Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2019 SSANGYONG TIVOLI XLV DIESEL

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SsangYong Tivoli is yet another entry into the already rather crowded small to medium SUV range in Australia. The South Korean company has been importing SUVs and pickup trucks here on and off for several years, with the Rexton and Musso. Tivoli is offered in two or four wheel drive, with petrol or diesel engines and – an unusual one this – comes in two lengths. They are the same shape for most of their bodies, but the Tivoli XLV is 245mm longer in the tail to provide extra legroom… Read more

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PRIUS STILL LEADING LIGHT IN TOYOTA POWER PLAY

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Think what you will about Toyota, when it comes to electric vehicles, the Japanese automotive giant has stuck to its guns. It’s been petrol / electric hybrid all the way. Its Prius hatchback, in 2001, was the first hybrid to make a real impression on the automobile market in Australia and, indeed, around the world. The ubiquitous Prius taxis speaks to this. And, it seems, there’s no letting up, with the fourth generation of the pioneering Toyota hybrid, casting off the somewhat frumpy styling of the original model, taking on… Read more

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LITTLE RENAULT SUV CAPTURES HEARTS BUT NOT SALES

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Renault Captur is a stylish small SUV that’s built on the same platform as the Clio hatchback but with a little extra length and height. When it was launched in Europe in 2013 it was one of the first of the small crossover SUVs which have subsequently sprung up everywhere. It has been a big seller in Europe right from the get-go, but unfortunately for Renault Australia by the time it arrived here in early 2015 many of its competitors had launched their equivalent models and this, together with limited… Read more

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HONDA HR-V RS STEPS UP TO THE ALL-ROUND PERFORMANCE PLATE

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From the ubiquitous ‘postie bike’ to the Civic hot hatch and NSX hybrid supercar, not to mention motorcycles, lawnmowers and generators, Honda has spent half a century keeping up with Australia’s automotive needs. Included in this august line-up is the compact HR-V, the world’s most popular sports utility vehicle, which has undergone an extensive upgrade following its introduction Down Under in 2015. Included is a new variant, the RS, designed for the sporty driver who wants a more edgy experience behind the wheel. Now in four model grades – VTi,… Read more

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NISSAN JUKE NISMO BRINGS BACK THE FUN TO DRIVING

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With SUVs so popular nowadays as they make sense, with a few exceptions they aren’t especially exciting to drive. So it was great to be able to spend a week behind the spritely little Nissan Juke Nismo RS. Although Juke is officially listed as an SUV in Australia it looks like, and performs like, what used to be called a hot hatch. Hot SUV? No, it just doesn’t sounds right. The name Nismo is an abbreviation of Nissan Motorsport International Limited and is the in-house tuning, motorsports and performance division… Read more

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HAVAL H9 HEAVY LIFTING; PRICES STAY PUT

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US President Donald Trump may be ramping up the trade war with China, all the while the Asian manufacturing megalith continuing to wheel out the big guns in the global automobile market. Latest additions to its Haval H9 put the heavy-metal sports utility vehicle up against some of the world’s best in the premium SUV market at prices the opposition can only dream about. Continuing its foray into the seven-seater four-wheel drive SUV, the Chinese automobile manufacturer has added to an extensive suite of safety features without lifting he price… Read more

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2019 MERCEDES-BENZ A 250 HATCH

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The all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has not only grown in size, but also in maturity. It can be regarded as a smaller version of the Mercedes C- and E-Class ranges – but at a significantly lower price. The range begins at just $42,300 for the A180 hatch, with our test car, the A 250 FWD, costing a pretty reasonable $48,800. As usual you have to factor in on-road costs. New A-Class is larger inside in all directions, with more shoulder space, elbow room and headroom in both the front and rear… Read more

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SSANGYONG THROWS DOWN BEAUT UTE CHALLENGE

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SsangYong is going to great lengths, with one of the most spacious trays in class, to make an impression in the ute market. The new Musso XLV can be loaded up with 1262 litres weighing up to 1020 kg. And just to show how serious the South Korean automobile maker is, SsangYong is aiming to expand to 50 dealers in Australia by the end of the year. The new long wheelbase version of the Musso, according to the maker, combines high levels of safety, creature comforts, off-road performance and, last… Read more

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CAT BRINGS THE SOFT TOUCH TO A HARD HEART

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A cat with nine lives might be taking things too far, but one feline of the automotive variety has at least two. The Jaguar XE 300 Sport, like the ultimate furry friend, will pad around all day as quiet as a mouse, but switch to Sport mode and the claws come out, together with a strident engine soundtrack to match. The XE range is the British answer to the Germans’ – Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, not forgetting the Italians’ Alfa Romeo Giulia and assorted others from the… Read more

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HYUNDAI KONA PURE ELECTRIC

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The first all-electric production car to go on sale in Australia was the Mitsubishi I-MiEV. In 2010 I picked up one from Mitsubishi in Brisbane and drove to our home on the Gold Coast – arriving there with just five kilometres to spare before the dash readout told me the batteries would be flat. That’s nail biting territory … Last week I picked up a Hyundai Kona Electric from Brisbane, drove home along the same route – and arrived with 398 kilometres to ‘empty’. Such has been the advancement in… Read more