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...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Corolla Excel 2.0 Hybrid estate
In March this year the Corolla name returned to the Toyota line-up of passenger cars 14 years after the Auris name replaced it, writes David Miles. Like the Auris range it replaced, the 12th generation five-door Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports estate petrol and hybrid models are being built in the UK at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in Derbyshire for European markets. In addition there is a … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford Focus Active X estate 2.0L EcoBlue
Ford has added a new member to its Active family, writes David Miles. The Focus Active is available as a five door hatchback or estate and joins their Fiesta Active and Ka+ Active line-up. Ford Active models are termed crossovers models combining mild SUV styling whilst retaining the brand’s strong driving dynamics. Active specification includes raised ground clearance and driving … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Peugeot 308 SW Tech Edition 130 auto
Anyone who doubts the future of estate cars should take a long look at the Peugeot 308 SW series and see what it offers for the family who want space without the bulk of an SUV, writes Robin Roberts. The 308 series of hatchbacks and estates has been a backbone of the range for decades with different prefixes but it’s as relevant today as it ever was. What’s more it has … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volvo V60 D4 AWD Cross Country
Although it’s Volvo’s range of SUVs, the XC90, XC60 and the new XC40 that hog the limelight of the Scandinavian brand’s significant popularity and sales growth in the premium car market, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Volvo has excelled for over 60 years in producing estate cars, David Miles reminds us. With the large V90 estate firmly established, more recently the mid-sized V60 … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia Optima Sportwagon
For customers getting bored with their SUV or just plain put off by the ever increasing number of them on roads worldwide, perhaps it’s time to move on to the tried and trusted, more exclusive and traditional large estate, suggests David Miles. Despite manufacturers putting all their eggs in one basket pushing out SUVs of all sizes, there remains the opportunity to go the estate … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: New Volvo V60 T5 Momentum Pro estate
Last year Volvo in the UK outperformed the new car market with sales, and it's starting off well this year, writes David Miles. Whereas the market fell by 7%, Volvo increased their sales by 9% to achieve 50,319 registrations with their award winning new range of models This year the brand is aiming for 60,000 plus sales thanks to the popularity of their SUV XC40, XC60 and XC90 SUVs … [Read more...]
