When the going gets tough, so it’s said, the tough get going and the Subaru Outback will probably lead the way for most drivers. It mayn’t be an obvious choice because it does not look like a classic big-wheeled off-roader with enough space around the wheel arches to coral a sheep, or two. Nor does it have a slab-sided body and brick-like profile which can turn a practical car into a poor … [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 exceed 60mpg from this incredible Tardis … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota C-HR Dynamic 2.0 Hybrid
Continuous improvement is the philosophy of Toyota and few car makers have as much experience of evs, launching its Hybrid Synergy Drive in 1997, and is rolling out more models every few years, writes Robin Roberts. The Toyota C-HR is a good example of continuous improvement, first introduced to the UK in 2018 with a 120bhp 1.8 litre petrol engine which helped it notch up over 50,000 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Subaru XV Premium Lineartronic petrol
If you have to ask, you don’t know - and that’s very much the personality of the Subaru XV Premium Petrol Lineartronic SUV. Subaru has never fielded a huge range or enjoyed head-turning sales, but its best sellers have and are still highly sought after and popular with fanatical owners. Few will not have seen the famous blue and gold Imprezas sweeping all before them in the World or British … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Trek 1.8 Hybrid
With staycations forced upon many of us due to the pandemic lockdown on overseas travel, activity holidays in the UK are at record levels whether it involves hotels, B&Bs, caravanning, camping, glamping, boating or hiking, writes David Miles. UK sales and rentals of motorhomes, caravans, campers, tents and even Shepherd’s Huts are booming. With long term overseas travel restrictions … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda HR-V Sport CVT
The word ‘crossover model’ is often over-used and exaggerated, but not with the Honda HR-V in its top Sport CVT trim, writes Robin Roberts. The original Hybrid Recreational Vehicle from 1999 was a more sober-suited trendsetter but a lot has happened in two decades as fashions changed. More manufacturers have poured into the market for practical but performance edged cars, some without any real … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota RAV4 Icon Tech 4×2
Hybrids powertrains are the in-thing at the moment, but that’s not a surprise to Toyota who started development nearly 50 years ago and were among the first to put one on sale 25 years ago. Alongside hybrid technology, Toyota were working on the world’s modern first compact SUV and showed us the RAV4 in the mid 1990s. Come up to date and we have the two sectors merged in the RAV4 Hybrid series … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus CT200h Luxury
The Lexus CT200h is in its sixth year of production and for a final throw of the dice before its replaced it has some useful styling and equipment updates for the 2018 model year. The CT200h is the steppingstone model into the premium Lexus brand which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year of being introduced by Toyota. The CT200 range was a big move to providing a range of premium … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Subaru XV 2.0i SE Premium Lineartronic
Although Subaru is a brand with increasing sales in the North America and Australasia, but in the UK the brand has always been and still is a niche choice appealing to older customers with an individual desire to own something different. It is failing to attract a new generation of younger buyers although it still has strong customer retention. Gone are their glory days where sales … [Read more...]