Tom Scanlan tries a range of Audi’s popular Q3 SUV, including the very latest, and very fast, RS Q3 The two particular Q3 versions I tried made for an interesting comparison. The first was the more powerful of two 2.0-litre TDIs on sale, with a seven-speed auto gearbox as standard. The diesel engine has 177 PS and performs typically of such diesels; that’s to say, it’s pretty refined, smooth and … [Read more...]
First Impressions
Our brief encounters with new models on the U.K. market
Mazda6 Tourer
Tom Scanlan's 500 miles in Mazda's estate car impressed him... At £24,115, the test car – a 2.2D SE-L Nav 2WD – offered a lot of car for the money, not that nearly £25K isn’t a sizeable chunk in anyone’s book. Mazda’s ‘Skyactive’ technology, involving carefully designed engine mechanicals combined with digital technology and the use of light weight but super-strong construction, produces a … [Read more...]
Audi RS4 Avant
by Tom Scanlan What is the point in a car like this, with a potential of 174 mph? I put that very question to the car’s design chief in Germany. His answer would never convince the green lobby, but he made the point at the end that, although this car would not save the world neither would it harm it. It is indeed a clever, if not superlative, piece of engineering. Under the bonnet is the … [Read more...]
Mazda5
Kim Henson reports... Surveying the variety of people carriers, or ‘multi-purpose vehicles’ (MPVs) offered by today’s mainstream motor manufacturers, you could be forgiven for thinking that in some cases styling has not been a major consideration in their development. While these vehicles may be effective for the job that they have to do, they are hardly eye-catching, and often lack the ‘wow’ … [Read more...]
Citroën DS5 Hybrid 200 DSport
Tom Scanlan tries Citroën’s range-topping diesel-electric executive express... In its white pearlescent paint, with polished metal blade-like embellishments, this big Citroën certainly cuts a dash. Then you get inside and it’s ‘Blimey! I need a Private Pilot’s Licence to operate this thing!’ There are so many controls, switches, knobs, levers and buttons around and above you that the proper … [Read more...]
The Most Expensive and the Cheapest VW Golfs!
Tom Scanlan tries Golf R Cabriolet 2.0 TSI and the Golf S 1.2 TSI 3-door... Golf R Cabriolet £38,770 for a Golf? Really! Alright, it is a cabriolet, it has a mighty 265 PS 2-litre TSI engine and all sorts of smart equipment – except electric seats. What’s it like then? Well, it sure goes, of course; it’s the fastest-ever production open Golf. The car has VW’s 6-speed DSG automatic … [Read more...]
Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC EX Manual
Honda has put on sale its latest 1.6-litre 120PS Diesel engine in the popular Civic range. As seems to be customary, the technology in this engine has been given a name: ‘Earth Dreams’. Broadly speaking, it hints at eco-friendliness, through efficiency in frugal fuel consumption and low emission pollution, but without reducing accelerative performance (0-62 mph in 10.5 seconds). The range … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta ST
Kim Henson takes to the wheel of a ‘future classic’ Ford. Yes, I know that it isn’t usual to write the ‘conclusions’ at the start of an article, but on this occasion I’m going to stick my neck out and say, unequivocally, that the new Ford Fiesta ST is set to become an iconic ‘classic’ Ford, even in its own time, and with the car just having been launched! So what’s so compelling about this … [Read more...]
Audi A3 Sportback SE
Chris Adamson samples the latest five door version of Audi's A3 In one of those odd twists in the global motor industry, more than six months after it launched the new A3, Audi is only now just introducing the body-style that is going to be its best seller. Having tested the water with the A3 three-door, Audi adds the Sportback, its five-door stable-mate which will eventually out-sell it three … [Read more...]
MG6 DTi-Tech TSE
MG: Classic British name and design, Chinese company; MG6 appraisal by Tom Scanlan You don’t see many around, because there aren’t that many on the road, but are we missing a trick? The MG6 has been around a couple of years and the range includes a diesel. This could be the one to go for. Starting price for the diesel is £16,995. Look around at other cars of this price and you don’t always get … [Read more...]
BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo and Facelifted Z4 Roadster
BMW’s latest twin car launch introduces the 3-series Grand Turismo and face-lifted Z4 two-seater . By Tom Scanlan The 3 Series GT is all new and is both longer and taller than the saloon and the Touring estate. Cars given this body treatment may possibly end up looking a bit gawky, or, at least, unusual, like a coupe on steroids. BMW’s effort is a matter of personal taste, but the overall result … [Read more...]
Chrysler 300C
If you are in the market for a large luxury saloon your choice is normally restricted to the big four from Germany, Lexus from Japan or Jaguar from Britain – that is unless you have a taste for transatlantic indulgence. Tracing its heritage back to the Yank Tanks of the 50s, the Chrysler 300C is a big front engine rear-wheel drive barge of a vehicle that last appeared in UK showroom three years … [Read more...]
Land Rover Freelander 2
by Chris Adamson Land Rover has given the Freelander 2, the second best selling model in its range after Evoque, what is describes as a premium overhaul – but, at first, you are going to find it difficult to tell the new from the old. Most of the effort has gone into sprucing up the cabin and taking away some of the clutter, so the first thing you notice is a brand new centre console on the … [Read more...]
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Chris Adamson reports... Since the demise of the X Type Estate, Jaguar has been deficient in terms of a large load carrier, something they have now rectified with the arrival of the exciting new five-door version of the XF saloon. Because this is Jaguar and it has heritage to call on, they badge their elegant XF estate as the Sportbrake and just as the name suggests it oozes style by the … [Read more...]
New Mazda6
by Chris Adamson In the highly competitive executive saloon market Mazda has traditionally fitted between the prestige and mainstream brands – but with its new Mazda6 it manages to encompass both. The new third generation Mazda6 has the functionality and practical features of a Ford Mondeo alongside the technology, specification and style normally associated with a BMW 3 Series. And on top … [Read more...]
Dacia Sandero and Duster
Cheap and Cheerful? Kim Henson tries two models from the Dacia line-up. Readers with long memories may remember the brief foray of Dacia into the UK market, back in the 1980s. At that time the cars sold here were inexpensive variants based on the Renault 12 of the 1970s. (Despite their low prices, they sold in low numbers here; for many buyers concerns about build quality, reliability and … [Read more...]
Seat Leon (third generation)
Kim Henson samples the angular newcomer from Seat… Ever since 1998, Seat’s Leon (the company’s first ‘C’ sector model to be produced under Volkswagen ownership) has been liked and respected as a competent hatchback incorporating sporting characteristics, while retaining everyday practicality for family use. Britain is the largest export market for the Leon, and increasing … [Read more...]
Ford Kuga, Fiesta and B-Max
Three new Fords appraised by Tom Scanlan There may be a recession, but it doesn’t seem to stop the motor industry from churning out endless new models. Just look at Ford. In the last three months, they’ve given us the B-Max, the new Fiesta and now the Kuga. That’s a compact SUV, a small hatchback and a further 4-w-d SUV (SUVs have now taken over the traditional family car in terms of numbers … [Read more...]
Fiat Panda 4×4 and Trekking
Brief drives in two new compact Fiats... by Tom Scanlan To get straight to the point, what excellent little cars! The 4x4, while aimed primarily at anyone who wants a small car, will certainly suit anyone who also needs regularly to traverse difficult terrain. Panda’s Trekking is a 2-w-d car (front-wheel-drive) that has some of the body characteristics of the 4x4, but is not a regular … [Read more...]
Fancy a BMW?
Tom Scanlan dips into BMW’s current line-up and reckons there’s one for everyone... provided you’ve got at least £17,300. BMW’s cheapest car is the 114 (with a 1.6 engine) available from £17,300. Yes, you could go the HP or leasing route if funds are not readily at hand, but just over seventeen grand isn’t bad for a BMW. Oh, I forgot: I bet you couldn’t actually get one for so little. Why? The … [Read more...]