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.
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
THERE’S something oddly refreshing about driving a normal hatchback in 2026.
Not “normal” in the sense of dull or forgettable, but normal in the sense that it sits lower to the ground, doesn’t pretend to be an SUV and doesn’t ask you to recalibrate your expectations around charging speeds, battery pre-conditioning or whether your home wallbox app has decided to … Read the rest
LAUNCHING a new car brand in the UK is never easy. Launching one in the middle of an increasingly crowded electric vehicle market is harder still.
Yet Geely arrives with a considerable advantage. While the name may be unfamiliar to some UK buyers, the company behind it is anything but. Geely already owns or has major stakes in Volvo, Polestar, … Read the rest
WHEN Ford announced the Explorer EV, there was far less noise than there had been around the Mustang Mach-E or, more recently, the Capri.
That’s probably because the Explorer name doesn’t carry the same emotional baggage in the UK. Most buyers aren’t arriving with decades of nostalgia or strong opinions about what an Explorer should be. That freedom has arguably … Read the rest