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...]
Features by Robin Roberts
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...]
Mazda3 Saloon 186 PS Exclusive-Line – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives the Mazda3 saloon... While every maker wants to be distinctive and have desirable cars they also tend to follow fashion and sometimes end up with dull models which look no different to one another, but thankfully the Mazda3 range offers an alternative. Its range has developed from saloons to hatchbacks and cross-over models, but among them is a … [Read more...]
KGM Actyon – First Impressions
A significant coupé-SUV newcomer arrives from KGM... by Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It may be unknown to many but KGM has aspirations to become the brand you’ll desire to drive. The former SsangYong manufacturer went bust twice in recent years but in 2022 was rescued by Korean conglomerate KG Mobility which is pursuing a clear programme of new model introductions in conjunction … [Read more...]
Volvo XC40 Ultra, B4 Mild hybrid – Road Test
Think family cars and I bet the next image in any driver’s eyes is a Volvo, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Once associated with the immensely practical, purposeful and frills-free estates, the company has undergone a rejuvenation and now offers a range of sophisticated SUVs brimming with the latest safety technology. They also started off big to sell to the US market but realised … [Read more...]
Suzuki Vitara Ultra Allgrip – Road Test
Suzuki Vitara Ultra ALLGRIP – Road Test The highly popular Suzuki Vitara has been given a make-over for 2025 to enhance the appeal of this already highly competitive medium sized SUV. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... The Vitara hybrid remains a strong selling model in the range and Suzuki has redefined its styling, raised the level of standard equipment and technology as well as … [Read more...]
Audi A3 Sportback 5dr 35TFSI S tronic MHEV – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes... Twenty-nine years ago the first Audi A3 established the premium compact class and today the fourth generation sets a high standard which rivals really struggle to match. From that initial model in 1996, the A3 series has evolved into a comprehensive range of saloons and semi-estates or coupés with individual emphasis on sophistication or … [Read more...]
UK market for new vehicles stalls as 2024 ends
Private UK buyers shunned BEV models in 2024 while fleet sales increased in this sector... by Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Britain’s petrol, electric car and van markets have stalled with dealers reporting contracting business in the last quarter. The very slight increase in total registrations for the whole of 2024 came about with fleets being given big discounts by manufacturers … [Read more...]
KIA EV3 – First Impressions
Kia has something to celebrate this Christmas as it continues to carve out a big slice of Britain’s BEV sales, a decade after launching into it with the Soul EV. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports… At the time 10 years ago, Frozen was trending at the box-office, Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ rang out across radios worldwide, and social media was awash with ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ … [Read more...]
Nissan future – which way will they go?
Nissan has posted a dismal prediction for its global business into next year, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Nissan Motor’s financial performance deteriorated significantly in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, between July and September 2024, with global revenues falling by 5% year-on-year to JPY2,986bn while its operating margin dropped below 0.2%. The company … [Read more...]
MG ZS Trophy Hybrid+ Road Test
MG is a becoming a brand to be reckoned with and strengthening its standing in the British market by taking a step back, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The famous octagonal badge has been seen on UK made models since 1924, but it has also been a century of change, most notably when it was saved by an unknown Chinese brand called Nanjing in 2005 and then almost immediately resold to … [Read more...]
Skywell BE11 FD Long Range – First Impressions
Private buyers who want a high specification electric car and business drivers with eyes fixed on a low tax penalty are targets for the new Skywell range arriving in Britain, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The Cirencester-based importer, Innovation Automotive, is also looking at traditional used car dealers seeking their first new car franchise in a local market area where they are … [Read more...]
November 2024 UK new car sales – makers pull back sales to avoid EV penalties
Deliveries of new cars fell by -1.9% in the UK during November with 153,610 joining the road, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. By Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It is the second consecutive monthly decline, and the third decline in four months, as the market contracts amid the race to meet tough EV market share targets. Demand from private buyers, among … [Read more...]
Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate 1.6T PHEV – Road Test
The obvious doesn’t always stare you in the face and it’s therefore easy to overlook, at your cost, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Take the Hyundai Santa Fe, the big, very big, seven-seater SUV which is probably eclipsed in many eyes by its Korean stablemates along with much more expensive competitors from German and British car plants. The Hyundai Santa Fe was launched as the … [Read more...]
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