Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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VW PASSAT WAGON IS PRACTICAL HAULER

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The eighth generation of the Volkswagen Passat mid-sized sedan and wagon, coded as the B8 series, arrived in Australia late in 2015. We have just spent a couple of weeks living with a Passat 132TSI station wagon in Comfortline format, and have come away impressed with its practicality and ease of use. New Passat uses the Volkswagen MQB platform which we have already experienced in several others in the latest VW range. The platform reduces weight and permits for a large number of vehicles to be built at the same… Read more

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2015 ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT SD4 HSE REVIEW

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What to get if you like the Range Rover Evoque but need more space; like the Discovery but don’t have the readies; want a bit of Range Rover style and capability? Oddly enough, you buy a Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Freelander replacement has been with us for just over a year now and is finding plenty of homes with its pretty looks and the promise of mud-plugging shenanigans should the need arise. VALUE The Discovery Sport HSE SD4 is the mid-spec trim level, starting at $61,100 for the manual… Read more

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TUCSON LEADS STRONG BID FOR SUV DOMINANCE

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As things go, it is likely SUVs could become the biggest selling segment in the passenger car market sometime during 2016. According to industry analyst VFacts research has shown that only five per cent of four-wheel-drive owners do any serious off-roading in their vehicles. However, they favoured the high-set seating position and the robust character of the bodywork made them feel protected inside an SUV. Automobile makers took note. They cut out the low mode of the 4×4 transfer case, leaving the vehicle, at first known as a soft-roader, able… Read more

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BMW X1 2.0D: ATTRACTIVE SEQUEL TO BMW BEST-SELLER

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The second-generation BMW X1 continues to tick the box as only the Bavarian Motor Works can, with a newly designed interior with significantly more space and versatility, combined with premium surroundings. Latest-generation four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and transmissions ensure segment leading performance and efficiency. X1 sDrive 20i and sDrive 18d models have front-wheel drive, while xDrive 25i and xDrive 20d benefit from BMW’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system in a new and improved form. The new X1 trumps its predecessor in standard equipment which includes LED headlights; rear view camera; driving… Read more

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HOLDEN CASCADA HEADS FOR THE FUTURE

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The Cascada is one of the most important new models from Holden being aimed at seeing the company through the difficult period of shutting down Australian manufacture, then into the future of import-only cars. Holden has painted itself into a corner created by many people thinking that all cars with Holden badges have been made in this country. So the news that Holden is closing its factories has these folks thinking no Holdens will ever be sold again. Sales have slowed and the marketing guys are desperately trying to get… Read more

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TOYOTA FRESHENS UP RAV4

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In hindsight it seems strange that Toyota’s decision to launch its first RAV4 model back in 1994 was considered something of a gamble. Until then most passenger vehicles with drive to all four wheels were seen either as a rural workhorse or an overweight and cumbersome suburban people mover. RAV4 was different. While still a 4WD and with a similar shape it was significantly smaller and lighter with the term ‘crossover’ being used prior to it being replaced by the now usually accepted ‘SUV’. Indeed the names SUV (for Sports… Read more

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SPORTY POLO PLAYS TO ITS STRENGTHS

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With new, more aggressive styling, a new finely-tuned performance 1.8-litre four-cylinder 141 kW TSI engine, mated with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic, the new VW Polo GTI returns to the compact hot hatch segment with new-found flair. It’s as if the Volkswagen Polo GTI has gained enough self-confidence to step out of the shadow of its bigger brother – the iconic Golf GTI – and into the glow of its own making. Polo GTI comes with a grab bag of driver assistance and convenience systems. High-end automobile… Read more

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2015 BMW M135i REVIEW

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The great thing about BMW is that despite a fairly sober reputation – albeit for building excellent driver’s cars – head office still signs off mildly ridiculous products. The M135i is one of those. It’s a small hatchback, considered a family car in countries with rather less room to move than we have, with a whopping great engine. The 1.5-litre triple is flung out, replaced by Munich’s tremendous 3.0-litre turbo-petrol straight six. It also gets some attention from BMW’s M subsidiary, purveyors fast car pedigree like the M3 and M5…. Read more

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2016 MAZDA2 SEDAN REVIEW

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Mazda’s new ‘2 landed this year to almost universal acclaim, something that generally happens only when a truly impressive new car comes along. In the hard-fought small car segment, it’s doubly hard. In an SUV-mad market it’s now mildly surprising when a small car gets a sedan variant and more surprising still when a carmaker goes through the aggro of getting it ready for sale in Australia. The Mazda2 sedan doesn’t have a lot of competition but when the small sedan segment is tiny to start with, the Japanese company… Read more

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ALL-NEW CADDY FROM VOLKSWAGEN

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The biggest news about the latest Volkswagen Caddy is that the glovebox now has a lid – previously it was just a gaping hole in the dashboard. Which sounds like a strange way to open a story, but it illustrates the new direction in which VW is aiming the Caddy. That is, moving it mildly upmarket. The complete driving area of the Caddy has been given a working over to make it less van like and more in the manner of a car. Good idea, we’ve never understood why van… Read more