Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2018 MASERATI LEVANTE S TURBO-PETROL

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When Maserati launched its Levante SUV in Australia in February it came only with a diesel engine. Why? Because at that time all petrol models were fitted with the steering wheel on the wrong side for Australia. A silly mistake that has now been rectified. Following pressure from Australia, the UK, South Africa and other countries where people drive on the left side of the road Maserati Levante is now available with a Ferrari-built twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with 321 kW (430 horsepower) and 580 Nm of torque for the 2018… Read more

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MAZDA CX-9 IS A CLASSY PEOPLE MOVER

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Launched in July 2016 the second generation Mazda CX-9 has been a big hit in the people mover market in Australia. Not content to rest on its laurels, Mazda Oz recently introduced improvements to driving, safety and comfort for its flagship Azami, our test machine for the last week. STYLING With its neat and tidy look the big Mazda people carrier has a look of restrained confidence. From every angle things are in proportion and there are no fancy bits to spoil the minimalist look. The interior features quality materials… Read more

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2018 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET REVIEW

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A few months ago we drove a couple of Audi A5 Cabriolets with the their roofs open on a wet, windy wintery day in Adelaide – and were pleased to find the combination of heated seats, warm air being blown onto the back of our necks and an air blocker behind the front seats made life significantly more comfortable than expected. By way of sharp contrast we’ve just spent a most pleasant week at the wheel of an A5 Cabriolet in our home area on the Gold Coast, plenty of… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 110TSI COMFORTLINE

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Turmeric is all the rage now, isn’t it? Chips and lattes, creams, salads and soaps. Even cars, it seems. That was the colour of the Golf Comfortline we picked up for the week. Or so the brochure said. Having a mother with Indian heritage, turmeric played a starring role in our household long before celebrities started adding it to their chai. We had it mixed in water to settle upset tummies, sprinkled on cuts to help healing and combined with a touch of coconut oil for a paste for skin… Read more

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MITSUBISHI SUV ADDS MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD SAFETY-FIRST

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Mitsubishi has promised a happier new year for ASX buyers with the addition of a new variant to its top-selling small SUV range. The LS ADAS (Advanced Drive Assist Systems) is also standard fitment to the top-line XLS. Drivers of the new mid-level 2018 LS ADAS gain the advantage of forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning and automatic high beam features as well as design upgrades and the latest is smartphone connectivity. The LS 2.0-litre petrol 2WD manual remains the entry level model, coming to the market at $25,000, plus… Read more

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2017 NISSAN 370Z NISMO REVIEW

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Nissan’s 370Z sportscar is getting on in years but still looks the part and is bargain priced. Indeed it recommended retail price has been coming down to compensate for the years going up. For a little over $50,000 on the road it gives you a blast into the past that’s most enjoyable. Now another, pretty special version of the 370Z is on sale, one from the Nissan Motorsports and tuning division Nismo. The 370Z Nismo features added power, sports suspension, wider tyres, bigger brakes, a hot body kit and a… Read more

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2018 RENAULT KOLEOS INTENS TURBO-DIESEL

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New Renault Koleos is significantly larger than the model it superseded in August 2016. Increases to cabin space make it well suited to families with children well into their teenage years. Luggage room has also benefited. The topline Renault Koleos Intens diesel 4WD we road tested had genuine leather trim, heated and ventilated front seats (Yippee! seat ventilation always saves the day in Queensland); ambient cabin lighting; an electric panoramic sunroof and a hands-free power tailgate. The Intens also has added safety features (more about this in the Safety segment… Read more

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COOL, MAZDA CX-5 SO EASY TO TAKE

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From pollies to TV celebs to eating-out spots, popularity polls are, well, as popular as ever. The same could be said for automobiles, with cars of the year of all hues coming out of the woodwork at this time. Mazda’s CX-5 SUV is sitting high in the sales race. Launched in 2012 as Mazda’s first new-generation model featuring Kodo design – the Soul of Motion – and Skyactiv Technology, the Next-Gen CX-5, the second generation, Mazda says, refines every aspect of the company’s current technology and design. Australia’s most popular… Read more

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MIDDLE TRAX EXTREMELY WELL CONNECTED

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While the Holden Trax small sports utility vehicle showed a 25 per cent increase in sales in Australia in 2016, Holden is not standing on its laurels and has added to the range with a mid-spec LT. Slotting in between the LS entry-level and range-topping LTZ, this intended to put Holden at the leading edge of in-car connectivity in the small SUV segment. Holden says it is estimated around 77 per cent of Australians own at least one smartphone and check them more than 150 times a day, so the… Read more

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KIA SPORTAGE SI PREMIUM REVIEW

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My first time in a Kia Sportage was on a sneaky trip to Byron Bay to escape the UK winter. That it features in my memory alongside an unforgettable Byron Bay adventure, will forever cloak it in fondness. It matters not that that Sportage was boxier in appearance and certainly included far fewer niceties than it does today. A bond was formed. The Sportage Si Premium that visited with us for the week looks a world apart from that first experience, with its rounded hourglass grille, sleeker lines and plastic… Read more