THEGAYUK

Tag: Diesel Car Review

The latest reviews for diesel cars. Find out which are the smoothest, quietest, most economical and cheapest diesel cars on the market.

  • CAR REVIEW | Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

    CAR REVIEW | Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

    ★★★★★ | Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

    If you’re a bit self-conscious or maybe a bit of a shrinking violet, this truck is definitely not for you.

    On the other hand, if you’re looking for something unique and something that will make a statement, this is it.

    Make no mistake though, the Isuzu D-Max Arctic trucks AT35 isn’t just a statement piece, it’s a very capable and hard working vehicle.

    Pickups or trucks as some call them, have come a long way in recent years. In the ’80s and ’90s, pickups were a utilitarian vehicle, built to work, with minimal luxuries and low levels of equipment and refinement. In the 2000s things changed and manufacturers started making pickups that were comfortable as well as functional.

    A luxurious pickup ticks a lot of boxes in my world, however, there is another step up on the pickup evolutionary ladder…….the Arctic Truck.

    The Arctic truck is probably the highest evolution of the species.

    When a dealer receives an order for one of these monsters, a standard vehicle is delivered to the dealer, then shipped to Arctic Trucks where the transformation takes place.

    The AT35 is based on the strong and durable Isuzu D-Max pick-up which is extensively enhanced by Arctic Trucks who inject 25 years’ experience of developing 4×4 vehicles capable of taking on the most gruelling conditions.

    The transformation involves carrying out a 30mm body lift with complimentary 20mm suspension lift, to give the vehicle enough ground clearance to conquer just about any terrain.

    With the huge ground clearance and suspension travel, you need a quality shock absorber set up to control the abuse this truck is built for. Arctic trucks selected Fox suspension as the brand of shock absorbers to fit to this hard core pickup.

    All this extra ability is wasted without bigger, better wheels and tyres and Arctic trucks take care of this by fitting 17” x 10” Alloy Wheels with locking wheel nuts, wrapped in 315/70 R17 Nokian Rotiiva Tyres to provide the traction needed while traversing a mountainside.

    In order to keep those huge wheels and tyres covered, there’s an oversized fender package front and rear with arctic trucks mud flaps.

    When your truck is this big, getting in and out of the cab is harder than you think. These guys take cars of that by fitting side steps and there’s also a rear receiver hitch bar for attachments such as a tow bar.

    The end result is the all-new Isuzu D-Max AT35. A pick-up truck engineered to excel in the most

    arduous conditions, and is the result of technical collaboration between two respected off-road and pick-up specialists.

    Our test vehicle had some choice extras such as the sports bar mounted lazer lights and front bumper lazer lights. These were unbelievable and turned night into day. We also had the chrome rear sports bar and the lockable mountain top roll cover. This was great for keeping the rear bed secure when I parked it on the street overnight. Another practical and aesthetic addition was the aluminium underguard kit. This covered the underside of the engine and gearbox and the rear diff. Very useful when traversing rocky terrain.

    Isuzu’s D-Max Arctic trucks AT35 comes with very comfortable leather upholstery with heated front seats, electrically height adjustable driver’s seat. There are 5 adult seats and plenty of room, front and rear.

    As you would expect, it’s loaded with equipment; Projector headlights, electric windows all around, automatic air conditioning, steering wheel mounted audio & cruise controls, keyless entry and push button start system, plus much more equipment that you would reasonably expect on this calibre of vehicle. For example; This Isuzu has Bluetooth® Connectivity, DAB Radio with eight speakers (2 x front door, 2 x rear door, 2 x tweeters & 2 x roof mounted), Apple CarPlayTM & Android AutoTM plus satellite navigation.

    In the middle of the soft-touch dashboard is a 7″ multifunction colour touchscreen and reversing camera.

    In this day and age, we expect a suite of safety features on our vehicles. Isuzu’s AT35 comes with ABS (anti-lock braking system), ESC (Electronic Stability Control) & EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). You also have BAS (Brake Assist System), HSA (Hill Start Assist) & HDC (Hill Descent Control) & rear parking sensors with a parking camera.

    With only 164 PS (162bhp), the AT35 isn’t what you would call fast. In fact, if you try to hustle this thing, you will find yourself frustrated. It’s slow off the line and when you put your foot down, it’s slow to respond. However, this style of driving is completely missing the point. I spent my time cruising around, stress-free.

    Because of the imposing nature of the AT35, people treat you with respect. I found nobody tried to cut me up or block my progress, people were polite and kept their distance. It was very relaxing for a change. Add to that the go-anywhere nature of the vehicle and I was in heaven. There’s almost no terrain this can’t conquer so you feel pretty invincible but conspicuous. It turns heads like a supercar. Sat at traffic lights, driving through town, on a country lane, in fact just about anywhere, this stands out. People are polite and even wave or take a picture. I couldn’t help thinking that if I was in a supercar, the response would be somewhat more hostile.

    Fuel economy is reasonable with quoted figures being fairly accurate; Urban 30.4 – 38.7mpg. Extra Urban 40.9 – 50.4 mpg. Combined 36.2 – 45.6mpg.

    Another ace up the Isuzu D-Max Arctic trucks AT35’s sleeve is the confidence-inspiring 5 year/125,000 mile warranty & 5 year UK & EU roadside assistance.

    In summary, I wouldn’t hesitate to have one of these as a daily, I loved driving it. We took it off-road at every opportunity and never struggled, not one bit. It’s very capable, well built, well equipped and looks outrageous. I was constantly looking back when I walked away from it. However, It’s not subtle, and for some, might be a bit too obvious.

    Price:

    Manual Transmission

    £38,545.00 CVOTR†

    Automatic Transmission

    £38,545.00 CVOTR†

  • CAR REVIEW | Peugeot 508 Allure, Just don’t stroke it too much, you might get arrested

    CAR REVIEW | Peugeot 508 Allure, Just don’t stroke it too much, you might get arrested

    ★★★☆☆ | Peugeot 508 Allure BlueHDi 130 Manual: The Bright Allure of Peugeot.

    What Have We Got?

    They say this is Peugeot‘s return to the saloon market and one that they might or might not make it in. This market is rapidly vanishing but suddenly there is a bit of a renaissance and a handful of manufacturers are fighting back the trend for the SUV with stunning looking family saloons. And you can’t argue that the saloon is far more elegant than an SUV.

    So has Peugeot produced a car that could make you ditch the SUV? THEGAYUK finds out. 

     

    Driving

    First and foremost I can rejoice in the behaviour of this 130BHP 1.5 turbo diesel. There were no signs of lag from pull away or on the move. There is a nice fluidity to the engine and its refinement. Clutch control was light and the manual gearshift slotted in with a nice click between the gears.

    On the move, it climbed effortlessly through the speed range with only mild engine noise audible if the radio was off.

    Handling, from the small steering wheel, felt energetic and connected. It gave a reassuring confidence. The electronic power steering weights were finely set and feedback communicated well. 

    Inside

    In Allure trim, it is rather civilised and grown up. The seat cloth faces are a mix of business suit stripes and solid colours. It blends in well. What I can’t work out if the faux carbon fibre trims across the dashboard and the other trims. The pattern doesn’t follow the same flow from the passenger’s door and across the dashboard. It runs the wrong way on the driver’s door! 

    I also found some trim that wasn’t well attached. The overhead switch pod with interior lights was not properly attached on one side.  

    Living With It

    To look at, you forget it has a rear door. A saloon this is not. A practical 5 door hatchback in a sleek coupe style it is and it works well. If anything, it makes the 508 an incredibly attractive car to look at from almost any angle. Few non-exotic cars encourage you to stroke it. As a poster, this car could make any wall a happy place to stare at.

    There are a few niggles that I have. After a downpour, rear visibility was not great thanks in part to no rear wiper. I have in the past raved about the i-Cockpit. It is a visual treat. However, I was unable to find a rheostat to tone down the visual displays. They don’t dim when the lights come on. With the facia directly in the eye line, at night it does cause glare and eye fatigue.  

     

    The Verdict

    This is a great return to form for Peugeot in this market. The car it replaces was nothing short of a miracle that it sold at all. For fear of its predecessor, potential buyers might be swayed away from the new 508. And that is a shame because the 508 isn’t a hash up of the last generation. It is a beautiful looking car and rewarding to drive. 

    There is great cohesion within the cabin and it feels a quality product. That said, there are a few areas that Peugeot need to address as mentioned but overall I was impressed. And you will too. Just don’t stroke it too much, you might get arrested!

    Love

    Looks

    Price

    Ride

    Loathe

    Carbon fibre trim

    Dull rear door architecture

    Some trim fit

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Peugeot 508 Allure BlueHDi 130 Manual

    Price – £26,914 (as tested)

    MPG – WLTP low/high 59.6/52.5 mpg (combined)

    Power – 130 BHP

    0-62mph –  9.7 seconds

    Top Speed –  129 mph

    Co2 – 101 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen California Ocean

    CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen California Ocean

    Welcome to the Mobile California… with options, comes in at £63k OTR! HOW MUCH! I hear you and so many others shrill. £63k

    For a van with a kitchen, it might seem expensive. Houses in the North can cost less. That said, you can’t move your house from location to location and, when all the elements combine, it all comes together really well.

    THEGAYUK was given the VW California Ocean for a week and we put it through its paces as a commuter, day tripper and camper.

    Driving.

    The 150PS diesel engine does a fine job in carrying itself around. Its fuel economy was amazingly accurate to what was projected on the dashboard. Very often we would see high 30s and low 40s.

    While touring around twisty roads with short straights and long corners, what didn’t work was the engine trying to use all of its 340Nm/Ibs of torque from as low as 1200rpm. It didn’t feel particularly comfortable for either the driver or the engine. It was too sluggish to respond and resulted in more of a crawl than a cruise.

    Thankfully the DSG box can be flicked to manual override and it then felt more at ease with itself above 1500rpm. Max torque is from 1500rpm so its reluctance to retain this lower engine rev puzzled me.

    The ride and handling were better than expected with no rattles and the high up driving position with luxury appointments around the cabin made this feel more like a Passat than a van. You can see why the Transporter is the benchmark other van makers strive to beat.

    Back to that asking price. Is it worth it?

    Yes, it is. The California Ocean starts at 55k. Compared to a large SUV, and let’s look in-house at VW and pick the Touareg, it is even better value. The Touareg is priced at £45,000 to £53,765 

    In a game of Top Trumps, the California would only be marked down for engine capacity and speed. What you get for this money is a vehicle that you can use every day as your main vehicle but also one that enables you to go to the tip (many councils will let you in because it’s a van with windows and seats) become a mobile office that offers you views that you can’t get in an office or take you away from it all, house you in heated or aircon comfort and allow you to sleep like a human and not a curled up sausage.

    Try doing all of that in your SUV.

    Is it THAT good?

    There are a few bits that could be improved. As a hardened VW camper enthusiast, I can spot a few areas that the old still does better than the new.

    The raised pop-top bed is a solid bed. Earlier 70’s models had a flip over part at the end. This enabled the roof bed when not in use, to be a useable storage area during the day. Handy when your living space is no more than 6’ x 11’.

    The fixtures and fittings did get some criticism for feeling a little “cheap”. It’s more lightweight than cheap. The home converter might well fit a quality kitchen from Magnet in their van, but they will pay the price at the pumps for the extra weight. There is a fine line and what VW has achieved in-house is commendable. 

    And the grey interior? It grows on you. It’s clean and modern but a touch clinical. It lacks the organic softness associated with wood. That said, after a night in it, the lightness makes for a very relaxed environment. I certainly wasn’t my usual grumpy self before coffee.

    With that gripe out of the way, what then can I tell you about the inside? It will seat 4 in comfort. And if you are wise and call for the swivelling captain’s seats in the front, you’ll be even more comfortable during lunch/social times when inside.

    The bed is easy to make in 3 steps. The worst part being that of sliding the rear bench forward. It’s a heavy solid unit. Pull a lever, lower the backrest and fold over the padded top cover and you’re almost ready to go. Just layout the duvet and pillows.

    If you like a little privacy, there are blinds all round and removable covers for the cab door windows. It all works well, especially the adjustable side blinds allowing partial to a full block of the light outside.

    Lighting is soft and plentiful. Nice touches include those in the roof for upstairs sleepers with easy to reach switches.

    There is plenty of storage around for all that you need and more for the stuff you don’t. Cooking is all done on a 2 burner hob. Sadly there is no grill option. Personally, I couldn’t live without one. There is a huge water tank that houses the water for the sink and external shower unit for washing off mud and sand. Simple and yet very effective. And that is the California’s extra trump card score. It’s very effective at being more than just what you see. 

    Verdict

    Welcome to your Mobile California

    Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)

    Such a lovely face.

    Plenty of room at the Mobile California

    Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it parked here, there or anywhere.

    Including winter. It also comes with a diesel-powered heater that can be set on a timer or via the remote control. 

     

    Like

    Easy to drive

    Easy to convert from van to camper

    Camper layout

    Loathe

    Swivel front seats awkward to swivel

    Sharp edges on removable shelves

    No heated rear screen

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volkswagen California Ocean 2.0. TDi 150PS 7speed DSG

    Price – £ 63,155 (as tested)

    MPG – 40.9 mpg (combined)

    Power – 150PS

    0-62mph –  14.5 seconds

    Top Speed –  110 mph

    Co2 – 179 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

    CAR REVIEW | Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

    ★★★☆☆ | Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

    What Have We Got?

    I’m a lumberjack… and I’m OK, I cut down trees, I skip and jump”. We have the Jeep Renegade and these make me smile. There have been a few revisions carried out recently, most notably being the bumpers and change in headlights that add new aggression to the chunky monkey. New engines have also been added and for this, we have the 1.6 120hp turbo diesel. We tested the top of the range 4WD Trial hawk model in 2017 and it made my top 3 list. Does the new 2WD Limited model cut it? 

     

    Driving

    The first thing that strikes you with this 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine is the throttle lag when pulling away. It might have become the industry ‘norm’ for this type of engine to respond this way, but it doesn’t make it right. It isn’t a problem once you are moving in traffic. Pulling into traffic is when you really feel it. You then have to adapt your driving style. In that, I mean rev the engine to around 1600 rpm and then when you can, let out the clutch and pull away. 

    That’s a lot of effort and ruins an otherwise enjoyable vehicle. The ride is soft if a little floaty and road noise is quite subdued. The engine is vocal when really pushed and doesn’t encourage all-out performance. 

     

    Inside

    There haven’t been any major changes inside. The Jeep face and logos are still there in places around the windows and interior trim. It’s still put together well with no rattles. One thing that is noticeable was the appalling paint finish within the boot shut to an almost unacceptable finish. 

    As before with the inside, it is rather spacious and wide for what is a small SUV though still dark. The seats are comfortable and wide and the view out is good. Big screen pillars don’t obscure your forward view because they are so far forward. What isn’t, is the centre armrest. It’s too far back to be of any use to anyone.

    Living With It

    Throttle lag aside, it’s still a nice SUV that manages to break to visual mould in the crowded SUV market. It doesn’t bring anything new to the market or do anything different but what it does is do is make others think that you are in a car more capable of going anywhere when in actual fact, it’s 2WD so it won’t. Like wearing ladies high heels in secret, those outside won’t need to know this.

    The Verdict

    I still like the Jeep Renegade. There is just something about it that makes you pat it as a member of the family. Just when “retro” seems done, the Jeep still manages to invigorate this genre with it with cuddly looks.

    It’s got a full personality all of its own x2, like being a 2×2 instead of a 4×4. It’s now Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in its cuddly looks and annoying engine. The throttle lag is my biggest gripe. If it was my money, I’d buy it with a petrol engine.  

    Love

    Looks

    Comfort

    Space

    Loathe

    Throttle lag

    Infotainment screen too low

    Alarm/door opening beep

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

    Price – £29,350 (as tested)

    MPG – 57.6mpg (combined)

    Power – 120HP

    0-62mph –  10.2 seconds

    Top Speed – 110 mph

    Co2 – 129 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Range Rover Velar R Dynamic HSE D300

    CAR REVIEW | Range Rover Velar R Dynamic HSE D300

    ★★★★☆ | Range Rover Velar R Dynamic HSE D300

    What Have We Got?

    We have a puzzler this week. This is Range Rover’s mid-sized concept-cum-cross over that fits between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport. The puzzler is that the Velar is quite large in the visuals and dimensions. 

     

    Driving

    It’s a silky blend of driving styles. The 3-litre V6 diesel pushes out 300hp at 4000rpm. 700nm of torque is from 1500rpm. From a standing start, it will thunder the slippery shaped Velar to 60 in 6.1 seconds. To be honest, it feels quicker and there is grunt available from whatever speed. 

    Sport mode, comfort or economy, throttle response is quick. There is no hunting for a gear or waiting for the ECU to decide what to do with the EGR valve etc. Quick rapid progress is one of the key features of the Velar. 

    The Velar shares a platform with the Jaguar F-Pace and yet feels better planted, better poised on the road and all the more fun. The AWD system puts the power down more evenly around the vehicle. 

     

    Inside

    The layout is all familiar with the Range Rover Sport we reviewed in 2017. Touch screens for the controls split on to 2 screens. There are 2 buttons. The stop-start, hidden by the facia panel and another on the centre console that hides a cup holder. This button does not work with the fluidity of the rest of the Velar’s interior.

    Other than that, it is well thought out. The seats have so many bits that move, that it is impossible to get uncomfortable and there is space for everyone, even the tallest of both drivers or passengers or both.  

    Living With It

    Sheer size doesn’t translate to bulk on the move. The Velar is reasonably agile on its air ride and easy to navigate around country lanes. Thankfully this model came with the 360-degree angle camera pack and I can’t recommend it enough, especially when parking in tight spots like supermarkets or your own driveway where someone has decided to park their car like it’s the largest car in the world.

    The Verdict

    I was unsure of the Velar at first. I couldn’t make up my mind if I liked them or not. Its sleek looks lack the blunt Range Rover bulk but this doesn’t distract from it. You could call it a ‘designed’ Range Rover Sport. It certainly doesn’t feel any cheaper than the top model. But that isn’t necessarily a good thing. 

    Its road manners are rather exemplary and it lacks the wobble of the Range Rover Sport. This alone makes the Velar more big estate car than SUV or cross over but this is what it is, a cross over and it does it all very well. Dare I say it, I liked the Sport and all that it stood for, I like the Velar more. It’s just, the Velar, this Velar, is expensive. Range Rover Sport price expensive.  

    Love

    Smoothness of engine

    Fit and finish

    Ride

    Loathe

    Price

    Cup holder cover

    Plastics around dashboard 

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Range Rover Velar R Dynamic HSE D300

    Price – £73,330 (as tested)

    MPG – 44.1mpg (combined)

    Power – 300hp

    0-62mph –  6.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  150 mph

    Co2 – 167 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Getting Dirty with the new Jeep Wrangler

    CAR REVIEW | Getting Dirty with the new Jeep Wrangler

    We managed to get ourselves an invite to drive the new Jeep Wrangler recently.


    The email invitation read;
    “We would like you to be among the first to drive this exciting new car, and invite you to join us for a special drive event in the Lake District. There will be opportunities to drive the cars on- and off-road.”

    Off-road you say? We love getting down and dirty so didn’t need asking twice.

    Jeep are very proud of their heritage. They started making vehicles in 1940 for the Army and have been making civilian vehicle since 1945. That’s some pedigree.

    They describe their all-new Jeep® Wrangler as the ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ 4×4 that blends together excellent on-road performance with legendary off-road capability.” We’ll be the judge of that.

    We won’t go mad about the details. We’ll tell you more about that after we’ve had one on test for a while. What we will say is that, depending on spec, it includes two advanced four-wheel drive, active, on-demand full time systems – Command-Trac and Rock-Trac – plus Tru-Lock electric front- and rear-axle lockers, Trac-Lok limited slip differential and electronic front anti-roll bar disconnect. We can tell you first hand that this stuff is unbelievable. It makes you feel invincible, like you could drive anywhere, over anything.

     

    The format for the event was simple. Pick a car, get in and follow the leader.

    Ardent Off Road looked after us and guided us along the course, helping us through the most challenging parts and keeping us safe.
    These guys are amazing. They run off-road tours and training sessions for the public and emergency services etc, they run holidays and events in the UK and abroad and lots more. They are really good guys and absolute experts when it comes to anything off road.

    Our day consisted of 3 different off road sessions with some road driving in between.
    The first off road session was a very challenging, uphill rock crawling section, the second was woodland, heavily rutted with big rocks all over the place and the third was even more rocks with steep steps and big drops.

    The Ardent guys kept things moving, guiding us through the perils but kept it safe and fun…..lots of fun.

    Our car was a Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2.2 diesel 2 door and was really really nice. The Sahara is the entry level and crucially, comes with road biased tyres. No big chunky, nobblies here, they’re standard fit on the Rubicon.

    Despite this, it was truly awesome off road. I mean, really impressive. Ardent took us up some really technical and challenging routes; rock crawling in the rain, fording in the woods and much worse. Even on road biased tyres our Wrangler didn’t struggle. It’s was jaw dropping, breathtaking and more fun than you can imagine.

    It’s easy to use too. The auto gearbox was simple, just put it in drive and select 4×4 low ratio, then go and get dirty. Some modern 4×4’s seem to have a million settings. The Wrangler has some buttons like hill decent but we didn’t use them. It is very simple to use and unbelievably effective.

    We’ll get one on test and do you a road test review. If it sunny, we’ll even show you it’s other party trick and take the roof and doors off too for a bit of fresh air fun.

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60, 2019

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60, 2019

    ★★★★☆ | Volvo V60

    V is for Versatile

    Volvo life starts with the family. This is reflected in the advert for Volvo’s new V60 estate car. When they say ‘family” they mean ALL the family. Volvo is out there to show their support not just for the changes in the heterosexual family dynamic but also the new evolution in the family within the LGBTQ and culturally diverse communities.

    There is a lot going on at Volvo at the moment and the Swedish company are not resting on their laurels of strong build and sturdy cars. Recently, Volvo has been seen to getting involved in global causes but that’s all for another day, for we at TGUK were invited to the launch of the new V60.

    New Wagon

    It feels strange and yet refreshing to see a new estate car being launched when the market is bulging with SUV’s and crossovers that everyone apparently wants. Volvo themselves are no strangers to the SUV market with 3 models available. 

    Now an estate from Volvo isn’t new and the company have a strong reputation built on practical estate cars, so is the new V60 with its low slung body actually any good? News just in is that for boot space alone the V60 is a class leader with 529 to 1441 litres of space and a flat floor with minimal intrusion. I’ll admit that the height does seem a little low though this is more to do with the cars sleek elegant lines.

     

    Driving

    We tried 2 models, both identical D4 diesel models with 190hp of available power. What differed with these 2 models was the range spec but more importantly, the gearboxes. 

    While the automatic changed smoothly up and down and almost unobtrusively, its inherent setting was economy and emissions so it would always be in a higher gear, making the engine just a little less responsive to throttle inputs. 

    The manual model was something else. Precise selection of gears and an easy to control clutch pedal, not to light to be feel-less but also not heavy to be an annoyance in traffic made for a much more spirited drivers car. I like my autos, but I’d have to ask myself what sort of driver I would be most of the time.   

    Inside

    And that question gets answered inside. With four different trim levels, they alter so much of the inside. Racy and purposeful is what you get with the R-Design. It’s all silver inlays and black trim. The inscription is designed like a lounge. It’s calming and comfortable. And this is where the different gearboxes alter your mood in the car. 

    All this comes with what can only be described as Volvo’s legendary build quality. 

    Living with it

    I had another chance to try the V60. After the UK launch, there was so much more that I wanted to know. I had it in my head that it was good. Anthony French-Constant and I blasted one around an agility test of both driver and machine and we won. Albeit only beaten by Volvo UK by one second though we suspect favourable timings on the stop watch (possibly) All that excitement aside, was it as good as I remembered?

    Yes is the answer. At a recent range review, it quickly became apparent just how good it was and it needs to be. This size and model or car is quickly becoming extinct and that’s a shame. No SUV can match this for its all-round appeal of driver involvement and comfort.    

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo V60

    Price –  From £31,810 

    MPG – 40.9mpg (petrol) – 64.2mpg (diesel) (combined)

    *Power – 150hp – 250hp

    *0-62mph –  6.7 – 9.9 seconds

    *Co2 – 157 – 117 (g/km)

    * Petrol/diesel 

  • CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen Caddy

    CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen Caddy

    Volkswagen Caddy | ★★★★☆

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have VW’s venerable Caddy van. Things in van land run at a slower pace and this Caddy, believe it or not, is the Mk3. The Caddy has been part of the VW catalogue since 1980, so what has it been doing with itself for the past 38 years? 

    Moving, that’s what. That was what it was made to do and that’s what it does. The current Caddy on sale today is 15 years old. Does age really matter or can the Caddy still cut it?

    Driving

    This is your bread and butter van. Power at the front, nothing in the rear except load space. With that in mind, it makes for the rear to become rather happy on uneven road surfaces. Working vans don’t really travel empty and for the demonstration, VW placed a pallet with around 12 bags of sand on it. Even so, it still managed to be compliant in the handling department and for what was effectively an open space with no sound deadening, there were no din or road noises bouncing around the load area. 

    Inside

    Car drivers might not like it and if you play with a lot of Volkswagens, you’ll walk away a bit disheartened. Don’t be. The nice thing about the Caddy is its simplicity. It’s a van. Unless you want a van, you won’t be looking at one of these. There is a Caddy Life, a Caddy with rear windows and seat. That itself is like a Touran for the harder working lifestyles and less about luxury and it costs less too.

    The Caddy insides are all about wipe clean surfaces and hard work. Carpets are an option! What is apparent and perhaps down to age, is the lack of storage compartments. 

    What does show its age is the position of the infotainment screen. It’s a far to low down the dashboard and using the satnav means taking your eyes off the road for what feels like an eternity.

    Living With It

    As small vans go, there is still life left in the now 15-year-old Caddy. The simple layout in the back with minor wheel arch intrusion but still able to take that all important pallet that seems to be the benchmark for small vans. The sliding door aids access too and it’s all pretty neat. It does, however, require a load area liner. That painted area won’t stay showroom glossy for long.

    The Verdict

    It’s a slower pace in the van world and when a new van comes out, the maker needs to get it right first time around. The fact that the Caddy 15 years old, in typical Volkswagen philosophy, has seen some changes to keep it up to date and is still a good seller says more about the van than I can put in words but I’ll try: It’s still competitive.

    Love

    Simplistic inside

    Nice driving position 

    Equipment

    Loathe

    Needs more odds and ends storage places

    Satnav position

    Unprotected paint on the rear bumper

    The Lowdown

    Car –  VW Caddy SWB Highline 2.0 TDi

    Price – £ 24,287(as tested)

    MPG – 60.1 mpg (combined)

    Power – 102ps @2900 – 4000 rpm

    0-62mph –  12 seconds

    Top Speed –  107 mph

    Co2 – 124 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Audi A7 Sportback 2018

    CAR REVIEW | Audi A7 Sportback 2018

    ★★★★☆ | Audi A7 Sportback

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have Audi’s large spacious and practical Sportback. It’s a cross between a hatchback and saloon in a fastback design. Does the fear of a luxury saloon with a lifting rear door distract from its market competitors or does the fact it is practical, give it the edge?

    Driving

    For such a big car, it is rather nice to drive, just as long as you don’t use multi-storey carparks. It’s a tight fit in those. 

    As with Audi, you get a selection of driving modes from comfort to dynamic and here Audi buck the trend. This A7 comes with standard sports suspension and from past experience, it has always been found to be too firm. A pleasant surprise was that it’s compliant on most surfaces while retaining a degree of Teutonic tightness. 

    The engine was the bigger 286ps V6 diesel that had a nice growl to it when you pressed on. When it opened up that is. Throttle lag is quite marked, from a slow rolling being the worst like that when creeping up to a roundabout. 

    It doesn’t get much better when on the move unless you override the system and put the Tiptronic system in manual. Once into 6th gear and you press on, the gearbox delays the pick up by selecting 2 to 3 gears down and then hurtling the car forward with a good dose of shove.

    Inside

    As you would expect, the cockpit is a nice place to be in if you are 4 up. It’s not really comfortable as a 5 seater express due to the intrusion from the transmission tunnel. 4 up, and there is plenty of room within the 2926mm wheelbase.

    Fittings were on par with this segment and the split touchscreen got my thumbs up. For those who like buttons and not touch screens, there is the option of ‘Haptic control’. This requires a bit of force on the item you want to select on the screen and in return, it vibrates on your finger. Personally, I preferred the touchscreen. For once, this was a touch screen system that worked quickly to inputs.

    What I didn’t like was the wind noise from around the driver’s door at over 50mph possibly caused by a wayward door seal though it all looked well put together. 

     

    Living With It

    Let’s get one thing out of the way first, that lifting rear door makes this an incredibly practical car. Luggage space is a whopping 535 litres with the seats up. There is minimal intrusion too, meaning the car can carry estate car type loads up to the window line at least. Loading and unloading is not a problem.

    The Verdict

    The A7 is a fine car from Audi with understated good looks. The fact it lacks aggression in its looks is a good thing. From all angles, the A7 is a handsome car that will not cause offence to anyone. If you are looking for a car to carry you great distances with minimal fuss, then this is your car. It’s subtle good looks make this Audi surprisingly calm. It can be hurried, It’s a Quattro after all, but that delay in the throttle responses is what really lets it down as a press on car. Keep it calm and cruise. It’s good at that. 

    Love

    Interior styling

    Handling

    Practical

    Loathe

    Transmission tunnel intrusion in the rear

    Lethargic throttle from standing start/low speeds

    Indecisive automatic

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Audi A7 Sportback 50 TDI Quattro 286ps Sport Tiptronic

    Price – £ 60,290 (as tested)

    MPG – 48.7 mpg (combined)

    Power – 286PS @ 3500-4000 rpm

    0-62mph –  5.7 seconds

    Top Speed –  155 mph

    Co2 –  150 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    ★★★★★ | Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have Volvo’s mid-sized SUV, the XC60. By all accounts, it’s a popular car. Judging by the number of them on the road, you would be right. But is it any good? Does it cover ground better than others in its class and is the Momentum Pro worth the £42,105 asking price?  

    Driving

    When the XC60 arrived, I was a bit disappointed for it not being an automatic. Manuals in city driving aren’t much fun. That said, the diesel D4 engine works well with the manual box, better in many ways than the auto. It has a fluidity in its workings. Just keep an eye on the rev counter though. Unless really pushed, the engine is subdued in noise suppression.

    What then helped living with the manual was the spread of low down torque of 400 Nm from 1750rpm. That sounds quite high, but I can assure you that it will pull cleanly in 4th from below 1500rpm. And then come the problems, sort of. Because of the way it works and the gearing, 5th and 6th really are very redundant gears. They were not used on my 40-mile daily commute. Only on Sunday when the roads were clearer, was I actually able to use 5th.  

    The XC60 with its all-wheel-drive system is sure-footed and secure even when hustling it around. Its ride balance in “comfort” was just right. Aided no doubt by its generous 50 profile tyres giving it a good soft sidewall.    

    Inside

    Here is were Volvo really do exceed in excellence. Their interiors are probably the nicest places to navigate the great outdoors from. In the Momentum, you are treated to bright cream leather coverings and silver accent trim around the cabin. This isn’t the best from Volvo; they also offer wood that adds even more to the exceptional expensive feel of the cabin space.

    And that’s just what the driver feels. There is room for four others to enjoy the ambience of the car. Admittedly, for what looks like a large vehicle, it doesn’t exactly translate into masses of cabin space, but you’re not left feeling squeezed. It’s just right.  

     

    Living With It

    My week with the XC60 was one full of various driving conditions. From sunny days to torrential rain at night, it carried my passengers and me in safety and comfort.

    On the move, the XC60 has a calmness surrounding it. There were a couple of incidences where people pulled out in front of me, and the usual words were said. And then calmness. Remember that scene from Spaced where Brian is painting manically, and then he receives a call from Twist, and he is then unable to paint due to being calm and content? It’s like that.  

    The Verdict

    I could work for Volvo and sell these, day in, day out. The XC60 is a great vehicle. It’s calming, competent and exceptionally well put together which does belie the asking price. £42k is not a lot really when it comes like this and with this level of spec.

    If I am to nitpick, and I have to, I’d say there are a few areas it needs to be improved on. For a start, it needs a left footrest. It’s not like there isn’t any space there for it either. You can stretch out your left leg with ease, it’d just sometimes you need a place to rest that foot that isn’t on the clutch pedal. And the stop/start button. Its razzmatazz looks a little out of place and a bit too blingy. 

    And you see, I’m nitpicking and because of that, I’m giving this five stars. 

    Love

    Quiet and relaxed

    Ambience

    Price

    Loathe

    Lack of footrest

    Gaudy stop/start switch

    Both of the above again.

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    Price – £42,105 (as tested)

    MPG – 31.5mpg (during test)

    Power – 190 bhp @ 4250

    0-62mph –  8.3 seconds

    Top Speed –  127 mph

    Co2 – 139 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Mercedes X-Class

    CAR REVIEW | Mercedes X-Class

    ★★★★★ | Mercedes X-Class,  The last vehicle you’ll ever need

    It had been 3 months since Z day and at least a month since we last heard gunfire.

    Peeking through the boarded up windows, the first signs of sunlight were showing through the black skies.

    Our supplies were almost gone, it was time we hit the road and began our fight for survival.

    I kicked open the door to the house and we emerged into what used to be the lush, green garden of the house we had been hiding in while the chaos absorbed everyone outside.

    The garden was lifeless and black, dead like everything else.

    There was a garage at the rear of the house. If we were lucky there would be a vehicle inside that we could use to get the hell out of here. We forced the door open and through the darkness, saw a Mercedes badge.

    “A Mercedes is nice but not much good to us now. Look at the state of the roads”, said Troy. He was right. Abandoned cars littered the roads, tarmac scared with debris from the fighting and shelling.

    As we opened the door further, we saw it was a pickup.

    “But Mercedes don’t make a pickup” exclaimed Sarah.

    “They do now thank god,” said Dutch as he threw his bag in the back of the X-Class, opened the rear door and slid into the sumptuous leather upholstered cabin.

    “Damn this is nice” i said, adjusting the electric drivers seat. I selected ‘D’ on the automatic gearbox and we slowly pulled out of the garage, down the driveway and out into the street. The huge load bed was packed with our remaining supplies. Lucky for us the X-Class can haul a huge payload of up to 1.1 tonnes. That is enough to transport 17 full 50-litre barrels of clean water in the cargo area. It’s able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes, it can pull a trailer containing three horses or easily pull an abandoned truck out of the way.

    The roads were littered with debris from the battle. Burnt out cars, makeshift barricades, ruined buildings. We couldn’t have hoped for a better vehicle than the Mercedes X-Class. It was the X250 Power D 4MATIC AUTO with a powerful and torquey 2.3L biturbo 190hp diesel engine. The permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive and the seven-speed automatic transmission got us out of trouble more than a few times. When the road ahead was blocked, i’d select 4WD low and head off road. The X-Class has serious off road ability so didn’t struggle. Our Mercedes X-Class apocalypse escape vehicle had great road manners and serious off road ability, but how did it manage to be so good on road but so good off road too? It has a double wishbone front axle and a rear multi-link solid axle which allows for great axle articulation. No old school leaf springs here. The Mercedes rolled on 225/55R19’s which certainly helped with the subtle ride.

    Fortunately the X-Class X250 was really good on diesel meaning we could travel for hours without having to refuel. It really was the perfect vehicle. On road, smooth, quiet and comfortable, with 2WD engaged to save fuel. When the going got tough, select 4WD or even 4WD low range, engaging the differential lock on the rear axle and nothing could stop it. The Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) made things even easier.

    The electronic safety systems saved us on more than one occasion. With burning cars and buildings belching smoke and restricting visibility, it was hard to see what lay ahead. Active brake assist provided a welcome backup.

    We drove for hour after hour and were all exhausted. Fortunately, the awesome Mercedes X-Class X250 has lane keeping assist which meant when we struggled to keep our eyes open through exhaustion, the safety system kept us on the road when we had the cruise control engaged.

    Rough roads can mean unforeseen punctures. Our X-Class had a tyre pressure monitoring system to help us and LED headlamps with six LEDs to show us the way.

    The 360-Degree camera made manoeuvring around burnt out cars or through partly collapsed building easy and safe. In our life before the apocalypse, features like traffic sign assist, trailer stability assist and emergency call system would have helped, but in a crumbling and uncertain world, traffic signs were the least of our concerns.

    Strangely, our phones were still working although no one ever answered any calls we made. This meant we could use the Mercedes me app to access the vehicle by smartphone, calling up useful information such as fuel level and tyre pressure, find the X-Class’s location when it is parked or being driven by someone else and even program the navigation or remotely read vehicle diagnostics. This was invaluable when on a recce for supplies, split up, scattered amongst the rubble, searching.

    After four full weeks on the road, hardly stopping, crossing the war-torn country from side to side looking for any signs of hope, we finally arrived at the military installation we had heard about on a radio transmission. We found other survivors who had also found their way here and had begun to rebuild their lives.

    It was a relief to find other people and to hear the familiar sound of laughter.

    As we sat in the canteen enjoying a simple but welcome home cooked beef pie, my phone buzzed to let me know the X-Class was on the move. When we arrived we surrendered the vehicle to the motorpool. It seemed perfectly reasonable then, but now it was like hearing that my wife was on a date with someone else.

    All four of us looked at each other then looked around at the other survivors for a moment.  

    We’d all grown fond of the X-Class, it had literally saved us. Without speaking, without even a moment’s hesitation, in one swift move, we all got up, grabbed our bags, headed for the motorpool and for the safety and comfort of our Mercedes X-Class. We’d take our chances in the wilderness and see where the road took us. Wherever it was, the X-Class would look after us.