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VITAL EV SWITCH FOR SUZUKI VITARA

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First introduced in the 1980s, the Suzuki Vitara helped pioneer the compact four-wheel drive and built a reputation for capability, efficiency and durability on and off road. Now, with the Japanese brand’s first fully electric SUV for Australia, the e Vitara has taken on the task of upholding the tradition. The e Vitara is offered in two variants – Motion, two-wheel drive with 344km range and Ultra, the test vehicle, featuring Suzuki’s All Grip all-wheel drive system, and 395km range. Pricing could be a problem with the e Vitara Motion… Read more

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TORRES LEANS TOWARD HYBRID FUTURE

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  The newly-landed Torres SUV has gone for the full box and dice with its first foray into  the petrol/electric hybrid jungle.   The Chinese Torres (aka Tower) is manufacturer KGM’s start of a new electric era with a  full hybrid system combining an efficient battery powering two electric motors combining  impressive performance with welcome fuel efficiency.   Two models are available at launch – the K30 and K40 – both scraping under the $50k  mark before on-road costs – $45,000 and $48,000 respectively. The latter was on test.  … Read more

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BYD SEALION 8 PREMIUM AWD . . .PLENTY TO LIKE

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The Sealion 8 range is the Chinese BYD’s first seven-seater and has a big role to play. Sharing its platform and mechanicals with the five-seat Sealion 6, it is positioned as a family-friendly alternative to the likes of the Toyota Kluger, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and other large hybrids. It blends a petrol engine with electric motors and a sizeable battery, aiming to deliver EV-style efficiency for the day-to-day commute with extended range for longer trips. In typical BYD fashion it leans hard on tech, with distinctive styling that ties with… Read more

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M8 . . .  COULD DO BIG THINGS FOR GAC

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How about that grille heh? It’s the GAC M8 (Mate, get it?) and it shouts look at me! The vertically-ribbed grille brings sparks memories of the so-called ”cow catchers” they used to fit to trains. The idea was to lift and push obstacles out of the way rather than slice and dice them in the case of an unfortunate cow. Perhaps that’s GAC’s plan for the M8, billed as Australia’s only plug-in hybrid people mover — to push the competition out of the way? Those competitors include but are not… Read more

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KAKADU . . . BUILT FOR THE BUSH BUT CHALLENGED IN OTHER AREAS.

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Toyota says the new Prado delivers comprehensive improvements in driveability, off- road capability, safety, technology and functionality — all wrapped in a bold, stylish redesign that will appeal to urban families and off-road adventurers alike. We’ve spent a lot of time in the previous Prado clocking up thousands of kilometres in Outback Western Australia. With four adults and their luggage, it was a bit of a squeeze at times and I would have loved to remove the two intrusive, fold-down third row seats to free up space. The focus for… Read more

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DENZA B8 PHEV PACKS A PUNCH AND PLENTY OF LUXURY EQUIPMENT

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Like Lexus is Toyota, Denza is to the Chinese brand BYD, with an upmarket line of luxury vehicles and a price tag to match. The brand was established in 2010 as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, but Benz has since pulled the plug. The B8 Super Hybrid is a large six or seven-seat 4×4 wagon that is billed a bit optimistically as a competitor for the Land Cruiser 300 Series. There’s also a B5, a smaller five-seater that has the Prado in its sights, along with a z9GT sedan and… Read more

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QASHQAI MAKES OWN WAY ON HYBRID DRIVE

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  The Qashqai compact Nissan SUV has turned its back on the past to embrace petrol/electric power with the company’s own unique innovative e-Power hybrid powertrain. Upgrades stretch across the whole range from the entry-level ST-L, where prices start at $45,640, plus on-road costs. The Ti comes in at $49,640 and Ti-L $53,640. A new N- Design Nissan’s Ti-L e-Power jumps to $52,365, while the new N-Design e-Power tops off the range at $54,140. On test was the mid-spec Ti-L e-Power. Nissan’s e-Power system, a series hybrid where a 1.5-litre… Read more

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FOTON TUNLAND … A LOT OF UTE FOR THE MONEY

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Foton’s Tunland diesel hybrid utility, that’s diesel hybrid — could make a few punters sit up and take notice. For starters it’s larger than your average 4×4 sports ute and although it is surprisingly well equipped, it costs a lot less. Tunland is billed as a full-size ute, but in reality, sits somewhere between the Ranger and Ram 1500 in terms of size, with prices starting from $39,990. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because the Chinese brand had a crack back in the 2010s but failed to break into… Read more

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TOYOTA KLUGER NOW ONLY HYBRID AND AWD

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Toyota Kluger is a semi-luxury seven-seat family SUV that has been on sale in Australia since 2003. Like most other model updates Kluger has grown in size progressively through its life and the latest (fourth) generation, launched here in mid-2021, and is no exception coming in at just under five metres in length. Note that the Kluger name is only used in Japan and Australia. It’s the Highlander in all other markets but that name had already been taken by Hyundai for some of its top-spec variants. Kluger was given… Read more

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JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON UNLIMITED

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Jeep Wrangler needs no introduction. If you’re into off-roading, it’s up there with the best of them. In fact, out of the box, Wrangler probably delivers more 4×4 capability than just about anything, with plenty of room for further customisation. But this ability comes at a cost, because it’s not the most comfortable car to drive and these days it is available only with a petrol engine which is a major drawback. STYLING In the UK the 4×4 scene is about mud and bog holes. In the United States, it’s… Read more