Inch by inch, metre by metre and after just a few miles the Ineos Grenadier impresses. Conceived to replace the outgoing Land Rover Defender at the time, the Grenadier is the product of a multi-million pound investment by chemical firm Ineos and its owner, one of the richest men and motoring enthusiasts in Britain, Sir Jim Radcliffe, who named the vehicle after a pub he frequented in … [Read more...]
First Drives
First drive: BYD Dolphin Design
If you have used a Nokia 3310 mobile phone, Apple i-pad or ridden on a new Transport for London electric bus, then you have already experiened BYD technology. The Chinese battery technology business which has powered these landmark products has a global footprint powering many familiar items and is about to become a major player in the electric car market. The biggest company you've probably … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX-30 R-EV first drive
Mazda is never afraid to be different and it shows in their latest MX-30 R-EV. Keeping its quirky ‘suicide’ rear passenger doors for easy access to the back seats the real change is up front under the bonnet in the newcomer. It joins the pure battery MX-30 and the CX-60 PHEV in the marque’s range with a PHEV powertrain which utilises a sub-900cc rotary engine acting as a generator to power the … [Read more...]
First drive: Vauxhall Astra GSe
As it slips into middle-age, the Vauxhall Astra has been given a modern make-over. Launched in 1980, the Astra has been the bedrock of the company’s offering in the small family car sector as it moved through eight generations. This year it was given a mechanical boost with hybrid technology adding to the petrol power in a bid to lower emissions and better compete with younger rivals, … [Read more...]
First drives: Honda e:Ny1 & CR-V phev
Honda is revamping its range of offerings as the new era in electric mobility approaches, but it’s also keeping some tried and tested models. With 13 of the top 20 UK models now SUVs in a sector that has grown to almost 56% of annual registrations, Honda could not ignore what buyers want. It’s city-car Honda e has been joined by the e:Ny1 compact SUV bringing more room and range for families. … [Read more...]
Weekend review: Old dogs & new tricks
More and more new names are appearing in the UK car market as it evolves into the electric age, but at the recent Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders annual southern test day for writers near Basingstoke it was two familiar names which caught my attention. The Nissan X-Trail has been a success in Britain for over 23 years while smart has been hanging around for even longer with a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Jazz Advance Sport
A lot of airtime and column centimetres have been taken up with Wales’ default 20mph urban limit, but I’ll let you into a little secret, you can do 100 in a Honda Jazz Advance Sport, and it’s perfectly legal. The fact is I am not talking about the sporty Jazz’s speed, rather its ability to return 102mpg: yes over a ton. Even on a busy day you’ll probably exceed 60mpg from this incredible Tardis … [Read more...]
First drive: Honda ZR-V SUV
Honda’s tightened its hold on the SUV sector with this month’s announcement of the ZR-V, squarely aimed at families and retail buyers. The Japanese car-maker has a very loyal following and while it wishes existing owners will consider the newcomer when they want to change, it also hopes to hook in buyers from other brands as the sector now accounts for almost six-in ten new cars … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KIA Ceed 2 1.5T-GDi
To some motoring journalists the Holy Grail of a range is the entry-level model of any series. Mentioned in price lists but rarely seen in showrooms or on the road, these starter models are often just a price point to get into a sector and destined to become the model of choice in daily rental fleets. Now, I had a former colleague who always bought the entry level model in a range he paid for … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Cupra Born V2
As growth accelerates in the electric car market, some traditional manufacturers like SEAT are refining and introducing new sub-brands. The sector has pulled in completely new brands from China alongside off-shoots of European and Asian manufacturers who all want a piece of this increasingly important “green” branch of the high earning business. SEAT first launched its sporting Cupra sub-brand … [Read more...]
