SUV buyers are the kind of people who want a car that combines space, practicality, dependability and safety – and here’s a car that’s been doing since it took its initial bow.

The Mazda CX-5 goes down in their history as a landmark car, being the one that introduced SKYACTIV technology and KODO:Soul of Motion design to the motoring public.

And they obviously like it – it’s been a popular seller for the Japanese marque, proving they could make an SUV that was stylish, great to drive, and also capable of luring customers away from premium badged rivals.

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SAYING Audi’s A4 range has 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.

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HERE’S a new car from SEAT that looks a lot like a scaled-down Leon – and why not?

It’s big brother has been doing the business for the Spanish manufacturer for a few years now so no one should feel in the slightest way guilty if some of the styling cues that made Leon such a hit were borrowed for the latest Ibiza.

In a world where the Fiesta has been the undoubted king for decades, the Spanish upstart throws down the gauntlet and gives a very strong hint that the family favourite Ford might not have it all its own way for much longer.

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SYNCHRONICITY. Some of you out there will remember that great album from Police back in 1983. And there’s a ‘Sting’ here too….

I’ve got the album in our vinyl collection but I can confirm that the Alfa Romeo Giulia is sadly lacking in it. Synchronicity, as we know it in motoring parlance, that is.

You might be able to find it somewhere in the depths of the impressive entertainment system on board, but if you’re a believer in the adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression then this conceivably might not be the car for you.

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PEUGEOT’S 3008 doubled its desirability when it was given a fresh new look earlier this year – so expect the new 5008 to do much the same.

It’s a big step forward from the first generation model – almost unrecognisable from the version launched in 2009 as an MPV, and has now morphed into a C sector seven seat SUV.

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THEY say you’re safer in a modern day Volvo than going for a walk with the Green Cross Code man.

In fact the only injury you could conceivably incur is banging your head on the rear opening tailgate of the latest XC60 – but you’d have to be the world’s tallest man because it opens high and well out of the way of normal mortals.

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THP 270. Remember that figure because it’s highly relevant here. That’s the horsepower Peugeot Sport have managed to coax out of the modest 1.6 litre engine under the bonnet of their 308 GTi.

A car that – with its two tone paintwork – looks like something for the boy racers out there to be dribbling over.

Well, it is, and it isn’t. They’d all like to get their backsides into the drivers seat, but I seriously doubt they’d have the skill/experience/cojones required to adequately control all those horses if their Nike Air Max is too heavy on the loud pedal.

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IN a world where downsizing seems to be the norm these days, Vauxhall have, as they’re entitled to do, gone completely in the other direction.

In an attempt to occupy as much tarmac as they can with their latest Insignia Grand Sport, they’ve made it almost the equivalent size of the also rather large Mercedes-Benz E Class.

Now obviously there’s a kudos/snob value thing at work here.

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IN a world where retro is cool, a few years ago Fiat brought back to life a car that they originally unleashed back in 1957.

It still has its cutesy looks, and if you’ve never experienced the original it doesn’t look a lot bigger. But it is.

Compare old and new side by side and the difference is startling, even though the 500 circa 2017 is a small city car.

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