Glen Smale combines the lure of the open road, the enduring magic of Le Mans and a very busy week. From Wales to Le Mans by California… If you have never yet been to see the Le Mans 24-Hour race, but have wondered what it's all about, Glen Smale tells his story about having fun attending and yet also working hard at the 2016 event; the words and photos are all his... Once a year, around … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
Peugeot 3008 Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the Peugeot 3008 Crossover. ‘An Oldie but Still a Goodie’ (that’s the car, not necessarily David…). The original Peugeot 3008 Crossover was launched in 2009 and updated at the end of 2013. Today in new car terms it is a bit of an ‘oldie’ especially as it sells in the highly competitive SUV/Crossover sector which is the fastest growing area of the … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Golf Estate Alltrack Road Test
The VW Golf Estate Alltrack – Takes the Rough with the Smooth… Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Despite Volkswagen’s emissions indiscretions they are still the top selling brand in Europe although their global profits have fallen by 20%. Their range of Golf models is the Europe’s best selling model range overall. An addition to the Golf Estate range is the Alltrack which adds … [Read more...]
Citroën Berlingo Van Road Test
A Versatile Load Carrier from Citroën… Words and Photos by Chris Adamson. Napoleon Bonaparte reputedly described the English as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’ and in today’s modern economy it’s small businesses that keep the country working and, in turn, they need an efficient and practical form of transport to keep their company operating. One vehicle that is helping to do this, ironically, is … [Read more...]
Ford S-Max All Wheel Drive Seven Seater Road Test
Ford’s S-Max Seven Seater MPV – Now With AWD Reviewed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Yes summer is officially here but remember the horrors of last winter’s weather; gales, floods, ice and for some long months, deep snow. How many of us were just wishing to have 4x4 traction for our family or work cars? Most of the major volume sales manufacturers are saying that up to 20% of … [Read more...]
Road Test – Volkswagen Touran Seven Seater MPV
All Aboard the latest VW Touran People-Carrier By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) We know MPVs or ‘people-carriers’ have lost out in terms of sales throughout Europe to the status-enhancing and fashionable SUV/Crossover type models. The tide could turn because customers who prefer practicality as opposed to following fashion now have available plenty of alternative new and revised MPV … [Read more...]
Kia’s First Quarter Century in the UK – and a Mini Road Test of the Picanto (in highest spec. form).
Kia’s 25 years in the UK and Growing Fast – and a review of their Picanto City Car. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). During 25 years of trading in the UK, Kia has sold over 750,000 cars. Almost half of those sales have been achieved in the last five years and the target is to reach the one million mark by 2020. Kia was established in South Korea in 1944 building bicycles, then … [Read more...]
Infiniti Q30 Road Test
Infiniti Q30 Sport City Black 2.2 Auto 4WD Offers Ownership Exclusivity... Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). If you want a premium brand mid-sized family or business-use car and don’t fancy the now high volume selling and commonplace Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class, Volvo V40 or Lexus CT, then the new Infiniti Q30 hatchbacks and future QX30 mid-sized SUVs might fit the … [Read more...]
Audi’s New A4 Road Test
Keith Ward test drive’s Audi’s latest A4... In 2015 Audi achieved best ever worldwide sales of 1,803,250 cars, a 3.6 per cent improvement over 2014. Sales in the UK at 166,709 increased by five per cent, and are currently (at May 2016) running a further five per cent up. Having already expanded spectacularly its range of models over the last decade, the German four-ring brand is embarked upon … [Read more...]
New Kia Sportage Road Test
Kia’s All New Sportage Mid-Sized SUV First Drive. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). SUVs, Crossovers, dual purpose and 4x4s in all sizes are definitely high in demand, being the best-selling new car class in Europe and in the UK they make up the third largest sales sector with 355,118 registrations last year – a rise of 21% over 2014. Demand is up again this year following the … [Read more...]
New Lexus RC 2+2 Coupé Road Test
Stunning Styling AND Rarity Value – says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Originally designed as an RC concept coupé, such was the public and media reaction to it at various international motor shows that Lexus has now built it. The first UK deliveries started in January this year, but hurry if you want one – there is a sales plan of only 825 units this year. The RC 2+2 coupe rear … [Read more...]
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Road Test
Fourth Generation Toyota RAV4 SUV Range includes Hybrid Versions By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) For the first time in its history Toyota’s mid-sized, five door RAV4 SUV range includes a petrol/electric hybrid power source option in its line up of two and four wheel drive, petrol and diesel models. The 2016 range now includes a new 2.0 litre D-4D 141 bhp turbodiesel engine for 2WD … [Read more...]
Suzuki Vitara new S Road Test
Keith Ward road-tests Suzuki's flagship Vitara LATEST to emerge from an ongoing radical revision of high-flying Suzuki’s whole model range is a tech-laden, flagship “S” version of their impressive high-stance Vitara chunky SUV. At £20,899 it zooms straight in as top dog, £900 above the Vitara SZ5, next down the trim scale, to complete the handsome new Vitara range launched last year. Both … [Read more...]
Lexus RX450h Road Test
New Lexus RX450h Luxury Crossover Wafts into the UK By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The fourth generation luxury crossover Lexus 450 range has arrived in the UK – in fact when deliveries started in January. Prices start at £39,995 for the RX 200t S 2.0 litre petrol with two wheel drive, rising to £57,995 for the 3.5 litre V6 petrol hybrid with four wheel drive – and the top Premier … [Read more...]
New DS3 Hatch and Cabrio Road Test
New DS3 Hatch and Cabrio Introduced to the Design-led Brand By David miles (Miles Better News Agency) The DS Automobiles premium brand was separated from Citroën in 2014 to standalone with its own models and own dealership network. Since the DS3 Hatch and Cabrio ‘supermini sector’ sized models were introduced the range has expanded with the DS 4, DS 4 Crossback and DS 5. In addition there are DS … [Read more...]
Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 Diesel Twin-clutch Automatic Road Test
Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 Diesel Twin-clutch Auto. Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). My headline uses a short version of what this new model is called in full – the Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 DDiS ALLGRIP SZ5 TCSS. Bear with me whilst I explain. DDiS refers to the 1.6-litre 120 hp direct injection turbodiesel engine, ALLGRIP refers to its variable modes 4WD system, SZ5 is its one and only … [Read more...]
New Hyundai Tucson Road Test
The New Hyundai Tucson SUV is Already Driving Up Hyundai’s UK Sales Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The demand by customers for SUVs and Crossovers small, medium and large has made these types of vehicles the best selling sector in the European new car market and the third best selling sector in the UK, where sales increased by 21% last year. Such is the demand, even … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V Road Test
Keith Ward assesses Honda's HR-V... IF you are recalling an HR-V badge from Honda’s past, it was on a model launched just before the millennium, which struggled for success and finally nose-dived in 2006. Fast forward to last summer and into UK showrooms bearing the same badge dashed this purposeful-looking all-new model for which better things are hoped. It’s priced and sized between the … [Read more...]
New BMW X1 Road Test
New BMW X1 xDrive 2.0d Sport Road Test By Robin Roberts (via Miles Better News Agency) X-marks the spot for BMW UK sales successes, with a 12.5% increase in the UK last year to a new record of 167,391 new car registrations. This allowed the German brand to take over the UK’s number one sales position for premium brand cars from Audi. Part of BMW’s growth has come from their SUV series … [Read more...]
SEAT Alhambra MPV Road Test
A SEAT With Seven Seats – The Alhambra MPV By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) What’s in a name? SEAT – pronounced ‘say-at’ was founded in 1950 and is now the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen Group. SEAT’s largest model is their seven-seat Alhambra MPV, which takes its name from a medieval palace site in Granada. Moving to more modern times 2016 is the 20th anniversary year of Alhambra … [Read more...]