Last year Volvo in the UK outperformed the new car market with sales, and it's starting off well this year, writes David Miles. Whereas the market fell by 7%, Volvo increased their sales by 9% to achieve 50,319 registrations with their award winning new range of models This year the brand is aiming for 60,000 plus sales thanks to the popularity of their SUV XC40, XC60 and XC90 SUVs … [Read more...]
Newslines 8 January
Volvo UK sold a record 50,000 cars last year and 9% above 2017 in a market down by 7%. It is part of the 640,000 sold by the Swedish brand in its best ever global year. Asda has further cut pump prices. But the RAC says supermarkets are no longer competing like they did for fuel sales and motorists are losing out on wholesale price cuts not being passed onto them. Sixteen MB models … [Read more...]
SUV sales soar, but not for every manufacturer
Global SUV sales rose 6% last year to a hit a staggering 60% over five years. Toyota dominated the sector with 2.35M registrations, Nissan recorded 2.24M and they were well ahead of a shrinking Honda holding 1.84M and falling due to the run-out of the CR-V. Despite its expansion in the sector, Ford sold just under 1.6M some 3.5% down on the 2017 total. Hyundai recorded a near 19% … [Read more...]
Sunday drives: Unsettling ride for motor industry
Seated at my keyboard responding to a request to write a review of the year from the 100 or so new or updated cars we have tried and tested this year, it’s difficult to know where to begin, says David Miles. 2018 started on a poor note with the fallout from the Volkswagen Group emissions scandal still continuing and it seems other brands were guilty as well. This has dampened customer … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 December
The new Volvo S60 sedan and V60 estate this week received the maximum five-star rating in their 2018 EuroNCAP safety tests, continuing a five-star streak for the Volvo line-up. The result underlines Volvo Cars' reputation for consistently putting some of the safest cars available on the road from the compact V40 hatchback to the large XC90 SUV, all tested Volvo models currently on sale offer … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo XC40 T3 R Design
It may be a throw-back to Nordic history, but when there is news of a new Volvo, heads turn towards the horizon. They are not always the first to introduce a feature or model in a sector, but you can bet their version will be significant. And you cannot get much more significant that the latest Volvo XC40 R-Design with its new three-cylinder 1.5 litre petrol engine, the … [Read more...]
Newslines 29 October
The eagerly awaited Volvo V60 Cross Country will be in showrooms early next year from £38,270. The all-wheel-drive model has specific 18-inch alloys, extra bodywork protection, hill descent control and an off-road mode for severe terrain but its also one of the last to get the 190bhp 2.0 D4 diesel engine and eight speed gearbox. The Vauxhall Corsa Griffin is a new high spec city car from … [Read more...]
Volvo XC40 range rolls onwards
With the September new registration plate month over, Paris Motor Show finished, diesel engine vilification ongoing, not to mention Brexit and, oh yes the Government’ Autumn Budget, it's still that time of year when car manufacturers need to roll out their 2019 model ranges, writes David Miles. Volvo UK has just done that for their 2019 model year range, no totally new models yet, … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 October
Volvo has demonstrated the strength in depth of its SUV range with the XC40 and XC60 together winning four honours in the 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Competition. The honours, including the overall Towcar of the Year award for the XC60, were presented at a ceremony held at the RAC Club in London. The Audi SQ2 is a 300ps compact SUV being unveiled at the Paris Motor … [Read more...]
Newcomer
Volvo has added more choice and sporting style to its V60 estate car range with the introduction of new R-Design versions, priced from £35,410. It has enhanced the suspension, wheels and tyres, improved the equipment to give it a more sporting look and feel, and also added an even higher specification R-Design Pro level, on all engine variants. … [Read more...]