Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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JIMNY, FUN AND GAMES BY ANY STRETCH

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Jimny: it’s all in the name. Since its get-go the quirky small Suzuki SUV has been on a ‘fun run’, on and off road. Last year the maker invested more in the three-door compact, which had become something of a cult, adding two more doors and extended cabin space. Release the brakes, start revving the motor, the new Jimny XL five-door, after a bump in the road, has finally been let out on to Aussie streets, following a hold-up on sales for ‘an investigation into the model’ by the maker…. Read more

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CHERY PLAYS MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH ITS NEW OMODA BRAND

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It’s getting quite difficult to keep track of the constantly evolving brands and sub- brands within the giant Chinese Chery group. The most recent development is the establishment of what is effectively a new sister brand to Chery called Omoda Jaecoo, a premium brand that operates independently of their shared parent company. We recently reported on the two Jaecoo models (J7 and J8) that are currently on sale in Australia. This time we’re reviewing the first of the dedicated Omoda vehicles the Omoda 9 that went on sale here in… Read more

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EYE ON THE FUTURE – INSTER IS HARD TO IGNORE

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Ever been eyeballed by a car? Recently, while picking up a Hyundai test vehicle, I had the strange feeling the eyes (aka round headlamps with a ring of LED daytime running lights) of the Inster all-electric light SUV were following me. On top of this, positioned below was a wide grille with the superior look of a knowing smile? Creepy? The maker sees things differently, explaining the ethos of the Inster by saying the set-up makes for ‘a futuristic yet playful first impression.’ All flippancy aside, Hyundai’s smallest and most… Read more

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REXTON IS AN IMPRESSIVE SEVEN-SEAT SUV ALTERNATIVE

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Although Korean carmaker SsangYong has been in the Australian market for the past 20 years it has never been able to get close to the success of its compatriots Hyundai and Kia. The company has gone through financial difficulties over the years and been taken over at different times by SAIC, Daewoo, Mahindra and, in 2023, by a new entrant in the automotive scene – KG Mobility or locally as KGM SsangYong KGM SsangYong currently has five models in its range, the Musso ute, three mid- sized SUVS, Korando, Torres… Read more

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JAECOO J8 COMBINES HIGH QUALITY WITH BARGAIN PRICING

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Yet another new name for Australian buyers to grapple with, Jaecoo is one of three sub-brands from the Chinese Chery brand. Chery is the leading exporter of Chinese vehicles worldwide with Australian sales more than tripling over the past 12 months. Marketed as the group’s premium brand, Jaecoo was launched here in March 2025 with the J7, a mid-sized SUV powered by either petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains. It was joined recently by our test vehicle, the J8 family-size SUV. Although they are built on different platforms, they do share… Read more

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BYD SHARK IS COMING FOR YOU

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It’s BYD’s Shark and it’s coming for you. At least it is if you’re in the market for a ute because the Shark, or Shark 6 to be exact, has been a runaway success for the Chinese company. BYD has sold more than 10,000 examples of the dual cab utility since launch 12 months ago and just to set the record straight, it’s not an electric vehicle — but rather a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). That makes the Shark rather special but not quite unique with competitors such as the Ford… Read more

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MG CYBERSTER – FLAWED BUT SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE

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Wow. MG’s Cyberster is a knockout. You can see why the company lavished so much time and money developing a car that realistically few people will buy. The Cyberster (great name) provides a direct link between the modern Chinese company and the storied British manufacturer from which it takes its name. It’s a modern interpretation of a very old idea, based on such classics from the company’s past as the famous MGB sports car from the 1960s. MG says Cyberster isn’t just here to be another car, it’s here to… Read more

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KIA TASMAN IS GOOD … AND IT HAD TO BE

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the Kia Tasman is Kia’s first ute. And it has a big task ahead of it as Kia attempts to acquire a chunk of the lucrative light commercial market. Now the number four brand in the Australian market, the South Korean car maker has come a long way in the past decade. But it can’t take the fight up to market leader Toyota without a ute as part of its arsenal — and what a ute it is. Together with… Read more

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BIG AND BOLD, ISUZU UTE MU-X IS A VERSATILE FAMILY SUV

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Isuzu Ute MU-X is a seven-seat family SUV from a Japanese company that has a long history of producing hard working vehicles. Indeed, Isuzu has a history dating back for over 100 years in light commercial vehicles including a couple of decades when they sold here rebadged as Holdens. The MU-X is one of only two vehicles offered by the Isuzu Ute brand alongside the D- Max utility with which it shares the same chassis and numerous other components. MU-X has been a major success in Australia. Sitting on the… Read more

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VOLVO LOOKS FORWARD TO A FULLY EV FUTURE WITH THE EX90 SUV

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Volvo has been given a hand-up to total automotive electrification in a big way by its bosses at Geely, the Chinese automotive group that is the parent company of the Swedish luxury marque. Both companies are involved in electric vehicle development, including the flagship large luxury Volvo EX90, which shares some of its technology and the Polestar 3 platform. Geely also produces its own vehicles, such as the Geely Starray Em-1, and sells a range of accessories for the EX90 through its Geelyevs website. However, is the swish seven-seater too… Read more