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...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
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...]
A New Year, A New Suzuki Vitara S 1.4 BOOSTERJET Compact SUV
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) drives the new range-topping Vitara On sale from January 2016 is the latest addition to the Suzuki Vitara compact five door SUV range. The new Vitara range was launched eight months ago when it replaced the larger, durable, tough, well-liked and long serving 4x4 Grand Vitara range. Now there is an additional model in the softer styled SUV Vitara range - … [Read more...]
MG Sales Record – and Revisiting the MG3 in a short Road Test
Chris Adamson looks at the continuing growth of MG, and drives the 2016 MG3 New MG registrations in the UK topped the 3,000 mark last year (2015) setting a record figure for the famous British brand since its acquisition a decade ago by Chinese car giant SAIC Motor. This was almost 1,000 more than in 2014 and surpassed the 2013 and 2014 sales figures combined. Driving the sales success was … [Read more...]
Book Review: No Speed Limit – Sixty Years of Road Testing Classic Cars
A ‘Must read’ title for all motoring enthusiasts, reviewed by Kim Henson Author: Stuart Bladon Published by: The History Press (www.thehistorypress.co.uk) 272 pages (paperback) UK Price: £14.99 ISBN: 978-0-7509-6491-3 I was very much looking forward to reading this book, not least because Stuart Bladon is one of the most accomplished, knowledgeable and … [Read more...]
New Year Road Test: The latest Honda Jazz – Music to new ears in 2016?
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict… The new third generation Honda Jazz went on sale in September with a new 1.3-litre petrol engine, new larger platform, more interior space and smarter looks. The re-styling now might improve the appeal to a younger group of family customers rather than the older generation who were its main users. Prices will range from £13,495 to … [Read more...]
New Peugeot 308 GTi from Peugeot Sport – Road Test
Our own 'Santa Claus', alias David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) delivers… ‘A CHRISTMAS CRACKER’ ROAD TEST– THE NEW 308 GTI BY PEUGEOT SPORT In the PSA, Peugeot, Citroen and DS, group of brands Peugeot’s aim is to move their brand up-market and part of this process is to further inject some sporting pedigree into a family best known in the main for their fuel efficient, family and business … [Read more...]
Mazda’s latest MX-5 Road Test
LIFTING THE LID ON A SECOND OPINION ‘Car of the Year’ in Japan – driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Actually my colleague covered the UK press launch for the new fourth generation Mazda MX-5 a few months ago at its media launch, but these one day events only allow for a brief period of time in the car. So what is the new MX-5 really like to live with? My week long test driving … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V SUV Road Test
HONDA RETURNS TO THE COMPACT SUV MARKET WITH THEIR LATEST HR-V RANGE by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Honda first put a toe in the compact SUV sector in 1999 with the original HR-V in both three and five door body styles. Recently they have re-entered this fast growing sector with the latest HR-V available with petrol and diesel engines options but only as a five door and only with … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi ASX Road Test
LATEST MITSUBISHI ASX COMPACT CROSSOVER ADDS TO SALES GROWTH By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Since 1983 Mitsubishi have been well known for their off-roaders, starting with the tough and durable Shogun three and five door range, winner of the Dakar rally for numerous years. But times change as customer’s buying requirements alter due to the higher rates of tax imposed to force down … [Read more...]
Renault Kadjar SUV Road Test
THE RENAULT KADJAR – ANOTHER IMPORTANT NEW MID-SIZED SUV CROSSOVER by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Before you scour the words in this new model test drive for what the word Kadjar means, it doesn’t seem to mean anything – it’s just a name hatched up by those creative marketing types. You know - the people who came up with oddball names for other Renault new cars such as Twizy, Zoe, … [Read more...]
Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC Sport Road Test
Civic Pride… Kim Henson assesses Honda’s 1.8 i-VTEC Sport version. Dynamically styled, providing eager performance and with an excellent, proven reputation for reliability, it is no surprise that Honda Civics are liked and respected by the buying public. The current Civic range was updated in the spring of 2015, notably featuring revised frontal styling (incorporating a new front bumper … [Read more...]
Peugeot 308 SW Allure THP 110
Big-hearted, but powered by a compact 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol engine, Peugeot’s stylish 308 estate is assessed by Kim Henson… About a year ago as I write (4th March 2015) Peugeot’s 308 was crowned ‘European Car of the Year’ at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. It won the award by a handsome margin too, scoring 307 points, compared with the runner-up BMW i3’s 223 points, and the … [Read more...]