Nissan’s Micra is returning to Irish roads as a compact electric vehicle (EV) with a top range of 416kms and a start price of €25,995, writes Trish Whelan. This is the sixth generation of the iconic car which first hit Irish roads over 40 years ago.
17 October 2025
New Nissan Micra EV here in January 2026
Nissan’s Micra is returning to Irish roads as a compact electric vehicle (EV) with a top range of 416kms and a start price of €25,995, writes Trish Whelan. This is the sixth generation of the iconic car which first hit Irish roads over 40 years ago.
Opel's new Frontera SUV arrives in dealerships
Opel’s new Frontera family SUV is now available in the brand’s dealerships nationwide priced from €24,606 inclusive of SEAI grant and VRT rebate for the electric version or from €27,995 for the petrol hybrid version, writes Trish Whelan.
Three trims are available; the vehicle is offered as a five-seater at launch with a seven-seat version due before the end of the year.
Fiat continues to support Team Ireland athletes
As part of Fiat’s four-year partnership with The Olympic Federation of Ireland, Fiat Ireland is continuing to support Team Ireland athletes by appointing Olympic bronze medallist, Philip Doyle as a Fiat Brand Ambassador fresh from his bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships, writes Trish Whelan.
15 October 2025
'Get winter-ready', RSA urges
Winter safety warning to motorists
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is marking 25 years of the National Car Test (NCT) by urging motorists to get winter-ready, writes Brian Byrne. With colder, wetter weather on the way, keeping vehicles roadworthy is vital for safety.
Since 2000, approximately 26 million full NCT tests have been carried out. Last year, the NCT completed 1.7million full NCT tests which is the highest in the services history.
Brendan Walsh, Chief Operations Officer at RSA, says winter poses additional risks on Irish roads, and poorly maintained vehicles can be more susceptible to breakdowns or collisions in challenging conditions. "We are urging all motorists across Ireland to prepare their vehicles and carry out regular car maintenance checks," he says. "This includes checking tyres and lights regularly, keeping fluids topped up and windows clean for optimum visibility and ensuring you book in your yearly vehicle service."
The most common reasons cars fail the NCT include worn tyres, faulty brake lines, seatbelt and exhaust system conditions, as well as defective suspension. Many of these issues can be prevented with regular servicing.
12 October 2025
Cupra Terramar review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car
Cupra has gained a lot of recognition in Ireland in recent years with its line-up of performance-focused sporty cars. This has paid off with increased sales figures year-on-year. My latest Cupra test drive was in the Terramar compact SUV launched here at the end of last year, and described by the brand as their best hybrid SUV yet. It shares underpinnings with the VW Tiguan.
The upmarket cabin is comfy and spacious with some nice quality materials and a good balance of copper-coloured detailing. But I’m not a fan of the grey fish-scale-like patterned plastic on the central spine — it looks cheap — or of the blue and grey colour scheme and black roof lining. Too dismal looking. The freestanding 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen angled towards the driver is user-friendly, offering navigation, entertainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice control via Cupra Connect. The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster works with the head-up display on the windscreen. You can customise the cluster via the View button on the steering wheel to show your current speed large in a central dial, by default it shows bottom right on the screen. Blue or red lines on the bottom of the central screen are for the dual-zone climate control, and the white lines in between are for volume control. All are easy to work with while on the go.
Trims are V1, V2 and VZ. Entry-level features include 18-inch alloys matt black/silver, black roof rails, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, 3-zone climate control with air conditioning, front fog lamp with cornering control, and a rear wiper. The Blind Spot Alert, part of the lighting strip on front doors, lights up when a car is approaching from behind. The V2 trim adds Adaptive Cruise Control, wraparound smart interior lighting, dark-tinted glass, front heated seats, and power tailgate. Options were the Dark Void special metallic paint, 19-inch alloys, an Edge Pack (power heated side mirrors, heated steering wheel, interior lighting, dark-tinted windows, electric tailgate and virtual pedal), Pure Performance (of Matrix HD lights and Dynamic Chassis Control), and Intelligent Drive (Intelligent Park Assist, Side and Exit Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, and top-view camera).
The model is available in petrol, mild hybrid (mHEV) and as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). My car was the mHEV with 1.5e TSI 150hp and matched to a smooth-shifting 7-speed DSG automatic transmission and with a claimed fuel consumption of 8.1 L/100kms. Max torque is 250Nm and you have up to 1,000km available. Other engines are a 2.0 TSI 204hp DSG 4WD and an eHybrid 204hp. Only two engines are offered with the VZ version: an eHybrid with 272hp and a 2.0 TSI 265hp 4Drive. There is no diesel.
9 October 2025
John Linnane Motors does the double at Opel awards
John Linnane Motors, Main Opel Dealer in Wicklow, has been crowned the overall winner of the Opel Dealer of the Year award, writes Trish Whelan. In a double celebration, the dealership also picked up a second gong, the Opel Aftersales Dealer of the year accolade.
Aston Martin reveals powerful 700ps DB12 S
Aston Martin has introduced the DB12 S which it says is the boldest evolution of the original Super Tourer DB12 S, writes Trish Whelan.
Higher ranges for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
Tesla is introducing upgrades to its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles delivering greater range and also more functionality for the Model 3, writes Trish Whelan.
6 October 2025
Greenhall Motors join Leapmotor dealer network
Greenhall Motors of Buttevant, Co Cork have been appointed by Leapmotor Ireland as its third official franchise dealer, writes Trish Whelan.
Meet the Hipster Dacia Concept
Dacia claims its lightweight electric Hipster Concept ‘reinvents The People’s car’ as it is designed for everyday use and offering sufficient range for daily journeys with two recharges per week, writes Trish Whelan.
The concept is designed with one body colour and just three painted parts: the front and the side door entry elements. The front seat is a bench seat, the exterior door handle replaced by a strap and side windows are sliding. Your smartphone in its docking station acts as a multimedia screen and serves as the car’s audio system. The tailgate opens in two parts to provide ultra-practical access to the boot.