Road tests

Nicole and Papa may no longer be around, but the Clio they famously advertised is still doing the business for Renault. However, times are getting tou…

As the maker of some of today's best-looking cars, SEAT has come a long way since the bargain hatchbacks of the early Nineties.

As first attempts go, the latest Mercedes diesel takes some beating. The German firm has never built a V6 oil-burner before, but with 3.0 litres, six …

Whether powering a 5,000bhp train or a 50,000bhp cruise ship, diesel engines can be mighty machines - and this is a fact that's not lost on car builde…

Once upon a time, the pick-up was the kind of car only farmers drove. Not any more. Demand for US-style high-spec models with big wheels and butch loo…

Want to drive one of racing's most famous names? Then here is the car for you - the Fiat Stilo Schumacher! The new special edition, which is based on …

The Carrera 4 is back, but can the latest 4x4 evolution of Porsche's 911 finally silence its critics? Previous generations of the car have been slamme…

Could Italy's most famous sporty saloon be better than Germany's? Alfa says its 159 - the eagerly anticipated replacement for the 156 - has got what i…

Everybody has to grow up one day, even boy-racers. But what can they turn to when their Subaru Impreza STi has lost its appeal and the run to the rall…

No wonder James Bond had his DB5 kitted out with gadgets to beat the baddies. If ever there was a car to make a secret agent stand out rather than ble…

The Polo's freshened up! Volkswagen is set to celebrate the car's 30th birthday by giving it a new look and a revised engine range

While Citroen's C1 is tempting buyers with three specs and a low price, the Peugeot 107 is banking on a simple gameplan. When sales of the little Lion…

At last! Citroen's C1 has hit UK roads, and at £6,495 the three-door 1.0-litre petrol Vibe is the cheapest of the new family of PSA-Toyota-built city …

Tough looks and a mighty engine show Jeep's Grand Cherokee really does believe that bigger is better in the battle for luxury 4x4 sales. A more distin…

It is no 'Moke'! But that has not stopped Italian coachbuilder Castagna tapping into the heritage of one of the most famous Minis ever

The BMW M5 has landed! Claimed to be the world's ultimate sports saloon, BMW's new 205mph four-door has just arrived in the UK, but is Britain ready f…

Given that Saab has not launched any new cars in the UK for nearly two years, you could be forgiven for thinking the Swedish firm might be going the s…

There is no doubt that car builders are facing a serious challenge. Ever-increasing competition means family vehicles are getting bigger, while engine…

Forget Chevrolets, Thunderbirds and Mustangs; anyone who watched television back in the Eighties will tell you that America's most famous automobile i…

Whether it is the lacklustre performance or basic trim, Mercedes' cheapest models rarely live up to the reputation of the badge. But that has not stop…

It might not have the hi-tech engine of the RX400h, but Nissan's latest off-roader has bags of traditional 4x4 appeal. Joining a growing range of Niss…

Off-roaders are big news these days. School-run mums are targeted as irresponsible killers of the planet, while Greenpeace protesters recently chained…

Take a 200mph Ferrari 575 Maranello, chop off its metal roof and replace it with a carbon fibre and glass panel, and you get the most desirable conver…

The Golf may have got bigger, but VW has not forgotten buyers looking for something a little smaller. The Fox is the German firm's new city car, and i…

There are few gaps in VW's ever-growing model line-up. The German firm prides itself in offering buyers massive choice - especially in the hatchback m…

If Porsche's latest 911 cabrio is the ultimate cross-country convertible, which drop-top is best for city drivers on a budget? Vauxhall reckons its ne…

Going topless just got easier - for a price. With impeccable timing, the latest Porsche 911 Cabriolet is hitting the UK as the summer arrives. Custome…

Practicality, versatility and value for money. These are the cornerstones of the MPV market, and the virtues that have made the Zafira

Stock up on the suntan lotion! Audi has added a top-value S line model to its drop-top A4 range, intended to provide the looks of the flagship S4 at a…

For some performance car fans, the letters E, V and O mean more than GTI ever will. Mitsubishi's Lancer has recruited a dedicated following over its 1…

Times are tough for Hummer. Back in the US, petrol prices have crunched down on the massive H2's sales, and short of a new Middle East war, it is diff…

Japanese firms have never been renowned for their diesels, but with its latest engine Toyota aims to redress the balance. Honda bucked the trend with …

There is something about the magic of the VW badge which is hard to put your finger on. Mounted on the new Passat, it turns a family four-door into an…

Motorways across the UK prove it. The rise and rise in popularity of the MPV and SUV, as well as the challenge of brands such as BMW and Audi, look li…

Small car buyers have never had it so good. Hot on the heels of the Toyota Aygo comes Citroen's new entry-level model, the C1. It is the product of th…

Cash is king in the family car market. Even the most established manufacturers are forced to fight tooth and nail for every sale. Customers will not p…