ROAD TESTS BY MOTORING JOURNALIST TIM SAUNDERS
Advanced motorist Tim Saunders regularly test drives vehicles from the leading manufacturers. Videos on his youtube channel have been watched over 460,000 times.
With over 30 years experience as a motoring journalist, aged 16 he had work experience at Which Car? magazine in London shadowing editor Andy Puddifoot. His first test report on a BMW 520i was published in the Dorset Echo when he was 17 (just after passing his driving test) in 1995. Tim went on to become business and motoring editor at the Bournemouth Echo. Now, his engaging and informative reviews are published in magazines across the UK. "Your pieces are a great addition to our magazines," says Chanel Hosfield, Editor of Life Publications.
Subaru Forester 2026
By Tim Saunders
The Subaru Forester is a robust All Wheel Drive estate that tackles anything that is thrown at it, from taking the family on a day out through to being laden with items like a number of internal doors and hedge cuttings for a tip run.
One bank holiday weekend morning I'm driving at 60mph in the slow lane of the M27 when I'm suddenly confronted with a parked car in my lane. A parked car with its hazard lights on. The children are busy asking me to open the sunroof, then close it and to close the windows, too. Fortunately, we’re not travelling faster and even then I have to brake hard, forcing the car that’s tailgating me into the next lane, fortunately, otherwise they'd have gone into the back of me and there would have been an almighty pile up. Thankfully, the lane they pull into is free and I also have to veer into it. What a nightmare. Who’s stupid idea was it to remove the hard shoulder? I thank my lucky stars that I’m writing this now because my nine lives were already well and truly spent. Either the parked car had run out of fuel or had broken down, or perhaps the driver was ill but the problem here was not the parked car, it was the lack of a hard shoulder. My family and I were so very nearly another statistic – we could have all been wiped out just like that. So that really does shake us all up for the rest of our journey to New Milton where we’re going to the carnival.
It does take time to calm down but the Subaru’s comfortable leather seats - the driving position's pretty good - and decent stereo help to restore a less stressed mood.
Then my attention turns to the economy. It seems heavier on the juice than its rivals probably due to its all wheel drive system. Driving at a steady 50mph, as in any car, delivers the optimum economy and it's a pleasure to see it rise to 43mpg before falling below this as it gains speed. The cruise control is one of the easiest to operate that I have come across.
We all like the large electric sunroof which is lovely in a heatwave and the all round electric windows are very welcome. Power folding wing mirrors are useful when parking on the roadside. For a fairly large car it is easy to drive. If more engaging driving is preferred than relying on the automatic gearbox there are paddle shifts either side of the steering wheel.
It’s a good companion on journeys to Southampton, New Milton, Romsey and the New Forest.
Facts at a glance
Suzuki e Vitara
By Tim Saunders
“Make sure that the motor is actually running when demisting the windscreen,” advises Adrian as he drops off the Suzuki e Vitara, adding that they’ve got very small batteries and can go flat if such a task is performed when the motor is switched off. On a full charge the e Vitara has a range of around 225 miles but this, as with all electric vehicles, is dependent on driving style, i.e. the slower you go, the further you’ll get. It’s an attractive little family car that will seat five.
It’s half-term so there’s football training, an away football match, a trip to the theatre and a shopping trip to Fareham. All good for putting the e Vitara through its paces. There are three driving modes: eco, standard and sport. Eco is a little sluggish, as you might expect but does the job and seems pretty efficient. It’s encouraging that the range reading seems to be of the more reliable kind, one that the driver might actually be able to trust, which is a first for me in an electric car. With a 0 to 60mph time of between seven and nine seconds, depending on the model, the e Vitara is swift enough at the traffic lights and I find it easily overtakes a Porsche.
The ride is smooth and my rear passengers are comfortable. Initially going from a large 4x4 to this more compact vehicle is a little shock but we all get used to it quickly enough. It’s interesting to note that the seats seem quite firm as does the suspension. It’s fitted with all the usual refinements including all round electric windows, air conditioning and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. Overall the seats feel quite hard but it’s helpful that the rear seats can be moved forward or back, making it more comfortable for taller passengers while also being useful for awkward loads. The glass roof panel lightens up the dark cabin, especially on a dreary day. What is frustrating is that, at night, the headlights automatically go on to full beam when they shouldn’t – when there is a vehicle directly in front of me – and that is frustrating because I have to dip them.
On my first drive I struggle to select Park and then realise it’s just a matter of pressing the P. The interior is well designed as is the dashboard. It feels like a good amount of car for the money and I like the fact that the top speed is limited to 93mph. There’s no need to go any faster in the UK. Externally, the test model, finished in black with privacy glass looks very cool indeed with its rather boxy angular design. This five door looks like a three door thanks to its clever design with the rear door handles being hidden in the bodywork, a design feature borrowed from Honda. There’s a sunroof too but try as I might I cannot find the foot warmer and that means my feet remain cold; the older I get warm feet are a must. That said, there’s a lot to like about this electric car.
Facts at a glance
