Road tests by motoring journalist Tim Saunders
Advanced motori
st Tim Saunders was the Business and Motoring Editor at the Bournemouth Daily Echo. His regular test reports are published in newspapers and magazines across the UK and abroad.
BMW X5 E53 video, the subject of Tim's book
Above: Tim Saunders with Vicki Butler-Henderson
Skoda Karoq
By Tim Saunders
I don’t usually pay much attention to the weather but during my test of the Skoda Karoq I cannot help but notice it. I decide to take it on a trek to Hertfordshire and before long spitting rain turns into a torrential and persistent downpour that sees many motorists stranded. But not us and I am grateful because the Karoq, being an SUV, stands taller than those smaller run of the mill cars, like the usual Fiesta I drive. And I thank my lucky stars that I’m in the Karoq as I have to make my way through what seems to be a lake covering a country lane as we head towards Shaw’s Corner, playwright George Bernard Shaw’s retreat. Although the water level’s high it doesn’t pose a problem for the Skoda. Thank goodness. And as this downpour continues for a good hour my new friend has many similar challenges thrown at him. My only criticism during this time is that I could do with a faster speed for the windscreen wipers.
This is an excellent first impression that this competent vehicle keeps up for the duration of the test. It puts up with my three children and their heavy feet in the rear and there is a very positive contrast to the Hyundai i30 Fastback that I have just returned, in that I can fit my children’s three car seats quickly and easily in the Skoda. The seatbelt points are placed in sensible positions unlike in the Hyundai.
The seats are comfortable, there’s a good amount of space and the boot is large enough to allow us to travel with our luggage as well as Henry’s pushchair. Not many cars are so accommodating. Another pleasant surprise is the full size spare tyre, stored underneath the boot compartment. This is a real luxury these days, some manufacturers have done away entirely with providing a spare, opting instead for a little repair pack.
My steed is a fast and reliable vehicle and the cruise control on the left of the steering wheel, is easy to use. However, if you are too eager it can result in the indicator being operated instead.
The six speed manual gearbox is decisive and there’s an electrically operated handbrake, which always unsettles me but it seems reliable and the car does not roll when stuck in a jam on a hill.
My heart is in my mouth at one point though, because I have to negotiate a very tight entrance to a car park, so tight that I have to retract the power folding wing mirrors but thankfully we make our way trouble free, to our space. Others have not been so fortunate I see as I survey the parked cars with their various dents and scrapes.
The other great thing about the Karoq is its satellite navigation system, which is a joy to use. There’s no faffing about, the driver just needs to know the postcode and can enter it without even needing a space in between characters. However, the female voice delivering the instructions unnervingly sounds like Theresa May and there is an irritating delay at the most nerve-racking of moments for instance, while tackling a roundabout where I need to know which exit to take.
It’s also a sensitive soul because while I reverse onto my driveway I try to park as near as possible to the lavender bush that lines the edge and it doesn’t like it. So much so that buzzers start sounding until the Karoq stops and refuses to move any further.
Overall though, it’s a competent family vehicle.
This is an excellent first impression that this competent vehicle keeps up for the duration of the test. It puts up with my three children and their heavy feet in the rear and there is a very positive contrast to the Hyundai i30 Fastback that I have just returned, in that I can fit my children’s three car seats quickly and easily in the Skoda. The seatbelt points are placed in sensible positions unlike in the Hyundai.
The seats are comfortable, there’s a good amount of space and the boot is large enough to allow us to travel with our luggage as well as Henry’s pushchair. Not many cars are so accommodating. Another pleasant surprise is the full size spare tyre, stored underneath the boot compartment. This is a real luxury these days, some manufacturers have done away entirely with providing a spare, opting instead for a little repair pack.
My steed is a fast and reliable vehicle and the cruise control on the left of the steering wheel, is easy to use. However, if you are too eager it can result in the indicator being operated instead.
The six speed manual gearbox is decisive and there’s an electrically operated handbrake, which always unsettles me but it seems reliable and the car does not roll when stuck in a jam on a hill.
My heart is in my mouth at one point though, because I have to negotiate a very tight entrance to a car park, so tight that I have to retract the power folding wing mirrors but thankfully we make our way trouble free, to our space. Others have not been so fortunate I see as I survey the parked cars with their various dents and scrapes.
The other great thing about the Karoq is its satellite navigation system, which is a joy to use. There’s no faffing about, the driver just needs to know the postcode and can enter it without even needing a space in between characters. However, the female voice delivering the instructions unnervingly sounds like Theresa May and there is an irritating delay at the most nerve-racking of moments for instance, while tackling a roundabout where I need to know which exit to take.
It’s also a sensitive soul because while I reverse onto my driveway I try to park as near as possible to the lavender bush that lines the edge and it doesn’t like it. So much so that buzzers start sounding until the Karoq stops and refuses to move any further.
Overall though, it’s a competent family vehicle.
Facts at a glance
Skoda Karoq SE L 1.5 TSI 150PS
Price: £26,145
Top speed: 126mph
0-60mph: 8.4secs
Economy: Over 50mpg
Power: 150bhp
Top speed: 126mph
0-60mph: 8.4secs
Economy: Over 50mpg
Power: 150bhp
Hyundai i30 Fastback
By Tim Saunders
When the Hyundai i30 is delivered I am pleasantly surprised. I had been expecting a plain and functional five door hatchback. But instead I am looking at the Fastback, a much more exciting proposition.
Its sleek lines make it a vehicle to admire from the design perspective. The striking front is impressive if similar to a growing number of cars these days. The rear has hints of Mercedes about it… and Aston Martin without the hefty price tags. The i30 Fastback clearly has a talented designer. The result should be a Lexus beating sports saloon that is very pleasing on the eye and really does create a double take especially for those who have previously ignored the virtues of a Hyundai.
This family car surprises at every turn and probably the biggest achievement is the fact that it is powered by a tiddly little one-litre petrol engine, which promises low emissions. Through turbo charging, the engineers have cleverly squeezed almost 120bhp out of it to giving more oomph than much bigger engined vehicles. Another great feature is the satellite navigation system which is one of the easiest to operate. Simply punch in a postcode and it will reliably take you to your destination. Unlike some setups it will allow a postcode to be entered without any spaces, which makes life easier.
Build quality seems a bit on the flimsy side. For instance, when shutting one of the rear doors there is still a fair amount of give after it is closed. While I’m on this subject I notice that the paint finish isn’t as sharp as it should be around the boot rubber. My biggest gripe though is the positioning of the three seatbelt points in the rear. Bear in mind that I am the owner of an ageing Ford Fiesta and I regularly travel with three cumbersome car seats in the back without a problem. Therefore, I do not anticipate any problems in fitting the same three car seats in more modern vehicles. The Hyundai is a considerably larger car. But oh dear oh dear. The positioning of the belt buckle slots means that I must have wasted over an hour of my time during the course of the test fiddling around fitting the car seats for my two daughters. Because Henry’s is a slightly wider Cosatto seat it covers both slots for Harriett’s and Heidi car seats. I dread every time we all return to the car because I know that my fingers are really going to hurt as I have to forcibly lift Henry’s seat up to make allow for Harriett and Heidi to be strapped in. I have had some problems with other new cars but never to this extent. This really does need improving.
Aside from this, the boot is large enough for the family’s luggage and there is a good amount of storage space.
The black cloth seats are comfortable and so is the ride. Overall it feels sporty and quite low to the ground. The six-speed manual box can be a little too notchy on occasions for my liking. It can be a slow car but if revved hard it does deliver a smile especially with the raspy note of the exhaust, which gets louder the harder it’s driven. I like the traditional handbrake, which I always feel gives the driver greater control over increasingly common electric variants. And the cruise control is nice and easy to operate.
Here is a car for a family of four without any car seats.
Facts at a glance
Hyundai i30 Premium 1.0 T-GDi 120PS
Price: From £20,310
Top speed: 117mph
0-60mph: 11.1secs
Power: 118bhp
Economy: 54mpg
Its sleek lines make it a vehicle to admire from the design perspective. The striking front is impressive if similar to a growing number of cars these days. The rear has hints of Mercedes about it… and Aston Martin without the hefty price tags. The i30 Fastback clearly has a talented designer. The result should be a Lexus beating sports saloon that is very pleasing on the eye and really does create a double take especially for those who have previously ignored the virtues of a Hyundai.
This family car surprises at every turn and probably the biggest achievement is the fact that it is powered by a tiddly little one-litre petrol engine, which promises low emissions. Through turbo charging, the engineers have cleverly squeezed almost 120bhp out of it to giving more oomph than much bigger engined vehicles. Another great feature is the satellite navigation system which is one of the easiest to operate. Simply punch in a postcode and it will reliably take you to your destination. Unlike some setups it will allow a postcode to be entered without any spaces, which makes life easier.
Build quality seems a bit on the flimsy side. For instance, when shutting one of the rear doors there is still a fair amount of give after it is closed. While I’m on this subject I notice that the paint finish isn’t as sharp as it should be around the boot rubber. My biggest gripe though is the positioning of the three seatbelt points in the rear. Bear in mind that I am the owner of an ageing Ford Fiesta and I regularly travel with three cumbersome car seats in the back without a problem. Therefore, I do not anticipate any problems in fitting the same three car seats in more modern vehicles. The Hyundai is a considerably larger car. But oh dear oh dear. The positioning of the belt buckle slots means that I must have wasted over an hour of my time during the course of the test fiddling around fitting the car seats for my two daughters. Because Henry’s is a slightly wider Cosatto seat it covers both slots for Harriett’s and Heidi car seats. I dread every time we all return to the car because I know that my fingers are really going to hurt as I have to forcibly lift Henry’s seat up to make allow for Harriett and Heidi to be strapped in. I have had some problems with other new cars but never to this extent. This really does need improving.
Aside from this, the boot is large enough for the family’s luggage and there is a good amount of storage space.
The black cloth seats are comfortable and so is the ride. Overall it feels sporty and quite low to the ground. The six-speed manual box can be a little too notchy on occasions for my liking. It can be a slow car but if revved hard it does deliver a smile especially with the raspy note of the exhaust, which gets louder the harder it’s driven. I like the traditional handbrake, which I always feel gives the driver greater control over increasingly common electric variants. And the cruise control is nice and easy to operate.
Here is a car for a family of four without any car seats.
Facts at a glance
Hyundai i30 Premium 1.0 T-GDi 120PS
Price: From £20,310
Top speed: 117mph
0-60mph: 11.1secs
Power: 118bhp
Economy: 54mpg
