Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) assesses Kia's EV9 in GT-Line S form... Kia is riding the crest of a new wave with its range-topping luxury EV9 SUV this spring. The Kia EV9 achieved a remarkable dual victory at the 2024 World Car Awards at the New York International Auto Show in March, being voted World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle., taking Kia to five titles in the … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
SMMT car sales figures for March 2024 – and fuel prices increase!
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) looks at the SMMT's UK car sales figures for March 2024 – discovering that fleets get deals and boost the 24-plate registrations, but private buyers have put the brakes on pure electric purchases... March signals a twentieth month of consecutive growth for the automotive sector, a remarkable milestone for the industry, said Sue Robinson, Chief … [Read more...]
Subaru Outback 2.5ES Touring – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives Subaru’s Outback 2.5ES, in range-topping ‘Touring’ form. When the going gets tough, so it’s said, the tough get going and the Subaru Outback will probably lead the way for most drivers. It mayn’t be an obvious choice because it does not look like a classic big-wheeled off-roader with enough space around the wheel arches to coral a sheep, or … [Read more...]
Honda Civic e:HEV Advance – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) fully assesses the Advance version of Honda’s family favourite Civic… Honda has a lot of pride in the Civic, and it’s justified. Honda started making Civic models in 1972, nine years after it expanded from motor-bikes into cars with the N360 and then the 1300, and Civic put the brand on the world map for automobiles. So the Civic is the company’s longest … [Read more...]
Toyota C-HR Excel 1.8 FWD – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts Toyota's revised C-HR through its paces… Dramatic styling marked the 2016 arrival of the Toyota C-HR SUV and now that’s been facelifted and given a technical make-over inside as well. Toyota’s Coupe-High Rider, to give it the full title, is one of the brand’s best selling models in Britain and has hit the sweet-spot in showrooms over the last … [Read more...]
Mazda CX-30 2.0 186 PS AWD Takumi – Road Test
Mazda has a modest UK range but every model comes with a lot of heart and soul, like the revised CX-30, explains Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)… Originally derived from the hatchback Mazda3 but smaller than the CX-5 SUV, the CX-30 came to the UK for 2020, but of course we all know what happened then as the pandemics swept through the country. Britain and Mazda persevered and now their … [Read more...]
KIA EV9 Air RWD – First Impressions
KIA has turned the corner into a new market segment with its EV9 pure electric model, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The EV9 seven-seater launches in three trim levels and an additional range-topping six-seat option from £65,025 to £78,775 in rear wheel drive or all-wheel-drive configurations depending on trim with 200 bhp single or 378 bhp twin motors. That puts it squarely into … [Read more...]
BYD Atto 3 Design – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts this BYD newcomer through its paces. There is no doubt that China’s BYD car company is a new major challenger to legend European manufacturers with its Atto 3 cross-over. Not only does it have Europe’s familiar family cars in sight but it will be aiming to pick off sales from the Korean and Japanese brands which have had it much their own way up to … [Read more...]
Honda e:Ny1 Advance – Road Test
As the EV market expands, Honda has rolled out its challenger in the family sector, the e:Ny1. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports… A couple of years ago, Honda briefly introduced its city car sized e model but that had severe limitations in terms of size, range and appeal so the much larger e:Ny1 will take the Japanese firm’s fight to the chargers. It’s a wise move as SUV models … [Read more...]
Honda Jazz Crosstar Advance Sport – Road Test
The Honda Jazz is one of the brand’s longest-lived models and remains one of its best kept secrets over 42 years, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Improved for 2024, the Jazz range begins with the Elegance and Advance hatchbacks at £26,395 or £27,550, with the Crosstar Advance topping them at £28,550 before road tax is added. The slightly taller Crosstar Advance gets the same … [Read more...]
EU plans to restrict repairs on older vehicles…
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) writes... With the internal combustion engine to be consigned to history in the not-too-distant future, recent information has emerged regarding the European Union’s plan to restrict repairs on older vehicles, reports EuroWeekly. The proposal, originating from the European Commission and yet to be ratified, aims to phase out older, more polluting … [Read more...]
Lords Commission urges a revised EV strategy for the U.K.
The Government must do more to get people to adopt EVs, says a Lords Committee. Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) reports... "If it fails to heed our recommendations the UK won’t reap the significant benefits of better air quality and will lag in the slow lane for tackling climate change,” said Baroness Kate Parminter, Chair of the inquiry. The inquiry was launched in August 2023 to identify … [Read more...]
EVs clock up a million units – but drivers still prefer petrol-powered cars. In other news, the MINI Clubman reaches the end of its road
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) reports that discounted business registrations meant Britain’s millionth battery electric car reached the road in January 2024, while the new car market grew 8.2% for the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The first month of the year saw 142,876 new cars registered led by the Kia Sportage (above), which repeated its success of … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Touareg Black Edition – Road Test
For some, the Volkswagen Touareg is very old school, but for many newcomers it can still teach them lessons, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)... If you have to regularly cover long distances at all hours, with or without people or luggage, or have to tow a horsebox or trailer, the Touareg will perform such tasks without trouble. Appropriately named after a nomadic Sahara group, the … [Read more...]
Best and worst cars to buy and own – depreciation-wise
When buying a new car, it’s always worth thinking about the potential resale value and how much it will depreciate over time. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports… Some cars can prove to be very worthy investments, with their value increasing over time, while others may drop quickly in value as soon as they leave the forecourt. Elements such as age, condition, mileage and number of … [Read more...]
Ford Puma ST mHEV – Road Test
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...]
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...]
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