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TOYOTA FRESHENS UP RAV4

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In hindsight it seems strange that Toyota’s decision to launch its first RAV4 model back in 1994 was considered something of a gamble. Until then most passenger vehicles with drive to all four wheels were seen either as a rural workhorse or an overweight and cumbersome suburban people mover. RAV4 was different. While still a 4WD and with a similar shape it was significantly smaller and lighter with the term ‘crossover’ being used prior to it being replaced by the now usually accepted ‘SUV’. Indeed the names SUV (for Sports… Read more

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SPORTY POLO PLAYS TO ITS STRENGTHS

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With new, more aggressive styling, a new finely-tuned performance 1.8-litre four-cylinder 141 kW TSI engine, mated with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic, the new VW Polo GTI returns to the compact hot hatch segment with new-found flair. It’s as if the Volkswagen Polo GTI has gained enough self-confidence to step out of the shadow of its bigger brother – the iconic Golf GTI – and into the glow of its own making. Polo GTI comes with a grab bag of driver assistance and convenience systems. High-end automobile… Read more

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2015 BMW M135i REVIEW

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The great thing about BMW is that despite a fairly sober reputation – albeit for building excellent driver’s cars – head office still signs off mildly ridiculous products. The M135i is one of those. It’s a small hatchback, considered a family car in countries with rather less room to move than we have, with a whopping great engine. The 1.5-litre triple is flung out, replaced by Munich’s tremendous 3.0-litre turbo-petrol straight six. It also gets some attention from BMW’s M subsidiary, purveyors fast car pedigree like the M3 and M5…. Read more

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RENAULT VAN A CARRY-FORWARD TO THE FUTURE

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When it comes to loading-dock bragging rights, Renault carries the weight of its Formula 1 success as a badge of honour in the shape of technology under the bonnet of the new Trafic. And there’s no Trafic jam when it comes to loading the latest version of the popular Renault van. The eponymous light commercial vehicle from France has grown in many ways. Front and rear overhangs have been extended by 100 mm and 110 mm respectively, while maximum load lengths of 3.75 and 4.15 metres for the L1 standard… Read more

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KIA SORENTO 2002 – 2015

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Kia Sorento (yes, just one ‘s’ to confuse spelling checkers) is a medium-large South Korean SUV that’s almost true 4WD in its makeup. Though as it the case in most vehicles in this market segment it has been softened slightly over the years as makers realise owners want station wagons rather than off-road 4WDs. The second generation Sorento arrived in Australia in November 2009 and used a beefed up car-like monocoque rather than a body-on-chassis setup that was a genuine bush basher from the old school. The first generation even… Read more

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2016 MAZDA2 SEDAN REVIEW

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Mazda’s new ‘2 landed this year to almost universal acclaim, something that generally happens only when a truly impressive new car comes along. In the hard-fought small car segment, it’s doubly hard. In an SUV-mad market it’s now mildly surprising when a small car gets a sedan variant and more surprising still when a carmaker goes through the aggro of getting it ready for sale in Australia. The Mazda2 sedan doesn’t have a lot of competition but when the small sedan segment is tiny to start with, the Japanese company… Read more

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ALL-NEW CADDY FROM VOLKSWAGEN

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The biggest news about the latest Volkswagen Caddy is that the glovebox now has a lid – previously it was just a gaping hole in the dashboard. Which sounds like a strange way to open a story, but it illustrates the new direction in which VW is aiming the Caddy. That is, moving it mildly upmarket. The complete driving area of the Caddy has been given a working over to make it less van like and more in the manner of a car. Good idea, we’ve never understood why van… Read more

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FORD FOCUS ST: GENUINE HOT HATCH

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It’s way too early to call time on the ‘hard stuff’ from Ford. The Blue Oval ‘home brew’ – making cars in Australia – may be about to go down the gurgler but there is still plenty of spirit there. For example, the new Mustang is selling its socks off here; the Falcon is duking it out with arch rival Holden in the V8 Supercar championships – and the new Focus ST is taking it up to the hot hatches of Europe. The LZ series Focus ST, is the latest… Read more

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2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ALLTRACK REVIEW

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Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is the latest Golf 7 variant to reach us downunder. A smaller brother of the Passat Alltrack, it has a tougher look than the standard Golf station wagon it’s based on and may appeal to some looking for a mild SUV, but don’t want to be seen as the macho type. While not really an SUV this Alltrack sits higher off the ground and has some off-road ability. In fact it this Alltrack competes in a market segment with many SUV lookalikes that only have 2WD, so… Read more

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NISSAN 350Z, 370Z 2003 – 2015

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The first Datsun Z car was shown at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show under its domestic name of Fairlady Z. It turned out to be a landmark car, not only for Nissan, but for the entire Japanese car industry, because it proved Japan could produce a classic sportscar. As the name suggests the 240Z came with a 2.4-litre engine. Over the following 26 years the engine size increased progressively, through the 260Z, 280ZX and 300ZX. To the disappointment of many, the Z series was discontinued in 1996, a victim of… Read more