Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2018 VOLVO XC60 T6 R DESIGN

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The Swedish people certainly don’t use planned obsolescence as a way of making extra dollars for their companies. And Volvo is a clear indicator of this sensible approach. It’s almost 10 years since the just superseded Volvo XC60 midsize SUV was launched, now we have a virtually all-new model with significant upgrades throughout. Wheels magazine is obviously impressed by the new Volvo SUV, giving it the prestigious Car of the Year award. New Volvo XC60 sold in three variants; Momentum, Inscription and R-Design. Our test Volvo for the past week… Read more

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2018 KIA STINGER Si REVIEW

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Comedians will tell you that timing can make or break an act. The arrival of the Stinger, just as the lights were turned off on the local production of certain well-loved Aussie legends, is testament to Kia’s impeccable timing. The Stinger is no laughing matter though, the rear-wheel-drive performance car that doubles as family chariot. It is not only the fastest production Kia, it may also mark the end of the badge snobbery that tends to follow in Kia’s stead no matter the talents the South Korean manufacturer displays. We… Read more

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2018 BMW M4 PURE REVIEW

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BMW M3 is arguably the hero car in the German marque’s lineup. Okay, so there are other M models and even the i8 hybrid supercar, but there’s something special about a smallish four-door sedan that can take on, and beat, much more expensive machines on a day-to-day basis. Once upon a time the BMW M4 two-door coupe would have been called the M3 coupe, but the revised naming system from Bavaria gives the sporty-bodied models even-numbered designations. But enough with the semantics, let’s take a look at the special BMW… Read more

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NAVARA IRONS OUT CREASES, NOW FOR THE OPPOSITION

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This placid pick-up truck is a far cry from previous iterations of the popular workhorse, which Nissan would be the first to admit to being rather agricultural in character. Not that the new chum is a shrinking violet. Performance upgrades give the 2018 Nissan Navara more pulling power on and off road, while offering an easier and more enjoyable to drive, both of which were illustrated on a launch drive in Melbourne and surroundings. Initiated by Nissan Australia, and tested extensively in, and exclusively for conditions Down Under by Nissan… Read more

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2018 HYUNDAI SONATA PREMIUM

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Hyundai Sonata is due to be replaced by an all-new model in the first quarter of 2019, but the current one has received significant changes to see it through the intervening period. The importer has trimmed the range to just two models by discontinuing the Elite. Sonata is now offered in only in Active and Premium format. STYLING A major facelift has given the Sonata a striking appearance. Its front end has a huge grille, sleek headlights and large daytime running light housings. The tail has received a sort of… Read more

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2018 RANGE ROVER VELAR TURBO-DIESEL

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Land Rover has added another model to its already expansive range. The Range Rover Velar sits neatly in the gap between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. Velar debuts Range Rover’s latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens. More about this in a moment. Naturally the Velar follows Range Rover’s long tradition of having a light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body. Keeping weight down not only gives even better off-road performance, but also makes it feel more agile around town and as a bonus it… Read more

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FRIEND OF THE FAMILY COMES BEARING GIFTS

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After a month of Mazdas, behind the wheel of everything from a Mazda2 mini to a big BT-50 pickup truck, it seemed appropriate to finish with a stint in a CX-9 Azami, the pinnacle of the company’s SUV product. Since its Australian debut in 2016, the family-favourite sports utility vehicle has carried off a number of awards for its class-leading features. Now the bar has been raised higher. The flagship SUV has been given dynamic, safety and comfort upgrades, including G-Vectoring Control to further improve handling. Also improved are NVH… Read more

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CUSTOMERS SPEAK, SORENTO LISTENS

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Despite walking away with a range of motor industry awards since its launch more than two years ago, Kia’s seven-seat sports utility vehicle, the Sorento, had, according to some observers, a few shortcomings. The South Korean manufacturer has taken these on board and has come up with mid-cycle changes that address these. The changes include Kia’s in-house eight-speed automatic across the range, a new larger capacity long-stroke petrol engine, a higher and longer body for increased internal space, revised and improved ride and handling characteristics to better suit Australian conditions,… Read more

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MAZDA3: THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE COMPANY

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When you’re on to a good thing . . . no need to tell Mazda that, the company, line with its Kodo – soul of motion – philosophy in which colour is a prime element of form, has splashed out on a new exotic exterior colour for its popular Mazda3. This follows the success of Soul Red Crystal in the top-selling CX-5 SUV. Since its debut, the colour has proven a fast favourite with customers, with around 22 per cent of CX-5s sold being in colour. Unfortunately, our test vehicle,… Read more

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2018 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO KAKADU

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For the 2018 season Toyota has upgraded its Prado range, with a facelift and tail tuck, a revised interior and additional infotainment and safety technology. Our test vehicle was the LandCruiser Prado toplne model, the Kakadu. Not cheap at $84,490 but do you get a substantial amount of vehicle for your money. And the price has been trimmed by $1121 compared to the model it has just superseded. STYLING The new grille is big and bold with broad vertical bars flanked by restyled headlamps (bi-LED on GXL, VX and our… Read more