While SUVs now tend to grab sales and headlines we cannot overlook estates, writes Robin Roberts. Volvo has built a sound reputation on its estate cars and the V-series has won many awards from business and family judges. In fact some estates have morphed or developed into what’re often termed crossovers, sitting in size and style between a boxy estate and taller SUV. Some believe the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volvo V60 Recharge
Volvo is now well known for their commitment to full electrification of all their models by 2025, writes David Miles. They have recently confirmed they will develop and assemble their own electric motors at their powertrain plant in Skovde Sweden. The very first Volvo from 1927 was powered by a petrol engine from the same factory. Currently many vehicle manufacture’s electric motors are … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Skoda Octavia SE L FE Estate 1.5 TSI
The all-new Skoda Octavia range of Hatch and Estate models is well and truly in circulation after the initial COVID-19 lockdown delays and are making their way to eager UK customers with more versions just announced, writes David Miles. The Octavia has been Skoda’s best selling global model range with 400,000 of them rolling off the production lines each year. They are built in the Czech … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Trek 1.8 Hybrid
With staycations forced upon many of us due to the pandemic lockdown on overseas travel, activity holidays in the UK are at record levels whether it involves hotels, B&Bs, caravanning, camping, glamping, boating or hiking, writes David Miles. UK sales and rentals of motorhomes, caravans, campers, tents and even Shepherd’s Huts are booming. With long term overseas travel restrictions … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition Estate
We live in a 24/7 world, expect everything to work at any time and not let us down. One guide to choosing a good car is looking at what police, ambulance and taxi companies use because they are on the road 24/7 and one of the most prolific of vehicles is the Skoda Octavia Estate. Without being whincingly expensive to buy and run they fulfill their roles and deliver mile after mile, year after … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Corolla Design 2.0 HB Touring
The world’s best selling car and most successful British-built, the Toyota Corolla, goes from strength to strength. Toyota has been building cars in Britain since 1992 when the Burnaston, Derby factory came on stream as Toyota’s first manufacturing centre in Europe. In June it assembled its 4.5M model, a Corolla Hatchback to add to the over 46M Corolla models built worldwide since 1966, … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Skoda Superb Estate, 2.0 TDI 190hp auto 4×4
The Skoda Superb large Estate and its five door Hatchback stablemate models have over the years not only pulled in huge global sales but have received numerous awards and accolades, writes David Miles. These have been not just for its D-segment class-leading interior passenger and load space, but for its value for money appeal and the wide range of engine and specification options including DSG … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: VW Passat SEL 190 estate
Volkswagen’s golden oldie Passat is a treasure. From its launch in 1973 it is now the VW with the longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year and it even predates the Golf name by a year. With over 30 million sold worldwide in 46 years, the Passat is the best-selling mid-size car in the world after seven versions have been launched. The enhanced eighth generation … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Peugeot 508 SW GT BlueHDi 180
The new Peugeot 508 SW five door five seater estates have recently come to market with prices starting from £26,845 but the wide range of engine choices and specification levels plus options can push the price up to almost £41,000, writes David Miles. The new estate compliments the award winning 508 Fastback, a five door, five seater hatchback range launched last year. Both body … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Corolla Touring SE 1.8 Hybrid
The enduring and enterprising Toyota Corolla is a firm favourite with British car buyers and it’s easy to understand why after a week with the 1.8 Sports Excel estate hybrid, writes Robin Roberts. This spring , the 12th generation Corolla replaced the oddly-named, smaller and less attractive Auris series of models and it brought with it the latest self-charging hybrid technology which … [Read more...]