If you live in the country, the chance’s you’ll like a dark horse such as the Subaru Forester. It is an all-time four-wheel-drive model with good ground clearance, carries and tows a lot but it’ll not cost you an arm and leg like most 4WD or SUVs. The Subaru Forester also comes with something rivals clamour, rarity value. You are unlikely to see as many in the lanes and towns as with … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Nissan Juke Hybrid 2WD Tekna+
The Nissan Juke has been with us for over a decade but it can still hold its own against rivals now it has been given a Hybrid powertrain. It has just picked up five-stars for safety as well so it’s not lacking where it matters for many families. In production since 2010, the Juke crossover sits below the larger Qashqai and was intended to have a more sporting appeal than its stable-mate with … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Tesla Model Y Long range EV
The innovative Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best selling car in September as it built on its engineering expertise and shrugged off competitors. On the eve of the company’s 20th anniversary in 2023, Tesla has been the outstanding if controversial success story over the last two decades, setting engineering standards for traditional car makers to consider and compete with, producing very mixed … [Read more...]
First drive: Suzuki S Cross Full Hybrid
Suzuki has passed another milestone on its road to future mobility with the arrival in UK showrooms of the latest Full Hybrid S Cross SUV. Using the same powertrain from its Vitara stablemate, the S Cross Full Hybrid is a logical development of the mild-hybrid S Cross introduced at the end of 2021. That has been a runaway success for Suzuki despite constraints imposed by this year’s … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Isuzu D-Max DL20 DC 4×4
It’s that time of year when parents and grand-parents don’t always pack into their car the holiday gear but rather the more mundane “stuff” accrued by offspring in universities and need to head home. What the students actually learn during a year at university seems to slide into the background and doesn’t include what to throw away or store so a family car can struggle to accommodate a student … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Ranger Raptor SE
When one of the world’s biggest vehicle makers launches a model you usually have to sit up and take notice, however, the Ford Ranger Raptor demands attention. Based on a conventional pickup which is one of America’s best selling vehicles, the Ranger Raptor SE has been given a performance make-over to cope with both European roads and more demanding driving styles than encountered on the plains … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: First drive Suzuki Vitara Full Hybrid
Suzuki has not skimped on kitting out their new-age full hybrid Vitara SUV and it represents much better value than its closest eight rivals. Every model gets intellingent braking assistance, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise, seven airbags, Smartphone connectivity, remote key, navigation and climate control. On top of this standard … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV R-Design
Volvo had a truly remarkable 2021 and with an enhanced range unfolding this year that success will continue. In a UK market which saw just 1% expansion, the Volvo line up increased 4% to 48,260 cars giving them a record 2.93% share of the British total. Most of that came from the new Volvo Recharge PHEVs and pure electric models which doubled in demand and accounted for 37% of registrations. … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mercedes-Benz E220 d Saloon
As Mercedes-Benz’s best selling series, the mid-sized E-Class has been a benchmark for rivals and it’s still a byword for the executive market today. Originating in 1946, over 14 million saloon and estate models have been sold since 1953 before being joined by the coupe and cabriolet bodystyles and it now represents the tenth generation. A facelift in 2020 give it a new grille, nose and … [Read more...]
Honda e:HRV further step on electrification this year
Honda is boosting its electric offensive with the introduction of the e:HRV in November. The new generation HRV uses two electric motors driving the front wheels to assist the regular 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine but it’s not a plug-in hybrid. The 131ps maximum powertrain develops 253Nm at 4,500rpm and is essentially a boosted version of that in the Honda Jazz and comes as the … [Read more...]