Category: Used Car Review

No comments

BMW 1 SERIES 2011 – 2018

  By ,
2015 BMW 125i

The smallest vehicle in the BMW car range, the 1 Series is aimed at those who enjoy driving, rather than people who treat driving as a chore. It features excellent engines driving the rear wheels. A downside is that rear-drive steals cabin and boot space as its engine / transmission is mounted longitudinally rather than sideways, so it encroaches into the passenger area. There’s good legroom in the front seats, though foot-width is restricted by the gearbox housing. The back seats are fine for kids, but if you carry adults… Read more

No comments

FORD EVEREST 2015 – 2018

  By ,
2019 Ford Everest

Ford Everest is a large 4WD / SUV that’s been sold overseas since 2003 but didn’t come to Australia until the release of the third generation model in October 2015. It is a serious off-roader that’s built on the same platform as Ford Ranger ute. Everest is just under five metres long and over two metres wide so has a spacious cabin capable of carrying up to seven occupants. The entry-level Ambients have seating for five. Trend and Titanium models have the rearmost pair of twin seats as standard. We’ve… Read more

No comments

SKODA RAPID 2014 – 2018

  By ,

Skoda Rapid, or Rapid Spaceback to give it its full title for the Australian imports, is a mainstream small-medium five-door hatch. It could be called a station wagon as it’s rear has a handy shape making it capable of carrying bulky loads. The Czech company has long had a policy of making space a feature inside its vehicles. There’s good room in the Rapid for rear seat passenger space, though two makes more sense than four if adults are being carried. Overseas travellers may have noticed four-door sedan versions of… Read more

No comments

KIA SPORTAGE 2005 – 2018

  By ,
2011 Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage was what the purists call a ‘real’ 4WD when launched here way back in1996. That’s because it had a ladder frame chassis and dual-range 4WD system making it suitable for genuine off-road operations. Many 4WDs became increasingly softer so were retagged as being SUVs, and later crossovers. Kia was quick to follow the trend and from April 2005 the Sportage has a car-type monocoque body. However, there’s a fair bit of strengthening under the floor so it can handle hard dirt road running. Ground clearance is about midway… Read more

No comments

HONDA JAZZ 2008 – 2018

  By ,
2008 Honda Jazz

Jazz is the smallest Honda car sold in Australia. It was launched here in October 2002, received excellent reviews and sold well from the start. However these early cars are probably past their used-by date so we will start this review at the gen-two Jazz introduced in August 2008 and follow up with the third generation of July 2014. Though it’s a smallish car Jazz has a high roofline to maximise interior space. It can seat four adults without any of them being cramped. In Australia it’s more likely to… Read more

No comments

MITSUBISHI PAJERO 2006 – 2018

  By ,

Mitsubishi Pajero was arguably the first affordable 4WD that was a family wagon rather than a truck-based 4WD when it was launched here in 1983. It was originally a body-on-chassis 4WD, but became a monocoque for improved ride and comfort in 2000. Good engineering meant the post-2000 models retained similar strength to the chassis models. Almost all of these early Pajeros are all likely to by past their use by date, so we will begin the used review with the the new generation in December 2006. Midway through 2013 Pajero… Read more

No comments

MAZDA CX-3 2015 – 2018

  By ,
2017 Mazda CX-3 sTouring

Sold in Australia since April 2015, the Mazda CX-3 was classed as an SUV but is better regarded as a sensible crossover between a hatchback and an SUV. It was immediately popular so even the oldest ones are now available in quite large numbers on the used car scene. Styling is another major factor in the big sales numbers, with a continuation of the Mazda Kodo theme with its distinctive from and long bonnet. The familiar Mazda model names of Neo and Maxx are used for the CX-3, but are… Read more

No comments

FORD MUSTANG 2015 – 2018

  By ,
2016 Ford Mustang Convertible

What a success story! Like quite a few others I made the mistake of thinking Ford Mustang would sell like hot cakes for a year or so, but then slowly fade from the scene. Instead it’s continues to be a favourite and I see them pretty well every time I’m on the road. Excellent… The latest iteration of the Mustang, launched Downunder in December 1015 comes in two versions, coupe and convertible, powered by either a 5.0-litre V8 or four-cylinder 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, the former a nod to the 20th… Read more

No comments

MERCEDES E-CLASS 2009 – 2018

  By ,
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet

After many generations of styling its midsize E-Class cars to suit somewhat elderly conservative buyers, Mercedes took an all-new tack with the W212 Series. Mercedes realised that young(ish), wealthy people wanted the prestige of upmarket German cars – but also wanted stylish machines This Merc is attractive car and gathered lots of sales virtually immediately – though some of the elderly fuddy-duddies turned up their aristocratic noses. There are plenty on the used car market these days, but some are getting on in years so be sure to have a… Read more

No comments

SUZUKI KIZASHI 2010 – 2016

  By ,
2012 Suzuki Kizashi AWD Sport

Suzuki’s strength in Australia for many decades was in small cars and capable 4WDs. Then in January 2010, it made the interesting move into medium size cars. Kizashi is a stylish car with a powerful appearance that gives a solid look of sportiness. Then in August 2010 the Suzuki Kizashi Sport arrived. As befits its title this Kizashi has a full-on sports body kit, 18-inch alloys and lowered ride height that further enhanced it’s already strong appearance. It took the European route of being offered with all-wheel drive for better… Read more