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MAZDA2 2002 – 2016

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2007 Mazda2

While Mazda3 and CX-3 have been grabbing all the headlines in the sales race, the smallest model of all, the little Mazda2 hatchback has been quietly working away in the background and keeping its end up. Mazda2 is quite spacious for a small car because its relatively tall body allows good headroom. It can work as a small family car if you are downsizing and the kids are in their preteen years, though it mostly sells to singles and couples. The great majority of Mazda2 bodies in Australia are five-door… Read more

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CITROEN’S PRICKLY PAIR DESIGNED TO GROW ON POINT OF DIFFERENCE

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It’s hard to take seriously a car that’s named after a spiky plant that lives in desolate sun-scorched, rock-strewn deserts. There again, to exist in such a harsh and lifeless environment shows a degree of strength and the ability to adapt. Maybe this is what Citroen had in mind when it thought up the moniker ‘Cactus’ for its compact hatchback. The Citroen C4 Cactus comes in two Exclusive versions featuring extensive standard equipment and reasonable pricing – $26,990 for a turbocharged PureTech petrol manual and $29,990 for a semi-automatic diesel… Read more

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FORD PINTO

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1979 Ford Pinto hatch

In 1970 the Ford Motor Company in the US decided it was time that it produced a sub-compact car in an earnest attempt to stem the growth of Japanese imports. Choosing a wheelbase of 2.3 metres and a choice of either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine the Pinto looked like a winner when it was first introduced to the market. However, although it seemed like it was suited to the task, the engine and transmission of the Pinto were not a good match and the car had serious flaws…. Read more

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SUBARU LIBERTY AND OUTBACK 2003 – 2016

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2004 Subaru Liberty GT

Subaru Liberty is a no nonsense sedan or station wagon with a reputation for toughness and reliability. The Subaru Outback, launched in 1996 is based on the Liberty wagon and has increased suspension height, meaning it sits about midway between a conventional wagon and a 4WD. Outback is one of the earliest of the so-called crossover vehicles that have been increasingly popular over the last decade. As more and more SUVs are really just 2WD vehicles with a taller body, Subaru Outback is standing out from the crowd. In its… Read more

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MAZDA3 IS SMARTER THAN EVER

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Mazda has never been a company to follow other auto makers and the updated Mazda3 is a prime example of this. While it has received a mild facelift, the main emphasis is on what you can’t see, with major changes to the steering and suspension systems. Safety, long a strong point with the Mazda Australia organisation, has been further enhanced. It has become customary for Mazda Australia to fly senior engineers from its Japanese head office for car launches downunder. A real honour to our local guys and gals that… Read more

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2016 AUDI A4 AVANT WAGON REVIEW

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Audi station wagons – which they call Avants – are huge in Europe and particularly in their home market of Germany. Avants are easy to spot, just drive on an autobahn at high speed, but keep out of the fast lane, pretty soon one will pass you at 200+ kmh. It will probably be black and a sales rep of some sort will be at the steering wheel in a hurry to their next appointment. Sounds like heaven? It is, but sadly not in Australia. The driving, that is. The… Read more

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PEUGEOT HOT HATCH IS OUT OF AN ICONIC SLIPSTREAM

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The iconic Peugeot 205 GTI holds a stunning place in the automotive lexicon. After a decade of stellar performance, the little French machine called the ‘best hot hatchback of all time’ ended its production run in February 1994. The French automobile maker thought it time to revisit those halcyon days and has come up with the 308 1.6THP GTi. The car is available in two specifications with two levels of tuning – the 184kW 308 GTi 250 carries a recommended retail price of $44,990, while the 200kW 308 GTi 270… Read more

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KIA PICANTO IS CUTE AS A BUTTON

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Kia Picanto is a small city car that’s loaded with standard equipment and comes in at a very attractive price of just $14,990. That’s for a five-door car with automatic transmission and is driveaway. This market segment isn’t strong in Australia at present, which is a shame as these small economy cars are really all that many people need. It’s early days yet – the little Kia Picanto has only been on sale here since April – and is now neck and neck with the previously all-conquering Mitsubishi Mirage in… Read more

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MASERATI INTRODUCES AN SUV, THE VERY STYLISH LEVANTE

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How times change. If you had asked us ten years ago if the iconic Italian sportscar maker Maserati was to design a diesel-power 4WD we would have laughed outright. Our laughter would have turned into shrieks of merriment if you had asked if you could buy that Maser for under $250,000. Yet here is exactly that vehicle, the Maserati Levante SUV will soon hit the roads – possibly even trails – of Australia. Even more surprising is the price tag. It starts at just $155,000 and tops out at $175,000… Read more

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HYUNDAI RELEASES 2017 SONATA

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Hyundai’s Sonata dates back to the late 1980s and is an excellent example the huge strides made by the South Korean automotive industry in the almost 30 years since its introduction. A medium-large car, Sonata is one of the many contenders starting to line up to replace the Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore and Toyota Camry when they disappear from the local car-making scene. Camry is the closest in external size to the Sonata. Inside however, the Hyundai’s use of front-wheel-drive means it’s not that much smaller than the big Holdens… Read more