TMW - The updated Isuzu D-Max Blade, better looks, better comfort and more kit.

After testing the last model, the Fury, i was given the opportunity to try the updated D-Max Blade Automatic, and to say this car, compared to the previous one, is a vast difference, is an understatement.

With only the AT35 and Yukon that sits above the Blade, you know that you are getting a well kitted out car. And you do, the car costs £27,999, but our car here today comes with some extra's

• Tow Bar - £187.50
• 13 Pin Towing Electrics - £140.004
• Special paint Pearlescent White - £250.00
• Bed Rug - £375.00
• Lazer Lights - £412.50

Taking this car to £29,364, now thats a lot of money, but you are getting a lot of car for that money, for a start you get a double cab, making access so much easier for back seat passengers, and to be honest i think it looks a lot better too as a Double, the car has had an update since the last time we tried one, and again, it looks far superior, with new look frontage, with new bumper and lights, it gives it a more muscular and purposeful look.

inside the car you get a full leather upholstery, with a better sat nav, buttons and switchgear all to hand and not miles away like you find in some other cars, it is also far more comfortable than before, and being an auto, its far easier to drive, why would anyone have a manual gearbox these days when auto's are just so good.

The Access for rear seat passengers as mentioned is really easy and once there they have loads of space to get comfortable, even with the front seats set further back, there is still enough leg room for anyone that would require lots of space.

The Blade can do a claimed 112mph, not that you would want to do that, it would be a little rough, driving at motorway speeds is perfect, comfortable and quiet, anything more and it does get a little noisy and rough, although the 1.9 litre is very capable, it is tuned more for "work" than leisure.

 The fuel consumption of the D-Max is claimed to be

• Urban 30.4mpg
• Extra Urban 40.9mpg
• Combined 36.2mpg

We found it difficult to get to those figures but we were not far adrift at all, and we were impressed at what was achievable, its also not the "cleanest" pick up on the market with 205g/km, but it is Euro 6 Compliant, if the car was able to achieve the combined figure of 36.2mpg it would give the car a touring figure of 605 miles between fill ups.

The changeable set up between 2WD and 4WD is with a dial, and allows the car to be able to be taken off road, we didn't do this, but with the large chunky tyres, going off the beaten track and onto more harsh terrain seems like it would be very easy indeed.

There is no getting away from the fact that this is a very large car, it handles as such, thankfully getting in and out of parking spaces is easy with the reversing camera, but it does poke out of the end of a normal sized bay, but to be honest most cars are getting this big, whereas parking bays are getting smaller, so something needs to be done.

Because the car is high up the list of models you can be assured that you get loads of kit, some of which are :-

• LED lights from and rear
• Tinted Windows, load liner (additional carpeted cost)
• Electric Windows
• Central Locking
• Keyless Entry and push Button Start
• Gear Shift Monitor
• Touchscreen with Multi Information Display
• Bluetooth
• DAB Radio
• Apple Car Play
• Android Auto
• Front and Rear USB Ports
• Multiple Speakers
• Loads of Storage
• Leather seats 
• Arm Rest
• Carpets
• Hill Descent Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Full Range of Safety
• 18" Alloys

And thats just the tip of the iceberg, there are far more toys to play with and believe me, you can spend a vast amount of time working out all the bits and pieces.

CONCLUSION

This new model, well updated, heavily, is a huge step forward and is far superior in all aspects, from drive, comfort, economy, safety and additional equipment, it is a more capable car than the model it replaces.

This car really moves the goal posts and by some way too, there are now more and more of this style car available in the UK, from Nissan, Renault, Mercedes, Ford and Volkswagen, each has their own capabilities, but the Isuzu D-Max combines all for a great price, you would be silly not to consider the car over and above the competition, thats just how good this car is !

TMW - Probably the most expensive Chinese Takeaway you will own, and the best !!

The MG3 is one of those cars thats now been "facelifted", there is not really any changes to the exterior to really say anything about, the interior is the same, little change there either, but the main change is the engine, they have made that more environmentally friendly a little more Oomph and a start stop system to give the car more miles per gallon, but more on that later.

The car really looks the part, for a supermini to look sporty and roomy is a given these days, but to have a name associated with sportiness, as well as room and capability is a great combination, the lines of the exterior flow well, from the lights at the front along the side to the rear and the oversized long lighting signature.

The Silver MG badge at the front with the silver strip below gives it a better look, the silver line really does give the car an air of class, that the previous model failed to have, the remainder of the exterior is a very nice car to look at, and better than some other brands cars that are available.

The interior is a great place to be, the glass area is vast, you can see out around the windows very well, with no real blockage, the seating position once you get the seat in teh right place is near to perfection as can be, all the switchgear is very near and handy, and the top box which slides open for you to add your iPod or Sat Nav too, can close to protect them from anyone that decides to break in and slide it up and take whatever is within.

Talking of the engine, the 1.5 litre DOHC VTI-TECH is the only engine available for now, and it runs 106ps, not the best power in the world, but the gearing does make for a a spirited drive in the car, regardless of models, currently the car has for models, the 3Time, 3Form, 3Form, Sport and 3Style+, a play on words but it gives you a distinct idea of what is available to buy.

The cars fuel consumption is alleged to produce :-

• Urban 37.7mpg
• Extra Urban 57.6mpg
• Combined 48.7mpg

We did mainly motorway driving with a couple of local driving trips, and achieved 49.5mpg, the co2 level is a rather large 136g/km, now thats way above cars with bigger engines, bigger body styles and more power, but given that the next MG3 might, only might, deal with this we can forgive this on this occasion, top speed, well, thats also nothing to write home about, at 108 mph.

The 108 mph top speed will keep up well with motorway speeds, and the gearing also means that the car does really really well around town, and to be honest it does frighten you a little with how quick that the car pulls away and gets you around local roads.

Having this speed means that you need to have a car that is easy to drive and comfortable, and with this car you get both, the seats are not the most supportive in the world, but they do keep you planted and with a degree of comfort that makes you complete a long journey in reasonable comfort with a certain degree of equipment.

The car comes with just a few toys, this helps keep the cost of the car low, the start price for the MG3 is £8,695, which for a car of this size, power and equipment is brilliant, the model we had:-

• Front LED Daytime Running Lights
• Hill Hold Assist
• Ultra Low Insurance Rating - 4E
• DAB Audio System (not Entry Model)
• Six Airbags
• Electronic Stability Control Corner Brake Control
• Traction Control
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel With Red Stitching
• Air Conditioning
• Cruise Control
• 16" Alloy Wheels
• Electric Windows

The boot space is not the biggest in the world, but it houses a good weekly shopping without any issues, , put the seats back and forth is also not an issue, there is also huge amount of space in the rear for very tall passengers, you can take five adults in the car, but four would be better with significant comfort and space, there are lots of cubby spaces for drinks and other items that you would feel like taking with you on a journey.

The glove box isn't very big, and is chunk is taken up with the MG3 hand books, but like i have said previously you have the top box with the sliding flap to put some smaller items.

The car is very quiet, left to idle you would not know that the engine was running, it is that quiet, driving it and you know that it is a sporty car, it grips the road and corners extremely well, like a train on tracks it is that good, combine that to the large glass area, you have a brilliant car.

The brand is growing at a slow but sure way, there is currently 77 dealers in the country, and this is growing, the MG3 is the best seller, and obviously the GS SUV the other car they sell, the sales will swell in quarter four of this year with the addition of the XS, a slightly smaller Crossover, to take the fight to the Nissan Juke class, the brand is based from Longbridge, the old MG-Rover plant, but no production is made and is not likely to be either.

The brand also does not sell cars in Europe, but this will change in the next 18 months or so, and more models will be added to the range over the next 5-6 years, including a much needed and wanted sports car, for this is what MG is basically known for.

CONCLUSION

Well, would i own one of these cars, if i was in the market for one, yes definitely, it does everything you want from a car, and more, the next generation mainly stays the same with new lighting and bumper at the front and new tailgate at the rear, it is reasonably comfortable and economical, has a distinct lack of toys, but you can upgrade the car to one of the other models, and then choose one of the One Million personalisation options available, so you could have a car that no one else in the UK owns.

If you can put up with the depreciation, high CO2 and lack of toys, and just want a car to get you from A to B, then this is for you, without any doubt, it truly is a great car and deserves to sell far more than it does.

TMW - The Licence loser or the car to frighten the elderly, either way, this is one hell of a car.

There is only one car thats available that will frighten the old and get the kids to grin with envy, and that is the Subaru WRX/STi, and when it is the traditional Blue, then you know you have a car thats not only a licence loser, but a back cruncher, and thats exactly what you have here with this Subaru.

The Scooby just oozes speed from the outside, from the Pic-Nic table spoiler at the back, the side skirts and the deep grill at the front and the huge air duct on the bonnet, you just know that you will not be let down in this car.

Being that this car is a four wheel drive with manual gearbox, getting the power down smoothly is difficult, well, at the start of ownership, once you get used to the way the car works then getting the car to pull away at speed without either slipping the clutch, over revving or making the car misbehave, either way, that noise you get from the quad exhaust is just awesome, and one that you never get used too, take it through a tunnel, rev hard and the noise is phenomenal.

The four door saloon, as a bog standard car is great, plenty of room in the back for the rear passengers, and the huge boot space, bring it to the front and again you have loads of space for front seat passengers, but then add it to that power and it takes it to another level, a level thats not matched or beaten by anyone, the nearest rival is no long available, and the Mitsubishi Evo X is no more.

the 2.5 litre Boxer engine, with twin scroll turbocharger is more power that you will ever need, the top speed of the car is 159mph, so more than double the UK maximum speed limit, and because of the power and speed, it means that the CO2 is a whopping 242g/km, and thusly the fuel consumption just happens to be :-

• Urban Cycle 20.2mpg
• Extra Urban Cycle 33.6mpg
• Combined Cycle 27.2mpg

Now, these figures might look low, and they are, but you expect this in a car of this ilk, working your way through the short shift gears is easy, and you get up to 6th gear quickly and efficiently, with the fully independent suspension all around giving stability and making journey's sure footed and easy.

The display up front gives you all the info you could ever need, now, whether it was me, or the car, i cant say, but i found the central display difficult to operate and getting the info i needed was not that easy, so i left it on the fuel consumption page, so that i can see what i was, or was not achieving.

You can lock the central dif if your needing to drive heavy in a straight line, but try and turn a corner with teh central diff lock on, and it does not like it, at all  !

The Car cost £29,000 before any options are added, but then it comes with a whole host of standard kit including, but not limited too :-

• LED Lamps Front & Rear
• Pop-Up Headlamp Washers
• Front Fog Lamps
• Rear Diffuser
• Rear Privacy Glass
• Leather & Alcantara Seats
• Aluminium Pedals
• Electric Windows
• Keyless Entry
• Push Button Start
• Dual Zone Air Con
• Multi Function Display
• Seven Airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Bluetooth
• Four Cylinder Boxer Burble
• Cruise Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Torque Vectoring
• Boost Pressure Gauge

And So on, these are just a small selection of the options that you will find on this car, and it is all these and more that make the car a brilliant car to own and run.

CONCLUSION

So, would i have one, well, if you ignore the low mpg, the firm suspension, and the over hard seats that can hurt your back, then too damned right i would, but then those things are expected, and complaining about them after you have taken delivery is wrong, owning a car like this comes with these foibles, so, you have to suck it up and enjoy it.

Just enjoy the speed, the room, the look, oh yes that look, it is a stunning car, and the noise, thats another reason to have this car, the noise it makes, you will never get fed up with opening the window and tapping the accelerator, the growl is something to love and enjoy, ok, yes i want one, and i want it now, unfortunately i dont think my back would cope though.