Robin Roberts joins the country set test driving the Subaru Outback 2.5ES Touring. Here Robin (and Miles Better News Agency) reports from autumnal leafy, mud-covered lanes… Subaru is a bit of a lone-wolf in the car world. It’s part of Fuji Heavy Industries and founded 70 years ago. The brand celebrates its golden anniversary in Britain next year after it launched with a compact and capable … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swace (updated) – First Impressions
Kim Henson briefly samples the latest, updated version of Suzuki’s British-built Swace estate car… When I road-tested the first generation mid-size Suzuki Swace, in 2021, I rated it highly for its interior space, comfort, practicality and cost-effective economy of running (achieving nearly 60 miles per gallon in almost 500 miles of ‘real life’ motoring). I also enjoyed it dynamically; the Swace … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake PHEV – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson samples this striking-looking ‘estate’ from VW… (Words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). The European debut of the Arteon was in 2017, with a facelift applied in 2020. Five door hatchback and five door Shooting Brake estate models are offered today, both of which have received widespread praise for their innovative and adventurous styling, especially the Shooting Brake … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swace self-charging hybrid estate – Road Test
The Suzuki Swace Estate, SZ5 1.8 petrol-electric hybrid auto, tried by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Collaboration to cut costs but not quality is very evident in the Suzuki Swace manufactured by Toyota in the UK. There’s a lot more component sharing going on throughout the global motor industry than many realise but it’s not been a feature of UK in recent years, with just a … [Read more...]
Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV – Road Test
The Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV R-Design plug-in hybrid electric estate… …put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Style and safety go hand in hand with Volvo, but today you can add success to that shopping list as so many Brits in 2021 bought into the brand’s ownership experience. In a UK new car market which saw just 1% expansion, the Volvo line up increased 4% … [Read more...]
MG5 EV estate – Road Test
Chris Adamson test drives MG’s all-electric estate car... (All photos, apart from the two individually credited to MG Motor, are by, and copyright, Chris Adamson). Sales of new combustion engine cars are set to be banned in the UK in not so many years meaning that all motor manufacturers are now gearing up for electric only sales – but have you noticed that almost every new electric model … [Read more...]
Jaguar XF Sportbrake – Road Test
Jaguar's XF Sportbrake R-Dynamic SE P250 tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Motoring Milestones). (Photographs from Jaguar and from Robin Roberts). Style and sophistication are embodied in the practical and purposeful Jaguar XF Sportbrake and a serious alternative to SUVs. Introduced in 2017 to widen the appeal of the medium sized XF saloon, it sits alongside the now expanding range … [Read more...]
Latest BMW 5 Series – First Impressions
48 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG – THE BMW 5 SERIES – NOW REFRESHED By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The longest serving model range in the BMW line-up is the 5 Series, launched seven generations ago in 1972. Since the last new models were launched in 2017 over 66,000 of them have been sold in the UK and 600,000 of them globally, now the latest updated 5 Series cars have just gone on … [Read more...]
Skoda Octavia 1.5 petrol estate – Road Test
DRIVEN SKODA’S NEW OCTAVIA ESTATE BUT THIS TIME WITH PETROL POWER... …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Skoda Octavia range of Hatch and Estate models are well and truly in circulation after the initial COVID-19 lockdown delays, and are making their way to eager UK customers with more versions just announced. The Octavia has been Skoda’s best selling global model range … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Octavia Estate – Road Test
Skoda Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 150TDI – What’s not to like? By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). We live in a 24/7 world, expect everything to work at any time and not let us down. One guide to choosing a good car is looking at what police, ambulance and taxi companies use because they are on the road 24/7 and one of the most prolific of vehicles you’ll see is the … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla Trek – Road Test
RIGHT CAR RIGHT TIME – THE NEW TOYOTA COROLLA TREK MIGHT BE… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). With staycations forced upon many of us due to the pandemic lockdown on overseas travel, activity holidays in the UK are at record levels whether it involves hotels, B&Bs, caravanning, camping, glamping, boating or hiking. UK sales and rentals of motorhomes, caravans, campers, tents and … [Read more...]
BMW 340i Touring – Road Test
SPACE AND PACE – THE NEW BMW 340i TOURING. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (All interior photographs of the right-hand drive test car by David). BMW has a vast array of model ranges, Saloons, Touring estates, Active and Gran Tourer MPVs, Coupés and Gran Coupés, Convertibles, Sports Cars, SUV X models and an increasing number of current and future ‘I’ all-electric models. Backing up … [Read more...]
Latest Toyota Corolla – Road Test
The British Built Toyota Corolla Design 2.0 Hybrid Touring… …Tried and Tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The world’s best selling car and most successful British-built model, the Toyota Corolla, goes from strength to strength. The Corolla name returned to the Toyota lineup for the 12th generation and replaced the Auris. Toyota has been building cars in Britain since 1992 … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Superb estate car – Road Test
REVISED SKODA SUPERB ESTATE DOES WHAT IT SAYS IN THE TITLE… …proclaims David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Skoda Superb large Estate and its five door Hatchback stablemate models have over the years not only pulled in huge global sales but have received numerous awards and accolades. These have been not just for its D-segment class-leading interior passenger and load space, but for its … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla 1.8 Touring Sport – First Impressions.
Chris Adamson test drives the latest Toyota Corolla 1.8 Touring Sport – and contrasts it with his own first Toyota.... (Photos: Toyota GB). Back in the mid-1980s the second car I ever bought was a nearly new Toyota Corolla SR liftback that I drove all round the UK and even took on holiday to France. It served me well for many years, never gave me any problems and I have to say there was a … [Read more...]
Kia Proceed 1.6 GDI GT estate – Road Test
Kia ProCeed 1.6T GDI GT family sports estate… …By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). On the back of their best-ever half-year sales performance, Kia has launched a series of updates across its range for 2020. As it prepares to roll out some new models and expand its electric model choices, the Korean car-maker cannot seem to let a wheel slip in the showrooms and takes every … [Read more...]
Latest Volkswagen Passat – First Impressions
REVISED VW PASSAT ESTATE PUT THROUGH ITS PACES... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Volkswagen has treasure in its 46-year old Passat name, now brightly polished into a gleaming facelifted eighth edition. From its launch in 1973 it is now the VW with the longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year and it even predates the Golf name by a … [Read more...]
Peugeot 508 SW estate car – Road Test
NEW PEUGEOT 508 SW ESTATE – LOADS OF SPACE AND STYLE. Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new Peugeot 508 SW five door five seater estates have recently come to market with prices starting from £26,845, but the wide range of engine choices and specification levels plus options can push the price up to almost £41,000. The new estate compliments the award winning … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla 2.0 Hybrid Touring Sports – Road Test
NEW BRITISH BUILT TOYOTA COROLLA 2.0 HYBRID TOURING SPORTS. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In March this year the Corolla name returned to the Toyota line-up of passenger cars 14 years after the Auris name replaced it. Like the Auris range it replaced, the 12th generation five-door Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports estate petrol and hybrid models are being built in the UK at … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer – Road Test
LONG LIFE VAUXHALL INSIGNIA SPORTS TOURER STILL MEASURES UP… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Launched in 2008 and facelifted in 2013, followed by continuous upgrades to specification. the Vauxhall Insignia range of five door D-segment Grand Sport hatchbacks, Sports Tourer and Country Tourer estates is a story of evolution and the latest models are still as fresh and competitive … [Read more...]