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...]
Latest Toyota RAV 4 PHEV – Road Test
The new Toyota RAV4 PHEV Dynamic plug-in petrol/electric hybrid put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Toyota’s original SUV is now its flagship hybrid and most powerful. However, it’s not all about power as it also delivers excellent economy and a long electric-only range with good real-world performance. For the new model year 2023 it’s sold in Design, … [Read more...]
Latest Mazda CX-60 Plug-in Hybrid – News and First Impressions
The new Mazda CX-60 PHEV SUV News and First Drive Views… … by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). News The new Mazda CX-60 priced from £43,950 now going on sale is the most powerful model ever from the company. The range-topping SUV is Mazda's PHEV first plug-in hybrid and it combines their acclaimed Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100 kW electric motor and … [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...]
Blackpool here we come… Motoring For Fun Road Test
George Loveridge took the new MG HS PHEV (very distant relative to BMC’s B-Series!) to the Irish Sea Coast. Here’s his story of the trip… (All words and photographs copyright George Loveridge and, where individually credited, to Adam Carpenter). Myself, my girlfriend, my best friend, and his girlfriend, all booked a holiday to Lytham St. Annes back in February 2021, with extreme optimism I … [Read more...]
Volvo XC60 T6 Recharge – Road Test
Kieron Fennelly test drives Volvo’s XC60 mid-size, all wheel drive plug-in hybrid SUV… In 2010, Ford sold its Volvo subsidiary to the Chinese auto maker Geely. A decade under the auspices of the blue oval constrained Volvo as much as it did Jaguar, but Ford’s disciplined product planning schedule did leave the Gothenburg firm with a positive legacy of new models. Under a Geely which has granted … [Read more...]
Kia XCeed PHEV – Road Test
The Kia XCeed 1.6 GDI PHEV ‘3’ auto Crossover/SUV… …Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Kia XCeed PHEV is their strongest challenger yet to family car rivals. The XCeed PHEV combines a powerful petrol-electric powertrain with very low emissions and ownership costs, quality fittings and finish embodied in a roomy Crossover cum SUV styled five-door … [Read more...]
Audi A7 Sportback Plug-in Hybrid – Road Test
NEW A7 SPORTBACK TFSI E QUATTRO LEADS THE AUDI PLUG-IN HYBRID PACK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Audi A7 Sportback range of premium four door large coupé models gains a new PHEV plug-in hybrid TFSI e quattro variant to its line-up. This also heralds the arrival of the Q7 TFSI e quattro, A8 TFSI e quattro and A6 Saloon TFSI e quattro PHEV models plus the Q5 TFSI e quattro has … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb iV PHEV – Road Test
SKODA ADDS iV PHEV PLUG-IN HYBRID MODELS TO THEIR SUPERB RANGE... ...David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) puts the newcomer through its paces. (Photographs by Skoda and David). Skoda’s hugely popular and award winning Superb range of large Hatch and Estate models has received a further boost to their range with the addition of petrol-electric PHEV models. The global car industry is … [Read more...]
Hyundai Ioniq PHEV (2020 model) – Road Test
The more you drive, the more energy you save with the latest Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales)… It sounds illogical but it’s true because the familiar standard 1.6 litre petrol engine is now joined by a more sophisticated electric motor and battery system which recovers energy lost during braking. This recovered energy when transformed and pushed into … [Read more...]
Latest Raft of BMW Plug-in Hybrids – First Impressions
BMW NOW WITH MORE VARIETY OF POWERTRAINS WITH PLUG-IN HYBRIDS… Hotfoot from this week's BMW PHEV driving event, David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports. (Photographs from BMW and David Miles – 330e interior and engine bay). The figures speak for themselves with the latest line-up of new BMW PHEV plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on offer, and with more models to come. To get to grips … [Read more...]
Volvo S60 T8 Plug-in Hybrid saloon – Road Test
THE NEW VOLVO S60 T8 TWIN ENGINE PLUG-IN HYBRID SALOON… …tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new Volvo S60 premium mid-sized saloon range was introduced in the Spring of this year and its arrival heralded two important moves. Firstly it is the first modern day Volvo car range not to include a diesel engine. Secondly it is the first model to be built in Volvo’s US … [Read more...]
Revised VW Passat – First Impressions
LATEST GENERATION VW PASSAT DEBUTS IN THE UK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). From its launch in 1973 The Passat is now Volkswagen’s longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year. With over 30 million sold worldwide in 46 years, the Passat is the best-selling mid-size car in the world after eight versions have been launched. In the UK the Mark 8 models … [Read more...]
2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – First Impressions
The new (2019) version of Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV large SUV is even less taxing than its predecessor… …says David miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) five seater SUV with 4WD is now available in the UK priced from £34,255 including the Government’s £2,500 plug-in vehicle grant. It is available at launch with five … [Read more...]
VW Passat GTE Hybrid Estate Road Test
Chris Adamson test drives Volkswagen’s spacious plug-in hybrid Passat estate... Volkswagen is fighting back from the emissions rigging scandal and the latest Passat shows that they are returning to their technological best with a stylish and hugely practical plug-in hybrid. First unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2014 – before all the ‘diesel-gate’ crisis – the Passat GTE Hybrid … [Read more...]
BMW X5 xDrive 40e First Impressions
New BMW X5 xDrive 40e joins the UK's fast-growing plug-in hybrid market. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). With a record year of UK sales behind them in 2015, when they replaced Audi as the best selling premium brand, and their centenary in front of them in 2016, BMW look fully charged to have a good year. First of their new models to be handed to the UK’s motoring media at the … [Read more...]