The World Rally Championship is all about clipping seconds off your competitors, but the Toyota GR Yaris took years off me. Built to permit the company to take part in motor-sport’s toughest rally series and winning in 2018, the GR Yaris is probably the closest a driver will come to sitting in one of the actual WRC cars. For those of a certain age, or older, the GR Yaris rekindles the racy hot … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend roadtest: Isuzu D-Max DL20 DC 4×4
It’s that time of year when parents and grand-parents don’t always pack into their car the holiday gear but rather the more mundane “stuff” accrued by offspring in universities and need to head home. What the students actually learn during a year at university seems to slide into the background and doesn’t include what to throw away or store so a family car can struggle to accommodate a student … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda CR-V 2.0i MMD AWD hybrid
Honda tends to hide its qualities very well, which probably explains why it may not be the first go-to brand for an SUV, and that would be a mistake for any motorist to make. Korean, German and British brands tend to hog the limelight and sales in this section of the market but the reality is the Honda CR-V can hold its own against some better-known names and is not only superior in certain … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi e-tron GT
Audi is on a charge into the pure-electric luxury car sector. For almost a decade it has dabbled in the EV market with plug in hybrid models of existing series but the dedicated pure battery e-tron series clearly shows its future intent. The e-tron programme is part of the parent Volkswagen Group’s technology being applied to its sporting Porsche brand but refined and engineered for Audi … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Jazz Crosstar EX
Among the Japanese automotive brands, Honda stands out as being a bit different, not afraid to have a go at something while remaining fiercely independent, even if it tends to change its mind from time to time. One of the enduring models in its UK lineup for two decades has been the Jazz series of supermini’s, which morphed into the Jazz Crosstar crossover model, effectively a taller hatchback a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Ranger Raptor SE
When one of the world’s biggest vehicle makers launches a model you usually have to sit up and take notice, however, the Ford Ranger Raptor demands attention. Based on a conventional pickup which is one of America’s best selling vehicles, the Ranger Raptor SE has been given a performance make-over to cope with both European roads and more demanding driving styles than encountered on the plains … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Stonic ‘2’ 1.0T manual
Kia has built its reputation in the UK with its family-friendly SUVs so it was probably only a matter of time before introducing its compact SUV. Based on the Rio hatchback, the new Stonic has a longer body and stands slightly higher on the road with added ground clearance over the supermini stablemate. The Kia Stonic comes in eight versions: two engines and four trim grades –‘2’, ‘GT-Line’, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus NX450h + Takumi PHEV
Lexus has come a long way in a short time with its luxury compact SUV NX450h+. Launched in 2014, the Lexus NX range brought a new player into the compact luxury crossover sector and it made significant inroads before being replaced in 2021, but it’s still based on the latest Toyota RAV4 platform with refinements to the suspension. And that's no bad thing. The second generation introduces the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Proace Verso
Family and business motoring is often a compromise between what you want and what you get, but that’s not the case in the shape of the Toyota Proace Verso. The people carrying version of the Proace van is extremely versatile with seating for up to nine based on three trim levels, medium or long body lengths and various layouts all given good specifications for each role. Our Family version … [Read more...]
Easter special: Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible
When you cut off the top of an Easter egg, you still have chocolate so can enjoy it even more and it’s the same with the Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible. The basic egg is good enough but if you’re lucky there will be some more treats inside, which is what we found with the incredibly satisfying 650bhp 6.0 litre 12-cylinder twin-turbo petrol convertible version of the GT Coupe. As … [Read more...]