With the demonization of diesel powered vehicles and the significant fall in oil-burner sales, a fall in the UK new car market of 25.6% in January on top of the 17.1% for the whole of 2017, it’s only natural that manufacturers are introducing more petrol engine options writes David Miles. Volvo for instance with their V90 estates have just added a T4 turbocharged 190hp four cylinder petrol unit … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend roadtest: Mercedes E 350 d AMG Line Estate
The fashion of buying saloons and hatchbacks is looking distinctly outdated with the clamour for must-have SUVs showing no signs of easing off. But the other interesting trend is the turn towards quality cars which hold onto their value over longer periods and which is being felt further down the buying chain. What goes around comes around, as Mercedes-Benz knows better … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia Stinger 3.3 T-GDi V6 GT
In a radical move, Kia has launched into the high performance executive hatchback sector after years of building family models and business cars. The South Korean brand of Kia launched in Europe in 1991 has moved steadily from budget to award winning mainstream models with long seven-year 100,000-mile warranties and successive years of record UK sales. The brand has recently entered the premium … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Citroen C3 Aircross Feel 110
It must be the French attitude towards life because it seems every few months we get a new Citroen joining the family. The newest arrival in the C3 range is the Aircross compact SUV but it could become an important member as this model series runs to over a dozen versions based on three trim levels, manual or sequential automatic transmission and 82-130hp diesel or petrol engines costing … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer 210hp
Not everybody is being seduced by the frantic must-have need for an SUV and there is still a small but important need for roomy large estates both with 2WD and 4WD and the Insignia Country Tourer is one option. Vauxhall’s first generation Insignia range of D-segment Hatchbacks and Tourer estates was launched in 2008 as a replacement for their Vectra models and they received a facelift in 2013 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 190PS 4×4 7st
The Skoda Kodiaq marked a turning point for the Czech subsidiary of VW as it launched into the burgeoning SUV sector. From its introduction in 2017 the five and seven seat Kodiaq has picked up numerous awards and was followed with a smaller Karoq SUV, which has also been highly praised. It seems as if Europe and its discriminating drivers have suddenly woken up to the brand which built a … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Skoda Karoq SE L 1.5 TSI 150hp
With the arrival of so many new SUVs, Crossovers and 4x4s it easy to be confused on which is the best and most suitable model to buy, writes David Miles. One thing for sure is that the availability of such vehicles has grown out of all traditional proportions as manufacturers chase sales. The mid-sized SUV sector has grown faster than the small SUV/Crossover market and generally … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: New Audi A8 ahead of its time
The new fourth generation Audi A8 is really ahead of its time. It is the first car in the world to be built for the forthcoming age of autonomous vehicles which don’t require driver interaction in traffic at up to close to 40mph, the so-called Level 3 or “eyes off” category. As legislation changes to allow the Level 3 to be ‘turned-on’, beginning in America but gradually being rolled out … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Milano Edizione 2.0 petrol
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio can be bought with your head or your heart, says David Miles. Such is the public’s obsession with SUV/Crossover vehicles that even Aston Martin, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari and luxury car producer Rolls Royce feel-the-need to enter this market sector. They join the already established premium brands of Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Fiesta Vignale 1.0 5dr automatic
Whether or not you agree with Brexit, Britons’ love choice and which is why the Ford Fiesta has been voted the country’s top car for decades. Nearly 40 possible versions are available to British buyers with three and five-door bodystyles, six trim levels and a choice of petrol or diesel engines with manual or automatic transmissions. Essentially there is something to please almost anyone and … [Read more...]