Chris Adamson gives his views on the European Car of the Year 2017, and assesses whether the car lives up to this accolade... (Words and Photos by Chris) ‘European Car of the Year 2017’ is a pretty tough title to live up to, but that’s the challenge facing the new Peugeot 3008, having beaten off some stiff opposition to claim the crown earlier this year. Visually it is hard to really … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
Updated Ford Kuga Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the latest (2017) version of Ford’s Kuga SUV. The demand in the UK, the EU and global markets for SUVs, Crossovers and 4x4s continues, and the surge in additional models from brands new to these sectors builds on their fashionable must-have appeal. In the UK last year there were 437,000 new car registrations for what the industry calls Dual … [Read more...]
Skoda’s revised Octavia range – plus Octavia estate Road Test
2017 updated Skoda Octavia line-up – incorporating a substantial estate car variant. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his views – and offers some useful advice on choosing the best version of the Octavia for you… The 2017 revised Skoda Octavia range of C-segment five door Hatchbacks and Estates have recently gone on sale and all retain their class-leading roominess plus high … [Read more...]
Suzuki Ignis Road Test
Keith Ward gives his assessment of Suzuki’s latest city car… ON sale in the UK from the start of this year (2017), the little all-new Suzuki Ignis city car can pack an awful lot for relatively little money into its light and compact SUV frame. Prices start at £10,249. On top of a generally generous kit level, the top SZ5 version we drove, at well under £15,000, came with the Japanese firm’s … [Read more...]
Kia Soul 1.6 GDI 2 Road Test
Kia gives their range more Soul – the 1.6 GDI 2. By Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Kia Soul is the embodiment of its UK crossover range. It was thought quirky when it came to market a few years ago but the practical shape soon found favour and it has been consistently reworked to keep it up to date. The Kia Carens, Sportage and Sorento fill needs for SUV buyers while the Soul … [Read more...]
Latest Jeep Wrangler Road Test
Old World rugged 4x4 styling for a modern day market – the Jeep Wrangler… Road tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In a world where SUVs have become more sophisticated and are generally soft off-roaders or Crossovers more used to dealing with school runs, shopping trips and family holidays than hard-core off roading, the Jeep Wrangler now stands alone in the rugged 4x4 market … [Read more...]
Toyota Prius Hybrid Plug-In PHEV Road Test
Toyota adds Plug-In PHEV versions to the firm’s Prius Hybrid range. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives one… My week long road test in the new Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) created two notable firsts for me. It was the first road test production car I have tested with a solar roof and it was the first test car to return over 100 mpg for a full week of motoring. The sales … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-5 RF Road Test
Keith Ward test drives Mazda’s latest MX-5 with a retractable roof… SUMMER ahoy and here is the latest version of what has long been billed, virtue of its rave reputation in the huge market of the USA, the world’s all-time best selling two-seater sports car, with a crop of awards to its name, including World Car of the Year 2016. The RF (for Retractable Fastback) is a new eye-candy hard top … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Amarok Aventura 3.0 V6 Double Cab Pick-up Road Test
VW’s Amarok Aventura 3.0 V6 Double Cab Pick-up… …assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) Big, bold and you can bet it’ll turn heads, the VW Amarok double cab pick-up is the alternative luxury SUV whether it’s for family, leisure or work use. Built with America squarely in its sight over one of the biggest bonnets you’ll ever see looming in your rear view mirror, the Amarok is … [Read more...]
Latest Volkswagen Beetle – Road Test
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...]
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...]
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