Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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KIA PICANTO GT-LINE ROAD TEST

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While the battle rages for the high ground of the top tech, and expensive, electrified territory of the automotive world, a rear-guard action from the internal combustion engine bargain basement is taking place. Micro cars such as the MG 3, Suzuki Ignis, Fiat 500 and Mazda 2 are leading the charge to defend ICE(land). The latest call to arms comes from Kia with its upgraded Picanto. What are its chances? Sadly, gone ta-taas is the popular GT, replaced by a pair of GT-Line legionnaires. Kia says it has called on… Read more

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JEEP GLADIATOR RUBICON ROAD TEST

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The Jeep Gladiator is an old acquaintance. The last time we drove one, we managed to get it bogged. How embarrassing . . . the first time in 25 years of road testing vehicles that this had happened to us. And here the Gladiator is again, sitting in the driveway, waiting patiently to go for a drive — like a dog that wants to go for a walk? But where to go? Where do you take a 4×4 when it’s pouring rain and you’re not real keen on getting bogged… Read more

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SUZUKI LOOSENS GRIP ON S-CROSS COSTS

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It’s been a long and lonely road for the Suzuki SX4 since it landed Down Under in the mid-noughties. For a start, the compact SUV created about the same enthusiasm as pair of sensible shoes, and after a decade, had a name change. It’s now the S-Cross.   With all-wheel drive models first up, Suzuki has come to the party with a couple of S-Cross front-wheel drives at up to $5000 less than their AWD siblings. All are powered by the same 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine, mated with a six-speed automatic… Read more

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JIMNY DOORS OPEN FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITY

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Who’d have thought that, with a name sounding like a sleeveless under garment, or fitness centre for tiny tots, the Jimny would have cornered the market in its segment as an all-round, on-road / off-road compact. A matter of three doors has not held the small SUV back. In fact it has become something of a cult car. Now a five-door version has shown up Down Under. In GLX premium spec, the newbie is not just a stretch version, sitting on a 340 mm longer wheelbase. The ladder frame chassis… Read more

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TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID SL

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Before discussing the Camry Hybrid, it should be pointed out that you can’t actually buy one right now. With a two-year waiting list due to production delays, Toyota Australia has been forced to “pause” orders for Camry hybrid variants due to extraordinary demand. A new ninth generation Camry was unveiled in the United States in November, so it will be interesting to see how Toyota plays this one. At some point it will have to switch from production of the current model to the new one. Toyota reveals 90 per… Read more

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CANNON BIG SHOT: HITS AND MISSES

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The Great Wall made an unchallenged impression on the landscape of China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); conversely, established as recently as 1984 (2009 in Australia), the titular motor manufacturer has played an impressive leading role in China becoming the largest exporter of motor vehicles in the world. With no let-up in sales of the Great Wall Motors four-door, five-seat 4×4 ute, a new range- topping variant has landed Down Under the form of the rugged Cannon-XSR. Taking the robust foundations of the GWM Ute dual cab platform, the new… Read more

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NISSAN QASHQAI ST-L

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Once known as Dualis, Nissan’s small SUV the Qashqai has grown in size and stature over the years. Sitting between the Juke and X-Trail in terms of size, the current, third generation Qashqai was launched in 2021. It’s 60kg lighter than before, stands taller, longer and wider, and has a longer wheelbase — and of course costs more. That means more room for luggage, and more knee and leg room for rear seat passengers. What’s not to like? STYLING The latest, third generation Qashqai comes in four grades: ST, ST+,… Read more

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VOLVO C40 RECHARGE

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The C40 Recharge coupe and XC40 Recharge SUV are Volvo’s first dedicated electric vehicles. Both arrived here in June 2022 and were upgraded in July 2023. Both vehicles come with the choice of the Pure with a single rear-mounted motor or the Twin Pure which adds a second motor mounted at the front. Our test vehicle was the C40 Recharge Twin Pure. STYLING The C40 Recharge’s shape is relatively subtle and it doesn’t shout out that it’s an electric vehicle. From the front to the B-pillar it’s quite tall in… Read more

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KIA EV9 GT-LINE AWD

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Sounds too good to be true, but it is. EV9 is Kia’s latest and greatest wunderkind, an EV that seats seven and can travel more than 500km on a single charge. In the early days of the modern electric era, it was suggested that families would have two cars: a compact battery-electric vehicle for city use and larger, hybrid SUV for inter-urban travel. A decade later they’ve had a rethink and EVs of different shapes and sizes are becoming an increasingly common sight on our motorways, but we’ve still got… Read more

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HONDA SNEAKS IN HYBRID SUV

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Honda has electrified its most popular vehicle. And who would know? One of the world’s biggest makers of internal combustion engines has been very quiet about the coming of the CR-V e:HEV RS. The Honda CR-V has long been an SUV staple for families around the world. Some 13.5 million units have been sold globally since the nameplate launched back in 1997. Two decades on, in its sixth generation, it is still the brand’s top-selling model in Australia. A late-comer to the petrol/electric generation in Australia, the five-seater e:HEV RS… Read more