The new Volvo S60 premium mid-sized saloon range was introduced in the Spring of this year and its arrival heralded two important moves, says David Miles. Firstly it is the first modern day Volvo car range not to include a diesel engine. Secondly it is the first model to be built in Volvo’s US manufacturing facility in Charleston South Carolina continuing the brand’s rapid expansion … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Camry Excel 4-Door 2.5 Hybrid
Increasing demand for hybrid vehicles has prompted Toyota to return the Camry mid-sized four-door saloon back into its UK line-up after an absence of 15 years. This is the all new eighth generation Camry, it went on sale first in 1982 but the seventh generation versions were not sold in the UK. Although Toyota class the new Camry as a mid-sized saloon at 4,885mm in length and with very … [Read more...]
Mid-week roadtest: Volkswagen Passat Saloon Advance
Last week’s media launch was the first opportunity for us to drive the new Passat models in the UK and the first opportunity anywhere to drive the Saloon, writes David Miles. So with that in mind, plus the overall decline in diesel sales in our domestic market, I opted for the Passat Saloon GTE Advance 1.4-litre TSI, PHEV, 218hp, 6-speed DSG auto priced at £38,940. There are extra cost … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 320d saloon MY2020
The BMW 3 Series has been a two ‘marks’ model, writes David Miles. Firstly it’s the ‘hallmark’ core model range in the extensive BMW model line-up and secondly it’s the ‘benchmark’ model that other manufacturer’s models in the upper medium sized ranges of saloon and estates are compared to. The new BMW 3 Series Saloon is the seventh generation stretching back over 40 years of sales … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volvo S60 T5 R-Design Edition saloon
In five years the Swedish Volvo premium brand has transformed from roomy, solidly built, conservatively-styled models appealing to older buyers into dynamic SUVs, estates and saloons with much more kerb appeal whilst retaining their high safety reputation, writes David Miles The latest new model is the S60 mid-sized four door saloon range, in essence a saloon version of the highly rated V60 … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus ES 300h ES Takumi
The new seventh generation front wheel drive ES 300h self-charging petrol-electric hybrid D-segment executive class saloon is the first ES range ever to be sold in the UK and Western and Central Europe, writes David Miles. Although we are only just getting the ES, the original ES launched the Lexus brand in 1989 alongside the LS flagship saloon. The ES has become the brand’s most popular saloon … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KIA Optima 1.6 CRDi 2
From being an also ran when launched in the UK in 1991, Kia has become a serious challenger to the best from Japan and mainland Europe, and the latest Optima saloon is a good example of why their rivals should worry,writes Robin Roberts. Built for a target audience and not necessarily down to a price, the Kia Optima saloon – a Sportswagon estate is also available in more versions – is … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: MB C 200 AMG Line 4MATIC Saloon
You should rightly expect something special from the world’s oldest car-maker and you wouldn’t be disappointed with the Mercedes-Benz C-class, particularly the highly popular C200 4Matic AMG Line auto tested. Almost 100 years after the company was created from the partnership of German engineers Daimler and Benz it introduced the car which was to be the foundation for today’s C-class, the … [Read more...]
Mid-week motoring: Honda Civic Saloon
With no Estate version in the tenth generation Honda Civic range, until now only available in five door Hatchback form, now Honda has extended the Civic’s appeal by adding four door Saloon versions, writes David Miles. Unlike the Hatchback and Type R built in the UK for global sales, the Civic Saloon is built in Turkey for European markets. Available with 1.0-litre three … [Read more...]
First Drive: New Audi A6 Saloon and Avant
Audi success has been built on the sum of its parts, writes Robin Roberts. Whether that’s quattro technology, TT-style or out-and-out performance through the wheels of the R8, but it’s also been piling up sales with estates. The runaway demand for its RS4 and RS6 estate or avant models over years is probably better known than the popularity of its 100 and then A6 wagons, and the A6 last year … [Read more...]
