Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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TOYOTA’S ULTRA-STYLISH C-HR

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Late last century Toyota took the chisel to several models and carved a series of cutting edge designs that had the automotive world sitting up: think the curvy Celica; Tarago ‘egg’ people mover, the first RAV4 and the Prius petrol / electric hybrid. Other than that the Japanese penned plenty of rather bland shapes. That has dramatically changed. In parallel with the rapid sales rise of SUVs, Toyota has come up with the radically-styled C-HR, standing for Coupe High Rider. To say the C-HR is different is the mother of… Read more

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TOYOTA COROLLA JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON

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When the last Ford Falcon rolled off the company’s Broadmeadow production line in October last year it surrendered its title as Australia’s longest-running current passenger car. Replacing it on the number one place on the podium was the Toyota Corolla which has been on sale here since 1967 including around a decade in which it was locally-produced. Despite its longevity Corolla has never been more popular topping the annual passenger vehicle sales chart for each of the past four years. To celebrate its 50th anniversary Corolla sedan was given a… Read more

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2017 AUDI A5 COUPE

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Normally when I drive a new car into the townhouse complex where I live neighbours have a casual glance to see what car I’ve just picked up, then go back to whatever they had been doing. Not so with the bright read Audi A5 coupe; it stopped a five-way conversation, pulled all eyes in its direction and got folks wandering over to have a closer look and a chat. Audi continues to push hard in the Australian market, with its sights on BMW and Mercedes in every possible area of… Read more

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OUTLANDER IN PUSH FOR HIGH GROUND

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They say a characteristic of a generation Y person is that he or she wants everything; and they want it now. Sounds like perfect candidates for the upgraded Mitsubishi Outlander sports utility vehicle. While already well specified, the MY17 medium-size SUV has shifted up a notch or two, adding a new mid-range LS Safety Pack model with forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beam feature. Top model Exceed also adopts these features as standard, as well as advanced safety systems such as 360 degree… Read more

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SKODA WAGON ADDS UP TO A LOAD OF SENSE

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If today’s sports utility vehicles are the winkle-pickers (Google it) of the automotive world, all-wheel drive wagons are the lace-up brogues; what your mother might call ‘sensible shoes’. For those with little history, think Sean Connery, rather than Johnny Depp; ruggedly handsome, against off-beat and quirky. The Skoda Octavia Scout is a perfect example of the former; always has been. STYLING Octavia Scout maintains the robust character of its predecessor. There’s no missing the bold Scout-only bumpers and added body protection. The radiator grille now carries the Scout badge The… Read more

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2017 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET

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There is something about being able to lower the roof of a car and have the wind in your hair and sun on your face that speaks to the pure enjoyment of life. Sure, you probably won’t be enjoying life that much when you are trying to remove the knots from your hair but that’s a mood spoiler you can leave for later. Audi’s immensely popular A3 range, one that basically defined the luxury small car segment, also boasts a beautiful Cabriolet which we were happy to put to the… Read more

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2017 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0I-S REVIEW

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Subaru expects big things of the new Impreza. The Japanese manufacturer has spent more than a billion dollars in the development of the new platform and it is an investment it hopes to collect on – with this small car line-up and the other Subaru products that will use it as their foundations. This new Impreza, available in both sedan and hatch, is almost entirely new from the ground up with only the odd bolt and window lever borrowed from the outgoing edition. The range offers three choices starting with… Read more

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2017 RANGE ROVER SPORT SVR REVIEW

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Range Rover Sport SVR is one of hardest accelerating 4WDs on the planet. Its 405 kW 5.0-litre supercharged V8 has it screaming from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. Note the term ‘4WD’ in this opening par, because this isn’t an SUV, it is a genuine off-road vehicle that can handle harsh conditions that would have many so-called competitors stuck within the first few metres. For example, wheel travel remains identical to the standard Sport, with 260 mm at the front and 272 mm at the rear. Wading… Read more

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NISSAN X-TRAIL MAKEOVER

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Nissan has given its midsize X-Trail SUV a big performance boost, a solid makeover in appearance both inside and out, added significant technology and improved its overall refinement. Now in its 17th year, over four generations, with total sales downunder approaching 200,000, the X-Trail is an important vehicle in the sales armament of the Australian arm of the Japanese giant that has operated in Australia since the mid 1960s (beginning as Datsun). Though the appearance changes to the body are restricted to the ‘soft’ areas, that is plastic and glass… Read more

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2017 AUDI Q2 REVIEW

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Sales of small and midsize SUVs are booming worldwide, not just in Australia. Many are being bought by people with no desire to go off-road, but who want something that’s easy to get in and out. Station wagons are considered boring whereas SUVs like the Audi Q2 are highly favoured . Enter the all-new Audi Q2, a stylish machine that is spacious for its class, easy to drive and park and a good midsize load hauler. STYLING At the front the Audi Q2 follows its own distinct direction when compared… Read more