JAG ON THE PACE WITH COMPACT SUV

Jaguar continues apace (pun intended) to cover all automotive bases with the recent addition of the E-Pace compact SUV to its vehicle roster. It seems the move downscale has paid off for, by all accounts, they are selling their socks off. In fact,E-Pace is well on its way to becoming the company’s best seller Down Under. So, what’s on offer? It comes in 38 variants thanks to what Jaguar calls its ‘Ultimate Customer Choice’, which allows you to build any kind of E-Pace you fancy. Specification runs through four levels… Read more

LEXUS LS500h REVIEW

Wow, just wow. Simple words, I know, but still ever so apt for the new Lexus LS500. Lexus has given the flagship sedan a new engine, suspension and a delightfully glamorous interior that will have genuine buyers and stickybeaks sitting up and taking notice. One would expect a car of such obvious comfort to be packed full of features and Lexus doesn’t disappoint. So, you can expect your LS500 Luxury Sport with heated and cooled seats, four-zone climate control, 22-way power adjusted massage seats, electric rear side sunshades, rear cool… Read more

LATEST TOYOTA KLUGER IS THE SAFEST YET

Toyota has established itself a one-stop shop for 4WDs and SUVs, with seven models ranging from the urban C-HR through to the go-anywhere / do-anything LandCruiser 70 and 200 series. In between there’s the RAV4, Fortuner, Prado and this week’s review vehicle the semi-luxury Kluger. Kluger is aimed at the SUV buyer who wants to transport the family in comfort rather than tackling any serious off-road terrain. Having said that it does come with the option of all-wheel drive although that’s more likely to be used for recreational towing than… Read more

TOYOTA COROLLA HYBRID REVIEW

If ever there was a car that needed no introduction then it’s the Toyota Corolla. In production continuously since 1966, and with sales in excess of 44 million, it is the biggest selling car of all time. In mid-2016 Toyota added a petrol / electric hybrid variant to the Australian Corolla range for the first time. The Japanese giant was one of the pioneers of volume production vehicles using this fuel-saving technology with its Prius hatchback which arrived here in 2001. The original Corolla Hybrid only came in the base… Read more

RANGER TAKES ON MORE ‘TERRITORY’

There’s no such thing as a lone Ranger these days; there’s one around almost every street corner. So much so that the Ford is the second most popular utility vehicle Down Under. With going on for 30 variants there’s no being stuck for choice. Offered in single-, super- and double-cab body styles, Ranger brings the flexibility and toughness of Ranger’s ladder-frame chassis and Australian-led engineering and design in both 4×2 and 4×4 powertrains. Specification levels are XL, XLS, XLT and Wildtrak. Interestingly, XL 4×2 versions also include a Hi-Rider model,… Read more

2018 KIA CERATO SEDAN REVIEW

Easily Kia’s biggest-seller, the Cerato sits in fourth-place in the ultra-competitive small-medium segment having gradually eroded sales from the perennial big-three of Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30. Kia’s seven-year unlimited distance warranty is proving a masterstroke in that it is attracting new buyers who may have had any lingering doubts about the quality and reliability of Korean cars. The third generation, Kia Cerato sedan arrived here in June 2018 with the hatchback due towards the end of the year. The biggest change is styling, with more than a hint… Read more

2019 MINI COOPER S REVIEW

It’s hard to believe the Mini is now in its 60th year, these days its shape is arguably one of the most recognisable of all. It began life as a tiny no-nonsense very-practical car that could carry four people with less squeezing than you might expect, but became a legend in its own lifetime. Or rather two lifetimes, because the BMW Mini, launched in 2001 after the British maker got into so much financial strife that the German company moved in to sort out the mess. Thankfully, the guys and… Read more

OPTIMA GT KEEPS UP THE KIA PACE

A fresh face and a new set of ‘shoes’ are Kia’s attempt to keep its Optima mid-size sedan appealing in an ever-changing Australian car market. Pricing has come in for a haircut too. The MY2019 entry-level Si and premium GT pair gain a new grille and front fascia, upper and lower rear panels and re-styled wheels. Inside, the Optima gains the new OEM infotainment head unit (7-inch for the Si and 8-inch for the GT) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto tie-up. Kia’s Australian engineering team once again has rolled… Read more

LEXUS LS500h SPORTS LUXURY

I love being married to motoring journalist Ewan Kennedy for many reasons, not just the fact I get to drive lots of different cars. My passion for cars was instilled in me by my big brother Brett and his best mate Barry. Between them they’ve owned a Fiat, MG, Saab, E Type Jaguar, Maserati and probably some I have forgotten. Until they both got married and had other obligations. It hasn’t really made them boring, though – now that the short-of-cash period has passed Brett has an Audi S4 Avant… Read more

2018 NISSAN 370Z REVIEW

The popular Nissan 370Z has received a slight update, a price cut and minor styling changes as the Japanese manufacturer looks to reposition the distinguished coupe as an affordable and timeless offering. We have always had a soft-spot for the 370Z and there was great excitement when it replaced the 350Z in 2009, and a somewhat more tempered pleasure with subsequent refreshes over the last decade. Taking it home for the week was a nice way to get reacquainted with a favoured friend. STYLING Amazingly, the Nissan 370Z continues to… Read more