Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2019 SUZUKI JIMNY

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Suzuki Jimny is quite simply the most talked about vehicle on the planet. Forget the multi-million-dollar, ridiculously-overpowered vehicles just unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the cute-as-a-button Suzuki is the one that is dominating car-nut conversations everywhere. Since the first photos of the Jimny were released Suzuki dealers have been bombarded with enquires from potential buyers, some dangling cash in front of them as they walk into showrooms worldwide. In our home state of Queensland you might just get one before Christmas, but don’t hesitate… Suzuki Jimny simply has no… Read more

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COMPACT CROSSOVER NEW BEGINNING FOR LEXUS

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Seduced, I suspect, by the sales inferno of the small sports utility vehicle around the globe, Lexus has made a foray into the sub-50K market with its new UX range. The Lexus UX – for urban crossover, a mix of SUV and hatchback – raises a new curtain on entry-level SUVs for the Japanese luxury car maker. The entry-level model, the UX 200 Luxury is priced at $44,450, while the range-topping UX 250h Sport Luxury petrol / electric hybrid costs almost half as much again, at $67,062. Add the upper… Read more

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2019 MAZDA CX-9 REVIEW

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The CX-9 is the flagship of Mazda’s SUV fleet sitting above its successful CX-3 and CX-5 models. The current CX-9 was released in 2016 and was given its latest upgrade in September 2018. With seven seats standard across its range vehicles such as the CX-9 have effectively replaced people movers especially when they come with the choice of front- or rear-wheel. The former contributing to better performance, lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions and the latter providing extra traction for towing or mild off-road capability. Five Mazda CX-9 variants are… Read more

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2019 RENAULT MEGANE R.S. REVIEW

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New Megane R.S. 280 is a serious sporting hatch that’s aimed at the keen driver who wants to get the best from their motoring life. It features the latest in powertrain technology, chassis tuning and aerodynamic assistance. However, its stunning styling and excellent colour choices mean it will also appeal to those more interested in serene grand touring than in track day blasting. Australia has historically been one of Renault Sport’s biggest markets for the Megane R.S. and a week in the latest model shows this is likely to continue…. Read more

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GOLF R ‘SPECIAL’ TRUMPETS A STIRRING FANFARE

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Waste disposal is not the thing to attract an adrenalin rush in someone seeking a heart-stirring driving experience. However, all the action need not be limited to under the bonnet. Heightened vehicle performance can be an arm’s length away from – and at the upper end of the sporty spectrum – to the power plant. Take the new VW Golf R Special Edition, for example. Replete with performance options, previously available only in Europe, the outstanding feature of the Golf R Special Edition is the Akropovic exhaust and muffler made… Read more

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UPPER LUXURY: 2019 AUDI A8 REVIEW

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The fourth-generation of the Audi A8 flagship is a prestigious large saloon aimed at families who want to travel in luxury, or more often at business people who demand quality transport. History has shown that previous generation Audi A8 models are popular with limousine and hire car operators on the used car market. New Audi nomenclature identifies models called 55 TFSI as petrols and 50 TDI as diesels. Other variants may follow later but in the meantime the big guns are leading the initial sales charge. Our test car for… Read more

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HYUNDAI TUCSON GO

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Such is the competition in the mid-SUV market that treading water is just not enough. If constant improvements are not made to technique and endurance, then ultimately the race will be lost. Hyundai, fresh from the splash created by the new Santa Fe and Kona, have given the Tucson a little midstream boost. The changes are restrained and minimal but may be enough for the Tucson to stay with the pace-setters. We took the entry-level Tucson Go home for the week to put it to the family test. STYLING A… Read more

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2019 VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK 580

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Volkswagen Amarok 580 operates in what is arguably the most active market segment in Australia, that of four-door pickup trucks. Within that subgroup some buyers are after more performance, lots more performance. Think back to the glory days of V8 Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons with not only added power, but also suspension and steering that make driving ever more exciting. Bring your thoughts forward the 2018 and ‘19s and you enter the world of the Volkswagen Amarok 580. Those who know their cars say, forget about horsepower – it’s… Read more

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LEXUS ES300h SPORTS LUXURY

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Now in its seventh generation, the Lexus ES300h is a large car, being virtually Commodore and Falcon in length, though a little slimmer. New Lexus ES comes in two variants, both very well equipped; the ES300h Luxury has privacy glass, Nulux seat trim, powered tilt and slide moonroof, dual-zone air-conditioning, automatic wipers, electronic park brake, and a power-adjustable steering column. The ES300h Sports Luxury expands the air-conditioning to three zones, cooled front seats, has semi-aniline leather-accented seats, a rear armrest with climate and audio controls, a heated steering wheel. Heated… Read more

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2019 RENAULT KOLEOS

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Renault Koleos is a product of the alliance between the French automotive giant and its Japanese partner Nissan. A mid-sized SUV, it sits on the same platform and shares its engine and transmission with the popular Nissan X-Trail. Adding to its multinational identity Koleos is built at Renault’s Samsung factory in South Korea. Despite pricing of the two models being in the same ball park, X-Trail outsells Koleos by a ratio of around seven to one. Koleos comes in three specification levels: Life, Zen and Intens ranging in price from… Read more