On any roadtrip, your set of wheels needs to respond to the terrain that you’re tackling, whether that’s city streets or unpaved mountain tracks. It also needs to set the mood in terms of its look and feel. Here are five Monocle-approved motors to inspire your travels.

1.
Crown Sedan by Toyota
This Japanese vehicle was built with the requirements of a chauffeured car in mind. Its hi-tech suspension system makes for a smooth ride, while the large cabin is a perfect size for comfortable city breaks.

2.
Leon Estate by Cupra
The Martorell-based manufacturer has fitted this set of wheels with a generous trunk and Light Assist technology to ensure maximum visibility as you climb winding roads. With a great dynamic performance and race-inspired seating, the Leon Estate will take you to and from the mountains – and then some.

3.
110 R by Skoda
The Czech-made 110 R, a delightfully quirky sports car from the former Eastern bloc. Thanks to its elegant fastback roofline and two-door offering, it makes for a romantic weekend-getaway car.

4.
Truck by Telo
The pick-up truck has had a revamp at the hands of US-based Swiss designer Yves Béhar. Christened the Telo, it’s electric and designed with Mini Cooper-sized proportions in mind. With a US launch imminent and plans for European release in the works, off-road lovers are in for a treat.

5.
Defender 90 by Land Rover
This imposing all-wheel drive is a great urban runaround but it’s ideal for adventures off the beaten path too. The UK car-maker has ensured that it comes with built-in comforts, including an impressive surround-sound system.

Havana’s traffic might be best known for its brightly coloured classic cars – stately Chevrolets imported from the US before Cuba’s socialist revolution in 1959, boxy Soviet-made vehicles that followed during the Cold War and an array of antique Fiats, Minis and others. But increasingly, commuters are opting to use a new crop of small electric vehicles (EVs). These include dinky electric cars, tricycles and cargo trucks, as well as electric bikes and scooters, which are all accelerating the shift from the classic to the contemporary when it comes to getting around.

“It is only very recently that people realised that it’s much better to have some kind of electric vehicle in Cuba,” says Mark Manger, a professor of political economy (with a speciality in contemporary Cuban history) at the University of Toronto. “Because you don’t have to rely on the infrequent deliveries of fuel or contend with volatile gas prices.”

Demand has also been fuelled by these vehicles’ relatively low price tags. “Another big selling point is that these EVs require such little maintenance,” said Manger. “Importing parts to repair a classic car in Cuba is extremely difficult; people often have to improvise and make replacement parts themselves. So it’s much better to have a relatively new electric vehicle.”

Their diminutive size means that they can be plugged into a domestic socket and charged with ease. The distance that they can cover is a draw too. “You can drive 100km on one charge, which is sufficient for wherever you need to go in Cuba,” says Manger. A recent change in import laws means that private individuals can now import electric cars. China’s canopied three-wheelers by Onebot and Lesheng’s four-wheeled, two-seater models are particularly popular, while similar four-wheelers are produced by Japan’s Kimura.

Domestic production is ramping up too. Some 23,000 EVs were manufactured between 2020 and 2022, according to government figures. At Vedca, a miniature-vehicle maker based in Havana, the growth in demand has accelerated the development of new lines. These include miniature tractors and industrial vehicles designed for heavy lifting, which are currently in their testing phases.

Patrick Moylett is director of Harrington’s of Fulham, a used-car dealership in west London. He has also found success selling tweed, property and condoms. Here he shares 10 of his top tips.

1.
In the beginning, sell quickly and…
When I was in property, I noticed that customers were slow to pay because negotiations took so long. If the setting-up costs are too big, you might become one of the 60 per cent of new businesses that fail. So I moved into selling cars: buy them, do them up, sell them. There’s instant reward.

2.
…buy cheap
In the mid-1980s I noticed that old Jaguars were quite cheap so I bought two to get started. I drove from London to Normandy in one and in Paris I stopped at an antiques shop. When I returned to the car there was a man waiting who wanted to know if it was for sale. Parisians loved the old Jaguars so I started driving to Paris once a month in one and parking it on the Champs-Élysées with a “For sale” sign on the windscreen. I made a lot of money.

3.
Decide whether you’re a lone wolf
As I was starting out, I thought, “I want to do this alone”. That’s just the way I am. Other people work better with partners. It helps if you realise this early on.

4.
Selling is easier if you don’t have to explain things
Take an existing product and market it for a new use. Marketing is the most expensive part of a young business. I started selling condoms during the Aids crisis, when their use was still considered largely contraceptive. I marketed them as a prophylactic but didn’t have to spend much on explaining what they were – most people already knew.

5.
Spot opportunity abroad
When I was in France at the age of 18, I realised that every apartment door had a spy hole, which they didn’t have in my native Ireland at the time. So I bought 3,000 of them and took them to Ireland in a box and went door to door in Dublin selling them.

6.
Look at horizontal ways of selling
After I started my condom business, Red Stripe, I began thinking about how the idea of protection could apply to other products. So I started selling Red Stripe-branded cycle gear and rain protection.

7.
Follow your joy
The use of condoms was still very controversial when I was getting into the business – Ireland was very conservative at the time. My girlfriend’s family was strongly against it. So I drew up a list of pros and cons. The con list was very long and the pro list had just one thing: I enjoyed it. So I decided to continue.

8.
Get out there
I was in the lobby of the Time Out offices in London when I overheard two journalists talking about a condom shortage. I told them that I had a business and asked whether they would interview me. I restarted my business the next day and was on the cover of Time Out. It was invaluable publicity.

9.
Choose the right name
When I bought my first car showroom, I called the company Harrington’s of Kensington, even though it was just a railway arch in Ladbroke Grove. I wanted people to associate the brand and the cars with an expensive area of London.

10.
Learn how to read people
As soon as someone comes into my showroom, I can tell whether they will buy a car from what they say and do. I’ve saved a lot of time by not chasing lost causes.