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...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
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...]
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...]