Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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2016 JAGUAR XE PORTFOLIO 25t REVIEW

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Jaguar’s efforts in the mid-size executive sedan space have left a lot to be desired for over…well…forever. The last effort, the Ford Mondeo-based X-Type was a bit cynical and symptomatic of Dearborn’s upper management completely failing to understand the concept of brand values. It wasn’t a bad car, it was just that it was a Mondeo in drag and punters knew it. Before the XE’s 2015 launch, Jag had been out of the segment for almost six years. During that time the company was bought by Tata who got busy… Read more

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2016 PEUGEOT 308 TOURING ALLURE PREMIUM

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Peugeot’s 308 has been a critical hit in Europe and Australia, garnering big scores against some very stiff competition. As ever, the car has to fight against the onslaught of SUVs for the family car space on the driveway, the wagon doubly so. Almost despite the SUV challenge, a number of big carmakers have made a wagon version of their small hatchbacks available with Peugeot being no exception. Since its 2014 release, the French company has added this Touring version of the 308 to its line-up to build on the… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS GETS A FACELIFT, MORE STANDARD GEAR

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been a huge success in Australia since it made a major change in direction at the start of 2013. The first two generations were tall and short with a big emphasis on ease of city driving and tight-spot parking. The gen-three switched to being a stylish hatch that’s significantly lower and longer. Now the A-Class for 2016 has received a facelift and tail-tuck, as well as additional technology, with all versions now having adaptive suspension and satellite navigation. The Mercedes A 180 has 17-inch wheels, Garmin Map… Read more

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SKODA FABIA: A LOT OF CAR FOR A SMALL PRICE

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Skoda Fabia is a European machine that’s offered at a lower price than anything in its class from that continent. That price is there to try and lift sales, something that seems to be working because Skoda sales in Australia have finally started to move upwards after years of sitting at too low levels. Skoda is built by the Czech marque with an automotive history that dates back over 120 years. These days it is part of the Volkswagen Group and most of the out of sight components are sourced… Read more

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2016 MAZDA CX-3 AKARI REVIEW

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The Mazda CX-3 might have been beaten to the market by Nissan, Renault, Honda and Holden, but its late arrival doesn’t seem to have done it any harm at all. The mini-SUV joins a Mazda line-up of cars that is handing out bloody noses to its rivals using a combination of looks, pricing and specification. The CX-3 fits right in with the rest of the range while hopefully bringing with it the CX-5’s superior dynamics in a smaller package. VALUE There’s a slightly bewildering array of CX-3s, powered by either… Read more

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PEAK PERFORMANCE FROM SERIES SEQUEL

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Even for motoring journalists European luxury cars are, well, a luxury. They are not an everyday occurrence. When the initial adulation wears off, familiarity sets in and so does a hint of nothing out of the ordinary. Some vehicles, however, hold something in reserve to keep an automotive world-weary scribe interested. Such a car came into my possession recently. With time, the BMW 320d could quite easily have become a Euro Camry. It didn’t. The latest iteration features sharper exterior design, the interior uses new material to create a premium… Read more

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VW PASSAT WAGON IS PRACTICAL HAULER

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The eighth generation of the Volkswagen Passat mid-sized sedan and wagon, coded as the B8 series, arrived in Australia late in 2015. We have just spent a couple of weeks living with a Passat 132TSI station wagon in Comfortline format, and have come away impressed with its practicality and ease of use. New Passat uses the Volkswagen MQB platform which we have already experienced in several others in the latest VW range. The platform reduces weight and permits for a large number of vehicles to be built at the same… Read more

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2015 ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT SD4 HSE REVIEW

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What to get if you like the Range Rover Evoque but need more space; like the Discovery but don’t have the readies; want a bit of Range Rover style and capability? Oddly enough, you buy a Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Freelander replacement has been with us for just over a year now and is finding plenty of homes with its pretty looks and the promise of mud-plugging shenanigans should the need arise. VALUE The Discovery Sport HSE SD4 is the mid-spec trim level, starting at $61,100 for the manual… Read more

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TUCSON LEADS STRONG BID FOR SUV DOMINANCE

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As things go, it is likely SUVs could become the biggest selling segment in the passenger car market sometime during 2016. According to industry analyst VFacts research has shown that only five per cent of four-wheel-drive owners do any serious off-roading in their vehicles. However, they favoured the high-set seating position and the robust character of the bodywork made them feel protected inside an SUV. Automobile makers took note. They cut out the low mode of the 4×4 transfer case, leaving the vehicle, at first known as a soft-roader, able… Read more

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BMW X1 2.0D: ATTRACTIVE SEQUEL TO BMW BEST-SELLER

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The second-generation BMW X1 continues to tick the box as only the Bavarian Motor Works can, with a newly designed interior with significantly more space and versatility, combined with premium surroundings. Latest-generation four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and transmissions ensure segment leading performance and efficiency. X1 sDrive 20i and sDrive 18d models have front-wheel drive, while xDrive 25i and xDrive 20d benefit from BMW’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system in a new and improved form. The new X1 trumps its predecessor in standard equipment which includes LED headlights; rear view camera; driving… Read more