When you hit 70 years, most things that haven’t fallen off or out may be about to, but that is really the turning point in the case of the Toyota Land Cruiser. From prototypes developed before and after World War Two, the model that became the Land Cruiser was commissioned by the Japanese Government in 1951. Ever since it has become a story of global … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai i10 Advance
The motor industry’s headlong plunge into SUVs, MPVs and Crossovers has left the market short of compact city cars which are perfectly matched to the real-world needs of many drivers. While some manufacturers stopped making traditional small hatchbacks and are now living to regret their decisions as market share slides and rivals fill the gap, Hyundai has … [Read more...]
Weekend feature: Suzuki celebrate 55 years of Allgrip
Suzuki GB staged a landmark event inWales to highlight 55 years of their clever and effective ‘ALLGRIP’ four wheel drive systems. At a recent test drive session held in south Wales and centred on the ‘Monster Mountain’ off-road facility near Merthyr Tydfil, motoring writers were invited by Suzuki to test-drive a selection of their models, both current and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Stonic GT-Line S
When a prolific manufacturer keeps rolling out new models it's all too easy to overlook their older vehicles, as is the case with the Kia Stonic GT-Line S. Kia is on a roll with its brand in Britain, bringing new EVs to market in a constant stream and more are on the horizon as it enriches its range and wins awards within the industry.So it was good to … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: X Peng G6 Long Range
Among the newest of the Chinese car-makers coming to the UK, XPeng has partnered with the people who brought us Subaru and Isuzu in Britain, so let that be a warning to rivals. The Chinese company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, with offices in Mountain View, California, and Munich. It has partnered platform and electrical … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia EV3 GT-Line S
Some cars immediately impress, others take a bit longer and they stand out against models which made no measureable impression after a much longer period behind the wheel. The Kia EV3 GT-Line S is an example of the series which seems to get better each time it’s driven. We first drove the new Kia EV3 last December and were impressed, but a lot’s happened … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota HiLux Invincible X
Reality shows are all the rage and if there was one about vehicles I think the star would be the Toyota HiLux. It has faced and overcome challenges such as being blown up in a building being demolished and drowned in a rising tide, only to start up with what I would term “tinkering”, apart from needing to replace a broken windscreen when it was dug out of … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Corolla Excel 2.0 Hatchback
When the world’s best selling car gets a significant makeover, you have to take a serious look at the Toyota Corolla. Launched in 1966, the Corolla became the best selling car in the world eight years later, overtaking the Beetle in 1997 for total sales and in 2021 went on to exceed 50 million models, being made in ten countries. It was also the platform … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
If you have a big family I don’t think there is anything to touch the Hyundai Santa Fe when it comes to room, comfort and interior design features at this price. Aimed squarely at the US market to begin with, this is a big, very big car, which fills and sometimes overhangs most parking bays. There is large and then there’s extra large, a category the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Double Cab
For a long time Isuzu vehicles have rightly and widely been recognised for their reliability, toughness, practicality and reasonable running costs. Sales of the D-Max pick-up range have been rising year by year, and, having test-driven three different examples in the last three years or so, I can quite understand why. (My reports on these vehicles can all … [Read more...]
