It’s a delicate balance building cars for the masses, for markets around the world and meeting the needs of motorists with a love of motorsports, but Toyota does all three very well, writes Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales)... The new GR86 is a very good example of bringing motorsport engineering into the mainstream, well almost. It has been developed from the earlier GT86, which used a 2.0 … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
INEOS Grenadier range – Brief (Off)Road Test
Kim Henson test drives (off road) three examples from the INEOS Grenadier line-up… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). INEOS has been taking the 4x4 world by storm in catering for the many potential buyers who still prefer the ‘traditional’ approach to off-road vehicles. In describing the firm’s Grenadier, INEOS says, it’s “… a serious off-roader that no-one’s building … [Read more...]
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in GR Sport – Road Test
“Better late than never is probably what you can say about the impressive Toyota RAV4 PHEV”, advises Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). We have always been fans of the Toyota RAV4 but when it launched the petrol-hybrid in 2016 we bemoaned the fact there was no plug-in derivative to improve emissions when other manufacturers were putting them into showrooms. So, Toyota has been slow to roll … [Read more...]
Isuzu ‘New Look’ D-Max V-Cross STEEL Edition Double Cab – Road Test
Kim Henson assesses Isuzu’s D-Max Double Cab (five seater) pick-up, in special STEEL Edition guise – limited to just 300 examples. In the spring of this year I tested the mid-range, comprehensively-equipped Isuzu D-Max DL40 Double Cab during a week of mixed motoring, and was impressed by its build quality, toughness and comfort; built for hard work but easy to drive and to live with in daily use. … [Read more...]
Skoda Kamiq SE 1.0TSI 95 PS – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives Skoda’s latest small ‘crossover’… As the retail motor trade goes through a reset at the moment, squeezed by new technology and rising prices which private buyers are reluctant to embrace or pay, models like the Skoda Kamiq are standing out. It’s a straightforward petrol model for a family, with up to five seats, price-pitched perfectly for many … [Read more...]
Skoda Scala Monte Carlo – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts Skoda’s Scala hatchback through its paces… Skoda is emerging as a serious family and business car contender on UK roads, particularly after its extensive facelift and revisions earlier this year. Previously, many looked at Skoda only after discounting the higher priced alternatives in its sector but it has elbowed and shouldered its way to the front, … [Read more...]
Nissan X-Trail N-Connecta Mild Hybrid
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) road-tests Nissan’s latest X-Trail… The Nissan X-Trail was one of the first crossover models when unveiled in 2000 and now in its fourth generation as it enters its third decade, it is still one of the best family cars available. After globally passing seven million sales, today’s British range includes an unusual seven-seat electrified model, which we … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swift 1.2 Ultra MEV 2WD – Road Test
The fourth generation Suzuki Swift is already a landmark model, just months after its introduction. Robin Roberts reports… While it builds on the success of previous models over the last 40 years and is one of the most capable city cars on sale it is also the last of its kind since Suzuki announced it will step up its battery electric vehicle range and in that will be a model to replace the Swift … [Read more...]
Honda e:Ny1 Elegance – Road Test
Honda has just raised its game in the burgeoning Battery Electric Vehicle battle in Britain, as Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) explains… Earlier this year it rolled out its family focussed e:Ny1 in two trim levels. The Elegance opens the range from just under £40,000 and comes with heated front seats and 15.1-inch infotainment screen while for just over £2,000 more the Advance version … [Read more...]
New Suzuki Swift Hybrid – Road Test (plus Suzuki’s range electrification plans)
Kim Henson test drives Suzuki’s latest, fourth generation version of its Swift compact supermini... (Photographs and words by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Big news from Suzuki is that the firm plans to introduce its first fully electric car later in 2024, with further EV models arriving through to 2030. In order to make way for the new electric models, Suzuki is discontinuing (by early 2025 … [Read more...]
Honda e:Ny1 electric SUV – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson briefly test-drives Honda’s all-electric e:Ny1 Advance… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). The neat and stylish e:Ny1 is a fully electric SUV, with a powerful electric motor (only) which uses a water-cooled battery to ensure consistent power delivery and to help extend battery life. The battery is low-mounted within the vehicle, helping to optimise interior … [Read more...]
Omoda 5 – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson briefly test-drives the new Omoda 5 SUV… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). Please note: The following report has been produced based on briefly driving a non-UK spec car, and in advance of the UK’s press kit being issued; there may be differences in facts, figures and specifications for UK spec models. Founded in 2023, the Chinese firm Omoda is a new kid … [Read more...]
Subaru Crosstrek Touring – Road Test
Subaru has one of the smallest model ranges on sale in Britain, but arguably it is also one of the best, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). After building a reputation on performance in the World Rally Championship, Subaru has since focused on active leisure and lifestyle buyers and now is exclusively a four-wheel-drive producer. Early in 2024, the new Subaru Crosstrek replaced the … [Read more...]
INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster Edition – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson briefly test-drives (on tarmac) the petrol-powered version of the INEOS Grenadier, in Trialmaster Edition form… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). Despite the proliferation of modern 4x4 vehicles, there are many potential users who still prefer the traditional’ non-nonsense approach to off-road machines. Enter the INEOS Grenadier, which is aimed at filling the … [Read more...]
Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Touring – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson takes the wheel of Subaru’s all wheel drive Crosstrek… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). I first test-drove a Subaru (an all wheel drive estate car) in the autumn of 1979, and was impressed by the performance of its horizontally-opposed ‘boxer’ engine, its versatility in everyday use, and its spectacular levels of traction (albeit without a differential … [Read more...]
Audi Q4 e-tron – Road Test
The latest Audi Q4 e-tron is proof that you can get more than you expect, even in today’s cut-throat and complex car market. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) tells all… When originally launched in March 2021 it was the fourth fully electric model in the brand’s e-tron series but it’s undergone continuous improvement and towards the end of 2023 it was boosted with a bigger battery and … [Read more...]
Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson test drive’s Maserati’s all wheel drive supercar coupé… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). Maserati… This famous name evokes thoughts of sleek Italian design, high performance and sophistication. All these aspects are neatly brought together in the current two door, four seater coupé GranTurismo Trofeo, which recently I was able to sample during a brief road … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-5RF 2.0 Homura – Road Test
Sometimes, the simple things in life please the most and that’s certainly the case with the Mazda MX-5, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The classic yet modern sports two-seater is straightforward, front-engine and rear-wheel-drive engineering, but underneath it embodies some of the latest technology to enhance owning, driving and enjoying the open-air experience in safety and, when … [Read more...]
Kia’s impressive line-up sampled…
Kim test-drives Kias – briefly driving five models from the current range, and likes what he found... It is no surprise to me that Kia is doing well in the U.K. market; to start with the firm offers a very wide range of models that currently encompass petrol power, hybrid propulsion and fully electric vehicles. Added to this wide range of buyer choice there is Kia’s market-leading seven year … [Read more...]
Toyota Yaris Premiere Edition – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts Toyota’s latest Yaris through its paces… The Toyota Yaris has been one of the brand’s most successful models with over 10 million made, and it’s not resting on its laurels. This Spring the familiar Yaris hatchback range was increased with the addition of the Premiere and GR models which have brought more electric power and greater refinement to the … [Read more...]
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