Car IndicatorsFreelance motoring writer and member of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers with a love of cars, motorbikes and running.
I lied about the love of motorbikes. They scare me to death - although I would like to own a Ducati 996 in red which I would just look at but never ride. No, not ever.
THERE are so many Chinese SUVs arriving in the UK these days that it’s tempting to assume they all follow the same formula: generous equipment, impressive technology, a competitive price and styling designed to stand out from the crowd.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i is a bit different. For a start, it isn’t particularly attention-seeking. The styling is conservative, the … Read the rest
THE Kia EV3 is a compact electric SUV designed to be small enough for everyday life while still offering the range, practicality and equipment required to serve as the main family car.
It’s a difficult balance to achieve, particularly when electric vehicles tend to become rather large once manufacturers start adding sizeable batteries.
Kia has managed it very well, and … Read the rest
THIS week’s press car follows on directly from the Toyota C-HR+, which so impressed me with it’s sportiness and style.
However, where the C-HR+ is the sporty, slightly mischievous member of Toyota’s electric family, the bZ4X is its more practical sibling. It takes much of the technology of the C-HR+ and wraps it in a considerably larger, more conventional … Read the rest
THE hot hatches of the 1980s and 1990s understood something that seems to have been forgotten. Lightness of touch.
Also, responsive steering and enough performance to make you smile without putting your licence at immediate risk.
The new Toyota C-HR+ reminded me of those cars and that wasn’t something I had expected – certainly not from a Toyota electric SUV.… Read the rest
PICK-UP trucks have traditionally been creatures of compromise. They’re enormously capable, but that capability often comes at the expense of refinement. They’re designed to carry, tow and venture far beyond the end of the tarmac, rather than quietly waft their occupants across town.
The Ford Ranger has always understood that trade-off, but the latest Ranger PHEV is attempting something a … Read the rest
FOR years, reviews of Chinese cars have begun in much the same way: “It’s surprisingly good.” Or “Better than you’d expect.”
The implication has always been the same; that these manufacturers are still learning. Still honing their skills.
Which is a bit of a nonsense of course, as the majority of Chinese manufacturers have been around for decades – longer … Read the rest
I’VE always liked a Volvo. They never seem to disappoint. In fact, it’s my wife’s favourite manufacturer as she finds the build quality, ergonomics and overall ambiance of the models to be exemplary. High praise indeed – and who am I to argue . . . ?
I, largely agree. There is something inately, honest, obviously ‘thought-through’ about a Volvo. … Read the rest
FOR years, electric SUVs have seemed obsessed with proving something. They’ve chased ever larger touchscreens. Stranger styling. Faster acceleration. Bigger claims about reinventing the driving experience.
BMW could have followed the same path, but instead the new iX3 feels like a company that has stopped trying to prove it can build an electric car – and simply concentrated on building … Read the rest
THE Kia EV5 arrives in an increasingly crowded electric SUV market. Yes, there are cheaper alternatives, particularly from the growing number of Chinese brands making serious inroads into Europe. But climb inside the EV5 and it quickly becomes apparent that Kia has focused on something altogether more important than headline specifications.
Thoughtful design, for one. The sort of design that … Read the rest
IT’S funny how quickly you can become accustomed to something. After months spent behind the wheel of electric SUVs from both established manufacturers and ambitious newcomers, I’d almost forgotten what a thoroughly sorted chassis feels like.
That’s not to say the latest generation of Chinese family SUVs aren’t impressive. Many are. Their interiors have improved dramatically, equipment levels are often … Read the rest