Category: Used Car Review

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RENAULT LAGUNA 2006 – 2011

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2009 Renault Laguna Estate wagon

Renault Laguna is a medium sized French car sold as a sedan, hatchback and station wagon, though not all bodies were offered at the same time. Though Renault is one of Europe’s biggest manufacturers its history in Australia was a bit hit and miss over the years; ranging from local assembly to missing almost altogether. The current importer is doing an excellent job but is concentrating on smaller, lower cost passenger vehicles, not those in the semi-prestige Laguna class. (It’s also strong on light commercials, but that’s another story.) All… Read more

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TOYOTA PRADO 2003 – 2016

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2003 Toyota Prado GXL

Toyota imports a large number of 4WD, SUV and crossover vehicles to Australia and dominates our market here. Indeed, it can trace its first efforts back to the days of the original Snowy Mountain Scheme in the 1950s. The Toyota Prado sits a couple of steps down in the range, beneath the tough LandCruiser 70 Series light truck and the rugged LandCruiser station wagon. To further complicate irefully things the full title of the Prado is LandCruiser Prado. Beneath the Prado comes the Toyota Kluger, then the Toyota RAV4. Do… Read more

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PEUGEOT 508 2011 – 2015

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Peugeot 508 arrived in Australia in July 2011 and replaced two cars, the Peugeot 407 and 607. Clever engineering means the 508 has less mass than the significantly smaller Peugeot 407 and is well under the weight of the 607. Not all 508 models arrived simultaneously, rather they dribbled in over the next 12 months or so. Sitting between 407 and 607, with a leaning to the 607 in size, the Peugeot 508 was sold a a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon. The sedan’s boot is one of the… Read more

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HOLDEN COMMODORE 2006 – 2015

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2006 Holden Commodore SV6

The end is nigh for the Australian built Holden Commodore, with the factory closing down in October. The nameplate will continue, albeit on a slightly smaller imported model made by Opel in Europe. What does this mean for the Aussie Commodore, and should you rush in and buy one now? Our crystal ball is pretty murky looking, but the light that is showing through suggests that V8s, particularly special editions, may become a little more valuable, or at least depreciate at a lower rate. Manuals may do better than autos…. Read more

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VOLVO XC90 2003 – 2015

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2003 Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 is more of a people mover than an SUV. Which makes sense because very few SUV buyers fall into the ‘I dream of crossing the Simpson Desert one day’ category. It was launched here in August 2003 and wasn’t discontinued until August 2015, albeit with several makeovers during that 12 year period. The XC90 has a big emphasis on space and comfort. The cabin sits well forward thanks to the use of a transversely mounted engine instead of the longitudinal units used by most large SUVs. A… Read more

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NISSAN DUALIS 2008 – 2014

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2008 Nissan Dualis

The ‘dual’ in Nissan Dualis signifies its dual-purpose nature, a vehicle that’s a crossover between a family hatchback and a compact 4WD. Though these types of vehicle have become pretty well mainstream in the eight years since Dualis was launched here in January 2008, the Nissan was one of the first of its kind. Though not aimed at the purist 4WD buyer, Dualis has Nissan’s respected All-mode transmission so has decent traction on bush tracks, as well as on slippery sealed surfaces. It has higher than average ground clearance for… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 2004 – 2015

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2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK

    By EWAN KENNEDY CAPTION: A. B. 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK BODY COPY Mercedes-Benz SLK is a small to medium sportscar that’s been a big success on the Australian market since it arrived here 20 years ago. Success that saw the waiting list stretch to over a year in the earliest years. These older models, from February 1997 are getting on in years so we will concentrate on the second generation SLKs that first arrived downunder in August 2004. Having said that, we often see the first generation… Read more

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ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 2011 – 2015

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2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo Giulietta is a thoroughly likeable Italian small-medium sedan that will appeal to those looking for more than mere transport in their day-to-day driving. These days Alfa Romeos aren’t built only for drivers of Italian dimensions. Multiple settings are offered in the way of a height adjustable driver’s seat and a steering column that can be adjusted in four directions. This five-door hatchback has been styled to look like a sports coupe thanks to cleverly ‘hidden’ rear door handles. Unless tall front-seat occupants are willing to give up some… Read more

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NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005 – 2015

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2011 Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan Pathfinder has had a mixed career in Australia since it arrived in 1986 as a tough, two-door 4WD wagon based on the Navara pickup. Then in 1995 Pathfinder became more of a soft-roader than 4WD. To cause further confusion, the Pathfinder from July 2005, has reverted to a full chassis for added toughness and is again virtually a Navara with a different back end. The direction changed yet again in 2013 when Pathfinder became a very large softroader. We will begin this used-car review with the third generation Pathfinder… Read more

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BMW X3 2004 – 2015

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2006 BMW X3

BMW was one of the early prestige companies to spot the surge in interest in SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles). Realising that most SUV buyers aren’t interested in exploring off-road trails but wanted a tall station wagon BMW calls its vehicles SAVs, (Sports Activity Vehicle). Having said that the X3 with BMW’s xDrive system has good traction on muddy and icy surfaces. As there’s almost no demand for a BMW X model that can go off road, the suspension engineers have gone for handling and comfort ahead of traction on unsealed… Read more