Car review: The BMW 3 Series plug-in hybrid prototype proves the family saloon has an electric future December 8, 2014 BMW applies its supercar hybrid drive technology to its best-selling family car with impressive results Don’t be put off by the garish exterior – this BMW 3 Series means business. That’s because the world’s best-selling executive family four-door saloon will soon combine BMW’s i8 supercar electric drive technology with the sort of everyday usability that’ll [...]
Not convinced? December 8, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW 325D SE PRICE: £30,575 0-62MPH: 6.8 secs TOP SPEED: 152mph CO2 G/KM: 129g/km MPG COMBINED: 57.6mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Three Stars PRACTICALITY Four Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars INFINITI Q50 HYBRID PRICE: £39,995 0-62MPH: 5.1 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 144g/km MPG COMBINED: 45.6mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two Stars [...]
Car review: The Audi S6 may have Porsche performance but lacks drama December 1, 2014 I’m in the outside lane of the motorway, well into three-figure speeds, chasing a sales rep in a Vauxhall Insignia. I’m wishing the aggressive LED headlights on the new Audi S6 would encourage him to move over and let me make some real progress. Eventually he does; I squeeze the S6’s throttle and [...]
Not convinced? December 1, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW 550I M SPORT PRICE: £57,910 0-62MPH: 4.6 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 206g/km MPG COMBINED: 32.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Five Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars MASERATI GHIBLI V6 S PRICE: £63,760 0-62MPH: 5.0 secs TOP SPEED: 177mph CO2 G/KM: 242g/km MPG COMBINED: 27.2mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN [...]
Car review: Volkswagen’s new Passat 2.0 TDI SE is beaking into the family car elite November 24, 2014 Volkswagen’s new Passat challenges its premium rivals in a bid to become the vehicle of choice for families. It’s tough to break into the “elite” family car market. Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Lexus have got it pretty well sewn up. In fact, nobody else really comes close. But I drove a [...]
Not convinced? November 24, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… FORD MONDEO TITANIUM 2.0 TDCI ECONETIC PRICE: £24,995 0-62MPH: 9.5 secs TOP SPEED: 130mph CO2 G/KM: 109g/km MPG COMBINED: 67.3mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two Stars PERFORMANCE Three Stars PRACTICALITY Five Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars MAZDA6 2.2 SE PRICE: £22,095 0-62MPH: 9.0 secs TOP SPEED: 131mph CO2 G/KM: 104g/km MPG COMBINED: 67.3mpg THE VERDICT: [...]
Car review: Kia goes electric with the Soul EV November 17, 2014 The cute and nimble Soul EV is a confident entry into unknown territory for the South Korean carmaker. Ferrari likes to limit the number of cars it makes to retain exclusivity and encourage strong resale values. In contrast, mainstream car brands want to sell as many vehicles as they physically can (it doesn’t [...]
Car review: BMW’s new X6 is niche but nice November 10, 2014 It was rather unfair on the woman who’d just parked her new Mini Countryman. I walked across the street to check it out and she assumed I’d come to admire it. In fact, I wanted a closer look at this ugly, lardy monstrosity. I was baffled that anyone would buy one. A three-door Mini, [...]
Not convinced? November 10, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… RANGE ROVER SPORT 4.4 SD V8 PRICE: £82,650 0-62MPH: 6.9 secs TOP SPEED: 140mph CO2 G/KM: 229g/km MPG COMBINED: 32.5mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Three Stars PRACTICALITY Four Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Two Stars BMW X5 M50d PRICE: £64,020 0-62MPH: 5.3 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 173g/km MPG COMBINED: 42.8mpg THE VERDICT: [...]
Take a BOAT through green lanes: Byways Open to All Traffic are the countryside’s best-kept secret November 5, 2014 Most Londoners don’t drive for pleasure – quite the opposite; it’s a chore, a practicality, something to get out of the way as quickly as possible. But it needn’t be like this. For those in the know, there’s a way to seek adventure and discover corners of the UK that nobody has explored in decades, [...]