Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Jaguar E-Pace 300E Review

Little cub is reborn and chargeD up!

This may look familiar, in fact you may be questioning how it’s any different to when the Jaguar E-Pace was first introduced as the British luxury car maker’s baby SUV just four years ago. There’s a new grille and revised bumpers and inside the latest generation infotainment and a new gear lever. Underneath however, it is all-new. Well that is to say it adopts the Range Rover Evoque’s platform, that’s been designed to accommodated a hybrid drivetrain.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Peugeot E-208 Review

It’s fun and futuristic – so surely it makes sense as an electric car?

The Peugeot 208 is a great little car. Reasonably practical for its size, the best built that Peugeot’s have ever been, featuring a futuristic dashboard and instrument panel that would shame a Lamborghini, sensible economy and an engaging and fun drive that works hard to make you think it’s a hot hatch – there isn’t really one in the range yet.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Mazda CX-30 Review

Utterly contemporary tech, yet old-skool at its core

The Mazda CX-30, introduced last year, slots under the CX-5. So why not call it the CX-4? Because there is already a CX-4 sold in China, which is a different car. And this is based on a the Mazda3 hatchback, although its 7cm shorter and 10cm taller. The same platform is also the basis for the all-new all-electric MX-30.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Review

A sports car pretending to be a saloon

I first drove the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio at the launch in Italy four years ago, around the Balocco test track in Vercelli. Frankly I loved it. Instantly accessible speed, reassuring but entertaining dynamics and as for those knuckle-biting sexy looks… well this is one hot saloon.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Kia Picanto Review

Ignore this little car review and you’ll miss out big time!

The current Kia Picanto has been around since 2017, but last year it received a facelift and tweaks to its drivetrain. What we have here on test is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder car with just 66bhp, claimed to be capable of 100mph (though you’d need to be going downhill, with the wind behind your back, while slipstreaming another car to attain that). And at 14.1 seconds for the 0-60mph acceleration run, it’ll be beaten by one of those new London Taxis.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Jaguar F-Pace 400e PHEV Review

Oh alright then, where’s the plug socket?

I’m going to be making a very special exception in this review. Normally I don’t like plug-in hybrids. What’s the point? Electric cars must be plugged-in of course, but it’s frankly a nuisance. Hybrids should have the advantage of self-charging. So why put up with the hassle of plugging them in too? Dunno.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Suzuki Ignis Review

The little car that punches above its weight… and price!

This is the second generation Suzuki Ignis introduced in 2017. It’s most recent update saw a facelift with a revised bumper and brighter grille and most importantly, a mild hybrid power unit. The Ignis slots between the Alto and Swift in the Suzuki range, but borrows a little SUV DNA from siblings Jimny and Vitara. As such, it has 180mm of ground clearance despite its tiny size, and of course is available with automatic all-wheel drive.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce Review

It’s not the SUV you need, it’s the SUV you deserve

This isn’t my first time reviewing an Alfa Romeo Stelvio. I reviewed both the 510bhp Quadrifoglio and 280bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder when they first came out about four years ago. For the latest model year generation, the Stelvio has received a few enhancements. But here’s a sage piece of advice: never pass up an opportunity to drive a Stelvio. By the end of this piece, or if you watch my video review, you’ll realise why.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

2021 Land Rover Discovery Review

The one that’s not a Rangey but you’ll think it is

The current Land Rover Discovery arrived in 2017 and was the first in the lineage not to use old-skool body-on-frame construction. It is now based on the same platform is its more opulent Range Rover and Range Rover Sport siblings. Which of course makes it less Farmer Faisel and more more Sheikh Salman.

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Shahzad Sheikh Automotive, reviews

Audi S3 Saloon review

Beefed up little exec is quick, but is it worth paying extra over the regular A3?

This decent looking little Audi executive class saloon has a bit of a wild streak. Note the ‘S’ ahead of the 3 rather than ‘A’. That means it has 310bhp, Quattro all-wheel drive and 0-62mph in under five seconds! Thanks to a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that also puts out 295lb ft of torque put to the ground through a 7-speed dual clutch auto. Top speed is limited to 155mph.

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