When it comes to choosing your new car it’s not always obvious that the better choice is not your first choice. Buyers who pour over print or on-line reviews can become numbed to the choices and models laid out before their eyes. Badge envy may blur vision and the surreal experience is sometimes far from reality. You have to physically get into a car and experience it to fully appreciate … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 420i M Sport Coupe
In these days of health and safety in this Covid era holding mass motoring media product test driving events is not easy, you need space. And to meet that space requirements for this week’s BMW UK Media Showcase event of their new and updated models they used an aircraft hangar at the Bicester Heritage Centre for the media to assemble and collect their test drive cars. This event heralded the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi Q7 55 TFSI e quattro auto
Audi like to do things differently and their latest model actually delivers less but gives you more. The Q7 has been a hallmark with its seven-seats but the new mild-hybrid 3.0 TFSI petrol version tested punches out more power and gives passengers more space by fitting just five seats. It’s always been debatable whether a cramped seven-seater was really desirable and how valuable it would … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 1 Series 118i auto M Sport 5-door
The third generation BMW 1 Series range of 5-door hatchbacks is now with us, writes David Miles. In a change from previous versions this generation is predominately made up of front wheel drive versions with transversely mounted engines which have a shorter bonnet, the cabin area moved forward within the car’s footprint and the rear seat knee room is increased with a larger boot so it’s a roomier … [Read more...]
Sunday drive:Citroen Grand C4 130 BlueHDI auto
In the real world of practical motoring requirements are we losing our must-have desire for an SUV or Crossover type of vehicle? New car sales suggest not but in the UK’s used car market a recent survey has found that the fastest selling used cars are roomier and more practical MPV people carriers. Driven by the UK’s better summer weather the growth in staycation holidays has risen, no doubt … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Peugeot 308 SW Tech Edition 130 auto
Anyone who doubts the future of estate cars should take a long look at the Peugeot 308 SW series and see what it offers for the family who want space without the bulk of an SUV, writes Robin Roberts. The 308 series of hatchbacks and estates has been a backbone of the range for decades with different prefixes but it’s as relevant today as it ever was. What’s more it has … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda CR-V 2.0 Hybrid, EX Auto
Billed by Honda as the world’s best selling SUV with over 9.0-million sales in 150 countries since the first generation model was launch in 1995, the latest generation range was launched towards the end of last year, writes David Miles. However the new range had no diesel and no 2.0-litre VTEC petrol engine options and came only with their 1.5T VTEC 173hp manual gearbox or … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Audi A6 Avant 50 TDI quattro 286hp
The fifth generation Audi A6 Saloon and Avant estates are slowly coming to market, says David Miles. The 2.0-litre 40 4-cylinder TDI and 3.0 50 V6 TDI turbodiesel with mild hybrid support and automatic transmissions launched in September and met the new WLTP economy and CO2 requirements that month. Other engines are available to be ordered but deliveries have been delayed because of the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: MG ZS 1.0T GDI Exclusive auto
Sometimes it’s the little things which bring the biggest surprises, like the MG ZS SUV with a sub-1.0 litre engine and an automatic gearbox, writes Robin Roberts. Now years ago you would have baulked at a five-seat family car with a 999cc engine and lumbered with an automatic transmission. But I can tell you things have really changed for the better. The MGZS … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Fiat 500X 1.4 MultiAir 140hp DCT auto 2WD
Such has been the huge growth in demand for SUV/Crossover types of vehicles that manufacturers right across the car industry have flooded the market with their offerings so it’s easy to forget or overlook some of those that have been with us for a while. One such range is the Fiat 500X compact SUV, first launched in the UK in 2015, with five doors and the choice of 2WD and 4WD models. … [Read more...]