Author Archives: Rob Auchterlonie

VOLKSWAGEN SHARAN: safety first for stylish family mover

1129003_VW_7465VOLKSWAGEN’S Sharan is a car you’ll consider if you’re a parent about town. Even more so if you’re a parent with a growing band of ankle biters in tow.

Safety is obviously very much in the mind of the designer and the buyer, so the big sliding doors each side allow safe access and exit, and for junior junior you can even have a built in booster seat with its own removeable head bolster to cut down the risk of injury in a collision.

But while Sharan, as a full size MPV, may have the attraction of a van to some, there are very many more creature comforts on board.

Continue reading →

VOLVO XC90 T8: Its quality is crystal clear

Rear, dynamic image of the all-new Volvo XC90 in Ice WhiteHOW many cars have you driven that come with an Orrefors crystal gearshift lever as standard?

South of zero, I’d guess, but it’s one of the classy little touches you’ll find in Volvo’s latest range topper, its twin engined XC90 T8.

With its twin engine set up, it showcases the future for Volvo, one of the features of which will be the distinctive Thor hammer headlights you’ll also find here lighting the way.

Continue reading →

VW POLO GTI: instantly excessive

VW_6947_2LOOKING for something in which to conduct a fast trip across country? Then can I commend to you the Volkswagen Polo GTI?

It has the necessary attributes. It’s a small but nonetheless roomy little car, it’s exceptionally well finished – and it has one of those highly efficient VW Group engines providing the propulsion. It adequately lives up to the GTI tag.

Continue reading →

LEXUS NX300h F Sport: a different way of driving

845289_230514lexus-2_3LEXUS’S first foray into this compact SUV sector of the market bears a body that has obviously been chopped and shaped by someone wielding a big Samurai sword.

Lots of sharp cuts and angles give it a distinctive, purposeful presence, and one you’re not going to miss as it glides past. Certainly the most aggressive and mean looking car we’ve had on the drive for some time.

Very angular, dramatic shapes at the front and rear – hugely distinctive indeed with its ‘get out of my way’ front grille.

Continue reading →

VAUXHALL ASTRA SRi: now with a prestige feel

1110523__DLS4500YEARS ago I was a dissenting voice in the regular debate over Escort v Astra.

Even when it switched to Focus v Astra I was unwavering in my opinion (for what it counts for) and could never fully understand or appreciate why everyone banged on about the Ford – competent as it was – when the Vauxhall was patently a better family car.

Nothing that came out of Dagenham swayed my opinion and just for good measure, I thought the Astra was neater looking too.

Continue reading →

DS5: French renaissance on four wheels

1026246_64281955 – a memorable year that saw my first birthday, the resignation of Winston Churchill as PM due to ill health, the legendary Dam Busters film was released, Clarence Birdseye began selling fish fingers in the UK, and across the channel in Paris a car called the DS made its debut at their motor show.

Which was the most notable occasion can be argued in pubs the length of the A1, but with the sad exception of Sir Winston, we’re all still around.

Continue reading →

AUDI A4: blowing up the lederhosen of the opposition

1086646_9578TO SAY Audi’s A4 been part of a German blitzkrieg of the UK premium sector would be something of an under-statement.

The big three Hermanns (Audi/BMW/Mercedes Benz) account for a whoppingly large portion of the classy sector of the market, so when one makes a move the others take note.

And rightly so because the all new A4 – with its focus set on comfort and technology in equal measure – is a car to seriously consider if you’re in the £30,000 plus buying bracket.

Continue reading →

RENAULT KADJAR: late starter makes up the lost ground

1081844_CHR3758IT’S a touch concerning when you start up your Kadjar in the morning to be greeted with a message telling you that the air quality is ‘very polluted.’

Speaks volumes about living in fairly close proximity to a major grid road in Milton Keynes as the traffic stops and starts its way into the city. And it also says a lot about the times we live in.

Continue reading →