The hot-hatch has been reborn for Gen-Z, and there’s a thumbs up from their parents too if they want to enjoy driving a Toyota Yaris hybrid. The one-time must-have cars for the young drivers of the 1970s seemed to die out in the first decade of this century, but someone forgot to tell Toyota. It launched the original Yaris in 1999 and the second … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
If you have a big family I don’t think there is anything to touch the Hyundai Santa Fe when it comes to room, comfort and interior design features at this price. Aimed squarely at the US market to begin with, this is a big, very big car, which fills and sometimes overhangs most parking bays. There is large and then there’s extra large, a category the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Superb 150 tdi SE L Estate
Value for money rarely comes with the sophistication and refinement of the Skoda Superb SE L Estate. Skoda introduced the Superb range in 2001 and it has gone through to the fourth generation, growing in size at each point until the current version based on a stretched version of the VW Group’s MQB Evo platform, also underpinning the largest models in the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volkswagen Passat R-Line
The latest Volkswagen Passat is not only the sleekest shape to carry the name but also probably the most sophisticated. It will surprise many to know that the original Passat was unveiled in 1973 and in 52 years there have been over a dozen derivatives, being sold as a hatchback, saloon and estate at various times around the world. It is the brand’s second … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Niro HEV ‘2’ 1.6 GDi
It is no surprise to me that Kia is doing well in sales terms. The firm’s comprehensive range provides vehicles to suit a wide range of preferences and practical needs, and for U.K. buyers the company’s line-up currently includes petrol-powered, hybrid propulsion and fully electric models. In other words they cover ‘all bases’. Reassurance for buyers is … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda3 Saloon 186ps Exclusive-Line
While every maker wants to be distinctive and have desirable cars they also tend to follow fashion and sometimes end up with dull models which look no different to one another, but thankfully the Mazda3 range offers an alternative. Its range has developed from saloons to hatchbacks and Cross-over models, but among them is a hidden jem in the shape of the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki Vitara Ultra Allgrip
The highly popular Suzuki Vitara has been given a make-over for 2025 to enhance the appeal of this already highly competitive medium sized SUV. The Vitara hybrid remains a strong selling model in the range and Suzuki has redefined its styling, raised the level of standard equipment and technology as well as further improved hybrid efficiency to stretch the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: MG ZS Trophy Hybrid+
MG is a becoming a brand to be reckoned with and strengthening its standing in the British market by taking a step back. The famous octagonal badge has been seen on UK made models since 1924, but it has also been a century of change, most notably when it was saved by an unknown Chinese brand called Nanjing in 2005 and then almost immediately resold to the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia Picanto GT-Line
If you can remember when cars were actually fun to drive you’ll enjoy the latest Kia Picanto even more with the high specification now added to this anything but basic runabout. We briefly drove the latest baby car from the Korean family in the summer and that was an entry-level model, but we’ve just managed to get our hands on the higher specified GT-Line, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki Swift 1.2 Ultra
The fourth generation Suzuki Swift is already a landmark model, just months after its introduction. While it builds on the success of previous models over the last 40 years and is one of the most capable city cars on sale it is also the last of its kind since Suzuki announced it will step up its battery electric vehicle range and in that will be a model to … [Read more...]
