Kim Henson briefly samples the recently upgraded Vitara. (All words and photographs © Kim Henson and Wheels-Alive). For many years Suzuki’s Vitara SUV has been an important mainstay within the company’s range, the model earning a justifiable reputation for reliability, practicality and cost-effective motoring. Our own Wheels-Alive road tests have confirmed that the model is a good bet in all … [Read more...]
Mazda CX-80 FD – First Impressions/First Drive
Mazda has launched a new flagship CX-80 to do battle in the luxury seven-seater SUV sector in Britain, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)… After a tough year for car sales in 2024, Mazda did better than most and wants to attract new buyers to the brand with the CX-80, which is slightly bigger than the five-seat CX-60 SUV it introduced in Spring 2022. They share the same platform which … [Read more...]
KIA EV3 – First Impressions
Kia has something to celebrate this Christmas as it continues to carve out a big slice of Britain’s BEV sales, a decade after launching into it with the Soul EV. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports… At the time 10 years ago, Frozen was trending at the box-office, Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ rang out across radios worldwide, and social media was awash with ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ … [Read more...]
Omoda 5 SUV petrol – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) shares his thoughts on his first drive with the petrol-powered OMODA 5. No-one can doubt the Chinese brand OMODA is very serious about coming to Britain and taking on the legend brands. We were impressed with a first drive of the pure electric OMODA E5 last May and now we’ve had a chance to get some initial impressions of the OMODA 5 petrol version of … [Read more...]
Kia Sorento 2.2 CRD (2025 model) – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) samples the latest Sorento (2.2 diesel version). Twenty-one years after Kia's original Sorento launch the latest variant of the seven seat SUV has been taking design cues from its new all-electric stablemate, the EV9. Unlike the BEV, the Sorento is available in three grades in the UK: ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’ with the choice of 190 bhp 2.2-litre common-rail diesel, … [Read more...]
Latest model (2025) Kia Picanto – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) gives his first impressions of the latest version of Kia's city car, the Picanto... Kia is bucking the trend and staying faithful to the city car sector with the arrival of the latest Picanto... While other manufacturers put the brake on city cars to concentrate on mid-sized models and cross-overs, claiming smaller models are unprofitable, the Kia Picanto is … [Read more...]
Peugeot 508SW – First Impressions
Chris Adamson reports after test driving this hybrid conventional estate car… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Chris Adamson). Large bulk carrying sports utilities are gradually coming to dominate the UK new car market; most makers have quietly begun to abandon traditional saloons, hatchbacks and estate cars in favour of the versatility and appeal of the SUV. Consequently, a … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Astra GSe – First Impressions
Chris Adamson test drives this newcomer in the Astra line-up from Vauxhall… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Chris Adamson). One of the longest established names to be found in British showrooms is the Vauxhall Astra, a venerable and big-selling model that has been at the heart of the Vauxhall product line for eight generations since 1980 with many of them being built at Ellesmere … [Read more...]
New Nissan X-Trail and smart #1 – First Impressions
LITTLE AND LARGE NEW MODELS PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES AT A RECENT INDUSTRY SMMT TEST DAY – By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). More and more new names are appearing in the UK new car market as it evolves into the electric age, but at the recent Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders annual southern test day for writers near Basingstoke it was two familiar names which caught my … [Read more...]
Test-driving recent new models at the SMMT Test Day South 2023
Kim Henson reports from this annual event that he rates as 'invaluable'… For many years the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders or SMMT (the U.K.’s industry body representing the automotive sector) has provided annual opportunities for motoring writers to attend regional events, in the north and south of England respectively, primarily to assess a wide variety of models showcased by the … [Read more...]
Latest Genesis models (including electric-powered versions) – First Impressions
Kim Henson samples new cars from the Genesis stable… including their latest ‘electrified’ models. (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). When I test drove a number of Genesis ‘luxury’ vehicles late last year and in the spring of 2022, the firm was new to the U.K. and at that stage all their cars were petrol or diesel powered, as the Genesis name and brand were introduced to … [Read more...]
SMMT Test Day South provides brief road test/first impressions opportunities a-plenty
Kim Henson reports on this year's ‘Test Day South’, held in Hampshire on 29th September… The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recently held its annual regional Test Days (in the north and south of the country); always much-liked, useful events on the calendar of many motoring scribes… including me. (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). An annual event … [Read more...]
SMMT Test Day South 2021 – First impressions of new models from across the industry
Kim Henson was in attendance and enjoyed the day… In normal times, on several occasions each year the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) brings together representatives of the car makers and motoring writers, giving us scribes the chance to drive a variety of vehicles in similar road and weather conditions. In addition it gives us a valuable opportunity to talk to our colleagues in … [Read more...]
Ineos Grenadier – First Impressions
Kieron Fennelly gives his views on this classically-inspired tough-in-nature new four wheel drive machine… It was Ferry Porsche who, sixty years ago, famously said “I couldn’t find a sports car I liked, so I decided to build my own.” The man behind the Ineos Grenadier, Sir James Ratcliffe evidently had a similar idea. But unlike Porsche who saw his mission as developing his father’s consultancy … [Read more...]
Testing Times – Brief Impressions from the SMMT Test Day South 2015
BRIEF FIRST IMPRESSIONS – CARS DRIVEN AT THE SOCIETY OF MOTOR MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS’ 2015 TEST DAY SOUTH Kim Henson was there… The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) hosts an annual driving day specifically for motoring writers from the southern part of Britain. Without exception I find this a very useful occasion for driving a variety of vehicles from different … [Read more...]