Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2017 TOYOTA 86 SPECIAL EDITION

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In a world that’s moving at breakneck speed a five-year old car like the Toyota 86 needs a serious freshen-up to keep it in the minds of potential buyers. A clever marketing move is the introduction of limited editions – not ‘special’ editions which can be moved off the showroom floors in volume and soon fade from the mind. Limited editions take on an aura of exclusivity hence the Toyota LE. Only 60, all in a wild orange shade, came Downunder a couple of months back. We’ve just spent a… Read more

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2017 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QV REVIEW

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This redhot Italian machine is taking on high-performance models from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes at their own game. Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde (QV) sports sedan is the real deal. Rear-wheel drive, Ferrari-inspired 500 horsepower (375 kW) twin-turbocharged engine that gets it to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. It reset the Nurburgring production sedan lap record at just 7 minutes and 32 seconds. After getting to the 100 km/h in the three-second bracket, it gets to a top speed on the far side of 300km/h. Keeping weight down… Read more

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AUDI SUV IN QUICK CONNECTION WITH PAST GLORY

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Question: When is an SUV not an SUV? Answer: When it’s an Audi SQ5. The phrase ‘sports utility vehicle’ may seem an oxymoron when applied to most vehicles of the type but this is one that takes the title like no other. The second-generation SQ5 is the successor to one of the most popular Audi performance models to have made it Down Under and at 130 kg lighter and 20 kW (260 kW) more powerful is a worthy combination of performance and practicality. With the SQ5 sprinting to 100 km/h… Read more

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NEW LDV T60 PICKUP

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The ongoing push by Chinese makers to sell vehicles in Australia has taken a major step forward with the LDV Ute gaining the full five-star safety rating from ANCAP at its first test. Other commercial vehicles from China have either failed to reach five stars, or have only done so after failing at their first attempts and then being modified. LDV Ute is the official name of the vehicle, though it really falls more into the pickup truck class as it’s a tough vehicle aimed at the harsh commercial market…. Read more

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2018 NISSAN X-TRAIL REVIEW

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Nissan has given its midsize X-Trail SUV a solid makeover in appearance both inside and out, as well as a major performance boost, added technology and improved overall refinement. The Nissan X-Trail is offered with five or seven-seat versions, though the seven-seater is only available if you chose the 2WD model with the 2.5-litre petrol engine. Our test Nissan for the past week was a five-seat diesel X-Trail Ti. STYLING Three new paint colours: Marine Blue, Copper Blaze and Ruby Red lift it away from the various shades of silver… Read more

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2017 MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT GLS REVIEW

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The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is now offering more at the same price. Seven seats in the GLS and Exceed for the cost of five seats. Combined with the rugged SUV’s inclusions list, fuel economy and all-round capability, this is one challenge that is difficult to ignore. We were in the Pajero Sport GLS for a week during which the rain gods were especially generous to Queensland. The GLS’s quite confidence and assuredness under foot was a comfort in dangerous driving conditions. STYLING The Pajero Sport hides its ute roots rather… Read more

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NEW RENAULT SEDAN FORSAKES BLOWTORCH FOR FIRESIDE COMFORT

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Renault has created a modern dynasty of hot hatches on the back of a formidable Formula One motor racing record: think Megane and Clio. Now the French automotive giant has added to the Megane family Down Under with a wagon and sedan. In comparison to the performance-based Megane hatch, with which it was born and bred, the new sedan is a stylish, premium packaged, practical vehicle, which is, once the steepish initial outlay is overcome, economical to live with. It comes to Australia in two models – Zen and Intens… Read more

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2017 AUDI S5 COUPE REVIEW

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New generation A5 and S5 two-door coupes were launched in March this year and have been a hit right from the start, for two reasons: Number one is undoubtedly styling; Audi is running hot in this vital sales area these days and the S5 is right up with the best. Number two is a more mundane; A5 and S5 coupe prices have been cut by as much as $15,000 when compared feature-to-feature with the superseded models. Our test coupe for the past week was the Audi S5 coupe. STYLING The… Read more

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2017 LEXUS LC500 REVIEW

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Bold. Brash. Beautiful. The Lexus LC 500 is a head-turner alright. It is emotionally engaging with the all-round performance to match. A real Grand Tourer from an unlikely part of the world. It may also be the biggest statement Lexus has made since the LFA. And we got to live with one for the week. You have some idea of the LC 500’s drawing power when the school principal asks you to park the car rather than using the drop-off point because you are stopping the morning carpark flow. And… Read more

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SUZUKI MOVES TO MAKE THE SWIFT RISE CONTINUE

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Swift by name; swift by nature. In automotive terms, it has taken just 12 years and five million sales worldwide for the Suzuki Swift to become something of an icon in the light-car segment. From the road up, the development team went to work, introducing a new-generation platform and engineering a completely new chassis, body structure and powertrain. The new Swift comes to Australia in four variants, with the entry-level Swift GL 1.2 manual selling for $16,990 driveaway, adding a CVT for $1000, a Safety Pack for a further $1200,… Read more