Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithWales) writes: “When you discover your car’s glovebox can only be opened by an electric switch you realise you’re driving something a bit different, a bit special and out of the ordinary.” The discovery was made as we sat transfixed by the sheer complexity of the Polestar 3’s infotainment and driving display contained in a 14.5-inch laptop-like portrait screen in the … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
Leapmotor T03 – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… The UK new car market is buzzing with electric models at high prices, so it’s worth taking a look at one of the cheapest - the Leapmotor T03. A Stellantis joint venture with the Chinese company, the car is made in Poland on lines previously producing the Fiat 500, another Stellantis brand, and the Leapmotor models are sold through the more familiar … [Read more...]
Toyota Yaris Design – Road Test
The hot-hatch has been reborn for Gen-Z, and there’s a thumbs up from their parents too if they want to enjoy driving a Toyota Yaris hybrid. It’s super-economical on fuel too... Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports. The one-time must-have cars for the young drivers of the 1970s seemed to die out in the first decade of this century, but someone forgot to tell Toyota. It … [Read more...]
Toyota Proace Max Van – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithWales) writes, "Britain runs on vans of all sizes and capacities, so the entry of the world’s biggest motor manufacturer into this booming sector must be significant." After offering small and medium sized vans through its Professional line, Toyota has added the Proace Max, its first heavy duty range in Europe and it has immediately ramped up the competition against … [Read more...]
Toyota bZ4X all-electric SUV – Road Test
Toyota fans now have a completely electric model added to the range as the industry slowly but relentlessly rolls towards the end of hybrid and internal combustion engines. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... After dabbling with an electric version of their RAV4 off-roader in the late 90s and pushing ahead with hybrids and stablemate Lexus electric models, it’s now the time for … [Read more...]
Toyota Land Cruiser MY25 – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts the latest version of Toyota’s legendary 4x4 through its paces… When you hit 70 years, most things that haven’t fallen off or out may be about to, but that is really the turning point in the case of the Toyota Land Cruiser. From prototypes developed before and after World War Two, the model that became the Land Cruiser was commissioned by the Japanese … [Read more...]
Speed king seeks new crown – in the spirit of ‘Blue Bird’
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) was at Pendine on 21st July for the centenary celebration of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s world speed record breaking run in 1925 – and found that there may be another speed record attempt to be made soon… using steam power! Exactly a century after Sir Malcolm Campbell set a 150 mph World Land Speed Record at Pendine, grandson Don Wales revealed he eyes the 200 … [Read more...]
Hyundai i10 Advance – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts Hyundai’s city car through its paces… The motor industry’s headlong plunge into SUVs, MPVs and Crossovers has left the market short of compact city cars which are perfectly matched to the real-world needs of many drivers. While some manufacturers stopped making traditional small hatchbacks and are now living to regret their decisions as market share … [Read more...]
Kia Stonic GT-Line – First Impressions (model ‘revisited’)
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) assesses Kia’s Stonic compact SUV… When a prolific manufacturer keeps rolling out new models it's all too easy to overlook their older vehicles, as is the case with the Kia Stonic GT-Line S. Kia is on a roll with its brand in Britain, bringing new EVs to market in a constant stream and more are on the horizon this year as it enriches its range and wins … [Read more...]
XPeng G6 long range – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives this newcomer mid-size SUV… Among the newest of the Chinese car-makers coming to the UK, XPeng has partnered with the people who brought us Subaru and Isuzu in Britain, so let that be a warning to rivals. The Chinese company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, with offices in Mountain View, California, and Munich. … [Read more...]
Kia EV3 GT Line S – Road Test
Some cars immediately impress, others take a bit longer and they stand out against models which made no measurable impression after a much longer period behind the wheel, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The Kia EV3 GT-Line S is an example of the series which seems to get better each time it’s driven. We first drove the new Kia EV3 last December and were impressed, but a lot’s … [Read more...]
SMMT figures show higher car sales levels in June 2025
Manufacturer and dealer incentives meant the UK’s new car market grew for the second consecutive month in June, as registrations rose 6.7% to 191,316 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... It was the best June since 2019, helping lift first half performance 3.5% above the same period last year, although the market … [Read more...]
Toyota HiLux Invincible X – Road Test
‘Reality shows are all the rage and if there was one about vehicles I think the survivor would be the Toyota HiLux’, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It has faced and overcome challenges such as being blown up in a building, being demolished and drowned in a rising tide, only to start up with what I would term “tinkering”, apart from needing to replace a broken windscreen when it was … [Read more...]
Tesla Model Y My25 FD dual motor – First Impressions
It can be hard learning to drive, but relearning brings a whole new skill set into the driver’s seat of the latest Tesla Model Y dual motor, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Tesla is a pioneer in the new age of electric cars and after their first Model X SUV hit the market in 2015 it then rolled out the Model 3 saloon two years later and completed its range with the larger SUV Model … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla Excel 2.0 Hatchback – Road Test
When the world’s best selling car gets a significant makeover, you have to take a serious look at the Toyota Corolla, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Launched in 1966, the Corolla became the best selling car in the world eight years later, overtaking the Beetle in 1997 for total sales and in 2021 went on to exceed 50 million models, being made in ten countries. It was also the … [Read more...]
Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes, “If you have a big family I don’t think there is anything to touch the Hyundai Santa Fe when it comes to room, comfort and interior design features at this price”. Aimed squarely at the US market to begin with, this is a big, very big car, which fills and sometimes overhangs most parking bays. There is large and then there’s extra large, a category … [Read more...]
May sales figures for new cars in the UK show an interesting story…
Heavy discounting by car-makers is pushing fleet and businesses drivers into electric cars, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Private buyers still prefer to have petrol or diesel engines, according to the May registration figures. Registrations of petrol cars are higher than the combined figures for pure battery, plug-in and mild hybrid electric models and that’s without the diesel … [Read more...]
Genesis 2025 Model Year GV70 – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) takes a look at, and first drive in, the 2025 Model Year all-electric Genesis GV70... Some 21-years after Genesis was created as the first premium brand by a South Korean car maker, the company is forging ahead with evolving its models, range and sales operations. Being part of the Hyundai Group alongside its bigger-brother Kia, Genesis has enormous … [Read more...]
Ford Explorer Premium AWD – Road Test
“Ford has been a hesitant entrant into the modern BEV market, but is quickly making up ground with models such as the Explorer SUV”, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) While it used its own technology for the Mustang electric sports car, to cut costs and development time it turned to Volkswagen to create the Explorer SUV derived from the ID.4 platform and powertrain. That’s not a bad … [Read more...]
Subaru Forester Touring – Road Test
Revised, repriced and released this Spring, the Subaru Forester is ready to take on rivals in the serious SUV sector in 2025. Launched in 1997 on the back of a very impressive rallying impact by Subaru, the Forester was aimed squarely at the expanding SUV sector but in particular the country dweller who’d appreciate simple yet effective full-time all-wheel-drive. Here was something to pull a … [Read more...]
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