Tag Archives: plug-in hybrid

We test drive the Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid and EV versions of the all-new second generation Kia Niro… The Niro compact crossover is an important car for Kia. After the slightly larger Sportage, it’s the South Korean brand’s second most successful model. A genuine game-changer when it was launched in 2016, …

Earlier in 2022 Kia launched the superb fifth-generation Sportage – one of the most striking new crossovers on the road. Rocking a bold, confident new design and hi-tech interior, it was initially available with a choice of petrol, diesel and hybrid (mild, self-charging) engines. Now a plug-in hybrid version has …

We test drive the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from premium Japanese brand, Lexus. Has it been worth the wait? The Lexus NX 450h+ is not to be confused with the NX 350h – the former is a plug-in-hybrid, while the latter is a self-charging hybrid, which means there are no …

We drive the impressive new plug-in hybrid version of Jeep’s mid-sized SUV… When I first drove the Jeep Compass soon after its launch in 2018, I really wanted to like it. It was practical and looked good, but for me it was let down by an unsophisticated diesel engine, disappointing …

Launched in 2018, the Vauxhall Grandland X was never the most scintillating SUV on the market, but it sold well. More than 70,000 found homes in the UK, along with some 300,000 in Europe. So-called C-SUVs are the biggest single sector in the UK, accounting for one-in-six of all new …

The handsome Volvo V60 estate was arguably my Car of the Year back in 2018. As I said in my review: “Obviously it’s not special in a supercar kind of way – it’s just that it does everything it’s meant to do exceptionally well.” Volvo didn’t rest on its laurels …

We drive the updated version of this Swedish premium mid-sized SUV… It’s been a while since I’ve driven an XC60. To be exact, it was 2017 when the current second-generation model was launched. A lot has changed since then for Volvo, which has just enjoyed record sales in the first …

The striking all-new fourth-generation Tucson is one of the new car revelations of 2021. Hyundai dares to be different and few SUVs can match the Tucson’s kerb appeal. Featuring unique “hidden lights” and “jewel-like” running lights, plus an athletic profile and pert rear, it’s equally impressive inside. Available with a …

It’s not the BMW X2’s fault, but not long before I tested out the new plug-in hybrid version of this distinctively-styled, low-slung crossover, I was driving the latest BMW 330e saloon. Re-reading my review, I concluded: “Frankly, it’s hard to criticise the 330e because it’s an almost perfect embodiment of …

We’re already big fans of the fourth generation Seat Leon. In our 2020 review, we concluded that it’s “one of the most accomplished family hatchbacks on the market, offering affordability, economy, tech, refinement, space and driving pleasure”. Fast forward to 2021 and the petrol and diesel models have been joined …