ELECTRIFICATION AND SUVS – ARE THESE THE WAY FORWARD IN 2021? Volvo XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid urban SUV tried and tested… …by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Although overall new car sales stalled globally in 2020 due to Covid-19, sales of electrified models grew substantially. In Europe electrified models outsold diesel powered cars for the first time and the demand for SUVs … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
Nissan confirms faith in Sunderland plant, and X-Trail seven seater Road Test
Nissan commits to the UK, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News announced today, 22nd January 2021, the Japanese car manufacturer has committed to continuing long-term production of some of its models in the UK following the recent post Brexit trade deal with the EU. The Sunderland Plant had recently been operating at less than half its 500,000 annual capacity and has 6,000 direct … [Read more...]
Latest Seat Arona – Road Test
SEAT’S ARONA COMPACT SUV COMES UP SHORT IN SOME AREAS… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In the much-troubled year of 2020 new car sales across the globe stalled and even the must-have Crossover/SUV styled vehicles saw their sales flatten. According to JATO Dynamics, the authoritative compiler of new car sales figures, although such vehicles still accounted for around 40% of new … [Read more...]
Volvo V90 B6 estate car – Road Test
Volvo’s V90 B6 AWD petrol engined estate given a festive outing... ...by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The estate car has been a part of British life for decades. Originally developed to take shooting parties around estates during the grouse and deer culling seasons, they soon found new uses before and after. That was a long time ago and today’s family car of choice has become … [Read more...]
Latest Honda Civic Type-R – Road Test
EXTENDED HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R RANGE – THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) tells all… Although the UK production of the Honda Civic family 5-door hatchback range of models, including the hot-shot Type R, ceases in the UK at their Swindon Plant in July 2021, the high performance Type R range of models available has been extended and a wide range of spec changes and … [Read more...]
Lexus RX450h – Road Test
REFINEMENT GALORE OFFERED BY THE LATEST LEXUS RX 450H LARGE SUV… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Lexus brand came to SUV prominence in 1998, actually year 2000 in the UK with the introduction of the original RX as a luxury, comfortable easy to drive large SUV. Now in its fourth generation spanning two decades the petrol-electric hybrid RX 450h 5-seater and RX L limousine style … [Read more...]
Aston Martin DBX – Road Test
The Aston Martin DBX premium SUV – built in Wales Aston Martin is a survivor in a world of hard knocks and is looking for a smoother ride with their latest DBX sports utility vehicle, writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Images courtesy and copyright Mediaphotos.co.uk After 100 years of making some of the most sought after sports cars in the world it has applied its … [Read more...]
Volvo V60 Recharge – Road Test (plus Volvo range electrification news)
VOLVO GOES ON EMBRACING ELECTRIFICATION FOR ITS MODELS + V60 RECHARGE ROAD TESTED. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Volvo, part of the Chinese Geely industrial conglomerate, is now well known for their commitment to full electrification of all their models by 2025. They have recently confirmed they will develop and assemble their own electric motors at their powertrain plant in Skovde … [Read more...]
All-electric Vauxhall Corsa – Road Test
Vauxhall Corsa-e Elite Nav 11kW plugged-in… …and driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Britain’s oldest car-maker is gearing up for the electric future, beginning with the Corsa-e. The highly popular small hatchback is a natural starting point aimed at those who mostly commute or have low mileage lifestyles. It has dabbled in the EV sector between 2012 and 2015 with the … [Read more...]
Latest Nissan X-Trail – Road Test
LONG SERVING NISSAN X-TRAIL EVOLVES INTO A SOFTER CROSSOVER. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Nissan introduced the original X-Trail in 2001 when it was a hard-core proper dual-purpose 4x4 workhorse which sold in huge numbers around the world. From 2007 the X-Trail moved from hard-core 4x4 to SUV/Crossover and in 2017 received further restyling and specification changes to soften its … [Read more...]
Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid 2.0 – Road Test
HIGHER PERFORMANCE TOYOTA C-HR HYBRID COMPACT SUV TRIED AND TESTED Continuous improvement is the philosophy of Toyota and few car makers have as much experience of EVs and Hybrids, launching its Hybrid Synergy Drive in 1997, and rolling out more models every few years, writes Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The Toyota C-HR is a good example of continuous improvement, first … [Read more...]
Fiat 500 Hybrid – Road Test, plus Fiat, Bentley and SMMT ‘electric’ news
FIAT’S NEW 500 HYBRID ON THE ROAD TOWARDS FULLY ELECTRIC MOTORING. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… The little and large of new models being introduced have several things in common but the most relevant is all-electric power. At one end of the size scale Fiat have recently introduced their 500 City Car petrol-electric Hybrid range and UK order books are open for their all-new … [Read more...]
Lexus UX 250 h – Road Test
The Lexus UX 250h Takumi E-four AWD urban SUV… …tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Robin says, “Lexus has been a mover and shaker in the UK car market in every sector it’s entered and with the latest UX urban SUV its challenge intensifies”. Intended as an introduction SUV to the Lexus range, the UX is their first contemporary compact SUV with the urban driver in … [Read more...]
Jeep Wrangler Night Eagle – Road Test
A REVIEW OF THE LATEST JEEP WRANGLER 4-DOOR NIGHT EAGLE… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Its big, its brash, its still the iconic all-American 4WD SUV but the modern Jeep brand is owned by Chrysler and they are part of the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles conglomerate which in turn is now in partnership with the PSA Group of brands. Following the recent merger the FCA and PSA groups … [Read more...]
Most powerful MINI yet – John Cooper Works GP3 – Road Test
MINI IN SIZE WITH MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE – THE NEW MINI JCW GP3. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Following the success of the two previous MINI GP models introduced in 2006 and 2013 respectively, the new limited edition GP3, or to give it its full title – the MINI John Cooper Work GP3, is the most powerful and fastest production MINI or Mini ever sold. Just 3,000 of these models will be … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta ST-3 – Road Test
The latest Ford Fiesta ST-3, 3-door hot-hatch given an outing. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). More than any other car in modern times, the Ford Fiesta has defined British motoring and the high performance ST-series is the most desirable, particularly among motorsport fans. Consistently one of the top selling cars in the UK market, the Fiesta is the right size for thousands … [Read more...]
Volvo emissions reductions, plus XC40 B5 AWD R-Design Pro – Road Test
VOLVO AHEAD OF CO2 REDUCTION TARGET + XC40 SUV TEST DRIVE. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Volvo Cars and its sports offshoot brand of Polestar claims they will reduce fleet emissions beyond their joint CO2 target for 2020 as defined by the regulations set by the European Commission. What that target was Volvo doesn’t say. However to their credit Volvo Cars was the first … [Read more...]
Latest Suzuki Ignis Hybrid – Road Test by David Miles
SUZUKI IGNIS HYBRID SZ5 ALLGRIP, CITY CAR CROSSOVER. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict. City slicker meets countryside pony is how I would describe the top specification model in the revised Suzuki Ignis range. All models now have a new 1.2 litre four cylinder K12D Dualjet Hybrid petrol engine offering WLTP CO2 emissions from 114g/km and combined cycle fuel economy from … [Read more...]
Latest Audi A3 – Road Test
DOWNSIZE WITHOUT HARMING ONE’S IMAGE – THE NEW AUDI A3 SALOON FITS THE BILL. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Photographs from Audi and – blue car – by David). In these troubled times all aspects of our life are, or should be, coming under review whether it’s our health, wealth, family, work, transport or generally the downsizing of areas such as our cars and homes to more … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-5 Convertible (special edition) – Road Test
Mazda MX-5 R-Sport SE… …the modern classic tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). As a modern classic, the Mazda MX-5 has just become more exclusive because the new MX-5 R Sport Convertible is limited to 150 examples in the UK. The MX-5 range has consistently led its sports car sector since the 1990s with revisions and upgrades. This stand-out MX-5 Convertible version … [Read more...]
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