Toyota Corolla Review: Brian Byrne - Irish Car

In a market where the top five registrations year-to-date are dominated by crossover-SUV-type vehicles, that the third place is a hatchback-saloon-estate model is a testament to the Corolla nameplate here, writes Brian Byrne. It's also a tilt to the otherwise declining saloon format that well over half of Corollas are bought as three-box styles, and over a third as hatchbacks.

There's definitely an affection here for Toyota and Corolla that must be crushingly disappointing for competing brands. A reputation for dependability in both cases is a strong part of that.

When I took out the current Corolla saloon for review there was an immediate familiar feeling. Not just because this nameplate has been around for 12 car generations, but the latest version has also been on sale here since 2019. But it's always worth revisiting, and there have been both minor and significant upgrades for the 2023 version.

The overall style remains the same, but with tweaks to the grille and new wheel designs that slightly sharpen an already sleek presentation. After the preponderance of crossover cars in my reviewing list this year, it looks and feels low to the ground. The rear view retains the bigger-car look that came with this saloon generation.

The main visual changes inside are in new trim finishes, and a completely new centre screen that brings welcome upgrades from the previous version. For many of us, the bluetooth untethered connectivity to the iPhone is the key winner. The touchscreen itself is larger too, and though we miss the rotary controls for infotainment volume, at least the sound level is adjustable by real buttons. A new operating system comes with the unit, bringing brighter and fresher graphics, and subscription-based connectivity that includes a cloud-based navigation which offers traffic information and other services. There's also a new styling to the driver instrumentation, with optional views available. All together, these changes bring Corolla right up to the front row in this respect. Full marks too for the excellent climate management controls.

Toyota say they have adjusted interior and seat colours somewhat, but more important is the move to fully LED interior lighting, which saves power consumption and is brighter.

Mostly these days I simply note a full suite of driver assist systems, but for this year's Corolla it's worth mentioning a number of changes to what Toyota dubs its Safety Sense setup. A greater forward detection distance improves the pre-collision system, and there's a better response for the emergency steering assist. A more natural operation is also very evident in the adaptive cruise control. A new function offers several extra safeguards when driving in low speed areas, and on the upper grades there's an automatic braking if rear cross traffic is sensed while reversing.

The powertrain is a revised version of Toyota's hybrid system, with a smaller size but higher output battery. The CVT automatic and engine characteristics have been tweaked to provide a noticeable improvement in driving response, and the powertrain also runs at lower RPM in highway driving.

All in all familiar, but familiarity improved. Which, after my time with the latest version, encourages me to suggest that Corolla is going to stay a favourite in this market for some time to come.

PRICE: From €33,435. WHAT I LIKED: Knowing where I was from the first time I sat in. 

Two new AMG GT Mercs available to order

For the fans of high-performance AMG variants of Mercedes-Benz cars, two new versions of the AMG GT can now be pre-ordered for delivery in Ireland next year, writes Brian Byrne. But no prices are available, as they 'take account of individual specifications and requirements, and will be quoted at the time of ordering'. 

Two models are offered — an AMG GT 63 Coupé and AMG GT 55 Coupé, both equipped with 4MATIC + all-wheel drive. Power in both is from an AMG 4.0 V8 biturbo engine.

The latest GT offers more interior space and the option of a 2+2 seats arrangement. In addition to the level of finish and comfort to be expected from M-B AMG, the central display and a fully digital instrument cluster work with high-tech elements and an imaginative choice of materials to create what the company describes as a 'harmonious, sporty, cockpit design'. 

Kia helps with ocean plastic pollution clearance

A new record for reclaiming plastic dumped in the world's oceans has been set by The Ocean Cleanup, a global partner of the Kia car company, writes Brian Byrne.

Some 55 tons of ocean plastic from the 1.6 million square kilometre Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been delivered to Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada. The plastics will be recycled with a proportion to be used in future Kia models.

The GPGP is a 1.6-million-square kilometre area of plastic refuse and The Ocean Cleanup is scaling up its mission to remove 90pc of floating ocean plastic by 2040.

Kia is committed to more a than 20pc increase in plastic reuse by 2030 and achievement of carbon neutrality by 2045. 

GoCar spending €10m on fleet expansion

Paul McNeice, Head of Country for GoCar.

The GoCar vehicle sharing service is investing €10 million in the expansion and enhancement of its current vehicle sharing services across Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. The investment will support increased vehicle availability and wider vehicle choices for customers throughout the country. 

A total of 280 new vehicles will be added across 149 locations, catering to both urban and rural communities. GoCar’s fleet has seen a rise from 820 vehicles in January 2023 to 930 vehicles in July 2023, with the current investment supporting further increase to more than 1,100 vehicles in over 600 locations across 24 counties nationwide by the end of the year.

GoCar will also be launching a new website and app and a new loyalty programme will be introduced, rewarding repeat customers for their continued use of car sharing services, with the launch planned for late 2023. 

New Kona EV goes into production

Hyundai has begun production of the electric version of the new generation Kona, writes Brian Byrne. It is expected to be on sale in Ireland in October.

The car is being produced in its Czech Republic plant, and the company expects to produce 21,000 units of the EV there in the first year.

The petrol-only and petrol-hybrid versions of the latest Kona was launched here earlier this year.

Two versions of the electric Kona are being offered, with 377km and 514km ranges. No Irish prices are yet available. 

Nissan Juke Review: Brian Byrne - Irish Car

When Nissan introduced the Juke small crossover in 2010 there was a lot going on in its style, writes Brian Byrne. So much that I thought it might not wear well visually. The bug-eyed face and high-set daylight running lights made it a distinctive but love-or-hate model for many. Still, the 'many' seemed to be a good number because it became Nissan's second-best seller in Europe behind the bigger Qashqai.

A couple of mild facelifts kept it going until the second generation arrived in 2019. Larger, keeping the overall design theme but with more sophistication in the details. It took until a year ago, though, before the powertrain option included a hybrid. That was my reason to give it a thorough run a while ago.

I have to say that the car looked exceptionally smart in the white-black 2-tone scheme along with the 19-inch very stylish alloys that come with the SVE grade. What were originally almost cuddly lines have become rakish, and the three-quarter rear aspect has real character. If they ever decided to do an 'R' version, with the 3.8 V6 545hp they stuffed into just five of the first generation Jukes popped under this one's bonnet, it already looks the part.

Inside was all dark artificial leather, chrome-finish detailing and stitching on all the soft-finish seams. Again a lot going on in the design, almost older-fashioned plush high-end sports car but in a comforting and comfortable way. Occupants feel enveloped and cosseted. Those in the back have adequate but not generous knee-room. A reasonable 354L boot for the class also comes with a skinny spare.

That old-fashioned look also applies to the centre touch-screen stacked high, with push-buttons and twist knobs to manage the important navigating. Climate controls down the stack are also the proper kind of real ones that I —and many of my colleagues — favour. There's merit in old-fashioned.

Having recently driven the Juke's current big brothers Qashqai and X-Trail in their e-Power series hybrid form where drive is always from the electric motor, I was kind of surprised to find the Juke's hybrid was the more conventional kind, a 1.6 system also used in the Renault Captur. That doesn't make it any less modern or efficient, there's nothing wrong with a system that delivers 25pc more power than the petrol-only engine does, at the same time trimming fuel consumption by between 20pc-40pc, depending on where you're motoring. The automatic transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch which did efficient and smooth duty.

Even in a very busy small crossover segment, Juke has enough visual pizzazz to garner lots of looks. It certainly remains a style standout from some of its competition, which includes the Yaris Cross, Opel's Crossland, Suzuki's Vitara and the VW T-Roc. Whether that's for you depends on your own personality. The demographics so far show that Juke appeals both to younger owners and older drivers, which probably means the middle group are busy with growing families and are probably in the high-selling Qashqai camp.

Now, can I try one of those five-only copies of the Juke-R built in 2011 ...?

PRICE: Juke petrol from €26,995; review hybrid SVE €37,600. WHAT I LIKED: The old-fashioned merits. 

New Jeep Avenger prices set

Jeep Ireland has set pricing for the new Jeep Avenger, the brand's first all-electric model, writes Brian Byrne.

The range starts at €35,995, with three trim levels available from launch in mid-October.

The Avenger was recently awarded the European Car of the Year 2023 title and was also the Best Family SUV in the Women's World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) awards.

The rated range of the Avenger is up to 400km, with substantial higher capability when used only in urban settings.

The FWD car comes with terrain and hill descent controls, as well as standard and optional advanced driver assist systems. 

New Mercedes-Benz AMG GT revealed

This is the new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, revealed last week, which adds an option of two extra seats, writes Brian Byrne.

Sharing its underpinnings with the new SL roadster from the brand, it is larger in all dimensions from its predecessor.

Power remains from the 4.0 V8 with up to 577hp, and offers a 0-100km/h in shortly over 3 seconds.

The car is also AWD, rather than the rear drive of its predecessor.

Pricing, and when it will be available here, is 'coming soon'. 

New C-HR here in December

The new generation Toyota C-HR will arrive in Irish dealerships in December and registration of interest is now open, writes Brian Byrne.

The second generation of the crossover has a sharper and sleeker body that the outgoing version, initially available with a choice of 1.8 or 2.0 hybrid powertrains, and a 2.0 plug-in hybrid coming later.

The fifth generation of Toyota's hybrid system offers an increased ratio of EV driving.

Two grades will be available. No prices have been released yet. 

Cupra Born Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Just over 120 years ago, an advertisement by the Locomobile Company of Great Britain offered its three 'Best Cars' on a map published for the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup motor race held in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne, one each powered by steam, electricity and petrol. The Locomobile Steam was advertised as 'Cheap, Silent and Effective', the Waverly Electric as the 'Handiest Run-about', and the Oldsmobile  Petrol as 'Light and Reliable'.

I got to thinking about that electric car after I'd had another chance to run the Cupra Born through its paces last week. The Waverley was an American import, tiller-steered and open, advertised with rare women drivers as having 'no complication, turn on the power and steer'. The range was 40 miles, or up to 94 miles with a substantially more expensive new-technology Edison battery. Electric cars were outselling steam and petrol in America at the time and continued to do well for another decade. But the much cheaper Ford Model T, that could go 200 miles on a tank of gasoline, finally closed the Waverley factory in 1916. Ironically, Ford and Thomas Edison had collaborated on developing an electric Model T, but it didn't continue to mass production.

On that Locomobile advertisement, the Electric was priced at 190 Guineas while the steam and petrol offerings were much cheaper at £150 each. So there's nothing new about today's electric cars costing a premium. I wonder, though, if  Ford and Edison had persevered together and the oil industry barons hadn't won the day, would our climate emergency be different now? And where would electric cars technology be? 

Back to the Cupra Born. Now a brand in its own right within the Volkswagen Group, Cupra evolved from once being a performance grade within SEAT. The Born is built on the same assembly line as the VW ID.3 and shares its platform and underpinnings. Visually it's a standout from its cousins, with a much punchier styling and the bronze highlighting in the logo and design details. The car is longer and lower than the ID.3 which adds to the head-turning the Born attracts.

Similarly inside, while the main instruments cluster are pure ID in style — and indeed among my favourites for clarity and ease of use in that — there's a sportier cut to the dashboard and the trim. Many small things together lift the ambience substantially. All else being equal, this is what you'd be prepared to pay more for.

The wide centre screen is familiar to SEAT owners, and also to VW owners of current models, using touch-sensitive sliding to manage basic temperature and sound volume, with screen segments for navigation, audio and phone operation. In general, screen navigation is reasonably easy.

The seats are smart looking, with a stitched pattern and integrated head restraints that are actually well-placed ... there can often be issues for me with no adjustment, but this time it was fine. Good room in the back for two adults or three younger people.

The powertrain is essentially ID.3, with a few electronic tweaks to add a sense of performance befitting the ethos of Cupra. The review car had the 55kWh battery, offering a rated range of between 375-422km, which seemed to work out a good median during my time with the car. Charging time can be as quick as 35 minutes. There's a power output up to 231hp, a pumping torque thanks to the electric motor characteristics, and an acceleration capability of 7sec to 100km/h. In the 'eBoost' version of the review car, an extra Cupra-logoed button on the steering wheel temporarily jacks up acceleration, for instance if you want to overtake. 

My Monday morning commute over motorway, busy dualway and a suburban finish showed an energy consumption of 13.1kWh/100km which fared well with the maker's rated 15.5-17.4kWh. At current public charge rates, that's an €8.38 cost for your hundred kilometres, and a lot less if charging from home.

There is a definite upshift in sporty feel when driving the Born, though it's not by any means a hot hatch in the traditional sense. But it looks good and feels good, and does what it's supposed to. Most of us don't want any more than that. It's about 'no complication, turn on the power and steer'.

PRICE: From €42,080; review car €60,045, both including grants. WHAT I LIKED: The Cupra feel-good factor. 

BMW i7 Review: Brian Byrne - Irish Car

While the saloon car has all but disappeared in most segments with the unstoppable trend towards crossover-SUV type cars, one space where it still dominates is the large luxury car, writes Brian Byrne. And the one that stands out particularly in that space is the latest version on BMW's 7 Series. At nearly 5.4 metres long, it is noticeably bigger than any of its European competition. Indeed, the only car surpassing it in any dimension is the Bentley Flying Spur, which is shorter but wider. And you could also mention the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class which is a stretch on the MB flagship.

I felt this size quite a lot when driving for review the i7, the electric version of this BMW saloon leader. It's not that I'm unused to large vehicles, but they're generally also tall, and the experience in a low saloon with a lot of front and significant length behind the driver does have specific challenges, especially when parking in the typical Irish space that's designed for something not much bigger than a Ford Mondeo. It was always easy to find in the car park, though, as it stuck out well beyond everything else.

The i7 is nevertheless a handsome car, that same size making the enlarged 'kidney' grille that is currently the BMW thing not seem out of proportion on this one. Of course, in the electric car, that grille is now little more than a big badge. The slim LED matrix headlights eyebrowed by daylight running lamps are purposeful in looks, and the sheer length of the i7 doesn't need any sculpting — its slab-sided style suits a design that is meant to be imposing but not to boast. The Hofmeister kink in the rear windows and the high-set short boot-lid sportify the rear, which also has a distinctive treatment. That boot opens to a 500 litres capacity. 

The interior, as it should be, is sumptuous, but with an edgier detail than, say, the cosseting of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The multi-reflective styling of inserts on the doors and dash, along with etched aluminium and satin-chrome elements in the seats and head restraints, help provide a very high-end ambience. The very wide screen combining driver instruments and infotainment sections is bright and very high-resolution, offering clear information, but as a physical style thing would benefit from softer corners. Virtual buttons and sliders in a touch-strip in the dash below that screen operate basic climate, though you have to go into the main screen to make larger changes.

It is a given that the car is going to be comfortable for all occupants. But it is especially so for the owner who normally wouldn't be doing the driving. The left rear seat in the review car was one I obviously wasn't able to experience in transit myself, but my wife was very taken with it, especially the recline and comprehensive massage functions. Rear passengers also have control of climate and other functions via individual touchscreens in the doors. As a showcase for the latest in technologies, the i7 is a standout success.

This latest 7 Series is totally new generation, and designed from the beginning for the electric era. But BMW hasn't dumped the combustion engine yet, and the car is available with a range of them in size, power, and plug-in hybrid. That the first to launch was the electric i7 variant, and also being the most powerful, is significant. Two electric motors on the review car combined to provide both AWD and a thumping, or maybe swishing, 544hp. For a car that weighs 2.7 tonnes the 4.7 seconds 0-100km/h capability is stunning, even more so in that it can be achieved in a silent lack of sound and fury. The rated range is up to 620km, with just the one large battery available. When I charged it to 100pc it gave me an expected range of 486km, but I know from experience that can change, in either direction, depending on driving style and conditions. Whichever, it was enough for all my needs over the review period, particularly as the charging capability is very quick on an suitable high-power charging station.

I drove the i7 over a range of roads and included some long-distance travel. On every surface it performed impeccably, and the nature of the car encouraged smooth driving rather than pumping through the available horsepower and torque, so my average energy consumption proved quite moderate. Of course, I'll never own one, not least because I'd not be able to afford the chauffeur that this one demands.

PRICE: From €140,175; review car €148,017. WHAT I LIKED: The sublime electricity of it. 

'More proactivity' needed from Government in shift to EVs: Ford Ireland

John Manning, Market Lead, Ford Ireland.

The motor industry is doing its part in the necessary shift towards electric vehicles, but other stakeholders, including the Government, must up their game, writes Brian Byrne. That was the message from Ford Ireland boss John Manning this week, when he said that the market is now 'beyond the watershed' in the transition to EVs. He was speaking at the Irish reveal of the Ford Explorer, the first purpose-built battery electric vehicle for Europe, coming to this country in January.

The Ford Ireland Market Lead said the Government plan for 1 million EVs on the road in Ireland by 2030 is 'theoretically achievable, but probably not realistic'. "However, we have to drive towards that figure, and to sustain these we need to have somewhere between 90,000 and 110,000 Fast Chargers available throughout the country. At the last count, there are around 2,500, so we are way behind what is needed."

Saying the transition to EVs is being driven by the market, John Manning forecasts that in 2024, a quarter of all passenger car sales here will be BEV. Apart from the number of charging stations, he criticised the design of those currently available. "No shelters, inflexible cables, spaces designed without taking into account where the charging points in cars are, and locations that are long walking distances from where people gather," he outlined, saying there is a 'disconnect' between the motor industry and Government and planners. "We're doing our part, we're bringing in the product, but we need to see more proactive action from Government and other stakeholders."

When it lands in Ireland in January, Explorer will be the second all-electric passenger car in Europe from the blue oval brand, after the Mustang Mach-E. By the end of next year, it will be one of four all-electric passenger vehicles from the brand in this part of the world, including a battery electric Puma, and an as yet to be detailed sport crossover.

Ordering for Irish customers who have reserved Explorer will open from 19 September, with first deliveries estimated for mid-January. Prices have not been finalised, but will be 'less than €50,000'. 

Opel supporting Ireland's Irish Women’s Open Tag Rugby Team in World Cup

Opel is supporting the Irish Women’s Open Tag Rugby Team, representing the nation in the 2023 Tag Rugby World Cup currently under way at the University of Limerick, writes Trish Whelan.

The event, running from from Wednesday 2nd to Saturday 5th August, is showcasing immense rugby talent from across the globe, including Hong Kong, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Japan, Great Britain, the USA, Italy, and Australia. Around 2,000 of the world's best tag rugby players are competing for gold medals across men’s, women’s, mixed and senior categories.

Pictured are Tena Thornton (C), Rosie Newton (VC), Rebecca Conway, Hannah O’Sullivan, Cliodhna O’Regan, Jayne Pennefather, Mona Fehily, Orla Maher, Megan Carroll, Tara Coleman, Ellen O’Shea (VC), Lydia Looney, Tara O’Connor, Shauna Bermingham, Mairead O’ Sullivan, Cat Galvin, Fiona Brauneisen, Zoe Carroll, Fiona O’Shea, Michaela Fitzgibbon, Mike Storey (Coach), and Syphonia Pua (Manager). 

Ford Explorer Preview: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

This is the car on which Ford is pinning the regeneration of its future in Europe, writes Brian Byrne. I was at a static preview of it last week in Dublin along with colleagues, and while the inaugural drive event is some way off, it’s worth giving the new Explorer EV some attention.

It is the first dedicated battery electric car designed for Ford in Europe, and developed and built in Europe apart from taking the long time around name of an American Ford SUV. In the compact crossover space, it sits between the Puma compact utility vehicle and the Kuga crossover SUV, marginally smaller in most dimensions than the latter. The target competition will be VW’s ID.4, Skoda’s Enyaq, Kia’s Niro EV and similar.

When it lands in Ireland in January, Explorer will be the second all-electric passenger car in Europe from the blue oval, after the Mustang Mach-E. By the end of next year, it will be one of four all-electric passenger vehicles from the brand in this part of the world, including a battery electric Puma, and an as yet to be detailed sport crossover.

The powertrain systems underpinning the Explorer are jointly developed with Volkswagen. As part of this JV, Ford is building electric drive units at its Hailwood plant in the UK. But everything else on the car is pure Ford, including the styling that digs deep into the American company's 'Adventurous Spirit' ethos.

Reflecting this, Ford's marketing people have come up with having a woman drive an Explorer around the world later this year, emulating the groundbreaking achievements of adventurer Aloha Wanderwell who became the first woman to do just that in the 1920s. It took her seven years in a number of Model Ts, but it's not likely that travel adventure influencer Lexie Alford will take so long in Ford's latest.

The new Explorer has a strong look, the EV blank front set off by a larger than usual blue oval Ford badge. There's a slab-sided profile with a kick over the haunch that has more than a hint of Mustang. The rear treatment is solid SUV in style. But the overall size is comfortable as a family car in European terms. Inside are good materials and features such as sculpted seats with integrated head restraints, and massage functionality for the driver as standard on every Explorer. A 14.6" central touchscreen can be adjusted to different angles.

Ford are simplifying their grades and options system across their models and for the Explorer there will be two series, Select and Premium. The company says the first will give buyers 'everything they need', while the higher level will add extras including higher level trim, larger alloys, and panorama roof. The company are also simplifying colour choices, with a single price for a range of six optional colours.

Standard on all are connected navigation, parking aids front and rear, speed assist and more. A driver assistance pack, a heat pump for climate control, and a retractable tow-bar are options. Up to 80pc charging is possible at a suitable charging point, and service frequency is every two years.

Ordering for Irish customers who have reserved via  ford.ie/cars/electric-explorer will open from 19 September, with first deliveries estimated for mid-January. 

In an increasingly busy electric cars market, and with a focus on offering only EVs in passenger cars in Europe by 2030, Ford hopes to forge a complete reinvention of its brand, beginning with new Explorer. I'm looking forward to a first drive.

Prices have not been finalised, but will be 'less than €50,000'. 

Car sales up by a fifth

MG4, top selling electric model in July.

Car registrations for the year to date are up by 20.1pc over the same period last year, according to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, writes Brian Byrne.

The increase is in part due to improved supply of vehicles resulting in the fulfilment of long-standing orders. "Improved production over the last few months has helped supply catch up with demand," says SIMI Director General Brian Cooke, "resulting in July new car sales almost matching those of the key selling month of January."

Once again, sales of electric cars are in sharp focus, with the 18,458 units delivered to date representing an increase of nearly two-thirds on the same period in 2022. 

Light Commercial vehicle registrations year to date are up by 35.3pc at 22,997 units.

In fuel-energy market share, petrol retains the largest share at 32.29pc, diesel at 22.06pc, hybrid 18.04pc, electric 17.64pc, and Plug-in electric hybrid 7.67pc