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When all is said and done, there is only one real question to be asked of the new BMW 3 series. Is it a better-handling car than the previous one and its rivals (Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar XE)?

Small cars have a big future, according to Skoda’s top executive.

And so it is goodbye to the Toyota Avensis.Yes, the car that carried so many families, taxi passengers and God knows who/what else for so long has passed into the history books.I asked distributors here how many new cars were left for sale and was told: “We have no more Avensis at all.”The spokeswoman was quick to point out, however, that they have a range of alternatives – including the new Camry and Corolla Saloon Sol – to replace it.The Avensis was built from October 1997 to last August. Remember the Carina E (with the Leanburn engine)? Well, it was a direct successor to that and came as a saloon, hatch and estate.Over its period on the Irish market, the number of new Avensis models sold, to the end of last month, came to the tidy total of 91,746, according to official Toyota figures the distributors provided me with.That’s a lot of cars, and a good proportion are still on the go, judging by the volume you see on the road.Toyota is now looking to the future and continuing its hybrid push with a look, for the likes of myself, at the new Corolla range, as well as the new RAV4 and Camry, in Dublin tomorrow.

KIA’s first full electric crossover, the eNiro, will arrive in Ireland next year in time for the 192-plate.

Skoda’s first seven-seat SUV has been a massive hit with Irish car buyers looking for a spacious and practical vehicle to ferry the family around in. They’re now out to prove that seven seaters can be stylish too with the addition of a new Sportline trim.
The exterior has been pimped up by some custom bumpers, blacked out wing mirrors, tinted windows and 19 alloy wheels for the ultimate in mammy or daddy cool.
It also gets a much improved interior with Alcantara and leather sport seats, a carbon effect dashboard, sports pedals, Sportline badging and a panoramic glass sunroof.
Now we’ve already reviewed the Kodiaq and come to the conclusion that it is pretty much all the car you’ll ever need, but what does this new trim level add to the equation?