Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2017 LEXUS LC 500 COUPE REVIEW

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Lexus has moved into yet another market segment, that of a luxury coupe. Once again the prestige Japanese car maker wants to challenge the big name Europeans at their own game. When the $750,000 Lexus LFA supercar was discontinued in 2012 the design team moved onto the Lexus LC project. Lexus LC 500 has recommended price of $190,000, to which on-road charges have to be added. A $15,000 enhancement pack is there for the person chasing even more in sporting performance. It has Lexus Dynamic Handling with four-wheel steering and… Read more

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INTERESTING: ‘PONY’ BUCKS THE TREND

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The Ford Mustang is a contrary car: beloved of Baby Boomers yearning for a re-run of a misspent youth; or 14-year-old schoolboys fuelled by raging hormones wishing they could own one. Wrong. Having spent time with a new ‘Pony 34’, (it’s rego number) most interesting was the appeal of the red GT Fastback shown by young adult females, snapping selfies and sitting behind the wheel, perhaps dreaming of cruising Rodeo Drive. Maybe I did not get it, but Ford certainly did. Here’s what one Blue Oval bloke thinks: “The visceral… Read more

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MAZDA CX-3 BEETLES AROUND WITH THE BEST

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If cars were creatures, the Mazda CX-3 would be a lady beetle with its distinct shape and stand-out colouring, buzzing around lush green meadows or summer gardens in full bloom. However, forget the bucolic backdrop, the pretty little sports utility vehicle is most at home in bustling urban centres. So much so that the ‘townie’ has become a market leader since it first came to Australia in March 2015. Following in the tracks of the Mazda2 light car, addition of i-Activsense safety technology makes the latest CX-3 update the first… Read more

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HYUNDAI’S PREMIUM PACKAGE WITHOUT THE PRICE

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While North Korea is intent on firing missiles across the bows of any foreign nation state within range, neighbouring South Korea goes on capturing hearts and minds worldwide with quality products. The latter is no better represented than by the third generation Hyundai i30 hatch recently arrived in Australia. The six-time Australia’s Best Car winner comes with plenty of standard features and the new model has LED headlamps, wireless smartphone charging, heated and ventilated front seats, and more. The entry-level Active sets the value-for-money trend at $20,950; runs through to… Read more

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2017 BMW 540i REVIEW

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The new BMW 5 Series, the seventh generation of the midsize range from the German specialist in sporting vehicles, is a technological tour de force. It’s as sporty as ever, though there’s a slight leaning to the luxurious side as the ‘5 is almost being seen as a smaller version of the super-luxury 7 Series. New drive modes alter steering, suspension, gearshift and throttle settings to suit the driver’s mood. The previous Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport modes on offer are now joined by a new Adaptive Mode. This system… Read more

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ESCAPE TO A NEW WAY OF FORD THINKING

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It was a glitch in the roster that had the press-test Mondeo going AWOL. Ironically, it was an Escape that saved the day, filling the breach. And in most respects the new Ford medium-size SUV fitted the bill nicely, after all, it was the top-of-the-range Titanium model. If the name sounds familiar, it is an old Ford title revisited and is a Kuga with a new name as part of the marketing in the Blue Oval scheme of things. Along with the new name goes a fresh face, five-star ANCAP… Read more

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MITSUBISHI ASX IS SOLID, RELIABLE AND GOOD VALUE

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For such an unassuming character, the Mitsubishi ASX sure has a faithful following. Regularly in the top three of the compact SUV segment, the ASX is a tried and trusty performer with its lack of airs and graces winning it a legion of followers. Offered in both diesel and petrol, manual and automatic, front-wheel and all-wheel drive, the ASX range extends from $25,000 to $37,000 and offers a fair bit of bang for your buck. It is sturdy and comfortable, spacious with quality features and adapts well to singles, families… Read more

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MINI COUNTRYMAN IS NO LONGER MINI

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New Mini Countryman is no longer mini sized. At 4299 mm long it’s 199 mm longer than the Countryman it succeeds. Width has increased by 33 mm to 1822 mm; height is greater by 13 mm, now 1557 mm. By way of a fascinating comparison, fellow-Brit the iconic LandRover Defender 90 is shorter and narrower than the upsized Mini Countryman… Most importantly, the Countryman’s wheelbase is significantly greater, being 75 mm up to an impressive 2670 mm which makes for significantly more legroom inside. There’s also 59 mm more elbow… Read more

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2017 HOLDEN COLORADO 4X4 REVIEW

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The Australian love affair with dual-cab utes shows no sign of losing that fresh flush of romance with the vehicle’s ability to service both work and family commitments a major drawcard. The segment is highly competitive filled with all manner of temptations including utes that look like utes but drives like cars (well, almost), utes that have such a premium feel you couldn’t imagine getting it dusty, utes that are better off-road, those that are better on road, utes that can haul heavy trailers, others that would battle with an… Read more

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GREAT WALL STEED – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

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Few would deny how far utility vehicles have come in the past two decades. Any doubts can be quickly dismissed by getting behind the wheel of the latest Great Wall Motors Steed. The Dual Cab is so last century. While there are some positives about the latest version of the pickup – toughness, reliability, and most of all, price (from $24,990 driveaway) – there are question marks against the Steed’s safety. Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what independent vehicle safety advocate, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program,… Read more