Articles by Dan Pugh
14 August 2020 by Dan Pugh
It's been a long time since Korea was seen as an up-and-comer when it comes to building cars, with Hyundai and Kia now among the most popular choices for SUV buyers. But perhaps less well-known is another Korean brand called SsangYong , which recently launched a new mid-sized SUV called the Korando...Read more
3 August 2020 by Dan Pugh
If you’re looking for a little polish from your next family hauler then I might have just the answer, with Audi’s flagship Q7 definitive proof that not all seven-seat SUVs are created equal. For this family review, we road tested the 2020 Audi Q7 45 TDI which has been given a mid-life update. At...Read more
1 July 2020 by Dan Pugh
A lot has changed since Lexus first launched the NX six years ago, with the mid-size premium SUV category now packed with with rivals from the German marques, including the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes Benz GLC - all vying for buyer eyeballs in a hotly contested market. For my family review this...Read more
1 June 2020 by Dan Pugh
For those family buyers in the market for a luxury SUV with five seats and the kind of exterior styling that's pretty much guaranteed to make the neighbours take notice, I might have just the car for your shortlist. Meet the Audi Q8 50 TDI , a coupe-styled SUV that competes against the likes of the...Read more
25 May 2020 by Dan Pugh
The very first thing you need to know about the Mini Clubman is that it ain't that mini. This is the brand's bigger, more practical offering - a car designed more for families - not the three-door icon the Mini brand has built its image around, and so it can tend to get lost in the noise a little...Read more
4 May 2020 by Dan Pugh
The recipe for a four-door coupe has always been simple – take one four-door sedan, then apply a fastback body design, essentially trading backseat space for swooping style. It's a feat of design and marketing that Mercedes-Benz was among the first to master. The CLA 200 is one such member of the...Read more
27 April 2020 by Dan Pugh
The Alpina B5 Touring 2020 is the ultimate performance wagon you never knew you needed. In fact, you might not have even heard of it. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Alpina is the master of taking BMWs and turning them into absolute performance weapons. In the case of our test car, it has...Read more
18 March 2020 by Dan Pugh
The passenger van has long been a left-of-field contender for large families happy to overlook boxy proportions in favour of space and no-frills practicality. And now Ford , a long time player in the commercial van space , is throwing its Stetson into the ring. Enter the Transit Custom Sport 320...Read more
5 March 2020 by Dan Pugh
With most car makers now rolling out a seemingly endless supply of high-riding SUVs, Audi is rocking the boat, with the German brand continuing to pursue its investment in luxury sedans and wagons. So, for those parents looking for a little poise and polish in a sedan -shaped family hauler, I bring...Read more
7 February 2020 by Dan Pugh
Occupying the lowest rung on the premium ladder, the A1 represents an important entry point for buyers keen to get their first taste of the Audi brand. For my family test I drove the second-generation Audi A1 35 TFSI S tronic . If looks are anything to go by, then, compared to the previous...Read more
28 January 2020 by Dan Pugh
Lexus has proven plenty skilled at transforming the once sensible and sedate into tyre-shredding monsters. And given it's the German brands that traditionally set the benchmark in this department, it takes something extra special to stand out. Enter the Lexus GS F 2020 10th Anniversary edition. An...Read more
2 January 2020 by Dan Pugh
With the small SUV category one of the most competitive in the new-car market, it’s getting harder for brands to stand out from the growing crowd. Wading through this mass of vehicles is the Nissan Qashqai , a city-ready SUV that punches well above its weight . But with a new competitor launching...Read more
24 December 2019 by Dan Pugh
Dual-cab utes, once the teak-tough domain of tradies hauling their tools, are fast becoming the family taxis of choice, charged with ferrying kids, shopping and weekend gear. It makes sense when you think about it. The relentless wear and tear kids can dish out surely calls for something more hard...Read more
20 November 2019 by Dan Pugh
If you’re looking for a stylish SUV to decorate your driveway that's fast, practical and seats five people in absolute comfort, then I might just have the perfect family hauler for you. For my family test this week I drove the Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic SE P300 , which, as make and model names go...Read more
5 November 2019 by Dan Pugh
Parents looking to reduce their guilt over taxiing loved ones around in petrol-guzzling SUVs can rejoice - here's your chance to potentially win back some green credibility. The plug-in hybrid version of the high-riding Range Rover Sport is here to provide a more fuel-efficient way to ferry your...Read more
9 October 2019 by Dan Pugh
Lexus has built a brand reputation around producing well-constructed, reliable cars capable of moving passengers in supreme comfort and silence. So, when Lexus introduces an SUV with 'Crafted Edition' in the title, buyers have good reason to expect something extra special, don't they? With a mid-...Read more
18 September 2019 by Dan Pugh
In a category overrun with seven-seat variants, the Ford Endura is notable for its decision to forgo the third row. So, if you're in the market for a large, high-riding family hauler and consider five seats more than sufficient, you've come to the right place. For my weekend family test I drove the...Read more
27 August 2019 by Dan Pugh
Skoda's marketing department has always plugged the brand's "simply clever" features, from hidden umbrellas in the front doors to the windscreen clip to store your parking tickets so there's no more frantic searching at the boom gate. So what does the brand's focus on practicality perks mean for...Read more
15 August 2019 by Dan Pugh
When you think Jeep, it's hard not to think about cars designed for the kind of rugged off-roading aimed at getting lost, stuck or both. It's a thrill most of us bitumen-bound suburban drivers will never come close to experiencing. Enter the Jeep Wrangler 2019 Overland. For my weekend test I'm...Read more