Honda Civic 5-door hatchback 1.6 diesel – Fuel and tax-efficient. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Built in Britain for global sales the 10th generation Honda Civic is available in five door hatchback body style, and now a Civic four door saloon, built in Turkey for European markets, has been added to the range. Also a new 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with manual and automatic … [Read more...]
Latest Kia Ceed – Road Test
More than a name change – The new Kia Ceed five door family hatchback… Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Formerly known as the Kia cee’d, the C-segment new generation five door hatchbacks are now known as Ceed. When first introduced in 2006 the car was given the name cee’d meaning Community of Europe with European Design to promote the fact that it was built and … [Read more...]
Citroën C4 Cactus Flair Puretech 110 – Road Test
Is the latest C4 Cactus a prickly proposition, or is it ‘softly softly’? Kim Henson finds out, during a week of test-driving… The current line-up of Citroën C4 Cactus models – all five door hatchbacks with a hint of SUV looks – arrived in Britain earlier this year, with price tags considerably higher than those of their predecessors (and now starting at £18,505 – previously from just under … [Read more...]
Revamped Skoda Fabia – First Impressions
Probable ‘piece of cake’ sales success for the revised Skoda Fabia. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… To coincide with the launch of the revised Fabia range of ‘supermini’ sector five door Hatch and Estates, Skoda UK has commissioned professional baker and 2016 Great British Bake Off winner, Candice Brown, to produce a small-scale version of the iconic Fabia cake which starred in … [Read more...]
Latest Suzuki Swift Sport – Road Test
FUN ON FOUR WHEELS... The first two generations of Suzuki’s Swift Sport supermini were well-received by the motoring press and buyers… but the latest version is even better! Kim Henson test-drives the new Swift Sport… Suzuki’s original Swift Sport made its U.K. debut in 2006, with second generation models arriving in 2012, and the car has always been a serious contender in the sporting … [Read more...]
Latest Honda Jazz – Road Test
Honda’s new Jazz – Might hit the right notes for some. Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Honda Jazz supermini sized B-segment five door hatchback is one of Honda’s best selling model range in the UK. But this third generation range is no longer built in this country as production for global markets at their Swindon plant has been given over to the latest Civic … [Read more...]
The taller and wider Ford Fiesta Active – Road Test
Going up in the world – The Ford Fiesta Active. Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency)… There is a global love affair with SUVs, 4x4s, off-roaders and crossovers, call them what you will and they come in all sizes and capabilities and at hugely varying costs. But the demand has been so great that it has even spawned SUV styling to be added to affordable hatchbacks and … [Read more...]
New MG3 – First Impressions
Chris Adamson assesses the latest version… (Words and all photos by Chris, with the exception of images of the yellow car – courtesy of MG). It’s billed as the ‘New MG3’ but even MG admit that their latest five-door hatchback is in reality a mid-life make-over – one that it desperately needed. Out has gone the thin pinched appearance of previous generations of recent MGs (see the MG6 and … [Read more...]
Peugeot 308 GT Line Blue HDi 130 – Road Test
Peugeot 308 GT Line BlueHDI 130 automatic… …assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Peugeot 308 has been European Car of the Year and is very much up to date now after a comprehensive reworking and new Euro 6.2 rated engines. The Peugeot 308 succeeded the 307 in September 2007 with the first generation running until 2013, then voted CoY in 2014 with the second … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Astra – Road Test
Vauxhall Astra gains new engines and high Ultimate spec. level… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports. It’s onwards and upwards in the constantly fast changing motoring world. Take the Vauxhall/Opel brand as an example. Now owned by the French PSA Group it has joined their brand line-up of Peugeot, Citroën and DS. Keeping their popular Astra mid-sized family car range future proof, … [Read more...]
Citroën C3 Flair (1.2 PureTech) – Road Test
Starting off in the right way with the Citroën C3. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) explains… Citroën’s best selling model range, the C3 five door ‘supermini’ sized hatchback line-up, has been awarded the title of ‘Driving Instructor Car of the Year’ in the 2018 FirstCar Awards. FirstCar is the dedicated resource for learner and newly qualified drivers in the UK. FirstCar says as well … [Read more...]
Latest Ford Focus – First Impressions
New Ford Focus News and First Drive Views. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Britain’s best selling family car moves up several gears with the new Ford Focus which arrives in September. Building on its reputation for good handling from its launch 20 years ago, the newest generation is brimming with the latest technology under the all-new stronger bodies, including the latest … [Read more...]
Latest Lexus CT200H Hybrid – Road Test
Lexus CT200H petrol/electric hybrid for 2018. Test-driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Lexus CT200h is not exactly new, it’s in its sixth year of production but for a final throw of the dice it has some useful styling and equipment updates for the 2018 model year. The CT200h is the steppingstone model into the premium Lexus brand which celebrates its 30th anniversary next … [Read more...]
Flagship Vauxhall Insignia GSi BiTurbo Diesel – Road Test
Vauxhall’s new Insignia GSi performance flagship models arrive… … Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new Vauxhall Insignia range of Grand Sport five door D-segment hatchbacks and Sports Tourer estate were launched last year and in March this year the flagship higher performance GSi versions in both body style arrived in UK showrooms. Prices start from £33,415 on-the-road … [Read more...]
Honda’s new Civic 1.6 Diesel – Road Test
British-built Honda Civic now available with diesel power… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict. Honda’s first car to arrive in the UK in 1973 was a Japanese built Civic 1.2 litre petrol two door saloon (pictured below). Last year the tenth generation Civic, a lower medium sector five door hatchback, went on sale and it’s built in Britain at Swindon Plant and exported globally … [Read more...]
Latest Suzuki Swift Sport – First Impressions
Kim Henson samples the new Swift Sport… Suzuki’s eagerly-awaited new lightweight sports supermini goes on sale on 1st June with big savings for U.K. buyers during the first month… (All words and photographs by Kim Henson). News: Suzuki sales increasing… Before talking about the latest Swift Sport, it is interesting to take a brief look at how Suzuki is doing in the UK. In fact the firm is … [Read more...]
Renault Clio Dynamique S 110dCi – Road Test
Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) test dries Renault’s Clio, powered by their 1.5 litre diesel engine… The Renault Clio was launched before the worldwide web became a part of everyday life and after 27 years it’s what is now considered Edition 4.2. It’s been a part of the British motoring scene for over a generation, and it keeps reinventing itself. Successive advertising campaigns … [Read more...]
Latest Citroën C4 Cactus – First Impressions
Revised Citroën C4 Cactus – softer looks, softer ride, harder prices! By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Arriving in April and able to carry a new 18 registration plate is the revised Citroën C4 Cactus range of mid-sized five door hatchbacks with petrol and diesel engine options, priced from £17,265 to £20,895. The previous generation range had a starter price of £13,770 but the increase … [Read more...]
Kia Stinger 2.0 – Brief Impressions
Kieron Fennelly assesses the 2.0 litre version of Kia's Stinger... (Photograph and all words by Kieron). A company whose attractive styling usually masks conservative engineering, Kia, hitherto known for its mass market offerings surprised most observers in 2017 with its Stinger, its first foray into the premium car market. Although not averse to an element of adventurousness in its marketing, … [Read more...]
2018 Peugeot 308 1.2 Allure hatchback – Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test-drives Peugeot’s 2018 model year 308 five door hatchback… The Peugeot 308 range of C-segment (lower medium) five door hatchbacks and SW estates arrived in the UK for first deliveries in September 2017 and heralded in a range of minor styling changes, even more fuel-efficient petrol engines and better infotainment and connectivity functions. They now … [Read more...]