Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2018 NISSAN X-TRAIL REVIEW

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Nissan has given its midsize X-Trail SUV a solid makeover in appearance both inside and out, as well as a major performance boost, added technology and improved overall refinement. The Nissan X-Trail is offered with five or seven-seat versions, though the seven-seater is only available if you chose the 2WD model with the 2.5-litre petrol engine. Our test Nissan for the past week was a five-seat diesel X-Trail Ti. STYLING Three new paint colours: Marine Blue, Copper Blaze and Ruby Red lift it away from the various shades of silver… Read more

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2017 MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT GLS REVIEW

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The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is now offering more at the same price. Seven seats in the GLS and Exceed for the cost of five seats. Combined with the rugged SUV’s inclusions list, fuel economy and all-round capability, this is one challenge that is difficult to ignore. We were in the Pajero Sport GLS for a week during which the rain gods were especially generous to Queensland. The GLS’s quite confidence and assuredness under foot was a comfort in dangerous driving conditions. STYLING The Pajero Sport hides its ute roots rather… Read more

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NEW RENAULT SEDAN FORSAKES BLOWTORCH FOR FIRESIDE COMFORT

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Renault has created a modern dynasty of hot hatches on the back of a formidable Formula One motor racing record: think Megane and Clio. Now the French automotive giant has added to the Megane family Down Under with a wagon and sedan. In comparison to the performance-based Megane hatch, with which it was born and bred, the new sedan is a stylish, premium packaged, practical vehicle, which is, once the steepish initial outlay is overcome, economical to live with. It comes to Australia in two models – Zen and Intens… Read more

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2017 AUDI S5 COUPE REVIEW

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New generation A5 and S5 two-door coupes were launched in March this year and have been a hit right from the start, for two reasons: Number one is undoubtedly styling; Audi is running hot in this vital sales area these days and the S5 is right up with the best. Number two is a more mundane; A5 and S5 coupe prices have been cut by as much as $15,000 when compared feature-to-feature with the superseded models. Our test coupe for the past week was the Audi S5 coupe. STYLING The… Read more

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2017 LEXUS LC500 REVIEW

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Bold. Brash. Beautiful. The Lexus LC 500 is a head-turner alright. It is emotionally engaging with the all-round performance to match. A real Grand Tourer from an unlikely part of the world. It may also be the biggest statement Lexus has made since the LFA. And we got to live with one for the week. You have some idea of the LC 500’s drawing power when the school principal asks you to park the car rather than using the drop-off point because you are stopping the morning carpark flow. And… Read more

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SUZUKI MOVES TO MAKE THE SWIFT RISE CONTINUE

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Swift by name; swift by nature. In automotive terms, it has taken just 12 years and five million sales worldwide for the Suzuki Swift to become something of an icon in the light-car segment. From the road up, the development team went to work, introducing a new-generation platform and engineering a completely new chassis, body structure and powertrain. The new Swift comes to Australia in four variants, with the entry-level Swift GL 1.2 manual selling for $16,990 driveaway, adding a CVT for $1000, a Safety Pack for a further $1200,… Read more

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2018 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY HSE REVIEW

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When the first Land Rover Discovery was launched in 1989 it was a cross between the tough, almost military, Defender and the upper-luxury Range Rover. Over the next 27 years and four generations it has matured into a more refined vehicle, but retained plenty of off-road capability. Now the fifth generation Land Rover Discovery is here and we’ve just spent an interesting week running in what will be typical conditions to most owners – suburban and city running as a family station wagon. Shopping, sitting in traffic and suchlike boring… Read more

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2018 KIA SORENTO GETS MAJOR UPGRADES

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Kia has given its medium-large Sorento SUV a facelift aimed at giving it a more purposeful appearance. However, the biggest changes are out of sight, with new engines and transmission, as well as added infotainment features and added safety. Once regarded as the ‘other’ marque from South Korea, Kia is rapidly becoming a major player in Australia in its own right. With sales increasing by 28 per cent year to date over 2016 Kia chief, Damien Meredith is cautiously optimistic of getting into the top 10 list on the sales… Read more

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2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ALLTRACK REVIEW

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When Volkswagen decided to give the Golf a mid-life spruce up, the Alltrack was also invited to the party and presented with a range of trendy updates that will keep its dance card filled. For starters, there are two more variants to accompany the 132TSI – the 132TSI Premium and a diesel, the 135TDI Premium – that will offer buyers greater options. And there are tweaks to design, infotainment and safety features to add more value to the proposition. The Alltrack is well-equipped with standard features with options packages for… Read more

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SUBARU LEVORG BLENDS STYLE WITH PERFORMANCE

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The crew from Monty Python may well have had the Subaru Levorg in mind when they coined the phrase “And now for something completely different …” because there’s nothing else on the Australian market that can quite match this Japanese station wagon’s combination of stylish looks, high-performance, practicality and value. For starters it’s a station wagon which makes it something of a rarity in this SUV-centric era. Add the fact that it shares much of its underbody componentry with Australia’s favourite performance car, the Subaru WRX. About the only ugly… Read more