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All-new Peugeot 208 – Road Test

27th March 2020

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

16th March 2020

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

13th March 2020

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

9th March 2020

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...]

Fiat 500 Rockstar – Road Test

21st February 2020

Fiat 500 Rockstar hatchback lives up to its name. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). In my experience, if they are not larger than life, rock stars tend to be small and noisy performers, and the Fiat Rockstar lived up to expectations. Very much the noisy baby in the extensive Fiat family of city cars, the 500 has been one of its most successful and in 2019 passed the 3-million … [Read more...]

Suzuki Swift SZ5 ALLGRIP – Road Test

19th February 2020

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...]

Audi A1 citycarver – Road Test

17th February 2020

NEW AUDI A1 CITYCARVER FOR THE URBAN JUNGLE. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) is your guide… The citycarver (all lower case letters) is a five door supermini sector sized hatchback based on the Audi A1 Sportback but with pseudo-SUV styling. It is priced from £22,040 and it is aimed at urban jungle motoring says Audi, whatever that is. There is no 4WD option, all models are only front-wheel … [Read more...]

Ford Mondeo Vignale – Road Test

7th February 2020

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

30th January 2020

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

16th January 2020

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...]

Honda Civic 1.5T Sport Plus – Road Test

10th January 2020

New Civic 1.5T Sport Plus – the last British built Honda model range… …Test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Honda Civic currently made in Britain has been a cornerstone of the Japanese company, but times are changing. Honda will be exiting their Swindon factory in 2021 after 36 years as the company realigns its manufacturing and concentrates on fuller utilisation … [Read more...]

Vauxhall Astra Mk 7 1.2 petrol – First Impressions

8th January 2020

Kieron Fennelly drives, and gives his views on, the latest Astra, in 1.2 litre petrol form… In 2019 Vauxhall/Opel’s Astra celebrated its 40th birthday (and Kim adds that he was at the UK launch of the Opel version, at Donington Park in the autumn of 1979, and remembers just how much the attending motoring writers were impressed with the new model). Many readers might recall the original Mk 1 … [Read more...]

New Vauxhall Astra – Road Test

3rd December 2019

NOW BEING DELIVERED TO UK CUSTOMERS – THE LATEST VAUXHALL ASTRA. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test-drives the new model and gives his opinion… The revised British-built Vauxhall Astra started to arrive in our domestic market showrooms in November, good news for the 25% of British motorists who have either owned or driven one since the Mark 1 made its appearance in 1979. Since then, … [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...]

Nissan Micra IG-T100 – Road Test

18th November 2019

IT’S A PERKY BLINDER – THE LATEST NISSAN MICRA IG-T100 HATCHBACK… …explains David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The 100 hp turbo petrol engine is perky in performance and the design of the five-door supermini sized hatchback body is blindingly more eye-catching than the previous four generations of Micra which have been served up since 1983. Most recently Nissan has further revised some … [Read more...]

Honda Civic 1.5 VTEC Turbo Sport Plus – Road Test

30th October 2019

Honda’s well-respected Civic line-up has been winning friends for decades. Kim Henson test-drives a current model, in 1.5 litre VTEC turbocharged ‘Sport Plus’ guise… (All words and photographs by Kim). The overall competence of Honda’s Civic models, in each of their generations, shines through when you talk to owners past and present, and, importantly, in conversations with sources in the … [Read more...]

Toyota Prius Business Edition AWD – First impressions

17th October 2019

Chris Adamson gives his verdict on this latest hybrid Toyota … (Photos – Toyota GB) Hybrid pioneers Toyota started the drive towards self-charging multi-power cars with their leading edge Prius. Now, over 20 years later, everyone seems to have a hybrid or full electric model on their fleet but Prius is still the one they have to be matched against. While they have been developing hydrogen … [Read more...]

Skoda Scala Diesel – Road Test

16th September 2019

SKODA SCALA DIESEL - THE FUEL FRUGAL MODEL… …tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Skoda Scala, a C-segment five-door hatchback, is in effect the replacement for their Rapid range and sits between the Volkswagen Group’s Czech brand Fabia supermini and larger C/D segment high selling Octavia model ranges. Currently prices range from £16,595 to £23,315 and the … [Read more...]

Latest Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport – Road Test

9th September 2019

By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who writes… …MY REFRESHING DRIVE WITH THE 2019.5 MODEL YEAR VAUXHALL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT. Although I tend to review new or at least recently refreshed cars, just occasionally it is time to relook at a longer serving model which still continues to pull-in awards, mainly due to the space it offers, its extensive range of models and its competitive … [Read more...]

Mazda3 2.0 Sport – Road Test

6th September 2019

New Mazda3 2.0 122 hp Sport Lux five door hatchback could light up your life… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). A lot is being pinned on the all-new Mazda3 hatchback, and deservedly so. Launched in the UK in spring 2019, it is competing in a tough sector of family and company cars but it’s about to get a big boost this autumn. The new Mazda3 hatchbacks initially came with … [Read more...]

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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!


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