IT’S hard not to admire Kia’s confidence these days. The brand’s line-up now stretches from small electric crossovers to the mighty EV9, but the Sorento sits right in that sweet spot where family practicality meets long-haul comfort. For 2025, it’s been given a significant refresh — sharper styling, smarter tech and a cabin that looks like it’s been nicked straight from the […]
HYBRID SUVs are everywhere these days, but few wear their eco-credentials as confidently as the Honda HR-V. While some rivals still feel like petrol cars with a battery wedged in, the HR-V e:HEV was designed as a hybrid from the ground up. The result is a small family crossover that’s smart to look at, smooth […]
BACK in 2010, the Dacia Duster arrived on the scene with a refreshing lack of pretence. It was robust, practical, and proudly utilitarian. Over 2.2 million global sales and more than 40 awards later, the latest, all-new Dacia Duster marks the model’s third generation. It still marches to the beat of its own drum, offering […]
THE Nissan Qashqai (or Cashcow, as I’m sure the bean-counters at Nissan refer to it) has managed to carve out an envious position in the UK SUV market, selling almost 5,000 units in 2024 alone. This year it could do even better. Since its original launch in 2006, the Qashqai has become something of a […]
There are two things you need to know about the latest, Chinese-built, MG ZS Hybrid+ : It’s a huge improvement over the older ZS model, and it’s also a genuine bargain in the UK. Not so much in the USA – although things can, apparently, change by the hour . . . The old ZS […]
What is it? The all-new MG3 Hybrid+ is a 5-door supermini which, on first glance, looks like the perfect alternative to the much-loved and already-missed Ford Fiesta. It’s somewhat more advanced than the Fiesta though, being a full hybrid. It has a larger battery than most rivals, giving it the ability to run on pure […]
HONDA’S flagship SUV, the CR-V has been around a while now – but the latest version has shed the ugly-duckling looks and come up with some decidedly attractive power trains that will make it very tempting for families looking for a good-sized SUV. Spacious, well-equipped and relaxing to drive, the new Honda CR-V now comes […]
THERE are certain expectations when it comes to performance Fords. Chief among those is performance and handling, but engine sound is always a big draw. We’ve all seen baseball-capped yoovs admiring the under-bonnet of a mate’s ST while tugging (steady now) on the throttle cable – or whatever passes for a throttle cable these days. […]
What is it? The Range Rover Sport is a luxury, sporty, SUV that is very much like – but not exactly like – the even more expensive Range Rover. Tracing its roots back to 2005, the Range Rover Sport may no longer be available with 7 seats but it is still very spacious and is […]
The weather conditions over the 2023-2024 Christmas and New Year period were shocking for most of the country – and particularly bad for those north of the border. So, with some trepidation, I contemplated the drive back down south to visit relatives and friends in England – which would include a ¼-mile, steep, rough track […]
