The Ford Puma outran all its rivals to sit on the top of Britain’s car sales in 2023, and it’s easy to see why, explains Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)… Ford has a soft-spot for the Puma, first considered using it for a performance version of the Escort and then putting it on the 1997 compact coupé before shelving it a couple of years later, only to resurrect it after 17 years for the … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
Advice about buying a good used (not abused) car
Advice about buying a good used (not abused) car Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) reports… If you cannot afford to buy a new-plated car from 1st March there is a massive choice of used cars out there and whether for convenience, cost, or quality, Brits’ interest in used cars is showing no sign of waning. Nevertheless, buying a used car is still a significant financial commitment, … [Read more...]
Skoda Octavia turbo-diesel Estate – Road Test
‘Diesel cars are a dying range but all I can say is long live the Skoda Octavia Estate turbo-diesel’ says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It’s going to become a model we will look back upon and ponder; wonder why such a thoroughly good all rounder has to be replaced by much more expensive, less practical and, frankly, less satisfying electric rivals. It’s one of the oldest model names … [Read more...]
Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S – Road Test
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) puts the ID.3 through its paces… Of the legacy car-makers, Volkswagen has developed a very wide and strong range of new generation electric models. It has been working on electric cars for many years so it was probably only natural that modernising its best selling Golf family car would feature in its approach to the future, and the ID.3 fills the sector in … [Read more...]
Honda CR-V HEV 4WD – Road Test
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) puts the CR-V through its paces… Honda’s product range is one of the most diverse on the market but it’s all steadily heading in one direction towards pure battery power over the next few years. In the meantime, and probably being very wise to hedge bets about the roll out of the battery electric vehicle industry, Honda has given us the widest choice and the … [Read more...]
New car sales in the U.K. increase during 2023
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) takes a close look at the 2023 car sales figures... The UK new car market has recorded its best year since the pandemic as a strong December up 9.8%, wrapped up the 17th month of consecutive growth. Some 1.903 million new cars reached the road during 2023 – an increase of 17.9%, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V Advance – Road Test
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) test drives the Honda HR-V. Honda is for humans not robots and it shows in their model range with the HR-V. The third SUV in their line-up after the Jazz and CRV, the third generation Honda HR-V comes only with a petrol-electric powertrain utilising two electric motors and an Atkinson-cycle petrol engine for greater efficiency as a hybrid and it showed with … [Read more...]
Audi TT – history to date, and test driving the final variant
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales and Miles Better News Agency) reflects on the modern classic Audi TT's history, and puts the latest – and last – variant through its paces. Birth of the Audi TT The Audi TT – one of the most evocative and transformative models ever to have borne the four rings – celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023, the year in which production of the Coupé and … [Read more...]
Ineos Grenadier FD – First Impressions
Robin Roberts samples the Ineos Grenadier FD, on and off road. He writes, "Inch by inch, metre by metre and after just a few miles the Ineos Grenadier impresses..." Conceived to replace the outgoing Land Rover Defender at the time, the Grenadier is the product of a multi- million pound investment by chemical firm Ineos and its owner, one of the richest men and motoring enthusiasts in … [Read more...]
BYD Dolphin hatchback – Background and First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) tells all about this new kid on the block electric hatchback… If you have used a Nokia 3310 mobile phone, Apple i-pad or ridden on a new Transport for London electric bus, then you have already experienced BYD technology. The Chinese battery technology business which has powered these landmark products has a global footprint powering many familiar items, … [Read more...]
Audi Q8 e-tron S Line 55 quattro – Road Test
Audi’s flagship all-electric model is on course to make waves in the luxury sector, writes Robin Roberts; © WheelsWithinWales The Q8 e-tron is available in both SUV and Sportback coupé bodystyles with different battery sizes, charging and range potential but all get 4WD. There are four trim levels beginning with Sport, moving onto S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung. All versions can be … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-30 E-EV Crossover – News and First Impressions
News and brief Views about the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV Crossover. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). News Mazda is never afraid to be different and it shows in their latest MX-30 R-EV Crossover launched to the UK’s motoring media recently. Keeping its quirky ‘suicide’ rear passenger doors for easy access to the back seats the real change is up front under the bonnet in the … [Read more...]
Latest Vauxhall Astra GSe hybrid – First Impressions
The new Vauxhall Astra GSe brief first drive by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). As it slips into middle-age, the latest generation Vauxhall Astra has been given a modern make-over. Originally launched in 1980, the Astra has been the bedrock of the company’s offering in the small family car sector as it moved through eight generations. This year it was given a mechanical … [Read more...]
Honda e:Ny1 – First Impressions
First brief test drive of the Honda e:Ny1 by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Honda is revamping its range of offerings as the new era in electric mobility approaches, but it’s also keeping some tried and tested models. With 13 of the top 20 UK new model registrations now SUVs, in a sector that has grown to almost 56% of annual registrations, Honda could not ignore what buyers … [Read more...]
Subaru Outback 2.5ES – Road Test
Robin Roberts joins the country set test driving the Subaru Outback 2.5ES Touring. Here Robin (and Miles Better News Agency) reports from autumnal leafy, mud-covered lanes… Subaru is a bit of a lone-wolf in the car world. It’s part of Fuji Heavy Industries and founded 70 years ago. The brand celebrates its golden anniversary in Britain next year after it launched with a compact and capable … [Read more...]
New Nissan X-Trail and smart #1 – First Impressions
LITTLE AND LARGE NEW MODELS PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES AT A RECENT INDUSTRY SMMT TEST DAY – By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). More and more new names are appearing in the UK new car market as it evolves into the electric age, but at the recent Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders annual southern test day for writers near Basingstoke it was two familiar names which caught my … [Read more...]
Ford Focus Estate – Road Test
The latest Ford Focus Active X Estate test driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). If you are selling Britain’s most popular family car it is difficult to improve on it, unless you offer an estate version like the Ford Focus Active X. There has been a groundswell of sales lift towards MPV or SUV bodystyle across Europe but in Britain there is still strong demand for estates … [Read more...]
Honda Jazz e-Hybrid – Road Test
The latest Honda Jazz e-Hybrid Advance Sport test driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). A lot of airtime and column centimetres/inches have been taken up with the new Wales’ default 20 mph urban limit, but I’ll let you into a little secret, you can do 100 in a Honda Jazz Advance Sport, and it’s perfectly legal. The fact is I am not talking about the sporty Jazz’s speed, … [Read more...]
Lords seek clarity out of confusion regarding EVs plus petrol and diesel models…
Robin Roberts (Wheels Within Wales) reports on attempts to find clarity amidst apparent chaos... In response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s net zero statement on Wednesday, Baroness Parminter, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, has written to Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Transport. In the letter, Baroness Parminter, on behalf … [Read more...]
Latest KIA Proceed GT-Line S – First impressions
The KIA Proceed GT-Line S in its newest form tried for size by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Having a finger in every pie is very satisfying for KIA with a huge range of models consistently leading to more UK sales. Getting his slice of that pie was our road tester Robin Roberts who last week attended a media test driving day held at the famous Manor House Hotel in Britain’s … [Read more...]
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