Schools are out and holidays are here, time to Play. The carefree approach mayn’t be what Hyundai had in mind but their city car is certainly light hearted and cheery. The i10 series is entry level to Hyundai range and comes in no less than seven trim levels, Play is second tier, with 67ps 1.0 litre or 87ps 1.2 litre petrol engines, 5sp manual or 4sp automatic … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Corolla Excel 2.0 Hybrid estate
In March this year the Corolla name returned to the Toyota line-up of passenger cars 14 years after the Auris name replaced it, writes David Miles. Like the Auris range it replaced, the 12th generation five-door Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports estate petrol and hybrid models are being built in the UK at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in Derbyshire for European markets. In addition there is a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mitsubishi L200 Warrior DC Auto
It takes a special sort of vehicle to survive, challenge and virtually dominate a sector of sales, and that’s what the Mitsubishi L200 has done for decades, writes Robin Roberts. It’s about to be reborn for the sixth time, but before it is I wanted to see what the Series 5 offers to explain its stranglehold on the sector which is a combination of workhorse and lifestyle, and often … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volvo S60 T5 R-Design Edition saloon
In five years the Swedish Volvo premium brand has transformed from roomy, solidly built, conservatively-styled models appealing to older buyers into dynamic SUVs, estates and saloons with much more kerb appeal whilst retaining their high safety reputation, writes David Miles The latest new model is the S60 mid-sized four door saloon range, in essence a saloon version of the highly rated V60 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Ceed 1.6 T GDI GT
It’s all change with Kia as it moves up a gear. The Korean carmaker has recorded its best-ever UK half year sales figures with 53,232 new cars delivered to customers by the end of June 2019. That performance bucked the general market trend and surpassed 2018’s half-year figure of 51,506 by 3.35 per cent. The new Ceed series runs to nearly 20 models using petrol or diesel engines from 1.0 … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Vauxhall Insignia ST 170hp 2.0Litre
Launched in 2008, facelifted in 2013 and followed by continuous upgrades, the Vauxhall Insignia range is a story of evolution and the latest models are still as fresh and competitive in the market place as the originals, says David Miles. And to add to their competitiveness there is a huge range of spec levels, a wide selection of petrol and diesel engines, transmissions and front or four … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: VW Crafts it’s way to success
VW’s investment in their pursue of van domination seems to have paid off with the latest VW Crafter, leaving Mercedes sprinting back to the ideas board, writes Rhys Roberts. The VW Crafter does everything asked of a van, and seems to do it with some added pizazz. It may not be as technologically advanced as its Mercedes rival, but it isn’t as far behind as you might assume. The VW … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: SEAT Tarraco 150 Xcellence
The new SEAT Tarraco represents the voice of the people, writes David Miles. The new 7-seat large SUV is named after the Mediterranean city of Tarragona and was chosen by 140,000 on-line enthusiasts. Priced from £28,335 to £38,055 the Tarraco range joins the SEAT Spanish arm of the VW Group’s other SUVs – the compact Arona and the very highly rated and award winning Ateca mid-sized … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Compass Limited 120 2WD
There have been enormous changes in the SUV sector, but thankfully the original name in the line up is still going strong and Jeep is adapting very well, writes Robin Roberts. Jeep was the inspiration for the Land Rover after WW2 and over the decades they have developed alongside one another with vociferous fans each proclaiming one is better than the rival. Then rivals from the Far East came … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia e-Niro first drive
Some manufactures already offer various solutions to meet owner’s practical needs in being able to make those longer trips at-will yet reduce the CO2 emissions their vehicles emit, writes David Miles. Take as an example Kia, the South Korean brand, which has become hugely popular in the UK with annual sales edging towards 100,000-units. Their vast range of petrol, diesel electric, hybrid and … [Read more...]