Latest Kia EV set for spring arrival

The latest Kia electric car, the EV2 small SUV, will arrive in Ireland in the spring, following its debut at the Brussels Motor Show, writes Brian Byrne. The car completes the Korean brand's dedicated electric-car range, which is topped by the 7-seat EV9.

Two battery options will provide rated ranges of up to 317 and 448 kilometres, respectively.

The car features compact dimensions with generous space and versatility for the segment. There's up to 403 litres of cargo capacity

Pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the Irish launch. 

Opel Grandland hybrid review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Opel has no models among the top 60 cars sold in Ireland last year, writes Brian Byrne. Though that's against the backdrop of more than 320 models on offer from more than 50 carmakers operating on this island, and the Stellantis Group's German brand is comfortably within the top 20 marques in overall Irish car sales. 

It's notable that Opel's top three models are all within very close numbers of each other, and that the C-segment Grandland SUV looks on track to move from third to first in Opel sales, passing the current Mokka and Corsa leaders. There's also a new Frontera B-segment SUV that was recently launched, and a new Astra hatchback is coming in the summer. So, with arguably the freshest lineup of crossover SUVs — the Mokka also got an upgrade in 2025, along with the arrival of the new generation Grandland — Opel looks well set to drive forward through this coming year.

If you need to travel long distances and require family-size seating, the Grandland is worth considering for several reasons. For starters, it is well styled, with clean lines, edgy profile elements, and a flat bonnet with a central ridge, which brings back memories of the Opel Rekords I owned in the 1960s. It is longer, wider, and taller than the first-generation Grandland it replaced last year and offers more rear-seat room. In line with Opel's latest theme, the brand name is permanently lit at the rear, and the Blitz is lit at the front.

There's a distinctly upmarket interior, continuing the edgy theme of the outside. A wide central screen features large touchscreen controls, while physical buttons and switches remain for key climate and audio management. The driver instrumentation is precise, practical, and non-distracting — there's even a 'Pure' option that eliminates all but essential information.

The Grandland offers ample storage, and a refrigerated box is included under the armrest. A 550L boot cargo volume is standard across all powertrain versions. The extra width and height of this Grandland make a difference to the interior experience. A rethinking of seat design has, the carmaker claims, made them more comfortable for long-distance driving — I can attest to that being true, as one 400km round trip I did, while I had the car, was done with just a 10-minute turnaround in the middle, and I arrived home without a trace of back tiredness after some six hours of driving.

The Grandland is available with a choice of battery-electric, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. In this instance, I was driving the MH one, powered by a 1.2 3-cylinder petrol engine and a small battery, which nevertheless can have the car operating in EV mode up to 50 per cent of the time. It's a system used across the Stellantis brands, and I've been very impressed with it. The transmission is a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, which, again, I've found is well matched to the engine. Long-distance driving proved effortless, thanks in large measure to the powertrain, the orthopaedically designed seats, and easy handling. 

Although I sorted out how to switch off the most annoying of the driver 'assistance' bits, there were some oddball warning sounds that I couldn't get to the bottom of, but I will be discussing them with Opel's technical people the next time I meet them.

My regular readers will remember that the Grandland was my personal choice for the Large Car category in the recent Irish Car of the Year 2026 awards in association with Continental Tyres. My subsequent time with the model hasn't changed my view, and I'd vote that way again if necessary.

PRICE: From €41,395. WHAT I LIKED: That my first good impressions proved right on the long haul. 

New Skoda 7-seat EV for summer debut

Skoda has teased a new 7-seater flagship due to debut in the summer by releasing its name, Peaq, writes Brian Byrne. The car will be an all-electric model, filling out the top end of the brand's EV portfolio.

Few other details of the car have been revealed, aside from the fact that it follows the themes established by the Vision 7S concept car introduced in 2022.

The images supplied suggest an angular, edgy look that is trending across the industry.

The company says it brings the brand values and spaciousness to a 'whole new level' in the segment.

Cedar automotive group sold to Salvador Caetano

The Cedar Group, one of Ireland’s largest motor distributors and retailers, has been acquired by the Salvador Caetano Group which is entering the Irish market for the first time, writes Trish Whelan. 

The Cedar Group is the largest independent motor group in Ireland and employing over 600 people, sold almost 28,000 vehicles in 2025, and has a turnover close to €1 billion per annum. It comprises Nissan Ireland, distributors of Nissan cars; Cedar Motors, distributors of Renault, Dacia and Alpine cars; and the Windsor Motor Group, one of the largest automotive retail groups in Ireland representing the Nissan, Renault, Dacia, Alpine, Peugeot, Opel, Mazda, Citroen, and Suzuki franchises. The acquisition ends almost 50 years of ownership by the Kuwaiti based Al Babtain family. 

The management team at the Cedar Group remains unchanged and will continue to lead the development of the Group into the future. James McCarthy, CEO of The Cedar Group, (pictured above) said: “This acquisition is the perfect fit for the future development of the business as well as being a sold endorsement of the Irish car market and the Nissan, Renault, Dacia and Alpine franchises.” 

The Salvador Caetano Group, headquartered in Portugal, is a global leader in the automotive industry with operations in 48 countries across Europe, Africa and South America. It has over 80 years of experience in automotive distribution and retail, bus manufacturing, industrial equipment, after sales service, information technology and renewable energy solutions.

Jeep Avenger CDV review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

They may account for just a small share of the Irish van market, but small businesses and tradespeople are spoilt for choice when it comes to purchasing a car-derived van (CDV), as many vehicle manufacturers now offer one in their line-up. CDVs are built on passenger-car platforms, so they offer car-like handling and comfort while providing extended cargo space and a favourable VRT rate. However, modifications must be carried out to an appropriate safety standard, and the Revenue Commissioners keep a close eye on compliance. 

My latest Jeep test drive was the Avenger CDV, available in both fully electric (BEV) and hybrid powertrains, delivering genuine Jeep DNA with all-weather and all-terrain capabilities despite its front-wheel-drive layout. Its compact dimensions of 4.08m in length, 1.78m in width, and 1.53m in height make it ideal for city use. 

Up front, the signature seven-slot grille and full LED headlights stand out, and the skid plates reflect Jeep's iconic personality. Painted alloy wheels are from 16-inch to 18-inch. The Avenger Commercial has a very decent cargo area, although no official payload figures have been released. This is a smart-looking calling card for a business or sole operator when visiting clients, as it will impress with its stylish design and practicality. The model name Avenger is displayed on both sides, and a blue ‘e’ on the left rear shows it is an electric car, as does the green flash on the number plate. The glass on the rear side windows is left in situ, but the windows are fully covered to comply with regulations. From the outside, it is difficult to believe this is a small van, and I had to open the rear door to convince a friend that it was indeed a small load lugger, not a passenger car. 

The cabin is a nice place to spend time in. Seats, with cloth/vinyl upholstery and grey accents, and Jeep embossed on the seat backs, were very comfortable and supportive; the driver’s seat has 6-way manual adjustments, and the passenger seat has 4-way adjustments. There's some extra storage in the pockets left in place on both seat backs. Other storage areas include a half-sized glovebox with an open shelf above, a deep storage area on the central console with a foldable cover and two cupholders, an area below the front armrest, and large front door bins. Both USB-A and USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad are standard. 

The Altitude grade features a 10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless Mirroring. There are physical buttons for volume, defrost (windscreen and rear window), fan, and climate controls (single-zone). The transmission selector is a row of separate buttons mid-dash and includes a B for more regeneration to help charge the battery. There's an electric parking brake with Auto Hold. The customisable driver’s instrument cluster shows relevant information, with the current speed shown at the centre top. I liked the ’twang’ sound of a guitar chord when I indicated to turn. My car had a power tailgate and a big rear wiper. The retention of the doors’ interior trim and armrest indicates a conversion, as do the disconnected power window switches and, of course, a see-through, wire bulkhead, which, with the large rear tailgate window, provides excellent rear visibility. The cargo floor is height-adjustable, and there is a tyre sealant below. 

Avenger BEV delivers 260 Nm of instant torque; both passenger and CDV vans share the same 115 kW (156hp) electric motor and powertrain. Altitude has a claimed electric range of 394km WLTP (573km urban) and a power consumption of 15.7 kWh/100 km; Longitude offers a slightly higher range of 400 km (580 km urban). Road tax is €333. 

The Selec-Terrain system includes six drive modes of Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud and Sand, as well as Hill Descent Control, giving it almost all-terrain ability despite being front-wheel drive. Both grades come highly specced. Other features included a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, heated and power door mirrors, connected services, Adaptive Cruise Control, vulnerable road user recognition for pedestrians and cyclists, an Emergency Response System, and a Mode 3 charging cable. The Jeep Avenger small 5-door SUV received three out of five stars in Euro NCAP testing. The BEV can fast charge at 100 kW DC from 20pc-80pc in 24 minutes. EV batteries are designed to last the Avenger's planned life. Jeep offers an 8-year warranty up to 160,000km. 

Customers can choose from the following exterior colours: Snow (my car), Volcano, Ruby, Sun, Lake, Granite, or Stone. Only the Volcano colour comes as standard; the others are an extra €950. The Jeep Avenger CDV was awarded the title Car-Derived Van of the Year 2026 in association with Continental Tyres in November 2025, following a vote by experienced commercial vehicle journalists who are members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI). I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t want to return it after my test drives. 

Longitude BEV Commercial is from €39,108 (€30,627 net of grant + VRT Relief); Altitude BEV Commercial is from €32,964 net of grant + VRT Relief and at €26,800 + VAT.

 

 

Brussels reveal for revised Peugeot 408

A substantial upgrade of the Peugeot 408 was revealed at the Brussels Motor Show, writes Brian Byrne. The makeover includes a redesigned front end, new lighting, and new interior materials.

The car has three powertrain options: electric, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The electric version includes Battery Preconditioning, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), and Plug & Charge capabilities.

The revisions include an illuminated brand and name, completely new front lights discreetly positioned lower in the bumper, and an evolved interpretation of the three-line 'claw' daylight running light signature.

Inside are redesigned graphics in the information clusters and customisable ambient lighting.

The current 408 is a coupe-crossover that debuted in 2022. 

New Mazda electric SUV

Mazda unveiled a brand new electric SUV at the Brussels Motor Show, the CX-6e, writes Brian Byrne. It debuted alongside the new-generation CX-5.

The new EV is powered by a 78 kWh battery and 258hp electric motor, using rear-wheel drive. The rated range is up to 484 km.

The interior features a 26-inch touchscreen with a customisable dual-split layout, allowing passengers to view their own information without distracting the driver. Voice recognition is used for a wide range of actions, including temperature control, window opening, and destination setting.

The car will be available across Europe this summer. 

Three new Leapmotors coming

Leapmotor has revealed a new B-segment SUV destined for Europe, the B03X, writes Brian Byrne. The car was shown at the Brussels Motor Show, along with two other vehicles to be added to the China-based brand in the global Stellantis Group.

The B03X is an EV with an expected range exceeding 400km, similar in size to Ford's Puma Gen-E or Renault's 4 E-Tech.

The B05, also shown at Brussels, is a sporty coupe with a rated range of up to 460km. The brand also showcased a new variant of its B10, a range-extended hybrid in which the 18.8kWh battery is paired with a 1.5-petrol-engine generator, delivering an overall range of 900 km.

Leapmotor vehicles are available across Ireland through Gowan Auto's retail network. 

Latest Astra debuts at Brussels

The latest versions of the Opel Astra hatchback and tourer were unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show, writes Brian Byrne. The car will be available with petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric powertrains.

The car has a sharper look than its predecessor and includes styling and technical elements debuted on the latest Grandland, notably permanent lighting for the brand logo and model name. The Astra also gets the larger car's HD matrix lighting.

The Astra nameplate is in its sixth generation and has been produced since 1991. The car's predecessor was the Opel Kadett. 

Fiat Ireland official vehicle partner for Her Sport Awards

Fiat Ireland is the official vehicle partner for the Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl, taking place on Friday, 23 January 2026 at The Helix, Dublin, writes Trish Whelan. Now in its eight year, the Her Sport Awards honours athletes, teams, coaches and volunteers whose performances and influence continue to shape Irish sport. 

As part of the partnership, Fiat Ireland will deliver a series of exclusive experiences in the lead-up to the Awards, including VIP guest arrivals in Fiat Ireland vehicles, a competition and behind-the-scenes content created with Her Sport. 

Niamh Tallon, Founder of Her Sport, said: "Fiat’s support sends a powerful message: women’s sport deserves recognition, investment, and a stage to shine". 

Ciaran Cusack, Brand and Communications Manager at Fiat Ireland, said this partnership ‘builds on Fiat’s wider support of Irish sport, including our ongoing partnership with Team Ireland, and reflects our commitment to baking talent, ambition and achievement at every level’. 

Public voting is now open giving fans across the country the chance to support the women who made 2025 a defining year for Irish sport. Voting ends on Friday, 16 January. Voting and ticket info at awards.hersport.ie