David

Toyota Yaris 1.33 VVT-i Icon 5-door road test report and review Red Nose Day

IT’S not every day that your test car turns up sporting a big red nose, but that was precisely what happened with this week’s Toyota Yaris test car.
A bit of a surprise, maybe, but it did make me smile – and there’s a good reason for it. Toyota is an official partner to this year’s Red Nose Day and is aiming to raise £1-million for Comic Relief and part of their campaign is to sell as many of the official red noses for cars, trucks, vans and even mobility scooters as they possibly can.

Nissan Qashqai n-tec+ 1.2 DIG-T 115PS road test report and review

THE Nissan Qashqai has been around since 2007 in its various guises and while always having been a worthy presence in the mid-sized SUV market, I’ve always thought it to be a bit ordinary – it’s never really stood out.
But those comments can’t be levelled at this new model – it looks superb, really eye-catching – at least, it certainly caught my eye when I spotted the first few examples on the roads.

Audi S line 2.0 TDI Ultra 163PS road test report and review

IF YOU’RE looking for a radical looking new car, then the Audi A4 will probably not be for you – they really don’t change very much from one model to the next, they just evolve, subtlely. But as someone once said, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the Audi A4 definitely ain’t broke. Sit in the car, shut the door, open the glovebox and have a good fiddle with the switches and you’ll realise one thing – it oozes quality. Everything feels beautifully tactile and a sheer delight to interact with.

Volvo V60 D5 R-Design Lux Nav 215PS Start/Stop road test report and review

THE Volvo V60 R Design is, in my opinion, one of the most attractive estate cars on the market today thanks to its heady mix of sharp yet classy styling, comfort, safety and technology. The Swedish manufacturer has managed to create a very good looking car, something slightly different from the traditional boxy estate, yet retain all the practicality a load lugger should possess, with the whole package being topped off by a set of of smart alloys.

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron road test report and review

AS premium class back-markers in the modern race to introduce electric models – great rivals BMW and Mercedes are already switched on – Audi will start to catch up in the New Year with the addition of this peppy plug-in hybrid version to their top-selling A3 range.

It marries the brand’s existing 150 PS 1.4 turbo petrol engine to a new 102 PS electric motor, sitting alongside it under the bonnet and energised remotely from a special high-voltage, lithium-ion battery pack in the floor under the rear bench seat. Housing that, plus the car’s normal 12v battery in that area has reduced boot volume by 100 litres, while adding 125 kg to the kerb weight, without drastically affecting the handling.

Ford Transit Courier Trend road test report and review

IN the world of vans, Ford’s Transit has reached iconic status and therefore needs little introduction, but this is a new addition to the range and it’s called the Courier.
Once upon a time, there was only one Transit van, but today Ford’s range of commercials has grown and now includes the Fiesta, Ranger, Tourneo Custom, Transit, Transit Connect, Transit Courier and Transit Custom.

Gadgets & Accessories

Karcher pressure washer and T-Racer surface cleaner make light work of cars and patios

Ring rechargeable tyre inflator – handy gadget that keeps you pumped up and fully charged

Quad Lock review – A clever and secure solution for when you need to mount your phone… anywhere!

Snuggy review: Cosy camping accessories for those chilly evenings

Michelin Tyre Pressure Monitoring System – a must-have for bikers

Motorbikes

From the Picos to the Pyrenees – motorcycling in Northern Spain is a biker’s dream

Brittany Ferries to Picos review: Route opens up magical roads of Northern Spain for British riders and drivers

Dunlop Trailmax Meridian tyres face 2,500 miles in a month touring test

Ducati Multistrada V4 S road test review

Ducati celebrates best ever June as sales boom