Decline observed in seatbelt use

Albeit from a high level, seatbelt use is showing a worrying decline, according to results released by the Road Safety Authority from a survey held last autumn, writes Brian Byrne.

Driver rates dropped by 4pc to 95pc, with a similar rate observed in front seat passengers to a marginally lower 94pc.

Rear seat overall seatbelt use increased by 2pc to 95pc, suggesting that 'do you mind fastening' TV ad might have shown results. But rear seatbelt use by those travelling on rural roads had a lower 92pc compliance.

RSA analysis of Irish collision data shows that 22% of car users killed between 2019-2023 were not wearing a seat belt*. Also, 7% of car users seriously injured between 2019 and 2023 were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. 

Peugeot 508 review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

A coupe style is all about that, style, writes Brian Byrne. A sloping rear roofline in practical terms can be limiting for rear passengers. Then again, owners who want a coupe probably don't rely on it for full family transport. That said, the larger 4-door coupes in Europe over recent decades generally offer reasonable rear room, they being long enough for the fastback slope to cover the boot rather than the passenger area.

The Peugeot 508 bravely bucks the crossover-SUV trend. Offering a sense of upmarket and old-world grand tour to the customer not seduced by that latter ... anyway they may have a related 5008 in the double driveway for the regular family needs. There won't be many 508s in those driveways, though, as a look at the Peugeot sales figures for Ireland will show. Still, that also means the model will turn heads.

The car is quite beautiful. Good aesthetic in the proportions. Sized and detailed for presence, especially with the revised front introduced in 2023 to bring the car fully into the current family look. That change also very much sharpens the overall style of this second generation in its mid-life. In the navy of my review car the 508 had a restrained look that subtly adds an extra layer of perceived quality. The rear three-quarter view shows a modern classic in the format, with a short high bootlid deck indicating a very practical boot capacity.

Inside there's a lot going on in the styling of the dashboard and instrumentation, visually geared towards the driver. The driving instruments are placed high to be viewed above the steering wheel, in Peugeot's now familiar i-Cockpit design. There's a selection of instruments styling available, my own preference being the simple analog look. The infotainment screen is set low, which I quite like as it doesn't interfere with windscreen view as in some other cars. There's a decent mix of piano switches and digital buttons for key functions. A hefty centre console divides the seats for the front occupants, adding to the sense of old-style sportiness. The flick-switch transmission selector and drive mode are tidily fitted there, while the remote controls on the steering wheel are straightforward and minimal.

The seating support and comfort proved very good, equally so for the couple who would ride in the back as for those in the front. For the driver, though there's a lot of glass in the rear window, the fastback slope reduced actual visibility through it, but the side mirrors are big and have a wide view angle. That boot capacity I mentioned is excellent at 487L.

With the mid-life revision, Peugeot added a plug-in hybrid petrol to the powertrain options, with a choice from three outputs 180hp/225hp/360hp. There's also a 1.2 petrol with 130hp, and the 130hp 1.5 diesel that powered my review car. All have an 8-speed automatic transmission. The diesel option has become unusual in Ireland today, but even with a relatively lazy drive it proved to be a very pleasant motor indeed. Quiet and refined too. And phenomenally frugal, coming with a range of close to 1,000km on a tankful, sipping at less than 4L/100km a lot of the time. For anyone who needs to travel high mileage in style, and comfort, there won't be many stops to refuel.

Needless to say, the usual suite of driver assist systems. In this 2023 registered press car, not yet as intrusive as they are becoming elsewhere. 

My final thought, given that most of the competition for a 4-door midsized coupe is offered by premium brands from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, this is a car quite well able to compete with these in most metrics, and at a price that is much more accessible.

PRICE: From €45,795 for petrol; review car from €46,795. WHAT I LIKED: The almost old style and comfort, with a modern edge. 

New Mokka Hybrid now on sale

Alongside the new Corsa Hybrid which I recently reviewed, Opel Ireland has introduced the Mokka small SUV in hybrid form also, writes Brian Byrne.

The power unit is based on a new generation 3-cylinder 1.2 petrol engine, with a 136hp total output and a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

The 48V lithium-ion battery is recharged via recuperation and the petrol engine. Technically a so-called mild hybrid, in this application the car is able to travel on electric power alone for up to a kilometre, or up to 50pc of the time in urban driving.

Price from €34,995. 

 

Volvo EX30 review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

I was a little iffy about the Volvo EX30 before I picked it up, writes Brian Byrne. Largely because of mutterings from colleagues, who had concerns ranging from sudden blacking out of the screen to an inability to access the car when the key card failed to open it. Now I'm wondering if that was a general problem with the one particular car? Because they gave me a different one, and when I left it back I'd not only had no trouble, but had grown to like it very much.

It's the smallest Volvo available and is electric only.  Similar in size to a Renault Captur but wider and a little lower. And for those who are familiar with it, based on the same platform as the Smart #1 joint venture between Chinese company Geely and Mercedes-Benz. Which makes a lot of sense, as the majority owner of Volvo Cars is the same Geely.

The EX30 is truly a good looker. Obvious cues from companion in the brand range XC40 but with some cool style details like the missile shaped headlights, a snappy treatment at the cabin's rear quarter, and a back hatch panel the detail of which enhances further the width of the car.

Inside is the minimalism in line with the current Volvo ethos. And the vertical centre screen idea first introduced by the brand back in 2014 now has a revised design and interface. But it totally replaces any other instrumentation, so the driver has to look all the way to the centre for basic speed and energy supply information. This is very much a Tesla way, and that doesn't really say it's a good thing.

If you read me regularly, you know my feelings on the distraction issues with centre screens. While driving this car, on a few occasions, I looked across to try and sort out where to tap for some function, and the system monitoring my driving immediately beeped at me to get my eyes back on the road! On the one hand the car forces you to look away, and then reprimands you for doing so. I rest my case.

That said, I was pleased that the screen uses the Google operating system. The navigation part has that neat trick which, when you key in a destination, it tells you what level of battery you'll have left when you arrive. Surprising how reassuring that little tweak is. The system also responds well to voice commands.

The accommodation in the car is unexpectedly ample for what is a segmentally small car, in part due to the width. Good headroom, reasonable space in the back seats, and very comfortable seating. In the review car, a single knob on each of the front seats electrically operated all the movements, and if you change a setup it immediately offers you an opportunity (on the screen) to save it.

The flecked trim on my car — they call it Flax Deco — certainly looked different, and even though a technically hard surface it looks soft. The light coloured artificial leather seating enhanced an interior already bright under a panoramic glass roof, which comes with the top spec Ultra grade.

The motor in my review car drove the rear wheels, had an output of 276hp, and was powered by the 69kWh extended range battery. The 480km claimed range seemed as usual a little ambitious for my mainly beyond city driving, but I'd expect real world 410km, and a lot more if my driving was primarily non-motorway. Goes without saying the EX30 is a smooth and capable drive. My energy consumption was 16.5kWh/100km. There's a 2-motor AWD version available.

There's no key-fob, just an NFC card that you tap on the door frame to open and lock things, and which you must lay against a spot on the centre console to light up the powertrain. Again very Tesla-esque and, given the number of times in my life that I've had to traipse from a hotel room to reception to have a key card gone dud reactivated, it's not a very reassuring thing.

But, especially since everything worked absolutely well for me, I got to like this smallest Volvo very much indeed. I think I could learn quickly to live with my few perceived negatives.

PRICE: From €38,596; Review car €54,995. WHAT I LIKED: The style and comfort. 

Van drivers worst using mobiles while driving

Van drivers were observed as having the highest usage of handheld devices while driving in a survey recently published by the Road Safety Authority, writes Brian Byrne.

The overall results of the 2023 survey also showed that motorists' use of the devices has increased by 50pc since the previous survey in 2022. Almost one in ten drivers at 145 sites nationwide were seen illegally using their devices while on the move. Some 15pc of drivers of light goods vehicles were seen using their phones illegally.

Overall, males were more likely to be observed using a handheld mobile device than females.

International data shows that drivers using a mobile phone are four times more likely to be involved in a collision. 

New A6 e-tron available to order soon

Audi's new A6 e-tron electric model will be available to order in Ireland from September, writes Brian Byrne. There will also be a more powerful S6 e-tron version.

The completely new car has a fastback style with very smooth lines and a consequent very low drag factor of 0.21, and it will also be available in an avant wagon format.

Design features include very slim headlights and a new version of the traditional trapezoidal front design reflecting the no longer required radiator grille.

Rated power consumptions are 14-17kWh/100km, and estimated range of up to 750km depending on version.

The infotainment system will include access to a range of applications including news and music services.

Pricing in Ireland is yet to come. 

New generation VW Transporter revealed

The new generation of Volkswagen's Transporter has been revealed and will be part of a pre-sales campaign in Ireland towards the end of this year, writes Brian Byrne.

Along with the Caravelle people carrier, the new Transporter will be available in diesel, plug-in hybrid, and electric drive. Diesels will be available in three power options, from 110-170hp. The electric versions will start with 64kWh battery and three power options, and there will later be a smaller battery version for urban deliveries use.

The seventh generation Transporter will have more space and payload and a greater towing capacity than the outgoing T6.1.

LED main and tail lights will be standard, as will be an electronic parking brake and fully digital instruments.

More specification details and pricing coming closer to the launch. 

Dublin GAA stars collect new Peugeot 3008s

Dublin GAA players Cian Murphy, Niall Scully, and James Madden collected the keys to their new Peugeot 3008 vehicles recently at the Windsor Airton Peugeot dealership, marking the continuation of the partnership between the French automaker and Dublin GAA, writes Trish Whelan. 

The event celebrated the players’ role as brand ambassadors for Peugeot. This partnership highlights the brand’s commitment to supporting local sports and their dedication to excellence, a value shared by Dublin GAA. 

John Brennan, Sales Manager at Windsor Airton said they are thrilled to have Cian, Niall and James as their local Peugeot ambassadors. 

Cian (left), Niall (middle), and James (right) are pictured receiving their new Peugeot 3008 vehicles at the Peugeot Airton dealership located on Ayrton Road Tallaght, Co Dublin.

 

Review: Lexus LBX - Trish Whelan, Irish Car

The smallest car in the Lexus line-up, the compact sized LBX crossover, went on sale here earlier this year. It is set to be a game changer and key model for the brand’s growth in Europe competing in a segment that Lexus has not previously catered for. 

This landmark vehicle opens up new market opportunities, aimed at younger style-conscious drivers seeking a small but premium car as their first step up the luxury car ladder at a price they can afford, and at existing Lexus customers who want a second but smaller car. It will also appeal to those who haven’t considered Lexus before but who are interested in this new crossover. So far this year, some 222 LBX units have been sold here in Ireland, just behind its NX stablemate with 262, so the car is already making an impact among buyers. 

This is the first Lexus model based on the GA-B platform which is shared with its Toyota Yaris Cross cousin, so it shares the same underpinnings of that model. The two cars differ in construction and in size with the LBX measuring 4,190mm long, 1,825mm wide and 1,545mm high and with a 2,580mm wheelbase so it is longer, wider but not higher than the Yaris Cross. But the biggest difference is in price with the Toyota costing over €8,000 less than the LBX. 

The handsome exterior design is both muscular and powerful. The new frontal arrangement features a trapezoid shape while front pillars have been pulled back to make the cabin seem small and the bonnet even longer for a sporty look. Flared wings accentuate the large 18-inch wheels. At the rear, the Lexus lettering is prominent on the tailgate and the new signature blade light with an L-shaped lighting design gives the car presence; a blacked-out rear pillar adds to the car’s strong look. 

The interior gives a warm welcome and a feeling of being nicely cocooned. The beautifully finished cabin is of premium quality; great attention to detail is evident in the upholstery and trims including sand coloured leather upholstery and contrasting black floor mats. A low scuttle line aids visibility as do the front side windows that stretch far forward and the small A-Pillar windows. The latest Lexus Link Connect system is operated via a 9.8-inch touchscreen located down low on the dash and tilted back to integrate with it. It includes cloud-based navigation. Smartphone integration is enabled using wireless or wired connections for Apple CarPlay, or a wired link for Android Auto users. The system’s My Setting allows you customise preferences for the multimedia, vehicle driving position and Blind Spot Monitors. The deeply recessed 7-ins multi-information instrument cluster can be customised to suit individual preferences. You get a volume control knob on the dash and up and down switches for the climate control, a small C type USB and a charging one. 

As this is not a high car, it doesn’t offer a high seating position. Front sports seats were really comfy with good support but I was surprised to find manual adjustments, not power ones. However, there was a lumbar support on my driver’s seat and both front seats could be heated. Rear seats are set slightly higher than those in the front and can divide and fold 60:40. While there’s reasonably good headroom, leg room can be a bit tight for an adult seated behind a tall person in front and the middle seat back doesn’t come down to provide cupholders. There are no USB ports. With all seats up, there’s 402 litres of luggage space and space below for a tyre repair kit and other items. The tailgate is power operated and can be set to a height you require to avoid hitting a low garage ceiling or wall. The auto gear shifter is on the flat of the central console which makes it easy to use. A ‘B’ gear is for use on steep downward slopes, while you can drive up to 50pc of the time in EV drive mode and drive quietly in residential areas late at night without waking the neighbours. 

The Lexus uses a 134bhp 1.5 3-cylinder self charging petrol hybrid powertrain matched to an e-CVT automatic transmission and with 120Nm torque. It has a 0-100km/h time of 9.2 seconds, the official fuel return is 4.5 L/100kms WLTP and road tax €140. The Elegance trim boasts a huge amount of standard equipment and top safety features. They include a rear view camera, Radar Cruise Control, Adaptive Speed Limiter, front cyclist/pedestrian detection, anti-theft immobiliser and alarm, Parking Assist Sensors front and rear, and a dusk sensor. I found the car handled well and was well balanced. I enjoyed driving it on all types of roads as well as in urban areas where it was a joy to park with its compact size. 

After a week’s test drive, while I’m still unsure if the LBX is worthy of carrying the prestigious Lexus badge, it could well turn out to be the best-selling Lexus, ever. Priced from €39,440 plus delivery and related charges.

 

Opel Corsa Hybrid review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Opel's Corsa is the German brand's oldest nameplate still in production, writes Brian Byrne. Around since 1982, it's now in its sixth generation. Or Corsa F, in the manner the carmaker has been labelling model versions since the 1960s. And introduced in 2019, this Corsa version is also the oldest of the current models lineup. It was facelifted in 2023, gaining the current family front look.

The exterior style is tidy. Because the car is not completely from the new Opel design ethos, it has curves rather than edges, and still looks good for that. That new 'face' does add an extra level of presence, with a perception of increased size that is just that, an impression. A point, though, Opel is making a design mistake in certain versions — including the review car — by hiding the company's logo in black on black. The 'blitz' is among the most familiar in the automotive industry, going back to the 1930s when it was the name of a successful line of trucks. Even the Bible says, don't hide your light under a bushel.

For that facelift there have also been upgrades to the interior, notably a new steering wheel and a change to the now-familiar Stellantis 'flick' shifter for the automatic transmission. The basic dashboard shape didn't change, and for my money that's good, because it has a little bit more class to it than the latest Opel minimalist look in newer models. Climate and seat heading are operated by good old-fashioned knobs and buttons. 

There are also new seats, and though I have reviewed the Corsa before in its electric and petrol versions, I don't have a recent comparison. All I can say is that I did some long distances in this one, and for both myself and my passenger it was comfortable. The car is low to the ground and I did have to contort a little getting in and out (age, mostly. Mine.) but once ensconced, plenty of space.

The Corsa has recently been made available with a mild hybrid powertrain, which was the main reason for my taking another look at the model. In the Irish market, the car comes in three trims, with a 75hp 1.2 petrol and 5-speed manual transmission base option in each, along with my car's 100hp MHEV with a 6-speed dual clutch automatic. There's also a GS version with standard 100hp petrol and an 8-speed autobox.

My review Corsa MHEV surprised me. Normally a 'mild' hybrid system only offers energy harvesting from braking that is stored in a small battery and simply feeds back to boost acceleration when wanted. This one is different in that, like a full hybrid, the car can operate in full electric mode for short periods. The Stellantis indication of the speedometer turning blue when in EV mode suggested this was quite often in mixed travel. The overall fuel consumption of 4.6L/100km also showed an efficient operation, with the official readings claiming a 19pc improvement over the less powerful base engine.

Given that there's just 100hp on tap, the Corsa Hybrid felt quite nippy and responsive, and the car is a sweet handler. Although the SUV trend has penetrated even the small car segment, there's still a lot of life in what we used to call the supermini size, and Corsa is Opel's top seller here, and improving. 

Oldest nameplate, top seller. There's an Opel symmetry here. Now, brighten the blitz again and I'll be happy.

PRICE: Hybrid from €29,695; Review car €31,695. WHAT I LIKED: A little bit of older style with latest engine tech. 

Suzuki Swift first drive: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

The Suzuki Swift nameplate has been around for a marginally longer time than I have been involved in reviewing cars, writes Brian Byrne, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and initially being an export version of the Japanese market Cultus model. But for the modern Swift, developed as a totally new global car, things began 20 years ago with a tidy supermini debuting at the 2004 Paris Motor Show. With smart looks and minimal fussiness, it has served its maker well in many markets, including Europe. 

In Ireland, though a small seller in the big picture of crossover-SUV preferences, the model's sales have almost doubled since the pre-pandemic 2019, and now there is a new fourth generation to build on that. The local ambition is to double Swift sales again and achieve a top ten position in the segment.

It is worth remarking that the Swift is an excellent example of gentle style and size evolution. Put the latest one against the 2004 version and the familial cues have remained strong. In sizing, there has been virtually no bloat — a little longer and wider and with an increased wheelbase, it is also lower than that first car.

Still on the same platform as introduced on the outgoing version, a new treatment of the front lights-grille and bonnet is an effective upshift for the car's visual presence, while a change back to 'proper' rear door handles rather than the concealed in the C-pillar versions of Generation 3 allows a small extension of glass area that perceptively lengthens the look. That is helped by an integrated rear hatch spoiler.

There's a significant improvement inside, with brighter 2-tone dashboard and trim details lightening what had traditionally been a quite dark interior in Swifts. More important, the full colour infotainment and driver instruments are now right up to the quality and information provision expected and required by today's buyers. 

There are improved seats, the front ones heated. Electric rear windows are also standard, as are rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise control. There's actually a lot of new technology, though much of it is the new mandatory safety stuff including a camera watching the driver to see if they are paying attention to the road.

For this latest Swift, Suzuki is offering the car in just two grades, the main differences in the upper one relating to alloy wheels, electrically folding mirrors with integrated indicator repeat flashers and, oddly, a heater air outlet in the rear.

Suzuki Ireland are making a strong point of offering a significantly higher specification on their base model compared to entry versions of competitors from Hyundai, Skoda, Renault and MG, among others. They also offer figures claiming substantially better fuel savings.

There's also a completely new powertrain, based on a 1.2 mild-hybrid petrol 3-cylinder, with a claimed 7pc improvement in fuel economy over the 4-pot of the previous generation. A 5-speed manual is standard, but there's also an automatic option, this time a CVT system instead of the automated manual offering on the previous car. I'm happy with that latter, though colleagues often can be sniffy about CVT. In this case, it's actually faster to 100km/h than the manual.

Suzuki are also claiming better soundproofing and an improved ride in the latest Swift, something which I'll try and validate when I get full time with the car. In my introductory drive, the typical buzzy sound of the 3-cylinder motor is something I actually like, and it felt like an engine that will give all of its 82hp when pushed a bit. 

Suzuki Ireland are expecting their entry manual version to attract four in ten of the car's buyers, while a quarter of owners will opt for the automatic transmission costing €2,000 extra.

PRICE: From €21,495; WHAT I LIKED: A car that still seems comfortable in its own skin. 

VW upping power of ID.3 GTX

Volkswagen have announced an even more powerful version of their GTX variant of the ID.3 electric hatchback, the 326hp GTX Performance, writes Brian Byrne.  It's the first of what will be a powertrain Performance drive system that will be rolled out in other models.

The car has a 5.7s sprint to 100km/h potential, with a new 79kWh battery that provides a range claim of up to 601km.

A adaptive chassis control will be available as an option to an already upgraded suspension, and the ID.3 GTX Performance will also have specific exterior style elements and interior details.

Irish price and availability in due course. 

PHEV version of new Superb now available to order

A plug-in hybrid version of Skoda's new generation Superb is now available to order from Irish dealers, writes Brian Byrne. The version is priced from €54,385, alongside the mild-hybrid petrol and diesel/HVO-compatible versions recently arrived.

The electric range of the PHEV is a claimed 124km, and the Superb is available as usual in large hatchback and combi estate formats.

The PHEV is expected to pick up on the trend which has seen a 22pc increase in Irish sales for the powertrain system across the market.

The car's battery can be topped up to 80pc at public 50kW charge stations in 26 minutes.

Orders made now will see deliveries in early 2025. 

Car sales doldrums

Car registrations in Ireland are marginally down for the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, writes Brian Byrne. The 0.3pc shortfall represents just 286 cars less, while the number of imported used cars for the period is up by 7,766 to 37,199.

With 13,885 new electric cars sold up to the end of July, the EV drop is 25pc, according to the figures compiled by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. Top selling electric car is the VW ID.4.

The top selling car brand is Toyota, followed by Volkswagen, Skoda, Hyundai and Kia. The top selling model is recorded as the Hyundai Tucson, followed by Skoda's Octavia, Kia's Sportage, Toyota's RAV 4 and the Toyota Yaris Cross.

SIMI's Director General Brian Cooke says the market is at 'a critical juncture' on the journey to Zero Emission Vehicles. "We need decisive actions in the Budget to arrest this slide and to reignite Ireland's EV momentum," he said. "This can be done by extending the BIK incentive at current levels, and increasing the SEAI Grants back to 2022 levels until the EV market recovers. Budget 2025 is a real chance for Government to signal their commitment to fleet electrification and is an opportunity they should grasp.”