Subscribe to The Times
Home > First Drives

First Drives

The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 BMW 330e SE plug-in hybrid

What a pleasure it has been these past years to witness the enthusiasm with which the car industry has faced up to the challenge of developing responsible...
Published 10 February 2016
2016 Kia Sportage review

First Drive review: 2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 2 2WD

Peter Schreyer, the man behind the original Audi TT and the design whizz often credited for turning around Kia's fortunes...
Published 04 February 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Jaguar F-Pace SUV (prototype)

Sliding across a frozen Swedish lake in Jaguar's sleek 4x4, the F-Pace, Nick Rufford gets chills down his spine. And not just because it's -27C.
Published 25 January 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Ford Focus RS

The Drift mode in the latest RS gives a new meaning to ‘taking it for a spin’, says Giles Smith. Orange-and-white plastic, say your prayers
Published 22 January 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and...

Tom Ford gets to grips with the four-wheel-drive 911 Carrera 4 and sportier 4S at the Kyalami racing circuit in South Africa. But it's better on the...
Published 21 January 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Infiniti Q30

A bulbous design straight from a funfair’s hall of mirrors is squeezing into the crowded family hatchback market — and somehow it works
Published 18 January 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Audi A4 Avant

Audi’s classy A4 estate costs £3,400 more than its VW Passat sibling, but it’s worth it for the silent cabin alone
Published 11 January 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Lexus RX 450H

When Lexus set about refashioning the RX SUV (the Japanese brand’s most successful car to date and therefore not lightly meddled with), one of the...
Published 28 December 2015
2016 Renault Megane review

First Drive review: 2016 Renault Megane GT-Line

A provocative ad put the Mégane on the map but it eventually fell behind its rivals. This new car has some zing in its tail at last.
Published 21 December 2015
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2015 Ford Mondeo Vignale

Ford's new premium brand is aimed at buyers who might otherwise migrate towards Mercedes, BMW and Audi. We drive the first model, the Mondeo Vignale.
Published 11 December 2015
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Lotus Exige Sport 350

You join us at a session of The Lightweight Lab. This is not some sort of Weight Watchers gathering, where ritual humiliation is subjected upon
Published 11 December 2015
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First Drive review: 2016 Mini Cooper D Clubman

It may be the biggest Mini yet but it is comfortable, handles beautifully and has a design feature that could just catch on
Published 30 November 2015