Category: Used Car Review

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TOYOTA FJ CRUISER 2011 – 2016

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Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tribute to the legendary Toyota FJ 40 LandCruiser. That original Cruiser was a rough ’n’ tough old-style 4WD, whereas the new one that was launched here in March 2011 is much easier to live with. It’s also a lot more capable off-road than most people realise. Our launch took place five years after the FJ Cruiser had been introduced in the USA. Many Aussies had seen it over there, or in photos in local 4WD magazines, and lobbied Toyota to bring it downunder. It didn’t… Read more

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MITSUBISHI PAJERO 2008 – 2018

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2008 Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero is a genuine SUV, not a passenger station wagon with a tough looking body as is increasingly the way these days. Though it began its life downunder as a body-on-chassis 4WD, it became a monocoque for improved ride and comfort in 2000. Good engineering meant the post-2000 models retained similar strength to the chassis models. All have a low-range case for tough, slow conditions. We are considering the Pajeros from a major refresh in late 2007 which are classed as being MY2008. Mitsubishi’s sophisticated Super Select drivetrain permits… Read more

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HYUNDAI i40 2011 – 2018

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2011 Hyundai i40

The Hyundai i40 was initially sold only as a station wagon, called the Tourer, when it arrived in Australia in October 2011. A four-door i40 sedan didn’t reach us until May 2012. With the Tourer, Hyundai Australia was chasing potential buyers of crossover SUVs, offering a more sensible vehicle than a high riding wagon. Hyundai wasn’t the first to discover that sensible wagons don’t sell particularly well. That’s because SUVs are often bought by people looking for the macho image, not commonsense transport. Keep in mind wagons such as the… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2011- 2018

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2016 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

Volkswagen Passat is a medium-large German car. Note the it shares quite a few out of sight components with upmarket Audis as that prestige marque is controlled by the Volkswagen Group. The Passat works well for those looking for comfort, it has well-shaped seats and suspension which is able to soak up just about anything, even rough and ready Aussie backroads. Handling is good, with neutral road behaviour at normal speeds, gradually changing to safe understeer if the big car is pushed hard. Though smaller engines aren’t always accepted by… Read more

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SUBARU XV 2012 -2018

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2012 Subaru XV

Subarus have long been popular in Australia where they are appreciated for their no nonsense design and rugged build. Australian buyers virtually from the day it went on sale and there are now plenty on the used-car market. This time around we’re looking at the XV range from 2012 onwards. Subaru originally called it the Impreza XV but the Japanese specialist in all-wheel-drive models called the new generation released in 2012 just plain Subaru XV. The idea was to promote it as being a real AWD, not a pretender as… Read more

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HOLDEN CAPTIVA 2006 – 2018

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2011 Holden Captiva

Holden Captiva is medium-large SUV class. Buyers tell us they chose it because of its good interior space after comparison with competitors such as Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger. Sales were high virtually from day one, ironically as it turned out, because buyers liked what the saw as the security of the Holden brand so there are plenty of Captivas to choose from in the used-car scene. Take advantage of this by selecting from the multiple offerings to find a quality one that suits your needs. Though it was imported… Read more

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JEEP WRANGLER 2007 – 2018

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2012 Jeep Wrangler

In a world that’s becoming increasingly populated with so called SUVs that are actually tall hatchbacks with low ground clearance and two-wheel drive, the Jeep Wrangler is a fair dinkum 4WD. Wrangler can take you off-road to places that would damage and/or strand just about anything else. But Jeep anticipated the rise of the on-road appeal to those wanting a competent station wagon. So in JK format, sold from February 2007 the Jeep Wrangler is more aerodynamic, quieter and more stable than its predecessors. These are the models we are… Read more

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LEXUS LS 2007 – 2018

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2007 Lexus IS460

In 1989 the Lexus LS400 was the first Japanese car to tackle the topline versions of upmarket German and British saloon cars. It was an impressive piece of engineering from day one. Lexus tells us ‘LS’ stands for Luxury Sports, however there’s a lot more luxury than sport. While the handling is certainly safe it doesn’t provide the semi-sporty feeling of the Europeans. The most noticeable feature of the Lexus LS series is their near-silence and impressive ride comfort. Topline materials are used throughout and they’re built to an immaculate… Read more

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KIA OPTIMA 2011 – 2018

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2011 Kia Optima

Kia has expanded rapidly in Australia in recent years. Good scores in build quality and customer satisfaction have played their part but the introduction of Kia’s seven year / unlimited distance warranty in 2014 is probably the biggest factor of all. This impressive warranty is transferrable to subsequent owners. Kia Optima been in Australia since 2001. In this used car review we are looking at the third generation version that was launched here in January 2011. This gen three Optima had a strong leap forward in quality and, with its… Read more

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SUBARU LIBERTY AND OUTBACK 2009 – 2019

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2010 Subaru Liberty

Subaru Liberty is a no-nonsense sedan or station wagon with a reputation for toughness and reliability. The Subaru Outback is based on the Liberty wagon and has increased suspension height, meaning it sits about midway between a conventional wagon and a 4WD. As more and more SUVs are really just 2WD vehicles with a taller body, Subaru Outback is standing out from the crowd. Subaru Liberty is sold as a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon, with a significantly larger percentage of wagons being sold than in other models… Read more