Jaguar XJ 2013 665x297

In an age of downsizing and economising it’s always a thrill to discover a car that’s able to engender the sensation of an event – the feeling that stepping inside is not purely taking a seat in some transport to the office but removing yourself from the world around you,Continue Reading

Alfa Romeo MiTo 2013 665x297

As Alfa Romeo’s first supermini since the demise of the Alfasud in 1989, the MiTo has a lot to achieve. Not only does it have to bring people to the struggling brand but when they get there it has to be every bit as good as its Mini and FiatContinue Reading

Nissan LEAF 2013 665x297

It may have had the mildest blink-and-you-miss-it facelift, but underneath the skin there have been plenty of revisions to extend not only the range of Nissan’s pure electric car, but also the appeal. I took a quick drive to find out if it’s worked.Continue Reading

Peugeot 2008 2013 665x297

Peugeot’s 208 has sold like the proverbial hotcake since launch last year, with 35,000 of the cars now cruising around Britain’s roads. The French manufacturer is now hoping to keep that momentum going with a jacked-up crossover variant, the 2008.Continue Reading

Korean manufacturer’s reputations are rising now, with the likes of Hyundai and Kia putting out ever more competitive cars, occasionally matching the best that Europe has to offer. SsangYong are joining in the march of progress with the new Korando, a car that at least appears to be light yearsContinue Reading

Is it possible for something to be too good? Could Zooey Deschanel be improved if she didn’t have that manufactured-manic-hipster-pixie personality? Is a Big Mac still a Big Mac if you take out the gherkin?Continue Reading

The Citroen DS3 has been a firm favourite with UK buyers since its launch, outselling every other car in the French firms range. With the first rays of sunshine finally beaming down on the country, Citroen has now taken the obvious step of slicing the roof off.Continue Reading

The word ‘swift’ conjures up different images for different people. To Samantha, my partner, it brings to mind summer evenings with tiny birds swooping around a darkening blue sky. To me it means speed, but not outright big numbers, rather the sensation of moving from point A to point BContinue Reading

It might look like a van with windows, but the Peugeot Partner Tepee shares more with the 308 hatchback than it does with any commercial load-lugger. Those van-like looks actually mask what is a surprisingly capable car. Granted, you won’t want to be looking in this direction if high performanceContinue Reading

The Mercedes A-Class was always a car to divide opinion. Forward thinking when launched, the upright stance and innovative packaging gave you a large interior within a small car, but at the expense of driving dynamics, even desirability. It was practical, if unorthodox, but rivals from Audi and BMW left itContinue Reading

The once maligned Skoda brand has been turned in to a huge triumph thanks to investment from Volkswagen, and one would imagine thoughts of a similar level of success were going through Renault’s mind when they took control of Dacia in 1999.Continue Reading

Vauxhall is not a brand name that appears on most urban fashionistas radar, the cars of choice generally being limited to the Fiat 500 and Mini, with perhaps the Audi A1 thrown in for those doing well. That could change if the new Vauxhall Adam can capture hearts in theContinue Reading

Kia has been busy transforming itself over the last few years, almost completely replacing their range in the last few years. Most in need of a refresh was the unloved Rio, a bland and anonymous car that redefined the word generic, and that is what I have here. And whatContinue Reading

Volvo’s new V40 range has been warmly received, with the premium hatch offering a range of cars markedly different from those from Audi and BMW, but without alienating their existing customers.Continue Reading

Launching a car in Scotland in January is a brave move, but Mazda are taking a few gambles at the moment. From being seen as the next best choice after a Ford or Vauxhall, the Japanese brand is fighting hard to be seen as credible rivals to the likes ofContinue Reading