When a prolific manufacturer keeps rolling out new models it's all too easy to overlook their older vehicles, as is the case with the Kia Stonic GT-Line S. Kia is on a roll with its brand in Britain, bringing new EVs to market in a constant stream and more are on the horizon as it enriches its range and wins awards within the industry.So it was good to … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KGM Tivoli K40
The familiar Tivoli mid-sized suv has been relaunched and refocused to take on rivals which offer less to an increasingly cost-conscious client base. Introduced in 2015 under a SsangYong badge before the manufacturer ran into trouble and then relaunched as KGM with improvements inside and out in 2024 so we have just one trim level, the K40, with a 1.5 litre … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus LBX Takumi Design
Lexus has returned to the compact executive market with its LBX petrol hybrid, and it’s anticipated to be a big player for them in the UK. The prestige brand’s first foray into the smaller executive sector was just before the new millennium when it introduced the IS200 series. That was based on a highly successful Toyota Altezza and this time around the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Tucson Premium Hybrid
The Hyundai Tucson is a quality SUV which many prospective buyers might overlook, at their cost. The Tucson range runs to five models, SE Connect, Premium, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate, from £31,535 to over £44,575 with 2WD, or with PHEV powertrain to stretch economy and 4WD. Power outputs accordingly range from 150ps to 265ps with model dependent manual … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda CX-30 2.0 AWD Takumi
Mazda has a modest UK range but every model comes with a lot of heart and soul, like the revised CX-30. Originally derived from the hatchback Mazda3 but smaller than the CX-5 SUV, the CX-30 came to the UK for 2020, but of course we all know what happened then as the pandemics swept through the country. Britain and Mazda persevered and now their … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Jazz Advance Sport
A lot of airtime and column centimetres have been taken up with Wales’ default 20mph urban limit, but I’ll let you into a little secret, you can do 100 in a Honda Jazz Advance Sport, and it’s perfectly legal. The fact is I am not talking about the sporty Jazz’s speed, rather its ability to return 102mpg: yes over a ton. Even on a busy day you’ll probably … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Niro EV 2
Kia has been in the forefront of the modern drive towards electric cars and its highly successful Niro compact SUV is the latest aimed at the mass market. It completes the Niro lineup which started with petrol models and then progressed to petrol-plug-in hybrids before adding the pure electric model this autumn, and the latest models are slightly longer, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Stonic ‘2’ 1.0T manual
Kia has built its reputation in the UK with its family-friendly SUVs so it was probably only a matter of time before introducing its compact SUV. Based on the Rio hatchback, the new Stonic has a longer body and stands slightly higher on the road with added ground clearance over the supermini stablemate. The Kia Stonic comes in eight versions: two engines … [Read more...]
Genesis trumpet a trio of newcomers
If you are a motorist with only a passing interest in the introduction of new models you will not have missed the news that a new premium brand called Genesis arrived in the UK and Europe and you'll see a lot more of them this year. Genesis is the luxury arm of Hyundai the South Korean brand which sells globally in huge numbers alongside its other brand, … [Read more...]
New Honda HR-V arrives in November
Honda has confirmed pricing details for its all-new HR-V compact SUV. Starting from £26,960, all variants of this latest generation HR-V are equipped as standard with Honda’s advanced two-motor e:HEV hybrid electric vehicle powertrain technology, representing the latest step in the brand’s commitment to electrify all of its mainstream models in Europe by … [Read more...]
