The one-time cheap Kia Picanto has moved on with the third generation now reaching showrooms and selling itself with sophistication in the spec-list, says Robin Roberts. That’s good news, but there is still better news because it’s not priced itself out of the all-important A-sector for city cars. The market has changed and so has Picanto because it’s now only available in … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Sunday drive: Ford Mustang Convertible 2.3
A timely press release from Ford arrived in my In-Box recently claiming the new generation Mustang is the best selling sports car on the planet, writes David Miles. A fact that was hard to digest when you consider sales of the Audi TT or the Mazda MX-5. Reading further it appears that the all-new Mustang pony car built for 140 global markets, not just the USA where it had been the best … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Ioniq hybrid Premium SE
There has been a headlong rush towards hybrids, and one-time minnow Hyundai is now a big fish, writes Robin Roberts. It showed us the fuel cell ix35 over a year ago and probably more significantly it launched the Ioniq in the UK last autumn as the first car with three powertrains, a petrol-hybrid, an electric model and soon to come a plug-in hybrid electric. At the moment there are five … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Revised Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi
The demand in the UK, the EU and global markets for SUVs, Crossovers and 4x4s continues and the surge in additional models from brands new to these sectors builds on their fashionable must have appeal, says David Miles. In the UK last year there were 437,000 new car registrations for what the industry calls Dual Purpose vehicles. We can add in at least another 100,000 of what we call … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport 110 TD
First impressions certainly last with the new Vauxhall Insignia, says Robin Roberts. After being launched in 2008, the Insignia Mk2 hit UK roads in March, initially as a five-door but it’s now been joined by Sports Tourer semi-estate and they share a wide range of updated petrol and diesel engines. There are seven trim levels in a range running from about £17,200 on the road £28,400 in the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: 2017 Skoda Octavia Estate
The 2017 revised Skoda Octavia range of C-segment five door Hatchbacks and Estates have recently gone on sale and all retain their class-leading roominess, high specification and most are available at competitive prices. The huge interior space offered by these models is in keeping with the huge number of models in the 2017 line-up. I counted 58 variants at prices ranging from £17,195 to … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Renault Clio Dynamique S Nav
Consistently one of the best sellers in the Renault range and frequently refreshed, the Clio hatchback can hold its own against rivals and is positively ahead of many with its refinement, says Robin Roberts. It slots very well into the family sector in terms of size and design, its powertrains cover the most popular choices and it’s very well priced. The current Clio IV range runs … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Prius PHEV
A week-long road test in the new Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) created two notable firsts for me, says David Miles. It was the first road test production car I have tested with a solar roof and it was the first test car to return over 100mpg for a full week of motoring. The sales success of PHEVs have created the driving force for increased demand of Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles in … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX5 RF 1.5 Sport Nav
Somethings are worth waiting for. At the Mazda MX5 RF launch in February only the 2.0 litre versions were available and remembering how impressed I was by the lasting memory of the original MX5 with its 1.6 litre engine many years ago I was eager to try the 1.5 entry level model in today’s range. It was worth the wait. I have always liked the folding fabric roof of the original and … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRD Overland
In a world where SUVs have become more sophisticated and are generally soft off-roaders or Crossovers more used to dealing with school runs, shopping trips and family holidays than hard-core off roading, the Jeep Wrangler now stands alone in the rugged 4x4 market following the demise of the Land Rover Defender. The Wrangler’s design DNA dates back to the original Willys jeep of WW2, indeed the … [Read more...]