#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
This is exciting – getting behind the wheel of the 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t he already review the Golf GTI?” True (link below), but this isn’t the regular GTI; this is the Clubsport – a souped-up version with a bit more oomph, aimed squarely at those of us who want a little more spice from our hot hatches. The previous edition was the pick of the pack – let’s see if this Clubsport lives up to the hype.
This is the all-new second-generation MG ZS, tested here in Hybrid+ form in the top-of-the-range Trophy spec. Slightly bigger, with more features, and prices only up by around £1,000, it remains a competitive B-segment SUV.
The BYD Seal is an EV saloon from China’s biggest maker of new energy vehicles. And it’s rather good! Now, it’s joined by another Seal – except this one isn’t a saloon; it’s an SUV. What’s more, it’s not even an EV – it’s a plug-in hybrid! Should it feature on your next family car buying shortlist? Well, let’s find out.
The Kia Sorento has been a solid choice in the family SUV market, and for 2024 it gets a bit of an update. So, what’s new? Well, the facelift aims to keep things fresh and in line with Kia’s evolving design language. Take in the front with those angular headlights, and you might notice the resemblance to the EV9 and even the baby in the range, the (also refreshed) Picanto. You get a sense of a bold, confident stance.
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting BYD’s new UK headquarters in Uxbridge, where I got up close and personal with their latest models. Among the range was the BYD Seal, which I’d previously reviewed in its all-wheel-drive (AWD) form. This time, though, I had the chance to take the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version for a spin. Is the RWD variant just as good, or does the AWD offer something more? Let’s dive in and find out.
The Volvo EX30 is the baby SUV in the Swedish brand’s electric SUV lineup, and it’s making quite a statement. Billed as a compact crossover, it offers a blend of stylish design, advanced technology, and the kind of practicality we’ve come to expect from Volvo. Plus of course, solid quality and assured safety. But with a starting price of £33,795, can it really deliver on all fronts? I got behind the wheel of the Single Motor Extended Range RWD Ultra, priced at £42,045, to find out.
MG is truly on a roll, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and marking it with the launch of several new cars, including their UK best-seller, the all-new 2025 MG HS. With over 57,000 units sold in the UK alone, the MG HS is now the eighth best-selling car in the country this year. This isn’t just a facelift; it’s a full-blown second-generation model based closely on the Chinese third-gen Roewe RX5 introduced in 2022.
In the world of city cars, the Kia Picanto has long been a favourite for its practicality, reliability, and value for money. The 2024 Kia Picanto GT-Line brings a fresh facelift to this third-generation model – and marks 20 years of the Picanto nameplate.
This Kia EV9 is a behemoth with enough boot space (despite three rows of seats) to accommodate all the awards it’s been winning! But is it a worthy winner? This huge electric SUV, available in rear-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive, seems to think it’s an MPV (people carrier) when it comes to the inside.
The new 2024 Mini Countryman is electric, bigger and less, well… Minier? Not just in size but in looks. The headlights are square, not round, and the proportions are distinctly SUV. However, from the wing mirrors to the rounded black roof and the JCW badging, not to mention go-faster stripes (not normally found on a family car) it is at least sprinkled with Mini flavouring.
