Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales) gives his preliminary assessment of Honda's new HR-V hybrid... The new generation HRV uses two electric motors driving the front wheels to assist the regular 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine but it’s not a plug-in hybrid. The 131 PS maximum powertrain develops 253 Nm (187 lb.ft) at 4,500 rpm and is essentially a boosted version of that in the Honda Jazz. … [Read more...]
Honda’s latest HR-V hybrid arrives
Honda HR-V e:HEV breaks cover…… Kim Henson previews the newcomer. Honda’s drive towards electrification of its range continues apace, and in fact is accelerating. During an online press unveiling of the new HR-V e:HEV this week, the firm told us that low/zero emission technology is gaining ground faster in Europe than anywhere else in the world, and that the entire Honda mainstream line-up is … [Read more...]
Latest 2021 model Hybrid Honda CR-V – Road Test
HONDA CR-V LARGE SUV NOW JUST WITH HYBRID POWER… …explains David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) in his road test. The latest version of the Honda CR-V was announced in December for the 2021 model year and it’s available but now only with petrol electric hybrid power, but still in 2WD or 4WD forms depending on the spec level chosen. However there are still some previous model year vehicles in … [Read more...]
Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid 2.0 – Road Test
HIGHER PERFORMANCE TOYOTA C-HR HYBRID COMPACT SUV TRIED AND TESTED Continuous improvement is the philosophy of Toyota and few car makers have as much experience of EVs and Hybrids, launching its Hybrid Synergy Drive in 1997, and rolling out more models every few years, writes Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The Toyota C-HR is a good example of continuous improvement, first … [Read more...]
Honda CR-V Hybrid EX AWD – Road Test
Honda’s CR-V has been a tough, reliable contender in the SUV market for nearly 25 years... Kim Henson assesses the latest 2019 Hybrid version, in range-topping EX form, with all wheel drive and CVT automatic transmission. Before I describe the current CR-V in self-charging Hybrid form, I’d like briefly to reflect on the history and reliability of the models bearing that name so far. At the … [Read more...]
Lexus UX 250h SUV – Road Test
THE NEW LEXUS UX 250H PETROL ELECTRIC HYBRID COMPACT SUV... ...Tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new UX 250h petrol-electric hybrid urban SUV is described by Lexus as their ‘gateway’ model to their range of SUVs which already includes the well respected NX mid-sized models, the larger RX versions and the 7-seat RX L variants. Lexus says UX stands for ‘urban … [Read more...]
Mild Hybrid Hyundai Tucson – Road Test
Hyundai Tucson Premium 48v Mild Hybrid SUV... Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). It’s not one of the first of the modern SUVs, but the Hyundai Tucson Premium 48v Mild Hybrid is one of the better models. There’s a modest 18-strong range of petrol, diesel or hybrid powered models in five-trim levels with manual or automatic transmission, two or four-wheel drive. … [Read more...]
Latest Honda CR-V – Hybrid – Road Test
NEW HONDA CR-V HYBRID SUV MODELS NOW ON SALE… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) has test-driven the newcomer. Billed by Honda as the world’s best-selling SUV with over 9.0 million sales in 150 countries since the first generation model was launched in 1995, the latest generation range was introduced towards the end of last year. However the new range had no diesel and no 2.0 litre VTEC … [Read more...]
Latest Lexus RX450h Hybrid SUV – Road Test
Lexus RX450h petrol-electric hybrid large SUV… “Enjoy the refinement”, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). There is no shortage of SUVs, small, medium, large and very large, petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric are all available depending on the model and from ‘budget’ buys to ‘upper-class’ premium brands, all cashing in on the seemingly unstoppable public demand. … [Read more...]
Up-to-the-minute Toyota RAV4 hybrid – Road Test
Toyota RAV4 Icon Tech Hybrid 4x2 SUV. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Hybrids powertrains are the in-thing at the moment, but that’s not a surprise to Toyota who started development nearly 50 years ago and were among the first to put one on sale 25 years ago. Alongside hybrid technology, Toyota was working on the world’s modern first compact SUV and showed us the RAV4 in the … [Read more...]