New to the ranks of BYD is the Dolphin Surf, the brand’s answer to the growing sub-€20,000 small electric vehicle market and joining the likes of the Dacia Spring, Hyundai Inster and Leapmotor T03 in this niche segment. Remarkably, the…
Blog Archives
Tested: Ford Puma Gen-E
I used to find it difficult to write anything about Ford’s electric cars without being critical of how the motoring giant dilly-dallied so long about committing to the idea of EVs for the immediate and long-term. I still find it…
Tested: Honda Civic e:HEV
There are a few factors – in my humble opinion – as to why Honda don’t sell a large number of new cars in Ireland. On the surface the brand should – its cars are as solid and no-nonsense as…
Tested: Kia EV4
One of the challenges facing many brands bringing cars into the Irish market is getting the balance right between electric and historic. It is especially the case where distributors are energetically building market share with EVs while simultaneously trying to…
Tested: Audi A6 Plug-in Hybrid
I picked a good week to drive a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV). As I zig-zagged my way around town in the latest, brand-new Audi A6 plug-in saloon, my radio was filled with talk and analysis of cars like my test…
First drive: Nissan Ariya Nismo
Nissan’s ‘Nismo’ performance division has been around for over 40 years, with its signature white and red badging adorning several generations of the legendary Skyline, Silvia, 350Z and modern-day GT-R. It should come as a surprise then, to find an…
Tested: BYD Dolphin Surf
Few marques of recent vintage have racked up approval ratings as quickly as the Chinese giant BYD. And they are only starting – with five or six brand new ones planned to arrive here in 2026 that will take their…
Tested: Dacia Bigster
Giving motorists “equipment levels they want, at a price they can afford”, is the mantra behind Dacia’s biggest ever car, the Bigster. And while not much effort went into the naming process, Dacia has delivered again on that promise. A…
Tested: Peugeot 408 Hybrid
Peugeot’s new 408 is an intriguing mix of upmarket executive car/estate with a bit of SUV muscle blended in. And it works well – to a point. Certainly, the front got a lot of attention but I wasn’t as taken…
Tested: Renault 5 E-Tech electric
While the original Renault 5 ceased production a decade before I was even born, the appeal of the French classic was never lost on me. That model ran from 1972 to 1985, selling over 5.5 million units. So suffice to…
