Planetauto | Car video reviews and automotive news

Suzuki S Cross SX4 Hybrid SZ5 Review and Road test

(Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes)

Details: Published: Tuesday, 15 September 2020 21:24

Our long-awaited new Suzuki S Cross review is now here, and yes this features the new power train the hybrid system which combines the fantastic Boosterjet engine and a 48V electric motor battery system, we have the SX4 and it's in the SZ5 trim.

This latest model looks different to the previous gen, new vertical grille, more safety and more economy.

New MG ZS 2021 1 Litre Auto Review and Road Test

(Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes)

Details: Published: Wednesday, 09 September 2020 15:42

It's here the all new MG ZS, ok technically it's a facelift meaning no powertrain tweaks, or chassis changes, however as you'll see from our new MG ZS review, alot has changed.

This is the 2021 ZS in the Exclusive trim, with the 1 litre turbo engine and 6 speed automatic gearbox.

Mercedes Benz eVito Review and Road Test

(Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes)

Details: Published: Friday, 28 August 2020 20:02

The Mercedes Benz Vito has been a staple for many years in the commercial world. Well the world has started to change a little, and emissions are the hot topic, meaning you've likely seen that diesel is a non starter in todays world.

This means commercial vehicle manufacturers have had to look elsewhere, enter the eVito.

New Honda Jazz Crosstar Review and Road Test 2020

(Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes)

Details: Published: Tuesday, 18 August 2020 20:14

The brand new Honda Jazz Crosstar has been alongtime coming courtesy of global events, but was it worth the wait?

Oh yes.

This is not your stereotypical Jazz, and may well attract a younger audience with it's funky looks and impressive styling and of course the addition an offroad style bodykit.

It's a bit of a beast and looks quite a bit different to the standard Jazz.

It's powered by the same powertrain, yes like the Jazz there is one to choose from the e:HEV which comprises of a 1.5 iVTEC engine, 2 high energy electric motors -one to charge and one to propel and an eCVT.

It does have a range of additions for the extra price including water repellant funky interior, 30mm higher ride height allowing you to be alittle more adventurous on your extreme picniccing and of course uprated infotainment system.

Safety has also been notched up with the Honda sensing suite which includes adaptive cruise control, collision detection and hanow has 10 airbags.

The baby crossover come Citycar retails for just over £22,600.

Please enjoy and we've just had a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross delivered, sadly one the last cars we'll ever get from the Colt Car Company due to Mitsubishi pulling out of Europe.

New BMW M235i Gran Coupe Review and Road Test

(Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes)

Details: Published: Tuesday, 11 August 2020 17:01

It's here the new BMW 2 Series F44 M235i, a new look, new engine even a new drive train.

This model retails for just under £44,000.

The new model now sports the B48 engine a 2 litre Turbo 4 cylinder rather than the 6 cylinder previously used.

This is one cool car with more practicality allowing for 4 over 6ft adults to sit comfortably in the Gran Coupe, well trimmed, refined with mood lighting, we ven had a 16 speaker Harmon Kardon system.

The engine generates 306bhp and get you 0-60 in under 5 seconds, the auto box is responsive and the modes easily transform the driving experience.

This car is built on UKL2 platform which is the platform used for some Mini cars and the new 1 series, it offers a different experience to say a RWD 3 series.

Our model the M235i has xDrive, however you can get smaller engines with front wheel drive, there is no RWD anymore.

As with all BMW cars and SUV's you can get add a range of options known as packs including a driving assistant and comfort pack etc, we have adaptive cruise control with stop go and numerous safety bits, as well as ICON LED headlamps with high beam assist.

The new 2 Series starts at around £26,500 and you can get a range of models.

New Honda Jazz Hybrid 2020 Review and Road Test

(Reading time: 1 - 2 minutes)

Details: Published: Wednesday, 05 August 2020 11:03

The Honda Jazz, a car that has been somewhat stereotyped for the last few years, has ths latest variant got what it takes to break this?

Well in a word, yes - let us explain

The new Hybrid Jazz has a 1.5 iVTEC DOHC engine, an electric motor and an eCVT, it'll pull 0-60 in around 9.5 seconds and offers around 65mpg.

It's not the fastest ca, yet it's engaging and fun on a backroad, and the hybrid system works very well, seamless transition betwen all 3 modes, we managed around 45mph on pure electric, and the B mode on the transmission really works with recharging quicker.

There are 3 trims to choose from and the Crosstar which will follow this.

Our model retails for around £22,000, we have the EX trim which builds on the SE and SR which include Active Cruise Control and Honda Sensing - the EX has additional Blind spot monitoring and Cross Traffic alert.

Mini Electric 2020 Review and Road Test

(Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes)

Details: Published: Thursday, 23 July 2020 12:37

The Mini electric review is here, this ev car starts around £25,000 including the government grant in the UK and you can choose from the level 1, 2 or 3, ours is a 2 which is mid spec, and includes heated seats etc, ours retailed for just under £26,500.

The electric Mini has been on the cards for quite some time there were even some prototypes quite some years ago and the dev time makes sense too, Mini and their customers wanted an electric mini, perfect for commuting, with a reasonable price and characteristics of the car they know and loved, in a word a Mini with pure electric powertrain, with no compromise on the existing platform yet still offering you the engaging and fun drive you bought the car for in the first place.

The challenge came with making it electric yet keeping it as it looked, yet 0 emission, the ev gubins and know how came from the BMW i3, a great car in itself - but the clever thing about the Mini is it is exactly as it was - It is just electric, no compromise on safety, no compromise on space and quite surprisingly just as fun just a different power delivery.

The tech guys knew keeping it an engaging drive would need some thinking, hence the laid the batteries on the chassis in a specific format to aid this.

Range wise you're looking at 140 miles however it will go up or down depending on how you drive.

A very reasonably priced electric car with the pzazz of the original, it may take a while to get used to instant power, but it's worth it.

The Mini Electric 2020

(Reading time: 3 - 5 minutes)

Details: Published: Thursday, 02 July 2020 20:45

Here's our first real look at the new Mini Electric now many EV's are designed radically to stand out from the crowd and to make a statement, however Mini think differently and have literally electrified a Cooper S.

The car uses all the info and know how from the BMW i3 it is also built on the same platform as the One series and the clever thing about what BMW learnt is that they know how to fit enough batteries in the car to give you a decent commuting range without eating up any the space inside the car and that includes the boot which remains at 231 litres.

Even get a mini electric on the road but just under £25,000 that is a Mini one, you can also get a 2 and 3 that retails for just under £31,000, all these prices include UK government grant of £3500.

There are a few changes on the vehicle including, new bumpers front and back, the grille is no longer vented because it doesn't need to cool, it does jut out a little further and looks very EV, the model we have is the 2 in British racing Green iv and comes with 17 in alloy wheels.

The Mini Electric pulls 0 to 60 in 7.3 seconds and 0 to 30 in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of about 93 miles an hour.

The Electric Mini is 145 kg heavier than a Cooper S with an automatic gearbox, it is also priced cleverly as well, now Mini could have given the car a bigger range, more power and lots more of everything but looked at the owners of Mini and realised most only commuted around 26 miles a day, this made a 145 mile range perfect this also reduced the price.

The car is very well planted and feels agile, it is a touch higher than the Cooper, it doesn't feel quite as stiff, but it seems to have a weight that you can throw around it feels like it has of flex which is perfect that's what you want in a Mini, you want to be able to chuck it about.

Interior is well trimmed with a combination of leatherette and cloth some of the things you will notice are it no longer has an old school handbrake this been replaced with an electronic one and there is now a full digital cluster.

The switchgear feels as good as it ever did and start the engine stop in the centre and to the left you can choose your regenerative braking level low or high and the right-hand side are your driving modes - Sport, Mid, Green and Green plus, dependent on which mode your in the characteristics of the motor change, you can also see the range in each mode.

When you start the vehicle it will automatically have the highest level of regen set as for efficiency , it genrates zero emissions locally and costs around 4.1p per mile.

The Electric Mini is well trimmed, comfortable and handles and it has an 8 year warranty on the batteries or a 100,000 mile.

The Mini Electric or the Mini Cooper SE dependant on where you are, is shaping up to be a fantastic car perfect for commuting and enough range to go adventuring too.

In 36 minutes to you'll end up with 80% from a 50 kW rapid charger or you could just charge it overnight which takes about 12 hours with a three pin plug also the satnav routes you through the charging network meaning you always know where you are.

We've got this ev for another six days tune into our YouTube to find out more and thank you. https://youtube.com/c/planetautouk

Isuzu D Max XTR Review with a Brew

(Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes)

Details: Published: Monday, 22 June 2020 11:25

We've just had the pleasure of reviewing the ISUZU D Max XTR, we have had the vehicle seven days, it's our first vehicle since the UK Lockdown has been eased and we've taken advantage of that and been on quite a few adventures whilst maintaining social distancing.

The D Max model by Isuzu first appeared in around 2002, as a matter of interest it was known as Holden on Australia, now depending on where you are in the world depends on what engines you get, in the UK we get one, a 1.9 turbo diesel four-cylinder engine with the option of either a six speed manual or six speed auto outside the UK you can get a 3L turbodiesel.

The XTR we have the Nav plus trim meaning we get lots of additions as well but the XTR as it is stands on it's own. It is a great pick up and well trimmed, you get big buckety racing seats lots of premium materials throughout the cabin, a few hard plastics, that's what you want with a pickup it provides robustness.

Your met with sidesteps making it easier to climb in, there are manual seats but they are heated and are comfortable, with a good driving position, the steering wheel has height adjustment but no reach but that didn't seem to make a problem for us.

The XTR Nav Plus model we had retails for just under £44,000 and as you'll see from the video you get quite a formidable vehicle and we did quite a bit of exploring we headed up Grizedale and onto some green lanes, nothing too strenuous, however anything we encountered with the Pirelli Scorpion tyres was childs play, it is pretty unstoppable and you have 4x4 on the fly meaning you can select it up to 60 miles an hour, descent control is a welcome addition as is an old school handbrake with hill start assist.

Practicality wise it can carry 1.1 tons on the bed and tow upto 3 1/2 tons. The other non lifestyle D Max models are quite different to the XTR, this behemoth has a bodykit which is twofold and looks very GTR-esqe from the front, the looks are mainly a happy coincidence, its primary role is protecting the vehice whilst off-roading.

The green adds vibrance and makes it really stand out and it also highlights key points on the pickup truck e.g. the bespoke Pedders suspension and calipers. You can get a D Max for around £20,000 inc VAT, for that you'd get single cab with manual box perfect for farming or whatever you need, bear in mind this vehicle can wade upto 600mm without a snorkel, and at the other end of the scale the XTR is £44,000 or just under and comes with the choice of 4 complimentary paint colours, decals and a Pioneer head unit.

Now this has returned, we have the XTR colour edition later this year to look forward to.

Isuzu D Max XTR First Look

(Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes)

Details: Published: Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:51

We are back with our first vehicle, and it's one that should have arrived far earlier, however it's here now... it was delivered yesterday and it's a Lifestyle pick up, the Isuzu D-Max XTR.

We had the D-Max Blade last year, a very capable pick up with a great price, the XTR capitalises on the D-Max and specs it up, quite literally.

XTR is one of the lifestyle variants of the pickup, lots of additions especially in the styling department e.g. the front guard which literally surrounds the grille and headlamps, extended wheel arches and even Kevlar ceramic brake pads, it's 25 mm higher and sports bespoke Pedder suspension.

Powered by 1.9 turbodiesel engine and a six speed automatic gearbox, it offers responsive throttle response, yet has short first few gears, makes sense they are made to be work horses primarily. You can also get a manual if you prefer it has on the fly four-wheel-drive and four high four low and descent control.

When offroading you want beastly tires, you get 17 inch wheels and 32 inch Pirelli Scorpion tyres, the sidesteps are designed to glance off rocks and there is lots of underside protection too.

When it comes its capabilities, on road feels well planeted and we'll find out when we go offroading in the next few days.

In a nutshell it can tow upto 3.5T and carry 1.24T on the bed, it comes with a fourcab allowing your passengers to travel in comfort, for this model including VAT it is around £43,000 and you can choose from four colours and they're all complimentary.

If this isn't quick enough you can even tune your vehicle for £800, which makes it as fast as a Raptor, it has 161 brake horsepower and 360 nm of torque, granted it's not the quietest engine in the world and its not that fast either hiting 0-60 in around 12 1/2 seconds but that's not what it builts for.

It's a very capable pick up with decent economy, superb looks and exceptionally good offroad, and if you want to something less sporty or something more sporty there's a range to choose from.

Watch out all this week on our YouTube channel to see what we get up to with the XTR.

Kia e-Niro Review & Road Test

(Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes)

Details: Published: Tuesday, 14 April 2020 21:38

The Kia e-Niro is an electric SUV and quite staggeringly being out for a year still has a sizeable waiting list.

What is it that really appeals about this electric SUV?

The fully electric e-Niro is powered by a 64 kW motor, one speed automatic transmission and a lithium-ion battery which has preheating.

The model we had on test was the first edition however the one you can buy today is the '4'.

There are 3 Kia Niro models to choose from PHEV, Self charging hybrid and the e-Niro.

We had the vehicle on review for seven days, the thing that staggers you about the SUV is it has 282 mile range however if you take into the city it increases to 382 miles.

The 4 Edition comes with a bigger infotainment screen and LED headlamps to mention but a few, it retails for just under £35,000 with the government grant.

It's roomy, practical and full off premium materials as well as great tech and it produces 395nm of torque and has 201bhp meaning it is punchy.

It will wheelspin and it'll give you a rather engaging drive and hit 60 in 7.5 seconds, it comes with adaptive cruise control with stop-go and this smart EV will even give you tips on how to economise.

The regen system on the e-Niro is rather smart and you activate it using the paddles on the back of the steering wheel.

Similar to the system that you would change gear on a sporty car, the paddles operate the three levels of regen, on three we managed to recoup a few miles back into our battery the system works exceptionally well one thing we did notice when you got in the vehicle after say 24 hours the range had not dropped.

Over the course of seven days we took the Kia electric SUV to the Lake District up and down some hills looking for snow, testing its capabilities and seeing how range was affected with the cold, steep climbs and erratic driving.

This is a remarkable electric vehicle, try one.

The British Motor Show August 2020

(Reading time: 4 - 8 minutes)

Details: Published: Wednesday, 25 March 2020 17:42

This year the UK and the rest of the world world are going to need a good day out, as sadly, there have been many cancellations and postponements of amazing automotive events.

As of today the New British Motor Show is going ahead in August, this is straight from Andy Entwistle the CEO, therefore very good news.

So what better event than the British Motor Show? That's right - the classic automotive adventure is back and takes place over four days, thats's August 20th to 23rd at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre and it's going to be rather a big deal.

Find out more at the Official British Motor Show website

The first thing you want to know is the price: a family of four can attend for under £40, yes that's right, a family ticket for the event is £37 for you and your children (family tickets are for two adults and two children) and an adult ticket is £18.50, Trade tickets cost £10 and VIP tickets £100 - however, these will be limited to 500 and will include alot of things and that money cannot buy.

There are also concessions for students, military, emergency services and disabilities, also health care workers are being given complimentary entry.

Will we be there?, Yes of course Planet Auto will be there. We will be filming content as well as live broadcasts. We will also be giving away some tickets for our 5000 subscriber celebration on the Planet Auto YouTube Channel. We will hold off on this because of the way the world stands at the moment, as we want as many of you to get the chance to actually win these British Motor Show 2020 VIP tickets.

What's happening at British Motor Show 2020?

There will be lots of places to explore: Indoor and Outdoor Arenas, Car Owners Clubs, New Cars, EV's, you name it...and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Live celebrity stages will be a main part, and you can even test drive cars and buy new cars, there's also lots of live content and interactive displays.

The British motor show is changing, bringing it into this century with lots of interactivity, hands on experience, and a new era automotive event.

There wil be packed halls including new cars, you'll be able to see the latest models from lots of manufacturers and dealers, as well as new launches and new releases. You will be able to see some the latest vehicles that you've not even seen on the road.

Tech halls will showcase the latest autonomy, modifications, styling you name it, and the show is also going to push alternative fuels in a big way as well - yes petrol and diesel - which play a big part of mobility in the UK, however moving forward we are going to be seeing more EV's, hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, you name it.

A fan of Motorsport? well there will be lots to see, combined with the live-action arena, and there will be a range of cars representing motorsport over the years. Don't worry if you're a classic car fan, as there are lots of owners clubs to explore, everything from Mustangs to Fiat 500s, this means you will see the cream of the crop when it comes to classic gems.

Now to the zones: a clever idea for example is the EV zone. This will show you the latest electric vehicles even concepts, historic cars and technology as well, so you can see how electric vehicles and their technology has progressed.

Everybody loves a supercar, whether it's the Countach from the Cannonball or the latest Ferrari, with the paddock holding some of the finest and rarest vehicles in the world. They will all be on display for you to see.

We've been watching Retro EV's for many years - an LA company released a VW Betle with an electric powertrain some years ago, so expect to see this type of electrified classic car, and the retrofitting of EV power to classics. There maybe even be a certain electric JDM car there...

Now with any of these events, you want a nice place where the children can play safely, so there's a kids zone that's dedicated to the younger car enthusiast. Lego building slot car racing and much more.

Now everybody loves a modified car, and of course film cars and that's what the crazy car corner is all about.

No show would be complete without a place to buy things, and this is where the Marketplace comes in. Suppliers and product retailers - with styling, tuning parts, memorabilia, you name it. You can even get a poster of that car you once coveted...

Something that we've been seeing more of lately is automotive arts and crafts: they are even going to bring in a mystery car to be painted live - all this is and more under the Piazza!

The live stages are going to play a major part (and 500 VIP's can really get involved) there will be celebrities on stage, answering questions, taking part in guest panels, interactive sessions and lots more...

If you like the latest tech, the tech theatre is probably up your alley. This runs throughout the show, and delivers sessions dedicated to teaching you interesting aspects about the automotive world, with everything from myth busting to sorting out the jargon in your head. "What's an autonomous vehicle?" "How does an EV work?" "What's an MHEV?" And things like this.

You can look at beautiful cars, talk to people, listen to tech guys, and even see your favourite drivers demo in the live arena. You will also see stunt shows performed by Paul Swift and his team.

Thinking of getting a new car? Mike Rutherford will be heading up a celebrity group test panel, and he also offers some buying advice for people interested in purchasing one.
You can even test drive one that takes your fancy, using the internal 2 kilometre track. If you really like the car, you may even be able to drive a little further than that...

You can test hybrid, petrol, diesel and EV's - in fact, any car that's for sale, you can drive it!

Now, we did touch on the live content before, however it really is going to be something, and includes:
Paul Swift Stunt Show
Motorsport
Demos
Supercar and classic car parades
Mountainbike displays
Celebrity Q&A
Interviews
Live product demonstrations
Tech sessions the
Sporting bears with dream rides
A wall of death
Go-karting
Under 17 year old driving lessons - yes even if you're not driving age you can drive cars at this event
Drift rides
Simulators

And the list goes on...

Now automotive careers of late have been suffering somewhat. At the British Motor Show, why don't you see if you can find the perfect automotive career for you? This is a call to arms for all!

The show takes place from the 20th-23rd of August, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Suzuki S Cross SX4 Hybrid SZ5 Review and Road test

New MG ZS 2021 1 Litre Auto Review and Road Test

Mercedes Benz eVito Review and Road Test

New Honda Jazz Crosstar Review and Road Test 2020

New BMW M235i Gran Coupe Review and Road Test

New Honda Jazz Hybrid 2020 Review and Road Test

Mini Electric 2020 Review and Road Test

The Mini Electric 2020

Isuzu D Max XTR Review with a Brew

Isuzu D Max XTR First Look

Kia e-Niro Review & Road Test

The British Motor Show August 2020

What's happening at British Motor Show 2020?

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