Your ordinary rear-view mirror houses a small, very bright monitor that shows you what’s happening right behind your bumper. The aim is to avoid hitting small children, and in fact the American legislation is called the Kids Transportation Safety Act. This version is made by Gentex and they’ve already made 1.25 million of them in 2010 alone!

An intelligent response to Intelligent law-making we say.

I was so taken with the green jelly babies provided so thoughtfully on the launch of Skoda’s Greenline Range, that all I could initially think about was where I could get some more. After nearly choking on the vast amount I managed to cram into my mouth and Paul having a panic attack as one got stuck up his nose (don’t ask) it was time to get down to the serious business of getting to know our Skoda Superb estate.

I have a vague recollection of having been in a Skoda Superb last year as we were chaffeured around an event, but this was the first opportunity I had had of driving one.

While the Superb is by no means the most expensive estate car that we have sampled, once you appreciate all that it has to offer its relatively modest price becomes even more attractive. This Greenline II model comes in at £25,335 thanks to a few added extras (electric boot, KESSY keyless system and parking sensors) but the Sat Nav and leather are standard – very enlightened. And with this Greenline II model, which figures across their whole range of vehicles, Skoda say you’re also getting a cleaner, greener and better car.

All words though, so lets look at the figures. The Greenline II Superb, which let’s not forget is a very large estate, rewards you with over 64 mpg on a combined cycle and churns out only 114 g/km of CO2, which not only means it’s cheaper to run but it comes in the band C for tax which will set you back a mere £30 a year. And on top of all this, the Superb is a good looking car that has so much leg room in the rear it feels like a limousine.

However, it doesn’t feel as if you’re driving a huge car, and even from the outside, it doesn’t look like a giant, but just a good looking estate, and the green credentials of this range does make sense in today’s world, especially if you cover some distances.

So why might you choose this car over all the other lovely looking estates that are in the market place eagerly waiting to seduce you?

Value for money has to be an issue (try an A6, Passat or C/E-class with Sat Nav and leather for this money). The Greenline II has low running costs and is an inoffensive yet handsome looking car although probably not the best-looking in the class.

It is hugely, cavernously practical, suitable for lugging around kids and teenagers with all their stuff (and probably their friends, pets and extended families), as well as being roomy and easy to get into for the older generation. I was really taken by the simplicity of the Superb, with its almost old-fashioned central console and dash – I’m rather sick of all these futuristic looking cabins which tend to simply confuse me.

The whole car is cavernous, and not far off the very best in terms of quality of materials, fit and finish. However, there are lots of thoughtful extras such as the aircraft-like reading lights, and the way the air vents and cup holders work. There’s even a clock in the rear, with the added bonus that the middle seat doesn’t feel as if you’ve drawn the short straw.

This is a comfortable, solid car to drive and while not the most exciting there is a surprising of power from the 1.6 litre diesel engine, the Superb reaching motorway speed with enthusiasm and the chassis is sophisticated enough and take corners in a bold and confident manner. It’s quiet as well, engine noise well under control and not a lot of road or wind noise intruding into the vast living quarters.

I always find our test drives really do put the car through it’s paces as I try and anticipate what Paul wants as he films it. Part of this always involves me maneuovering a car all over the place as he makes me reverse, turn around, back and forward up the most ridiculous narrow lanes. I didn’t come away with sore arms with the Skoda Superb, unlike like some cars I could mention! It didn’t feel big or cumbersome and the steering was light when needed and sturdy when zipping along.

I like this car a great deal but what I like even more is its low CO2 output and efficient use of fuel. And it has to be the cheapest way of moving house – just load your entire life into the boot and turn the key…

To own a Mitsubishi Outlander, you have to get over all those associations with the dreaded letters S.U.V. Or for those who never let it bother them in the first place then this is a great car to suit an active family’s needs. The Outlander has style, space, versatility, presence (whether you like it or not) and can cope with all the grotty weather that the UK can throw at it. It’s also really quite good to drive.

That excellent drive is partly down to the twin-clutch gearbox which essentially makes all the changes smooth and quick whether you’re in automatic or manual mode. You have the option of the paddle shifts which quite frankly leave me cold (always have done, not just on this car). I even noticed that the boys tired of them after their initial childlike enthusiasm.

It’s also partly down to the way the Juro glides over bumps and humps, which it does very well. It feels slightly ungainly in the bends though. I thought the girls were winding me up every time we went round a corner quickly. Their sound effects resembled a very lively fairground ride, although it’s always easier cornering when holding onto the steering wheel – maybe they were being thrown around more than I thought. I would describe it as slightly wobbly, although Mitsubishi describe it as athletic. Somewhere in the middle is probably right.

While yearning for a small, sporty car where storage is just not an issue, I am still at that stage in my life where practicality wins out. While storage is limited in the Outlander when all seven seats are in use, it is relatively easy to pack the rearmost seats into the floor once you got the hang of it (which we had to do after an impulse purchase of an antique mirror). What bargains you can find outside London!

But is this Juro a bargain at over £27,000? My Peugeot 807 cost me this amount seven years ago. While it has plenty of space, is quite stylish in its own way it doesn’t have a great deal of road presence and it is now old. Nor will it get me out of a sticky situation in bad weather and my children hate being seen in it. It is a proper seven seater though, where none of the seats or leg room are compromised. Yet luggage room is sparse when all seven seats are being used and I can’t just fold a seat away if more room is needed. But why go for the Outlander over something like the 807?

It’s a difficult one, but I’m starting to think more about what I want the older I get – and that is style and presence. No one notices me as I walk along the street (too small) but compensation is there in the beast that is the Outlander Juro. I would certainly get noticed and I suspect I might not care if it were for all the wrong reasons as I glide though Queens Park elbowing my way past all the hybrid eco-warriors, justifying my 192 grams of CO2 per kilometre by the vast numbers of children I can transport. It’s only 27 grams CO2/km per passenger after all, and we can go across fields to boot.

Honda’s challenge was fuel economy, my challenge was to ride a bike for a whole day without falling off.

I was all worked up for riding a 125 geared bike having passed my CBT a year ago (thank you Honda), and with two recent refresher sessions under my belt I felt as prepared as I could have been.

My second refresher session was up in Derbyshire in what I consider real biking country. Here the roads are notoriously dangerous for bikers with signs all over the place telling people to watch their speed, think Bike etc, but what great roads they are! I was so amazingly thrilled to ride a bike through Matlock Bath – sadly not at the weekend when all the bikers come out to play. But I did it in the rain, even stopping for a cup of tea where I imagined thousands of bikers before me had stood. It made my day.

So kitted out by a small and innocuous looking shop, again in that fabulous town of Matlock Bath (so neat inside, you can tell it’s organised and run by a woman) I felt up to the challenge and was prepared for the forecasted rain.

Then down to Honda’s HQ in Slough, Pink helmet in hand (don’t say anything) I approached my stunning red CBF125, but despite alterations, it was too big for me! How many other women out there have this problem? I know I’m not alone!

As an alternative I was presented with a rather gorgeous looking white and chrome scooter, Honda’s brand new PCX 125. Though disappointed not to have the challenge of a geared bike, I was rather relieved that there was one less thing for me to cope with. Looking back over the 107 mile trip around London in rain and wind, I am quite amazed that I lasted the distance. Copious amounts of traffic, roadworks, dual carriageways, busy high streets, exposed bridges where I felt I was about to be blown away, I think if I’d had to worry about gear changes as well I would have given up. But biking is not about the gears, its about the experience of being out there on two wheels.

I progressed from a tentative, nervous rider (heart in mouth, feeling nauseous, shoulders up round my ears) to being able to keep up with the crowd, still somewhat nervous but actually being able to enjoy the experience of all the senses being heightened.

The PCX 125 is a stunning little number and I felt like Penelope Pitstop. Having never been on one before, I was delighted at how easy it was to ride with certainly enough power (30 mph still feels fast to me) and I was more that able to keep up with the faster members of the group – eventually. I have always associated scooters with that flat footrest where your feet can meet and touch. Yet to me the PXC has more of a “proper” bike look about it where you have to swing your leg over slightly to get on.

I’m unclear as to the general view of scooters. But up until this point I had always been rather scathing about them, but with no real evidence to back this up. I saw them as noisy, high-pitched things very popular with pizza deliveries.

Now I find that notion quite bizarre as the skills you need are no less than if you were riding a geared bike.

This scooter has an Idle Start which is so satisfying, especially as we were on a fuel challenge. Every time we stopped, the engine cuts out and I love the fact it did this while all the other bikes where spewing out pollutants (although not that many these days of course). A slight turn of the accelerator and the engine springs to life with no delay and you’re off again.

While I would not necessarily want to do a world tour on a scooter, this would be perfect for getting into town, or days out to not to far-flung places.

I can just see myself now, all togged-up in my protective kit, zooming off to meet a girlfriend in town, no congestion charge, no sitting in a stuffy tube or stuck in traffic and arriving on time, in style and rather a lot of panache!

Now back to that pink helmet…

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While I had for some time been secretly looking forward to getting inside a Ford S-Max, the day’s fun was rather overshadowed by a turn of events on the launch of the new-look, new-drive car.

We had a puncture – no that’s not right – a tyre that was beyond repair. In fact it was ripped to shreds on a narrow scenic lane with rather too many stones and sharp rocks for comfort – especially for the car.

We waited rather helplessly to be rescued in a very pretty village (having previously tried an amazing sealant kit which fills the tyre and gets the tyre pressure up to scratch, but which won’t work if the puncture is on the sidewall). We were bored and restless until a vision of loveliness in the form of a burly, hunky man came to our rescue. What is it about a man who knows what he’s doing, while doing what he knows so effortlessly? And what a huge jack it was as well! Even Paul was impressed with the proceedings.

Back to the car though, which was quickly fit for the road. Mouth now shut and tongue firmly away and off we went.

The S-max has been around for five years and while always popular, this new face-lifted version I feel sure will follow in the same footsteps. It has had some minor cosmetic surgery, but it was Ford’s PowerShift gearbox that really impressed me. Getting back into my MPV on the drive home I was struck at just how awful my conventional automatic was. Whirring through the gears in a strained fashion made me long for the smooth change that the PowerShift had given me – as did my passenger, irritable at the best of times but especially so in my lumbering vehicle.

So not only does the PowerShift gearbox give an amazingly smooth, yet responsive drive, (it does clever things with two clutches making the change from one gear to another almost seamless, much like VW’s DSG system) it also gives better fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions.

This seven-seater vehicle still manages to look like a car and even with the seven seats up there’s still some luggage or shopping-bag room at the rear. The seats are occasional it has to be said, but great to have the option or to fold them away flat to provide a huge boot space.

My only slight gripe is the price tag (the range starts at £20,645), despite Ford offering their Blue Tag pricing system which has effectively meant that new cars coming out are cheaper that their predecessors. There are other cars out there who do the same thing but for less money such as the Peugeot 5008 and Citroen C4 Picasso.

However, if you like Ford’s looks (and the S-Max is undoubtedly a good-looking car), their reliably and predictability and need to occasionally cart around extra bodies, then this car with its super gearbox is worth a test drive.

My friend, who changes her car with the seasons, just got rid of her Boxster and BMW convertible, to be replaced by Mercedes SLK convertible. They got bored with their Toyota Prius and have replaced it with…you guessed it, the S-Max! Not sure how long this new addition will last, especially as they are already planning on treating themselves to a Porsche Cayenne. Interesting to see what she thinks though before a new car turns their heads!

While the slight embarrassment of being in a red car with white racing stripes never quite left me, I did really enjoy driving the Proton Satria Neo Sport, a nippy little number. It’s so easy to forget what’s on the outside when you’re having fun. Rather like my new hairdo. Feel great walking around in public, it’s just when I catch sight of myself that I recoil slightly.

However, there is a Lotus influence not only in the ride and handling but also in the design, which is perhaps why it was quite a struggle to actually get a drive in the Satria. My husband was adamant about the admiring glances the car received and refused to accept that perhaps people were just looking on in amazement at a very large, grown man driving a young man’s car with his head bent at a peculiar angle in order to fit in it. What work colleagues must have thought about his flattened hairstyle I dread to think.

But then I did begin to wonder as I saw a couple of guys, on different occasions, actually stop and take a better look at it. Perhaps it’s the lure of the Lotus badge, or maybe it’s actually rather a cool looking car? Even my 14 year-old, who doesn’t say much at the moment, did manage to exclaim “wicked” which I took to be quite a positive reaction and the most animated we’ve seen him in a long time.

But this is a sporty car, with contoured leather seats (exceptionally comfortable and stylish) leather two-tone steering wheel (which I loved, although others thought slightly garish, and went very well with my red-trimmed new TomTom start 2). It zooms around with its 16v “ComPro” engine with the Lotus-developed ride and handling very much in evidence in quicker roundabouts out of the City. There are great added touches, with a chrome central exhaust (surely every boys dream?), not to mention the 16″ alloys and steering wheel-mounted audio controls to impress the girls, electric windows and air-con for those steamy moments. And all for just under £11,000!

It’s fun to drive, practical for a small car and even has a decent-sized boot. It handles corners, windy roads and zooming around town with aplomb. On the open road however, I feel the engine and road noise would get slightly tiresome with as they’re more in evidence than I’d like, but maybe that’s the appeal to men of all ages who never really grow out of wanting to be boy-racers?

And the odd girl too…

While it’s true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, I’ve often found it no bad thing. The second impression can be so powerful that all those original thoughts, whether good or bad, can be swept away.

Now I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Kia’s first estate car, the Cee’d SW, mainly because Kia’s have never found themselves high on my radar. Not because I don’t think they’re worthy of my attention, just that they’ve never really grabbed it before. (I have since experienced the delights of the Sorento and the fun of the Venga, so Kia please forgive my earlier naivety)

The Kia Cee’d initially struck me as being inoffensive, innocuous and rather plain, in a no-nonsense Ford Focus type of way. The colour we had can’t have meant to inspire either, even if my mother thought it very elegant.

So while my first impression was rather luke warm to say the least, within seconds of driving it I was hooked and everything about the car took on a different hue. This must be the easiest car I have ever driven.

For once, I felt that I was giving all my passengers a smooth, comfortable ride. I often fantasise about driving famous people around London. Not quite sure where this originates from, but in my fantasy I am a superb driver. Sadly, in reality this is not the case as passengers are thrown around as I speed up and slow down – perhaps that’s due to my other rally driving fantasy – but with the Cee’d the gears are so lovely to use, the accelerator responsive when needed and the steering accurate but not too twitchy that it’s really a flattering drive. And not only did it behave well around town, but also on windy country lanes and the dreaded M1.
First impressions were long forgotten and I found myself extolling its virtues at every opportunity.
It certainly has all the requirements a family would need; space, comfort, and most of all good value, not to mention Kia’s amazing seven year warranty.
And while it is up against some stiff competition with more famous well-known brands, and might not be the obvious first choice for a family car, I’d say it is well worth dismissing first impressions and giving this car a second glance.

Volvos have always been a bit of a mystery to me. I always associated them with grown-ups and families, steady income and mortgages and saw them as solid, dependable and somewhat dull. Over the years, of course, this is what I have become (not dull of course, never dull), and it came as rather a shock on the day.

But really, that’s all a bit of a cliche as Volvos have moved on, helped I feel, by the wonderful Wallander in his elegant, understated V50. Either that, or my tastes have changed and the Volvo range now looks very different and appetising.

What I needed was immersion therapy and I certainly got that after a day spent with the entire range which was laid out for me to drive. My only regret being that I didn’t have time to sample them all and had to restrict myself to a mere handful (the estates and the XC90 SUV), figuring these would appeal to the women in the family. We tend to do a lot of lugging.

I came away rather delighted, allowing myself a little fantasy about how my life might be with each Volvo I drove, from the entry-level C30 to the upmarket XC90. The same husband kept appearing in these day-dreams though which was slightly disappointing. See the video for the full narrative.

From the girl-about-town C30 to the all-singing and all-dancing XC90 with its seven seats, to the gorgeous new V60 with its powerful engine, stylish design and sheer comfort. So many to choose from. I’ll take them all, thanks.

You might notice the DRIVe badge-of-honour. This is attached to those models that deliver the best environmental performance in their class. The C30, together with their V50 (a medium-size estate) both with 1.6 litre diesel engines, can give you 74 miles to the gallon while only producing 99 g/km of CO2. This allows you to drive into the London congestion charge zone for nothing, while also exempting you from car tax. And they go, too.

But apart from all the wonderful savings you can make if you owned a DRIVe Volvo, it was the actually the way these cars drove and their looks, particularly the supremely elegant interiors, that impressed me.

These are premium cars and can generally match their obvious rivals for fit, finish and style, but it was a pleasant change to be sitting in something with a badge other than the obvious star, four rings or a blue and white badge on the front. It’s a different drive and a different image, and none the worse for that.

Just to prove that the Women and Wheels cameraman has a tough job after all. Our full Peugeot 5008 First Drive Story coming later this week…