With only a few weeks to go until the new 69 registration plate peak sales month of September, Honda like many other manufactures is eager for customers and announced a whole range of offers to attract sales in a new car market still in decline, writes David Miles. Honda for instance is currently offering a Test Drive Event with a £750 to £1,000 incentive plus 5-years complimentary … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Scala SE
The Skoda Rapid would be a hard act to follow, but the Scala launched this summer really overtakes it. Within weeks of its launch the Skoda Scala started winning awards for its family friendly practicality and praise for its styling around the new roomy interior. Scala is the first VW Group product to be built on the latest MQB A0 modular platform developed for all future Group models and simply … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Jaguar E-Pace 180hp Diesel R-Dynamic S
Now you might logically think that the E-Pace is the new all-electric model in the Jaguar Pace family of SUVs, but it isn’t – that’s the just released I-Pace. Confusingly, there is also the F Pace launched in 2016 sitting between the E-Pace and I-Pace. Could E then stand for Elegant? In my eyes definitely not. It’s a compact five door five seater sports SUV which carries the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda3 2.0 122ps Sport Lux 5dr
A lot is being pinned on the all-new Mazda3 hatchback, and deservedly so. Launched in the UK in spring 2019, it is competing in a tough sector of family and company cars but its about to get a big boost this autumn. The new Mazda3 hatchbacks initially came with either a 122ps 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G petrol or 116ps Skyactiv-D diesel engine, in five trim levels: SE-L, SE-L Lux, Sport Lux, … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Nissan Qashqai Tekna 1.3 DIG-T 160hp Auto
The British built Nissan Qashqai is today generally recognised as the founder of the Crossover vehicle market sector when it was launched in 2007, wrties David Miles. It offered SUV styling with family hatchback sizing and practicality with 2WD and 4WD traction options. But it was in fact the Matro Rancho launched in 1977 that brought the ‘off-road look’ to the family hatchback market at a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall Vivaro Life MPV
At a time when every motor manufacturer is rushing to produce popular crossover and suv models, Vauxhall has delivered something different, in the shape of the Vivaro Life. Clearly a derivative of its acclaimed and award winning van but using parts from parent PSA to soften its character, the Vivaro Life is a genuinely large seven-seater ranking in practicality alongside Volkswagen and … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: MINI John Cooper Works 3-Door Hatch
At last week’s MINI UK media test driving day the BMW Group brand brought along their 60th anniversary Edition Hatch model as well as the revised John Cooper Works Hatch version to be sampled, writes David Miles. With a 60th anniversary Edition model already scheduled into my forthcoming road test diary I wheeled myself out onto the winding Lambourn area country roads near Newbury for a brief … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Corolla Touring SE 1.8 Hybrid
The enduring and enterprising Toyota Corolla is a firm favourite with British car buyers and it’s easy to understand why after a week with the 1.8 Sports Excel estate hybrid, writes Robin Roberts. This spring , the 12th generation Corolla replaced the oddly-named, smaller and less attractive Auris series of models and it brought with it the latest self-charging hybrid technology which … [Read more...]
Midweek motoring: First drive new BMW Z4 Roadster
Sophisticated simplicity is the strong selling point in the latest BMW Z4, writes David Miles. This is the third generation of the BMW Z4 but this time it’s a Roadster two-seater soft-top. No folding metal roof hard-top Coupe version is planned for this generation model line-up where prices range from £36,990 to £49,050. There is the choice of Sport, M Sport and M Performance specification … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus UX 250h
The new UX 250h petrol-electric hybrid urban SUV is described by Lexus as their ‘gateway’ model to their range of SUVs which already includes the well respected NX mid-sized models, the larger RX versions and the 7-seat RX L variants, writes David Miles. Lexus says UX stands for ‘urban explorer’ and they expect it to become their best selling SUV range attracting new customers to the … [Read more...]