Author: Robin Roberts

Candidates across the UK could on average travel 25 miles for a driving test by 2030 as test centre locality and available test slots dwindle, according to new data. But that’s certainly not the case in Wales, says insurance broker Marmalade. Marmalade calculate the average distance learners will go to a test centre will rise from 12.33 miles last year to 15 miles next year and by 2030 it forecasts a distance of just under 24.5 miles. In Wales the average distance has dropped from 9.6 miles in 2019 to 9.2 miles last year and it’s forecast to fall again…

Volkswagen has been on a learning curve with electric cars but now it’s heading towards the top of the class. It has flirted with electric cars for many years and a decade ago gave us their zero emission versions of the e-Golf and e-Up, adapted models of their better known petrol and diesel hatchbacks. VW engineers knew change was coming down the line and began developing their “intelligent design” identities, a new family of pure electric models which could be the basis for other models and badges in the massive VW Group. So they created the highly variable MEB Platform…

As we look down the road towards an all-electric future, enthusiastic drivers might want to refocus on the Honda Civic Type R. It’s been with us in a few shapes for a quarter of a century and its enduring appeal is undoubtedly its very driver-focused design and engineering which has steadily matured, not really grown up, just got better with age. We tested one version exactly 12 months ago but after the current MY24 car won the prestigious UK Car of the Year award in the Performance Car category, we had to take in another whiff of its success. Many…

The independent Motor Ombudsman said more than 1,600 cases were logged in three months, the most ever and a 35% rise over Q1 last year. It also took some 24,000 telephone calls about garages and that was a 56% rise over the same period last year. The analysts say heightened cost of living with tighter margin and the realisation that the Ombudsman’s services are free are likely contributors to the rise for an Alternative Dispute Resolution. Mechanics failings to sort out technical issues with components breaking and even unauthorised work being done were highlighted. Delays in sourcing replacement parts, workshops…

The Hyundai Tucson is a quality SUV which many prospective buyers might overlook, at their cost. The Tucson range runs to five models, SE Connect, Premium, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate, from £31,535 to over £44,575 with 2WD, or with PHEV powertrain to stretch economy and 4WD. Power outputs accordingly range from 150ps to 265ps with model dependent manual or automatic transmission. Our revised mid-range Premium grade model used one of the more powerful SmartStream advanced petrol engines with additional boost from a 60ps electric motor, which really transformed the performance when switched from the eco to sport…

Kia is riding the crest of a new wave with its range-topping luxury EV9 SUV this spring. The Kia EV9 achieved a remarkable dual victory at the 2024 World Car Awards at the New York International Auto Show in March, being voted World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle., taking KIA to five titles in the prestigious awards. Kia has given a strong incentive to buy an EV 9 which is now available with a 4.9 per cent APR on finance with no minimum customer deposit, existing Kia finance takers can also get a further £500 discount and…

The 24-plate change boosted new-car registrations in March, according to SMMT figures. But private buyers have put the brakes on pure electric purchases and the car makers want Government incentives to be increased if it wants to meet emissions targets.. March signals a twentieth month of consecutive growth for the automotive sector, a remarkable milestone for the industry, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK commenting on the latest SMMT new car registration figures. In March, a total of 317,786 new cars were registered,…

When the going gets tough, so it’s said, the tough get going and the Subaru Outback will probably lead the way for most drivers. It mayn’t be an obvious choice because it does not look like a classic big-wheeled off-roader with enough space around the wheel arches to coral a sheep, or two. Nor does it have a slab-sided body and brick-like profile which can turn a practical car into a poor looking car. But it does have a discerning ability to take just about everything in its stride and deliver the driver and passengers in utter comfort to their…

Mazda has a modest UK range but every model comes with a lot of heart and soul, like the revised CX-30. Originally derived from the hatchback Mazda3 but smaller than the CX-5 SUV, the CX-30 came to the UK for 2020, but of course we all know what happened then as the pandemics swept through the country. Britain and Mazda persevered and now their feature-packed compact SUV has been given a comprehensive make-over, notably inside. The 2024 range has been revised and facelifted for each of the 18 models in Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Homura, Exclusive-Line grades, and the Takumi, which we…

KIA has turned the corner into a new market segment with its EV9 pure electric model. The EV9 seven-seater launches in three trim levels and an additional range-topping six-seat option from £65,025 to £78,775 in rear wheel drive or all-wheel-drive configurations depending on trim with 200bhp single or 378bhp twin motors. That puts it squarely into Mercedes and BMW electric model territory alongside the latest VW ID.Buzz or Tesla Models X and Y. We wanted to see how the entry-level EV9 Air measured up as it turned the corner for the brand, and it’s an impressive addition to the luxury…