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RoadTestReports.co.uk features road tests on all the major cars and vans plus consumer car reviews and consumer van reviews from the people who actually drive the vehicles day in day out - you. The road tests include performance, ride & handling, build quality & reliability, safety & security, space & practicality and ownership & value.

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Latest road tests

Nissan Juke

1.5 dCI Manual Acenta Premium - The idea of sticking a supermini inside an SUV is an odd one but Nissan’s twisted crossover strikes a good balance and successfully integrates what motorists love most about both cars. Practicality may not be a strong point but a stylish and bubbly drive is virtually guaranteed. [...]

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating Full Report
An image of the Nissan Juke 1.5 dCI Manual Acenta Premium

Renault Clio

Expression ECO 1.5 dCi - The Renault Clio has been a stable presence in the UK since it was first launched in 1990. Benefitting from a refresh in 2011, and launching an Eco version, the Clio joins the green crowd, with emissions of a tiny 94g/km CO2, making the model tax and fuel efficient. Renault’s keen pricing mean that’ [...]

Road Test Reports Says 3.5 star rating Full Report
An image of the Renault Clio Expression ECO 1.5 dCi

BMW M5 Saloon

2011 - Super saloons are very much in vogue, with the Mercedes E63 and CLS 63 AMGs, Audi RS6 and Jaguar XFR all attracting buyers. However, the original super saloon is the BMW M5 and it’s back with a bang in a more powerful, more efficient form. Is 560bhp and 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds enough to put the M5 ba [...]

Road Test Reports Says 5 star rating Full Report
An image of the BMW M5 Saloon 2011

Suzuki Kizashi

2.4 4WD Sport - The Kizashi is Suzuki’s first medium-sized saloon and, having been on sale elsewhere for the past 18 months with some 23,000 already sold, it’s soon to arrive in the UK. Refreshingly, the sharp-looking Kizashi will be available with just one engine, one transmission and one spec level from early 201 [...]

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating Full Report
An image of the Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 4WD Sport

Citroen DS3

Racing 1.6i 16V THP 207 - Developed by the same guys who helped Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena secure six WRC Manufacturer’s titles, the Racing variant of Citroen’s DS3 does a sterling job of sticking you in the rally driver hot seat. [...]

Road Test Reports Says 4.5 star rating Full Report
An image of the Citroen DS3 Racing 1.6i 16V THP 207

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Featured Reviews

Paul , Surrey

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch SRI XP 1.6T 180

5 stars - average customer rating

This is my 4th Astra H and definitely the best. Astra’s don’t get enough credit for their handling, which the Stig said would be nigh on perfect if the power delivery of the vxr model was smoother. It’s up there with the Renault megane 225 - surprising? Well here’s where the 180 horse power Sri turbo comes in. Smooth delivery, plenty of power (quite a bit faster then the 1.9 150, which I’ve previously owned) and an exhaust note that sounds great. The good thing about this engine is if you drive very light footed you can get 33-35mpg around town and 40 max on the motorway, although when you use the power that will drop to 25mpg or less. One thing I must say is don’t run cheap tyres on the front as in the wet you don’t get much grip at all, but a pair of decent ones will fix this. Overall I believe the Astra is good value, has nimble handling even on 18’s, the brakes are strong, looks great with the xp kit and I enjoy driving it every day. If you can get past badge snobbery then you’ll enjoy it too!

Submitted: 25/01/2012 10:20:04

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Richard Small, Worcestershire

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi 150 Automatic

4 stars - average customer rating

I note all the references to issues with the DPF and EGRV on diesel variants. Unfortunately, the emissions and particulates mitigation measures on modern diesels (of all makes) render them less suitable for short journeys and town driving than the old soot blasters. Consequently, if most of your driving is as above, you may be better off with a petrol model. However, I bought my car as a Network Q vehicle when it had done around 19k miles, and it is now almost at 145k miles! Most of this mileage has been on long, A-road or motorway journeys, avaraging >40mpg, and whilst I have had a few issues, these have been no worse than other cars I have owned, on lower mileages. In summary: My Zafira is the best car I have owned and one of the best I have driven. It is safe, roomy, comfortable, reasonably economical, reliable, not a bad looker, and it handles pretty well too! Finally, has anyone driven their Zafira in deep snow? Who needs 4WD, when you can breeze past BMWs and Mercedes embedded in every ditch and snowbank!

Submitted: 19/01/2012 10:12:15

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Phil , Northumberland

Volvo XC90 D5 SE

4 stars - average customer rating

Well, I understand people’s frustration with low mpg figures but, honestly, what do you expect? It’s a big heavy car and takes a lot of shifting. It’s my wife’s main mode of transport, and she does around 20,000 miles per year with lots of stop/start, shortish journeys. She is lucky to get over 20mpg using it for work as she does. Having said that, we do really get up to 35mpg on a long run (and I do mean long; visiting our friends in South West Ireland from Northumberland is pretty long), if only we could get that sort of mileage all the time. We’ve had the car since new, and have done 140,000+ miles in it. The interior has worn very well with only the shininess of the drivers seat giving any indication of the car’s age. Even the DVD player hasn’t given any bother and has proved a boon keeping the kids quiet on the longer journeys. (15 hours straight the 1st time we visited Bantry! We’ve learned our lesson and now split the journey in Dublin!) Repairs are becoming a little more frequent now; the only one to give real concern being some ’plug’ in the engine giving way, allowing the engine oil to deposit itself over the garage floor. The plug was a simple plastic component (it’s replacement is steel) and costs a tenner. Fitting it cost £600 in labour!! We are keeping the car, as the only thing we can think of that is as practical as this is another XC90. We have considered both the Audi Q7 and the Disco. The Q7 isn’t big enough inside to take all of our holiday gear, and being prior Land Rover owners, we will never have another, as they are too unreliable with service to match! However, we now find it difficult to justify the high running (low mpg) costs to carry on using the XC90 as our day to day workhorse (it does the job admirably, it’s just too costly) and so have just bought a 2.0D Volvo V50 for my wife to use as a daily vehicle. (Excellent service from Mill Volvo Hexham has kept us very happily Volvo customers.) In summary: The XC90 equals superb, comfortable, family transport that has coped with the very worst of Northumberland winters with aplomb (if you’re struggling in snow, you have the wrong tyres on, the standard fit Conti’s are poor, try Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow). Our favourite sturdy workhorse. However, these days it’s becoming expensive at the pumps, and that’s why it loses a star, but everything else is darn near perfect as a family vehicle.

Submitted: 09/01/2012 10:30:18

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