Autos Reviews

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI SE Estate - If ever a range of family cars had something for everyone, it’s Volks­wagen’s Golf line-up. As well as three and five-door hatchbacks, there’s the Jetta saloon, high-roofed Plus, Touran MPV, Eos convertible and forthcoming Tiguan SUV. (more…)

Ford Focus - Ford’s triple show treat. The Ford stand is certain to be one of the busiest at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. As well as the next Fiesta, the firm is debuting the revised version of the Focus and its all-new Kuga off-roader. (more…)

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI SE Estate - If ever a range of family cars had something for everyone, it’s Volks­wagen’s Golf line-up. As well as three and five-door hatchbacks, there’s the Jetta saloon, high-roofed Plus, Touran MPV, Eos convertible and forthcoming Tiguan SUV. (more…)

Hyundai i30 1.4 comfort - Forget the sporty Coupé, or even the top-selling Santa Fe 4×4. According to Hyundai, the i30 is the most import­ant car it has ever launched in the UK. (more…)

Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet 150 Sport - Turbocharged family cars are nothing unusual these days, but the latest addition to the Fiat Bravo family is something a little bit special.

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Daihatsu Materia - The Materia looks unique, but the way it drives lets it down. Driving -The Materia’s 1.5-litre engine is lacking in personality, though it delivers strong performance. 103bhp helps it dash to 60mph in 10.8 seconds, and it feels responsive in gear. This is partly due to a short top gear though, which makes it sit higher in the revs on the motorway. The suspension has a similarly sporty bias, too; firm damping gives a hard edge to the ride. This helps contain body roll, dispute the Materia’s tall stance, although under hard cornering the anti-roll bar can’t stop the body heaving and unloading the opposite suspension enough for the tyre to lose traction. Add in steering that suffers kickback over bumpy surfaces, and the Materia isn’t as composed or as comfortable as it could be. However, it never feels unstable, and the brakes are good. (more…)

Renault Clio 1.2 TCE Dynamique S - Size isn’t everything if you’re buying a new Renault. The French company is downsizing, and its new 1.2-litre Turbo Control Efficiency (TCE) engine replaces the old 1.4-litre unit in the Clio line-up. The powerplant has more torque available lower down the rev range than its bigger predecessor, and it’s more efficient, too. We’ve already tried the TCE motor in the new Twingo, but how does it fare in the larger Clio? (more…)

Ford Airstream concept - A car inspired by a caravan? Although we are used to designers telling us that the ideas behind the latest vehicles have come from the unlikeliest of places, Ford’s Airstream represents the first time we have ever encountered a family runaround with its roots in a mobile home! (more…)

Mercedes C200K Elegance - There’s no doubt that Mercedes’ new C-Class has been a big hit. But so far, the models we’ve driven have been pretty upmarket. (more…)

Suzuki Kizashi concept - This is the face of Suzuki’s stunning new family car – the Kizashi. And judging by the official sketch, it looks set to be a winner. (more…)