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Featured road tests and consumer reviews

Our road test reports are clear, concise and comprehensive. All vehicles are rated on performance, ride & handling, build quality & reliability, safety & security, space & practicality plus ownership and value. Whether you are looking for a new or used car; RoadTestReports.co.uk will provide you with all everything you need to make an informed decision. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.

Featured road tests

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

An image of the Citroen DS3 Racing 1.6i 16V THP 207

Chrysler Delta

1.6 MultiJet SE - Fiat’s control of Chrysler is spawning a peculiar mix of brands and model names. In Italy you can buy a Lancia (not a Chrysler) Voyager, while in the UK there is now the Chrysler (not the Lancia) Delta. This is a little like trying to mix oil with water, but such dilemmas aside, is the avant-garde D [...]

An image of the Chrysler Delta 1.6 MultiJet SE

Audi Q3

2.0 TDI and TFSI - Audi’s first SUV was the abnormally large and intimidating Q7. Then came the smaller and more sensible Q5, and now follows the still smaller and more affordable Q3. Arguably the best looking of the three, the new Q3 is billed as a compact premium SUV and offers style and practicality with some off-r [...]

An image of the Audi Q3 2.0 TDI and TFSI

Volkswagen UP

75PS up! white - The up! is VW’s all-new city car with a new engine, new body, new chassis, new infotainment, new everything. It plugs the gap in VW’s range left by the discontinued Fox, and it’s up against the likes of the Fiat 500, Ford Ka, Toyota iQ and others. The up! is undeniably cute, but does it warrant the [...]

An image of the Volkswagen UP 75PS up! white

Chrysler Ypsilon

0.9 TwinAir Limited - In a feat of badge engineering as bold as anything since Daewoos became Chevrolets, Fiat-owned Chrysler has recently launched the Ypsilon, formerly known in the Italian and other left-hand-drive markets as the Lancia Ypsilon. But branding and unusual styling aside, can this little ‘premium luxury’ 5 [...]

An image of the Chrysler Ypsilon 0.9 TwinAir Limited

Vauxhall Ampera

Vauxhall is first out of the blocks with a range extender electric vehicle with its Ampera. Far from being a loss leader or just a techno-geek-fest, the Ampera succeeds by being a very good car first and foremost and an environmentally friendly means of transport second. That it does this while elim [...]

Volkswagen Eos

2011 - Always one of the classiest contenders in the CC cabrio market, the Volkswagen Eos now comes with sharper looks. The refreshed styling brings the Eos into line with VW’s current styling tend, so it has front and rear lights that mimic those of the Passat, while other updates include leather seats ca [...]

Nissan Leaf

World Car of the Year 2011 the Nissan LEAF is the first mass production small family car powered purely by electricity. Designed from the wheels up as an electric car, the LEAF promises a new dawn in personal mobility. Protected from the upward spiral of petrol and diesel prices can this vanguard to [...]

Volkswagen Amarok

Volkswagen’s first entry to the pick-up market in the UK is a rufty-tufty vehicle called Amarok. It’s aimed squarely at the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi L200, which means it also appears on the radar of many non-commercial customers looking for a capable 4x4 for leisure use and towing duties. As such [...]

Renault Kangoo ZE

Express - The first of Renault’s pioneering Z.E. range to launch in the UK, the Kangoo Express Z.E and its longer version, the Kangoo Maxi Z.E will arrive here at the end of October 2011. As the first mass-market electric commercial from a mainstream car maker, Renault is expecting the Kangoo Z.E. models to c [...]

An image of the Renault Kangoo ZE Express

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Featured consumer reviews

Paul , Surrey

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch SRI XP 1.6T 180

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

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

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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Ray Meilak, Malta

SEAT Cordoba vario sdi

I bought this second hand, with 12,000 miles in 2002. It has now clocked 98,000 miles. It runs on dio-diesel and I’ve never had to change the diesel filter since using biodiesel. Everything still works perfectly and it has never has let us down once. A truly reliable car. SEAT are the unsung heros. I have had more trouble with all VW models, but not the Cordoba Vario. An amazing car!

Submitted: 27/12/2011 10:30:43

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Paul Wilson, Lancashire

Toyota Hiace 300 95hp

I bought my van 18 months old with 43k miles from a Toyota dealer who had used it from new as their parts delivery van. I had it lined and insulated to soundproof it and then shelved it myself. I am a self employed builder and have only driven it 8,000m in 2 years but I love it. I bought it after reading other reviews here at the time and poor reviews on Transits, Vivaro’s and VW etc. I also spoke to several owners who all had much praise for their vans. I have only had one problem which was a sticking brake cylinder due to water ingress/corrosion which my brother fixed for me. Yes they are basic but I believe they are the best van on the road. I need the long wheelbase and can get in 8’ x 4’ sheets of ply & plasterboard etc, 3m lengths of pipe & timber on an angle and even my 2.5m triple extension ladders (The SWB wont do that). The 95hp engine is plenty powerful enough and I have a 1.3 GVW trailer it tows easily. Fuel consumption averages 27/28 mpg. The best I got was 33mpg when empty and before I had it lined and insulated etc. and the worst mpg was 23 in winter but short journeys and some towing etc. I always have it full of tools and equipment. The biggest fault is it doesn’t like the snow. I couldn’t move in the deep snow the last couple of winters. However, I am very pleased and intend to keep the van for many years to come.

I bought my van 18 months old with 43k miles from a Toyota dealer who had used it from new as their parts delivery van. I had it lined and insulated to soundproof it and then shelved it myself. I am a self employed builder and have only driven it 8,000m in 2 years but I love it. I bought it after reading other reviews here at the time and poor reviews on Transits, Vivaro’s and VW etc. I also spoke to several owners who all had much praise for their vans. I have only had one problem, which was a sticking brake cylinder due to water ingress/corrosion, which my brother fixed for me. Yes they are basic but I believe they are the best van on the road. I need the long wheelbase and can get in 8’ x 4’ sheets of ply & plasterboard etc, 3m lengths of pipe & timber on an angle and even my 2.5m triple extension ladders (The SWB wont do that). The 95hp engine is plenty powerful enough and I have a 1.3 GVW trailer it tows easily. Fuel consumption averages 27/28 mpg. The best I got was 33mpg when empty and before I had it lined and insulated etc. and the worst mpg was 23 in winter but short journeys and some towing etc. I always have it full of tools and equipment. The biggest fault is it doesn’t like the snow. I couldn’t move in the deep snow the last couple of winters. However, I am very pleased and intend to keep the van for many years to come.

Submitted: 22/12/2011 10:19:55

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