Kia has firmly planted itself in the UK family market with the mid-sized Ceed. This rival to the Focus, Astra and Golf has been comprehensively re-engineered for 2019 and it’s wider and longer, has good headroom and a decent sized boot and comes very well equipped and finished. The new Ceed comes in five-door hatch or sports wagon bodystyles, based on three engine options, two transmissions … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Rapid Spaceback SE Sport 110ps
Space is a confusing place, and it’s not been helped by the Skoda Rapid Spaceback landing in showrooms. The Rapid hatchback neatly filled a gap in the Skoda range between the Fabia and Octavia but then the Czech car maker added Spaceback, which not an estate but a hatchback as well. From the outset it has to be explained that the Rapid hatchback has a roomier boot but the Spaceback gains … [Read more...]
Vauxhall’s new model arrives September
Vauxhall’s all-new Combo Life will arrive in showrooms in September from £20,530. Aimed at active families and empty nesters, the Combo Life comes in two trims, Design and Energy, with Energy models available as either a five- or seven-seater. Customers can also choose between two wheelbases: standard and XL. It includes petrol and diesels with either manual or automatic transmission. Priced … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Fiat Panda 4×4 1.3
Italian singers are often short in stature but big in heart and voice, just like the Fiat Panda 4x4. The cheeky all-wheel-drive car is part of a compact 12-model range sharing a 5-door body. It provides a choice of 900cc or 1.2 litre petrol engines along with a 1.3 diesel, in five trim levels and even offers a semi-automatic for the easiest of lives either in town or country, and with front … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Peugoet 5008 Auto 130 petrol
The French love family life and it shows in the Peugeot 5008 series of SUVs. Developed from the firm’s smaller 3008 SUV, the larger seven seater SUVs are available with Active, Allure, GT Line, GT Line Premium and GT specification levels depending on the engine chosen. While Peugeot’s platform has simply been extended to offer more room and luggage space the powertrains are … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda CX5 2.2D Automatic
Mazda has a thoroughly deserved reputation for quietly getting on with the job and building some great if unassuming cars, such as the CX5 SUV. It also proves it’s not a one-trick pony best known for the stunning sporty MX-5 two-seater. No, it also builds a very good SUV in the shape of the CX5 and you may consider it’s the natural step up from the sports car when family responsibilities kick … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: SEAT Ateca SE 1.6TDi 115ps
The award-winning SEAT Ateca is a strong challenger in the booming SUV sector which has overtaken most family favourite hatchbacks and estates. The range is wide, with a choice of 115 1.0 or 150 1.4 petrol engines alongside 115 1.6 or 150 and 190ps 2.0 diesels in five trim levels with or without intelligent 4WD. We have previously tested the 115ps 1.0 litre petrol before and were very … [Read more...]