Tag: SUV

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SUBARU CROSSTREK 2.0S HYBRID

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Crosstrek is the smallest model in the Subaru SUV range. Previously branded as the XV it sits below the mid-sized Forester and larger Outback. In between are the Solterra and Trailseeker, both of which are EV only, as is the sportier Uncharted hatchback. Crosstrek competes against vehicles such as MG ZS, Mitsubishi ASX, Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30. Five Crosstrek variants are offered: 2.0L, 2.0R, 2.0S (petrol), plus Hybrid L and Hybrid S, with prices ranging from $34,990 to $45,090 plus on-road costs. Our test was in the top-spec Hybrid… Read more

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AUDI RINGS THE CHANGES WITH THE NEW FAMILY FAVOURITE

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While an ever-growing cohort of electric vehicles continues to ‘froth the coffee’ of automobile sales, there are still fossil fuelled ICE (internal combustion engine) alternatives stirring under the surface. One such stalwart of the ‘old order’ is the Audi Q3 SUV and Sportback, one of the German marque’s best-selling models worldwide and a cornerstone of Audi Down Under. The next generation has just landed with a broader model range aimed at city folk seeking a versatile premium all-rounder for everyday living. Available in SUV and Sportback styles, calling on three… Read more

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ATTO 2 EV FILLS A GAP IN THE BYD SUV RANGE

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  The spectacular growth of Chinese vehicles in the Australian market continues. So far in the first seven months of 2026 vehicles sourced from China total sales totalled 208,785 vehicles, well ahead of the 170,722 coming from Japan. Leading the way is BYD (aka Build Your Dreams) which has moved into second place behind Toyota in July 2026 YTD sales. Our review thus week is on the Atto 2, a fully-electric compact SUV. Atto 2 joins the slightly larger Atto 3 which pioneered the BYD brand back in 2022 and… Read more

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TORRES LEANS TOWARD HYBRID FUTURE

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  The newly-landed Torres SUV has gone for the full box and dice with its first foray into  the petrol/electric hybrid jungle.   The Korean Torres (aka Tower) is manufacturer KGM’s start of a new electric era with a  full hybrid system combining an efficient battery powering two electric motors combining  impressive performance with welcome fuel efficiency.   Two models are available at launch – the K30 and K40 – both scraping under the $50k  mark before on-road costs – $45,000 and $48,000 respectively. The latter was on test.  … Read more

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DENZA B8 PHEV PACKS A PUNCH AND PLENTY OF LUXURY EQUIPMENT

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Like Lexus is Toyota, Denza is to the Chinese brand BYD, with an upmarket line of luxury vehicles and a price tag to match. The brand was established in 2010 as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, but Benz has since pulled the plug. The B8 Super Hybrid is a large six or seven-seat 4×4 wagon that is billed a bit optimistically as a competitor for the Land Cruiser 300 Series. There’s also a B5, a smaller five-seater that has the Prado in its sights, along with a z9GT sedan and… Read more

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GAC AION V REVIEW

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In a recent review we introduced another in the growing list of new Chinese brands to arrive in Australia. This time it was from the Guangzhou Automobile Group aka GAC. Although it has been around for more than 70 years and is currently the fifth largest Chinese carmaker, GAC is largely unknown here it does have well-established joint ventures with both Honda and Toyota vehicles where it builds vehicles for the Chinese domestic market. That previous review was of the GAC Emzoom, a compact SUV and the only conventionally-powered model… Read more

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IONIQ 9 CALLIGRAPHY A CRUISE-LINER ON DRY LAND

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Hyundai Heavy Industries is the largest shipbuilding company in the world, pumping out bulk carriers, street-length oil and gas tankers and Lego-like Leviathan container ships, so it’s not out of the question that its skills should translate to producing road-going vehicles of prodigious dimensions. Take, for example, the Korean company’s flagship Ioniq 9, a three-row all electric sports utility vehicle that delivers prestigious lounge-like space and comfort, plus a range of up to 600 kilometres on a single battery charge. At the pinnacle of EV technology, the Ioniq 9 is… Read more

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JIMNY, FUN AND GAMES BY ANY STRETCH

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Jimny: it’s all in the name. Since its get-go the quirky small Suzuki SUV has been on a ‘fun run’, on and off road. Last year the maker invested more in the three-door compact, which had become something of a cult, adding two more doors and extended cabin space. Release the brakes, start revving the motor, the new Jimny XL five-door, after a bump in the road, has finally been let out on to Aussie streets, following a hold-up on sales for ‘an investigation into the model’ by the maker…. Read more

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BIG AND BOLD, ISUZU UTE MU-X IS A VERSATILE FAMILY SUV

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Isuzu Ute MU-X is a seven-seat family SUV from a Japanese company that has a long history of producing hard working vehicles. Indeed, Isuzu has a history dating back for over 100 years in light commercial vehicles including a couple of decades when they sold here rebadged as Holdens. The MU-X is one of only two vehicles offered by the Isuzu Ute brand alongside the D- Max utility with which it shares the same chassis and numerous other components. MU-X has been a major success in Australia. Sitting on the… Read more

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BYD SEALION 7 PREMIUM

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Back in 2022, BYD was one of the first Chinese vehicles to enter the Australian EV market. It started as a one-car brand imported by the private company EV Direct with the Atto 3 compact SUV. Although popular with early EV adopters it didn’t make much of an impact on overall sales. Atto 3 was followed in 2023 by the Dolphin EV hatch and Seal EV sedan. The first BYD plug-in hybrid, the Sealion 6, arrived in 2024. A mid-sized SUV, it attracted strong sales and quickly became the top-selling… Read more