Tyre failure rates in NCT described as 'shocking'

Tyre issues accounted for the highest visual defect failures with the NCTS last year, writes Brian Byrne. At 14.3 per cent of fails, that amounts to more than 250,000 cars. 

The second-highest visual failure was suspension at 10.9 per cent, followed by steering linkage defects at 8.5 per cent.

The results are shocking according to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, who says Irish drivers need to "up their game' when it comes to tyre safety. 

"Tyre manufacturers as well as their industry representative bodies, such as the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA), and road safety organisations, all engage in well thought-out tyre safety campaigns," he said. "On the evidence of these latest NCT statistics, Irish drivers are not heeding these important road safety messages.” 

2025 a record year for VW Group in Ireland

Images: Trish Whelan.

With 40,950 vehicles registered across its six brands, 2025 was a record-breaking year for Volkswagen Group Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. The group achieved a 29 per cent share of the overall new car market.

More than one in four electric vehicles sold in Ireland were VW Group cars, with the ID.4 being the top EV seller for the fifth year in a row.

Skoda Ireland saw a 300 per cent rise in battery-electric registrations, contributing to a third year in a row of record sales for the brand. Audi's electric and electrified vehicle orders for 2026 represent 40 per cent of the total order bank. Cupra increased Irish registrations by 55 per cent in 2025.

The Volkswagen Group plans to launch 20 new models in 2026, including the 325PS Golf GTI Edition 50 from the parent brand, the all-new T-Roc, Passat, and ID.Polo and ID.Cross Concept. New Škoda models will include the Epiq, a seven-seat Peaq SUV, and an updated plug-in hybrid Superb. The Cupra Raval will be the first model in the Group’s Urban EV family, arriving in September. Audi will introduce a new RS5 sports saloon and Avant, an updated Q4 e-tron, and new Q7 and Q9, along with an entry-level, fully electric crossover. SEAT has new versions of the Ibiza and Arona. VW Commercial Vehicles will debut the all-electric e-Caravelle. 

Dacia Bigster Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

It has been a big year for the Dacia Bigster since its debut here last year, writes Brian Byrne. Among its awards, notable mentions include the Irish Medium SUV of the Year 2026 in partnership with Continental, the German Car of the Year (under €25,000), the Lithuanian Car of the Year (under €35,000), and a finalist in the 2026 European Car of the Year. In this market, it boosted Dacia’s SUV sales alongside its smaller sibling, the Duster, helping the Renault-owned budget brand break into Ireland's top ten brands for 2025. Although it’s only fourth in sales among Dacia's five models locally, there’s a strong sense that the Bigster is on a promising rise.

Like all Dacias, the Bigster prioritises practicality and affordability. As a C-segment SUV, it offers a lot of car for the money. Larger than the VW Tiguan, and not much smaller than the Toyota RAV4, it positions itself as a serious contender for family buyers.

The design is sharp, an elongated version of the highly successful Duster in its latest generation. Sometimes, simply stretching an existing model doesn't look quite right, but that's not the case here. From any angle, the proportions are spot on. The front end has quite a pleasing style, with the grille and light design. The overall appearance is further enhanced by roof rails, which can be adjusted for cross-roof use, making it easy to secure items like a kayak. The rear features distinctive tail lights and a roof-level spoiler, which help keep the rear screen clean, among other benefits.

Inside, the dashboard is exactly like that of the smaller Duster, and there's nothing wrong with that. The central screen might stick out a little, and I'd be cautious about how sharp the corners are in the event of a head impact, but if, as they should be, the passenger is properly belted, it’s unlikely to pose an issue. The graphics on both the driver’s information screen and the multimedia display are clear, sizeable, and feature enough colour to please the eye. There's a row of switches underneath to manage key climate features. The built-in navigation system isn’t brilliant, but with CarPlay and Android connectivity, this isn’t a real problem. The materials are durable but don't look cheap—one area where the Dacia brand’s image has significantly improved since arriving here. My review car was in the top Extreme trim, with copper-coloured accents inside and out, which adds a further touch of character.

The Bigster offers slightly more rear passenger space than the Duster, but its true advantage over the smaller model lies in its cargo capacity, with 667 litres. Returning to the family theme, this is where all their gear can be easily transported, and even a lawnmower can be taken with ease for end-of-season servicing.

When I reviewed the Bigster last July, I drove the hybrid car, which, by design, has an automatic transmission. This time, I was in the 4x4 version, powered by a 130hp 3-cylinder engine paired with a manual gearbox and a console-mounted selector to manage various off-road settings. On paper, the slightly lower power and added weight of the all-wheel-drive system make the Bigster a bit sluggish compared to its 2WD versions, but it doesn’t feel slow. The road drive is good, with some low-speed fidgeting, getting better at motorway speeds. The manual gearbox feels somewhat agricultural, especially in what seem to be very low first and second gears, and the clutch pedal placement doesn’t help. I adapted to it, but my overall preference would still be the Bigster hybrid with its automatic transmission.

This is now Dacia's flagship model, elevating the brand into a new segment. Will it carve out a solid place in Dacia's overall performance in the Irish market, where the Sandero remains the top seller? I believe the answer is a Bigster yes.

PRICE: From €29,990; Review car: €40,435 (including paint). WHAT I LIKED: The ongoing evolution of a brand that was once associated with cheap and cheerless vehicles. 

Leapmotor sponsors Today FM's The Louise Cantillon Show

Leapmotor Ireland is sponsoring The Louise Cantillon Show on Today FM throughout 2026 to help build national awareness and connect with Irish audiences across the airwaves, writes Trish Whelan. Presented by Limerick native Louise Cantillon, the show blends uplifting music, memorable listener moments, celebrity interviews, and feel-good conversation. 

Mark Brennan, Marketing Manager of Leapmotor Ireland said: “Louise’s infectious energy, authenticity and genuine connection with her listeners embodies many of the same values we hold dear at Leapmotor Ireland - positivity, a fresh approach and boldly taking a leap! This collaborations gives us a brilliant platform to bring our brand to life through one of Ireland’s most exciting radio voices.” The sponsorship will feature daily Leapmotor stings throughout the show, weekly promos, and exciting giveaways for listeners. 

The full Leapmotor range is now available for customer test drives nationwide at Leapmotor’s network of retail partners: Bright Airside (Swords, Dublin): Bright Motor Group (Navan Road, Dublin): Dan Seaman Motors (Forge Hill, Cork): Fitzpatrick’s Garage (Naas, Co Kildare): Greenhall Motors (Buttevant, Co Cork): Joe Norris Motors (Navan, Co Meath): and Kenny Galway (Tuam Road, Galway).

Pictured above: (L-R); Suzanne Gray (Senior Account Manager, EssenceMediacom); Hannah Nolan (Marketing Intern, Leapmotor Ireland); Stephen McGrath (Brand Manager, Leapmotor Ireland); Louise Cantillon (The Louise Cantillon Show); Yvonne Sweeney (Sales Development Manager, Leapmotor Ireland); Mark Brennan (Marketing Manager, Leapmotor Ireland), and Emma Toner (Marketing Director, Leapmotor Ireland).

Toyota Aygo X Hybrid arrives

The Toyota Aygo X Hybrid is now available from the brand's Irish dealerships at a starting price of €24,195, writes Brian Byrne. It's the first full hybrid in the A-segment.

Customers who place an order until the end of January can benefit from a €750 Trade-In Booster alongside a competitive 5.9% APR, making Toyota’s first full-hybrid A-segment model available from as little as €217 per month. 

Features include a 9” touchscreen multimedia system, 17” alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, and a four-speaker audio system. Adaptive Cruise Control is introduced for the first time on the model. 

The Aygo X Hybrid is supported by Toyota’s Hybrid Battery Extended Care Programme, which provides coverage for up to 15 years or 1,000,000 kilometres, subject to an annual Hybrid Health Check at a Toyota dealer.  

Opel Grandland Mild Hybrid SUV: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Opel Ireland sold 2,257 passenger cars in 2025, with its Mokka SUV the most popular, followed by the Corsa and the new Grandland, launched in February of last year, and which has already sold 537 units, compared to the 287 registered in 2024 for the previous model, proving this latest version has made a big difference for sales. 

Grandland is designed, engineered, and built in Europe and is offered with all-electric (BEV), mild-hybrid (MHEV), and plug-in hybrid powertrains. This second-generation is longer, wider and taller than before, styled with clean lines, a flat bonnet, the brand’s Blitz logo permanently lit in centre front, and the Opel name also lit across the rear. Nice touches. It’s a high vehicle which helps with getting in and out. My review car had grained wheel arch and lower door cladding, available only on the hybrid version, and had 19-inch alloy wheels. The vehicle will appeal to many families for its looks and practicality. Three trims are SC, Elegance, and GS. 

The Grandland feels premium, is very spacious for five occupants, and offers high levels of comfort for long-distance travel. Ergonomic front seats in my review car were upholstered in a two-tone cloth; the driver’s had 6-way manual adjustments and lumbar support, as well as power cushion tilt (in GS trim). The central console is angled towards the driver, with a wide screen and large touch controls, which proved user-friendly. These include heating controls for the front seats and steering wheel, along with applications and media management. It also incorporates a digital version of a traditional analogue clock. 

The driver’s information display shows a lot of information, all easy to see at a glance, with the current speed shown prominently. The ‘Pure’ option mode reduces the amount of content on this cluster to reduce distractions. Thankfully, Opel has kept physical controls for frequently used settings, such as air conditioning, climate control, volume, and screen demisters. All are easy to get to while on the move. Stellantis-type automatic transmission selection is easy to use and includes a manual (M) option. Drive modes are Eco, Normal and Sport. Good storage areas are essential in a family car, and the cubbies include a large, cooled space below the front armrest, good-sized door bins, and a cooled glove box. A wireless charging pad is only offered with the top trim.

Rear passengers enjoy decent head and leg room, and there’s almost a flat floor for the middle passenger, thanks to a low tunnel. The middle seat back comes down as an armrest with two cupholders. There are clothes hooks on the B pillars in all grades. Boot capacity is 550 litres with the rear seats up, consistent across electric, petrol, and plug-in hybrid models, and up to 1,645 litres with the rear seats folded down. The car has a wide tailgate, a high boot floor with a bespoke reversible rubber/carpet mat, and a sealant kit. The tailgate was manually operated. 

The long list of standard features included an excellent reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, eight airbags, auto high-beam LED lights, automatic emergency braking, and extended traffic sign recognition. As with many new cars, I found the safety alerts annoying at times and managed to turn most of them off. 

A 136hp 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology powered my car. The battery is mainly charged by engine braking and can allow the car to operate in EV mode in urban areas for up to 50 per cent of the time. The engine is paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is circa 5.5 L/100kms, and annual road tax is €200. There’s a maximum braked towing capacity of 1,100kg. 

The 2025 Grandland received a four-star safety rating in Euro NCAP tests. Prices are from €40,995 for the hybrid version.

New midsize Leapmotor arrives

Leapmotor has launched its new B10 mid-sized SUV in Ireland, marking its entry into the C-Segment SUV market, writes Brian Byrne. The starting price is €32,984.

The 56.2 kWh battery version offers up to 361km WLTP range, and there's a 67.1 kWh version rated at 434km. A hybrid version will arrive later this year.

Features include a panoramic glass roof, a full suite of safety tech, and advanced connectivity. 

The B10 is supported by a 6-year warranty and expands Leapmotor’s presence in Ireland, which already includes models T03 and C10.

The Irish distributor, Gowan Auto, has established a network of seven dealers in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Meath, and Galway. 

Polestar 4 Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Almost two-thirds of Polestar cars were purchased by private customers last year, compared with business or leased registrations, writes Brian Byrne. That's a change from under half of such sales in 2024, and probably due to the availability of the Polestar 4 I've been driving, which, for 2025, was the electric-only brand's top seller. The Volvo spinoff brand is not a major seller here yet, but in the first month of 2026, they've already sold half as many as they did in all of last year. 

The niche it operates in is the performance premium segment. The best-known competitors are the electric models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with Porsche being a target for the upcoming Polestar 5. That the medium SUV 4 shifted sales from the hatchback 2, which was the main seller—and for a while the only model—reflects the kind of buyer now coming through the Polestar showroom. People with their own money and a taste for the different.

When you get the lines right on a car, it minimises the need for adornment. There's almost no chrome on the Polestar 4, aside from a small piece on the lower front end. There's a very clean symmetry in the bonnet line and a slim lights design. The profile is lean and lithe, with the roofline curving into a coupe over the rear, featuring a high boot area. That last is made possible by the absence of a rear window, with vision provided by a camera to a digital rear-view 'mirror' inside. Polestar say this has allowed a more comfortable space for rear passengers. 

The interior styling retains the clean, crisp theme, with an immediate sense of quality that offsets what might otherwise seem almost spartan. The dashboard area is dominated by a large screen for infotainment and navigation. It is also, somewhat unfortunately, used for all climate management, although these are always visible at the bottom of the screen and easy to manage. The sections and graphics are big throughout, which makes it better than many of the other screens coming in Chinese cars. (Polestar is headquartered in Torslanda in Sweden, but the ownership is mainly Chinese, with production in China and South Korea.) Among the apps is a recording facility that operates as a dashcam. There's a separate driving screen that provides essential information in a clear, uncluttered format. A large volume control on the minimalist centre console looks rather lonely. Underneath that 'flying' console is a good space for holding a personal bag.

The front and rear seats are supportive and very comfortable—the car is wider than its competitors, and the extra space is noticeable. At the back, there are separate entertainment, climate, and seat-heating controls, and the centre armrest folds down to operate the electric reclining seat controls. The roof is a full-length glass panel that can quickly transition from transparent to opaque to reflect light and reduce glare. Book capacity is a large-swallow 541L.

The Polestar 4 is available in two powertrain versions: a RWD single-motor and an AWD dual-motor, delivering 272 hp and 544 hp, respectively, each offering appropriate performance. My review car was the former, and it was more than enough for most drivers' needs, with 7.1 seconds to 100km/h. During my time with the car, I enjoyed the quiet, with road and wind noise almost entirely absent. I'm used to quiet EVs, but the Polestar 4 seems to have taken this a notch higher.

The car is only available in Ireland with the Long Range specification, which, in my review model, has a rated range target of 620km. My experience suggests this figure is reasonably attainable, though the usual caveat about driving style and road conditions applies. 

The Polestar 4 is a 2.2-tonne car, but with the suspension and overall setup, it didn't feel anything like that, even over rougher road surfaces. Whatever your style or driving preference, it should prove to be a smooth operator. That's what it was for me.

PRICE: From €56,490. WHAT I LIKED: The smooth, premium, sporty experience. 

Ford partnership with Ohme for home charging

Ford and Ford Pro have partnered with Ohme as their EV home charging partner in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. As part of the Ford Power Promise, Ford dealers in Ireland will offer free Ohme chargers to qualifying customers. 

Based in Cork, Ohme is the UK's largest and Ireland’s fastest-growing home EV charging company. 

The Ford Power Promise also includes an 8-year, 160,000 km warranty on high-voltage components and batteries, a free five-year service plan, and free five-year towing assistance. 

There's also access to over 3,900 public charging points via Ford’s BlueOval™ Charge Network powered by Octopus Electroverse, and use of the FordPass app for public charging payments. 

Pictured are John Manning, Ford Ireland Market Lead; David Watson, Ohme CEO; and Patrick McDonald, Ohme Director.