NEW car brands rarely move into flagship territory so quickly. Most establish themselves with accessible, volume-focused models before stepping up.
Omoda had already introduced itself to the UK with the smaller Omoda 5. The 9 SHS, however, signaled a clear escalation in ambition.
This is the brand’s range-topping SUV — a large, all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid producing 449 bhp, capable of … Read the rest
IT may sound odd, but in all the years of driving cars, I’ve never stepped inside a Tesla. It hasn’t been by design – it’s just not happened; like learning to play the guitar or visit Machu Picchu, I’ve been somewhat lacking in effort . . .
So, popping my Tesla cherry in the latest Model Y has been somewhat … Read the rest
Some cars arrive with a weight of expectation. Others arrive with a smile. The new Renault 5 E-Tech manages both. It taps into nostalgia without leaning on it too heavily, while clearly being designed for modern life — and it pulls off that balancing act without feeling forced, gimmicky or overly retro.
As someone who sat on the judging panel that … Read the rest
There are cars that evolve, and then there are cars that leap forward. The Polestar 4 belongs firmly in the latter camp. It’s an SUV coupé that rethinks almost everything about the genre — including whether you really need a rear window.
When Mrs. B and I took a trip down to the Kelpies in it, the Polestar 4 turned nearly as many heads … Read the rest
YOU’VE just gotta love a BMW 5 Series. Quiet confidence and understated looks that make you think of Keanu Reeves rather than The Rock. Well, that’s what I think anyway. . .
The latest generation doesn’t try too hard to impress — it just quietly reminds you that it’s still the benchmark for business-class motoring. And nowhere is that more apparent than in the 530e plug-in hybrid, a car that somehow manages to combine thrift, performance, … Read the rest
IF you’ve ever looked at a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and thought, “Nice, but could it handle a gravel stage?”, you’re either a rally enthusiast or someone who’s been watching too much WRC. Either way, Ford has answered that question with a car that feels gloriously unnecessary — and that’s precisely why it’s brilliant. The Mach-E Rally isn’t just … Read the rest
VOLVO’S new EX30 is proof that the Swedish brand can do small and serious at the same time. It’s the company’s tiniest SUV yet — about the size of a VW T-Roc — but it arrives with huge expectations: a pure-electric line-up, up to 275 miles of range, and sustainability credentials that read like an eco-warrior’s CV. It’s also one of the most affordable … Read the rest
THERE’S posh, and then there’s the kind of quiet, confident luxury that can possibly slip under the radar. The Genesis Electrified GV70 belongs firmly in the latter camp. It doesn’t have a badge that screams status or a grille that looks like it’s trying to inhale pedestrians. Instead, it wafts onto the scene with the sort of serene self-assurance that … Read the rest
IT’S hard not to admire Kia’s confidence these days. The brand’s line-up now stretches from small electric crossovers to the mighty EV9, but the Sorento sits right in that sweet spot where family practicality meets long-haul comfort. For 2025, it’s been given a significant refresh — sharper styling, smarter tech and a cabin that looks like it’s been nicked straight … Read the rest
EVERY so often a new car brand arrives claiming to have cracked the electric SUV formula. Sleek looks, superfast charging, loads of tech and a whisper-quiet cabin — the promise is always the same.
The Xpeng G6 is the latest to make that pitch, a Chinese-built EV that wants to stand toe-to-toe with Tesla’s Model Y and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. On … Read the rest
