Category Archives: Road Tests

MUSTANG MACH-E: it’s a very different pony today

I CAN’T for the life of me imagine the great Steve McQueen being over-impressed.

The man who made a habit of driving racing cars very fast, the man who put the muscley Mustang right up there among the motoring icons with his exploits in Bullit would probably be scratching his head and give the latest Ford to carry the name one of ‘those’ looks.

Not that you’ll find the blue oval anywhere on the latest all-electric Mustang.
This is very much a 21st century ‘Stang, be in no doubt about that. Continue reading →

TOYOTA AYGO X: time to spice up your life


THE adage that good things come in small packages is well espoused and one that Toyota has been profiting from for some time.

Small car offerings from the Japanese giant, in the shape of Yaris and Aygo, have been the staple of many a family looking for a compact and economical way of getting around town. Continue reading →

VOLKSWAGEN TAIGO: stylish addition to the ranks


VOLKSWAGEN seem to be trying to capture the burgeoning SUV market all on their own these days.

Such is their devotion to it (it accounted for over 40 per cent of VW sales last year) there are now eight models in their range with the inclusion of the new coupe styled Taigo.

It is, on the face of it, a strong addition to the line-up and working on the premis that style is a strong selling point for buyers, they’ve not missed a trick with this one. Continue reading →

NISSAN JUKE HYBRID: another step towards full electrification

NISSAN have come up with a trump card for their latest version of the Juke – a near 20 per cent increase in its fuel economy.

That was evident at the recent launch where the road route took in the boulevards of Milton Keynes city centre and the country roads near the Nissan Technical Centre at Cranfield where the new version had the finishing touches put to it, prior to production at Nissan’s plant up north. Continue reading →

MAZDA CX-5: likeable alternative to a premium SUV


YOU don’t need to have a premium brand badge on the bonnet to become the proud owner of a decent SUV.

It’s a given that there are plenty to choose from but if your box ticking exercise includes practicality and five seats with smart but not OTT styling, Mazda’s CX-5 should catch your eye.

It fits nicely into the size gap between the likes of the Ateca and Qashqai and bigger offerings like Kia’s Sorento and the Skoda Kodiaq. Continue reading →

HYUNDAI TUCSON HYBRID: striking styling that catches the eye

YOU might not expect something from the Hyundai stable to be locking horns with the premium sector rivals but they’ve taken the plunge.

The Korean company’s 2022 Tucson SUV is far and away a classier offering than its predecessor with its striking, sculpted looks and its bold new signature grille.

They’ve improved just about every area – the interior is much improved and looks like a premium product and there is an awful lot of useful on-board technology. Continue reading →

SUZUKI VITARA HYBRID: simple recipe with all the ingredients

THERE’S no simple recipe for making a good car better – but Suzuki have come up with a vital ingredient to add to one of their best sellers.

Hybrid technology has found its way into the smart and popular Vitara – a car with compact dimensions which is surprisingly roomy inside, and one which is highly capable both on and off road. Continue reading →