Road tests

As unlikely combinations go, the Ford Focus ST170 Estate is up there with peanut butter and jelly. Blending the speed of a hot hatch with the practica…

The words 'base model' don't really work with a car such as Mercedes' SL, but that is essentially what this newcomer is. Priced at £56,340, it's £11,4…

If you heard that MG had swapped the ZT 160's V6 for a four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine, you might feel short changed. But the powerplant switch has bee…

Put the kettle on, because this is a commercial break - a break designed to appeal to company car users. If you can prove that you need to carry goods…

Say hello to one of the most significant new Peugeots of 2003! No we haven't gone mad, we really do think that much of the Partner Combi Escapade. Bas…

Before the dark days of joyriders and huge insurance premiums, the GSi badge meant something to Vauxhall owners. An Astra with these three letters on …

There was a whole industry built around tuning the classic Mini, but so far the go-faster brigade has kept away from the new model. However, all that …

Look familiar? The Partner Combi has burst on to the budget-MPV scene, and Auto Express is first behind the wheel. It's based on the virtually identic…

They're not renowned for their lively performance or good road manners, but if you're looking to blaze a trail in an SUV, Nissan reckons it has the an…

It takes more than a pretty face and a few choice extras to make the grade in the fleet and family sector these days. Honda knows it, and has pulled o…

What a difference 25 years can make. A quarter of a century ago, VW's hot hatch revelation, the Golf GTI, was the talk of the motoring press. But it c…

With winter approaching, the weather is turning against roadster fans. But Toyota is tempting those hardy enough to its sprightly MR2 with key upgrade…

Things might look rosy now, but wind the clock back and the current Astra and Zafira were still on the drawing board...

Think 150bhp is enough? Then think again... VW has squeezed an extra 30bhp out of its trusty 150bhp 1.8-litre turbo engine, and added another string t…

It seems Lexus believes that good things come in small packages - especially as far as building estate cars is concerned. On sale now, the new 2.0-lit…

Why do enthusiasts get so excited at the thought of an Alfa? The rich motorsport heritage? The gorgeous Italian styling? Sure, both are useful in the …

If you're someone who wants to be different from the pack but not considered weird or eccentric, expect a call from your local Saab dealer.

They're all getting a bit smug at Volkswagen. Not content with redefining the diesel hatch market with the PD range, they're now using the technology …

As the 505cc engine of Ligier's new Be-Up splutters into life, it's best to take a couple of seconds to settle your nerves. It has no doors or airbags…

Having pioneered the MPV in Europe, Renault has again stolen a march on the opposition with this fourth-generation Espace, thanks to its unrivalled en…

Gentlemen, start your engines! The race to build the ultimate autobahn basher shows no signs of slowing up as Mercedes charges into the fray with its …

Youv'e seen those adverts in which Hollywood beauties with an unfeasible number of birthdays behind them praise the virtues of the latest anti-ageing …

Back in the days of Ford Sierras, Austin Montegos and Vauxhall Cavaliers, the badge on the bootlid told all. It wasn't simply the engine size displaye…

Nobody can deny that value for money is an important factor in any buying decision. Do you plump for the big brand baked beans, or are you the kind of…

The future of four-wheel drive has changed forever. Nissan has just unveiled the world's lightest, most cost-effective 4x4 system, and fitted it to it…

Buy this car and next year you could have the holiday of a lifetime! It's not some competition, but that's what you could afford with savings you make…

If there's one thing Audi's A2 has always lacked, it's a bit of poke under the bonnet. It might be light in weight thanks to the aluminium body, but t…

If you can't bring yourself to switch to diesel, then all is not lost. Vauxhall has also developed a new system for its small petrol engines which inc…

What does five grand buy you these days? A service on a Ferrari, perhaps, a quarter of a Ford Mondeo, or maybe a pair of hospitality tickets at the Br…

For some drivers, only a BMW will do. They think that having a blue-and-white propeller badge on the bonnet shows that they have made it, and can't wa…

Sometimes five gears just aren't enough... or six, even! Honda's taking a big step forward and giving us seven. It's the popular Jazz that's been chos…

Imagine the average Rover 75 driver, and turbos don't really fit in. After all, the mature and sensible image of the big Brit saloon and estate summo…

Show star, cover model and dream machine. Few cars have enjoyed the limelight like Ford's Focus RS.

As Mazda found out, without a diesel engine you might as well not bother in the people carrier sector. With only one petrol unit and dull styling, its…

There are a few ways to get supercar-slaying performance from an everyday vehicle. Fitting turbos is one route, or you can create a race-honed engine…

It's the jubilee year - and Volkswagen is celebrating in style! But rather than mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the German firm is marking …