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...]
Features by Robin Roberts
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...]
Skoda Kamiq SE L Edition – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… Skoda has something for everyone in its family friendly range beginning with their baby SUV, the Kamiq. Launched in 2019 as Skoda’s smallest SUV, the Kamiq shares its floorpan with the Seat Arona and Volkswagen T-Cross, but offers more interior room. To maintain family resemblances, the Kamiq shares a similar face to the larger Skoda SUVs, the Karoq, … [Read more...]
Mazda CX-80 seven seater – Road Test
The new flagship Mazda CX-80 is poised to make a big impression in the luxury multi-seat SUV sector, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). New car sales went and are going through a tough time but it must be said that in 2024 Mazda did better than most. Mazda UK sales director Laura Brailey told us global registrations for the brand rose 11% last year to a record 1.4 M and in Britain it … [Read more...]
Ford Capri Premium AWD – Road Test
The Ford Capri name is back and turning heads some 55 years after the original model, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The first Ford Capri, designed by the same man who styled the Ford Mustang, was produced from 1969 to 1986 and covered three generations with two million models registered. Originally made in Ford’s Halewood, Liverpool plant, the new all-electric Capri uses the … [Read more...]
Ford Puma ST-Line X – Road Test
The Ford Puma has consistently featured in Britain’s top ten popular cars for all the right reasons, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). From launch in 2019 as natural evolution of the Fiesta hatchback, the Puma SUV has fitted the bill for thousands of families. Its fairly compact dimensions enclose a deceptively practical and versatile body with a clever mild hybrid 48-volt power pack … [Read more...]
Britain’s drive towards electric vehicle propulsion is slowing down
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports on a backtrack on EV sales targets... Today, the Government announced a relaxation of electric vehicle sales targets to help the car industry in the face of trade tariffs from the US and a slow take up for pure electric cars without manufacturer incentives costing them millions of pounds. It is what the motor industry and component suppliers have … [Read more...]
KGM Tivoli K40 V2 – Road Test
The familiar Tivoli mid-sized SUV has been relaunched and refocused to take on rivals which offer less to an increasingly cost-conscious client base. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives the latest Tivoli. Introduced in 2015 under a SsangYong badge before the manufacturer ran into trouble, and then relaunched as KGM with improvements inside and out in 2024. We now have just one … [Read more...]
Cupra Tavascan V1 – Road Test
A brand which has accelerated from racetrack to road has to be something special, so the Cupra Tavascan deserves consideration if you’re looking for an edgy everyday car. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts the car through its paces… Developed from the SEAT Sport series into the Cup Racing range nearly 30 years ago the Cupra line up represents the most powerful and advanced sophisticated … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb SE L Estate 150 PS diesel – Road Test
Value for money rarely comes with the sophistication and refinement of the Skoda Superb SE L Estate, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)... Skoda introduced the Superb range in 2001 and it has gone through to the fourth generation, growing in size at each point until the current version based on a stretched version of the VW Group’s MQB Evo platform, also underpinning the largest models … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Passat R-Line – Road Test
The latest Volkswagen Passat is not only the sleekest shape to carry the name but also probably the most sophisticated, reports Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It will surprise many to know that the original Passat was unveiled in 1973 and in 52 years there have been over a dozen derivatives, being sold as a hatchback, saloon and estate at various times around the world. It is the … [Read more...]
MG Cyberster Trophy – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes: “A century after the brand was created, MG sports cars have been reimagined for today’s motoring generations.” The 2024 launch of the MG Cyberster turned heads with the two-seater convertible’s dramatic styling and opened eyes with its performance as the world’s first fully electric open-topped sports car. It was a brave decision by MG’s Chinese … [Read more...]
UK new car market dips
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… Wales saw the steepest decline in UK for new car registrations last month. Coming immediately before the new 25-plate this month, registrations in Wales were 13.16% down on the same month last year. Total registrations in Wales in February were 2,323 new cars and that contributed to a 11.91% drop through the first two months of 2025. The UK new car … [Read more...]
Lexus UX300h – Road Test
It’s been a bad 12 months for the British car market, but not for Lexus, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The luxury Japanese brand has just enjoyed a 4.5% rise in sales in 2024, mostly due to a strong surge in its electric models. But wisely, Lexus has decided to keep a wheel in both tracks of development, one set in the electric mode and the other in the hybrid highway. And it’s … [Read more...]
Toyota Prius Design PHEV – Road Test
Toyota Prius Design PHEV – Road Test The Toyota Prius was ahead of its time when created and today’s model still sets standards for others to aim at achieving. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... Conceived in the mid-1990s, the Toyota Prius was the world’s first mass produced hybrid car when it was launched in 1997 and we have now seen five generations or evolutions of the car, … [Read more...]
Mazda CX-80 FD – First Impressions/First Drive
Mazda has launched a new flagship CX-80 to do battle in the luxury seven-seater SUV sector in Britain, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)… After a tough year for car sales in 2024, Mazda did better than most and wants to attract new buyers to the brand with the CX-80, which is slightly bigger than the five-seat CX-60 SUV it introduced in Spring 2022. They share the same platform which … [Read more...]
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