The days when Korean cars could be glibly dismissed as cheap and cheerful are long gone. Both Hyundai and Kia, their kissing cousins, are now so close to the mainstream makes that the gap is imperceptible to most people.
Category Archives: Reviews
Hyundai i30 – Review
New Peugeot 208 – Review
Can the classy new Peugeot 208 break the stranglehold on the small car market that is held by the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo?
It is a tough ask when other good small hatches like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz take only a nibble of the cake. Peugeot reckons it is up to the challenge with a new little car that says quality both inside and out. With the launch range, they are targeting the ‘green’ buyer with some startling claims for economy and emissions.
Ferrari 458 Spider On Italy’s Stelvio Pass [REVIEW]
Italy’s 180 year old Stelvio Pass is one of the world’s greatest driving roads. If you ever are in Italy and happen to rent a car, we highly recommend taking the time to see this scenic road. Of course while in Italy, it would be perfect to drive a local made car – like a new Ferrari 458 Spider.
Kia Picanto Long Term Test (review)
” Going from a year in a 150 bhp Ford Focus Ecoboost to a 1.0 68 bhp Picanto could have been a culture shock. However, the first journey in the little Kia on a motorway proved to be a relief. Of course, it is noisier than the Focus, mainly because the smaller engine has to rev a lot higher, but it is bearable at any vaguely legal speed. The refinement means you are not reaching for a sixth gear that isn’t there: fifth gear provides decently refined cruising.
Ford Focus ST First Drive review
What is it?This is the third generation of the ST, Ford’s hot Focus, and probably the sportiest version we are going to see (an RS version currently looks unlikely, alas).
This version gets the most powerful ST engine so far – 247 bhp, providing a top speed of 154 mph and a 0-62 mph time of 6.5 seconds. However, it is by no means the biggest at 2.0 litres and four cylinders, rather than the 2.5 litres and five cylinders of the previous generation. This one is more powerful and way more economical (CO2 output goes down from 225 g/km to 169 g/km, for a big tax saving), but enthusiasts may worry that it has lost the fabulous five-cylinder warble along with the dipsomaniac thirst.
