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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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TOYOTA AURIS TOURER: take me home, baby brother

auris tourer 6AVENSIS Tourer a bit big for you? Try out its baby brother stablemate – the 21st century version of a car that sold by the transporter ship load for Toyota back in the day.

The Auris, while admittedly good, has a fight on its hands for your money as there are a lot of similar cars ranged against it.

What it needs to be is, like the Corolla before it, all things to all families while at the same time living up to that well-earned world car tag.

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SEAT IBIZA: isle give it the thumbs up

1091532_dsc1583IT was a small car that got the Spaniards off their donkeys and behind a steering wheel back in 1953 and it’s a small car – in the guise of the Ibiza – that is the mainstay of SEAT’s sales success here in the UK.

Back in those early days the 925 staff could only manage to churn out five cars a day.

Now the total figure produced stands north of 16 million and SEAT UK have seen six successive years of sales grown, bolstered by the Ibiza and the excellent Leon.

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