Category Archives: Road Tests

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF S 1.2: Small engine prompts a Meldrew moment….

VW Golf 5IS it at all possible in this day and age to slip an engine the size of an overgrown lawnmower under the bonnet of a quality car and – let’s put it this way – still get away with it?

Those of us who remember the days when a 1.2 engined car could barely struggle to the top of a hill under its own power would probably say no.

But those people at Volkswagen have proved us wrong. For the Golf range (and others in the VW stable, it has to be said) now offers the option of a modest 1197cc unit. And to be honest, it’s an eyebrow raiser.

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CITROEN C4 PICASSO: A new masterpiece

c4 picasso 3WHO could ever forget the Citroen Xsara Picasso, one of the least pretty vehicles to hit UK showrooms in the past decade or so.

It was a car that never wanted to go out unless it was dark, and even dealers realised it was so hideous they would have to offer big discounts just to get them off their forecourts.

But it served a purpose. It was cost effective motoring back in 1999 for the larger family and as such was popular.

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SUZUKI SX4 S-CROSS: haven’t I seen you somewhere before?

suzuki 2OH dear. Oh dear oh dear. Looking for a decent crossover? Then your task just got a whole lot more difficult with the introduction of the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross.

Contrary to popular perception, they don’t just make motor bikes, and are now taking on the daddy of all crossover vehicles, Nissan’s Qashqai, with a vehicle that looks rather similar.

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HONDA CIVIC: conjuring up a Euro hatch

Honda Civic 2EVER needed proof that slapping a big black number on a white circle and hooning round a racetrack improves what you and I get into to go to work on a Monday morning?

Take a look at Honda’s neat Civic, a car that took Gordon Shedden to the British Touring Car Championship last year – and his team mate Matt Neal to the same title 12 months before if my memory serves.

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SKODA OCTAVIA ESTATE: well fitted and kitted

Octavia 1IF there was ever a true definition of squeaky bum time, it has to be standing by your car with a fuel filler that won’t open, 90 miles showing on the range with over 360 to go to get home – and you don’t speak the local language.

Happily I didn’t have to elicit help from a passing Glaswegian as miraculously, after much cursing and prodding, the recalcitrant flap decided to open and save the day.

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MERCEDES-BENZ and AMG: very fast forward

EVER wondered what goes through F1 safety car driver Bernd Maylander’s mind as he sits at the head of a snake of multi million pound machinery when things go breasts up on a Sunday afternoon?

So do I. And one of the topics might well be how do I get out of this gull wing doored beast in a hurry if I need to.

The upward pivoting doors on the £165,000 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Coupe – the car he drives for work – can be a trifle deceptive.

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