Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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THERE’S AN AURA AROUND GWM ORA

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Every now and then we get into a car that seems to grab attention wherever it goes. So it has been with the Great Wall Motors (GWM) Ora. Perhaps it was the combination of cute styling, a standout powder blue finish and then ew Ora badge that looks much like an exclamation mark. It drew comparisons with the New Beetle and old Nissan Micra and had us fielding questions throughout the week. Ora is GWM’s first EV and joins the growing list of affordable fully-electric compact vehicles to come out… Read more

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SSANGYONG REXTON IS AN IMPRESSIVE SEVEN-SEATER AT A BARGAIN PRICE

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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, earlier this year, by a new entrant in the automotive scene – KG Mobility. SsangYong currently has three models in its range, the Musso ute and two SUVs, mid- sized Korando and, this week’s test vehicle… Read more

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MG HS +EV REVIEW

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The MG HS +EV is a mid-sized SUV from the Chinese manufacturer that is making such an impact on the Australian market. The name can be a little misleading because it’s not fully-electric but rather a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and so comes with a petrol engine together with a battery that can be charged in the same manner as an EV. Plug-in hybrids are an excellent concept but in practice, at least at this stage of their development, they don’t make a lot of sense. Firstly, they are typically at… Read more

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TOYOTA CRUISER: NO SINKING FEELING . . . YET

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The Toyota LandCruiser dates back to the days when such vehicles were called wagons – none of this sports utility vehicle nonsense. Unfortunately, they behaved as though they, at worst, had wooden wheels with iron rims; at best, solid rubber tyres. One such ‘wagon’ was the LandCruiser, which made Aussie landfall in the 1950s on the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme. It has not looked back. The latest LandCruiser 300 came to market two years ago, with Toyota at pains to supply the vehicle with a stack of the latest automotive… Read more

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CX-60 REWRITES THE RULEBOOK FOR MAZDA SUVS

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It appears the CX-60 has inveigled its way into the Mazda sports utility vehicle family with the bearing of an imperious European aristocrat. Indeed, an industry specialist who deals with vehicle brands daily says, at first sight, the CX-60 reminded him a lot of a Jaguar. Mazda makes no bones about taking the Yellow Brick Road to a spot ‘over the rainbow’ inhabited by the best mid-size SUVs around and the CX-60 debuts with three sophisticated new powertrains – inline-six turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, in mild hybrid guise, plus… Read more

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HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R

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Where has the time gone? It’s been five years since we last drove the Civic Type-R. It was incredible then and it’s still an amazing car to drive, engineered to deliver a thrilling driving experience and without doubt one of the best hot hatches in the world. Even so the Type-R’s days are probably numbered as the world moves with increasing speed towards an electric future where all cars will be lightning quick. Think about that for a moment. STYLING Type-R is priced from $72,600. That’s a national driveaway price… Read more

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GWM TANK 300 ULTRA PETROL

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The Tank. Yes, that’s right the Tank, is something a little different from the Chinese Great Wall Motors — known simply as GWM these days. It’s a mid-sized, five-seat SUV, with a catchy name and quirky good looks, that combine to set it apart from and perhaps a little above the competition. But don’t be fooled by the decorations, because it’s a fair dinkum 4×4 with all the necessary bits and bobs, including low and high range gearing. Also, in a departure from practice, while it’s an SUV, Great Wall… Read more

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EV(LUTION) A MAGNET FOR FOSSIL-FED HYUNDAI KONA

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In a display, which can only be described as a case of automotive smoke and mirrors, the new Hyundai Kona is designed to look like an electric vehicle – no radiator grille – whether an EV, hybrid or petrol powered. The maker Hyundai says this is to make the whole range of the small SUV, including petrol variants – EV and hybrids are due here by year’s end – blend in with traffic better in the future. The ‘petrols’ on offer at present are a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a CVT… Read more

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GENESIS GV80 30D AWD

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Launched here in 2020, GV80 is Genesis’ first and largest SUV in a lineup that now boasts three of them. At just under five metres in length and with a kerb weight of about 2300kg, it’s a large, impressive-looking vehicle. The styling is tasteful, chiselled and eye-catching, highlighted by an imposing, almost heraldic, crest-shaped grille that is flanked by quad, twin-bar LED headlights — motifs that are repeated at the rear of the car. Competitors include Lexus, Volvo and of course the German contingent. STYLING In the context of recent… Read more

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MAZDA CX-8 PLUGS THE GENERATION GAP

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Mazda sports utility vehicle sibling rivalry just got hotter, with a reborn five-year-old CX-8 refitted out and snapping at big brother CX-9’s heels, while fending off the challenge of the mid-size CX-5. Available in six grades – Sport, Touring, Touring Active, GT SP, Asaki and Asaki LE – with petrol or diesel power front or all-wheel drive, the entry-level Sport FWD petrol comes to market at $42,060, plus on-road costs, while the Asaki LE diesel AWD tips the scales at $71,410. Rearranging the chairs, the Touring Active takes over where… Read more