Car Reviews
Independent car reviews on Irish roads. Practical verdicts on value and real world economy to help you choose your next new car.
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Land Rover Defender Trophy Review: Can A Plug-In-Hybrid Still Be A True Defender?
Road tested by Hugh Maguire. Price: Defender Trophy €130,300 Pros: Almost unbeatable off-road ability Feels Special and distinctive Clever tech. Cons: Not so frugal if you can’t plug-in consistently. Quite a small battery only range. Small loss of boot space due battery. The name Land Rover Defender refers to one of the most iconic off-road vehicles…
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Ford Ranger Wildtrak Review: More than just a workhorse?
Road Tested By Hugh Maguire. Price: €64,800 inc VAT. Pros: Strong performance with instant torque. High tech practical driver assist systems such as Pro Trailer Backup. Plug-in- efficiency with some EV driving capability. Cons: Slightly less payload than rivals from VW, Toyota and Isuzu. Hybrid system adds 300kg or so to its weight. More expensive than…
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The Seat Arona FR Caught Me By Surprise!
Road tested by Hugh Maguire. Price as tested €36,146. Pros: A rewarding and involving driving experience. Practical inside. Quick shifting DSG gearbox. Cons: Rear seat space not as good as some rivals. Ride can feel overly firm on some road surfaces. Road noise on coarse tarmac. Seat as most will know is part of the Volkswagen…
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The Honda Jazz has grown up into an SUV-like version of itself, called the Crosstar.
Road Tested By Hugh Maguire. Price: €34,950. Pros: Very economical with great range. Well equipped as standard. Very spacious and flexible rear seats. Cons: Road noise on more coarse tarmac. No wireless phone charging. More expensive than rivals. The Honda Jazz Crosstar Advance is basically a Jazz on steroids. It is a bit more rugged looking…
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New Jeep Compass Rocks into the famous Slane Castle.
First drive by Hugh Maguire. What more iconic venue could you choose to introduce a new car? Slane Castle in county Meath is renowned as the venue for hosting such global giants as Queen, U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and many more. We don’t normally associate this Iconic venue with the launch of a…
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The BYD Seal 6 tested. The hybrid that thinks its an EV.
Road tested By Hugh Maguire. Pros: Incredible range. Very well equipped. Excellent warranty. Battery 8 years or 200,000km. Car & engine 6 years 150,000km. Cons: Harsh engine when revved. Bettered by rivals for ride & handling. Anonymous styling. BYD have really established themselves very quickly as one of the more premium Chinese brands. They are…
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Škoda Epiq revealed! An all new, fully electric, compact car due in Ireland next year.
Compact, clever, confident: the all-new Škoda Epiq extends Škoda Auto’s successful electric portfolio into the entry-level segment, combining compact dimensions with a spacious interior and high everyday usability. In its base variant, the Epiq is the most affordable fully electric Škoda model, prices will start from €24,559* including the SEAI Grant and VRT Rebate. The city…
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New Mercedes CLA 200 hybrid. Is it better than the BMW 2 series Gran Coupe and Audi A3?
Road tested by Hugh Maguire. Range priced from €57,960 CLA 180 hybrid. Car on test Mercedes CLA 200 hybrid €58,560. Pros: Lovely styling. Excellent long distance cruiser. Very economical. Cons: Hybrid system a bit rough around the edges. Too much reliance on the huge touch screen. A few below par plastics in the cabin. When Mercedes…
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On the road in the Citroen e-C5 Aircross: Is This Where Comfort meets Family SUV Practicality?
Road Tested By Hugh Maguire. Pros: A class winner for supreme comfort. Lovely interior design. Very well equipped. Cons: Steering has no real feedback. Feels too light. Spongy long travel brake pedal feel. Body roll in corners limits fun element of driving it. I road test a multitude of new models every year. There are…
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Should you shortlist the Lexus RZ 350e if looking for a premium electric car?
Road tested by Hugh Maguire. Pros: Attractive styling. Supremely comfortable. Premium look and feel. Cons: Range still trails some rivals. Charging speed is only average. Not an involving driving experience. So you have decided an EV is for you. But you are not looking for a budget entry level model. You seek something more premium.…