New 2012 SEAT Ibiza 5dr FR 2.0 TDI 143PS road test review by Oliver Hammond

New 2012 SEAT Ibiza 5dr FR 2-0 TDI 143PS road test review by Oliver Hammond - photo - Bolton Abbey Steam Railway front 34b

Having had a SEAT in our household fleet for over four years, my desire to put the Iberian firm’s new, revised Ibiza in range-topping FR guise through its paces was high - especially in light of the impressive headline figures of 143PS from its torquey 2-litre TDI engine and 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, while supposedly averaging an eyebrow-raising 60.1mpg. Un caliente hatchback bueno? Under the wings of the Volkswagen Group, SEAT as a brand has come on leaps and bounds in Read The Rest...

Peugeot 308CC Coupe Cabriolet e-HDi 1.6 Diesel 112 Active Road Test Review by Oliver Hammond

Peugeot 308CC Coupe Cabriolet e-HDi 112 1-6 diesel Active road test review - Oliver Hammond - photo Stanneylands - front roof

The weather in the UK had been atrocious for the past couple of months, but although an amphibious vehicle might have been more apt for my next review car, I was quite excited at the prospect of the new, revised Peugeot 308CC’s arrival – I just hoped I would have the chance to get its top off! A Drop-Top with Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Looks? Ever since Peugeot surprised themselves and many others with the runaway success of the 206CC in the UK, they’ve never Read The Rest...

2012 Volkswagen Up! “Master of all small trades” road test review by Nick Johnson

New 2012 Volkswagen Up! road test review by Nick Johnson - photo - front

The Volkswagen Up! is Volkswagen’s new city car and the first rung on the Volkswagen ladder. Volkswagen have been here before with the previous Fox model, a Brazilian built car that did the brand few favours because it wasn’t very good but this, they promise, is much better. Price: £7,995 - £11,305 Availability: Now The Up! (the exclamation mark is part of the branding) is competitively priced and it promises all the benefits of a city car - small size, nippy Read The Rest...

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport – “The fun factor”

The previous generation Swift Sport was widely regarded as a hoot to drive offering old school thrills in an era where turbocharging and ever increasing levels of horsepower were rapidly becoming the norm. So what have Suzuki done with this new Swift model for 2012? Read on to find out.   Price: £10,152 – £13,499 (Swift Sport) Availability: Now. So how does this 2012 version differ from the old one then? Well it doesn't a great deal, but that in itwelf is a Read The Rest...

2011 Citroën DS4 – “Curiously good crossover”

The DS4 is the second model to be launched under Citroën's premium ‘DS’ brand after the DS3, which goes head to head with the MINI Cooper.   Price: £18,150 - £24,000 Available: Now The DS4 is known, in the trade, as a ‘crossover’.   A “what over?!” I hear you say - a crossover which is a blend of different car styles in one. Think of the DS4 as a car that combines the sleek roofline of a coupe (traditionally a two-door car) with Read The Rest...