To some motoring journalists the Holy Grail of a range is the entry-level model of any series. Mentioned in price lists but rarely seen in showrooms or on the road, these starter models are often just a price point to get into a sector and destined to become the model of choice in daily rental fleets. Now, I had a former colleague who always bought the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: SEAT Leon Hatch 1.5TSI FR Sport
SEAT Leon has raised its game in the very competitive family car sector as the industry slowly pulls away from the Covid pandemic and components shortages. It was unfortunate timing for the comprehensively revised Leon to be announced three years ago to date and all the changes are only now really appreciated. The new-look SEAT Leon comes in six trim … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Corolla Hatchback 1.8
However you look at it, the Toyota Corolla is remarkable among models and, perhaps not surprisingly as a result, is the world’s best-selling nameplate over six decades. Now in its 12th generation, the Corolla is the first to use the company’s fifth generation hybrid petrol electric technology in its 1.8 engines coming from North Wales and all assembled in … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KIA Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT Line S
With motoring costs soaring a lot of drivers are downsizing and face the dilemma of what to buy, yet do not realize how good a modern small car can be. In fact, a recent study found the typical family car today has over £32,700 of features fitted as standard which were not there a decade ago and after adjusting for inflation. We recently found ourselves … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Yaris GR Sport
Toyota dominated this year’s World Rally Championship and hopes some of this success will spread into its sophisticated city car, the Yaris. It launched the Yaris GR Sport about 12 months ago and my test drive really took me back, more than a year, to a time when hot-hatchbacks were all the rage and any car which had a rally or racing pedigree was … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Civic e:HEV
Sometimes we look forward to long journeys with trepidation and other times with anticipation, and it was definitley the latter in the Honda Civic e:HEV. Briefly tested and impressed a few weeks earlier, a 320 miles round trip in a few hours was going to be confirmation of our initial impression or realisation we had got it wrong then. We need not have … [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...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Camry Excel
After 15 years out of the UK market, the new generation Toyota Camry is turning heads with its striking saloon shape. While hatchbacks and SUVs have come to dominate registrations and estate cars are few and far between, the once highly popular saloon stands out as a distinctive offering. But beauty is more than skin-deep in the Toyota Camry as it … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: VW T-Roc Cabriolet Design 1.0 TSI 110PS
The Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is definitely good for your health this summer. We are increasingly being implored to get out into the fresh air to reduce the chance of catching Coronavirus but there are few true family four-seater convertibles on the market at this price. You don’t want to be cooped up in a tin-top on a hot day, or any day for that matter, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall New Insignia Sri VX-Line Nav
The Vauxhall Insignia is a lesson to rivals. While many challengers have or are about to move out of saloons/ hatchbacks and into crossover models in the modestly priced family sector, or executive brands keep pushing up prices but offering less in return, the Vauxhall hatchback stands out as extremely good value and packaging. The Insignia range today … [Read more...]
