First drives

First Drive

TVR Sagaris 4.0 first drive

It still smells of resin, but this Sagaris is a significant improvement, and feels built to last a bit longer. And it goes sideways for Britain

25 September 2006

TVR Sagaris 4.0 first drive

First Drive

Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec.B

Mild visual update keeps Legacy fresh. New SI Drive system and paddleshifts for optional auto box give greater breadth of appeal. A good-looking, good-to-drive alternative to the mainstream.

21 September 2006

Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec.B

Focus feels better to drive with roof up

First Drive

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi CC

The best in its class, though that still means it's a compromised drive

20 September 2006

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi CC

Near-identical looks to the coupe

First Drive

Porsche 911 Targa 4 first drive

Targa 4 combines real practicality with serious performance and the pleasure of (largely) open-air motoring. Quite possibly the pick of the range.

20 September 2006

Porsche 911 Targa 4 first drive

First Drive

Subaru Impreza 1.5R first drive

Don't think of the 1.5R as a cut-price Impreza WRX - it's nothing of the sort. Instead, it is practical, well-equipped and unpretentious. And just a little bit slow.

19 September 2006

Subaru Impreza 1.5R first drive

Skoda Octavia vRS

First Drive

Skoda Octavia TDI vRS 2004-2013

A genuinely quick and entertaining addition to the Octavia line-up. But more worthy as a rapid estate car than a hot hatch rival

19 September 2006

Skoda Octavia TDI vRS 2004-2013

First Drive

Mercedes-Benz CL 600 first drive

The uber-coupe from Merc has some wonderful touches and is massively swift and refined, but it is in no way worth the premium over the CL 500

19 September 2006

Mercedes-Benz CL 600 first drive

GT steers and goes like a hot hatch should

First Drive

Peugeot 207 150 GT

On first impressions this seems to be a proper old-school Peugeot hot hatch, though thankfully without the treacherous lift-off oversteer.

19 September 2006

Peugeot 207 150 GT

First Drive

Peugeot 607 2.2 HDi

Nice engine, but the 607 is not exactly at the cutting edge of executive saloons. That siad, it is well-priced and stacked to the gunwhales with kit.

14 September 2006

Peugeot 607 2.2 HDi

The RC weighs 37kg more, but boot space is the same as the soft-top's

First Drive

Mazda MX-5 RC 2.0i

All the fun of the MX-5 with added security and useability. If you think the premium’s worth it, go for it.

14 September 2006

Mazda MX-5 RC 2.0i

The S2000 still gets you to 60mph in 6.1seconds

First Drive

Honda S2000 first drive

Throttle response is smoother, but the S2000 is the same car otherwise: thrilling at the top end of its VTEC rev range, off-form below that.

12 September 2006

Honda S2000 first drive

First Drive

Lotus Europa 2.0 S

The Europa is meant to be a bigger, more comfortable version of the Exige and Elise, but it's not really any easier to live with and the dynamics aren't as good as they should be, for a Lotus.

8 September 2006

Lotus Europa 2.0 S