RECENT history shows that Mercedes has, despite its roots in premium motoring, also spent considerable time and money concentrating on the compact family car market.The … More »A For Effort (Mercedes A180 BlueEfficiency)
THERE’S a new CR-V on block but you won’t find much evidence of a design revolution at Honda trumpeting its arrival – and there’s good reason for that. The Japanese … More »Soft Roader For Grown Ups (Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX)
ENGINES - Both diesel and petrol units are available, with the high capacity motors offering a predictable mix of enhanced performance and refinement. Bucking this … More »Dare To Be Different (Alfa Romeo 147, 2001-2009)
SO MUCH is going on at Aston Martin it’s hard to keep up. The superlative-busting One 77, the all-new Vanquish, the big step forward with the latest DB9; all reason … More »First Drive: Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
WHAT AN AGE we live in. Progress in the automotive world tends to occur in hundreds of incremental steps and only the occasional leap forward, and so it’s easy to … More »First Drive: Porsche Cayenne Diesel S
FOR all the talk of ‘soft-roaders’ taking over the world, there’s still demand for more traditional 4x4s. Proof comes in the form of Suzuki’s Grand Vitara, which … More »First Drive: Suzuki Grand Vitara
DESPITE being a brand defined by the affordability of its cars, Dacia understands the need for models that give the people what they want. The Sandero Stepway is … More »First Drive: Dacia Sandero Stepway
ENGINES – It’s a simple life for Matiz owners as key to the car’s frugal, affordable character is the choice of engines. Powering this second generation Matiz is … More »Mighty Matiz (Chevrolet Matiz 2005-2009)
ENGINES – Recent years have seen an upturn in the performance of Citroen’s small engines, with the C3 Picasso and its ilk benefiting greatly improved performance … More »Wheeled Work Of Art (Citroen C3 Picasso 2009-present day)
AUDI made a big impact in this sector with the original A3, which started life as a three-door only model but the added practicality of the Sportback model really … More »FIRST DRIVE: Audi A3 Sportback
FORD has been onto a winner with the Fiesta for decades. Its engineers always seem to conjure up the right combination of accessibility, user-friendliness, driving … More »First Drive: Ford Fiesta
ENGINES – Big SUVs means big engines, and Hyundai’s Santa Fe is no different. In a nod to its USA market roots you can have a V6 petrol motor, while the more sensible … More »Santa Fe Comes Early For Some (Hyundai Santa Fe 2006-2012)
SMALL, sturdy and capable 4x4s have been a cornerstone of Suzuki's output for many years. As such, they have generated a loyal following around the world, with the … More »First Drive: Suzuki Jimny
AUDI has of late prided itself on pouring technology into its cars, but not all of it has been to the benefit of the driving experience. Surely, then, the new RS … More »First Drive: Audi RS 5 Cabriolet