In the mid 1990’s UK sales of Double Cab Pick-Ups were at their peak with registrations led by the Mitsubishi L200 range. Then the Government changed and upped the Benefit-in-Kind tax levels on these work and leisure vehicles which dulled sales and then registrations of all new vehicles slipped further as the recession took hold. But now Pick-Up sales are booming again in the UK … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend roadtest: Kia Sportage 4×4 1.6 T GDi GT Line
Kia has just slapped the face of the SUV sector. The latest best selling Sportage is brimming with technology and improvements which build on the legendary seven-year warranty cover and faith in its engineering. Kia has very carefully pitched the Sportage into the modern SUV sector it helped create and the new range comes in 18 versions with five trim levels, two or four wheel … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Skoda Octavia Estate Scout
Don’t fancy being one of the latest craze of ‘me-too’ buyers of small medium and large SUVs and Crossovers, but need a bit more security of 4x4 traction, then the new car market offers an increasing number of choices of all-wheel-drive cars and estates. Scouting around a Skoda dealership, or their website, you will come across the Octavia Estate Scout 4x4 five door available with two … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Peugeot 2008 GT Line
Three years after it was launched the Peugeot 2008 has been refreshed to take on newer challengers. Sales were up 16% as the new series went into showrooms and coming out the other side this time is a new high-spec sporting orientated GT Line we tested. Since June 2016, the Peugeot 2008 has been sold in a choice of four trim levels between £14,000 and £21,000 approximately but expect these … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Nissan Qashqai Tekna 1.6 DIG-T
Whatever the future holds for vehicle production in the UK following Brexit, Nissan by the end of this year will have increased build capacity of their British designed and built Qashqai C-segment Crossover range. They are opening a second production line to meet European demand for the Qashqai following a further £22m investment. Nissan is this year celebrating the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport
Game-changing new cars are really few and far between, but the Jaguar F-Pace is one of them. Jaguar has never had an SUV until now despite its long association with Land Rover when the familiar off-road brand was left to concentrate on the luxury 4x4 market while Jaguar made the luxury saloon, sports and estate models. Now the gloves are off and the Jaguar F-Pace will not only be competing … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Dacia Duster Laureate 110 4×2
Some manufacturers loudly shout about success, others simply get on with selling it, like the Dacia Duster. Part of the Renault-Nissan family, the Dacia Duster is probably the UK motor trade’s best kept secret. Since the marque’s 2012 launch in the UK it has slowly but steadily built up sales as more motorists seek a few-frills and no thrills motoring but want a down to earth car which does a … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: DS 4 Hatchback
DS, the standalone premium brand under the parentage of Citroen, introduced their latest DS 4 range with two distinct and stylish five door body styles, the DS 4 Hatchback and the DS Crossback and all are front wheel drive. The latter version in terms of styling and a 30mm higher riding height leans towards the now popular Urban Crossover sales sector. DS say … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi R8 V10 Coupe
Some stories start with a conventional beginning, others with an ending before the real story unfolds, much like the Audi R8 V10. When you switch off the engine and open the driver’s door a distinct heart-beat can be heard and while you think it may be yours finally calming down, it’s not. The rhythmic and familiar sound is a marketing masterpiece, while at the beginning of your … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: The Qs start here
Audi's latest luxury SUVs are seriously quick and also electrifying new models in two ways. First, electrifying performance from the SQ7 4.0 V8 TDI 435hp 900Nm quattro, the UK’s fastest and most powerful diesel SUV priced from £70,970 on-the-road. Second, the most frugal Q7, the e tron 3.0 TDI quattro plug-in diesel electric hybrid SUV which officially returns up to 156.9mpg and is priced from … [Read more...]