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Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. You might not have seen one on Irish roads just yet but the fresh faced Toyota Yaris Cross is an all-new model that blends Toyota's small car experience with it’s SUV design and engineering knowledge. It has been developed specifically with European customers in mind from the word go and aims to capitalise on the key qualities of the new generation Yaris hatchback. This philosophy includes maximising interior space and practicality whilst also giving it the fourth generation hybrid electric powertrain, excellent safety standards and making it fun to drive! To do this this Toyota used its knowhow from over 27 years of creating the RAV4 with their intelligent all wheel drive (AWD-i) system and applied it to this B-segment car. The European market for B-segment SUVs appears to be growing steadily at present and Toyota expects growth to continue with many customers downsizing from larger C-segment models or seeking an alternative to B-segment hatches in vehicles that better suit their needs. Features So what do we see when we approach the Yaris Cross, is it in essence just a normal Yaris on stilts? Well no, not exactly, the front end has a strong modern look with upper and lower grilles forming a completely new face. Slim and sharp shaped headlights use LED projector lamps with separate, vertical daytime running lights and circular LED fog lights set at the bottom corners of the lower grille. Walking around to the rear and you will see a wide tailgate and a square central section that makes for a practical loading area. There’s actually 397 litres of cargo space available and you can drop the rear seats to fit a maximum of 1,097 litres. The rear lights use LED technology and sequential turn indicators on higher spec models. For more perspective the Yaris Cross comes in 95mm taller at 1,595mm, 20mm wider (1,765mm) and 240mm longer (4,180mm) than a standard Yaris. Ground clearance also jumps by 25mm to 170mm to stay true to that SUV design. Opening the drivers door and you are greeted by a host of new trim finishes on the door panels, arm rests and even the A pillars. The centre console has the multimedia display north of the shift lever and incorporates the heating and driving function controls. This Yaris Cross uses Toyota's latest multimedia system with a nine-inch, High Definition touchscreen display for easier visibility and has an embedded SIM card that provides constant connection. The Drive Mode Select and all-wheel drive mode switches are grouped immediately in front of the shift lever and within easy reach of the driver. Power As mentioned Toyota's fourth generation hybrid electric technology unit powers the Yaris Cross. It’s a sophisticated three-cylinder, 1.5-litre hybrid engine that has the same basic structure and operation as the larger two-litre unit featured in the Toyota Corolla and C-HR. The power is made low down in the rev range and you get 90bhp at 5,500rpm and 120Nm between 3,600 and 4,800 rpm. Maximum output when combining engine and electric motors is 114bhp. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions (WLTP combined) are 54.6-64.2mpg fuel economy and 100- 117g/km, which is very impressive! Safety The Yaris Cross uses the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance system which are are provided as standard on all versions. It adopts a series of new and improved measures that can detect a wider range of common accident risks, warn the driver and initiate measures to prevent an impact, or lessen the consequences if a collision is unavoidable. Buyers can expect Pre-Collision System (PCS), Full-range Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Lane Trace Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beam (AHB) along with the usual gaggle of airbags and a strong safety cell to keep you and yours safe! Costs Irish buyers will have a choice of 4 different specifications to choose from kicking off with Luna from €28,050. The next price walk up to Luna Sport for €31,030 will add Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 17-inch bi-tone Alloys and privacy glass to name but a few. Our test car was the Sol model priced at €34,390 and featured heated sports seats and a 9-inch multimedia display. The top of the range Adventure model features the even larger 10-inch display, 18-inch alloys and aluminium roof rails. As always various PCP and finance options are available from your local Toyota dealer. Summary The introduction of Yaris Cross has been an interesting one really. It not just extends the Toyota Yaris family, joining the hatchback Yaris and GR Yaris but also gives Toyota the largest hybrid electric SUV model range on the market. With the compact C-HR, mid-size RAV4 and seven-seat Highlander this really gives buyers adequate choice from one manufacturer. It carries forward some the best bits from the Yaris hatchback to include the powertrain, safety systems and generous space but is it enough to make you really want one? After spending a week with the Yaris Cross we can say it’s a perfectly capable machine but no more so than the standard Yaris. Unless you need that added height or ground clearance for where you live, we feel the normal Yaris will serve you perfectly well. For us we understand why Toyota brought the Yaris Cross to the market. It wanted to compete with the likes of the Renault Captur, VW T-Cross and perhaps the Ford Puma but our choice should you want to stick with Toyota would be to opt for the much better looking C-HR. The striking design of this vehicle makes it a clear favourite in our eyes. Then again we could be wrong and car design is subjective and as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Either way you know with a Toyota you are getting a pedigree machine backed up by a standard 3-year warranty and up to 10 years’ extended hybrid battery care warranty. This should give you further peace of mind! For Economy Extra Space Against Normal Yaris as good! To check out Toyota Yaris stock on DoneDeal, click here. To watch our YouTube video on the Toyota Yaris Cross, please click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. This week we are wafting about in comfort spending time with the new Lexus ES 300h. This is a car that has received various exterior design updates, including a new grille pattern, new headlights, more colour options to include this Graphite paint our test car was adorned in. There is also a number of new wheel options starting off with the 17-inch wheel which now features thicker spoke ends that are layered in "V" formations for a nicer design. The larger 18-inch wheel, which is available on Base and Premium trims, has also been updated with a split 10-spoke design with two-tone Black and machined finish. An additional 18-inch five-spoke alloy noise reduction wheel is available with the Premium trims whilst the ES F Sport model gets exclusive 19-inch split-five-spoke rims with a black finish that fills the arches nicely! Features In true Lexus fashion, the 2022 ES has taken several luxurious steps forward in the interior department and once again stepped up to the mark to ensure it can compete with its many rivals. The brand has continued to embrace driver-focused updates to the Lexus Multimedia System and available Navigation System. The standard 8.0-inch or 12.3-inch colour multimedia displays have been moved closer to the driver by 4.3-inches. This was an essential move as it now features touch-screen functionality, in addition to the remote touch interface, for intuitive driver and front passenger interaction. In fact everything is within easy reach when you are behind the drivers wheel and this new streamlined instrument panel design really embraces seamless cabin integration and does away with the mountain of buttons from outgoing models. Power There's not much to choose from in the power department really because the new ES is available with just one 2.5-litre hybrid engine. This naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 29kW electric motor is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox and power is sent to the front-wheels. It’s a smooth engine we are familiar with from the likes of the Rav 4 but it can get a little shouty when you sink the go pedal. Often these modern Hybrid systems feel like your clutch is on the way out but in fact, it’s the way it delivers the power through the electric drivetrain. The revs don’t necessarily match the speed but by adopting a slightly different driving style, you will never notice! Safety This has to be where the Lexus ES really shines! Continuing the brand's commitment to safety the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 has been further enhanced and is now standard on all trim levels. Already one of the most sophisticated systems of its kind, LSS+ 2.5 adds new capabilities to provide additional safety to the driver and passengers. The Pre-Collision System (PCS), which include Frontal Collision Warning (FCW), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection and Bicyclist Detection, features an enhancement to the lens camera and millimeter-wave radar elements to give even sharper response times. It also now has Intersection Turning Assist (ITA), Emergency Steering Assist (ESA), and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which can be activated above 50 kph and is designed to perform vehicle-to-vehicle distance controls. DRCC also includes a new feature that allows for smooth overtaking of slower vehicles. If traveling behind a vehicle going slower than the preset speed, once the driver engages the indicator, the system will provide an initial increase in power in preparation for changing lanes. After the driver changes lanes, the vehicle will resume acceleration to the original preset driving speed. Add to this Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/ SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) and Road Sign Assist (RSA) and you are surely in one of the safest cars available on Irish roads! Costs Entry level pricing for Lexus ES 300h ownership kicks off at roughly €54,000 for a Dynamic specification Trim. Next on the ladder is the F Sport model starting at €61,000 followed by the top of the range Premium specification priced upwards of €67,000. Like all Lexus models currently for sale in Ireland there are various finance and PCP deals available through your local Lexus dealer. Summary It is no secret that the ultimate goal from Lexus was to deliver a new generation of vehicle that is more balanced, refined in control, and engaging than ever before. By working tirelessly on linear steering, brake responses, and optimised handling with exceptional ride quality, the result is a car that is very pleasurable to live with. Is it engaging to the same degree as a 5-Series BMW or Audi A6? Perhaps not but I’d argue you get a lot more for your money with the Lexus. Is it as refined or sumptuous as an E-Class Mercedes inside? Again possibly not, but it’s not far off! As a package it is most certainly a worthy alternative to its many rivals. From a technology and engineering standpoint the Lexus is second to none. You know you are buying reliability, quality and one of the most economic vehicles in this segment. The stress free and super frugal Hybrid offers you the very best of both worlds. No need to charge, ample power and that 3 year, or 100,000km warranty with 5 year cover for your hybrid battery adding further peace of mind. We enjoyed our time with the new Lexus ES 300h and look forward to seeing more on Irish roads. For Hybrid Interior Quality Safety Against Slightly Rev Happy To check out Lexus stock on DoneDeal, click here. To watch our full video review on YouTube please click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. It’s hard to believe the Nissan Juke is over a decade old! We recall attending the original launch in Barcelona where we were greeted with a funky looking Crossover that would go on to achieve huge success for Nissan. Just a couple of years ago Nissan heavily revised the Juke but somehow retained that distinctive personality for the next generation. At the time we were told to expect a Hybrid variant in a couple of years and although a great deal has happened in the world since, Nissan remained true to their word and here we are today just outside London to test the first Juke equipped with a hybrid powertrain. The first thing you notice is the sporty coupé crossover design remains in tact with some aerodynamic tweaks for efficiency. The front grille of the Juke Hybrid now features a strip of black gloss material where it meets the bonnet, putting it in line with other electrified Nissan models, which share this same design trait. Moving around the vehicle you also see some Hybrid badging and a rear spoiler mounted above the rear window. What you can’t see is in front of the wheels, the air deflectors have been reshaped and repositioned to clean the airflow, while the rear axle has gained a cover which smooth’s the airflow underneath reducing drag and resulting in better efficiency. Nissan has also introduced new two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels as well as the super cool Ariya-derived two-tone 19-inch aero wheels, which look stunning! Features We think its safe to say the arrival of this new Nissan Juke Hybrid marks the next chapter in Nissan’s ongoing commitment on an electrified future. It has been designed to sit in the family alongside the all-new Nissan Ariya 100% electric crossover and the Qashqai mild hybrid. The new powertrain has been specially developed with the help of Renault to seamlessly blend that petrol engine with electric power. Inside the well-appointed cabin you are greeted with a 7-inch combimeter screen that shows you when e-Pedal and EV mode are activated. Like the original Leaf it also shows all the different energy flows in a simple and clear animation, leaving you under no illusions as to where your power is coming from. Looking around the cabin and space is plentiful in both the front and the back with 553mm of knee room. The Juke has a tendency to look a little smaller than it is and although it has lost a little boot space with thanks to battery placement, 354 litres is still respectable with a best in class 1,237 litres when the seats are folded. Power So what is powering this new Juke Hybrid and how does it compare to a normal Juke? Well this new generation 1.6 litre combustion petrol engine has been specifically developed for working in a hybrid powertrain application. It produces 94hp and 148Nm of torque and this is aided by the main electric motor producing 49hp and 205Nm of torque. When combined the net result is a powertrain that provides 25% more power than the current petrol engine option, with a fuel consumption reduction up to 40% in urban cycle, and up to 20% over the combined cycle. Each time you press start you get 100% electric mode and can reach speeds of up to 55kph in pure EV before it needs the combustion engine. This gives the Juke Hybrid a true EV-like driving experience. The 100-km/h sprint can be completed in roughly 10-seconds making it plenty fast for a vehicle in this segment. Safety Like the new Qashqai Hybrid the Nissan Juke offers a full package of safety technologies, including Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Recognition, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Blind Spot Intervention. Some of these technologies are unique to the segment such as the Blind Spot Intervention, which warns the driver when a car gets into its blind spot and brings the vehicle back in the lane. Costs At the time of writing pricing for the new Nissan Juke Hybrid has been promised a little later this summer. Nissan are asking interested parties to contact their local dealer or visit the Nissan Ireland website. Needless to say they aim to be as competitive as possible but we do hope supply issues don’t hamper them to much. Summary Nissan wants to have 75% of their product offerings powered by electricity or Hybrid powertrains by 2024. This growing range of electrified vehicles will enable drivers to make a fully informed choice that is right for them, no matter what daily commute they may undertake. For us the Juke Hybrid is a quality offering that looks stylish and drives fantastic. Flicking through the Drive Selector modes Eco/Normal/Sport gave us a real feel for how the technology works and what real world economy it can deliver. As mentioned before, Plug In Hybrids are all well and good if you get into the habit of charging them, but if like many, you miss the odd day, you might find you are carrying around that extra battery weight simply burning fuel! This will never be an issue in the Juke Hybrid as it charges itself on the move giving you the best of both worlds. In Eco mode the vehicle is smart enough to reduce the demand of the air-conditioning system to maximise efficiency whilst in Sport mode, regeneration under braking is set to high in order to maximise electric power for maximum acceleration. The great thing is that at anytime you can flick the EV mode switch to kill the engine in traffic jams or in residential areas when you are sneaking out to catch that red eye flight! Although our time was short lived with the new Juke Hybrid with just a two hour test drive, we will have one for a week later on this year to see how it compares to other rivals in this category such as the Toyota Yaris Cross or Hyundai Kona Hybrid. Watch this space! For Hybrid Interior Quality Safety Against Nothing really! To check out Nissan stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. It’s a fresh but dry morning in Dublin and we have been invited to Peugeot headquarters Gowan House to collect the all-new 308, which has recently arrived to Irish shores. This new Peugeot 308 continues the brand's commitment to striking design with a modern look in keeping with the current range. Now sitting 55mm longer than its predecessor there's more room for rear seat passengers but the whole car has dropped 20mm in height to give it a low-slung powerful stance. The first thing we noticed was the 308 is wearing the brand's new logo, a roaring lion's head proudly on the nose. The badge also neatly covers the radar used by the autonomous driving aids which we think is very clever. Some brands just have a large unsightly square box in the grill but thankfully Peugeot have given this some thought! To the sides of the Lions head, your eyes are drawn towards the LED headlights, which are standard on all models. The rear also gets full LED technology but it’s the overall design, especially in this Olivine Green that we were really impressed by. I mean why would you even consider an awkward crossover when you could have something that looks this good? Peugeot specifically designed the bumpers, deflectors, diffuser, body pillars, door mirrors with improved airflow in mind. The overall drag coefficient figure of Cd 0.28 makes it slippery through the air and much more efficient. By the way, if this green is not to your liking you can also choose between Bianca White, Cumulus Grey, Nera Black, Pearlescent White, Vertigo Blue or Elixir Red. Features Opening the drivers door you notice the LED ambient lighting straight away. It lights up the door panels which, depending on the trim level, features soft touch foam, fabric, or Alcantara. Sitting into the comfortable seats you can absorb the usage of quality materials, which have been used in its construction. Looking ahead you get Peugeot's now familiar i-Cockpit, which has been refined and modernised. Located at eye level, the 10-inch digital instrument cluster gives the driver vital information without having to take your eyes off the road. Another key development is the small steering wheel, which now has sensors to detect grip levels when using driving aids along with fingertip controls for the radio, media and telephone etc. Like on other Peugeot’s, the small steering wheel does impair vision of some dash items a little but it appears to be improving. We also noticed the standard 10-inch central touch screen has been located slightly lower than the digital cluster to help visibility. Space up front is plentiful with ample room for driver and passenger. As mentioned above the overall length of the car has grown leading to more rear legroom and the boot has a generous 412 litres of luggage space with a further 28 litres of storage in a hidden compartment beneath the floor. If you were to fold the rear seats the maximum capacity increases to 1,323-litres. If this still sounds a little tight perhaps you should hold fire for the SW or Sportwagon variant, which is also on the way. This estate looks equally as good in the press preview snaps we got and will be super practical. Power Getting back to the business end of the new 308 and buyers will be able to choose between the following powertrains. A PureTech (Petrol) 1.2L, 130 bhp 3-cylinder 8 speed automatic or a BlueHdi (Diesel) 1.5L, 130 bhp 4-cylinder 8 speed automatic engine. Both engines comply with the latest euro 6 regulations and feature tried and tested technology that power a number of vehicles in the PSA group. Two plug in hybrid engines are also offered in the 308. The HYBRID 180 e-EAT8 / 2-wheel drive with a combination of a 150hp PureTech 1.6L engine and an 81 kW electric engine attached to the e-EAT8 gearbox with up to 60 km of EV range. Or if you can stretch to GT Trim the HYBRID 225 e-EAT8 / 2-wheel drive combining a 180 hp PureTech 1.6L engine and an 81 kW electric engine attached to the e-EAT8 gearbox should give you up to 59 km of EV range. In Hybrid power trains the Li-ion battery has a capacity of 12.4 kWh, a power of 102 kW and two types of on-board chargers are available. A standard 3.7 kW charger or the optional 7.4 kW charger. Safety Peugeot have naturally thrown the latest-generation driving aids and complete range of on-board technologies at the new 308. Expect adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go function and the Lane Keeping Aid along with Long-range blind spot monitoring (75 metres), Rear traffic alert (when reversing, warning of a danger nearby), 360° parking assistance with 4 cameras (front, rear and side) and E-call+ emergency call with passenger number information and location including the direction of the vehicle in the lane. You are in good hands yet again with the latest Peugeot 308. Costs The first deliveries have now started on the Peugeot 308 and its available in 3 grades Active, Allure and GT. Pricing for Active kicks off from €31,765. Allure specification will be from €35,705 whilst the top of the range GT will start at €39,215. As mentioned previously the new 308 SW will also be launched in the coming weeks for just €1,000 more than the hatchback. A fully electric version of this new 308 is also destined for Ireland in late 2023. Summary Our test drive took us from Dublin across the country to Glasson Lakehouse in County Westmeath. We took in a variety of motorway and twisty back roads to put our diesel powered test car through its paces. On the motorway it cruises using only a hint of the power-band available easily returning 3.5 lt/100km. Driving it this way could see you well north of 70mpg which is very impressive. Comfort levels are high and the FOCAL Hi-Fi system is nothing short of spectacular. This premium Hi-Fi system is made up of 10 speakers and it produces powerful bass and crisp vocals regardless of what music tickles your fancy. Getting off the motorway and into some more challenging routes the 308 felt firmly planted and playful to drive. The new design has resulted in improved rigidity over the old model and it just feels more performance orientated with decent brake feel, sharp turn in and a nice progressive surge of power from the 130hp diesel. We spent about four or five hours driving the 308 over two days and enjoyed every minute of it. With costs climbing on all cars we anticipate a few buyers will return to the C segment hatchback when they see that crossover SUV is now between 8 and 10k more expensive than a few years back. For us, we would wait a few more weeks until the SW gets here and then you should have all the car, you'll ever need! For Stylish Comfort Engine choice Against Steering wheel size still a little awkward for some. To check out Peugeot stock on DoneDeal, click here. To watch our full video review on YouTube please click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. Frankfurt was to be the chose location for Kia to unveil the all-new Niro to the Irish press. This latest car is an important model in Kia’s expansive eco-focused line-up, which is set to include 14 battery electric models by 2027. The Niro crossover has been completely redesigned from the ground up to incorporate a trio of state-of-the-art electrified powertrains to include hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric. Irish customers look set to get the pug-in hybrid and full EV so when we got up close with all three models, we naturally diverted our attention to the two destined for the Irish market. The PHEV model is powered by Kia’s tried and tested super frugal Smartstream 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine. Meanwhile the much anticipate new battery electric Niro EV will have a staggering 460km of electric-only range. Kia believes these choices of low and zero-emission powertrains will help Irish customers smooth the transition to sustainable mobility. Features So what is it like up close and how different really is it? Well let’s start with the design. No doubt heavily influenced by its family members with the EV6 and new Sportage, the Niro has grown up to look more purposeful and commanding in such a busy sector. The nose now wears the new Kia badge with pride and the sides of the vehicle are attractive with new optional Aero Blades towards the rear reminiscent of a certain German supercar. These blades are functional in the sense that they help channel air for less road noise and better efficiency. Painted in a contrasting colour, the blade runs from the top of the rear door all the way down and into the wheel cladding. Overall dimensions have grown also. Sitting at 4,420mm long, 1,825mm wide, and 1,570mm tall, the fresh new design is generous in proportions and looks great on the road. With 2,720mm wheelbase and clever interior design, the cabin will reward you and your family with great interior space and storage capacity. In terms of trim levels Kia continue to use K2, K3 and K4 designation but the Irish market is set to get K3 and K4 launching with the top of the range K4 initially. For Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants, the K3 grade gets you 18-inch alloy wheels with Continental rubber, a large 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation system, cloth and vegan leather upholstery. Add to this a 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster, front parking sensors, keyless smart entry and start, and heated seats/steering wheel. You can also expect rear privacy glass, driver lumbar support, Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA) for the rear, a wireless smartphone charger, and adjustable multi-angle rear seats. Our test cars in Frankfurt were of K4 specification which adds twin 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument cluster display, heated rear seats and ventilated front seats, front passenger premium relaxation seating, a power operated tailgate, electric sunroof, an uprated Harman Kardon premium sound system, driver’s side memory seating, and front passenger lumbar support. Additional technologies include Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA) to save you scratching those lovely bumpers. Power As mentioned above the Plug-in Hybrid is powered by a Smartstream 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine, which is mated to a larger 62 kW (83 bhp) electric motor to give a combined power output of 180bhp. The presentation revealed that Kia engineers are targeting an electric-only driving range of up to 59 kilometers but this is pending certification from WLTP. If they succeed, this should be more than enough for a driver to complete the average daily commute here in Ireland. Kia were also keen to point out the Niro Plug-in Hybrid is also able to tow a small trailer with weight up to 1,300kg. This means a dog/bike trailer or even a small caravan could be towed with ease! Moving over to the Niro EV and its get a long-range 64.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and a 201bhp electric motor. Torque is rated at 255 Nm, and the car is capable of accelerating from 0-to-100 km/h in just 7.8 seconds. Recharging from 10 to 80% takes as little as 45 minutes, which makes it nine minutes faster than the outgoing model. In the winter months, when temperatures are typically low, the Niro EV uses navigation-based conditioning to pre-heat the battery when you select a charge point as your destination. This prepares the battery for that faster charge. Like the PHEV, the EV can tow also albeit at a smaller payload. Still, 750kg should be sufficient to haul a small trailer! Safety Kia give every model standard driver assistance technologies to include Forward Collision Avoidance with car, pedestrian and cyclist recognition, junction crossing and Smart Cruise Control but the K3 cars coming to Ireland also have Highway Driving Assist and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance for the rear. The K4 version adds Highway Driver Assist 2 and Forward Collision Avoidance 2 with additional functionality. As mentioned previously the Remote Smart Parking Assist and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist are also included. Costs Kia Ireland will launch with two PHEV models K3 and K4 with K3 model kicking off from €38,500 and K4 at €41,500. Initially the Niro EV will only be available in K4 specification priced at €45,715 including grants. Naturally a range of finance and PCP options will be available from your local Kia dealer. Summary Kia is a brand that’s moving at an incredible pace! Looking at the timeline and how far they have come since their entry into the Irish market is nothing short of phenomenal. Getting the opportunity to take an initial test drive in the new Niro gave us the chance to see just how future proof the brand is. The quality of the build both inside and out is second to none and to drive, both the PHEV and EV felt fantastic. Our first route was enjoyed with the EV variant and it was super smooth managing range particularly well regardless of how hard you pushed on. It reminded us very much of the award winning EV6 in how it goes about transporting occupants in sheer silence. The PHEV is rather capable also and doesn’t suffer from that disconnected feeling that some hybrid powertrains have where you get an earful of engine noise, followed by just a hint of momentum! The engineers have done a great job making the gearbox silky smooth and even removed reverse gear in its entirety to save weight. Now the battery reserves the power to motion you backwards when needed! It’s all very clever and a massive step forward from the outgoing Niro. Going back a few years I found the Niro not as easy on the eye as the quirky Kia Soul but now I think it has found its place in the Irish market and this latest offering is no doubt destined for great things. At the time of writing the Niro PHEV is filtering into the Irish dealer network showrooms whilst the EV will arrive in late August, early September. Don’t miss an opportunity to take a test drive! For Styling Interior Range Against PHEV Boot Space compromised To check out KIA stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. When the call comes in that there is a booking available for a weeklong test drive from Lexus, it’s hard not to feel a little excited. This time it’s the all-new NX that we have been driving and believe us, this second generation of mid-size luxury SUV is ready to pave a new trail for the Lexus brand. With a stunning new design and Lexus' first plug-in hybrid electric powertrain we believe this could be the vehicle that so many Irish customers craved. With the NX, Lexus set about redefining the mid-size luxury SUV segment with a car 95% new over the out going model! The original NX that was launched back in 2014 went on to become a best-selling model for the brand with more than 175,000 units sold, many of which had never owned a Lexus in the past! Right now if we were to take a snap shot of European sales you would see the Lexus NX actually makes up a third of the brands overall sales. These figures highlight the importance of the NX but with this all new recipe, they are ready to compete in this luxury SUV category. Features Looking at the bodywork the all-new Lexus NX has contrasting curved surfaces and sharp angles in keeping with the family design traits. At the front, the hallmark Lexus spindle grille leaves you under no illusions as to what the vehicle is on approach. It sits further up than the outgoing model, which helps improve airflow into the engine compartment, and is further highlighted by the large frame. The lines of the vehicle draw your eye back along the bonnet as it flares broadly outward towards the rear. Our test car had four-projector LED headlights, with Lexus' first slim Adaptive High-beam System (AHS). Each of the units contains 11 LED chips with light output controlled by a forward camera. L-shaped daytime running lights are positioned above the headlights and have seamless surface illumination with a fade-out function when the driver flicks the indicators. Like the ES we recently tested the standard headlights are bi-beam LED-type with Automatic High Beam (AHB). Looking at he rear you get new L-shaped all-LED light clusters, and Lexus' signature blade lighting in a bar that spans across the back or side to side. On the tailgate, the Lexus badge has been replaced with the "Lexus" name to further imprint the brands identity into the minds of those behind in traffic! The whole vehicle is generous in proportions also. Compared to the previous generation NX, overall length has increased by 20mm, the wheelbase by 30mm, the width by 20mm and the height by 5mm. Based on the GA-K platform this allows for wider front (+35mm) and rear tracks (+55mm), which gives the vehicle a more powerful stance. The outgoing model looked sometimes a little awkward on the smaller wheels but this new variant can accommodate wheel and tyre packages from 18 to 20-inch with ease. Irish buyers will have 11 colours to choose from, including three shades that use Lexus advanced sonic paint technology and the quality looks fantastic up close! Five ultra-thin layers of paint with compressed pigments are applied to each NX and hand polished to achieve a deeper lustre in the finish across the bodywork. Inside things have drastically improved also! I recall sitting into the out going model a couple of years back which although comfortable, it was just a mass of buttons and switchgear more akin to a cockpit than a cabin. Thankfully the number of physical switches has been reduced from 78 to 45 in the new NX and they have been grouped in defined zones according to their function. Physical buttons have been retained for the most frequently used functions, for quicker, more intuitive operation. Those used when driving are arranged around the steering wheel; the audio and air conditioning controls have been consolidated in the central display screen; and driving controls that can be used when the vehicle is stationery are located in the centre console. Believe it of not, Lexus actually measured the shoulder-to-fingertip distance of people around the world to ensure excellent control without disturbing the driver's posture. Even the length of the armrest on the centre console has been increased by 84mm, improving comfort for both the driver and front seat passenger! The seat upholstery is now available in high-quality L-fineskin fabric with synthetic leather in Black or Dark Rose, or full Tahara synthetic or genuine leather. Our test car featured Black with Rich Cream and deep orange stitching which was particularly nice. The range of trim inlays includes Micro Dot, with a tasteful pattern, Black Prism with a 3D carved look or Sumi Black Walnut which has a strong wood grain finish. Power Under that long elegant bonnet Lexus have drawn on more than 15 years of hybrid technology expertise to produce their first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or (PHEV). This model features a four-cylinder, 2.5-litre hybrid Atkinson cycle engine, a 134 kW front electric motor, a 40 kW rear electric motor, hybrid transaxle and a lithium-ion battery with 18.1 kWh capacity. Dual VVT-i electrically controlled intelligent variable valve-timing and D-4S direct/indirect fuel injection with multi-hole injectors make the somewhat large capacity engine super frugal. Combining the full electric motors and combustion power, produces a maximum 309hp, which makes the 0 to 100 km/h sprint possible in 6.3 seconds. If you wish to run on EV power alone you can expect 69 to 76km in the combined WLTP cycle, or even 89 to 98km in around the city. Add to this this the security of all wheel drive on the off chance we get snow and you are in safe hands! Safety From a safety standpoint the new NX is the first model to feature the third generation of Lexus Safety System+, equipping it with a comprehensive package of active safety and driver assistance features. Lexus' safety leadership goes hand in hand with its commitment to making advanced accident risk detection and prevention measures accessible to more motorists. With this aim in view, Lexus Safety System+ is provided as standard on all new NX models, across all European markets. This includes a plethora of airbags and possibly every electronic safety enhancement feature currently available on the market. Expect lane keeping assist, pre collision warning, traffic recognition and 360 degree vehicle monitoring to name but a few. Costs Pricing for the new Lexus NX kicks off at €62,120 or €473 per month. The top of the range F-Sport will be priced at a shade over €72,000 and as always, Lexus will have a range of finance or PCP options available through your local dealer. Summary Living with the NX for a week was a nice experience. As we mentioned in our YouTube video review it is all about the feeling it brings the driver. It is so silent in the way that it wafts down the road, it becomes a very easy place to cover mileage in. To achieve this cabin quietness Lexus used acoustic-quality glass for the windscreen and front side windows. Flush door mouldings reduce wind-noise along the sides of the NX and Lexus have even foam coated at the base of the front and centre pillars to reduce noise and vibration inside. Although the NX is potent to drive when you combine the electric and combustion power train it feels somewhat wrong to drive it in a spirited manner. The CVT gearbox combined with the electric motors likes to build power and figure out ways to save you fuel over providing a noisy 0 to 100 km/h sprint time. What we preferred to do was sit back and enjoy the infotainment whilst watching how the NX uses and saves its battery range. What we did like is aside from the drive mode selector, you can actually opt to hold or reserve the current range in your battery at the press of a button. This means for example you could keep 50% of your electric range for a time most needed. Holding the same button for longer will engage charge mode where the engine will engage and run that bit harder to charge the battery full whilst you are stationary or on the move. It’s clever tech but probably not the most economic way of charging your battery. If you can get into the habit of charging the NX from a wall box at home each night, it will be the most efficient. Lexus are currently offering the NX with a three-year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty, but now also with the new Lexus Relax programme, which allows you to extend this cover by a further year and 15,000 km each time you have your vehicle serviced at an official Lexus centre. The warranty is provided at no extra charge as part of the fixed-price service and extensions can continue until the car reaches its 10th anniversary, or 160,000 km driven which is very impressive. Lexus certainly know how to provide peace of mind! For Economy Interior Quality Safety Against No normal Hybrid available. To check out Lexus stock on DoneDeal, click here. To watch our full video review on YouTube please click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. For many years the Volkswagen Polo was one of Ireland’s most popular cars. As an affordable and dependable hatchback it sold extremely well for decades before the influx of crossovers and small SUV’s that we probably never needed. Now the Polo has been refreshed and enhanced, with intelligent assistance systems a new look, and trim levels that are very generous even from the entry model. Believe it or not this is the sixth generation and more than 18-million have been produced during its 46-year lifespan. This latest version has grown in size and sophistication and it’s probably more comparable to the Golf of a few years back in terms of size and spec. With an equipment list containing even more features and technologies than the outgoing Polo, this new generation introduces big-car tech and safety to this compact Volkswagen. Features Lets kick off with the entry-level petrol 95hp Polo Life and give you a quick look at some of the standard features. LED headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control and an 8.0-inch Digital Cockpit are just a teaser of what you get in the new Polo’s factory-fit equipment. Two front and two rear USB sockets, power-folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors, and automatic rain-sensing wipers are also included as standard but the big one for us was “Travel Assist” which makes the Polo one of the first models in its segment, to offer partly automated driving! Stepping up to Style trim gives the Polo IQ.Light intelligent LED matrix headlights, which allow individual settings for different driving conditions and environments. This is technology first introduced by VW with the Touareg back in 2018 and its great to see it filter down though the model range to the little Polo. Also standard are front and rear parking sensors, 16-inch ‘Palermo’ alloy wheels, dual zone climate control and a larger 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro dashboard display with a built in Navigation system. At the sportier end of the range for us here in Ireland will be the R-Line which is identifiable from by its 16-inch ‘Valencia’ alloy wheels and R-Line bumpers but don’t be fooled by the exhaust trim with quad-tailpipe setup because it is indeed false. Opening the driver’s door of the R-Line reveals a sporty black roof lining, stainless steel pedals and sports seats. The R-Line keeps the same Digital Cockpit Pro, ambient lighting and dual zone climate control as standard, as well as Dynamic Road Sign Display and High Beam Assist aids. The good news for automatic lovers is the DSG gearbox is also available on all three trim specifications. Power As mentioned above here in Ireland we will get just the three engine and gearbox configurations all of which are powered by the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine, with a power output of 95hp. A five-speed manual gearbox accompanies this 95hp, 175 Nm power plant and its available both 5-speed manual or the 7-speed DSG transmission. Fuel consumption is a decent 5.2 l/100km meaning trips to the garage will be minimal but if you are not worried about fuel consumption and fancy a bit more performance, it might be worth waiting for the range-topping GTI which is set to reach 100km/h in just 10.4 seconds. That should be fun to drive! Safety This all-new Volkswagen Polo has scored an impressive 5-Star safety rating at the latest Euro-NCAP crash testing surpassing its predecessor by quite some margin. As standard equipment, the Polo features the Driver Alert System, the Front Assist emergency braking system with city emergency braking function and pedestrian detection, as well as the Lane Assist lane keeping assistant. A further important safety feature is the centre airbag for the front seats. In the event of a side collision, this can help to prevent or at least reduce possible head contact between the persons in the first seat row. For a small car you are in safe hands with the new Polo. Costs The range starts off in Irish dealers at €23,510 for the Polo Life, and moving up into a two-pronged structure of comfort-focused Style at €25,700 and the more sporty R-Line specification priced at €24,600. Naturally the DSG options in all models add roughly 2k and we will receive a price for the high-performance Polo GTI at a later date. Various finance and PCP deals are currently available throughout the trusted dealer network. Summary Here in Ireland the Polo has always enjoyed the well-earned reputation for high quality, reliability and safety, and that’s the ethos that has kept it in the top-sellers list of small hatchbacks for so many decades. Now in its second phase of this sixth generation, it brings technologies that not only add more convenience, but also boost safety, efficiency to make it one fantastic purchase for Irish punters. After spending a week with the Polo at no point were we left feeling we needed more space, power or better technology. The easy to use infotainment system allows for Apple CarPlay and Android integration giving you all the creature comforts you need whilst on the daily commute. Handling is impressive also leaving you confident to push on through twisty roads and make progress. We suppose with forty-six years of heritage combined with modern style and innovation means the Polo was always going to be a great entry to VW ownership or indeed car ownership full stop. Lets see how many can look beyond the Crossover in favour of what truly is a great little hatchback! To visit our DoneDeal YouTube video review, please click here. Visit our trusted dealer network to see Volkswagen Polo’s for sale right here. For Styling Safety Rating Drive Against Skoda Fabia just as good! DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. We have just spent a week with the fourth-generation Fabia and it looks like the successful formula Škoda have used has been improved on further! It is now the most spacious car within its segment and gets new comfort features as well as several new safety and assistance systems, which we will touch on, further in the article. Visually the new proportions do give the entry level Fabia a larger and more purposeful presence on the road. The designers have had a little more fun with this generation introducing sculptural lines, sharp headlights and tail lights featuring LED technology. Sophisticated details, such as adjustable cooling shutters in the front bumper’s lower air inlet, allows it to slip through the air better or indeed take more air in, if it needs cooling. As this is the first Fabia to be based on Volkswagen Group’s modular MQB-A0 platform, it outperforms the old model in size, equipment, driving characteristics, and interior space and somehow with no increase in weight. It is the first Fabia to exceed the four-metre mark and this larger exterior size results in even more passenger space and yet again a class leading boot size of 380 litres. Punters that visit their local dealer will have a choice of nine body colours, including the new Graphite Grey or our personal favourite Phoenix Orange. As always further customistation options are available for the grilles, wheels and roof but we think the optional panoramic glass roof is certainly worth considering if you enjoy that bright, airy environment. Features Opening the driver’s door on the new Škoda Fabia reveals a well thought out interior. As mentioned previously it is more spacious even for big chaps like us but it comes with additional comfort features to simply make it a nicer place to spend time. First to catch my eye was the free-standing 9.2 inch infotainment display with Škoda’s third-generation infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is a gesture control feature which comes as standard, while online-backed voice control via Laura the digital voice assistant is also on hand to help. Don’t worry if you don’t speak English either because Laura understands 15 languages if you fancy this multilingual assistant. Large circular air vents and the new Fabia lettering on the sides of the instrument-cluster give it a modern feel and some of those more exclusive options like a heated steering wheel and windscreen found on the likes of the Octavia or Superb have now filtered down to the Fabia. It is also worth noting Škoda have retained the clever little extras for which they are famed for. A new clip for your car park ticket and an elastic band as a penholder keep things tidy in the storage compartment in the centre console whilst a removable cup holder between the front seats offers the driver and front passenger more flexibility. They sound super simply but when you actually live with the car for a week these well thought out bits are very noticeable! Power Škoda are now running the advanced and efficient EVO-generation petrol engines for this latest Fabia and buyers here in Ireland will have a choice of three with power outputs from 65 PS to 150 PS. All engines are even more economical than the outgoing units and fulfill the Euro 6d emissions standard as expected. The new range‑topping engine is the 1.5 TSI with an output of 150 PS and a 7-speed DSG as standard. Our test car was the 1.0 TSI producing 110 PS, which is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox, or a 7‑speed DSG. It felt more than potent enough even with a few lads and camera gear on board around the Dublin Mountains. The final option and probably more suited to urban commuters is the 1.0 litre 95 PS, which is only available with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Safety With up to nine airbags, the new Škoda Fabia is now comfortably one of the safest vehicles in its segment. As it’s now built on the modular MQB-A0 platform like the Polo, the active and passive safety features have been massively improved. The safety systems now includes Travel Assist, Park Assist, Lane Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Side Assist, Front Assist with Predictive Pedestrian and Cyclist Protection, and Manoeuvre Assist all available for the first time in the Fabia. This package combined has no doubt been instrumental in landing the new Fabia a five star Euro NCAP safety rating. Costs Here in Ireland buyers will get a choice of three-specifications to choose from. Entry pricing with the Active model will kick off at €19,820. Stepping into the Ambition specification is a small price walk up to €21,020. Our test car was the Style variant and it can be purchased at €22,620. Like with the previous generation a top of the range Monte Carlo is also available here in Ireland priced at €25,690. As always, competitive finance and PCP deals are currently available. Summary After seven days driving the Škoda Fabia it’s hard to look beyond its honesty as a great car in this sector. The new comfort features that were previously reserved for higher-tier vehicles make it a very comfortable car to do mileage in and the generous space on offer throughout makes you wonder what more do you really need? The market trends have told us many original Fabia owners moved on to crossover vehicles such as the Kamiq or Karoq within the Škoda family in an effort to get more space. The thing is, this latest generation should have all the space you’d ever need granted ‘family size permitting’ and you might indeed save yourself a bob or two. The 110 PS variant we had on test had plenty of power and handled very well over rough and uneven surfaces. The steering feels engaging making it a great all-rounder for that back road or motorway commute. This new generation has picked up multiple awards from the various organisations and media outlets. What we found particularly interesting was the fact that it won the “All The Car You Need” title from Top Gear, which we tend to agree most with! To see our YouTube video review, please log on to the DoneDeal YouTube channel. To see Skoda Fabias for sale through our trusted dealer network please click here. For Space Drive Honesty Against Not a lot really! To check out Škoda stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. At this point we have seen plenty of ID.3 and ID.4’s on Irish roads. Sales have been particularly good for Volkswagen since they entered the EV market and although supply issues have plagued the world, VW somehow are still performing very well and getting bums on seats. So what’s next for the brand and where does this weeks test car sit in the range? Well that’s a good question and its one that caught us by surprise! This is the new ID.4 GTX, which we suppose is similar to GTI and GTE in the sense that it stands for its own product brand within the current range. Lets call it the more sporty or performance arm of the electrified vehicles from VW. In looking at the GTX you can most certainly tell it has been geared more towards performance with a slightly more aggressive look. An additional electric motor on the front axle brings not just all-wheel drive into the ID.4 family but also more power! The additional motor switches on intelligently within a few milliseconds when high performance or maximum traction is required. This is a very different beast to the regular ID.4 and one we enjoyed spending time with. Features So what’s different and what catches your eye first with the new ID.4 GTX? Well on approach its hard not to be dazzled with the futuristic 20-inch alloy wheels in the exclusive GTX design. The black roof, railings and high-gloss air intake grille give it a more aggressive look. The elegant strip light between the headlights and the Volkswagen logo looks cool whilst the “GTX” lettering up front on the wings and on the boot leaves you under no illusions that this is something a bit different. Opening the driver’s door reveals a spacious cabin with some sporty details not found on the regular ID.4. Red decorative highlights accentuate various parts of the dash and GTX branding can be found on the seat covers, dash panel and in the front doors. Other areas to adorn the GTX logo include the front sill panel trim and the steering wheel. Like the regular ID.4 your GTX can also communicate directly with you to get you through traffic more calmly. When armed, the car greets you and translates the notices of your infotainment and assistance systems into light signals that aid you through traffic. As soon as you use the voice control, you receive a response to your voice via ID. Light. It sounds rather complex but its quiet intuitive to use and when you leave the vehicle, the ID. Light will see you off with a farewell in the form of light signals. Our test car also had the optional augmented-reality head-up-display which projects important information directly into your field of view on the windscreen. It’s basically relaying the upcoming turning direction etc from the navigation directly into your eye-line. It’s a futuristic and pleasant place to spend time and getting back into a normal combustion powered vehicle afterwards feels somewhat archaic! Power Getting down to the business end now and like the regular ID.4, you wont be left looking for more power. With 299hp and 474Nm of torque the ID.4 GTX makes all electric driving even more fun with an acceleration of 0 to 60 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and of 0 to 100 km/h in only 6.2 seconds. No shifting, zero delay, just sink the go pedal and feel a bolt of excitement. With its 77kWh battery and a range of up to 464 km, you can also easily get through the day or get away to the country without suffering from the dreaded range anxiety. Top speeds of 180 km/h are achievable also but it’s having the dual motor all wheel drive system that will appeal to most. Should we be unlucky enough to have a harsh winter here in Ireland, the GTX will deal with snow or ice with ease. Safety Like the regular ID.4 as standard the GTX has an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system that is capable of averting collisions in a range of situations, including when the ID.4 is approaching other cars or turning across the path of an oncoming vehicle. It also helps drivers to avoid pedestrians and cyclists, both to the front and side of the vehicle. The ID.4 received the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash testing, scoring over 93% for adult occupants and 89% for children. You and your passengers are in safe hands! Costs Ahh yes the good old elephant in the room. There are two ID.4 GTX models available here in Ireland. You can opt for the Business or Max variant, which we had on test. The Business version naturally has a little less spec and costs €64,530 whilst the Max will set you back €74,950. This is not cheap by any means considering the regular ID.4 can be bought from roughly €53k. It also puts it over the €60k SEAI grant cut off point which could make it hard to justify for some. Naturally there are various PCP and finance offers available through your local VW agent but do your due diligence, and make sure you spec the car that best fits your needs. Summary Driving or living with the ID.4 GTX for a week was fun and it does drive different to the regular ID.4. Volkswagen have reworked the springs, shock absorbers and electronic stabilisers to improve driving dynamics. Is it harsher on the road? Not really to be honest and rolling on twenty inch wheels with the added motor weight, we sort of expected the ride to be a little more teeth chattering but the boffins at VW have done well. They have also optimised steering behaviour to give you a sportier feel on curvy stretches but we didn’t notice it was much different over the regular ID.4. Naturally the power surge from the get go is addictive and like other members of the ID family, it manages battery consumption well even with some spirited driving. Our biggest gripe really is does it warrant the extra price tag over the regular ID.4? Probably not! The GTX badge puts a little too much onto the bottom line for us to warrant. Yes it looks marginally better inside and out but some people couldn’t even tell the difference when we spent a week with it. We understand the cult following the GTI badge has enjoyed for many years on the combustion powered cars but will GTX create the same in the electric powered world? Only time will tell. For Tech Space Drive Against Price a little steep! To watch our YouTube video review please click here. To check out VW ID.4 stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. Irish roads are already awash with the good looking Kia Sportage but Kia Ireland have now completed the range with the arrival of the PHEV variant. Since its launch early this year the Sportage has been Kia Irelands best-selling car with sales to date of over 2300 units. Now with the addition of the PHEV they expect this number to grow as Irish punters not ready to make the switch to completely electric, get to take their first steps into the future with a plug-in hybrid. Kia are confident that with a home charger most of the daily commute can be done on EV power thanks to the 70 kilometers electric range. Then you also have the flexibility of making anxiety free longer weekend drives when needed thanks to the combustion engine. If you have yet to see the new Sportage on the road you are in for a real treat. From the sweeping bonnet, detailed black front grille, iconic boomerang-shaped LED daylight running lights, plus the all-new matrix headlights it looks sublime. Walking around the side it sits fantastic on large diamond cut alloy wheels giving it a strong silhouette. Towards the rear you notice the spoiler and razor-style signature LED taillights. It just looks modern and classy without being too fussy. Cars that are over-designed can sometimes age very fast but we anticipate this will stand the test of time! Features I think ever since the KIA EV6 came out we all took a little more interest in Kia design both inside and out. Opening the door on the all-new Sportage GT-line and you get to immerse yourself in an interior that has been designed to deliver comfort and quality with cutting-edge technology just like the EV6 or new Niro. This new driver-centric experience is what all brands are going for and Kia has nailed it with the Sportage. Sitting at the centre of the cabin is a stunning curved display housing the 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster and a second 12.3-inch high-tech multimedia touchscreen. This feels more akin to a vehicle of twice the price if truth were told. The leather D-cut steering wheel feels premium and the roof lining, door panels are trimmed using lovely materials with a touch of suede. On the tech side expect triple-zone climate control for front and rear passengers heated rear seats and ventilated front seats, a power operated tailgate, electric sunroof, an uprated Harman Kardon premium sound system, driver’s side memory seating, and front passenger lumbar support. Additional technologies include Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA) to aid you getting into that tight space. Spending time in the new Sportage is not difficult regardless of your commute. Choose between Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity to flick on your favourite podcast and enjoy the journey! Power This new Sportage PHEV features Kia’s award-winning 1.6-liter T-GDI engine. Along with being nippy, the advanced four-cylinder unit also features Continuous Variable Valve Duration, a sophisticated technology that controls the duration of a valve lift timing to dramatically improve performance, fuel economy and emissions. Both motor and engine are married to the latest-generation six-speed automatic transmission. The state-of-the-art 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack features a high-tech battery management unit that constantly monitors the state of the battery, including factors such as current, voltage, isolation and fault diagnosis. The pack also has an advanced cell-monitoring unit that measures cell voltage and temperature. This combination of electric and combustion power delivers a total system power output of 265hp, with 180hp originating from the T-GDI engine alone. The PHEV also gives you all-wheel drive should we experience a cold winter snap! Safety All new Kia’s come with standard driver assistance technologies to include Forward Collision Avoidance with car, pedestrian and cyclist recognition, junction crossing and Smart Cruise Control but the K3 cars coming to Ireland also have Motorway Driving Assist and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance for the rear. The K4 version adds Highway Driver Assist 2 and Forward Collision Avoidance 2 with additional functionality. Further driver aids include Remote Smart Parking Assist and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist to make life with a Sportage even easier! Costs The Sportage PHEV comes on the market in two trims K3 at €46,000 and a K4 model at €48,000. The most popular right now is the K3 which comes with 19-inch alloys, dual zone climate control, smart cruise control, highway driving assist, heated front and rear seats, power adjustable front seats and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Kia Connect. The K4 model adds full leather trim, drivers’ memory seat, ventilated as well as heated front seats, 12.3-inch driver cluster and a phone charger. Naturally the demand for the Sportage is high but dealers still have some great finance/PCP deals currently available. Summary So at this point you know and understand what you are getting for your money with the new Kia Sportage. We spent a 7 days pottering around in both electric only and using the hybrid system to unleash the power of both power sources. Although the claimed range of 70 kilometers was difficult to achieve we did get close to 60km, which is pretty impressive. Overall it’s a very nice vehicle to live with, so much so, that we acquired one for a member of staff in the office directly after the test drive. The 7-year or 150,000km warranty gives you great piece of mind and there isn’t a lot at this price point with the amount of tech on offer that we would rather have on the driveway right now. Space is plentiful for occupants and although the boot swallows 540 litres, rather than the 591 litres you get in the non-plug in variants, you still have ample space with the option to drop the seats for more. Although new to the market the Sportage has already picked up numerous awards and we have no doubt it will do well at this years Irish Car Of The Year awards. If you would like a test drive be sure to visit one of Kia’s strong dealer network branches dotted all around Ireland. You wont be disappointed! For Styling Interior Range Against PHEV Boot Space Slightly Smaller To see our video review of the Kia Sportage please visit our YouTube channel here. To check out KIA Sportage stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. There’s no mistaking the Q3 visually as an Audi SUV and now thankfully it looks much better than it’s predecessor. For some reason the Q3 of old looked a little like a shrunk Q5 and it struggled to have its own identity. Mind you that didn’t stop them selling, and the Q3 has always been a strong performer for Audi here in Ireland. Now the company has decided to move the new generation Q3 inline with their electrification program by introducing two plug-in hybrid variants. The Q3 45 TFSI e and the Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e will mark the first step into the world of electrified Q models for many. With the ability to cover a distance of 51 km for the Q3 45 TFSI e and 50 km for the Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e this is a chance for many new Audi customers to experience what it might be like to live with an EV before making the final commitment to loose combustion power. Our test vehicle was the Sportback S-Line variant and it looks fantastic! Depending on the trim level chosen between SE or S-Line there are various wheels sizes to choose from but if you can stretch to the bigger 19 or 20-inch wheel, I think you will agree it suits the car better. Features As expected inside, the Q3 has the perfect mix of style and function! The now familiar MMI touch with a 10.1-inch screen takes up a central position in the instrument panel and displays a plethora of information including energy flows of the hybrid drive system in real time. Together with the air conditioning controls underneath, it is tilted ten degrees toward the driver, with all displays, buttons and controls designed to be within easy view and reach. There seams to be so much more space also even if our test car was the slope backed Sportback! Compared to the model of old the Q3 has grown in size all over. It’s now 4.485 metres long, 1.856 metres wide and 1.585 metres high. Its wheelbase has been stretched by 77 millimetres, offering buyers more knee room, headroom and elbow room. Even the boot has increased 70 litres over the old Q3 to 530. The feel of the materials used is premium as expected and the sports seats in S-Line offer incredible comfort and support. Buyers of the SE spec wont be disappointed either because the seats are arguably even more comfortable with softer bolsters. Power Powering the two Q3 models is the latest generation 1.4 TFSI four-cylinder engine delivering 150 HP. The high-voltage battery is located under the vehicle floor in front of the rear axle. It has 13.0 kWh of energy and features its own cooling circuit, which can be coupled to the air conditioning system’s circuit to ensure effective cooling even when the vehicle is under pressure. Together the powertrains make 245 HP with 400 Nm of torque. Both the Q3 45 TFSI e and the Sportback can do the 0 to 100-km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 210 km/h. We never got to empty a full tank of juice in our week long test drive but Audi claim a range of approximately 710 km in normal everyday use. From a charging perspective the new Q3 hybrid can be charged using a regular three pin home charger in just 3 h 45 min. For faster charging buyers can make use of the e-tron Charging Service, with over 1000 locations in Ireland alone and many more across Europe. With a single card, the customer has access to more than 155,000 charging points! There is free phone app for easy management and station locations. Safety Like the Q2 we tested earlier this year the driver assist systems include, Audi pre sense basic, Audi pre sense front, Audi side assist, and lane departure warning as standard with the optional adaptive cruise assist which can give you semi autonomous driving. As cool as this feature is we still struggle to give the car control of the steering wheel on any sort of a journey. Yes you must still have your hands on the wheel but it’s still slightly disconcerting but perhaps that’s just me! As expected a multitude of airbags are also fitted to keep you and your little ones safe. Costs Costs vary across the Q3 range depending on spec. Entry into a new combustion powered Q3 kicks off at roughly €43,000. The plug-in hybrid variants start at €48,000 but, be careful with the spec options! The Sportback adds about €1000 to the price and our S-Line test car dripping in spec was a whopping €62,000. Audi naturally have a suite of PCP and finance options available through their trusted dealer network. Summary The new Audi Q3 is a vast improvement over the outgoing model. It looks so much better on the road and drives exceptionally well. In a way it has grown up not just in style, drive, usability but appeal and asking people of various ages what they thought about it was interesting. Some couldn’t justify the price, others felt there was no need for it to be hybrid, but all loved the styling both inside and out. On a personal level it would be a difficult decision for me if I had to choose. I think at the prices mentioned above for a combustion powered version makes more sense because when you get up towards the €60k mark, you could also get into the fully electric Q4 etron with a 500km range and be totally future proof! It all depends on your needs really but Audi continue to dish out some delightful cars and we are happy to give you our bit of feedback. Your task now should you choose to accept it is to go take a test drive and tell us what you think? For Looks fantastic Interior comfort Against Gets a little pricey! To see our YouTube video review of this Audi, please click here. To check out Audi Q3 stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. It’s a cool September morning and I need to be just outside Belfast from Kildare within a couple of hours. Normally this drive on the motorway isn’t particularly interesting but as I have just collected Volkswagen’s latest baby Crossover, I’m actually looking forward to the spin. The new T-Roc is a handsome little thing and buyers are spoilt for choices with so many colour combinations and various wheel choices. When you visit your local dealer you will find three trim levels available which kick off with the entry ‘Life’ trim powered by a 115np petrol for €31,705. This model is powered but the 1.0 litre TSI engine, which shouldn’t be frowned upon until you try it. Lets just say it punches well above its weight. In terms of spec you get climatronic two-zone air-con and a standard Digital Cockpit relaying all the information relevant to you on the 8-inch colour display with slick graphics. By using the multifunction steering wheel, you can therefore conveniently access functions such as audio, telephone or assist systems via the instrument cluster while driving. Features The next model on the pricing walk is the Style spec priced at €33,850 which comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen ‘Composition Media’ head unit with voice activation and Apple CarPlay along with a good dose of chrome should that tickle your fancy. Our test vehicle was the super cool R-Line model, which comes with sports seats, 17-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and privacy glass in the rear. We had the wonderful 2.0 litre diesel mated to a DSG gearbox which brings the price up to €41,385 but you can have the same spec with a manual 110hp 1.0TSI petrol for €34,705. With a 10.25-inch high-resolution display, it offers a wide range of options for individual configuration and additional displays, such as a navigation map display directly behind the steering wheel. Something else very noticeable is the quality from the new LED lighting. It doesn’t matter if you’re out and about during the day or night or in bad weather, the IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, optionally available from the T-Roc Style equipment line upwards, give incredible visibility. While Dynamic Light Assist helps to predictively illuminate winding roads and ensures that oncoming traffic is not dazzled even when the main beam headlights are active, the individual LED segments of the high-tech light system ensure better light distribution by specific activation and deactivation depending on the driving situation. This not only increases your safety, but also that of other road users. We have seen and tested this technology on other vehicles but usually on cars twice the price! Power Aside from the engines powering the above models we should also mention the Volkswagen T-Roc R is also available on Irish shores. With 300 horsepower and 400Nm of torque from the 2.0-litre TSI engine, the T-Roc R accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 km/h on the Autobahn of course!. The T-Roc R is every bit the R model, following on from the much-loved Golf R it features many of the styling cues of its performance sibling, with bumpers in R styling, air intakes with black fins and R logo in the black radiator grille. This is the full fat version and perhaps not for the vast majority! If you do like an odd track day coupled with the practicality the T-Roc offers then perhaps this is the beast for you! Safety The T-Roc performs well in the safety stakes earning a five-star crash safety rating from independent expert body Euro NCAP. With a generous list of crash-avoidance technologies you are in good hands in the unlikely event of an impact. All models have autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, emergency brake assist, lane assist and a plethora of airbags throughout. Now mandatory features such as anti-lock brakes and traction control are fitted along with a warning sound if any doors are left ajar when you take off or fail to put a seat belt on. Costs Aside from the outright purchase prices mentioned in the article already, VW also offer competitive PCP Finance from 5.9% APR. This allows you to ⁠⁠enjoy low monthly payments and good flexibility from Volkswagen Financial Services. The new T-Roc Life is available with PCP Finance from 5.9% APR.⁠⁠ Including a 3 Year Volkswagen Service Plan. This ensures all your routine servicing costs, for both parts and labour are fixed over a period of time. They include all the standard items recommended by Volkswagen such as mandatory service parts including oil filters, pollen filters, high quality lubricants and brake fluid changes. A 3 Year service plan is included as part of your monthly rate, at a reduced rate of €12.99 per month. Summary So what is the new T-Roc like to drive? Well the first thing I noticed when behind the wheel was the similarities to the Audi Q2, which is built on the same platform. In fact the (MQB) platform also spawns the Skoda Kodiaq and SEAT Ateca but I would argue that the T-Roc is the best looking in this Crossover family. Pulling out onto the motorway and sinking the go pedal gives you a feeling of quality as the gearbox seamlessly engages a gear to match your engine revs. As good as the two petrol options are, its hard to beat the diesel / DSG combination which can propel you to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds. On the motorway with the cruise control set, we found time to engage more with the interior and what it has to offer. The seating position is good with great visibility all round and the modern touch screen infotainment system is within easy reach. There is 445 litres of boot space and four adults can travel comfortable with ample headroom all round. Coming off the motorway and onto some more challenging B roads the T-Roc stacks up well with little of no body roll and a smooth ride over uneven surfaces even on the 17-inch alloys. Buyers for this particular car will no doubt be considering all the options. The Opel Mokka, Nissan Juke, Mini Countryman and BMW’s new X1 will all offer good alternative options to the T-Roc or its VW group siblings. The T-Roc is not the cheapest but nor is it the most expensive in this category and in our opinion you pay for what you get. In the looks department it has all but perhaps the BMW X1 beaten but to drive, it is second to none. As our journey to Belfast came to an end we couldn’t help but wonder what offers a better drive in this category at this price point? The choice is yours but be sure to have a test drive! For Build quality Space Drive Against Supply issues right now! To check out Volkswagen T-Roc stock on DoneDeal, click here. To see five things you need to know about the VW T-Roc click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors