The UK car industry came to the end of its Covid induced click and collect period last week with healthy March new registration plate month sales, writes David Miles. Registrations were up by 11.5% over March last year when Covid first closed showrooms. However the March 2021 total of new cars sold 283,964 units is 37% below the 10-year March average. Peugeot is one of the brands doing well with … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid
Honda is raising its game with the latest CR-V SUV, writes David Miles. Announced in December for the 2021 model year, it’s available now only with petrol electric hybrid power in 2WD or 4WD forms depending on spec level chosen. So it’s the latest 2021 model year CR-V we are reviewing with its new e:HEV branding and prices range from £30,880 for the base S spec 2WD version to £39,840 for the top … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia Sorento ‘3’ 2.2 CRDi
The original Kia Sorento was launched in 2002 as a utilitarian all-terrain vehicle and the various generations have accrued over three million global sales, says David Miles. Today's fourth generation Sorento is a vastly more sophisticated model than the first even though it still has the potential to be a 4x4 workhorse. With seven seats its more family-use orientated and with the 1.6 turbo … [Read more...]
First drive: Mazda MX-30
Making its move into the electric generation of modern cars, the Mazda MX-30 lands squarely in the middle-ground of the market. Based on the stable-mate CX-30 crossover costing about £2,500 less, the MX-30’s 35.5kWh lithium-ion traction battery has added weight to the platform. Mazda has kept this as low as possible and not utilised a heavier battery as in some rivals and last year, the MX-30 … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Peugeot 3008 Allure 1.2L PureTech 130
The Peugeot 3008 mid-sized SUV unveiled in 2008 has regularly been renewed until we have the latest tweaks, writes David Miles. When originally launched the 3008 was ahead of the game in terms of being a family affordable SUV and was instrumental in the growing popularity of such models. Peugeot call it ‘new’ but I’d say revised. Now the compact SUV market sector has mushroomed during the last … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Lusso 2.0
Diversity has driven the car industry for over a century responding to the changing society it serves, so we shouldn’t be surprised when a traditional sporting brand looks at something different,writes Robin Roberts. Premium brands including Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Maserati and Porsche are examples which come to mind, but there is also the more affordable sporting Italian marque … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV
The Citroen C5 Aircross has been a winner for the French marque from its 2017 launch and it’s about to ease them into a new era, writes Robin Roberts. Within six months of going on sale, over 50,000 models had been delivered and it’s updates include a Plug-in Hybrid Electric version. That brings a big saving at first registration and if you only do a 15-miles commute each way and have access to … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Suzuki Across PHEV SUV 2.5
Partnerships between automotive manufacturers are now commonplace as they share costs to bring to market more and more lower exhaust emission models, writes David Miles. They're needed to meet tightening CO2 targets and avoid financial penalties if overall range emissions fail to meet new targets. One of these emerging partnerships is between Japanese brands Toyota and Suzuki. Toyota is … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volvo XC40 Recharge
Although overall new car sales stalled globally in 2020 due to Covid-19, sales of electrified models substantially grew, writes David Miles. In Europe electrified models outsold diesel powered cars for the first time and the demand for SUVs continues. Now by electrified I mean, plug-in pure electric powered models, PHEV plug-in hybrid petrol/diesel electric vehicles, self charging … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4xe PHEV
Jeep’s landmark position in the off-road sector is now joined by the Renegade’s claim to fame as the first of the brand’s electric models, writes Robin Roberts. The Renegade was a defining vehicle for the brand being the first Jeep model to be made outside the US. It’s assembled in Italy, Brazil and China from 2015. Now it’s reached another high point and more Jeep models will become hybrids … [Read more...]
