HYBRID SUVs are everywhere these days, but few wear their eco-credentials as confidently as the Honda HR-V. While some rivals still feel like petrol cars with a battery wedged in, the HR-V e:HEV was designed as a hybrid from the ground up.
The result is a small family crossover that’s smart to look at, smooth to drive, and refreshingly easy … Read the rest
COMMUTING, school runs, shopping trips, and the occasional motorway dash — for most of us, that’s the real-world test of a car. And it’s exactly what the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid has been built for.
While everyone else shouts about either fully electric futures or big engines from the past, Kia offers something in between: a compact crossover with just … Read the rest
LAUNCHING a seven-seater SUV powered by a straight-six diesel engine feels about as on-trend as bringing back the MiniDisc. Yet that’s exactly what Mazda has done – first in the CX-60 and now with the larger CX-80.
While rivals chase electrification headlines and complex plug-in promises, Mazda has doubled down on honest engineering: a big, efficient diesel engine, a roomy … Read the rest
YOU don’t expect a compact electric SUV to feel this polished. The Kia EV3 doesn’t just tick the boxes for range, practicality, and family-friendliness – it does it with enough style and tech to make some premium brands look a bit overpriced. With sharp looks, a long-range option of up to 375 miles, and Kia’s trademark value, the EV3 could … Read the rest
THE Ford Transit Custom is so familiar on UK roads it’s practically part of the landscape. Builders, delivery drivers, mobile workshops – it’s the van that gets the job done.
But Ford hasn’t let familiarity slip into stagnation. Over the years we’ve seen it grow from a dependable diesel workhorse into something far broader: limited editions with style, fully electric … Read the rest
IF the name KGM doesn’t immediately ring any bells, perhaps its former identity, SsangYong, will. The South Korean brand first landed on UK shores back in the early ‘90s, primarily known for reimagining Mercedes-Benz hardware on a budget. Models like the Rexton bore more than a passing resemblance to early M-Class SUVs.
Now, rebranded as KGM (Korea Global Mobility) and … Read the rest
THE Ford Focus ST Edition is the only press car I’ve ever had which comes with a large spanner in the glovebox.
But worry not; the spanner is a sign of the ST Edition’s commitment to ultimate performance rather than a fix for iffy engineering. Adjustable KW coilover suspension may be a manual affair in the Focus ST Edition, but … Read the rest
BACK in 2010, the Dacia Duster arrived on the scene with a refreshing lack of pretence. It was robust, practical, and proudly utilitarian. Over 2.2 million global sales and more than 40 awards later, the latest, all-new Dacia Duster marks the model’s third generation.
It still marches to the beat of its own drum, offering families, adventurers and value-conscious buyers … Read the rest
THE Nissan Qashqai (or Cashcow, as I’m sure the bean-counters at Nissan refer to it) has managed to carve out an envious position in the UK SUV market, selling almost 5,000 units in 2024 alone. This year it could do even better.
Since its original launch in 2006, the Qashqai has become something of a household name in the UK—a … Read the rest
I’D LIKE to say the Ford Capri is back, but this new EV is as much like the original Capri as the Mustang Mach-E is like a true Mustang. i.e. not similar at all. Gone is the sleek, rear-wheel-drive coupé that graced British roads in the ’70s and ’80s. In its place stands a fully electric SUV coupé, sharing its … Read the rest
