Category: Car reviews

Can the new Kia XCeed encroach on the Ford Focus Active's hatch-based territory?

Kia’s current crossover boom continues with this, the XCeed. It’s a niche car; the Stonic, Niro and Sportage are more conventional SUVs, while this latest model is a raised version of the brand’s Ceed hatchback with a little off-road cred.

That means the Ford Focus Active is the Kia’s chief rival. It, too, has a little more ride height with extra suspension travel, plus plenty of plastic body Continue reading “Kia XCeed vs Ford Focus Active”

The VW T-Roc R uses its Golf R underpinnings to full effect deploying its 296bhp, but is it worth £38k?Verdict4Volkswagen expects a different type of customer to consider the T-Roc R over its Golf R hatch, but the car those customers are getting is surprisingly close to the hot hatch in its ability. It’s pricier, but almost as fun and a little more practical, too.

With crossovers and SUVs breaking into best-sellers lists across Europe and further afield, it’s not surprising car Continue reading “New Volkswagen T-Roc R 2019 review”

We find out if the new mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette C8 can live up to its legendary nameVerdict4.5The new Corvette has switched from a front to mid-engine layout, and in the process makes itself a more credible supercar challenger. Chevrolet’s familiar V8 remains, but has been tweaked to produce more power – and while there’s no manual gearbox, the C8 offers bags of character, a comfortable ride and limpet-like grip. If Chevy can get the price right in the UK, it could shake up the Continue reading “New Chevrolet Corvette C8 2020 review”

Can the updated Lexus RX 450h F Sport keep up in the ever competitive luxury SUV market? We drive it to find out…Verdict3.5Updating a car like the Lexus RX is a tricky task; how do you build on a model that was, from the off, so thoroughly well-engineered? Lexus’s answer is a subtle one – by fine-tuning the car’s looks, tweaking its suspension, and adding a new infotainment system, the RX 450h has been incrementally improved all-round. Tech is vastly improved thanks to the addition of Continue reading “New Lexus RX 450h F Sport 2019 review”

The Vauxhall Astra has beaten the Ford Focus and SEAT Leon before, can it do it again?

In October 2015, Auto Express published a group test pitting the then brand-new Vauxhall Astra against two of the most impressive cars in its class: the Ford Focus and the SEAT Leon.  

The Astra broke new ground then, but a lot has changed in the four years since. Now that there’s a facelifted version of the Astra available, we thought it was high time to bring them back together to see which is best Continue reading “Vauxhall Astra vs Ford Focus vs SEAT Leon”

First report: Jaguar's I-Pace is a showstopper at the local transport-themed village eventVerdict5Interest in our Jaguar I-Pace is huge wherever we go. The car’s looks are a major draw, encouraging people to find out more about life with an EV. But its best features are not only the way it looks, but also the way it drives.

Mileage: 2,823
Economy: 2.6m/kWh

There’s nothing quite like a British village show where the locals bring out the largest of marrows, the straightest Continue reading “Long term test review: Jaguar I-Pace”

The new MG HS SUV hits the UK as a cheaper alternative to the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and Skoda KaroqVerdict3With each new MG model, the brand takes a little step closer to the established makers. The HS delivers passenger space, a seven-year warranty and a purchase price to set it apart from most rivals, while the interior design and quality are a big improvement over previous MGs, too. However, there’s still plenty of work to do from a driving point of view: in terms of ride, handling, Continue reading “New MG HS 2019 review”

Is MG’s first electric car a convincing challenger? We compare the new ZS EV to the big-selling Nissan Leaf

As more manufacturers explore electric tech, the trickle-down continues to penetrate the lower car classes, democratising zero-emissions motoring for many.

The latest affordable EV model to emerge comes from MG. The Chinese-owned, reborn British brand is offering quite a strong proposition with its ZS EV SUV, as a simple look at the numbers shows: £26,995 for the top-spec Continue reading “MG ZS EV vs Nissan Leaf”

We visit Romania to get our first taste of the new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe from the passenger seat

If you thought the old Mercedes GLE Coupe was a bit incongruous then you’d be right. When the third-generation M-Class was launched in 2012, a coupe version was never on the cards. 

But to cash in on a growing desire among customers for more coupe-inspired SUVs, Mercedes created its first in 2015. Complete with a new badge – ‘GLE Coupe’ – it arrived with 3.0-litre V6 petrol and Continue reading “New Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe ride review”

The new BMW M8 Competition is monstrously fast, but is it a true sports car? We find out..Verdict3.5The new BMW M8 is a deeply effective car that delivers monstrous performance allied to a depth of sophistication that’s hard not to be impressed by. Yet we can’t help feel it lacks soul alongside other true-blue sports car rivals in this lofty price bracket. The engine, though massively potent, feels like it belongs in a refined GT rather than an out-and-out sports car.

If you look at the Continue reading “New BMW M8 2019 review”