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First Impressions

Our brief encounters with new models on the U.K. market

Bentley Bentayga V8 – First Impressions

22nd October 2019

Chris Adamson samples a thoroughly modern Bentley… (Words and photographs by Chris). In recent months the domestic motoring community has been dominated by discussions about fuel economy, alternative fuels, battery power and the UK’s electricity re-charging infrastructure and I have not been immune from getting immersed in the debate. So it was something of a refreshing change to be able to … [Read more...]

Toyota Prius Business Edition AWD – First impressions

17th October 2019

Chris Adamson gives his verdict on this latest hybrid Toyota … (Photos – Toyota GB) Hybrid pioneers Toyota started the drive towards self-charging multi-power cars with their leading edge Prius. Now, over 20 years later, everyone seems to have a hybrid or full electric model on their fleet but Prius is still the one they have to be matched against. While they have been developing hydrogen … [Read more...]

MG HS – First Impressions

16th October 2019

Chris Adamson test-drives the range-topping MG HS… (All words and photographs by Chris). Having come rather late to the Sports Utility party MG is now making up lost ground by launching its third model, the new flagship HS which, in effect, takes over from the GS now this original SUV is out of stock here in the UK. Like the rest of the MG line-up, the HS is being promoted as being bigger and … [Read more...]

Brief Impressions – Cars driven at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ Test Day South 2019

12th October 2019

I have always valued, and enjoyed, the annual SMMT Test Days, arranged to provide accredited motoring writers with the chance to test drive a selection of new models from cross the spectrum of manufacturers. (All words and photos by Kim). Every year the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) holds an autumnal driving event for motoring writers from the south of the UK. I always … [Read more...]

Latest Volkswagen Passat – First Impressions

7th October 2019

REVISED VW PASSAT ESTATE PUT THROUGH ITS PACES... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Volkswagen has treasure in its 46-year old Passat name, now brightly polished into a gleaming facelifted eighth edition. From its launch in 1973 it is now the VW with the longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year and it even predates the Golf name by a … [Read more...]

Revised VW Passat – First Impressions

20th September 2019

LATEST GENERATION VW PASSAT DEBUTS IN THE UK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). From its launch in 1973 The Passat is now Volkswagen’s longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year. With over 30 million sold worldwide in 46 years, the Passat is the best-selling mid-size car in the world after eight versions have been launched. In the UK the Mark 8 models … [Read more...]

Latest Mitsubishi L200 Pick-up – First Impressions

20th August 2019

ON THE RIGHT TRACKS – THE NEW MITSUBISHI 6 SERIES L200 PICK-UP RANGE… …David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports. Arriving in UK Mitsubishi Motors showrooms in time for the new registration plate month of September is the new Series 6 L200 Pick-Up range, where the Double Cab versions are the most popular for business, hard graft and leisure uses. Mitsubishi say the Series 6 is more … [Read more...]

News from Mini – and John Cooper Works (JCW) hatch version First Impressions

25th July 2019

MINI NEWS AND JOHN COOPER WORKS HATCH FIRST DRIVE VIEWS. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… At last week’s MINI UK media test driving day the BMW Group brand brought along their 60th anniversary Edition Hatch model as well as the revised John Cooper Works (JCW) Hatch version to be sampled. With a 60th anniversary Edition model already scheduled into my forthcoming road test diary … [Read more...]

Latest BMWs – including first drive impressions of the new Z4 Roadster

19th July 2019

BMW NEW MODEL NEWS AND THE NEW Z4 ROADSTER TEST DRIVING VIEWS. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… News With the blockage of introducing new BMW and other premium brand German brand models now cleared with new or revised engines now fully homologated to meet the latest EU6.2 C and D Temp emission standards and the new WLTP fuel and CO2 figures obtained, it’s on with business to meet … [Read more...]

Maserati Levante GranLusso – First Impressions

15th June 2019

(Photos courtesy of Maserati). No sector in the automotive marketplace has escaped the clutches of the Sports Utility Vehicle, not even the prestige brands, who at one time, would never have dreamed of having a chunky off-roader in their line-up. One of the most recent converts (but not quite the last) is Maserati who by their own admission are arriving rather late to the party – their … [Read more...]

Citroën C5 Aircross – First impressions

14th June 2019

Chris Adamson gives his views on this newcomer to the market… (Photos courtesy of Citroën). Despite there being very few occasions when a family car needs to travel off-road, apart from the occasional piece of grass verge, today’s motor industry has shifted wholesale from conventional multi-purpose vehicles to the fashionable sports utility – a move I have yet to fully endorse. At one time … [Read more...]

Suzuki – ‘Miles Better’ latest updates and driving impressions.

13th June 2019

A SWIFT DAY OF DRIVING WITH SUZUKI… …By David Miles (News Miles Better News Agency). (Kim says, "You may already have seen/read on this website my impressions of yesterday's 'Swift Day Out' (12th June 2019); you may also be interested in a personal view from David Miles, who also attended this event; the following words are all David's, with photos courtesy Suzuki..."). Keeping a positive … [Read more...]

Kia e-Niro – First Impressions

6th June 2019

KIA’S ROAD TO GREENER MOTORING WITH THE e-NIRO… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a test drive. Alternatively fuelled vehicles, pure electric, petrol-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids saw a 21% increase in UK new car sales last year to 141,270 units, but only 15,474 of those vehicles were pure electric models. So far this year only around 2,000 battery electric cars were sold in … [Read more...]

Alfa on the up

6th May 2019

Turning the corner with Alfa Romeo… …Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) reports.  Car sales are a series of twists and turns but there are strong signs that Alfa Romeo has turned the corner this year. A recent independent survey of owners who have used their models for some time concluded that the sporting Italian brand was second only to Lexus in terms of overall satisfaction with … [Read more...]

Volkswagen T-Cross – First Impressions

3rd May 2019

NEW VW T-CROSS URBAN SUV – ‘I AM MORE’ CLAIM THE MARKETERS’. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a first close look at this newcomer. With SUV styled vehicles now taking close to, or in some countries, over 40% of the new car market, manufacturers from budget to luxury brands have wasted no time in covering all angles in terms of size, performance and price. Another new SUV … [Read more...]

Very Brief Impressions – Cars driven at the Guild of Motoring Writers’ ‘Big Day Out’, 2019

27th April 2019

Kim Henson samples a few of the latest models...  On the occasion of the Guild of Motoring Writers’ ‘Big Day Out’ event, held recently at Castle Combe in Wiltshire, I was able to briefly test drive some of the latest offerings from different manufacturers… (All words and photos by Kim). Suzuki Vitara 1.4 (latest, 2019 version) The previous generation Vitaras (which arrived in 2015) were well … [Read more...]

Brand new Toyota Corolla – First Impressions

18th February 2019

GOODBYE TOYOTA AURIS – HELLO AGAIN TOYOTA COROLLA. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) explains and drives the new line-up… 14 years after the Toyota Auris name replaced the Corolla we see the return of the World’s best-selling car brand name – Corolla –å and it’s on sale in the UK from the new registration plate change month of March. The range is priced from £21,300 up to £30,340 with 21 … [Read more...]

Citroën C5 Aircross mid-sized SUV – First Impressions

1st February 2019

Latest SUV from Citroën – the new C5 Aircross; first drive, plus news and views... ...from David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). 2019 is a big year for the French Citroën brand. It’s their 100th anniversary and already the year has got off to a successful start with their products picking up several Car/Van of the Year Awards in the current round of annual ‘Oscars’ given by the motoring … [Read more...]

Even better revised Honda NSX – First Impressions

31st December 2018

Latest Honda NSX speeds into 2019… Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The insanely-hot 191 mph Honda NSX with a zero to 62 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, has had a make-over for the New Year, and its handling is now better than ever. Hybrids are hot news at the moment, but none come hotter than the Honda NSX. With its twin turbo V6 3.5 litre petrol engine and … [Read more...]

Motoring Review of 2018 – The ups and downs of a turbulent year for the UK

29th December 2018

2018 – WHAT AN UNSETTLED YEAR IT HAS BEEN FOR THE MOTOR INDUSTRY. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) looks back on his motoring year... Seated at my keyboard responding to a request to write a review of the year from the 100 or so new or updated cars we have tried and tested this year, it’s difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps with the unknown fallout from Brexit, if it ever happens, … [Read more...]

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Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


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