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KIA SPORTAGE SX+ 1.6-LITRE TURBO PETROL AWD

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Our old friend the Kia Sportage needs little introduction. It’s one of the best-selling SUVs in the country and we’ve owned a couple over the years, including the first one. Now in its fifth generation the current model was released in 2021 and is a much larger vehicle than its predecessors. With seating for five, it’s 17.5cm longer and has an 85mm longer wheelbase than the previous model, and that translates to a more interior space, together with more rear legroom. Long story short, you get more car for your… Read more

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IN ESSENCE, MORE STAYING POWER FOR MG EV

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Car companies continue to make strides in the electrification of their vehicles. One manufacturer to step up its power play is MG Motors (for Morris Garages), the Chinese owned former British auto industry mainstay. Already the fully electric compact sports utility vehicle has made its presence felt on the EV world with the Excite and Essence models, the latter chipping in with a claimed maximum range of 320 kilometres. Now this has been stretched to 440 kilometres with a new variant, loosely tagged Long Range, with the added plus over… Read more

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MUSTANG BREAKS THE $100K BARRIER

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Ford’s Mustang tops the $100,000 barrier with the arrival of the new, seventh generation Pony car. The latest Mustang will be available in three models when it gets here next year: EcoBoost, GT — and all-new Dark Horse. Prices start from $64,990 for the EcoBoost fastback, with an auto and turbo four-pot. The 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder model offers 232kW of power at 5500 rpm and 475Nm of torque from 3000 rpm and is paired with a 10-speed automatic. Next up is the V8-powered GT manual and auto, priced from $77,002… Read more

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PEUGEOT 508 GT SPORTSWAGON PLUG-IN HYBRID

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The Peugeot 508 has been on sale in Australia since July 2011. A mid-sized sedan or station wagon, it fitted into the space between the smaller 407 and larger 607, effectively replacing both cars. The current (second generation) 508 arrived here in August 2021, only available in the top-grade GT equipment level and featuring Peugeot’s first-ever plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The previous petrol-only variants were dropped from the range at the end of 2022 leaving just the more-expensive PHEVs. STYLING As has been the case throughout two body styles are… Read more

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NEW SLEEK AND SPORTY SONATA NOW ON SALE

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When the first Hyundai Sonata sedan arrived here in 1989 it was a conservatively-styled and affordable family-sized alternative to vehicles such as Toyota Camry, Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Mitsubishi Magna. All but the Camry soon to become casualties of the looming local factory closures. Now in its eighth generation the Sonata has progressively morphed from those relatively bland beginnings into a sleek and sporty four-door coupe. The latest upgrade to the Genn 8 Sonata has now arrived here and it takes the styling to the next level with looks… Read more

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TAILGATING – DON’T BE TEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES!

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Tailgating is more than just annoying, it’s downright dangerous. And, in Victoria, the RACV has called out motorists to be aware of how close they’re driving to the vehicle in front of them, after a jump in the number of infringements in the last five years. Tailgating, or ‘failing to drive a sufficient distance behind a vehicle,’ can see offenders fined and receive demerit points for doing the wrong thing. In Victoria, that fine is $248 and one demerit point. A total of 2108 infringements for this dangerous practice were… Read more

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PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER SUPERBIRD

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‘Muscle cars’ of the late 1960s were probably introduced mainly for the spectacle of drag racing, which had become extremely popular in the United States at that time. Plymouth was always one of the leading exponents of the ‘muscle car’ and a lot of this was based around an engine – the astounding 426-111 Super Stock Hemi. This 90-degree V8 achieved much success for Plymouth and was the supreme drag-race powerplant, acquiring a legendary reputation. The Hemi engine was born out of the need for top racing performance. Once the… Read more

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PEUGEOT E-PARTNER REVIEW

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Peugeot Partner is the smallest of the French carmaker’s commercial van range, sitting behind the mid-sized Expert and large Boxer. There are three grades – City, Pro and Premium – with the choice of short and long wheelbases in Pro and Premium. The range also includes the e-Partner, the first fully-electric Peugeot to come here and our test vehicle. The e-Partner Pro LWB is priced at $59,990 plus on- road costs. Petrol versions range of the Partner range from $32,990 for the SWB City to $43,490 for the LWB Premium. STYLING… Read more

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‘BLACK’ MAKES LIGHT WORK OF SUV CHALLENGE

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The auto industry continues to be awash with gismos that are increasingly taking the ‘drive’ out of driver. Sports utility vehicles – especially all-wheel drives – are particularly subject to systems that butt in. Welcome to the no-nonsense world of the Outlander Black Edition. While the mid-size Mitsubishi petrol and petrol / electric hybrid SUV, for 2024, has been given a leg-up in equipment standards – plus price rises – the former LS Black Edition has been let loose from the pack to stand on its own. Not that there’s… Read more

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NEW NAMES, EXTRA FEATURES FOR 2024 HYUNDAI PALISADE

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Hyundai Australia has released details of its MY2024 flagship Palisade seven-seat SUV including a name change for its high-spec variant as well as additional standard features. Launched here in 2020, and upgraded in 2022, Palisade is the largest model in Hyundai’s SUV range. At a smidgeon under five metres, it’s around the same size and price as competitors such as Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-90 and Kia Sorento. The previous Highlander name for the top-grade Palisade has now been replaced with the Calligraphy and a higher-spec Black Ink variant – no… Read more