In recent years Isuzu has become increasingly prominent in the UK pick-up market, with a reputation for strength and reliability endearing buyers. Indeed this inherent durability is key to the company’s strategy, and in the firm’s own words, they… “focus on making their pick-ups tough, strong and built to go the distance”. Isuzu emphasise that they only make commercial vehicles – although the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Match saloon
Volkswagen has been on a learning curve with electric cars but now it’s heading towards the top of the class. It has flirted with electric cars for many years and a decade ago gave us their zero emission versions of the e-Golf and e-Up, adapted models of their better known petrol and diesel hatchbacks. VW engineers knew change was coming down the line and began developing their “intelligent … [Read more...]
Weeked roadtest: Honda Civic Type R MY24
As we look down the road towards an all-electric future, enthusiastic drivers might want to refocus on the Honda Civic Type R. It’s been with us in a few shapes for a quarter of a century and its enduring appeal is undoubtedly its very driver-focused design and engineering which has steadily matured, not really grown up, just got better with age. We tested one version exactly 12 months ago … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Tucson Premium Hybrid
The Hyundai Tucson is a quality SUV which many prospective buyers might overlook, at their cost. The Tucson range runs to five models, SE Connect, Premium, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate, from £31,535 to over £44,575 with 2WD, or with PHEV powertrain to stretch economy and 4WD. Power outputs accordingly range from 150ps to 265ps with model dependent manual or automatic … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia EV9 GT-Line S AWD
Kia is riding the crest of a new wave with its range-topping luxury EV9 SUV this spring. The Kia EV9 achieved a remarkable dual victory at the 2024 World Car Awards at the New York International Auto Show in March, being voted World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle., taking KIA to five titles in the prestigious awards. Kia has given a strong incentive to buy an EV 9 which is now … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Subaru Outback 2.5 Touring
When the going gets tough, so it’s said, the tough get going and the Subaru Outback will probably lead the way for most drivers. It mayn’t be an obvious choice because it does not look like a classic big-wheeled off-roader with enough space around the wheel arches to coral a sheep, or two. Nor does it have a slab-sided body and brick-like profile which can turn a practical car into a poor … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Civic e:HEV Advance
Honda has a lot of pride in the Civic, and that's justified. Honda started making Civic models in 1972, nine years after it expanded from motor-bikes into cars with the N360 and then the 1300, and Civic put the brand on the world map for automobiles. So the Civic is the company’s longest established and arguably best known model, which also spurred development of the larger Honda Accord and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota C-HR Excel 1.8 FWD
Dramatic styling marked the 2016 arrival of the Toyota C-HR suv and now that’s been facelifted and given a technical make-over inside as well. Toyota’s Coupe-High Rider, to give it the full title, is one of the brand’s best selling models in Britain and has hit the sweet-spot in showrooms over the last eight years but with newer rivals sweeping in there was a need to modernise the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda CX-30 2.0 AWD Takumi
Mazda has a modest UK range but every model comes with a lot of heart and soul, like the revised CX-30. Originally derived from the hatchback Mazda3 but smaller than the CX-5 SUV, the CX-30 came to the UK for 2020, but of course we all know what happened then as the pandemics swept through the country. Britain and Mazda persevered and now their feature-packed compact SUV has been given a … [Read more...]
First drive: KIA EV9 Air RWD
KIA has turned the corner into a new market segment with its EV9 pure electric model. The EV9 seven-seater launches in three trim levels and an additional range-topping six-seat option from £65,025 to £78,775 in rear wheel drive or all-wheel-drive configurations depending on trim with 200bhp single or 378bhp twin motors. That puts it squarely into Mercedes and BMW electric model territory … [Read more...]