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Road Tests

Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK

‘Golden Oldies’; Retrospective Road Test No. 2 – 1991 Peugeot 205 1.1 Trio S.

29th December 2017

Peugeot 205 – “le sacré numéro”… In the second of our new series on Wheels-Alive, Kim Henson test drives Peugeot’s 205, in this case a 1991 1.1 litre Trio S three door version. (All words and photographs by Kim). Note: "Wheels-Alive gives you more..." If you would like to turn back time 26 years (on a temporary basis!), at the end of this feature are direct 'interactive' links to enable you … [Read more...]

Volkswagen News plus Golf 1.5 EVO Road Test

27th December 2017

New 1.5 EVO engine boosts VW Golf’s appeal even more… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Despite Volkswagen Group’s tarnished reputation due to the emissions scandal there has been limited damage, it appears, to their sales – especially the refreshed 7.5 generation Golf range of three and five door Hatchbacks and Estates. The face-lifted Golfs arrived in UK showrooms in April and … [Read more...]

Latest Audi RS 3 saloon – Road Test

24th December 2017

New Audi RS3 saloon road-tested – Slowly! By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). As I sat in yet another stationary long line of traffic I wondered just how useful or practical in modern day motoring conditions my new test drive 174 mph Audi RS 3 Saloon actually was. Official figures recently released by the Department of Transport show UK drivers faced on average a delay of 46 seconds … [Read more...]

Volvo S90 – Seasonal Road Test

23rd December 2017

Keith Ward gives his assessment of Volvo’s executive saloon… LIVING in the snow-prone Pennines and planning a winter weekend among the peaks of the Lake District, I was comforted by the 4WD capability of this version of the Volvo S90. It was also good to see it came with a £525 optional Winter Pack – electrically heated windscreen, heated steering wheel and washer nozzles, plus a headlight … [Read more...]

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 250d 4Matic AMG Line Coupé – Road Test

18th December 2017

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 250d 4Matic AMG Line Coupe – Grace With Pace. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). You know Mercedes-Benz must be doing something right after nearly a century of making cars, and when close rivals are struggling, they turn out models like the C-Class 250d 4Matic AMG Line coupé With the December UK new car sales to be added to their total, Mercedes have … [Read more...]

Lexus IS300h Advance – Road Test

13th December 2017

The latest Lexus IS300h Advance toughs it out… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency).  The market for compact sports saloons is arguably one of the toughest and was dominated by the German brands, until the arrival of the ‘baby’ Lexus. That all changed in 1999 when the first petrol Lexus IS200 hit the road and we are now into the third generation offering the pure petrol IS200t, or … [Read more...]

Updated Renault Captur – Road Test

11th December 2017

By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who test-drives the ‘refreshed’ version of Renault’s Captur in wintry conditions… It’s snow joke – the latest Renault Captur continues to capture new car sales… First shown as a concept compact SUV vehicle in 2011 the Renault Captur came to market in 2013 and has undergone a continuous evolution since then, keeping it at the top of the ever-more … [Read more...]

Latest Volvo S90 D5 AWD executive saloon – Road Test

8th December 2017

David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test-drives the 2018 VOLVO S90 D5 AWD executive saloon. Volvo’s premium brand executive S90 four door large saloons and V90 estates, 2WD/AWD models, came to market in September 2016 and this was followed earlier this year by AWD D4/D5 Cross Country V90 estates and the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid petrol/electric powertrain for both the S90 and V90 … [Read more...]

Updated Nissan Qashqai – News and Road Test

5th December 2017

The Family Holdall – The latest Nissan Qashqai improved in most areas. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Nissan Qashqai is a C-SUV segment mid-sized ‘Crossover’ first launched in 2007 and is generally credited with launching the term Crossover. In real terms what does Crossover mean? Well the space of a C-segment family hatchback with the raised ride height and styling of an SUV, … [Read more...]

Mazda 6 Tourer – Road Test

28th November 2017

Keith Ward test drives the Mazda 6 Tourer (estate car). WHILE a new, fourth generation Mazda 6 is on the far horizon, with a global unveiling at this month’s Los Angeles Motor Show, the current version continues to hold respect here. That is particularly in estate form, an old faithful which accounts for 70 per cent of the model's 8,000 UK sales to date (end of October) this year and is looked … [Read more...]

Jaguar XE Sports saloon – with new Ingenium engine – Road Test

27th November 2017

Jaguar XE 2018 range receives Ingenium petrol engines. Latest model test-driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency)... The 2018 model year Jaguar XE sports saloon sees the debut of Jaguar Land Rover’s new Ingenium petrol engines, in particular the first application of their 2.0 litre, four cylinder turbocharged 200, 250 and 300 hp petrol engines. A 240hp Ingenium turbodiesel engine is also … [Read more...]

Toyota – 25 years of UK manufacturing, and latest Auris Hybrid Road Test

21st November 2017

Auris hybrid GB25 celebrates 25 years of Toyota building cars in the UK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Toyota started building cars in the UK 25 years ago for our domestic market, Europe and wider afield. Their first model, the Carina E, came off the Burnaston production line in Derbyshire in 1992. Since then over four million vehicles have come from this production facility, the … [Read more...]

Skoda Rapid Spaceback – Road Test

15th November 2017

Skoda Rapid Spaceback – More Space – Less Price... By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The updated Skoda Rapid and Rapid Spaceback models were revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March and are now established within the popular Skoda extensive range of models. Where the Rapid and Rapid Spaceback sit in the line-up needs some explanation. They are both positioned between the Fabia … [Read more...]

Volvo XC60 – Road Test

7th November 2017

Keith Ward puts Volvo’s latest compact SUV through its paces… VOLVO’s original XC60 compact SUV sold nearly 1m around the world in its nine-year production run, claims to be currently the best-selling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe, and attracts as many as 30 per cent of the Swedish brand’s customers. Thus this second generation version, new for 2017, commands interest. It reflects Volvo’s … [Read more...]

Skoda Fabia ‘Edition Redline’ – Road Test

31st October 2017

The Skoda Fabia Supermini hatch has price on its side… By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Although the demand for compact SUVs is high, the similar sized but less tall supermini hatchbacks are still the UK’s best selling new cars, with the new Ford Fiesta supermini range still leading the way as Britain’s most popular new car. One of the Fiesta’s rivals is the not so new but cheaper … [Read more...]

Latest SEAT Ibiza News and FR version Road Test

28th October 2017

The new SEAT Ibiza FR – space and pace. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new fifth generation SEAT Ibiza hatchback is only available as a five door and it is the first model in the Volkswagen Group of brands to use the new MQB AO modular platform –even before VW’s own new Polo supermini sized hatchback comes to market next year. The Ibiza has been the Spanish brand’s best … [Read more...]

Skoda Kodiaq – Road Test

18th October 2017

Keith Ward test drive’s Skoda’s seven seater family SUV… UNLIKE some classier brands, Skodas seem to be designed by people who actually drive their cars in everyday situations. It is to their credit. Take the big new seven-seat family SUV, the Kodiaq. Ours came with a pair of umbrellas concealed in the front door armrests. Open the passenger doors and a sort of hairy rubber caterpillar on … [Read more...]

Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian – Road Test

13th October 2017

David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reviews the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP Double Cab Pick-up. The award winning Mitsubishi L200 pick-up range is now into its fifth generation and the line-up includes Single Cab, Club Cab and Double Cab versions with UK prices starting from £18,500 excluding VAT as they are classed as commercial vehicles. The latest addition to the best selling line up … [Read more...]

Suzuki ALLGRIP models – Getting to grips with them during road (and off-road) tests

5th October 2017

Kim Henson heads off to the Welsh hills to test drive examples of vehicles equipped with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP four wheel drive system technologies, the details of which vary according to the model... (All words by Kim; photographs by Kim and – where indicated – Matt Kimberley). For many decades Suzuki has been associated with producing highly effective and very reliable four wheel drive vehicles, … [Read more...]

Peugeot 3008 1.2 PureTech SUV – Road Test

25th September 2017

Peugeot 3008 SUV – Big on space, with a small capacity engine. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Sales of new cars overall in the UK this year have stalled by 2.5% over the same period last year, with only the SUV/4x4 sector showing growth. Sales of all diesel powered passenger cars have fallen by 11.5% following the ‘dieselgate scandal’. During the uncertain economic climate the … [Read more...]

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