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...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
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...]
Volvo V60 Cross Country Road Test
Driven by Keith Ward... VOLVO first used Cross Country as a variant to depict enhanced all-road – if short of true off-road – capability and a rugged image in the late 1990’s on the old V70 estate. Think business exec in his weekend jeans and a checked shirt. These days the CC badge adorns versions of the S60 saloon and V40 hatchback and, most recently, the V60 “sports wagon” as the … [Read more...]
Porsche Macan S Road Test
Road Test: Porsche Macan S By Kieron Fennelly. Porsche’s smaller SUV has become its best seller... The rampant success of the Cayenne – Porsche built 650,000 during its first decade of production - made the eventual addition of a ‘junior’ Cayenne to the range a case of when rather than if. Back in 2001, observers were amazed when the maker of the celebrated 911, for many the definitive sports … [Read more...]
Kia Cee’d Road Test
A Healthy Sprinkling of Improvements Should Grow the Kia Cee’d’s Popularity By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) A sprinkling of updates inside, outside and under the bonnet of the Kia Cee’d family sized five door Hatchbacks, Sportwagon estates and Pro-Cee’d three door hatchbacks has given the models a mid-life refresh. Also introduced are more fuel efficient engines and a GT-Line sportier … [Read more...]
Vauxhall’s All New British-built Astra – 2016 European Car of The Year – Road Test
Vauxhall’s Sleek Newcomer Astra Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) When the British built Astra five door Hatchback was introduced to the media last September it soon became obvious to us that it was probably the most important car for most people to be launched in 2015. And that became reality because it has just been voted 2016 European Car of the Year and Family Hatchback … [Read more...]
Skoda Citigo Road Test
The Skoda Citigo – It’s Here in Black and White By David Miles (Miles Better New Agency) In the UK’s new car market, ‘A’ segment small City/Mini cars saw a big sales drop of 16.6% in 2015. It seems customers were lured away to larger ‘B’ segment supermini models, being marketed by cheap finance offers on low mileage used or pre-registered dealer stock cars. There was also a move by style and … [Read more...]
New BMW 7 Series Limousine Road Test
The New BMW 7 Series for High-Tech Executive Travel Writes David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Unless you are a high ranking government minister, royalty, a high flying business executive or a chauffeur, chances are you will not travel in, let alone drive, the new sixth generation BMW 7 Series limousine. Showing the new flagship’s high-end executive car status, these new models were very much … [Read more...]
VW Passat Estate Business – Wheels-Alive Road Test
Keith Ward is your guide... This is the eighth generation of the Passat, which since its launch in 1973 has racked up over 22 million sales worldwide and going on for half a million in the UK, where the estate version consistently outsells the saloon, £1,530 cheaper. Its star is not fading – in its latest form the Passat was named Europe’s Car of the Year 2015. And a telling tribute to its … [Read more...]
New MINI Clubman estate Wheels-Alive Road Test
Bigger is Better for the New MINI Clubman models Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The MINI is now in its third generation under the ownership of the BMW Group. The three door Hatch arrived first in 2015 followed by the five door Hatch and now the new larger Clubman models. The Convertible Hatch will arrive in March this year, the Clubman ALL4 in April and the new Countryman and … [Read more...]
2016 Ford Focus Zetec S Red Edition (182 hp) Wheels-Alive Road Test
First Drive of Ford’s 2016 Focus Zetec S Red Edition David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his assessment... Ford, through their latest advertising campaign, is inviting us to ‘unlearn’ the UK’s bestselling brand for 39 consecutive years – strange but true. Having returned to profit in 2015 Ford plans to increase the number of sporty cars and SUV models in its line-up and eliminate … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb range-topping Laurin and Klement 4×4 estate Road Test
Skoda’s Latest Superb Estate – Mostly Lives up to its Name... says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Note from Kim: Recently on Wheels-Alive, Keith Ward assessed the 150 horsepower 2.0 TDi SE L Executive manual transmission front wheel drive variant; by contrast David gives his verdict on the range-topping Laurin and Klement specification 190 horsepower 2.0 TDi four wheel drive version … [Read more...]
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or Turbodiesel?
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) road tests the turbodiesel version... Sales of SUVs in the UK showed a 21.5% increase in 2015 and sales of PHEV plug-in ultra low emission vehicles increased by 94%. In January this year PHEV sales were up by another 33%. Combine SUV design and PHEV technology together and you get the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, but there is also the latest Outlander … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb estate car Road Test
Keith Ward assesses the Skoda Superb Estate It is worth noting that Skoda has recently (January 2016) manufactured its 18 millionth vehicle since the Czech company started building cars in 1905 – two statistics which may surprise many people. And the milestone steed was a Superb Estate, the model trumpeted as “The most spacious Skoda yet”. You have to believe it. Lower the rear seats and its … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi Motors new L200 Pick-up – still a legend in its own lifetime
Road test by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) A legend in its own lifetime is Mitsubishi’s L200 pick-up sold globally over six decades accounting for over four million sales. Now the fifth generation versions are with us. The first generation was launched in 1978 as a single cab body style with standard and long wheelbase body options, with two wheel drive, and 4x4 traction for SWB … [Read more...]
SEAT Leon X-PERIENCE with snow appeal – Road Test
by Keith Ward (Kim says 'Welcome aboard' to Keith – a highly experienced and very well respected motoring writer – as a new contributor to 'Wheels-Alive'). The name may be a trifle nudge-nudge over-clever, but you can see the thinking behind it. This SEAT Leon X-PERIENCE is actually based on the Spanish maker’s popular ST estate car but distinguished by electronically-controlled permanent … [Read more...]
BMW at the top of the tree – and our Road Test on their latest 320D M Sport model
BMW moves back to the top of the premium brand UK new car sales league. Report by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) With the UK’s new car market reaching an all-time sales record in 2015 with 2,633,503 registrations, a rise of 6.3% over 2014, BMW returned to the top spot for premium brands. They had a 12.4% increase registering 167,391 new cars. Audi, the previous leader, also saw an … [Read more...]