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...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Explorer Premium AWD
Ford has been a hesitant entrant into the modern BEV market, but is quickly making up ground with models such as the Explorer SUV. While it used its own technology for the Mustang electric sports car, to cut costs and development time it turned to Volkswagen to create the Explorer SUV derived from the ID.4 platform and powertrain. That’s not a bad thing … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Subaru Forester Touring
Revised, repriced and released this Spring, the Subaru Forester is ready to take on rivals in the serious SUV sector in 2025. Launched in 1997 on the back of a very impressive rallying impact by Subaru, the Forester was aimed squarely at the expanding SUV sector but in particular the country dweller who’d appreciate simple yet effective full-time … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Kamiq SE L Edition
Skoda has something for everyone in its family friendly range beginning with their baby suv, the Kamiq. Launched in 2019 as Skoda’s smallest suv, the Kamiq shares its floorpan with the Seat Arona and Volkswagen T-Cross, but offers more interior room. To maintain family resemblances, the Kamiq shares a similar face to the larger Skoda SUVs, the Karoq, Enyaq … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda CX-80 Takumi
The new flagship Mazda CX-80 is poised to make a big impression in the luxury multi-seat SUV sector. New car sales went and are going through a tough time but it must be said that in 2024 Mazda did better than most. Mazda UK sales director Laura Brailey told us global registrations for the brand rose 11% last year to a record 1.4 M and in Britain it … [Read more...]
Easter roadtest: Ford Capri Premium AWD
The Ford Capri name is back and turning heads some 55 years after the original model. The first Ford Capri designed by the same man who styled the Ford Mustang was produced from 1969 to 1986 and covered three generations with two million models registered. Originally made in Ford Halewood, Liverpool plant, the new all-electric Capri uses the Volkswagen … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Niro HEV ‘2’ 1.6 GDi
It is no surprise to me that Kia is doing well in sales terms. The firm’s comprehensive range provides vehicles to suit a wide range of preferences and practical needs, and for U.K. buyers the company’s line-up currently includes petrol-powered, hybrid propulsion and fully electric models. In other words they cover ‘all bases’. Reassurance for buyers is … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Puma ST-Line X
The Ford Puma has consistently featured in Britain’s top ten popular cars for all the right reasons. From launch in 2019 as natural evolution of the Fiesta hatchback, the Puma SUV has fitted the bill for thousands of families. It was also the best selling model last month. It’s fairly compact dimensions enclose a deceptively practical and versatile body … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KGM Tivoli K40
The familiar Tivoli mid-sized suv has been relaunched and refocused to take on rivals which offer less to an increasingly cost-conscious client base. Introduced in 2015 under a SsangYong badge before the manufacturer ran into trouble and then relaunched as KGM with improvements inside and out in 2024 so we have just one trim level, the K40, with a 1.5 litre … [Read more...]
