Mitsubishi Motors celebrated their 100th anniversary of car production in 2017 having produced their first car – the Model A in 1907 and their first 4WD model the PX33 in 1933, writes David Miles. Imports first began to Europe beginning in the UK in 1974 with the Lancer and Galant saloons and the first Shogun 4WD range came in 1983. Today Mitsubishi Motors is part of the Renault-Nissan … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall Grandland X Sport Nav 1.2 130PS
First impressions can last, as was the case with the new Vauxhall Grandland X, writes Robin Roberts. We liked it when driven at the UK launch in October and now the first models are getting into customers hands with rave reviews and awards being scooped up along the way. It’s easy to see why it’s done so well. Vauxhall Grandland X is very carefully specified over its 17-model range in four … [Read more...]
SEAT Arona adds to choice and confusion
Another week arrives and yet another new range of SUV models is released into our new car market already overflowing with choices, writes David Miles. This time it’s the SEAT Arona SUV largely based on SEAT’s recently introduced Ibiza supermini sized hatchback range. They both share the VW Group’s A0 version of their highly rated MQB platform. Priced from £16,555 to £24,235 the range of 24 … [Read more...]
Bigger, bolder, better Polo arrives
The sixth generation VW Polo has arrived in the UK bigger and better than before, says David Miles. Over 14 million Polos have been sold to date throughout five generations and in 2017 it was the UK’s seventh best-selling car with 47,855 registrations. Despite triggering the diesel emissions scandal which contributed to a fall of 17.1% in UK diesel powered car sales, Volkswagen ironically … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Peugeot 308 Allure 1.2 PureTech 130 automatic
The Peugeot 308 range of C-segment five door hatchbacks and SW estates arrived in the UK late last year and heralded a range of minor styling changes, even more fuel efficient petrol engines and better infotainment and connectivity functions. They now all have the Peugeot i-Cockpit taken from the award winning 3008 SUV with its 9.7-inch touchscreen, connected 3D navigation with TomTom live … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: SEAT Ateca SE 1.6TDi 115ps
The award-winning SEAT Ateca is a strong challenger in the booming SUV sector which has overtaken most family favourite hatchbacks and estates. The range is wide, with a choice of 115 1.0 or 150 1.4 petrol engines alongside 115 1.6 or 150 and 190ps 2.0 diesels in five trim levels with or without intelligent 4WD. We have previously tested the 115ps 1.0 litre petrol before and were very … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Renault Kadjar TCe 165
With a move towards petrol powered models, Renault has kept the Kadjar relevant by introducing a 1.6-litre TCe turbocharged direct injection petrol engine with 165hp and a six-speed manual gearbox in 2WD, writes David Miles. The C-segment mid-sized Renault Kadjar, five door, five seater SUV/Crossover was launched two years ago and sits between the smaller and recently revised Renault Captur and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: VW Tiguan Allspace
Defying the downward UK car sales trend through 2017 and rising to become the second best selling brand in the country, Volkswagen is out to make a bigger impression this year as it plugs gaps in its range. One of the spaces falls between the Tiguan SUV and the Touareg 4x4 and its about to be filled by the Tiguan Allspace. Derived from the Tiguan SUV but using the VW modular platform it has … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Audi SQ5 3.0 TFSI quattro
Changing buying patterns have brought about a rethink by Audi, writes David Miles. The previous generation SQ5 was a V6 335bhp TDI turbodiesel model and the first ‘S’ model to have a TDI diesel engine in the UK and the first Q model to be available with ‘S’ performance specification. The latest Q5 range went on sale earlier in 2017 followed later in the year by the new ‘S’ flagship … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki S Cross 1.4 SZ5 AllGrip
Every roadtester eagerly awaits a particular model to drive among the scores that pass through their hands annually, and in my case it’s the Suzuki S-Cross. It looks like so many other SUV models but the reality is this comes from a company with a pedigree dating back almost 100 years and is still family owned, and has a remarkable reputation in four-wheel-drive engineering. This has been … [Read more...]