Author: Robin Roberts

The highly popular Suzuki Vitara has been given a make-over for 2025 to enhance the appeal of this already highly competitive medium sized SUV. The Vitara hybrid remains a strong selling model in the range and Suzuki has redefined its styling, raised the level of standard equipment and technology as well as further improved hybrid efficiency to stretch the mileage range. Vitara now utilises the Motion and Ultra grade names which follows on from being introduced previously for S-Cross, Swace and Swift models. Various changes include a re-designed front grille and bumper, rear upper spoiler incorporating rear window side spoilers,…

Twenty-nine years ago the first Audi A3 established the premium compact class and today the fourth generation sets a high standard which rivals really struggle to match. From that initial model in 1996, the A3 series has evolved into a comprehensive range of saloons and semi-estates or coupes with individual emphasis on sophistication or sportiness to satisfy the wide tastes of drivers and owners. The latest A3 Sportback comes with five-doors and a range of engines including mild hybrid we tested along with manual or automatic transmission. It has been joined by a PHEV version in the range a few…

Kia has something to celebrate this Christmas as it continues to carve out a big slice of Britain’s BEV sales, a decade after launching into it with the Soul EV. At the time 10 years ago, Frozen was trending at the box-office, Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ rang out across radios worldwide, and social media was awash with ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ videos. Over the years Kia has added 70,000 BEVs to UK roads with the EV6, Niro EV, EV9 and now puts the compact SUV EV3 into showrooms as it rolls out a plan to produce nine fully electric vehicles into the UK by 2027. That…

Private buyers who want a high specification electric car and business drivers with eyes fixed on a low tax penalty are targets for the new Skywell range arriving in Britain. The Cirencester-based importer, Innovation Automotive, is also looking at traditional used car dealers seeking their first new car franchise in a local market area where they are already highly regarded. Seven dealers have been appointed and they want to reach 50 before 2026. The Skywell BE11 is the first model from the brand created with the joint venture of consumer electronics groups, Skyworth, and electric bus maker Nanjing Golden Dragon and it…

Motorists are paying too much to keep driving, say Government watchdogs and the RAC. Petrol and diesel prices are staying high because there are fewer forecourts vying for business, according to the latest report from the Competition and Markets Authority. And EV charge-point operators have not slashed prices despite wholesale generation costs coming down, added the RAC. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said, “It’s disappointing to hear that the CMA is still concerned about competition among fuel retailers, and that margins remain higher than historic levels – especially after it announced this summer that drivers were overcharged by £1.6bn…

A quarter of a century after introducing the Insight as Britain’s first petrol-electric hybrid, the latest Honda HR-V is probably more relevant today. While rival hybrids have grown in size compared to the Insight of 25 years ago, there is not that much difference in the footprint of the HR-V. It is now in its third generation and sharing a Honda portfolio with the smaller Jazz and larger CRV SUVs, the HR-V neatly sits between them. It is arguably one of the most eye-catching family cars both externally and internally and our range topping MY25 example had a very good…

The motor trade and industry has had a bad year, but you’d not know it from sales of Kia models including their big seven-seat Sorento SUV. While rivals have rushed to shrink their ranges and look only towards pure electric models which we know are coming over the decade, Kia has slowly and very carefully tweaked its line up so they still offer potentially something for every customer who walks into a showroom or surfs the internet. Petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery models are dotted throughout one of the biggest model ranges of any manufacturer. Change is around…

October saw another month of contraction in the new car market, a concerning trend following August’s end to two years of continuous growth. This decline is particularly worrying, as it highlights the volatility of the market right now, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. UK new car buyers now have more than 125 different BEV models to choose from – an uplift of 38% over the last 10 months.1 While it remains the case that the average BEV has a higher upfront cost than an ICE equivalent, widening choice and huge manufacturer discounting mean that around…

Seat has earned its place as the stylish brand for a younger generation of drivers over the last four decades. On sale since 2017, the Seat Arona is one of the new generation of ‘crossover’ models or tall hatchbacks in the B-sector and the smallest in their sub-compact range under the Ateca. Its introduction has helped Seat pass the magic million mark for SUVs and Arona sales have taken a hefty 500,000 in seven years, more than the slightly bigger Ateca and is their best selling model by far. This year saw the introduction of only the second generation Arona…

After its launch in 2008, the Ford Kuga has grown from the company’s first ‘tall’ hatchback into one of their success stories among UK best sellers, and the story continues this year. Now on sale with some very significant updates and improvements to its technology, equipment and design, the Ford Kuga is taking on rivals including many in the showrooms of more premium brands. Diesel engines have been dropped while the plug-in hybrid has been joined by a reworked mild-hybrid to meet the needs of particular buyers who would struggle to have a charging point at their home or office.…