Monday, 8th of September 2008
Our road test reports are clear, concise and comprehensive. All vehicles are rated all cars 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.
Abarth - The legendary Scorpion motorsport badge is back and anyone that knows their motorsport will be expecting the Grande Punto Abarth to be a car that really excites. Let’s get this straight from the off, this is not a Fiat, it is an Abarth. The Italian maker claims it wants the Abarth name to stay separate from the Fiat badge. The car starts at a price of £13,500, read on to see how it gets on…... read more
- You get a lot of car for your money with the Skoda Superb. An enormous saloon that is best powered by the 2.8-litre V6 petrol and the 2.0-litre 140bhp TDI diesel engines. Skoda has produced a supreme bargain.... read more
- A surprisingly roomy supermini, the Jazz is a great car to drive. Honda is not offering the cheapest supermini but the Jazz is without question a classy car to own.... read more
- The Civic Hybrid is a capable, economical car with inexpensive running costs. The fuel economy is impressive but the same figures are achieved by many diesels. The low CO2 emissions (109g/km) could be the area in which it wins over most prospective purchasers.... read more
- The Peugeot 307cc has good looks, is comfortable to drive, and for those sunny days the chance to lower the roof and enjoy the open top experience. On the downside all but the smallest adults will struggle in the back over long distances, and with the car being very heavy acceleration is sluggish. Overall a cruiser which could be so much more if it could diet and have a perkier performance.... read more
2008 2.8 CRD Auto - An icon is back – Jeep has launched the all new Cherokee and its boxy design is also back. This will please the die hard Jeep fans as the previous generation was too much of a soft roader for their taste buds. The new Cherokee which has a starting price of £24,495 has been given a complete makeover both inside and out – let's see how it gets on…... read more
3.0 TDi SE Quattro - I was really looking forward to driving the A4 Avant after I had found out I was road testing the car over the weekend. I wasn’t disappointed, fast, smooth, quiet and really good mpg. The car was packed with every conceivable extra you could imagine, climate control, Bang & Olufsen stereo, panoramic sunroof and leather. A fantastic car and one of the best I have driven.... read more
1.6 CRDi LS SW - This 1.6-litre diesel engine is a marriage between economy and performance. The seven-year warranty displays a confidence in the product which other manufacturers have so far failed to match.... read more
- The bigger brother to the Bentley Continental GT and GTC, the Continental Flying Spur is exactly what you would expect; fabulous performance, enough to put the frighteners up any supercar (two and a half tonnes of car capable of 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds!) and with all the usual Bentley refinement you would demand and expect.... read more
Hatchback 1.4Tdi Ecomotive - Seat's equivalent of VW's Polo Bluemotion and the most economical Ibiza yet. Seat claims that the diesel powered supermini is capable of delivering up to 74.3mpg on the combined economy cycle, and dodging road tax thanks to CO2 emissions that dip below the 100g/km barrier.... read more
1.6 113bhp GS - Kia has added an SW to the Cee’d line-up and it looks quite good from first glance. With prices starting at under £13,000 for the SW range it certainly sounds like an interesting prospect. We put the car to the test to see if the Korean firm could follow on from the success of the Cee’d, our SW 1.6 113bhp GS was priced from £14,995.... read more
2009 - The 2009 Nissan Murano has grown up and it looks good– we have been able to get into the second generation of the stylish 4x4 on a test in Spain. This car will not be available in the UK until October and due to this early test drive we drove it in US specification as the UK spec won’t be ready until the British Motorshow later this month.... read more
- The Bentley GTC has very few rivals. This car is certainly the best in its class and it is very easy to live with on a day to day basis. Of course the car not cheap to buy, but residuals are good. ... read more
2.0 CRDi Sport - The 2.0-litre diesel engine offers superb performance but it is in the quality of the build that Kia has surpassed itself. The 7-year, 100,000 mile warranty is the best in Europe.... read more
- A lovely drive can be attained from the Jaguar X-type / Ford Mondeo. A popular choice for company car drivers, the diesel engines are frugal and the CO2 emission figures and amongst the lowest in the compact executive category.... read more
- The new BMW X5 is a significant improvement upon the old BMW X5. Featuring an excellent choice of engines, the third row of seats turns the X5 into a genuine seven-seater. The X5 is a capable performer both on-road and off-road.... read more
- The C-Max blends reassuring safety and space with a great ride and good performance. When you add all its good points together you are left with a great all-round MPV.... read more
1.4 LT - Chevrolet has confirmed that it is becoming the value brand of the GM group and according to the maker its cars are big on value, style and quality. Chevrolet has launched the Aveo to replace the Kalos with the newcomer available initially in a five-door guise while a three-door is to join the range soon. It has a starting price from £7,695 the figures look good but how well did the Aveo perform when we put it to the test?... read more
- The Mazda 2 is a supermini that will be competitive in its segment. The handling and good residual values are its strong points while the suspension is its largest negative.... read more
- The SEAT Leon is a good- and distinctive-looking small family car. The Leon features a fine choice of excellent petrol and diesel engines. Good value for money and good running cost make this spacious family hatch a very appealing proposition.... read more
- The Audi TT is an ultimate driver’s car. Sporty, with excellent handling and engines, this is THE best coupe with residual values you could kill for.... read more
- The Suzuki Swift is great fun, good-looking with a modern feel. It is well put together, offers excellent value for money, and the Suzuki supermini is quickly winning fans.... read more
- The Jaguar XF looks every bit as good as it drives. It’s visually stunning and has excellent road manner, the XF is the perfect companion.... read more
1.4-litre Zetec - The Ford Fiesta is a roomy and reasonably inexpensive mode of transport. A competitive supermini that is good to drive but slightly lacking in character.... read more
- The X6 Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) is for drivers who like the high up seating position of the X5 but still want a classic sporty BMW drive and don’t really need the practicality. It may be odd to look at but given its huge dimensions, the X6 is remarkably agile. It's also beautifully built and very fast. The X6 is an X5 with attitude.... read more
- The Volkswagen Sharan is now showing its age and rivals in the MPV segment are now well ahead, especially in regards to seating. However, the engines are strong and the ride is good.... read more
- The new Lexus IS will be looking to compete with the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. It’s not quite up there on the same level but the high build quality plus excellent equipment levels and powerful performance will appeal to many executives.... read more
- Almost the perfect car, great performance, ride and handling. Build quality and reliability possibly the best on any car in the world. Safe and secure, only the extremely high running costs and poor residuals let it down.... read more
Urban 5dr 1.0-litre petrol - The Peugeot 107 is the second smallest car in its line-up and it shares its platform with the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo. Since coming out the 107 in Urban trim level has been a runaway success so we put the car to the test to see how the good the city car was.... read more
- The Avensis saloon was roomy, well constructed, reliable and extremely safe. The Avensis Tourer is every bit as good but with the added bonus of the extra load capacity. You could describe the Avensis Tourer as a stylish work-horse for those who want a reasonably priced estate car.... read more
- The Mini Cooper S is a pleasure to drive, the turbo-charged 1.6-litre engine is a perfect fit. A real driver’s car, the highly desirable Cooper S is built at the Mini factory in Oxford.... read more
- The Audi Q7 is well constructed and offers a smooth ride. However, it is expensive both to buy and run. Large, daring and authoritative – Audi’s first foray into the SUV market will make quite an impact.... read more
3.0-litre TDI - A beautiful car; the diesels should be the popular choice as they offer economy and power. You may be forgiven for thinking that you are driving on glass; such is softness of the ride.... read more
2.8 Aero V6 - Saab are the most experienced designers of four-seat, four-season soft-top cars, they have been doing it for twenty years. Distinctly Saab and extremely safe, the 9-3 is a solid and well equipped convertible.... read more
2.0HDi - The new Citroen C5 is a well built family car offering a supple ride. Citroen have realistic chances of competing with its major rivals with this modern, classy model.... read more
1.5 CZC1 - The Mitsubishi Colt CZC is an extremely appealing car and the turbo offers driving pleasure and excitement. Competitively priced with a very large boot when the roof is up.... read more
1.6 - The 207 SW looks like a baby 407 SW but still manages to be spacious enough to be classed as a family car. The cabin is high quality and Peugeot's usual range of petrol and diesel engines are on offer. The diesels are disappointing when compared to the petrols. The drive is good but the 207 SW is rather expensive.... read more
1.6 16v Acenta R - The Nissan Note is a compact, roomy, well-planned and designed MPV that will be popular with families. The drive is good, enjoyable and running costs will be inexpensive. The Note will compete with the Vauxhall Meriva and Renault Modus in the compact MPV market but may also convert small family car drivers.... read more
1.6-litre - The pro_cee’d undercuts the vehicles it is now in competition with quite substantially, although the residual values of the pro_cee’d may not be quite as certain as those of the Golf for example, the up front costs are a lot less! Running costs should also mirror this and the seven year warranty is always a key selling point for Kia.... read more
3.7-litre V6 - Infiniti is better known as Nissan’s luxury brand in America and it’s coming to the UK next year (2009). We drove the rear wheel drive Infiniti G37 Coupe – do BMW and Audi have much to worry about? Yes the Infiniti brand is already eating into the German maker’s profits in the States and it could continue this trend when it arrives in the UK. We drove an early version…... read more
Bluemotion 1.9TDi - One of the biggest selling cars in the business sector is the VW Passat and now the maker has introduced its Bluemotion to the line-up. Offering big savings in fuel economy and reduced emissions over previous models on paper, how will our VW Passat saloon test car get on?... read more
118d Efficient Dynamics - The luxury end of the market is going green and the first car we have on test is the BMW 1-Series 118d EfficientDynamics variant. The five door car looks like a normal 118d as it doesn’t have any special badging on the car. We had the SE trim level on test and this variant starts at £18,880.... read more
Eco 1.6 Multijet 105 - Green is the buzzword in the motoring industry at present and the greenest manufacturer in Europe is Fiat, according to figures published by Jato Dynamics. The Italian maker has launched the Bravo Eco to enhance its range. The car’s engine is based on the 1.6-litre Multijet diesel and starts from £14,150 in Active trim while the Dynamic trim level starts from £15,150.... read more
Supercar - Nissan has launched the most powerful supercar that Japan has ever built. It has a power output of 437bhp that’s nearly 200bhp more than its predecessor, mouth watering – we think so. So Nissan are putting the £63,000 GT-R as a rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo which is about £9,000 more expensive – Can the Japanese maker put one over on the German brand?... read more
1.6D R-Design Sport - Swedish maker has upped the ante with its latest hot hatch - the Volvo C30 R-Design. It certainly is a good-looking car the bodykit includes a roof spoiler, alloy wheels and unique R badging. Our test car was the 1.6-litre diesel Sport and it turned quite a few heads in its two-tone colour scheme.... read more
2.0 Hdi - The Citroen C4 Picasso is a fine-looking, compact MPV that is practical, roomy and excellent to drive. The interior is an arresting site with quality materials and clever design features.... read more
ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi diesel - This has got to be one of the most eagerly awaited green cars of all time for both the business and the private sector – it’s the £16,050 Ford Focus ECOnetic. With fuel at an all time high and road tax based on CO2 emissions green cars have never been in such high demand. So we got to work and put one of the most important cars of the year to the test.... read more
2.0 dCi Acenta 4x4 - The Nissan Qashqai is a breath of fresh air – it’s stylish 4x4 image, spacious cabin and solid build make it a perfect choice for young families. The looks and driving position of an SUV that drives like a car.... read more
120d ES - The BMW 1-Series coupe has been on sale since late September 2007 and offers a pleasurable driving experience thanks to a fantastic range of engines. Impressive fuel economy and the car’s eco-friendliness are an added bonus.... read more
Sport THP 150 - The Peugeot 308 SW may have set up a whole new niche in this sector. Not only has the car a big boot – it has seven seats, which means that this car has no direct rival in this sector. We tested the 1.6-litre petrol engine 308 SW in Sport trim, which starts at a price of £17,495.... read more
2.0-litre TDCi Titanium - The Ford Kuga is a brand new model for the Blue Oval –known as a crossover SUV it’s the first time that Ford has entered into this segment of the car market. The car is certainly a head-turner but Ford’s Kinetic design may not be to everyone’s taste – read on to find out whether we enjoyed the latest product from the Blue Oval.... read more
1.3 Multijet Pop - The new 500 pays homage to the classic car from the Fifties and Sixties. A chic and competent city car with great looks what will make it a very desirable proposition to its target urban customer.... read more
2.8 CRD Limited - The Grand Voyager brings nothing new the MPV table but it is impossible to grumble about the amount of space that it offers. The sliding doors and vanishing seats are excellent but the Grand Voyager is pricey, fuel economy is poor and visually uninspiring.... read more
SE 5dr 1.4-litre VTi Petrol - The Peugeot 207 is an important car for the French maker in the UK so we put the 1.4-litre VTi petrol derivative through it paces on a recent test drive. Our test car was priced from £12,895 and we picked the lively 1.4-litre petrol to see how good the car was. Will the Lion roar with the 207?... read more
2.0 TDI 140 4Motion S - The Tiguan has entered a jam-packed and competitive market but will probably still do well, mainly due to the desirable Volkswagen badge. It doesn’t offer anything dissimilar from the already recognized and thriving competition.... read more
Match BlueMotion 1.9TDi - Launching planet friendly cars seem to be the trend at present and VW has now the second car in its BlueMotion range – the Mk 5 Golf. Will the £16,750 Golf pitch on to the green successfully? It looks good on paper as the maker claims it will get 62.8mpg on the combined cycle while CO2 emissions are 119g/km, which means a tax bracket of 18%.... read more
2.2 CDTi - The vehicle we tested was the 2.2 CDTi which makes up the majority of the CR-V sales for Honda in the UK.... read more
4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME - Despite the credit crunch and the fuel prices off-roaders are still very much in demand – so how do you fancy a budget SUV? Well the Kia Sportage may not be to everyone’s liking but it comes in at under £18,000 and it can go off-road. Now we have your attention – lets see how the compact 4x4 gets on.... read more
1.0 Aygo - The Toyota Aygo is the sister model to the Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1. Great engine, low running costs, good looks and a excellent quality for the money.... read more
1.0 Urban - The Peugeot 107 is the sister model to the Toyota Aygo and Citroen C1. The 107 provides budget motoring in an agile, responsive and reliable car. The 107 offers low running costs, a great engine and a solid quality.... read more
1.0 Rhythm - The Citroen C1 is the sister model to the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107. The C1 provides budget motoring in an agile, responsive and reliable car. The C1 is inexpensive and fun to run featuring a delightfully quirky interior.... read more
R50 - Power hungry? Then you’ll like the look of this it’s the Volkswagen Touareg R50. It’s worlds apart from the recent Bluemtion range that has been introduced. For instance the Polo Bluemotion is a frugal diesel car with a low CO2 output – the Touareg R50 is also a diesel powered vehicle but with its V10 unit, it takes a lot more fuel to make it sing.... read more
2.0-litre petrol 5-speed manual - The new Epica really is big on the outside, big on the inside and big on value and the new saloon from Chevy starts at an ultra competitive price of £13,595. Sadly the design is a bit bland but with Chevy only predicting to shift 500 units per annum then the Epica has a chance of achieving its goals.... read more
2.5 dCi SE MWB - At present the Nissan LCV range is one of the most varied on the market with its line up of vans and pick-ups. On this test we drove the Instar 2.5 dCi SE MWB and due to the alliance with Renault, the Interstar shares its platform with the Renault Master. It has a starting price of £22,280.... read more
2.0d SE - BMW very rarely make mistakes but that is what has happened here. Not up to BMW’s usually high standards, the X3 performs more like a saloon than the compact SUV it purposes to be and the build quality is simply not good enough for a vehicle of this price. Budget BMW.... read more
0.8 S - The Chevrolet Matiz is looking to compete against other “budget” cars such as the Kia Picanto and Fiat Panda. In some aspects it leads its rivals but falls short in too many areas.... read more
1.4TDi Bluemotion - Fancy doing your bit for the environment - by lowering your CO2 emissions? While keeping the cost of motoring down? Then you need to have a serious look at the Volkswagen Polo 1.4TDi Bluemotion. The tweaks to the body and chassis are minor – it’s the engine where the work has gone on and the car has turned from being a good city car to being a brilliant all rounder.... read more
Sport 2.2 HDi - The Peugeot 407 SW is one of the best looking estates on the road - with its angled rear and short overhang it has certainly left the boxy estate looking dated. But is it style with no substance? For the average 4.2 family the 407 SW should have what it takes as long as you don’t have any six footers to accommodate.... read more
2.5dCi Single Cab 4wd - Nissan has launched the NP300 and according to the Japanese maker – it’s a ‘proper’ pick-up which will be able to get to off-road sites ideal for the farming community or the construction industry. We agree with the marque it is a traditional pick-up truck, which will be an ideal business tool for those that need to get across the rough stuff.... read more
2.4 Geartronic SE - The drive with this engine really was effortless and combined with the automatic gearbox was a very relaxing experience.... read more
1.6 Life - A perfect choice for a small family – this compact MPV’s innovative FlexSpace system offers extremely versatile seating and helps make the Meriva to seem larger than it actually is. Two words that sum up the Vauxhall Meriva well are practical and safe.... read more
2.0 TDi SE - The new Audi A4 2.0 TDi SE is a fabulous car. It has class, style and power. Bigger and more stylish than its predecessor, the improved Audi A4 gives the BMW 3-Series some tough competition. ... read more
2.0 CRD - The Dodge Avenger looks pretty good and is generous with space. The Avenger will divide opinions; some will love it........ read more
Ice 1.1-Litre - There are many rivals with more prestige but this city loving Picanto’s good looks, affordability and green ethos will appeal too many who need a car for the urban jungle. Small on the outside but surprisingly big on the inside, this city slicker may have just what you want.... read more
1.9 TDI Special Edition - Fantastic value for money makes the A3 Sportback a serious rival to the Golf and the Focus. The 1.9 TDI Special Edition is also a very green car and exempt from the Congestion Charge. Road Tax is only £35 a year.... read more
3.0 CRD diesel - An effortless drive featuring excellent ride and handling. A large car inside and out, the 300C has a secure feel. Offers great value for money.... read more
1.9CDTi 16v Sportive SE - If you’re looking for a sporty mid sized car derived van you may just have found what you’re looking for. It’s the Vauxhall Astravan 1.9CDTi 16v in Sportive SE trim. The car derived Astravan is based on the same platform as the estate car but comes with a bespoke bodyshell.... read more
S Line 2.0 TDi Automatic - The Audi A3 S line is a fantastic drive with power, comfort and style. You get a real sense of quality which you expect from Audi.... read more
1.3 CDTi Sportive - This is one of the best car-derived vans around – it’s a cracker. The 1.3CDTi £11,298 Corsavan Sportive has lots of grunt in and out of town and it goes hand in hand with the smooth shifting six-speed gearbox. If you need to get around town with minimum fuss but want your company logo to look good then this is the ideal van for you.... read more
1.3CDTi Easytronic - This Vauxhall Combo 1.3CDTi is fitted with an Easytronic gearbox – for seamless shifts. This minivan comes equipped with common rail diesel technology and these power plants are more frugal now than ever before. Today a 1.3-litre can offer as much power and torque as a 2.0-litre or even a 2.5-litre of the mid 1980s.... read more
Outlaw 2.5 Dci - Relatively easy to handle for such a large vehicle, this rugged vehicle can offer the best of both worlds - everyday pick up or family estate 4x4.... read more
2.4 JTDm - The Alfa Romeo Spiders quality has an immediate charm whereas the ride and handling of the car grows over a period of time. Certainly a car you choose with your heart and not your head.... read more
2.0 Tdi - Overall this is a good car, extremely fast but at times the ride can be hard. The inside is huge and safety and security is excellent.... read more
ST500 - A special edition Ford Focus – enough to make your eyes water, the ST500 is a gem. The car drives brilliantly and represents good value for money at £20,495 as there are only 500 of them on sale. This makes this car a very desirable machine.... read more
Type R - There are quicker and more comfortable rivals, yet few can match the £18,615 Civic Type R's engaging nature with the exception of the Ford Focus ST 500. But it’s the looks that do it for me; the space age design with raw power on tap makes the Type R a true hot hatch... read more
1.6 CRDi GLS - The Kia Cee’d’s ability as a dependable transport and motorway cruiser makes the car a worthy choice when you are going to buy or lease your next car. The Cee’d excels at the simple things it is very practical and easy to live with because it’s so comfortable and user-friendly.... read more
1.8 Petrol Edge - The Mondeo Edge is sophisticated and affordable. It has an array of creature comforts and technology. It delivers just about everything you would expect from a family car.... read more
1.4 SXi - Performs efficiently and handles brilliantly. A sporty looking exterior, quality is by far the first word that comes to mind. A comfortable ride with plenty of head room in the front and back. A worthy successor to previous Astra models.... read more
S - The Porsche Cayenne S handles & performs like its classic 911 stable mate but has the space & practicality of a large family run around.... read more
TSpirit Hybrid Synergy Drive - The Prius is a practical and versatile car that effortlessly switches between the electric motor and and 1.5 litre petrol engine. Excellent reliability and economy plus good looks will make this an extremely popular choice in the UK.... read more
6.0 Mulliner specification - The Bentley Continental GT offers class leading supreme comfort & performance.... read more
2.0 TDi S-Line 4 Door Manual - A brilliant performer with a beautiful interior. A safe a solid feel from this spacious and practical model. Driving the car was a pleasure – especially on long journeys.... read more
192 Ps - A very enjoyable car to drive, expectation is high and it doesn't disappoint. Excellent handling, decent quality and good value for money.... read more
2.0 diesel TS2 - The Mazda 6 is a competent performer that handles well. Quality interior and solid feel further add to give the newer model a more substantial feel. Auto-dimming rear view mirror fitted as standard is a real bonus. A strong contract hire and PCP contender.... read more
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