The latest Kia Ceed 1.0T-GDi 6-speed manual hatchback on test... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Ceed has over many years sown success for the Kia brand in Britain. The new Ceed range launched at the end of 2021 is the third generation five-door hatchback to be built in Slovakia, the first was in 2007. As before it gives nothing away to rivals and beats most with its … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Insignia SRi – Road Test
Vauxhall’s latest Insignia SRi VX-Line Nav 1.5D Manual on the road with Robin Roberts (and Milestones Motoring). The Vauxhall Insignia is a lesson to its rivals. While many challengers have or are about to move out of saloons/ hatchbacks and into crossover models in the modestly priced family sector, or executive brands keep pushing up prices but offering less in return, the Vauxhall hatchback … [Read more...]
VW Golf Life 1.0 TSi – Road Test
ANYONE FOR GOLF? ROBIN ROBERTS (AND MILES BETTER NEWS AGENCY) PLAYS A ROUND WITH THIS VW MODEL… The VW Golf has often been held up as the benchmark for family hatchbacks and is frequently the best selling car in Europe, although not always in Britain. After the Beetle which rebuilt VW’s brand and fortune following WW2, the Golf was really the model that put the German company on the road to … [Read more...]
Latest Citroën C3 – Road Test
Citroën C3 PureTech 110 tried and tested… …by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). When a car-maker refreshes and updates one of its best selling models their rivals and customers had better take notice and the new Citroën C3 deserves that attention. Not to be confused with the Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV styled models, the C3 supermini sized hatchback underwent an extensive … [Read more...]
Ford Focus mild hybrid – Road Test
RAISE YOUR FORD FOCUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH AN ACTIVE X HYBRID MODEL… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Photographs by David, plus some from Ford). Only a relatively few years ago the decision we had to make about the engine we wanted for a new car was petrol or diesel. Nowadays it’s far more complicated because other options are now making their sales presence felt as we head … [Read more...]
VW up! First Brief Impressions from a Wheels-Alive reader
Gerald Morgan gives his initial verdict on Volkswagen’s latest 2020 up! All variants are five door hatchbacks, powered by a 65 PS 1.0 litre petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a five speed manual gearbox. (The car featured, a ‘Black Edition' version, was equipped with VW’s Start/Stop system incorporating battery regeneration). (All word and photographs by Gerald; the opinions expressed … [Read more...]
Honda’s latest Jazz EX Hybrid – Road Test
HONDA’S NEW JAZZ IS SENSIBLE, PRACTICAL BUT NOT A COMPULSIVE BUY… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The previous three generations of the Honda Jazz supermini five door hatchback have in design been all about packaging of its occupants. These features include best in class space, higher seating positions, good visibility, easy access, wide opening doors, good levels of safety and … [Read more...]
New SEAT Leon FR – Road Test
ALL-NEW SEAT LEON HATCHBACK TRIED FOR SIZE… …and assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new range of Leon five door hatchbacks and estates are now with us with additional versions added in the last few weeks. For those of you not familiar with the Spanish brand, or have forgotten, the following words might help. SEAT, with its sports sub brand Cupra, is a member of the … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Octavia – Road Test
LONGEVITY IS IN ITS GENES – THE NEW SKODA OCTAVIA. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new fourth generation Skoda Octavia Hatch and Estate models are here following the Covid-19 lockdown and UK customers can now take delivery of their new models or now more likely to wait until the new registration plate change month of September. The Octavia has been a huge global sales success … [Read more...]
Latest Volkswagen Golf – Road Test
THE EIGHTH GENERATION NEW VW GOLF, EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION? By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new eighth generation Volkswagen Golf arrived in the UK at the end of March but after the lockdown period deliveries are now underway so this is our first opportunity to test drive the latest Golf 8. The new Golf 8 model as it’s known is initially available in five door hatchback form … [Read more...]
SEAT Leon FR – Road Test
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...]
Kia XCeed – Road Test
WHEN IS A FAMILY HATCHBACK SOMETHING ELSE? – THE KIA XCEED EXPLAINED. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). So what is the new Kia XCeed? Well it’s a Crossover styled member of the Ceed C-segment family that is also made up of the Ceed five door hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon estate and the ProCeed Shooting brake models. The Ceed family is Kia’s third best selling model range after the Kia … [Read more...]
All-new Peugeot 208 – Road Test
THE PEUGEOT 208, EUROPEAN CAR OF THE YEAR 2020, TRIED AND TESTED... ...By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Keeping calm and carrying on – for now, for this new model road test I slipped behind the wheel of the all-new Peugeot 208 ‘supermini sized’ 5-door family hatchback recently announced as the European Car of the Year 2020. With the World in turmoil on health grounds and the … [Read more...]
Latest Vauxhall Corsa – Road Test
A FIRST LOOK AT THE ALL NEW VAUXHALL CORSA 5-DOOR HATCHBACK... By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The fifth generation Vauxhall Corsa range is now in UK showrooms and ready for the ‘20’ new registration plate sales month of March. This time around the Corsa is only available as a five-door hatchback and sells in the ‘supermini’ sector of the new car market. The Corsa has been … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb 1.5 (petrol) – Road Test
The Skoda Superb SE L 1.5 petrol 5-door Hatch… …assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). When a car-maker gives a model a name it risks being memorable, forgettable, laughable, unpronounceable or ultimately it means little, but in the case of the Skoda Superb, it actually means a lot. It’s the 125th anniversary of Skoda in 2020 and for 85 years it has been making models with … [Read more...]
Latest BMW 1 Series – Road Test
ALL NEW BMW 1 SERIES 5-DOOR HATCHBACK TRIED AND TESTED… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The third generation BMW 1 Series range of 5-door hatchbacks is now with us and in a change from previous versions this generation is predominately made up of front wheel drive versions with transversely mounted engines. This has resulted in a shorter bonnet, the cabin area moved forward within … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swift SZ5 ALLGRIP – Road Test
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) test drives Suzuki’s all wheel drive Swift… Winter weather is a great leveller for motorists. Heavy rain, snow showers, ice and mud can combine to make any possible winter journey an impossibility unless you have a big and expensive 4x4, or you cannily drive a Suzuki Swift SZ5 ALLGRIP. This is the hatch that’s a match for many winter road washouts or … [Read more...]
Ford Mondeo Vignale – Road Test
Ford Mondeo Vignale 5-door executive hatchback 2.0 EcoBlue diesel… …tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Size can make a world of a difference to buyers and that’s where the Ford Mondeo range packs them in. It has consistently won awards for its internal dimensions, roominess and popularity with families and business users and it’s easy to see why. The trend … [Read more...]
SEAT Ibiza FR – Road Test
Fleet of foot the SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0TSi 115 hp manual five door hatchback… …assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). SEAT built its reputation on small cars although it’s now expanded the range upmarket, but it still knows how to make a good city car with the Ibiza. The Ibiza five-door hatchback range comprises three 1.0 litre petrol engined models of 80, 95 or 115 hp with a … [Read more...]
Mazda3 2.0GT Sport – Road Test
New Mazda3 2.0GT Sport 180hp Hatchback… …test driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Some cars are just in your face, over-hyped and over-sold, but not the Mazda3. This refreshed and revised mid-sized hatchback model has an appeal with its restrained but attractive styling, purposeful fittings and ultra efficient powertrains. Oh and a growing list of awards, particularly with … [Read more...]
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