BMW E36 "Estrada" styling kit from Carzone Specials

Carzone Specials presents a new body kit for BMW E36. The “Estrada” body kit consists of full replacement front and rear bumpers and side skirts. Other Carzone Specials product shown on the pictures is a CS Performance exhaust in stainless steel and their previously released EVO I booth spoiler.

Review

Small but perfectly formed, the Yaris is full of character and in fact offers a surprising amount of interior space and comfort with a rear seat that slides to allow more room in the rear or boot. The central 3D digital display is a clever idea and there are pockets galore for paraphernalia. The best of the engines is the 1.0 16V, always eager to move yet quiet even at high revs. This is a quality little car and, up against the Polo and Fiesta, it still proves to be a fine buy. However, avoid the T Sport version - it's just too noisy.

Review

An unpretentious compact MPV that majors on space, utility and ease of use. The big cabin is predictably well constructed from durable-feeling materials, featuring lots of cubby holes and storage compartments. Driving dynamics are effortlessly easy, although the Corolla exhibits little in the way of handling verve and refinement at motorway speeds suffers from the ravages of wind and road noise. Basic 1.6 litre petrol engine feels underpowered fully laden, but the zingy 1.8 petrol and punchy 2.0 diesel versions both offer good performance. The Corolla Verso's biggest problem, other than the high-ish pricing, is the five-seat only configuration - especially against the emerging generation of seven-seat midi MPVs.

Review

Truly great in the wild, and the choice of people in the parts of the world where durability is valued above all else, but the Amazon is unsuited to British roads or tastes. The sheer size makes it difficult to park or to navigate narrow gaps in, ride quality is compromised by occassional crashes over big bumps, and handling is less than accurate. V8 Petrol engine gives good performance at the cost of horrendous fuel consumption, the 4.2 turbo-diesel sounds loud but offers reasonable performance and considerably better economy. Enormous interior space and excellent standard equipment are the upsides, plus a substantial saving over a Range Rover.

Review

If you don't want to drive a conventional MPV then the Verso could be worth a look. It boasts seven seats but the rear two are really only big enough for small children. Choose between two engines - Toyota's tried and tested 2.0 VVTi petrol or the excellent D-4D diesel with a great turn of speed. The interior is mediocre but the Verso's biggest drawback is styling that doesn't set the pulses racing. The high roofline offers plenty of headroom and boot space is good, when those back seats aren't in use. The big Toyota is also a shade on the pricey side.

Review

A mid-sized MPV needs to be exceptional to stand out in a segment packed with talented machinery. And if you can see beyond the Zafira / Picasso default choices, the Verso has plenty to recommend it.

Toyota responded to criticism of the previous generation Corolla Verso's five-seat layout by giving the all-new Verso a third row of fold-out seats, bringing the total up to seven. To be honest, the company probably shouldn't have bothered with the extra pews as they're awkward to use, extremely cramped and pretty much finish off the boot space when in use.

But the rest of the Verso experience is all positive. There's plenty of room for four or five occupants, a spacious and well finished cabin, good standard equipment and a very grown-up driving experience. We even reckon that the chunky design looks pretty good, in a mid-sized-people-carrier kind of way.

The best news is that the Verso drives surprisingly well, delivering an impressively mature dynamic performance. Taut body control means that, unlike most of its rivals, it doesn't feel all at sea on a twisty road. And although the pay-off is a sometimes firm ride, the overall effect is an impressively capable long-distance cruiser.

Both 1.6 and 1.8 litre petrol engines are worth avoiding, though. Both spin sweetly enough, but they struggle to motivate a well-laden Verso. Far better to go for the excellent new 2.2 litre D4-D diesel version, which is available in both 135 bhp and 175 bhp states of tune. Both are excellent - smooth and frugal.

Review

This little roadster is a fun box on wheels - in the same territory as the Vauxhall VX220 and Lotus Elise, but cheaper. A 0-60mph time of just under eight seconds is achievable, but the car's low stance on the road makes it feel much faster than that. It has tremendous grip and the agility and poise of a mountain goat. The optional Sequential Manual Transmission will prove handy for city types, but maximum enjoyment will be derived from the manual box. The downfall of owning a soft-top is the risk of having it slashed, particularly if you live in a city.