Kim Henson test drives Suzuki’s latest, fourth generation version of its Swift compact supermini... (Photographs and words by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Big news from Suzuki is that the firm plans to introduce its first fully electric car later in 2024, with further EV models arriving through to 2030. In order to make way for the new electric models, Suzuki is discontinuing (by early 2025 … [Read more...]
Contributors
Honda e:Ny1 electric SUV – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson briefly test-drives Honda’s all-electric e:Ny1 Advance… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). The neat and stylish e:Ny1 is a fully electric SUV, with a powerful electric motor (only) which uses a water-cooled battery to ensure consistent power delivery and to help extend battery life. The battery is low-mounted within the vehicle, helping to optimise interior … [Read more...]
Omoda 5 – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson briefly test-drives the new Omoda 5 SUV… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). Please note: The following report has been produced based on briefly driving a non-UK spec car, and in advance of the UK’s press kit being issued; there may be differences in facts, figures and specifications for UK spec models. Founded in 2023, the Chinese firm Omoda is a new kid … [Read more...]
Subaru Crosstrek Touring – Road Test
Subaru has one of the smallest model ranges on sale in Britain, but arguably it is also one of the best, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). After building a reputation on performance in the World Rally Championship, Subaru has since focused on active leisure and lifestyle buyers and now is exclusively a four-wheel-drive producer. Early in 2024, the new Subaru Crosstrek replaced the … [Read more...]
INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster Edition – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson briefly test-drives (on tarmac) the petrol-powered version of the INEOS Grenadier, in Trialmaster Edition form… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). Despite the proliferation of modern 4x4 vehicles, there are many potential users who still prefer the traditional’ non-nonsense approach to off-road machines. Enter the INEOS Grenadier, which is aimed at filling the … [Read more...]
Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Touring – Brief Road Test
Kim Henson takes the wheel of Subaru’s all wheel drive Crosstrek… (All words and photographs by, and copyright Kim Henson). I first test-drove a Subaru (an all wheel drive estate car) in the autumn of 1979, and was impressed by the performance of its horizontally-opposed ‘boxer’ engine, its versatility in everyday use, and its spectacular levels of traction (albeit without a differential … [Read more...]
Audi Q4 e-tron – Road Test
The latest Audi Q4 e-tron is proof that you can get more than you expect, even in today’s cut-throat and complex car market. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) tells all… When originally launched in March 2021 it was the fourth fully electric model in the brand’s e-tron series but it’s undergone continuous improvement and towards the end of 2023 it was boosted with a bigger battery and … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-5RF 2.0 Homura – Road Test
Sometimes, the simple things in life please the most and that’s certainly the case with the Mazda MX-5, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The classic yet modern sports two-seater is straightforward, front-engine and rear-wheel-drive engineering, but underneath it embodies some of the latest technology to enhance owning, driving and enjoying the open-air experience in safety and, when … [Read more...]
Kia’s impressive line-up sampled…
Kim test-drives Kias – briefly driving five models from the current range, and likes what he found... It is no surprise to me that Kia is doing well in the U.K. market; to start with the firm offers a very wide range of models that currently encompass petrol power, hybrid propulsion and fully electric vehicles. Added to this wide range of buyer choice there is Kia’s market-leading seven year … [Read more...]
‘Covid’ cars, some with ‘missing’ items, are appearing on the used car market…
“Covid cars” – models made during the pandemic with irregular specifications – are causing valuation issues as they start to appear on the used market, says the Vehicle Remarketing Association. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... Marcus Blakemore, chair of the trade body’s Industry Trends Committee, said that dealers and traders were buying cars expecting them to meet certain … [Read more...]
SMMT electric avenue of dreams?
It's green for go, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) as he provides his own personal assessment of the recent SMMT Test Day event for motoring writers to test-drive current vehicles… (At the outset Kim says: ‘Zero emissions’ in the context of BEVs in fact effectively means ‘Zero exhaust emissions’ only. For a full and accurate comparison with i.c.e. models it is important to appreciate … [Read more...]
Toyota Yaris Premiere Edition – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts Toyota’s latest Yaris through its paces… The Toyota Yaris has been one of the brand’s most successful models with over 10 million made, and it’s not resting on its laurels. This Spring the familiar Yaris hatchback range was increased with the addition of the Premiere and GR models which have brought more electric power and greater refinement to the … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: “Classic Racing” (On track action captured at the Silverstone Classic Festival 2012 – 2023)
Reviewed by Kim Henson Author: Peter Osborne Published by: ‘From the Driving Seat’: www.fromthedrivingseat.com 260 pages (A4 landscape pages, paperback) UK Price: £29.95 including p. and p; order direct from the publisher, website details above. ISBN: 978-1-3999-7834-7 This comprehensive book covers, in superb colour photographs taken by author Peter Osborne, and with concise yet … [Read more...]
What future for classics? Views are sought on the way ahead…
Government consultation under way on DVLA/DVSA rules for classic vehicles - by Dave Moss Speaking at a recent Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) event, Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, asked the classic car community and industry to help future-proof historic vehicles by responding to a current Government consultation into how best to support Britain’s classic car sector … [Read more...]
Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble 2024
Kim Henson reports on this year’s Beaulieu Spring Autojumble: Here’s his own story of the event… (All words and some photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson; remaining photographs by, and copyright, Chris Adamson, as individually credited. Grateful thanks to Chris for providing his photographs). Once again I attended the Spring Autojumble, held within the grounds of the National Motor … [Read more...]
BMW iX2 XDrive 30 SAC – Road Test
If you thought that BMW don’t just build cars but also desires, you don’t have to look further than the new iX2 XDrive 30 sports activity coupé to appreciate the fact, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Announced last autumn with the second generation X2 series including its petrol powered stablemates from £39,365, the iX2 20 and 30 series models were their first pure electric … [Read more...]
BBC Gardeners’ World 2024 Spring Fair, Beaulieu
Kim Henson reports from the green(fingered) fields of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu… (All words and images by, and copyright, Kim Henson). This year’s popular Gardeners’ World Spring Fair has returned to Beaulieu (as in 2023) and the show, which ran from 3rd to 5th May 2024, featured a fresh layout and a wide variety of new features. Now of course Beaulieu is famous for its superb … [Read more...]
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Match – Road Test
Volkswagen has been on a learning curve with electric cars but now it’s heading towards the top of the class – says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It has flirted with electric cars for many years and a decade ago gave us their zero emission versions of the e-Golf and e-Up, adapted models of their better known petrol and diesel hatchbacks. VW engineers knew change was coming down the … [Read more...]
All-new Suzuki Swift Hybrid – First Impressions
Kim Henson samples the latest, Fourth Generation of Suzuki’s compact supermini, the Swift. (Images and words by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Suzuki’s Swift has been impressing owners over the last 40 years and three generations, with more than nine million examples having been sold globally, across 119 countries. As with all Suzukis, the model has earned a justifiable reputation for … [Read more...]
Isuzu ‘New Look’ D-Max DL40 Double Cab Auto – Road Test
Kim Henson test drives Isuzu’s well-respected D-Max Double Cab (five seater) pick-up. (All words and images by, and copyright, Kim Henson). In recent years Isuzu has become increasingly prominent in the U.K. pick-up market, with a reputation for strength and reliability endearing buyers. Indeed this inherent durability is key to the company’s strategy, and in the firm’s own words, they… “focus … [Read more...]
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