Latest Car Reviews

Tuesday, 2nd of December 2008

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Small Family Cars

Small Family Cars rated by performance, ride and handling, build quality and reliability, safety and security, space and practicality plus ownership and value.

Honda Civic

Type S - With the latest incarnation of Honda’s biggest selling model hitting middle age, the Japanese manufacturer has taken the opportunity to tweak its Civic range. The new 1.8 i-VTEC Type S has seen its front end altered to look more like the Type R, while the handling and ride have been tweaked to give the driver a bit more of a sportier feel. The result is a sporty looking Honda...... read more

Kia Pro_Ceed

2.0-litre CRDi Sport - Here I am again in another KIA, at this rate I’ll be a convert, in fact I think I am. The rear haunches and the angle of the front lights makes this humble KIA look like the aggressively styled Volvo C40.... read more

Mazda 3

2.0 Sport 4 door - Performance in the Mazda 3 Sport offers a combination of control and power.The ride is quite firm, although not uncomfortably so, this is to be expected in the ‘Sport’ model however. If you looked around for equivalent cars to the 2.0 Sport in terms of performance and equipment you would find the Mazda competitively priced.... read more

Toyota Auris

2.0 D-4D 130 5-door - More Corollas were made than any other car in history, but despite that success the Corolla never really captured the hearts of UK or European buyers. For the latest model, launched in early 2007, Toyota started afresh by engineering it specifically for the European market. And they called it the Auris.... read more

Honda Civic Hybrid

- 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

Kia Ceed

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

SEAT Leon

- 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

Kia Pro_Ceed

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

BMW 1-Series

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

Fiat Bravo

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

Volvo C30

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

Ford Focus

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

Nissan Qashqai

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

Volkswagen Golf

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

Chevrolet Epica

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

Audi A3

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

Honda Civic

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

Kia Ceed

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

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch

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

Toyota Prius

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