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The last year has seen a flood of seven-seaters hit the market, meaning the choice for those with a larger family has never been better. But what if your family is bigger than that again? Or you have growing kids and teens who no longer fit quite as comfortably into that folding row of seats in the back? Citroen have come up with a very capable solution in the Spacetourer.

Big cars usually get the juicy bits of new technology before they trickle down to smaller motors.

Subaru have long been one of my favourite cars but are not really appreciated in this country outside a few aficionados, one of whom was my late great friend the PR guru Jim Rowe who bought a Subaru Forester in 1999 to cope with life in rural Cavan. I was thinking of Jim and great days I had with him and his wife Evelyn and dogs and horses when I returned the latest version of the Subaru XV to the car’s small Irish HQ based on the National Vehicle Distribution site at Baldonnel.
I had taken the previous version of the XV up to Cavan six years ago where it appeared very modern compared to the Forester which Evelyn still had 10 years after Jim’s death. The XV is getting even better and is absolutely packed with spec including its revolutionary EyeSight system that uses two digital stereo cameras to monitor traffic movement to apply pre-collision braking as well as giving driving awareness systems, cruise controls and ability to keep in line with the car in front.
The car has great comfort – oodles of room for five, legendary off-road ability and a real feeling of being sturdily well-built.
It is let down by its powerful Boxer engines which sound a bit harsh and have heavy consumption. However, that is all going to change very soon. Subaru has long been in partnership with Toyota and is importing the latter’s hybrid system next year. So good is the Toyota system that the manufacturer’s outlets are complaining there’s not enough going wrong to keep their workshops busy.
Bringing in the hybrids could be a massive boost for Subaru. However, they are still very tasty and if you put the €33,495 starting price of the XV, or even the range topping €38,495 20i SE Premium Lineartronic CVT Automatic, against any of its competitors, you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s a marque that can be easily overlooked but definitely shouldn’t be. It offers prestige, style and sets you apart from the hordes.
When I was out at Subaru it was sad to hear that the Subaru chief in Ireland Neville Matthews is still very sick. Neville is a wonderful man, a true professional and amazingly good company. I have great memories of some brilliant times with him and his one-time Subaru sidekick Michael Kirby. I will raise a glass to Neville this weekend wishing him and his family all the very best.

This week’s test car forced me to think anew about criticisms and compliments. I came to the conclusion that the Volkswagen T-Roc ‘crossover/SUV’ is a good example of how sometimes – not too often – a criticism can mellow into a compliment. And sometimes a compliment can morph into a criticism (in true ‘crossover’ fashion). Let me explain.

Citroën’s entry to the exploding B-SUV segment is the all-new C3 Aircross. Despite the name, the car is built on a whole new platform, which Citroen say gives it a competitive advantage over rivals in terms of cabin space.
The striking looks can be complimented by a range of different personalisation options, including a bi-tone roof, and various different colour packs – giving a total of 85 different possible combinations.

This can be a strange, slightly agonising time of the year for new car buyers. They are faced with a simple question, do they go for one of the many special April deals and get a 181-reg, or is it more prudent to hang on and wait until July for a sparkling new motor with a 182-plate?
Many people who can’t afford a new vehicle would say it is a nice problem to have.
But, at the same time, there could be hundreds of euro at stake.
Relatively speaking, the window to buy is narrow enough now – nearly mid-April – if you are going to get reasonable value from your purchase.
There are several pros and cons to be weighed up – every buyer’s case is different.
But here are a few of the more obvious reasons to stick or twist.
For buying now:
* There are some great deals and allowances in an extremely competitive market.
* The cost to change could be lower than in July if you get the right deal.
* Your own car – if you have a trade-in – is probably worth a bit more now than it might be in July because it will be a few months older.
* Dealers are under pressure to meet targets, so there may be a few extras to sweeten the deal. These all add up.
* You can plan your summer holidays with a key decision made. That is not meant to be funny. You would be surprised at how many people will not buy in July for that very reason.
* You get longer in an ’18’ reg than if you hold on. A minor matter but an influence for some, I’m told.
For buying later:
* There will inevitably be more scrappage deals and allowances announced, especially in the countdown to July as dealers make the most of what has become a tight selling aperture.
* Many of the 182-cars will have been boosted by additional equipment without major price hikes.
* Many will have been given a visual/technical overhaul as well. It was noticeable last year how many major revisions made it onto the market. While now strictly brand new cars, they are advances on existing models.
* You’ve got the long, free and (hopefully) warm evenings to sample and sift rather than rushing to do it on a wet Saturday in April.
The most important thing to do is shop around because there are lots of specific deals out there, and a little bit of research could save a tidy sum.