To their credit Volvo Cars was the first established car maker to commit to all-out electrification and is the only brand to offer a plug-in hybrid variant of every model in its line-up, writes David Miles. I was scheduled to test drive Volvo’s latest award winning SUV, the compact XC40 but in its PHEV plug-in hybrid form.Unfortunately, Covid arrangements at the Volvo vehicle … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend roadtest: Ford Fiesta ST3 3-door
More than any other car in modern times, the Ford Fiesta has defined British motoring and the ST-series is the most desirable, particularly among rally fans. Consistently one of the top selling cars in the UK market, the Fiesta is the right size for thousands of buyers looking for three or five door jack-of-all-trades transport. It has appeared in the top ten list every year since 1977 and has … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki Ignis SZ5 Allgrip
City slicker meets countryside pony is how I would describe the top specification model in the revised Suzuki Ignis range, writes David Miles. All models now have a new 1.2-litre four-cylinder K12D Dualjet Hybrid petrol engine offering WLTP CO2 emissions from 114g/km and combined cycle fuel economy from 55.7mpg for the 2WD models. And you will note from those last few words I say 2WD model so … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi A3 Saloon 35 TDI 150hp automatic
Affordability and suitability is now more relevant than ever in modern times, says David Miles. Do we actually now need a large and expensive business model for long journeys, do we actually need to go anywhere as business is less about face to face and more about emails, zooming or phone calls? Do we need a large car for just one person? As an example of car downsizing do we need an Audi A4 … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 5 Series Touring 520d M Sport
The longest serving model range in the BMW line-up is the 5 Series launched seven generations ago in 1972, writes David Miles. Since the last new models were launched in 2017 over 66,000 of them have been sold in the UK and 600,000 of them globally, now it the latest updated models which have just gone on sale and there are more versions to follow. Competitor’s models in the executive car sector … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX-5 R-Sport SE
The world’s best selling two-seater sports car has just become much rarer. The Mazda MX-5 R Sport Convertible is limited to 150 examples in the UK, where it has consistently led the sector since introduced in the '90s with revisions and upgrades keeping it at the forefront of demand without diluting its simple and so satisfying basic design. This stand-out MX-5 Convertible features … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited
Respect is earned, not awarded, in the motor industry, and one of the most influential vehicle brands is Jeep, now on the eve of celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021. Think about that for a minute; it was born out of WW2 conflict, battled through the 20thcentury’s consumer culture and taken on many imitators. It’s doubtful that Land Rover would exist if it wasn’t for Jeep and after seven … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda Jazz hybrid supermini
The previous three generations of the Honda Jazz supermini five door hatchback have been all about packaging of its occupants, David Miles explains. These include best in class space, higher seating positions, good visibility, easy access, wide opening doors, good levels of safety and other equipment. They are wrapped up in Honda’s legendary reputation for engineering quality and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Nissan Juke Tekna+ manual
Designed and built in Britain, you can expect a loyal following for the Nissan Juke which is now in its second generation after more than a decade setting the trend for family SUVs. Since September 2010 it has been snapped up by over 1.5 million owners around the world who wanted to add style to the school-run and other social outings. Building on its link with Renault and … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda Jazz Crosstar e-HEV
It might be music to some people’s ears that Honda is bringing us more Jazz but their F1 programme looks more like hokey cokey, observes David Miles. Announced last week Honda F1 is quitting at the end of next year, they were first involved in 1964 and out in 1968, in again in1983 and out in 1992, back in again in 2000, out in 2008 in again in 2015 and now out again in 2021. The company says it … [Read more...]
