Yes, it’s a huge diesel estate on EngageSportMode. It’s also one of the best cars we’ve driven this year, and we’re not ashamed to admit it. When we recently wrote about Volvo’s new electrification strategy, we mentioned how we’d been somewhat seduced by an experience with their product range. This particular V90 is the one…
Category: Reviews
Quick Review | MINI John Cooper Works Challenge
Can a MINI priced at £32,000 ever really be worthwhile? Well, yeah actually, based on our brief experience at the 2017 SMMT Test Day. On the face of it paying the same amount as a Volkswagen Golf R, or a Ford Focus RS, for any MINI may seem hopelessly decadent, or even foolish. But stick…
Short Review | 2016 BMW M240i Convertible
The M235i might be gone, but the replacement has even more performance. We took a short, topless, drive, to see if the M240i stacks up as a cut-price M2 alternative. Full disclosure. The M240i does not have a 4.0-litre engine. BMW nomenclature has paid little attention to engine capacity for years, so don’t be fooled. No, under the bonnet…
Twin Test Review | VW Polo GTI vs SEAT Ibiza Cupra Black
On paper these two VAG family cousins share many similarities but, peel back the surface, and you’ll discover that things aren’t quite so homogenous. Which Spanish-built supermini wins out though? If you’ve read our review of the SEAT Ibiza Cupra you’ll know there is a lot to like about this condensed hot hatch. However, sharing a powertrain and platform with the…
2016 SEAT Ibiza Cupra 1.8 TSI | Review
With the current SEAT Ibiza nearing the end of a lengthy lifecycle, the Cupra has been hotted-up for one final fling. Is this Ibiza still up for all-night rave, or is it now more last tango in Benidorm?You remember 2008, right? A time when George W. Bush was still President of the United States, ‘Rockstar’…
Tame Geek – 2016 Tesla Model S 90D Review
He’s been on the hunt for a while, but our good friend the Tame Geek has finally managed to track down a Tesla. Here’s his review which was first posted over on the Tame Geek ‘site.A little of background if you don’t know why this car is important. In 2008 during the global financial apocalypse,…
In-depth Launch Review – Updated 2016 Audi A3
As one of the key models in the Audi range, getting the refreshed A3 right is an important job. We drove all four body types, and various engines, to see if the A3 still has what it takes in a competitive market. Backstory In the same year England crashed out of Euro ’96, Audi launched an upmarket compact hatchback to the…
SMMT Test Day 2016 – Part Two
We’re continuing our twelve car odyssey through this year’s SMMT Test Day. Part one can be found here if you need to refresh yourself. Things get a little weird and a little crazy in part two. If our first selection of cars at SMMT were varied, although generally performance themed, the second sextet proved to be incredibly diverse. From…
SMMT Test Day 2016 – Part One
Returning to the SMMT Test Day after the extravagant ‘twelve cars in one day‘ affair of last year, ESM promised to try to be more selective over driving choices this year. The result was certainly a varied motoring experience, to say the least. It’s the potentially the biggest day of the year for anyone who writes about cars,…
2016 Mercedes-AMG A45 4MATIC | Review
According to William H. Land, the most important thing about power is making sure you don’t have to use it. But when there is so much of it on offer, can you really resist? We spent a week with the Mercedes-AMG A45 to test our resolve. Question. What’s bright red, has 376hp and does 0-62mph…
A week with the… Hyundai i30 Turbo | Review
Turbos are all the rage these days, so what effect does adding one to the Hyundai i30 have? Before the rush to downsize and increase efficiency, adding the word ‘turbo’ to the back of a car symbolised that it was the fastest model in the brochure. Although even the regular Porsche 911 Carrera features forced aspiration now, until…
EngageSportMode Awards 2015 – Part One
You know the drill. At the end of each year EngageSportMode likes to dish out hypothetical trophies made from macaroni and glitter. This year is no exception, other than 2015 featured a lot more new metal to be driven. Does it matter that we’re already into 2016? No, of course not. Sticking with our tried and tested formula, part…
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