FOR a manufacturer well versed in hybrid machinery, it’s taken Toyota a while to take the plunge into full electric motoring.
Perhaps they were wondering what to call it – after all, there are a lot of names out there already. And perhaps that’s why they came up with bZ4X, a name almost as curious as the marmite styling of the new SUV. Continue reading
WHEN Skoda binned its popular Yeti model in favour of the Karoq, caravanners up and down the country donned black armbands and took a moment or two to mark its passing.
What had been a decent towcar for their weekend jaunts was no more, but actually they needn’t have worried – the car that replaced it was more than up to the task. And the proof of that is in the fact it’s just driven off with the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s title of Towcar of the Year, leaving a whole host of worthy competitors in its rear view mirror. Continue reading
HONDA are trying hard to move the Jazz away from the elderly ownership profile it has enjoyed for many a year and make it a more attractive proposition to those with less years on the clock.
Whether they succeed will be mirrored in the sales figures, but they seem to be giving it a good chance. Continue reading
IT’S a measure of how understated Audi’s SQ5 is that you can totally miss the fact there’s one parked right alongside in your hotel car park.
Not afraid to admit I did, because it’s not a car that shouts ‘oi, look at me’ as you walk past. It is one that is distinctive though – the big grille and trademark Audi four rings will draw your eye in recognition, and so will the chunky shape you’ve come to appreciate over the years.
IT’S hard to believe the Honda Civic is 50 years old. Not this one,obviously, but in that time it’s morphed from a small city runaround into a bigger, family orientated favourite.
I’ve driven a wide variety of them in my motoring life, from the more humble ones to the highly popular Type R versions, and this one is the 11th iteration of the Japanese firm’s world wide seller.
And, got to say it, it’s a real improvement over a previous car that wasn’t too shabby itself. Continue reading
THERE’S no escaping the fact the SsangYong Rexton is a big vehicle – the sight of its massive new grille in your rear view mirror will make the point.
And while it might not immediately have the kudos of some of its large SUV opposition, it’s come a fair way since it first lumbered onto our shores nearly two decades ago.
Then it was dubbed big, cheap and didn’t have a lot to recommend it. Continue reading
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
THERE’S a distinct possibility you might have already read quite a lot about Kia’s latest version of their popular Sportage.
It’s a car that has sold as much on its looks as its undoubted practicality for the UK family in the past. And now it looks smarter still. Continue reading
CUPRA’s new electric offering has been ‘charged’ with taking up the mantle from SEAT of delivering a car with a sporty accent.
The Spanish arm of the VW Group used to be up to the job themselves, but now the standalone brand is fully plugged into the task. Continue reading
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