Ford has taken a traditionally cautious approach towards its pure electric range and it’s reaping the benefits without disappointing familiar buyers and going out on a limb, writes Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales). It has scaled back on its pure EV future and written off £14.5Billion investment as it refocuses on future models. Broadly, it is going to fall in line with rivals who are now … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
Kia Sportage GT Line – Road Test
When you look at some of Britain’s best selling cars it’s easy to become dazzled by what you see and not appreciate what’s behind them, writes Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales)… The UK’s immensely popular Kia Sportage SUV was facelifted last autumn and given some technical improvements after four generations since 1995, although the diesel derivatives were discontinued. The fifth generation of … [Read more...]
Haval Jolion Pro Ultra – Road Test
You may struggle with the name, but the GWM Haval Jolion needs remembering and digesting, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Although new to the UK, the GWM brand is distributed by International Motors with its vast experience of Subaru and Isuzu models and it has just announced the return of Mitsubishi in 2026. After launching in Great Britain with the compact hatchback pure electric … [Read more...]
Honda Civic 2.0 i-MMD ADVANCE – Road Test
Honda Civic 2.0 i-MMD ADVANCE – Road Test Honda’s 25 years experience of building hybrid cars shows up exceptionally well in the latest Civic Advance, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The current Honda Civic range comprises Elegance, Sport and Advance models, with respective prices from £33,795, £35,495 and £38,695. There is a common 4 cyl 2.0 litre petrol and full-hybrid front … [Read more...]
BMW 420i – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports: “It’s hard to precisely put your finger on it, but it’s fair to say that the BMW 420i M Sport Coupé fits like a glove around a driver.” A development from the 3-series Coupé and Convertibles, the 4-series has been in the range since 2013 and today comes in both bodystyles as well as a Gran Coupé with a choice of four or six cylinder petrol engines … [Read more...]
MINI Cooper 5-door – Road Test
The Mini has been part of the British and European car market for over 65 years and is still not ready to be pensioned off against much younger rivals, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Since becoming part of the BMW Group in 1994 the famous British Leyland and subsequent Rover Group models have been completely reinvented, modernised and brought very much up to date. You only have to … [Read more...]
GWM Ora 03 GT – Road Test
Here’s a Chinese whisper - the GWM Ora 03 GT is a good modern BEV, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). To some it looks like a version of the MINI it has helped build in its homeland of China in a deal with BMW, but it comes at a price which really takes on the bigger names. There are three models in the GWM Ora 03 range, and after the EV-grant the costs are £21,245 Pure, £25,235 Pro … [Read more...]
SEAT Leon Estate – Road Test
At a time when so many cars look the same, one stood out with us, the SEAT Leon FR Black Edition, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). There are five trim levels with hatch or estate bodystyles, four powertrains including diesel and manual or automatic transmission from £25,345 to £41,210 for the big 34-model wide range. Continuous improvement means since launching in 1999 there have … [Read more...]
Audi Q5 TFSI quattro 204PS S line S tronic – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… Audi has dealt a clever hand and a blow to rivals by offering petrol or diesel mild hybrid new versions of its highly popular Q5 rather than go down the pure electric road now being taken by competitors. It is, simply, building and selling the cars customers are asking for in their lives. They are also a lot cheaper than pure battery electric … [Read more...]
SEAT Arona FR Black Edition 1.0 TSI Petrol 115 – Road Test
Volkswagen has decided that SEAT will in future be its entry level brand to the Group and with the Arona that’s a good move, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Instead of going for the upper end of the market and thereby limiting appeal to those with most money, the brand will become all things to all men and women. Its range is wide and benefits from the engineering, design and … [Read more...]
Skoda Kodiaq vRS – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… Making the right car at the right time is an objective all manufacturers aim to achieve but do not always reach and the 21st century has been decades of decisions and, generally, success for Skoda. After producing some of the ropiest cars sold across Europe in second half of the 20th century, Skoda became part of the massive Volkswagen Group in 1991 … [Read more...]
VW Tayron R Line – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes: About 80 years ago, Volkswagen began building its empire making a car for the people and it’s never lost sight of that objective which is neatly fulfilled in the Tayron. It is a car very much made for today’s markets around the world and fills the gap between its top of range Touareg and five-seat Tiguan with the widest powertrain possibilities in a … [Read more...]
Hyundai INSTER Cross 49 kWh 115 PS – Road Test
If quirkiness won car awards, the Hyundai Inster Cross would silently sweep up a red carpet and win. So says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)... In our week with this highly distinctive city car from the massive Hyundai & Kia group it continuously attracted attention whether moving or parked, including in traffic queues. I can think of nothing since the Nissan Cube which has elicited … [Read more...]
Suzuki S-Cross Ultra Allgrip MY26 – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… The Suzuki S-Cross has been a story of evolution and survival and continues this day as one of the brand’s most popular practical multi-purpose models. It can trace its origins to 2006 and a joint venture with Fiat and a different name, the SX4, standing for Sports X-over 4 Seasons. The third generation built in Hungary for European sales has been on … [Read more...]
Lexus LM 350h Standard 2WD – Road Test
“Sometimes it’s not the first which leaves a lasting impression but the last which comes first in your mind”, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). That’s certainly the case with the Lexus LM350, a rival to the established luxury MPVs from the premium German brands. In the rarefied ranks of executive people movers chauffeuring between airports and hotels or whisking their occupants to … [Read more...]
Polestar 3 Long Range – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithWales) writes: “When you discover your car’s glovebox can only be opened by an electric switch you realise you’re driving something a bit different, a bit special and out of the ordinary.” The discovery was made as we sat transfixed by the sheer complexity of the Polestar 3’s infotainment and driving display contained in a 14.5-inch laptop-like portrait screen in the … [Read more...]
Toyota Yaris Design – Road Test
The hot-hatch has been reborn for Gen-Z, and there’s a thumbs up from their parents too if they want to enjoy driving a Toyota Yaris hybrid. It’s super-economical on fuel too... Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports. The one-time must-have cars for the young drivers of the 1970s seemed to die out in the first decade of this century, but someone forgot to tell Toyota. It … [Read more...]
Toyota Proace Max Van – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithWales) writes, "Britain runs on vans of all sizes and capacities, so the entry of the world’s biggest motor manufacturer into this booming sector must be significant." After offering small and medium sized vans through its Professional line, Toyota has added the Proace Max, its first heavy duty range in Europe and it has immediately ramped up the competition against … [Read more...]
Toyota bZ4X all-electric SUV – Road Test
Toyota fans now have a completely electric model added to the range as the industry slowly but relentlessly rolls towards the end of hybrid and internal combustion engines. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... After dabbling with an electric version of their RAV4 off-roader in the late 90s and pushing ahead with hybrids and stablemate Lexus electric models, it’s now the time for … [Read more...]
Toyota Land Cruiser MY25 – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts the latest version of Toyota’s legendary 4x4 through its paces… When you hit 70 years, most things that haven’t fallen off or out may be about to, but that is really the turning point in the case of the Toyota Land Cruiser. From prototypes developed before and after World War Two, the model that became the Land Cruiser was commissioned by the Japanese … [Read more...]
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