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First Drives

Vauxhall Astra review

First Drive review: 2015 Vauxhall Astra

The archetypal British family motor has gone a little bit posh. Its drivers may finally be noticed...
Published 28 September 2015
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First drive review: Mini Clubman (2015)

The last Mini Clubman was a self-conscious, wannabe hipster that tried too hard to be different. Unlike a VW Golf or Ford Focus, it had a solitary...
Published 24 September 2015
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First Drive review: BMW X1 (2015)

When the original X1 was launched, in 2009, BMW had an ugly duckling on its hands. A mishmash of hatchback and SUV, the car looked so gawky that mums…
Published 24 September 2015
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First Drive review: Audi A4 (2015)

Strange to think, but there was a time before the Audi A4. Just imagine: a time when the world had yet to know the complex pleasures
Published 21 September 2015
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First Drive review: Mazda MX-5 2.0 SE-L (2015)

They say you never forget the first sports car you drive, and I remember mine clearly
Published 14 September 2015
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First Drive review: 2015 BMW 3-series (facelift)

The BMW 3-series is 40 years old. Incredible to think that the world’s most trusty sports saloon...
Published 07 September 2015
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First Drive review: Skoda Octavia vRS 230 (2015)

I was never much good at differential calculus when I was at school. Had I been, maybe I would have been an engineer rather than a journalist...
Published 03 September 2015
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First Drive review: Caterham Seven 270 R

It must be 16 years since I last drove a Caterham Seven. I have a photograph from that time
Published 24 August 2015
2015 Jaguar XF review by Gavin Conway for Sunday Times Driving

2015 Jaguar XF review

Designed to take on luxury German cars, Jaguar’s latest XF certainly has a meaner look but what is it like when prowling some fast, twisting tarmac?...
Published 17 August 2015
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First Drive review: Vuhl 05 (2015)

The Vuhl 05 is in the vanguard of what wags are calling a Mexican wave of sports cars arriving in the UK. They have already gained notoriety, thanks...
Published 13 August 2015
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First Drive review: Audi RS 3 Sportback (2015)

With the Audi RS 3 Sportback it’s all about the numbers, so take a moment to marvel at the accompanying specifications box
Published 10 August 2015
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Toyota Prius+ review (2015)

This seven-seat people carrier is trying to reinvent the MPV. Toyota was not content to follow the crowd and bung a diesel engine under the bonnet;...
Published 07 August 2015