Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2016 MAZDA CX-3 MAXX REVIEW

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Small SUVs are all the rage at present and Mazda’s stylish new CX-3 is sitting high on the popularity list. Interestingly, both 2WD (front drive) and 4WD CX-3s are coming to us downunder. Mazda Australia feels some owners will want the added traction of all-wheel-drive for use in slippery conditions, such as in snowfields. Perhaps even in gentle off-road running when exploring forestry trails and the like. Two familiar Mazda model names, Neo and Maxx, are used for the CX-3, but are joined by two new ones; the upper-middle CX-3… Read more

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JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS A VERSATILE LARGE SUV

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The Grand Cherokee is the biggest and best-selling vehicle in the Jeep range, accounting for around half of total sales since the release of the current model back in 2013. Grand Cherokee now comes, for the first time, with a two-wheel drive (2WD) option. It’s only available in a single variant – the entry-level petrol Laredo. The latter also comes with 4WD as do all of the higher-specced variants – Limited, Overland, Summit and SRT8. Styling is less angular than other Jeeps and the big SUV has a neat and… Read more

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2016 BMW 330e HYBRID REVIEW

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BMW 330e is a petrol-electric hybrid that leans more in the direction of performance than economy. Which comes as no surprise given that the sporting German marque has long pushed its designs in the direction of handling and powertrain dynamics. To emphasise the point, this 3 Series hybrid has been introduced as the latest member of the BMW iPerformance range. Note that the BMW X5 xDrive 40e petrol-electric, which arrived only a matter of weeks before the 330e, is also listed as an iPerformance model. The X5 and 3 Series… Read more

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JEEP SPREADS WINGS WITH HIGH-FLYING TRAILHAWK

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The new Jeep Renegade Trailhawk lives up to its name by not fitting in with rival compact sports utility vehicles. Designed to desert the bitumen for some stiff off-road stuff, there’s nothing namby-pamby about this little Jeep. On the other hand, it’s no utilitarian bare bones transportation, owing little to Wells Fargo or Cobb and Co in the comfort and convenience department. Designed in the United States and put together by Fiat in Italy, it calls on high level automotive technology coupled with European style. In a bid by Fiat… Read more

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MAZDA FLAGSHIP FLOATS INTO SAFER HARBOUR

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Australia’s most popular mid-sized imported car, the Mazda6, has just ducked under 50 grand. As a bonus safety features have been added to the 6 Sport, Touring and GT models at no extra cost, while the range topping Atenza receives a price cut in view of the safety equipment added to the GT. The Atenza with the 2.5-litre petrol engine drops by $1030, while the 2.2-litre diesel alternative is down by $1380, making the entire Mazda 6 range now available for less than $50,000, without on-road costs. Mazda6 is available… Read more

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2016 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT REVIEW

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The all-new Land Rover Discovery Sport is not a toy SUV masquerading as a 4WD, it is the real deal – an all-terrain vehicle from the old school. One that can be taken into tough off-road conditions where, believe it or not, even the rather crude Land Rover Series 1 would have struggled when it was launched 68 years ago. Yet the Discovery Sport will meet all the requirements of on-road comfort and handling today’s buyer demand. This seeming impossible combination of on-road sophistication and off-road ruggedness shows design expertise… Read more

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SENSATIONAL AUDI R8 V10 PLUS

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In 2015 Audi’s first generation R8 supercar bowed out, to be replaced by the so-far V10-only second generation. The Australian range consists of two cars, the V10 Coupe and the V10 Plus, the former weighing in at $354,900, the latter $389,900. Visually, you can easily tell the two apart. From the front the Plus’ big grille is a glossy black. There’s a huge, DTM-inspired carbon fibre wing on the back, replacing the Coupe’s electric-lift wing that pops up at 120 km/h. The bigger differences are under the skin. Both run… Read more

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MORE POWER ADDS FINISHING TOUCHES TO A FINE MX-5 TRADITION

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The latest iteration of the Mazda MX-5 compact two-seater sportscar has won more than 65 major international awards, including the prestigious European Red Dot “Best of the Best” award, which recognises exceptionally ground-breaking design, the UK Car of the Year, and the 2015-2016 Japan Car of the Year. The fourth generation MX-5, coded ND, was first seen in Australia with a 1.5-litre engine hooked up to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Now a 2.0-litre version has been added. With either engine it comes in two variants –… Read more

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2016 LEXUS RX350 REVIEW

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In the Lexus naming system the letter ‘X’ stands for cross country. Not cross country as we understand it in Australia which means off-road work, but cross country in European speak; a vehicle suited to long distance on-road running. Grand touring with a little less emphasis on speed. Lexus RX is the midsize model in the range, sitting between the NX which is an on-road wagon and the LX which is a big beast, basically a Toyota LandCruiser with body mods and heaps more luxury bits. The fourth generation of… Read more

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2016 JAGUAR XF SUPERCHARGED V6 REVIEW

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Jaguar XF is an upmarket medium to large sedan / saloon that has a sporting flair in all models that’s not always the norm in its market segment. While not an out and out performer in the manner of the SVR (nee R-Sport) range, the standard XF definitely sits to the sporting side in the eternal sports / handling compromise. Drivers love if for that and we’ve just spent a most enjoyable week behind the wheel of an iconic British machine. STYLING The newly launched Jaguar XF has a strong… Read more