Kia is coming of age with its new Niro petrol electric hybrid Crossover. It's already produced an electric car into its previous petrol and diesel line up but as global manufacturers are forced by legislation to constantly reduce the emissions of their passenger vehicles both by model and for their entire ranges overall, more and more cars are being offered with some form of electric only power … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Sunday drive: Peugeot 2008 Allure 1.6 BlueHDi 100
At the Paris Motor Show, new SUVs are at the heart of Peugeot’s model display as their parent company PSA moves to differentiate the style of models from their three brands of Citroen, Peugeot and DS, says David Miles. Peugeot is exhibiting the new 2008 compact SUV which is already on sale IN THE uk alongside the new and chunkier looking five seater 3008 mid-sized SUV and the new … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Edge Sport 180
Ford expect to really cut it with the Edge. SUV sales are soaring and it’s the must-be sector for every manufacturer so Ford has topped its range of “active” models up to now led by the Kuga with a completely new range of larger cars. There are 11 Edge models on sale with in four trim levels using 180 or 210ps turbo-diesel engines, with a choice of manual or dual-clutch automatic … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 2.0 TDI 4Motion
Originally launched in 2007 the first generation Tiguan five-door, mid-sized SUV sold in big numbers, 2.8-million worldwide and 100,000 units in the UK and is VW’s third best selling model in this country after the Golf and Polo ranges. Now the second generation Tiguan range has just arrived at prices starting from £22,510 for the 1.4-litre 125hp petrol 2WD manual model and will rise to an … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Smart fortwo prime Cabrio
Horses for courses is a particularly apt phrase to describe the smart fortwo. There’s no denying it was ahead of its time when the original model went on sale in 1998, and now the quirky two-seater rarely gets a second glance. But in 18 years it has grown up and now runs to a staggering range of about 50 versions with choices of electric motor and 71 or 90hp petrol engines in six … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: KIA Pro_cee’d 1.6 T-GDI GT
The latest Kia sports hatchback is definitely a car you can warm too, writes David Miles. The uprated Kia 1.6 T-GDi GT 201bhp 'hot hatch' is available with three and five door body styles in the Pro_cee’d three door and five door Cee’d ranges priced at £23,110 and £23,610 respectively. The two Kia hatchbacks nestle in the region of ‘warm’ performance versions of conventional family … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Renegade 2.0 140hp Limited
Jeep is going on the warpath with its Renegade. As the founding company of the modern four-wheel-drive sector and which provided the inspiration for the legendary Land Rover brand, Jeep knows an awful lot about off-roaders. So the arrival of the Renegade series is something we all have to take very seriously. I have thought that for a few years Jeep took its eye off the ball and let … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: MINI JCW Convertible
A lot of convertibles can be more show than go, but not the top of the range Mini John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible. This version is indeed Posh and well equipped and of a high quality but this one also boasts lots of ‘Pecs’ with its muscular styling and high powered 2.0-litre, 231hp turbocharged petrol engine. The is a potent race-bred top of the range version of Mini’s third … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Nissan Pulsar Tekna 190
Nissan’s bread-and-butter range has been given a marmalade topping. The Nissan Pulsar is on paper a five-door family car of good proportions and useful performance, but it’s really more than that. Originating in 1978 as an enlarged version of the Nissan Sunny, hence the name Pulsar, the latest model was introduced to Britain in 2015. Pulsar is Nissan’s upper range five-door … [Read more...]
Executive motoring: Volvo S90 and V90 arrive
Swedish swish and sophistication come as standard in the latest Volvo S and V90 series, says Robin Roberts The new large premium saloon and estate models in Momentum or Inscription trims embody features from the XC90 with an emphasis on “relaxed confidence.” They are the latest to be built on Volvo’s scaleable product architecture where the only fixed point is the distance from fascia to … [Read more...]