highly competitive executive saloon market Mazda has traditionally fitted between the prestige and mainstream brands – but with its new Mazda6 it manages to encompass both. The new third generation Mazda6 has the functionality and practical features of a Ford Mondeo alongside the technology, specification and style normally associated with a BMW 3 Series. And on top … [Read more...]
