Our motors man has been reviewing cars for Just Recruitment since 2018. Here are some of his highlights
By Ernie Richardson
When Just Recruitment’s management team decided to launch an online lifestyle magazine rather than a standard corporate website, it looked like an eccentric move. Why would a recruitment agency be interested in publishing stories about strawberries, Bruce Springsteen or the opera?
The answer is found in the very website you see before you now. Just Recruitment pursued this policy because it knows its readers are interested in all things. You come to this site because you want to find a job, sure. But you may also have started visiting because you’re interested in music, management theory and literature.
You may also be interested in cars – in which case, the last year or so has seen a whole host of articles to grab your attention.
It just so happens that the person we appointed as our content editor is a regular car reviewer, writing for The Daily Telegraph among other publications. So in case you’ve missed his reviews, here’s a digest of the highlights.
Our man was impressed with the quirky crossover estate from Subaru. He commended its reliability and praised its go-anywhere credentials. He reckoned he’d taken one as far in the rough stuff as a Land Rover Defender. SUV recommendations don’t come much gnarlier than that.
The big news about the Ranger was its cost-cutting potential for company car drivers. Thanks to its classification as a commercial vehicle (like most double-cab pick-ups), it’s flat-rated for Benefit in Kind tax. Which means you can have a specced-up SUV on your drive for a BiK cost of around £50 a month. Not bad, eh?
If you want real luxury from an SUV, a vehicle like the Ranger simply won’t cut it. Volvo’s flagship XC90 will, though, and Gibson thought it surprisingly affordable, given the spec. He was also impressed by its safety credentials, and reckoned the driver aids were among the best in the business.
Maybe it was the stunning Scottish landscape that he drove it through, but Gibson was astounded by the brilliance of Vauxhall’s fleet-friendly hatchback. With low expectations from the outset, he kept on finding reasons to love the latest Insignia. He even concluded that he’d consider owning one: praise indeed.
If the Insignia pushed our reviewer’s buttons, its little sibling didn’t fare so well. While he liked the generous specification levels, he was less impressed with the execution. Cheap plastics, flimsy trim and hard-as-iron seats all contributed to a less than pleasing performance.
Having loved the Outback so much, it seemed churlish to refuse an offer of a week with the Levorg. More road-biased that its grown-up stable mate, the Levorg proved a joy to drive. Not oozing in refinement, but a car to make you fall in love with the open road again. Gibson adored it.
Talking of adoration, the plaudits didn’t come higher than those reserved for the Evoque. Never seeing himself as the sort of person to own such a car, Gibson admitted to feeling genuinely upset when it was collected at the end of his test. “Wonderful, in pretty much every respect” was the verdict.
The launch of the new Land Rover Defender was big news in 2019 and our team was on hand to cover it. While we won’t get hands-on with the vehicle until it hits the press fleet this spring, we know enough to point out its strengths and deficiencies. And, spoiler alert: we reckon it’ll be fab.
Having primed our taste for double cabs with the Ford Ranger, we jumped at the chance of a week with the more affordable Isuzu D-Max. Turned out to lack refinement, but Gibson still enjoyed its ability to do most things fairly well. Oh, and did we mention the tax breaks?
To read more of our car reviews, stay tuned to Justrecruitment.co.uk.
© 2020 Just Recruitment Group Ltd
Published: 13 March 2020
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