THEGAYUK

Category: Review

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Afterglow, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Afterglow, London

    ★★★★ | Afterglow, Waterloo East Theatre, London

    An extramarital relationship takes its toll on two men expecting a baby in the return of the sexy play Afterglow.

    After a sell-out run at the Southwark Playhouse which ended just a few months ago, Afterglow returns to the cosy Waterloo East theatre, with a new cast, and 15 minutes shorter. Does this make the show better than the previous production? Yes it does.

    The problem with the previous production was the time-consuming moments when the actors would re-arrange the furniture for the scene changes – all a bit tedious and it took away from the sexually charged energy of the show.

    What we have now is a cast who are just as sexy, but with a show that is tighter and sexier, while we are still treated to those delicious and sexy scenes where the actors are totally naked (in the bed, in the shower, practically all over the stage)!

    The plot, if you buy a ticket for that, involves Josh (Adi Chugh), Alex (Peter Mcpherson) and Darius (Benjamin Aluwihare). Josh and Alex have been together a long time and have decided to have a baby via surrogate. But their relationship is an open one – they participate in three ways and allow each other to have fun with other guys. But when Darius enters their bedroom he and Josh click right away, and start to see each other, with Alex’s approval, and they eventually start to fall in love. But with the baby coming very soon (Josh and Alex cheekily change the name of their unborn baby weekly to peaches, lemon and cauliflower), and with Alex starting to get worried about Josh and Darius spending more time together, can Alex and Josh endure this big bump in their relationship?

    The actors are all very sexy and are all good in their respective roles, especially Aluwihare who brings a bit of naivety to his role. It’s a very good production, and at 75 minutes it’s not a big investment in your time – and it’s in a cosy and warm theatre where you might be tempted too to take your clothes off.

    Book now here

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWDSwedish Seduction 

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWDSwedish Seduction 

    REVIEWED: Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWD, Swedish Seduction

    What Have We Got?

    Having recently tried Volvo’s smallest SUV offering with the competent XC40 Momentum Pro, we now jump seats and try their sporty XC40 R-Design fitted with the same 190hp T4 petrol engine.

    I’ve not been a fan of the R-Design spec Volvo’s, so does this R-Design “do it” for me?

    Driving

    First thing you notice about the XC40 R-Design is its ride. It’s notably firmer in its springing rates. Something you would expect from the sporty lineup. 

    Strangely I’m rather won over by it. For a high sided car, It felt composed and taught. And despite what I said about the Momentum and its perfect choice of gearing, the R-Design gives you wheel paddles that allow you to engage in a more enthusiastic driving experience.  The only problem with the sporty model is the throttle response to gentle pressings just didn’t feel as progressive or fluid. Here is where it encourages enthusiasm by having adopting its own driving style. 

    Adhesion, already impressive with FWD, is further boosted in this AWD system. It encourages you and rewards you with a drive that you should expect from a small SUV.

    Inside

    One thing that is worthy of note is the use of recycled bottles, turned into fluffy material and used in the door cards and transmission tunnel. It has a warmth and feels like a faithful dog pressing against your left leg. 

    R-Design also has such niceties as door illuminations making the car feel more affluent in the range than in some ways, it should feel. 

    The downside is that in the day, the R-Design is a touch too dark on the inside. What it gives you at night, it takes away in the day. 

    Living With It

    The XC40 R-Design is easy to engage with when you want to travel fast. It will reward you with its taught road behaviour and cosset you at night with its soothing ambience which feels a mile away from what it is.. 

    The Verdict

    I’ve not been kind to the R-Designs in the Volvo ranges and when driven back-to-back with other models I am still not sold. What then happened was I’ve been seduced by this R-Design. 

    Jumping from the Momentum Pro T4 in the range, you notice its driving manners immediately and this time, they really are noticeably different. But it’s not bad. I even contacted Volvo PR Barnaby Jones to tell him that I’ve changed. 

    Its sporty prowess is exaggerated by the use of a 4 wheel drive system. It gives added encouragement to really use the T4 petrols 190hp and though it does hit the economy, it’s the payoff you expect to pay in a sporty model. It’s just that, at almost £4000 more than the Momentum Pro, it has a lot to offer but does it justify that extra? I’ll let you decide when you go to Volvo to take a look.

    Love

    Minimal sharp edges within cabin trim

    Handling

    Supportive seats

    Loathe

    Price

    Dark interior 

    Lacking fluidity

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWD

    Price – £ 42,485 (as tested)

    MPG – 32.8 – 35.3 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 190hp

    0-62mph –  8.2 seconds

    Top Speed –  130 mph

    Co2 – 163 (g/km)

  • THEATRE REVIEW | On Your Feet – National Tour

    THEATRE REVIEW | On Your Feet – National Tour

    ★★★ | On Your Feet, Sheffield

    (C) PR SUPPLIED

    Tracing her rise from Cuban immigrant to global superstar, On Your Feet tells the story of Gloria Estafan and the Miami Sound Machine.

    From humble beginnings, the group went on to sell over 100 million records, albeit not without struggling to bring their fusion of Latin beats and Pop to the charts. But the American dream turns sour when at the height of her fame, tragedy hits the family.

    You might think that Gloria Estafan’s life was not really eventful enough to carry the narrative of a two-hour show, and, well, you may be right.

    There is very little in this musical biopic that hasn’t been seen before. The show feels a little self-indulgent at times, only ever skimming the surface of Estafan’s life and there are no huge revelations. The story ambles along without really getting very far in act one; and despite the narrative thickening out a little during act two, it remains a rather superficial look at her life.

    Narrative aside and despite a rather lacklustre set, this is a big production with a quality feel, an excellent lighting design taking us from the heat of the Cuban sun to packed out stadiums, some stunningly beautiful costumes, a stage full of actors and a superb live band on stage. Francesca Lara Gordon plays Gloria Estafan as a sassy, headstrong and determined woman, and had a voice enabling her to belt out the pop tunes and softly sing the slower numbers; and there was a tangible chemistry between her and George Ioannides as Emilio Estafan.

    With a good mix of ballads, upbeat pop and Latin American music, the show bursts into life during the musical numbers which are filled with passion and energy. With infectious Latin rhythms and dance routines that positively sizzle, outstanding choreography and an ensemble cast as hot as the Miami sun, the show really does impress during these moments and proves to be utterly irresistible.

    On Your Feet is a musical biopic with the emphasis firmly on the music rather than the biopic, and provides a couple of hours of foot-tapping, feel-good fun.

    On Your feet is at Sheffield Theatres until 19th October 2019, before continuing on its national tour.

  • FILM REVIEW | All Male, All Nude: Johnsons

    FILM REVIEW | All Male, All Nude: Johnsons

    ★★★★ | All Male, All Nude: Johnsons

    Step into the sexy world of male strippers in the new titillating documentary All Male, All Nude: Johnsons

    Johnsons is not the name of one of the strippers – it’s the name of a male strip club in Fort Lauderdale. Well not actually Fort Lauderdale but a community within called Wilton Manors – Americas second gayest city per capita.

    In a follow up to the popular 2017 feature documentary ‘All Male, All Nude,’ director Gerald McCullouch introduces us to the all too hot, sexy, and young male strippers of all nationalities at Johnson’s.

    Owned by Matt Colunga, an award-winning bodybuilder who has been in the male entertainment industry for 23 years, we see that Johnson’s is the perfect place to work if you want to be a male stripper. The strippers can make as much as $500 on a good night – and perhaps even more if they go to the ‘private’ rooms with a customer. But everything here is on the up-and-up, no risqué business takes place here, where Matt really cares for his strippers, even to a point to make them take a breath test before they leave the club after their shifts.

    We meet the adorable hot and sexy Alexander, 26, who spends his days dressed as Spider-Man creating fun for children at kids parties and then spends his nights stripping down to his G-String for gay men, and others including one young man who decided to become a cosmetologist when he decided he did not want to strip anymore.

    Also, there are single fathers and young men putting themselves through college with their stripping income, to entertainers in the adult film world – all sorts of men who are working hard for the money. While the focus in the documentary is not on the customers, it’s them who keep this place going, and packed most nights.

    ‘All Male, All Nude: Johnsons’ is exactly what it says on the tin – it’s sexy, nude and all-male!:)

    On DVD & VOD

  • Concert Review: Cheer up with Cher on her Here We Go Again Tour

    Concert Review: Cheer up with Cher on her Here We Go Again Tour

    With the ticket price of live music events becoming ever more expensive and the options of places to see the more prominent names performing, requiring more travel, you have to redefine your attitude when it comes to going to a gig. Rather than make it the sole purpose of your trip away, if you combine it with comfortable travel (Eurostar), and a convenient place to stay, the whole adventure feels much more like a short holiday rather than a quick dash to get a music fix.

    And that’s how I found myself checking in to The Crowne Plaza in Antwerp, a plush four-star hotel only a direct and convenient 25

    -minute tram ride away from my musical destination and an appointment to see none other than Cher! The Crowne Plaza hotel was modern and functional,  perfect for my overnight stay and catering for short-haul travellers, such as myself, high-flying business executives, and everyone in between.

    I was never a massive fan of Cher, but she has had such a long and varied, not to mention successful highly career, so much so that the word icon feels justified in her case, that I thought I should experience her show at least once. So I snapped up a 9th-row ticket, booked the hotel, hopped on a tram, and here I was.

    Someone like Cher doesn’t just play a gig, she brings a show to town, and then some, and for someone coming to her show afresh and open-minded, as it were, she made a convert out of me with ease. Keeping an audience in the palm of your hand for two hours is not an easy thing to do but this is Cher’s world, she is the mistress of all that she surveys and the wonderful between-song anecdotes (old people love to talk,) the constant costume changes, her larger than life personality and a set of fantastic songs meant that the time flew by.

    It was a very theatrical show, hints of Vegas abounded, and she still knows how to belt out a tune, no lip-synching or technological cheats here, but all the time I found myself thinking, “I wonder if I will still look this great in heels when I’m 73!” And if the songs took us back through her career, the nostalgic costume changes underlined just how long a career she has had. We travelled back to her formative years, the Sonny and Cher era, right through to the here and now, Cher displaying an incredible ability to turn back time, pun intended, whilst putting on a very contemporary show.

    One surprise came with her rendition of ABBA hits challenging the already dancing queens of Antwerp to up their game. By this point, the show had gone beyond merely an average gig and had turned into the hottest gay party in Western Europe that night!

    We partied, and then we parted, me back to the comfort of my hotel, her to set the next town alight with her show as her tour continued across Europe and on to the UK. You should try new things; it’s what living is all about. And although I may have wandered into the arena with an open mind about Cher, I certainly left as a bit of a fan.

    Cher performs at the O2 in London and across the UK and Europe on several dates in October/November 2019.

    Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 Momentum Pro T4

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 Momentum Pro T4

    ★★★★★ |  Volvo’s Momentum PROgress

    What Have We Got?

    Volvo continue to go full steam ahead with their SUV range and the smallest of their cars, the 40 series received the SUV treatment giving us the XC40 in 2017. It went on to win the coveted European Car of The Year award in 2018.

    A compact in visual presence SUV packed with well-fitting appointments and a premium feel. But with its £38k price tag, does the XC40 T4 petrol in Momentum Pro spec justify the premium price tag?  

    Driving

    Here is where the XC40 Momentum T4 excels. With this 190hp petrol engine, it has the ability to travel forward very quickly. Fitted to a softer sprung suspension set up, it can carry you and 4 passengers in floating comfort.

    The 2-litre turbo engine is fitted to full 8-speed automatic gearbox driving the front wheels travels with smooth elastic fluidity. There are no paddle shifts for this spec and it’s no hardship. There are very few occasions when you could choose a better gear ratio to be in.

    What can ruin the ambience of the Momentum Pro is the drive modes. Quite hit and miss in this model. Dynamic mode didn’t add anything to the already accomplished manners of the car. In some cases, it hindered a splendid driving experience.

    Handling veers onto the enthusiastic side quite readily with plenty of grip available. The ride tends to roll a bit but this is only to be expected from a high sided vehicle with a compliant ride. Adhesion to the tarmac immense and the steering alerts you to trouble ahead before it lose all grip. 

    Inside

    One thing that is worthy of note is the use of recycled bottles, turned into fluffy material and used on the door cards and transmission tunnel. In shorts, it has a warm feeling to it like a faithful dog pressing against your left leg. It’s actually rather pleasant. 

    The dashboard is laid out in typical Volvo logic and the 12.3” is easy to use, if somewhat clunky at times. However, all was not good with the driving experience. And that would be the plastic used on the centre console. It was somewhat rather cheap in feel. And considering the premium quality Volvo have gone, this felt so very wrong in an otherwise well thought out interior.    

    The rear doors have a kick up in them and while being a design feature, they do hinder some visibility over the shoulders and for those travelling in the rear.  

    Living With It

    The XC40 Momentum Pro is very easy to live with. Rear seat room, in particular, is generous and more so in shoulder width. The list of standard equipment is generous though there was no adaptive cruise fitted even though the radar button was fitted to the steering wheel.

    The Verdict

    The XC40 Momentum is a looker. It’s not as popular on the road and that might be because people aren’t looking to Volvo for this size of car. And that is a shame. It really does do a lot very well and very little to annoy. 

    If there is one thing that I can complain about, it is the T4’s fuel economy. It isn’t great. That said, it does power this little slice of Swedish luxury quite rapidly. I’ll complain about that even though I know you can get it with other petrol or diesel engines and there is also a hybrid of sorts model coming early next year. 

    So is this premium and worth that asking price? Forget flat-packed furniture with a cheap veneer added, this is a slice of rapid Swedish luxury, and I say it is worth it.

    Love

    Fit and finish

    8 speed automatic 

    Throttle response

    Loathe

    Disappointing fuel economy (according to the computer)

    Centre console plastic

    Dynamic drive mode 

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC40 Momentum Pro T4

    Price – £ 38,210 (as tested)

    MPG – 33.6 -36.7 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 190hp

    0-62mph –  8.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  130 mph

    Co2 – 154 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Fiat Tipo S-Design

    CAR REVIEW | Fiat Tipo S-Design

    ★★★ |  S-Design Tipo In Need Of An Architect.

    What Do We Have

    A couple of years ago, we took delivery of the then-new Fiat Tipo. A new Fiat with a reused name. No hardship there because the original Tipo was a very good car.

    We liked the new Tipo when we last had it back in 2016 and I favoured the car well. Do I feel the same in 2019?

    Driving.

    Nothing has really changed here. We have the same 120bhp petrol turbo 1.4 engine. It was as good as I remembered it. Smooth and flexible with reasonable performance. Not quite the fire-breather you’d think 120bhp should be but it is good for a claimed 124 miles per hour.

    Handling was well balanced and it soaked up the worst of the country lanes around the Cotswolds.

    A comfortable driving position was easy to obtain and there were no annoyances. It felt as good as the rest in the segment.

    Inside.

    It’s not as good this time around. It’s amazing how dated it has started to look with its black plastic everywhere. I’m a little stuck as to where the S-Design sits. The Design moniker is used by a lot of manufacturers these days as something stylish over the other models or sporty. I was not seeing anything outstandingly relevant to this moniker. 

    Driver’s controls all come to hand easily. The 7” touch screen is simple to use and nicely balanced with easy registered finger controls. It comes with Apple Car Play and Android connectivity as standard.

    Living With It

    There are few vices to be had with the Tipo. It’s a simple and effective 5 door hatchback.

    While inside it has dated a little, the exterior is still as good today as it was when new. The fact there are several newer cars with similar rear ends, shows how relevant and modern its design still is.

    Verdict.

    Tipo is no longer the bargain it once was. At £19,125 it does seem quite a lot despite it having a list of standard key features. But these features seem almost standard fit on most cars these days.

    But here lies the problem. It’s effective and not much else. Effective hatchbacks are good but sometimes a model needs some sex appeal. It’s crying out for some true meaning to the letter S like sumptuous. 

    Love

    Build quality 

    Looks

    Ride refinement

    Loathe

    Co2 is on the high side

    Arm rest fouling handbrake

    High price

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Fiat Tipo S-Design

    Price – £19,125 (as tested)

    MPG – 35.3 mpg (combined)

    Power – 120bhp

    0-62mph –  9.9 seconds

    Top Speed –  124 mph

    Co2 – 164 (g/km)

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Woman in Black – National Tour

    ★★★★ | The Woman in Black

    (C) PR SUPPLIED / FORTUNE

    Set in an old theatre in the late 1950s, a solicitor, Arthur Kipps, enlists the assistance of a young actor to tell his story. His tale revolves around a terrifying incident when he was younger, when he travelled to Eel Marsh House to settle the estate of a long-standing deceased client. Alone in his client’s mansion, he is plagued by the sound of a pony and trap, an unexplained banging noise and a door which appears to be locked from the inside. What secrets does the estate hold? And who is the woman in black he keeps seeing?

    This effective ghost story is beautifully crafted and uses simple techniques to create a very taught atmosphere. The lighting design, in particular, was incredibly well done – who would have thought that a dark stage with just a door highlighted would draw worried mumblings from those around you? The production slowly cranks up the tension, drawing you to the edge of your seat and then throwing you back into it with some effective jump scares.

    The narrative of the show remains faithful to the original novel, and the production avoids spoon-feeding you the story, leaving you to create your own horrors in your imagination. The set, staging and props were remarkably effective in their simplicity and created an atmosphere where you held your breath with the central character as he explored the darkness; and the way in which the audience is manipulated via the events unfolding on stage is testament to the quality of writing behind the show and the impressive performances of the two actors, Robert Goodale and Daniel Easton.

    The Woman In Black is well-crafted fireside ghost story which proves that there is more to what is unseen than what is seen. This show is a chilling pre-Halloween treat and a perfect way to spend a dark, stormy winter evening.

    The Woman In Black is currently at Sheffield Theatres until 12th October 2019 before continuing on its national tour and is also playing in the West End.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | tick, tick…BOOM, Penge

    THEATRE REVIEW | tick, tick…BOOM, Penge

    ★★★★ | tick, tick…BOOM, Penge

    Jonathan Larson, the genius behind Rent – perhaps one of the greatest musicals of all time – created a show about his struggle with getting a show produced before Rent – the show is ‘tick tick…BOOM’ – and it is now playing at the Bridge House Theatre in SE20 – Penge.

    Larson, who died sadly and unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm in January, 1996 – a few weeks before Rent‘s world premiere – at the age of 35 – was very talented, and as the Writer, Composer and Lyricist of tick tick…BOOM his extreme talent was just starting to bloom when he died.

    But tick, tick…BOOM is actually what turns out to be a celebration of his life – telling the story of Jon (a very good Alex Lodge) getting ready to turn 30 and still waiting tables for a living but soon to workshop a show he has written called Superbia.

    He’s besotted with his girlfriend Susan (a good Georgie Ashford) and is not very jealous of his rich gay best friend Michael (James Hume), who seems to have it all but in all actuality does not. So tick, tick…BOOM takes us through the trials and tribulations of Jon’s struggle with the upcoming workshop, and his relationships with his girlfriend and best friend.

    Songs in this show, including ‘Therapy’ and the opening number ’30/90′ pre-tell the songwriting style of Larson and what was to come in the masterpiece that was Rent. If you, like me, are a fan of Rent and have never seen tick, tick….BOOM, it’s worth the journey to Penge to see this show (the theatre is conveniently located next to Penge East overground train station).

    If you’ve never seen Rent, then this show is also worth a watch as the story is relevant to pretty much all of us as we struggled to become successful in our first jobs. And the cast is all wonderful, and Lodge is just about perfect as Jon, with a glimmer of a sparkle in his eye that tells us the real Jon knew he had a gift.

    The show was first performed Off-Off-Broadway in September 1990 by Jonathan Larson in a workshop at the Second Stage Theatre under the title ‘Boho Days.’ It originally premiered in London with Neil Patrick Harris as Jon at the Menier Chocolate Factory and ran for three months.

    This production ends on October 27th, so book now.

  • FILM REVIEW | Judy

    FILM REVIEW | Judy

    ★★★★ | Judy

    Renee Zelwegger is electric as the late, great Judy Garland in the new film Judy.

    Judy is a semi-biographical account of her time in London in winter 1968 where she performed a five-week sold-out show at the venue that was called ‘Talk of the Town.’ The film also traces her life when she became very famous for the film Wizard of Oz, and how it affected not only her career, but also her well-being, her relationships with men, and her overall sanity.

    It’s 1968, and it appears Garland doesn’t have two pennies to rub together (hard to believe a woman of her calibre and celebrity would be in such a position), with two children in tow (the father of the children is Sydney Luft, while Liza Minnelli was a bit older and already on her own), and not a place to call home.

    So Garland is asked to go to London to perform, and it’s an opportunity to make some real money so she can get a home for her and her children, which would put some stability in theirs, and her, lives. But Judy is, to put it mildly, a mess.

    She’s drinks a lot, take pills a lot, and is practically frightened to get on that stage. But when she puts her mind to it, and leaves all the demons behind, she is a tour de force. But she is not consistent and it’s a mystery as to which Judy will appear each day.

    Judy shows us a Judy who was struggling and still looking for a little bit of hope, love and sanity in her final year of life (she died in 1969 of an accidental drug overdose in London).

    Zelwegger perfectly captures Garland’s look, body and voice (yes, it’s actually Zelwegger singing). Zelwegger lost weight for the role, and it’s her best performance to date which could net her an Oscar. The rest of the cast don’t fare as well. While Finn Wittrock is good as her 5th (and last) husband Mickey Deans, Rufus Sewell is a bit dry and boring as Sydney Luft, while Jessie Buckley has a thankless role, and task, as her London minder.

    And while the performances of Zellweger singing are captivating, the scenes of her as a young girl on film sets just don’t seem to ring true (bullying by the studio head – Louis B. Mayer and her minders – are a bit exaggerated). Director Rupert Goold doesn’t quite capture the entire essence of Judy’s life, and time, in London and in her younger years. With this being his second directorial effort, I feel that he just wasn’t quite qualified to take on a film of a woman with so much stardom, of such legendary status, and unfortunately heartbreak.

  • CAR REVIEW | Fiat Doblo Maxi Cargo Sportivo

    CAR REVIEW | Fiat Doblo Maxi Cargo Sportivo

    ★★★★ | Fiat Doblo Maxi Cargo Sportivo, Sports Delivery

    What Do We Have

    Here we have Fiat’s Doblo Maxi Cargo Sportivo van. Maxi Cargo because it has been built on a lengthened chassis and Sportivo because it has some fancy go faster stripes along the side. 

    To me, it’s a sort of throwback to the ’70s when people made their vans look a little more sporty and less utilitarian.

    But does that ageing 70’s vibe resonate into today’s Doblo van?  A van, in its current form, that has been with us for the past 9 years. THEGAYUK took one out for a spin at a recent Fiat range review.

    Driving

    Some time ago, I wrote a Good, Bad and Ugly on the 2005 – 2009 Fiat Doblo. I said the Doblo was a good van and some 10 years after that one ended production, the current one available is as good with just about the same amount of Fiat style as the last.

    As an unloaded van, you would be right to imagine that the handling was on the light side. That said, there was no excessive bouncing coming from over your shoulders.

    The engine, 120hp turbo diesel unit pumps out all its power around a useful 3750rpm. Max torque of 320nm is at a relatively high 1750rpm. In practice, this means that you have to keep the engine slightly in the noisy area to get the most from the performance. And you’ll want to do this because as vans go, the Doblo can be rather engaging to hustle around.

    Inside

    The cabin is the usual mix of cubby hole and storage bins all set into sturdy wipe-clean plastic. It seats 2 on what are rather comfortable seats offering good support. The passenger seat comes with a storage bin underneath.

    The driving position is still the same as the old model with ankle position not being the most comfortable. Thankfully, all minor and major controls are readily to hand and easy to use.

    Living with it

    Twin side sliding doors give access to the rear area and an added bonus is the fully wooden-clad cargo area which keeps it clean. Access through the rear of the van is the usually twin rear doors with a 40/60 split that open at both 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Convenience is also aided with remote central locking on all doors.

    The payload is on par with this size of van at just over the 1-ton mark.

    Verdict

    As small vans go, the Doblo Sportivo offering from Fiat could be purchased as your one and only car if, like me, you like vans.

    Equipment levels are generous and Fiat fit a host of safety and convenience features as standard. Colour coded bumpers might be stylish on your car, but can become somewhat of an eye-sore with a hard used commercial vehicle prone to being knocked around. Thankfully there are reverse sensors that can offer some protection for the rear bumper.

    What is nice to see is standard cruise control fitted though it doesn’t have adaptive cruise.  Along with electric front windows, it also comes with heated and folding door mirrors.

    Love

    Sporty looks

    Standard specification

    Driving engagement

    Loath

    Clutch pedal position

    Economy not as good as the competition

    Dull interior

    The Lowdown

    Car – Fiat Doblo Maxi Cargo Sportivo 1.6 Multijet-2

    Price – £20,640 (as tested)

    MPG – 54.3

    Power – 120hp

    0-60 – UA

    Top speed – 105mph

    Co2 – 135g/km