• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links
  • A-Z

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Cupra Leon – Road Test

28th March 2022

Hot to trot – the Cupra Leon Hatch 2.0TSi DSG 245 PS... ...Test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency).  Cupra is inviting you to join the Q-car queue with its latest Leon 2.0TSi. Based on the family-friendly SEAT Leon, the tuning arm’s version is a return to the hot-hatch era with a car which pushes out 245 PS, can exceed 150 mph and covers the indicative 0 – 62 mph mark in … [Read more...]

Suzuki Swift Sport and Vitara – Brief Impressions of current models

9th September 2021

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...]

SEAT Leon FR – Road Test

5th August 2020

SEAT’s sporty FR version of the Leon… …Tried and test-driven by Kieron Fennelly. This the fourth edition of model which has been central to the SEAT range since 1999. Differences between this Leon and its immediate successor are largely aesthetic, although the 2020 model does have a 9 cm (3.54 in) longer wheelbase, the kind of development possible with VW’s clever modular chassis, which also … [Read more...]

Vauxhall Classics No. 9 – Astra GTE (Mark 1)

28th May 2020

In this series about important Vauxhall models through the decades, this time we are looking at the company's first official hot-hatch, the Astra Mk1 GTE, which spawned an almost continuous line of fast Astras, ending with the last-generation, 280 hp VXR. VAUXHALL ASTRA GTE MK. 1 The Astra GTE Mk. 1 marked Vauxhall’s first foray in to the relatively new ‘hot hatch’ segment, which had … [Read more...]

Honda Civic Type R GT – Road Test

19th November 2019

Just how good is Honda’s current Civic Type R? Kim Henson test drives the top line GT version, to find out. (All words and photographs by Kim). In the late summer of 2001 Honda introduced their original, first generation performance-orientated Civic Type R, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch event for UK motoring writers, held on the Isle of Man. Unfortunately the weather … [Read more...]

Kia Ceed 1.6 T-GDI – Road Test

12th July 2019

Out and about with Kia’s Ceed 1.6 T-GDI GT hot-shot family sized hatchback… …By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). It’s all change with Kia as it moves up a gear. The Korean carmaker has recorded its best-ever UK half year sales figures with 53,232 new cars delivered to customers by the end of June 2019. That performance bucked the general market trend and surpassed 2018’s … [Read more...]

Latest Honda Civic Type R – Road Test

29th March 2019

2019 Honda Civic Type R… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Honda is best known for its sensible family cars, and then there is the rebel Civic Type R. In my experience, every family has a rebel in its ranks, the wacky wayward one who may be a boisterous brother, an unconforming uncle, a shout-out-loud sister or audacious aunty. The Honda Civic Type R comprises just two … [Read more...]

Latest Ford Fiesta ST – Road Test

8th October 2018

Third generation Ford Fiesta ST… …the benchmark hot hatch tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). …Plus a ‘sneaky peek’ at the competitor new VW Polo GTi… The Ford Fiesta range of three and five door hatchbacks, plus their recently introduced additional Active SUV inspired versions, are still the UK’s best-selling cars, not just supermini sized cars but cars overall. Flagship model … [Read more...]

Latest Suzuki Swift Sport – Road Test

2nd October 2018

FUN ON FOUR WHEELS... The first two generations of Suzuki’s Swift Sport supermini were well-received by the motoring press and buyers… but the latest version is even better! Kim Henson test-drives the new Swift Sport… Suzuki’s original Swift Sport made its U.K. debut in 2006, with second generation models arriving in 2012, and the car has always been a serious contender in the sporting … [Read more...]

The Ultimate Astra – Road Test

23rd July 2018

Vauxhall Astra gains new engines and high Ultimate spec. level… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports. It’s onwards and upwards in the constantly fast changing motoring world. Take the Vauxhall/Opel brand as an example. Now owned by the French PSA Group it has joined their brand line-up of Peugeot, Citroën and DS. Keeping their popular Astra mid-sized family car range future proof, … [Read more...]

Latest Suzuki Swift Sport – First Impressions

21st May 2018

Kim Henson samples the new Swift Sport… Suzuki’s eagerly-awaited new lightweight sports supermini goes on sale on 1st June with big savings for U.K. buyers during the first month… (All words and photographs by Kim Henson). News: Suzuki sales increasing… Before talking about the latest Swift Sport, it is interesting to take a brief look at how Suzuki is doing in the UK. In fact the firm is … [Read more...]

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us
A-ZPlease visit the A-Z page for listings by make, model, year etc. and an advanced search form.

Recent Posts

British Motor Show Report – hot off the press

Jaguars coming to Gaydon to celebrate 100 years

For Your Bookshelf – Inside the Machine – an engineer’s tale of the modern automotive industry

The British Motor Show (starting 18th August 2022) set to become the ‘greenest’ motor show ever?

Simply British Classics coming to Beaulieu in September

MGB at 60 – Celebrations at The British Motor Museum

Suzuki Full Hybrid Vitara – Road Test

Wheels-Alive ‘Hand Wash Only’ book competition… and the winners are…

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Popular Tags

4x4 all-electric Audi Austin Beaulieu BMW Book review British Motor Museum City car Compact SUV Convertible Coupé crossover Electric Electric Cars electric vehicle estate Estate car EV five door estate five door hatchback Ford four door saloon Genesis hatchback Hot hatch hot hatchback Hybrid Hybrid SUV Kia large SUV luxury SUV Mazda MG mid-size SUV Mini Motor Ombudsman MPV National Motor Museum news News round-up Nissan People carrier PHEV plug-in hybrid saloon self-charging hybrid Seven seater SUV sports car Sports saloon sporty hatchback sporty SUV supercar Supermini SUV Suzuki The Motor Ombudsman three door hatchback Tyres VW
All Tags ››

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Please share our website

Copyright © 2022 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive