Category : Road Tests
First Drive: Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e
Given the inherent weight, drag and drivetrain load disadvantages of an SUV, it should come as no surprise that plug-in hybrid technology has become par for the course at the premium end of the … Read More »
Road Test: Porsche Cayenne S e-Hybrid
Porsche reckons it might have tackled a collection of seemingly competing needs with the Cayenne S e-Hybrid. Not only does it profess to be a high-performance luxury car with real off-road capability, but it’s … Read More »
Road Test: Range Rover Sport Hybrid Autobiography
There’s a display in the Range Rover Sport Hybrid which shows how much of the journey has taken place with the engine switched off. A useful feature in a car where the engine is … Read More »
Road Test: Tesla Model S 85kWh
As improbable as it might have sounded until fairly recently, Tesla has managed a couple of impressive feats with the Model S. Not only is this tempting drivers out of established premium brands, but … Read More »
Road Test: Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
After several years of clever but often unusual-looking plug-ins, 2015 could be the year of the understated ultra-low emission vehicle. Cars which, like the Audi A3 e-tron, give few visual clues to the technology … Read More »
Road Test: Lexus NX 300h F-Sport
Against the backdrop of an increasingly crowded premium sector, Lexus has put considerable effort into carving out its own identity over the last two years and the NX crossover is perhaps the best illustration … Read More »
Road Test: Nissan e-NV200 Combi Tekna Rapid Plus
Nissan’s second electric vehicle, the e-NV200, has been drawing global attention for packaging the LEAF’s drivetrain into a versatile electric van. But what’s less well known is that it’s also available with back seats … Read More »
First Drive: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4work
There’s no denying the technology in the PHEV Commercial, but Dan Gilkes wonders who it’s for.
First Drive: Renault Twizy Cargo
Battling with inner-city traffic to deliver parcels, post or food services can be a difficult task. It’s often not a case of keeping pace with traffic, but being able to nip through the smallest … Read More »
Road Test: Mercedes-Benz C300 BlueTEC Hybrid Sport
This is an incredibly tough segment, and one which is dominated by diesel engines, which can make a comparatively expensive hybrid a tough sell. But Mercedes-Benz has been clever here, with a modular system … Read More »
First Drive: Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid
Sector: Luxury Price: £87,965 Fuel: 100.9mpg CO2: 65g/km In the quest to produce the most efficient cars, carmakers such as Toyota, BMW and Tesla are increasingly pushing back boundaries. But Mercedes-Benz will make up … Read More »
First Drive: Kia Soul EV
Clearly the styling is a moot point, and the aerodynamic alterations on the EV won’t sway opinions, but this is an underrated and clever car which works brilliantly in urban environments. It’s roughly the … Read More »
First Drive: BMW i8
Some of what makes this car tick is already familiar through the i3. Both cars have a structure largely made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer, a material that’s 30% lighter even than aluminium, tall … Read More »
First Drive: Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive
Available in the UK from Spring 2015, the brand’s first fully electric car will be offered in a single, high-spec trim level, with equipment based on the conventionally-powered AMG Line. Pricing, after the £5,000 … Read More »
First Drive: Lexus NX 300h
Thanks to the low emission tax advantages of hybrids, Lexus has sold well in the company car market. This NX too offers a tax advantage, thanks to a CO2 figure as low as 116g/km … Read More »
First Drive: Volkswagen Golf GTE
There’s an obvious niche for this car to fill. With surprisingly high economy for the power available, a quarter of all Golfs registered in the UK this year have been the GTI, GTD or … Read More »
First Drive: Audi A3 e-tron
Sector: Lower medium Price: £29,950 (after £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant) Fuel: 176.6mpg CO2: 37g/km Much like the video market of the early 1980s, where VHS and Betamax jostled for public acceptance (and let’s not … Read More »
First Drive: Volkswagen e-Golf
Whether that’s a pro or a con depends on personal taste. This isn’t a glaring billboard for a company’s environmental credentials, but the e-Golf takes an unfamiliar technology and slots it into a familiar … Read More »
First Drive: Nissan e-NV200
Indeed, with 187lb/ft of torque on tap from a standstill, the electric van is actually quicker to 60mph than its 1.5dCi counterpart and more agile around town too. Rather than joining forces with Alliance … Read More »
Road Test: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hS
Like the Vauxhall Ampera, it's been a long time coming. Mitsubishi showed the PX-MiEV concept car back in 2011 and launched the car in Japan shortly afterwards, enjoying demand so strong that it had … Read More »
