Two new powertrains and Evolution trim for Renault Symbioz

Renault’s Symbioz is now available in two new powertrains - the TCe mild hybrid 140 manual (pictured above) and the E-Tech full hybrid 160, broadening the appeal of the compact family SUV to Irish drivers, writes Trish Whelan. 

For 252, the TCe 140, with a 6-speed manual gearbox is now available in the new entry Evolution trim bringing the entry price of the range to €31,995. This powertrain features a 1.3 4-cylinder petrol turbo engine boosted by a 12v mild hybrid system and with consumption of 5.8 L/100km. 

A new E-Tech hybrid 160 engine is introduced with the new Evolution trim from €34,995 and comes standard with 10.2-inch touchscreen, rear parking cameras and sensors, and auto climate control as well as additional features from he launch model. The E-Tech hybrid is pictured below.

 

New Land Cruiser now on sale here

The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser is now on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €57,192 plus VAT, writes Brian Byrne. A longtime popular nameplate with farming, construction and utilities, the Commercial version is a top seller in the segment.

The new vehicle has a design termed by the maker as 'modern-retro' and is the first full model change to the Land Cruiser in 15 years.

Power in the new car comes from a 2.8-litre diesel and the vehicle has a towing capability of 3.5 tonnes.

 

Modern Tyres acquires BestDrive

Continental Tyres have announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of BestDrive Ireland, a leading Irish tyre specialist and vehicle maintenance company, by Modern Tyres, writes Brian Byrne.

Modern Tyres, a family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience, operates an extensive network in the Republic of Ireland. The acquisition of BestDrive Ireland significantly expands its reach across the country, offering customers a wider footprint and even more choice in products and services.

BestDrive Ireland has been part of Continental Tyres for over three decades and is one of Ireland’s most respected aftermarket automotive networks with a reputation for quality, reliability and customer trust.

Toyota remains top brand as car sales creep up

Car sales in Ireland are up about 3.5 percent to date on the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2024, writes Brian Byrne. There was a substantial uptick of 63.6 percent in June compared to the same month last year.

Light Commercial vehicles also saw a 54.1 percent boost in June, somewhat offsetting what has been a slower total half year with 6.7 percent vehicles fewer than in 2024.

Electric car sales continue to grow, and the figure of 13,631 units is a 27 percent increase for the half-year.

Electric cars now account almost 17 percent of sales, with petrol still leading at 27.23 percent. Petrol electric hybrids account for nearly 23 percent, PHEV at 14.4 percent, and there are still buyers for diesel power at 17.26 percent.

The top three brands are Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai.

 

MG Cyberster review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

MG Motor Ireland’s seven-model range includes all-electric, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models, ensuring a model to suit every preference and pocket. So far this year, the Irish company has sold 924 passenger cars, representing an almost 29 percent increase on the whole of last year. I believe MG is among the best of the Chinese brands currently available here, and that’s not to downgrade the others, just to show how good I think MG cars are. 

My recent MG review car was the gorgeous Cyberster all-electric performance-focused open-top roadster, which marks the return of MG to the convertible market and is the marque’s new flagship and the most powerful production model in its 100-year history, with 503hp and a whopping 725Nm of torque. The model, a collaboration between MG’s design studios in London and Shanghai, represents a strategic shift towards a more premium brand positioning with the focus on desirability - the 'I want one' feeling - and high-end technology. Eight have been bought by Irish buyers this year. 

This two-seater certainly stands out with its beautiful, sleek design and the promise of the thrill of the open road. My car was in a dynamic red with 20-inch alloy wheels paired with eye-catching Brembo red callipers which are mostly used in high-performance vehicles. A standout feature is the two electric 'scissors' doors that open with the key fob or via the button on the door handle. They’re for making a dramatic impression as you enter or exit rather than being practical as they take a few seconds to open or close. The initial novelty factor soon wore off, and I found it quite tiresome having to go through the whole procedure every time I wanted to get in or get out - but opinions may vary. Other exterior features include Auto LED headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights/rear lights, follow-me-home headlights, and I really liked the arrow lights at the rear. 

The cabin is well-thought out. Gorgeous leather-style sports seats with integrated headrests are 6-way power adjustable and include two memory functions and lumbar support. The power seat adjustment controls are on the doors. Half the dash is taken up with a wraparound screen featuring a 10.25-inch digital driver display in the centre flanked by two 7-inch displays. Infotainment features include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, and voice recognition. The left screen is for navigation, the one on the right for journey data including charging and energy consumption, phone, etc, and actually becomes the reversing camera. However, focusing on either outer display involved having to turn my head as my hands on the steering wheel blocked my view of part of each screen. 

A further colour display on the centre console slope provides touchscreen access to the dual-zone climate controls. Here too is the transmission selector and electric parking brake, with another such brake on the right lower dash. You can open the roof and each door with controls on the lower central console. The chunky steering wheel can be heated, is four-way adjustable, and paddles select three-level regenerative braking to help energy efficiency and extend the driving range. The volume control is on a silver circle on the right-hand side. 

A Super Sport mode button on the lower right of the wheel can be used to launch the car from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds, and should be confined to a race track. The entry model does the same job in 5.0 seconds. Drive modes are Comfort, Custom, Sport, and Track. Boot space of 249 litres is average for a two-seater convertible, and there’s no frunk under the bonnet. In open-top motoring, a wind deflector between the front seats reduces buffeting to a minimum, and you can open or close the electric hood in 15 seconds at speeds up to 48km/h. 

Two models are offered: the Exclusive single motor (RWD) and the performance dual motor GT (AWD). Both variants feature a 77 kWh battery - the 340hp single motor version has a rated range of 509km while the 510hp GT dual motor has a range of 443 kms. 

I found the GT great fun to drive on motorways, along primary routes and on country roads. The steering is nicely balanced, the suspension on the stiff side, but you feel comfortable at all times. Rear visibility is limited due to the low style of the car and the small rear window. Fast charging on a DC charger at up to 150 kW enables a charge of 10-80 percent in 38 minutes. Road tax is €120 a year. 

Two roll bars behind the seats are for safety purposes. Cyberster has four airbags and a comprehensive list of driver-assist systems including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Emergency Braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, and Traffic Jam Assist. The car hasn’t yet been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, but its closely related model, the MG4 electric hatch, has received a maximum five-star rating. All MG models carry a 7-year/150,000km warranty. Prices are from €69,900 to €75,500.

 

Green ‘Flash’ Registration plates for EVs out next month

From July, the green ‘flash’ registration plates will be available for all eligible new and existing electric vehicles, writes Trish Whelan. The new plate will look the same as current Irish registration plates but with an added green vertical stripe. Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said the rollout of the new plates will begin in the coming weeks, following final preparations. 

The green ‘flash’ is designed to give visibility to vehicles that emit no C02 emissions, supporting the shift to cleaner, greener transport across the country. Anyone buying a new EV, can ask their dealership to provide them with the green plate. Existing EV owners can opt to retrofit existing plates with the green ‘flash’ through registration plate suppliers. 

These green ‘flash’ registration plates are optional and apply to all fully electric vehicles, including cars, vans, motorbikes and trucks. 

Minister Darragh O’Brien is pictured above with Brian Cooke, Director General of SIMI.

 

Toyota partners with Camogie Associates and GAA/GPA

Toyota Ireland has announced a new three-year partnership with The Camogie Association and GAA/GPA which sees the Japanese car brand become the Official Car Partner to these sporting organisations, writes Trish Whelan. 

Dublin Camogie captain Aisling Maher and Galway footballer John Maher have been named as official Toyota ambassadors and will each drive a Toyota C-HR Hybrid. 

Steve Tormey, CEO of Toyota Ireland (pictured third in from the right) commented that the company has a proud history of supporting sport and athletes at both local and international levels. He said: “This partnership is an investment in our national games and the inter-county players who are the heartbeat of the sport and role models for young children across the country.” 

Brian Molloy, President of The Camogie Association, added that having Toyota on board as a partner is a strong endorsement of the growing profile and significance of Camogie while Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA added that Toyota has supported the GAA for generations and their continued commitment to Gaelic games 'is a testament to the strong bond they share with our communities'. Also commenting on the announcement, Tom Parsons, CEO of the GPA said ‘this partnership with Toyota will strengthen our ability to support inter-county players the length and breadth of the country'. 

Many Toyota dealerships already support their local GAA clubs.

 

Cupra Born VZ review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

When the Cupra Born was first introduced in 2021, it was a game-changer for the brand as it was their first all-electric model. A battery electric compact small family car that competes in the C-Segment, my review car was the latest version to the Cupra line-up, the Born VZ (Spanish for Veloz meaning ‘fast’) more powerful and with an impressive performance and range. 

The Born is built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform in Germany that’s also used for the Volkswagen ID.3. As a performance-focused model it is a sportier option with enhanced steering, brakes, and suspension. The new shade of Dark Forest is only available on the VZ version and with the exterior copper accents, it drew lots of admiring glances. Smart 20-inch Thunderstorm aero black/copper wheels added to the sporty look. 

The interior has a stylish dash, beautiful materials, and more warm copper accents. A floating 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen works well and I could access the menu systems quite easily. It is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At the bottom of the screen a Touch Bar section has front seat heater controls. I’m not a fan of the Volkswagen sliders for climate control or volume which I find finicky to use. The 5.3-inch instrument cluster clearly provides all the information you need. Wonderful Sabelt Cup bucket seats with sporty integrated headrests, unique to the VZ, are so comfy with side bolsters to hold you in snugly. My seat had power adjustments, lumbar support and three memory settings. A big sunroof, with blind, added to the interior cheer. 

The leather steering wheel has regenerative braking paddles with three different levels of energy recuperation. A satellite button on the steering wheel selects Drive profiles Comfort, Performance, and Individual; another with a Cupra logo tap into +20kW of additional power (best left to the race track!). The twist transmission selector is off the steering column. Very tall people in the back may find their head almost touches the rear roof lining. There are knee indents on the front seat backs but no pockets, just very good door bins as hold-alls. The car has a rear wiper; boot space of 385 litres expands to 1,267 litres with the rear seats down, and there’s a small area below for cables. 

With its large-capacity 79kWh lithium-ion battery and 321hp, the VZ provides a whopping 545Nm of torque, making it one of the most dynamic cars in its segment and capable of a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds. Top speed is also increased and now limited to 200km/h - maybe OK for the German autobahns! Annual road tax is €120. 

Battery consumption is a claimed 14.7-17.3 kWh/100km; my long-term consumption came in between 14.6 kWh/100km and 15.6 kWh/100km. The battery pack has a rated range of almost 600km on a single charge. When I collected the car, it was 99pc charged at 496kms. Either way, it’s a very impressive range that allows you travel long distances uninterrupted for recharging. You can charge the car at home using an 11kW AC system or at a DC 170kW fast-charging meter which gives a fast charge from 10pc-80pc in under 30 minutes. 

Standard equipment included dark tinted windows, full LED headlamps, reversing camera with a top view camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Dynamic Chassis Control, Remote Park Assist and even a side assist warning system. Optional equipment included the metallic paint (€912), the Skyline Pack (€995), and a special 10-speaker sound system (€528). Big A-pillar windows greatly aided visibility and excellent blind spot monitors on the insides of side mirrors lit up when a vehicle was approaching from behind. 

I found the drive to be very quiet, but the car certainly was engaging with an edge to it with 322 bhp of power available, great for when you need it but keep out of penalty points territory. Steering is on the heavy side as I prefer. Road holding and cornering were superb and the suspension not too firm which came as a surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed driving longer distances in such high comfort. Audio alerts were gentle so there was no need to turn them off. A niggle in many cars nowadays is that reflections off the dashboard top in the windscreen in bright sunshine make it quite difficult at times to clearly see all the road ahead. This usually means me having to adjust my driving position to help eliminate the problem, sometimes not to the most comfortable position. 

Big on safety features, Born received a maximum five points in safety test results from EuroNCAP. Cupra is a stand-alone brand within the Volkswagen Group. The range entry price starts at €37,955; the VZ is priced from €62,170. With options of €2,435, my car came to a pricey €66,605. Prices include SEAI grants and VRT Relief.

 

The XC60 is best-selling Volvo car of all time

Volvo’s XC60 is now the best-selling Volvo car ever, writes Trish Whelan. With more than 2.7 million cars sold, the model has surpassed the iconic Volvo 240 as the best-selling Volvo ever. 

The XC60 mid-size SUV made its debut in 2008. Initially built exclusively in Europe, the model later became the first global Volvo model to also be produced in China. In 2018, it was named World Car of the Year. 

The current generation XC60 introduced plug-in hybrid drivetrains to a broader audience and it was the best-selling PHEV in Europe last year. 

For the 2026 model year, the SC60 has undergone a significant refresh with a modernised design, more intuitive user experience, improved comfort and a more responsive infotainment system.