Kim Henson reports… (All words and photographs © Kim Henson). On the occasion of a multi-vehicle driving day organised annually by the Western Group of Motoring Writers, I recently had the opportunity to briefly test drive Alfa Romeo’s Junior Elettrica Sport Speciale, a compact all-electric SUV. To put the model in context, the Junior models are offered with a choice of two electric … [Read more...]
Contributors
Volkswagen T-Roc 150 R – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives the latest VW T-Roc... Almost a decade after its launch helped turn around Volkswagen fortunes and create one of its most successful SUV challengers, the T-Roc generation two is on sale. Beaten for demand only by the larger Tiguan, the T-Roc Gen2 is really a completely new model not a facelifted derivative, being redesigned outside and in, … [Read more...]
Kia range driving day event
Kim Henson reports on a fascinating day driving contrasting models from the Kia line-up… (All words and photographs © Kim Henson). This year Kia is celebrating 35 years in the UK, and the ongoing rise and rise of the company is testament to the quality and variety of models produced by the firm. These days Kia offers vehicles across a multitude of market sectors and with a variety of … [Read more...]
Kia PV5 Passenger – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) gives his views... They upset the car market, then the EV sector, and now it looks like Kia will disrupt the lucrative MPV and business categories. Kia predicted their electric PV5 Passenger model and van would reach 2,500 sales in Britain, but it has doubled that and is still climbing with just a five-seat model and very big luggage capacity. The addition … [Read more...]
May 2026 vehicle sales in the UK
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes... The UK’s new car market delivered its strongest May performance since before the pandemic, with registrations rising 7.1% to 160,662 units, reported the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The performance was the best recorded for the month since 2019, although still -12.6% behind pre-pandemic levels. Registrations in Wales last month … [Read more...]
Maserati MCPura Cielo – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes... When it comes to sports cars and motor-sport, one Italian brand stands out - and it’s not what you may think - Maserati. Rarer than those cars with a prancing horse badge, the Maserati Trident is still the only badge on an Italian model which has twice won the Indianapolis 500 and has endeared it to thousands of American car fans. In the United … [Read more...]
Audi Q3 150TFSi S Line Mild Hybrid SUV – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… Audi has a habit of putting its finger on precisely the right section of the market to make a point to rivals. It has succeeded with sports cars, coupés, limousines and big SUVs, so the Q3 really deserves consideration in the compact SUV sector. Essentially it is a taller and roomier vehicle with strong associations to the A3 Hatch and comes in a … [Read more...]
Beaulieu’s 2026 Spring Autojumble – with sunshine, showers and automotive goodies galore…!
Kim Henson reports… All words by Kim Henson; photographs © Kim Henson and Chris Adamson, as individually credited. (Kim adds... My personal thanks to Chris for his invaluable help, as always, in contributing his photographs and notes to enable me to complete this report promptly at the end of the event). I always feel that May is a cheerful month, not least due to the arrival of warmer weather … [Read more...]
Lexus RZ500e – Road Test
After its British launch in 1990, Lexus raised the bar for other executive marques and today it is the oldest surviving premium brand from Japan, and still the benchmark for British buyers. Robin Roberts gives his views on the car after a week’s motoring with it... From an initial two models in the early 90s, the Lexus line up has dramatically grown to offer something in each of the main sectors … [Read more...]
Honda Civic Advance 2.0 Hybrid – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… Honda has a lot of experience building their capable Civic, and it really shows in the latest line up of a model which can trace its ancestry over 54 years. Today, the Honda Civic hybrid comes in Elegance trim from £34,325, Sport beginning at £35,945 and our Advance version from £39,295. The entry model includes many driving safety systems and … [Read more...]
EV ‘clocking’
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... New analysis from vehicle history platform carVertical (https://www.carvertical.com) shows electric models are now the most commonly clocked cars in the UK, with 3% of those checked showing evidence of mileage tampering. That puts EVs ahead of diesel cars (2.8%), petrol cars (2.5%) and hybrids (2%) and comes at a time when many households are … [Read more...]
The Highway Code – 95 years of safety on Britain’s roads.
Dave Moss tells the story… (All images Crown Copyright; containing public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Driving licences were first introduced in Britain by the 1903 Motor Car Act, when the fee, payable at Post Offices, was 5 shillings (25p). This and other costs such as registration and the vehicle itself added up to quite substantial amounts of money, … [Read more...]
Toyota Urban Cruiser Design – Road Test
Toyota likes to have a finger in every pie and has cooked up something for the compact MPV or SUV buyers, the Urban Cruiser. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives the latest version... It is the second generation Urban Cruiser it developed along with Suzuki and this time it has gone full-electric as Toyota wants to offer buyers a selection of power sources which fulfil their … [Read more...]
Aion V premium – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes... 'The eight-year long warranty with the new Aion V is going to be a big attraction to buyers.' Back that with eight years servicing, eight years AA roadside assistance, eight years of MoTs and you have the 'great eight' incentive. What's more, each Aion V comes with the promise of an AA technician who will come to your home and do a regular … [Read more...]
Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor – Road Test
If you are coming around to the idea that battery electric vehicles are the new norm, the Polestar 4 SUV possibly will take you back, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). While the pure EV sector is becoming baffling with its new Chinese entitled brands, the Polestar pedigree goes back a bit further and to a surprising beginning. Polestar Racing was created from the Swedish touring car … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: Skoda Octavia – The First One: 1959–71 (The Story of a Czechoslovakian Automotive Icon)
Book Review by Kim Henson: Skoda Octavia – The First One: 1959–71 Author: Miroslav Synek Published by: Veloce (in February 2026) www.veloce.co.uk 128 pages (softback), 210 x 148 mm format UK price £19.99 ISBN: SKU 9781836440406 I always find it interesting to learn more about cars that here in the UK we seldom see, and to find out more of the history behind them. Skoda’s Octavia is a case … [Read more...]
Skoda Fabia 130 – Road Test
Driving enthusiasts of a certain age will fondly remember how Skoda seriously challenged and embarrassed the most expensive works rally teams with its comparatively cheaper Flying Fabias. And in national and club rallies across Europe they can still pull out a few surprises. When skill and low weight combined, the flying Fabias really set the pace for others to follow. Now, a different set of … [Read more...]
UK car sales figures for March 2026; EV discounts rule!
Electric car registrations are accelerating driven by huge manufacturer discounts, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The UK new car market grew by 6.6% in March, typically the busiest month of the year, with 380,627 new vehicles registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Registrations in Wales saw the smallest rise of just 5.85% to 12,275 cars in March … [Read more...]
SEAT Arona 1.5 TSI FR Sport 150PS DSG – Road Test
SEAT knew what they were doing when launching the original Arona compact crossover in 2017 and it has become one of the brand’s best sellers with revisions in 2021 and 2025. Using platforms and powertrains from within the Volkswagen Group it reduced costs but not quality when pitching into the all-important family sector. Being not too big under 4.2 m (just under 14 ft) long and taking up to … [Read more...]
Changan Deepal SO5 RWD – First Impressions/Road Test review
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... China’s latest entrant into Britain’s car market is also one of its oldest domestic car makers, Changan, whose name translates as “lasting safety”. After beginning as a munitions manufacturer in 1862 and then military vehicles in 1959, it eased into cars 25 years later and has worked with Suzuki, Mazda and Ford to develop models for its home … [Read more...]
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