After 25 years on sale, the Vauxhall Corsa range has matured and while the impressive VXR versions are no more, it is topped by the 'warm' GSi, writes David Miles. Now celebrating its silver anniversary the top-selling Vauxhall Corsa supermini sized hatchback range has recently seen high specification low price Griffin versions with three and five door body styles and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo XC40 T3 R Design
It may be a throw-back to Nordic history, but when there is news of a new Volvo, heads turn towards the horizon. They are not always the first to introduce a feature or model in a sector, but you can bet their version will be significant. And you cannot get much more significant that the latest Volvo XC40 R-Design with its new three-cylinder 1.5 litre petrol engine, the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda Civic 5dr 1.6 diesel
Built in Britain for global sales the 10th generation Honda Civic is available in five door hatchback body style and now a Civic four door saloon, built in Turkey for European markets, has been added to the range, writes David Miles. Also a new 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with manual and automatic gearbox choices has joined the line-up for both body styles. There is no … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus CT200h Premium
The Lexus CT200h set the bar for the hybrid revolution in the compact premium sector when it arrived in 2011, and its raised its game still further with the latest version, writes Robin Roberts. Using the well-engineered powertrain from its sister company’s Toyota Prius introduced in 1997, the Lexus CT200h has been further retuned and it is and impressive combination of petrol and … [Read more...]
First drive: New Suzuki Jimny
You’ll be lucky, very lucky, to get behind the wheel of the new generation Suzuki Jimny, says David Miles. Dale Wyatt, Director of Suzuki Automobiles in the UK said this week at the press launch for the new Jimny small SUV, “The new Jimny is the most irritating car I’ve launched. Why? Because demand is outstripping supply. “We received over 10,000 enquiries from potential UK … [Read more...]
Mid-week motoring: Aston Martin twin-test
The Aston Martin story has all the excitement, luxury, twists and turns of a good James Bond book, but the reality in your hands is an exclusive range of high performance sports cars which now include the DB11 Volante and Vantage coupe, writes Robin Roberts. These are the latest additions to the range which comprise limited edition and Continuation models for the uber-rich AM enthusiasts and … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia Sportage improves for 2019
The Sportage is Kia’s best selling model in Europe with over five million global sales during its 25 years of production through four generations, writes David Miles. In the UK 40,000 were sold last year and so far this year nearly 30,000 have found UK home making it the UK’s 10thbest selling model range overall. The Sportage accounts 40% of the company’s UK sales. In its medium sized SUV … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.2 TD Q4 Super
Italian cars have reputations for being racy. But Alfa Romeo has taken its time to enter the booming SUV sector with its Stelvio, the first of its kind from the brand after it debuted the Kamal concept car at the Geneva motor show in 2003. A lot has happened in the meantime and any car-maker with an eye on the future must make an SUV, and the Stelvio is one of the last to enter the … [Read more...]
Mid-week wheels: Honda CRV 4WD auto
Now here's a simple question with a surprising answer, says David Miles. When asking what is the World’s best selling SUV: would it be a Land Rover/Range Rover of some type, a Ford, an Audi, BMW or Mercedes or a Kia, or Hyundai, a Mitsubishi, Suzuki or perhaps one of a multitude of American brands other than Ford? In fact it’s Honda’s CR-V and since the first generation model went … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0TDI 185 estate
The Octavia C-segment range of five door Hatch and Estate models is Skoda’s best selling model range accounting for 29% of their total UK sales,writes David Miles. The Octavia is available with a wide range of engine options, four TSI petrol units and three TDI diesels with power outputs ranging from 115 to 245hp. There is also the choice of DSG twin-clutch automatic transmissions with six … [Read more...]