Reviews

Our long term Hyundai Tucson has left the Motor Trader fleet after three months and 6,200 miles and has served as a useful benchmark for what to expect from a new  generation compact SUV. The car is a statement of intent from the brand. Launched last September it saw Hyundai ditch the clumsy ix35 nomenclature, revive the more customer-friendly Tucson ...

Jaguar’s confidence in the success of its first entrant into the SUV market is well placed. It looks great, offers genuine practicality, drives well and gives dealers a conquest opportunity in the fastest growing part of the premium sector. The all-new F-Pace benefits from a great design that doesn’t compromise its ‘Jaguar-ness’.  Length-wise it sits between an Audi Q5 and ...

Although widely known today as a largely fun and affordable marque – due to the 500’s ongoing success – Fiat once made more rational products too. The 1980 mk1 Panda is a classic example and the Italian brand is resurrecting this approach with the new Tipo and re-entering the compact hatchback and estate market, the second-biggest sales segment in Europe. ...

It has been a busy month for our long term Hyundai Tucson. As well as motorway runs and the daily demands of an urban commute, it has also been called into action as a people carrier and load-lugger. In other words all the typical demands placed on any compact SUV. As a motorway runner the Tucson is quick enough and ...

Hyundai’s all-new Tucson is an important car for the brand. Not only does it serve to reiterate Hyundai’s positioning as a carmaker with a wider appeal than the i10 city car which propelled it out of the downturn but it also helps consolidate its position in the fast growing compact SUV sector. Launched in September 2015, the all-new model saw ...

The Ford Focus RS is not a car for introverts with huge vents and air intakes and a pumped up rear spoiler. Massive low profile tyres surround expensive alloy wheels, behind which are enormous brakes and calipers. It has computer controlled four-wheel-drive, and sophisticated differentials that monitor and individually send power (almost 350bhp of it) to whichever wheel needs it ...

The fifth generation Mondeo went on sale in UK showrooms at the beginning of 2015 and re-confirmed the car’s no-nonsense reputation as a comfortable, practical and hard grafting workhorse; beloved by families and fleets for over 20 years. The latest incarnation is more upmarket looking than ever before with its supersized grille, attractive bonnet and flowing lines giving it an ...

Carmakers who have tried to gain premium sales by creating stand-alone brands have met with mixed success. Few now remember Mazda’s up-market foray with Xedos. The models proved unpopular and production ceased in 2000. Toyota’s Lexus sub-brand is a better example although in Britain it’s still far less high profile than BMW and Mercedes. Nissan chose to launch Infiniti in ...

MONTH TWO: We’ve been running the Ford Mondeo 1.0 Ecoboost since December and in that time have put 2,300 miles on the clock and tested its ultra low fuel consumption claims. The 1.0-litre petrol Ecoboost engine is undeniably an impressive piece of kit and Ford’s decision to place it into its fourth generation Mondeo, which weighs in at 1.5 tonnes, ...

It’s a testament to the success of Kia’s Sportage that it achieved record sales in its run-out year whilst not looking as though it needed replacing. Yet from this month Kia dealers will be selling the fourth generation model which boasts new styling and is pretty much all-new from the ground up. As Kia’s bestselling model, accounting for nearly 30% ...