Keith Ward test drive’s Audi’s latest A4... In 2015 Audi achieved best ever worldwide sales of 1,803,250 cars, a 3.6 per cent improvement over 2014. Sales in the UK at 166,709 increased by five per cent, and are currently (at May 2016) running a further five per cent up. Having already expanded spectacularly its range of models over the last decade, the German four-ring brand is embarked upon … [Read more...]
Road Tests
Our in-depth appraisals of new cars available in the UK
New Kia Sportage Road Test
Kia’s All New Sportage Mid-Sized SUV First Drive. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). SUVs, Crossovers, dual purpose and 4x4s in all sizes are definitely high in demand, being the best-selling new car class in Europe and in the UK they make up the third largest sales sector with 355,118 registrations last year – a rise of 21% over 2014. Demand is up again this year following the … [Read more...]
New Lexus RC 2+2 Coupé Road Test
Stunning Styling AND Rarity Value – says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Originally designed as an RC concept coupé, such was the public and media reaction to it at various international motor shows that Lexus has now built it. The first UK deliveries started in January this year, but hurry if you want one – there is a sales plan of only 825 units this year. The RC 2+2 coupe rear … [Read more...]
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Road Test
Fourth Generation Toyota RAV4 SUV Range includes Hybrid Versions By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) For the first time in its history Toyota’s mid-sized, five door RAV4 SUV range includes a petrol/electric hybrid power source option in its line up of two and four wheel drive, petrol and diesel models. The 2016 range now includes a new 2.0 litre D-4D 141 bhp turbodiesel engine for 2WD … [Read more...]
Suzuki Vitara new S Road Test
Keith Ward road-tests Suzuki's flagship Vitara LATEST to emerge from an ongoing radical revision of high-flying Suzuki’s whole model range is a tech-laden, flagship “S” version of their impressive high-stance Vitara chunky SUV. At £20,899 it zooms straight in as top dog, £900 above the Vitara SZ5, next down the trim scale, to complete the handsome new Vitara range launched last year. Both … [Read more...]
Lexus RX450h Road Test
New Lexus RX450h Luxury Crossover Wafts into the UK By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The fourth generation luxury crossover Lexus 450 range has arrived in the UK – in fact when deliveries started in January. Prices start at £39,995 for the RX 200t S 2.0 litre petrol with two wheel drive, rising to £57,995 for the 3.5 litre V6 petrol hybrid with four wheel drive – and the top Premier … [Read more...]
New DS3 Hatch and Cabrio Road Test
New DS3 Hatch and Cabrio Introduced to the Design-led Brand By David miles (Miles Better News Agency) The DS Automobiles premium brand was separated from Citroën in 2014 to standalone with its own models and own dealership network. Since the DS3 Hatch and Cabrio ‘supermini sector’ sized models were introduced the range has expanded with the DS 4, DS 4 Crossback and DS 5. In addition there are DS … [Read more...]
Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 Diesel Twin-clutch Automatic Road Test
Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 Diesel Twin-clutch Auto. Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). My headline uses a short version of what this new model is called in full – the Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 DDiS ALLGRIP SZ5 TCSS. Bear with me whilst I explain. DDiS refers to the 1.6-litre 120 hp direct injection turbodiesel engine, ALLGRIP refers to its variable modes 4WD system, SZ5 is its one and only … [Read more...]
New Hyundai Tucson Road Test
The New Hyundai Tucson SUV is Already Driving Up Hyundai’s UK Sales Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The demand by customers for SUVs and Crossovers small, medium and large has made these types of vehicles the best selling sector in the European new car market and the third best selling sector in the UK, where sales increased by 21% last year. Such is the demand, even … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V Road Test
Keith Ward assesses Honda's HR-V... IF you are recalling an HR-V badge from Honda’s past, it was on a model launched just before the millennium, which struggled for success and finally nose-dived in 2006. Fast forward to last summer and into UK showrooms bearing the same badge dashed this purposeful-looking all-new model for which better things are hoped. It’s priced and sized between the … [Read more...]
New BMW X1 Road Test
New BMW X1 xDrive 2.0d Sport Road Test By Robin Roberts (via Miles Better News Agency) X-marks the spot for BMW UK sales successes, with a 12.5% increase in the UK last year to a new record of 167,391 new car registrations. This allowed the German brand to take over the UK’s number one sales position for premium brand cars from Audi. Part of BMW’s growth has come from their SUV series … [Read more...]
SEAT Alhambra MPV Road Test
A SEAT With Seven Seats – The Alhambra MPV By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) What’s in a name? SEAT – pronounced ‘say-at’ was founded in 1950 and is now the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen Group. SEAT’s largest model is their seven-seat Alhambra MPV, which takes its name from a medieval palace site in Granada. Moving to more modern times 2016 is the 20th anniversary year of Alhambra … [Read more...]
Volvo V60 Cross Country Road Test
Driven by Keith Ward... VOLVO first used Cross Country as a variant to depict enhanced all-road – if short of true off-road – capability and a rugged image in the late 1990’s on the old V70 estate. Think business exec in his weekend jeans and a checked shirt. These days the CC badge adorns versions of the S60 saloon and V40 hatchback and, most recently, the V60 “sports wagon” as the … [Read more...]
Porsche Macan S Road Test
Road Test: Porsche Macan S By Kieron Fennelly. Porsche’s smaller SUV has become its best seller... The rampant success of the Cayenne – Porsche built 650,000 during its first decade of production - made the eventual addition of a ‘junior’ Cayenne to the range a case of when rather than if. Back in 2001, observers were amazed when the maker of the celebrated 911, for many the definitive sports … [Read more...]
Kia Cee’d Road Test
A Healthy Sprinkling of Improvements Should Grow the Kia Cee’d’s Popularity By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) A sprinkling of updates inside, outside and under the bonnet of the Kia Cee’d family sized five door Hatchbacks, Sportwagon estates and Pro-Cee’d three door hatchbacks has given the models a mid-life refresh. Also introduced are more fuel efficient engines and a GT-Line sportier … [Read more...]
Vauxhall’s All New British-built Astra – 2016 European Car of The Year – Road Test
Vauxhall’s Sleek Newcomer Astra Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) When the British built Astra five door Hatchback was introduced to the media last September it soon became obvious to us that it was probably the most important car for most people to be launched in 2015. And that became reality because it has just been voted 2016 European Car of the Year and Family Hatchback … [Read more...]
Skoda Citigo Road Test
The Skoda Citigo – It’s Here in Black and White By David Miles (Miles Better New Agency) In the UK’s new car market, ‘A’ segment small City/Mini cars saw a big sales drop of 16.6% in 2015. It seems customers were lured away to larger ‘B’ segment supermini models, being marketed by cheap finance offers on low mileage used or pre-registered dealer stock cars. There was also a move by style and … [Read more...]
New BMW 7 Series Limousine Road Test
The New BMW 7 Series for High-Tech Executive Travel Writes David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Unless you are a high ranking government minister, royalty, a high flying business executive or a chauffeur, chances are you will not travel in, let alone drive, the new sixth generation BMW 7 Series limousine. Showing the new flagship’s high-end executive car status, these new models were very much … [Read more...]
VW Passat Estate Business – Wheels-Alive Road Test
Keith Ward is your guide... This is the eighth generation of the Passat, which since its launch in 1973 has racked up over 22 million sales worldwide and going on for half a million in the UK, where the estate version consistently outsells the saloon, £1,530 cheaper. Its star is not fading – in its latest form the Passat was named Europe’s Car of the Year 2015. And a telling tribute to its … [Read more...]
New MINI Clubman estate Wheels-Alive Road Test
Bigger is Better for the New MINI Clubman models Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The MINI is now in its third generation under the ownership of the BMW Group. The three door Hatch arrived first in 2015 followed by the five door Hatch and now the new larger Clubman models. The Convertible Hatch will arrive in March this year, the Clubman ALL4 in April and the new Countryman and … [Read more...]