© Image by www.jubag.com Although not its best selling model range, the first generation Kuga SUV launched in 2008 has been a significant model for the brand. It has been bought in the main by customers who have not had a Ford before and it has received the highest customer satisfaction ratings across the Ford range. Given the growth of SUV/4x4 passenger cars, 21% in the UK last year alone, … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend supertest: Range Rover Mk4 & Fiat Panda 4×4
The iconic Range Rover Mk4 is already a sell out among dealers, just three months after its announcement and within weeks of first deliveries being made. Coming in the wheel-tracks of Land Rover’s most successful ever year with UK sales up nearly 25pc, the lastest version in the model’s 42-year history brings cutting edge engineering and design to the on and off road market. The 120 UK LR … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Jazz Hybrid
The Jazz roomy supermini is currently Honda’s best selling model range in the UK with a 28,000 annual sales target and with 70 per cent going to retail customers. Over 220,000 of them have been sold in the UK since its launch in 2002. Prices range £11,605 to £18,750 for the petrol powered 1.2/1.4-litre British built models. But there is the option of the Jazz Hybrid built in Japan with its … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volkswagen Golf Mk7
Deliveries to UK customers of the all-new Volkswagen Golf three and five door hatchbacks in its seventh generation form began this week at prices starting from £16,285 rising to £24,880. The starter model price is £157 less than its predecessor whereas other models have more or less carry-over pricing. The all-new models offer more space, have added specification, are lighter with lower CO2 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford B-Max 1.0 Zetec
Ford really is out to make a splash with its new small MPV, the B-Max. A natural and updated successor to the Fusion, the B-Max has a distinctive pillar-less design that does away with the traditional B-pillar between front and back doors so it is in effect a B-Missed structure and gives wide open access from the front hinged doors to the rear sliders. There are nine models in the B-Max … [Read more...]
Less taxing Lexus CT200h for 2013
Lexus is big in hybrid model offerings with over 500,000 sold globally since they were first introduced in 2005. The RX400h replaced in 2009 by the RX450h SUVs has been their most popular accounting for over half their sales and followed by the CT 200h, the World’s first full hybrid luxury hatchback with 122,000 sales. In the UK there have been 32,700 Lexus hybrid sales and the CT 200h five … [Read more...]
Passat Alltrack for all seasons
VW’s Passat range of D-segment large saloons and estates are popular with nearly 23,000 annual UK sales. The range has roughly a 50/50 split sales split between saloon and estate styles with the Alltrack 4MOTION estates attracting around 600 UK customers annually. The Passat range is now the number two best selling D-segment range in the UK after the Vauxhall Insignia and new Passat now … [Read more...]
Splash out on this bargain Suzuki
One of the many interpretations of the word ‘splash’ is 'spend money' but the amount UK customers needs to splash out on a Splash is almost as low as you would sensibly want to go to get a safe and sound, smart five door mini MPV. It is the festive season of goodwill but those people at Suzuki GB have been good all year with their Vat free and zero interest finance offers. In return for … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Focus ST Estate
From rallying to refined sporting estate, the Ford Focus ST has built up an enormous following. The Ford Focus ST has become “the” car of choice for thousands of drivers who enjoy their motoring and the brand has been carefully enhanced and developed over the years but it’s also become much more refined as in the latest ST-3 tested. From its WRC beginnings in 1999, the hot hatchback carrying … [Read more...]
Weekend road test: Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Jaguar has had an on and off love affair with estate models. It has tried and faced testing times in the past, but now that could all change with the introduction of the XF Sportbrake five door estate series this month, now part of the XF executive saloon and estate range. There are 13 estate models, for now, priced from about £32,000 to over £51,500 and while they are two wheel drive, there … [Read more...]