WITH the new XC40 you get the impression that someone at Volvo has gone out on a bit of a limb. Someone hasn’t followed the design brief that says the XC40 should be a smaller version of the XC60, which itself is a smaller version of the XC90.
Nope, someone has gone their own way – and I suspect that … Read the rest
THE Mercedes Benz A-Class is a best-seller in Europe – and especially here in the UK where Mercedes sell more A-Class models than any other; Which is no surprise really as it’s the cheapest way to get into Mercedes-Benz ownership and MB has always been an aspirational brand.
The trouble with the old model A-Class was that it didn’t actually feel very … Read the rest
THERE’S a word for a car that belies its true nature. It’s an alternative to the phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. The word is “Sleeper”.
The new Honda Civic Type R is not a sleeper. In fact, it’s rather shouty in a very “wide-awake” kind of way.
WHEN Ford release a model with the letters “ST” or “RS” attached to the name, then you can be sure of one thing: Expectations are sky high.
After all, the nation has had a long-standing love-affair with performance Fords which started way back in 1970 when the Escort RS 1600 appeared on the scene.
So, when Ford say the latest … Read the rest
FIRST off, let’s get one thing straight: It’s Ceed, not cee’d anymore. Okay, the pronunciation is exactly the same but Kia have, quite rightly, decided that the original name could be a little confusing so they’ve dropped the apostrophe and capitalised.
And with a “snappier” name comes a snappier look – the new Ceed really has raised the bar for … Read the rest
THE Volkswagen Polo has been around in the UK since 1975 and in that time we Brits have bought more than 1.4 million of them.
This may have been because the Polo has always been on the generous side of practical for a small car. German build-quality and reliability have played a part too but many Polos will have been … Read the rest
SsangYong have been manufacturing vehicles for more than 60 years now but unlike other Korean manufacturer’s, such as Kia and Hyundai, it specialises in rugged SUV and off-road vehicles, with the Rexton being their flagship model.
It’s an imposing beast too. This large SUV comes as a full 7-seater in EX and ELX trim, while the range-topping Ultimate is 5-seat … Read the rest
THE new Ford Focus has a lot riding on it – and I don’t just mean for the men in suits at Ford Motor Company. The Focus has always been a favourite here in Britain, outselling everything except the Volkswagen Golf and its own smaller, cheekier sibling, the Ford Fiesta.
So, when an all-new Focus arrives, we put down our copy of “SUV Today” and sit … Read the rest
IT’S big, it’s blue and it’s very beautiful. More importantly it’s an Audi super-car which was mine to do with as I wish for a week – although Tony forced me to drive it up and down the Goyt Valley in Derbyshire so he could take some “pics and footage”. Oh well, anything to oblige a mate . . . … Read the rest
THE Suzuki Celerio is the Japanese manufacturers most-affordable car and if you think that must mean a lack of refinement or equipment then you may be pleasantly surprised.
The Celerio is never going to wow you with plush interiors or cutting-edge infotainment systems but after spending a week with the mid-spec Celerio SZ3 I can tell you that you won’t be feeling … Read the rest
