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SAFER CRASHING

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I don’t hear this statement as often as I used to, “They don’t make them like they used to.” The comment comes after a crash involving a new car and an old one. A rear-ender that’s resulted in a huge amount of damage to the front of a new car, yet has created only big dents in the back of the old one. The crash has usually been a small one, probably at a speed of under 15 km/h. A typical suburban bingle, usually caused by a driver’s inattention and/or… Read more

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TOYOTA RAV4 2006 – 2017

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2014 Toyota RAV4

When launched way back in October 1994, the Toyota RAV4 was a cute and cheeky little 4WD. Over the years it expanded in size and from the third generation of February 2006 – the period being reviewed here – has become a medium-sized family wagon. While the earliest RAV4s were pure 4WDs the later models used a part time system. Toyota finally joined others in this class by offering 2WD-only versions from April 2010. There’s no low-range option in any generation of RAV4. Though Toyota RAV4s aren’t designed as rough… Read more

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MAGNIFICENT ‘SEVEN’ FROM MAZDA

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To most people ‘affordable luxury’ in a vehicle would seem as far out of reach as a winning lottery ticket. However, there are those who are fortunate enough to know the feeling of it. Enough, indeed, for Mazda to cater for these lucky folks with its luxury CX-9. Now, the importer has just landed a super-luxury version of the CX-9, the Azami LE, Down Under. What’s more, the new seven-seat ‘palace’ on wheels will set back its buyer a mere $1500 – petty cash – over the existing Azami range-topper…. Read more

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LOWER-COST MERCEDES A-CLASS: THE A180

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A relatively affordable model in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class range, the A180 hatchback will go on sale in February 2019. It has a recommended retail price (MRLP) of $42,300. Merc A180 uses the Style Equipment Line with its distinctive diamond radiator grille complementing the so-called “predator face” styling. New A180 has the same MBUX multimedia system as in all other variants in the new A-Class range. This includes two 10.25-inch screens and the ‘Hey Mercedes’ interface that recognises and enacts countless common commands. It also can learn the habits and preferences… Read more

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ALFA ROMEO GIULIA VELOCE

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Alfa Romeo Giulia is a stylish Italian sports sedan built on an all-new rear-drive platform and is designed to tackle the market segment currently dominated by the big name Germans and Brits. A couple of months back we road tested the red hot variant, the 500 horsepower (375 kW) Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde powered by a 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6 developed in co-operation with Ferrari. The QV is a truly brilliant machine, but at $143,900 it’s way out of our relatively modest budget. So this time we’ve spent a week in the… Read more

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DANGEROUS EMPHASIS ON SPEED

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I’m going to sound like a stuck record yet again on the subject of safe holiday driving. But so is everyone else when talking about road deaths and speed limits, so why should I be any different? These depressing thoughts struck me yet again as the Christmas / New Year period began and governments boasted about the number of new fixed and mobile speed cameras put into play. TV news programs kept up a running score on the tens of thousands of people booked for speeding, and another gruesome list… Read more

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UNSECURED ITEMS CAN KILL

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Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) is urging drivers to check their luggage, indeed all items, are properly secured in their car. Saying that in a crash, loose objects can become dangerous missiles striking with a force up to 20 times their own weight. Professor Lynne Bilston, Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA, recommends keeping all luggage below the height of the back seat or consider installing a cargo barrier. “All luggage needs to be properly packed and tied down so that everything is secure. You don’t want anything to be loose… Read more

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2018 MERCEDES-AMG G 63

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The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been around since the late 1970s when it was created as a rival for the Range Rover. It was originally called the G-Wagen an abbreviation of Gelandewagen or “cross country vehicle” for which there can be no argument because it’s right up there with the toughest off-road vehicles on the market. The shape of the G-Class has changed very little over its four decades and the latest model retains the same iconic boxy design that clearly appeals to its loyal buyers. There have however been significant… Read more

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HYUNDAI ELANTRA FACELIFTED

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Hyundai Elantra Go

The complete Elantra range has received a facelift, with a cascading grille, redesigned headlights and taillights, an integrated bootlid spoiler and lower diffuser. Inside there’s a revamped dashboard, a Supervision infotainment cluster, a new steering wheel design, as well as new trims and finishes. Hyundai Elantra Active now has an 8.0-inch touchscreen satellite navigation system paired with an eight-speaker Infinity premium audio system with a DAB+ radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Because the Elantra Active has moved upmarket, a new Elantra Go has been introduced. It has a… Read more

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NISSAN NAVARA ST-X REVIEW

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The big news in the Australian new car scene in recent years has been the rapid growth of SUV sales which saw them overtake conventional passenger cars for the first time in 2017. Only slightly less spectacular has been the jump in sales of pickups / utilities with Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger occupying the top two spots in overall vehicles sales last year – and certain to do so again this year. While Nissan Navara sales lag a fair way behind HiLux and Ranger it still accounts for almost… Read more