Launched about a year ago was the new fourth generation Toyota Prius which had first use of Toyota’s New Global Architecture platform which in the case of the Prius lowered the ride height, gave a more engaging drive and improved the interior quality, writes David Miles. It also introduced to the Prius brand a more acceptable exterior body style now similar to subsequent other new Toyota models … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford Kuga 2.0 diesel auto 4WD
The very popular Ford Kuga mid-sized SUV first launched in 2008 is now in its second generation which was launched in 2012 and continues to be very popular with UK customers, writes David Miles. It remained in 2019 the second best selling SUV of any size just behind the British built Nissan Qashqai and ahead of the South Korean Kia brand’s Sportage. In the Spring of this New Year the all-new … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo XC60 T8 twin engine
Volvo saw record UK sales in 2019, led by its SUV family including the XC60 series, writes Robin Roberts. British registrations went up 12% to over 56,200 with the compact XC40 taking 15,445 and the XC60 recording 11,766 sales as the brand out performed some other premium rivals in 2019. Globally sales topped its 93-years history with over 700,000 sales. This year will see more PHEV and BEV … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Volvo XC90 B5 diesel R-Design
The second generation Volvo XC90 large SUV with 4x4 traction and seven seats is the flagship of the revitalised Volvo range, writes David Miles. It was introduced in 2014 and recently it has undergone its mid-term revisions to keep it relevant in today’s expanding SUV market sector. It was the sales and image success of the premium brand XC90 that led Volvo to producing similar in style the XC60 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest:Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription AWD
If you asked anyone to name three famous Swedish icons I bet you’d hear them mention Volvo. Whether that came before or after ABBA and IKEA is debatable and older generations may substitute SAAB somewhere, but the fact is Volvo has become more than a car brand. It’s a global representation of Sweden and the Swedes tend to do things differently, their own way, with a particular style and flair … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Audi S7 Sportback 349hp TDI quattro
Currently the S7 model is the top of the range version in Audi’s new A7 Sportback range but order books are open for an even more powerful – and faster RS7 variant arriving early next year, writes David Miles. The Sportback is the five door coupe version of the Audi A6 luxury Saloon and Avant estate family. A7 Sportback prices start from £48,175 with the S7 priced from £68,680 and the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford EcoSport ST-Line, 1.5 EcoBlue TDCI
Under the One Ford policy where any model they produced globally, subject to meeting local demand and legislation requirements, could be sold in any market, the EcoSport compact five-door SUV first saw light in 2013 to meet low cost South American markets. As the compact SUV market grew worldwide for such sized models production was increased with the EcoSport also being built in … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus RX450h
There are no shortage of SUVs, small, medium, large and very large, petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all electric are all available depending on the model and from ‘budget’ buys to ‘upper-class’ premium brands, all cashing in on the seemingly unstoppable public demand, writes David Miles. Sales of SUVs of all sizes now account for over 35% of the European new car market, a figure more … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo XC40 T5 FE
Even before the Volvo mid-sized XC40 SUV range was launched in the UK in April this year it had already been given the 2018 European Car of the Year award and numerous others have followed since then including a Towcar of the Year trophy, writes David Miles. The XC40 has fast become Volvo’s best selling model range which includes the award winning XC60 and XC90 larger SUVs and the new … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo V90 AWD Ocean Race
Big, bright and brimming with technology, the Volvo V90 Ocean Race Edition echoes the round-the-world racing yachts of the same name. They are eye-catching on the water, but the special edition big estate is every-inch a head-turner on the road in its white bodywork with grey and orange details, unique wheels and highlighted interior leather stitching and contrasting orange seat-belts. All … [Read more...]
