Peugeot 2008 Puretech – The crossover with a golden heart. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Peugeot’s hugely popular 2008 compact Crossover has a heart of gold – literally. One of its engine options, the PureTech 1.2 litre three cylinder turbocharged petrol unit, has just been awarded, for the third year running, the 2017 Engine of the Year award in the 1.0 to 1.4 litre category. The … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V Compact SUV/Crossover Road Test
Honda’s latest HR-V – Driven by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). SUV-drivers are very style conscious so I was pleased as punch when a few I know quite well praised the Honda HR-V. One asked what it was while another said they loved the sweeping lines, and both said they would certainly think of buying one next time around. Honda’s compact SUV was deliberately styled to give it a … [Read more...]
New Mazda CX-5 First Impressions
Keith Ward samples the newest version of Mazda's CX-5 SUV… In the ever-expanding SUV market, Mazda UK boss Jeremy Thomson is counting on his CX-3 and CX-5 models for 33 per cent of his total sales here this year. (2017). Not surprising when the run-out CX-5 itself currently attracts one quarter of Mazda’s global customers, is their top seller in Europe and has notched 32,000 sales in the UK … [Read more...]
BMW X4 3.0d M Sport coupé styled SUV – Road Test (in brief)
BMW X4 3.0d M Sport SUV – Assessed by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Ticking boxes is what it’s about with the BMW X4, the five door mid-sized SUV with coupé styling. This beefy brother to the 3 Series and X3 SUV was introduced to fill a niche of the market where Audi, Porsche, even Land Rover, have been plugging away with their sports SUVs. Without losing the 3 Series agility, … [Read more...]
MG XS – First Impressions
Motoring journalist and classic MG owner Chris Adamson has been taking a close look at the forthcoming MG XS – but sadly without the opportunity to drive it… (Words and photos by Chris) MG made its name worldwide with its range of practical and affordable two-seater sportscars so it’s somewhat frustrating for an MG enthusiast like myself to see the marque’s new Chinese owners developing a line … [Read more...]
Peugeot 3008 GT Line PureTech 130 Road Test
Chris Adamson gives his views on the European Car of the Year 2017, and assesses whether the car lives up to this accolade... (Words and Photos by Chris) ‘European Car of the Year 2017’ is a pretty tough title to live up to, but that’s the challenge facing the new Peugeot 3008, having beaten off some stiff opposition to claim the crown earlier this year. Visually it is hard to really … [Read more...]
New MINI Countryman Road Test
Largest production MINI ever – The new MINI Countryman. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In the 58-year history of Mini as it was and MINI as it is now under the BMW Group ownership, the all-new second generation Countryman five door Crossover/SUV type is the largest production Mini or MINI ever to go on sale. UK deliveries started in February with prices from £22,465 and running … [Read more...]
Skoda Kodiaq First Impressions
New Skoda Kodiaq large SUV joins the sales trail. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Yet another all-new model range joins the booming SUV market, this time it is the Skoda Kodiaq range of large five or seven seat, 2WD or 4WD on/off roaders. Prices start from an eye-catching £21,565, rising through a range of 24 derivatives to £34,050, and deliveries to UK customers start from 6 April. … [Read more...]
European Car of the Year 2017; Peugeot 3008 Road Test
Peugeot 3008 announced as the 2017 European Car of the Year, at the Geneva Motor Show… By Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV has been named the 2017 European ‘Car of the Year’ at the Geneva Motor Show by a judging panel comprising 58 European journalists. The 3008, Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class took the top three places. The all-new 3008 … [Read more...]
SEAT Ateca Road Test
Keith Ward test drives SEAT’s Leon-based Ateca SUV… Drivers in Europe reportedly experience a puncture every 75,000 miles on average. Well, it happened to me recently and turned out to be a happier experience than it might have been. Lucky break number one: It was nothing as dramatic as a night-time blowout at motorway speed. I was only made aware by a tyre pressure drop warning symbol on the … [Read more...]
New 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander models – First Impressions
2017 Model Year revised Mitsubishi Outlander SUVs test driven. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). 2017 is a notable year for Mitsubishi Motors as it is their centenary year of passenger car production, although the Mitsubishi name, meaning Three Diamonds, first appeared in 1870 as a mining, steel production and ship building business. Their first production passenger car – the Model A – … [Read more...]
Peugeot 3008 SUV/Crossover Road Test
Stylish New Peugeot 3008 SUV Crossover Now on Sale, plus New 3008 DKR Raid Rally models finish 1-2-3 in the 2017 Dakar Rally. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). UK deliveries of the all-new Peugeot 3008 have just started in January. The new model is described as a Crossover cum SUV rather than the previous generation, introduced in 2009, which was more MPV cum Crossover. But they are … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi ASX – Revised 2017 Model; Launch and Road Test
2017 Revised Mitsubishi ASX Crossover Debuts in the UK. Report by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The revised, higher specification 2017 Mitsubishi ASX mid-sized Crossover/SUV range is now on sale in the UK with prices starting from a competitive £16,184 on-the-road or £169 a month PCP finance plan over three years. All models have a five year, 62,500 mile warranty and, keeping … [Read more...]
VW Tiguan Road Test
Keith Ward assesses the latest version of VW’s compact SUV… Tiguan marked VW’s first venture, eight years ago, into the emerging and soon-to-explode compact SUV market. Since then some 2.8 million Tiguans have been sold globally – more than 100,000 of those in the United Kingdom, where it is now the company's best-seller after Golf and Polo. Summer 2016 saw an all-new version debut here, … [Read more...]
Aston Martin SUV – ‘Made in Wales’
The forthcoming Aston Martin SUV, which will go into production at St Athan, will carry a ‘Made in Wales’ identity plate... Writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The decision was revealed last night by Aston Martin Lagonda CEO Andy Palmer, as guest speaker at the Welsh Automotive Forum Networking Dinner, held near Cardiff. He told guests, “All our luxury sports cars have … [Read more...]
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross – Revised Models for 2017 – First Impressions
Updated Suzuki SX4 S Cross Models – Tom Scanlan tries 'em out! The British car buyer seems to be in a confident mood – car sales are booming. Among the smaller manufacturers, as far as we are concerned, is Suzuki. They are spending lots of money on advertising and results show that it works. Now, on sale next month (October) is what Suzuki describes as a 'major facelift' of their SUV, … [Read more...]
A Matter of Opinions… MG Owners Give Their Views of the New MG GS
MG owners tend to be very loyal to the marque, but what do they make of the company's new GS family sports utility vehicle (SUV), and in particular, would they buy one? Chris Adamson found out, when he showed the top-spec version to potential buyers who are already MG owners. Report and all photos by Chris. The new GS family car, MG’s brave debut entry into the highly competitive world of … [Read more...]
Volkswagen’s Latest Tiguan – Road Test
The New Vokswagen Tiguan Mid-size SUV – Classy but Costly. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Originally launched in 2007, the first generation Tiguan five-door, mid-sized SUV sold in big numbers, 2.8 million worldwide and 100,000 units in the UK. It is VW’s third best selling model in this country after the Golf and Polo ranges. Now the second generation Tiguan range has just … [Read more...]
Nissan Qashqai Tekna 1.6 DIG-T 163 Road Test
Nissan’s Qashqai Goes from Strength to Strength – The UK’s 5th Best-selling Car. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Whatever the future holds for vehicle production in the UK following Brexit, Nissan by the end of this year will have increased build capacity of their British designed and built Qashqai C-segment Crossover range. They are opening a second production line to meet European … [Read more...]
MG GS Road Test
The MG GS – A New Kid on the Crossover Block. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). “Is that the new MG Crossover”, just one of several questions people asked during my spell with the latest Crossover to come to the fast expanding SUV and Crossover market sector. “It’s much larger than I thought” said one Nissan Qashqai owner. I said “Why did you think it was a small vehicle” – “Well … [Read more...]