Nearly 80 years of ‘Beetling’ about… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives the 2017 VW Beetle. With more and more volume produced cars these days looking more and more alike, there are very few iconic core designs left to tempt those owners who do not want run-of-the mill designs. These buyers are independent minded, aloof to what is the latest must-have – me-too fashionable car, … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
NEW SERIES! ‘Golden Oldies’; Kim’s Retrospective Road Test No. 1 – 1996 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 LS turbodiesel (Isuzu engine).
Astranomical! In the first of a new series on Wheels-Alive, Kim Henson assesses Vauxhall’s family hatchback of the 1990s, in the form of a 1996 Vauxhall Astra F (‘Mark 3’), powered by Isuzu’s fuel-sipping 1.7 litre turbodiesel engine. (All words and photographs by Kim). “Astra from Vauxhall. It’s every car you’ll ever need – or want.” So proclaimed Vauxhall when promoting their 1996 Astra … [Read more...]
Lexus GS 300h – Road Test
Hybrid Power – You Know it Makes Sense – Toyota and Lexus Know-how. Lexus GS 300h tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Toyota and Lexus have long been the stalwarts, you could say the pioneers, of using hybrid technology for some of their passenger car ranges to reduce CO2 emissions, improve fuel economy and boost performance. Where they led others now follow. The growth in … [Read more...]
Latest Hyundai i30 Hatchback – Road Test
The new Hyundai i30 mid-sized hatchback – Bland but not basic, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new third generation Hyundai i30 five door hatchback range went on sale in the UK from 1 March this year and it will be followed by Tourer estate versions due this summer. The two ranges will be similar in terms of engine and specification choices, but a little more expensive – and … [Read more...]
Kia Niro Hybrid – Road Test
Keith Ward test drives Kia’s first hybrid, in the form of the Niro… While accelerating sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) in the UK have eased with the gearing down of Government support grants, reaching 89,000 last year out of a record total of nearly 2.7m cars, they were still up by more than 20 per cent, according to official SMMT trade figures. They include petrol-electric … [Read more...]
New Ford Mondeo – Road Test
Latest Ford Mondeo Vignale 2.0 Powershift auto 4WD... Assessed by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). When a giant moves it may not be often but everyone takes notice. Ford held onto the Vignale coach-building name for 42 years before applying it to a hand-finished Mondeo which appeared in 2016, and now it’s picking up momentum and will be appearing on more bespoke cars. Ford … [Read more...]
Latest BMW 5 Series Road Test
The new seventh generation BMW 5 Series saloon… Test-driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The BMW 5 Series has gone through six generations spanning 45 years and totalling 7.9 million global sales, and its success in longevity and sales terms means it has always been the benchmark range for the executive car sector. The new seventh generation 5 Series Saloon arrived in February, … [Read more...]
Renault Grand Scenic seven seater MPV Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the new Renault Grand Scenic seven seater ‘people carrier’… Sales of MPV ‘people carriers’ have in recent years dropped in popularity due to the public’s switch to the now more desirable but less practical people-carrying SUVs and Crossover type vehicles. MPV sales dropped a further 4.3% in the UK last year and 3.1% in Europe. But the industry … [Read more...]
New MINI Countryman Road Test
Largest production MINI ever – The new MINI Countryman. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In the 58-year history of Mini as it was and MINI as it is now under the BMW Group ownership, the all-new second generation Countryman five door Crossover/SUV type is the largest production Mini or MINI ever to go on sale. UK deliveries started in February with prices from £22,465 and running … [Read more...]
Suzuki Ignis Road Test
Suzuki’s new Ignis city car climbs new heights. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his assessment… Is it a city car competing with the likes of the Fiat 500, Hyundai i10 or the new Ford Ka+, or is it a small SUV like the Fiat Panda 4x4 or the Fiat 500X or the Renault Captur? Actually the all-new, high-stance Suzuki Ignis is a bit of both as some versions are front wheel drive and … [Read more...]
New Citroën C3 Road Test
Keith Ward assesses a quirky and well-equipped newcomer from France… It’s not very big, but it could be useful to have on your side if you get into an argument on the road. New for 2017, the small but beautifully formed Citroën C3 claims a world premiere for an onboard HD camera, standard with the top Flair trim, that allows drivers to share their road trip photos and videos directly. It also … [Read more...]
Infiniti Q50 Road Test
The Infiniti Q50 S 3.0 V6 turbocharged mid-sized saloon... Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Adding lots more ‘go’ to its styling ‘show’ the Infiniti Q50 mid-sized premium brand saloon range is the new S 3.0 litre V6 twin-turbo 405 hp petrol engine with drive to the rear wheels through a standard-fit seven-speed automatic transmission. There are many other petrol and diesel … [Read more...]
European Car of the Year 2017; Peugeot 3008 Road Test
Peugeot 3008 announced as the 2017 European Car of the Year, at the Geneva Motor Show… By Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV has been named the 2017 European ‘Car of the Year’ at the Geneva Motor Show by a judging panel comprising 58 European journalists. The 3008, Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class took the top three places. The all-new 3008 … [Read more...]
DS 5 Road Test
Smooth Looker – Rough Rider – The DS 5… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives the latest suave machine from DS. DS 5 – “What’s that?”, I can hear you say. Well it’s the top of the DS range, and DS – if you remember – is the stylish premium brand arm now divorced from the Citroën line-up, but it still lives under the PSA Peugeot- Citroën roof. As of March 2017 PSA now owns GM’s … [Read more...]
Latest Audi S5 Coupé Road Test
New Audi A5, S5 Coupé and Sportback ranges arrive – and more to come, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Audi’s new and replacement model introduction programme continues with the recent arrival of the A5/S5 Coupé. The A5/S5 Sportback arrives with customers during March, followed by the A5/S5 Convertible – and there are more models to follow. At this week’s opening of the Geneva … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Mokka X 1.4T Auto 4WD Road Test
Vauxhall’s new Mokka X 1.4T Auto 4WD tried and tested… By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The compact Vauxhall Mokka Crossover/SUV was first launched in 2013 and it received a major refresh at the end of 2016. One of its additions to differentiate it from past versions was to bear the additional branding of X. Its main competitors, there are numerous others, are the Nissan Juke, … [Read more...]
SEAT Ateca Road Test
Keith Ward test drives SEAT’s Leon-based Ateca SUV… Drivers in Europe reportedly experience a puncture every 75,000 miles on average. Well, it happened to me recently and turned out to be a happier experience than it might have been. Lucky break number one: It was nothing as dramatic as a night-time blowout at motorway speed. I was only made aware by a tyre pressure drop warning symbol on the … [Read more...]
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Road Test
Hybrid becomes the most popular power source in the Toyota RAV4 range. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) explains… The RAV4 mid-sized SUV was first introduced in 1994 and billed by Toyota as the first compact 4WD SUV. Since then there has been a continual supply of new and updated models. The latest major change has been the introduction of petrol electric Hybrid two and four wheel drive … [Read more...]
All Wheel Drive Jaguar XE Road Test
The Cat gets sharp claws… All wheel drive option for the Jaguar XE saloon’s line-up. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency. When Jaguar launched their XE four door compact executive saloon car range in 2015 it was heralded as a ‘game-changer’ for the brand. It filled the long-held gap left in the brand’s range following the exit of the unloved X-Type put out to grass in 2009. The XE was a … [Read more...]
Toyota C-HR Hybrid SUV Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives Toyota’s C-HR, the firm’s latest Hybrid SUV. Toyota took their time getting into the very fashionable and high selling compact SUV market sector, leaving customers with just their hard-core RAV4 as the option. UK sales of what the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders call ‘Dual Purpose’ vehicles – what we know as 4x4s/SUVs and including … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- …
- 32
- Next Page »