There’s a vast Gulf (German for Golf) between the VW Golf Mark 1 and the current Golf (number eight and now 47 years later). This is noted because it can be said that the more new technical stuff you buy into, the more there is to go wrong. More of that later. It must be challenging for car designers to …
Peugeot All-New e-2008 Electric SUV
From the moment I first sat in the new Peugeot e2008, I knew that my wife would love this car. Everything about the interior, from the nifty little square-bottomed steering wheel to the piano black facings and toggle switches and the jazzy lime green stitching in the upholstery, was speaking to me clearly, telling me this one was manifestly made …
Mazda6 Tourer 2.5 GT Sport Nav Auto, a real looker
Something of a rarity these days are 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engines. So, what was it like in the Mazda6 194PS GT Sport Nav? Not that it’s hugely fast, with zero-to-sixty-two mph in 8.1 seconds…but that’s undoubtedly quick enough for everyday performance for most drivers. The automatic six-speed gearbox gave smooth changes. The car is also equipped with a ‘sport’ mode operated …
Citroën C4 – Initial impressions from the UK Launch
Citroën’s creative designers have done something different and it’s a welcome breath of fresh air. Yes, the C4 is still recognisable as a Citroën product, and, yes, you can see some relation to the previous car. Still, the overall aesthetic is a new exciting, dynamic design, and it’s all the better for it. Most notably, that sweeping rear roofline is …
Reviewed – Ford Tourneo Custom Titanium
During my week with the latest Tourneo Custom from Ford, I wondered who might buy this luxurious eight-seater, part van, part mini-bus? Hotels that have to ferry customers from a nearby airport and can take advantage of the 35-mile all-electric range? That’s one possible answer. High-end golf courses? Holiday companies cater to small groups of loaded and green-minded clients and …
BMW 530d Touring xDrive MSport, one of the greats
What is the criteria for a ‘great’ car? How many ‘great’ cars are there? Trying very hard to find the slightest fault was an uphill battle; the over-the-shoulder rear view wasn’t great; starting from a standstill was ever-so-slightly juddery, as though the car had settled a bit on its haunches; and, and as far as I could make out, the …
Suzuki Vitara Hybrid – Everyday sunshine
Colour theory – the study of colour and its impact on a person’s emotions.. When asked about this, there is a range of standard responses “it’s good for resale value” or “it’s the cheapest” or a plethora of reasoning that these are the cheapest cars to get on bulk lease for company cars. But, I have a theory. If more …
Reviewed – Honda Civic 1.0T EX Sport Line
While the current-generation Civic might be getting old, it still represents fantastic value for money in terms of practicality, driving enjoyment and style, and no model embodies this more than the Civic ‘Sport Line’. It’s certainly fair to say the styling on the Sport Line is a significant step up from the standard Civic, but sadly the gloss black wheels …
BMW 420d M Sport Coupé, a great deal of car
Diesels…naah! Ever since our dear government politicised them several years back, I admit to an antipathy towards them. But then along comes a car like BMW’s 4-cylinder 1997cc oil burner (and, of course, diesel engines in all the other manufacturers’ cars) and I am backed into my corner with my hands in the air saying, ‘OK, alright, I’m wrong!’ So, …
Fiat 500X Sport – It’ll get under your skin
You know that feeling when you really like a car, but you can’t quite put your finger on why? Well, that’s the case with the Fiat 500X Sport. Yet in reality, none of this matters – the 500x Sport is the same; it’s selling points are its unique personality, the ‘beefed up’ styling, and – in this case – the …
