Dave Moss reports… smart has now confirmed UK availability for its new #1 all-electric compact SUV model. (Dave advised on the imminent arrival of the new all-electric smart model in his Wheels-alive article on 27th April; to read this, please go here: smart-moves-ahead) UK Order books will open in December 2022 for first deliveries in mid-2023, though a run of 1000 special "Launch Edition" … [Read more...]
Kia Stonic – Road Test
The Kia Stonic ‘2’ 1.0T manual compact SUV... ...tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Kia has built much of its reputation in the UK with its family-friendly SUVs so it was probably only a matter of time before introducing its compact SUV. Based on the Rio hatchback, the new Stonic has a longer body and stands slightly higher on the road with added ground … [Read more...]
Smart moves ahead…
smart thinking on the way forward – by Dave Moss smart has come a long way since the early 1980s, when the idea of the compact car which came to carry the name first began to take hold, born of growing concerns over congestion and urban air pollution. Production versions of the model we now recognise as the fortwo eventually emerged – after a very lengthy and troubled gestation – through a … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swift Sport and Vitara – Brief Impressions of current models
Kim Henson briefly test drives the latest, 48 volt self-charging hybrid system versions of the Swift Sport and Vitara… (Words and photographs – all copyright, by Kim Henson). With self-charging hybrid technology, incorporating an upgraded new lithium-ion battery, applied as standard across the Suzuki line-up, the latest models all employ a compact, lightweight belt-driven ‘Integrated Starter … [Read more...]
Peugeot 2008 GT Line – Road Test
The popular PEUGEOT 2008 GT Line Puretech 130 Automatic tried by Robin Roberts (and Motoring Milestones). I have a soft spot for the Peugeot 2008 GT Line, having extensively used one during the 2020 Covid lockdown and experienced the previous series in the family stable. But they were invariably the six-speed manual versions and I jumped at the chance to experience the eight-speed automatic … [Read more...]
Honda is boosting its electric offensive with the introduction of the e:HRV in November.
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) gives his preliminary assessment of Honda's new HR-V hybrid... The new generation HRV uses two electric motors driving the front wheels to assist the regular 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine but it’s not a plug-in hybrid. The 131 PS maximum powertrain develops 253 Nm (187 lb.ft) at 4,500 rpm and is essentially a boosted version of that in the Honda Jazz. … [Read more...]
Honda’s latest HR-V hybrid arrives
Honda HR-V e:HEV breaks cover…… Kim Henson previews the newcomer. Honda’s drive towards electrification of its range continues apace, and in fact is accelerating. During an online press unveiling of the new HR-V e:HEV this week, the firm told us that low/zero emission technology is gaining ground faster in Europe than anywhere else in the world, and that the entire Honda mainstream line-up is … [Read more...]
Latest Vauxhall Crossland – Road Test
NEW VAUXHALL CROSSLAND AND OTHER NEW MODELS MEET THEIR CUSTOMERS FACE TO FACE AFTER THE COVID LOCKDOWN… …explains David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). David also details the differences between the Mokka and Crossland SUV models in the Vauxhall line-up. After the latest Covid lockdown some 4,500 franchised car dealerships, plus many more used car centres, opened their showrooms to the … [Read more...]
Ford Puma ST – Road Test
Ford’s future lies in models such as the Puma ST, says road tester Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Drivers of a certain age will fondly remember Ford’s sporting derivatives of fairly ordinary, nothing-to-shout-about family cars. The world has moved on in the last five decades and families have also changed and want something more than a saloon or hatchback. So it was only a … [Read more...]
Fiat 500X Sport SUV – Road Test
The Fiat 500X Sport hot-shot small SUV… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Fiat know a lot about turning the ordinary into the extra-ordinary, like they have with the hotter version of the very popular 500 series. Their best selling city car for some 60 years, the Fiat 500 range has been boosted by the X Sport small SUV given a beefier 150 bhp 1.3 litre four-cylinder engine in … [Read more...]
Latest Seat Arona – Road Test
SEAT’S ARONA COMPACT SUV COMES UP SHORT IN SOME AREAS… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In the much-troubled year of 2020 new car sales across the globe stalled and even the must-have Crossover/SUV styled vehicles saw their sales flatten. According to JATO Dynamics, the authoritative compiler of new car sales figures, although such vehicles still accounted for around 40% of new … [Read more...]
A look (in amazement, astonishment and wonder) at Lada, then and now… Part Two: The capable four wheel drive Niva
Niva say never... as little known best seller reaches 40 – by Dave Moss This story begins on April 5th 1977, when LHD Russian market sales of what was known there as the VAZ 2121 began. Right hand drive examples were badged "Lada Niva", with a list price just over £5000, at their 1980 British International Motor Show launch, where they were heavily overshadowed by the introduction of BL's Austin … [Read more...]
Lexus UX 250 h – Road Test
The Lexus UX 250h Takumi E-four AWD urban SUV… …tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Robin says, “Lexus has been a mover and shaker in the UK car market in every sector it’s entered and with the latest UX urban SUV its challenge intensifies”. Intended as an introduction SUV to the Lexus range, the UX is their first contemporary compact SUV with the urban driver in … [Read more...]
Volvo emissions reductions, plus XC40 B5 AWD R-Design Pro – Road Test
VOLVO AHEAD OF CO2 REDUCTION TARGET + XC40 SUV TEST DRIVE. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Volvo Cars and its sports offshoot brand of Polestar claims they will reduce fleet emissions beyond their joint CO2 target for 2020 as defined by the regulations set by the European Commission. What that target was Volvo doesn’t say. However to their credit Volvo Cars was the first … [Read more...]
Second generation Nissan Juke – Road Test
Nissan Juke 1.0 DIG-T Tekna+ manual. Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Designed and built in Britain, you can expect a loyal following for the Nissan Juke which is now in its second generation after more than a decade setting the trend for family compact SUVs. Since September 2010 it has been snapped up by over 1.5 million owners around the world who wanted to … [Read more...]
New Honda Jazz Crosstar– Road Test
MORE JAZZ BUT DOES IT HIT THE RIGHT NOTE FOR HONDA? By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). It might be music to some people’s ears that Honda is bringing us more Jazz but their F1 programme looks more like hokey cokey! Announced last week Honda F1 is quitting at the end of next year. They were first involved in 1964 and out in 1968, in again in 1983 and out in 1992, back in again in 2000, … [Read more...]
Ford Puma – Road Test
ON THE PROWL FOR CROSSOVER SALES – FORD’S NEW PUMA. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict… Ford revealed its new five door Crossover – also you could call it a compact SUV, towards the end of last year with UK deliveries scheduled to begin in January. However the COVID-19 lockdown derailed the early delivery to over 7,000 early adopter UK customers awaiting this new addition … [Read more...]
Latest Peugeot 2008 – Road Test
Our first new car road test for a while… ...in which Robin Roberts has spent a longer than usual time living with Peugeot’s new 2008. Lockdown has been a learning experience for everyone, including the policeman who pulled me over for a routine check. Now I have spent over three months behind the wheel, some of the time, in the newest Peugeot 2008 and that’s a long time when we normally have … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta Active ‘crossover’ – Road Test
The Ford Fiesta Active Edition 1.0T Ecoboost tried and tested... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Ford has put a lot of eggs in its family car basket as it seeks to build sales in difficult and highly competitive times. The best-selling Fiesta has an added new name at the top of its range, a crossover series called Active, which is probably more widespread in appeal than … [Read more...]
Skoda Kamiq SUV – Road Test
Skoda Kamiq SE 1.0 95hp compact SUV… …put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Skoda is making sales inroads with its family-friendly SUV range. Their large Kodiaq and mid-sized Karoq have now been joined by the compact Kamiq as this SUV sector wipes away sales wise traditional saloon and hatchback models across Europe and throughout the USA. No volume … [Read more...]
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