Sales of SUVs of all sizes have reached record levels in Europe and the UK and seemingly every week an additional model joins the market, says David Miles. The B-segment ‘supermini’ size area of the SUV market is the fastest growing and sales are expected to reach 2.2-million units a year in Europe for 2020. To put that figure in context, it’s not far off the current annual total for … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall Adam Rocks Unlimited 115ps
"A car says a lot about you" is an expression which can be applied to nearly everyone and that’s really true about the Vauxhall Adam Rocks Unlimited. After the introduction of its new Adam city hatchback car for the second decade of the 21st century, Vauxhall set about making it highly individual and added the fabric roofed Rocks Unlimited series. With that came the ability to pick … [Read more...]
Seven-year warranty with new MG ZS SUV
After secret development testing in Wales, MG Motor UK this week launched their compact ZS SUV with a seven-year warranty. Let’s hope it’s up to scratch, no doubt the price is soothing starting at £12,495 and rising up to £17,495. With SUV sales of all sizes booming the new MG ZS is the right vehicle at the right time for MG Motor UK. Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing told the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Skoda Fabia Redline 1.0TSI
Although the demand for compact SUVs is high, the similar sized but less tall supermini hatchbacks are still the UK’s best selling new cars with the Ford Fiesta supermini range still leading the way as Britain’s most popular new car. One of the Fiesta’s rivals is the not so new but cheaper and very popular Skoda Fabia. Other competitors are the very new SEAT Ibiza which uses the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Edge Vignale 210ps automatic
There is a new sharpness to the Ford Edge Vignale. Ford has again raised its game and put pressure on competitors with the high spec Edge Vignale 210ps version. When we first drove the Edge Sport with a 180ps 2.0 TD engine and 6sp manual gearbox we found it a bit underpowered for a model weighing over 1900kg. Now with the top Vignale’s 210ps output from the same engine and matched … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: New MINIs turn clock back & forward
“One out of every 40 new cars sold in the UK is a MINI” was the headline statement at the MINI Media Driving Day and headline act at the event was the global premiere of their special edition MINI 1499 GT. Although a termed a global reveal the 1499 GT three door Hatch is only available for the home UK market and just 1,499 units will be built at the Oxford Plant from November until February … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Seat Ibiza 1.0TSI 95ps Xcellence
The latest SEAT Ibiza is the hero of the brand and has been decorated. The fifth generation of the super-mini series is the first to use the VW Group’s new MQB A0 modular platform, which dramatically cuts cost while permitting immense adaptation. It gives the newest Ibiza more room and better performance including economy and a better ride/ handling balance. SEAT has also … [Read more...]
Citroen C3 Aircross marks new entrant into SUV sector
Citroen dealers are opening their order books and computers from 1 November waiting for eager customers to visit, see, try and hopefully buy the new C3 Aircross compact SUV, writes David Miles. But the market is awash with small, medium and large new SUVs tracking down customers who have shown their desire to own these high-riding vehicles rather than the previous must-haves of B-segment … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI FR
The new fifth generation SEAT Ibiza hatchback is only available as a five door and it is the first model in the Volkswagen Group of brands to use the new MQB AO modular platform, even before VW’s own new Polo supermini sized hatchback comes to market next year. Ibiza has been the Spanish brand’s best selling model range and the first four generations have spanned over 30 years … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Fiesta Titanium 125ps 1.0 3 dr
It’s seventh heaven for the Ford Fiesta. Britain’s best selling city car retains the familiar name and trim levels as the seventh generation arrives in showrooms but underneath there are some significant and worthwhile changes. The new model is physically bigger than the previous series, it has more interior room particularly in three-door style, and it sits on a … [Read more...]