Ford Ranger Review & Road Test
November 18, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Commercial Pick-Up/Crew Cab 4x2, Ford
With a 3000kg towing capacity, you could even tow Amanda Vanstone.
Model Tested:
2009 Ford Ranger XLT 4×2 Crew Cab; 3.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel; five-speed manual – $40,590
Fuel consumption; towing & load carrying capacity; styling
No ESC available; rear seat leg room
CarAdvice Rating:
It’s big, it’s brash and it’s the latest iteration of Ford’s ‘built Ford [...]
Kia Sorento Review
October 26, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, First Steer, Kia, Off Road / 4x4, SUV, SUV Large
2010 Kia Sorento First Steer Review
There was a famous advertising campaign by a rental company in the United States some time ago that depicts the attitude of some large multi-nationals. The advert read “We are number 2, so we try harder”. This is a very good way to explain why sister companies Hyundai and Kia [...]
Toyota FT-EV II Concept
October 21, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under 2009 Tokyo, Car News, Concepts, Motor Shows, Toyota, electric
More and more compact city all electric vehicles are emerging, Subaru has the Stella, Mitsubishi has the i-Miev, Nissan has the Leaf and now Toyota is showing off the FT-EV II.
A compact electric vehicle designed primarily to drive short distances in city environments, the FT-EV II is founded on the concept of a “future mobility [...]
Ford Ranger Wildtrak Review & Road Test
July 24, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Commercial Pick-Up/Crew Cab 4x4, Diesel, Ford, Ute, Utes
2009 Ford Ranger Wildtrak Review & Road Test
Make traks for a dirty weekend
Model Tested:
2009 Ford PK Ranger ‘Wildtrak’ 4×4; 3.0-litre TDCi, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel; five-speed automatic; crew-cab: $50,990*
Options:
Metallic Paint $400 (Fitted – Winning Blue)
Distinctive appearance; strong engine; capable off-road
Vague steering; rear centre lap seatbelt; non-lockable tailgate
CarAdvice Rating:
By Matt Brogan
It seems more and more [...]
Mazda3 MPS – First Steer
July 22, 2009 by David Twomey
Filed under Australian Car Industry News, Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, First Steer, Mazda, Small Car, Sports
2009 Mazda3 MPS – First Steer
When you can make your hero car perform better, look more appealing, add extra equipment and potentially sell better but lower the price, even if only by a few hundred dollars, then you are probably on a winner, especially if it’s the Mazda3 MPS.
By David Twomey
We are talking about a [...]
2009 Mitsubishi Pajero Review & Road Test
May 13, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Mitsubishi
2009 Mitsubishi Pajero VRX DI-D Review & Road Test
Versatile, strong, capable… but oh so average.
Model Tested:
2009 Mitsubishi NT Pajero VR-X; 3.2-litre, turbo-diesel; five-speed automatic; wagon – $67,990 (RRP)
Options:
Metallic paint $495 (fitted – Cool Silver); satellite navigation & rear view camera $2500 (Fitted)
Torquey, economical engine; towing capacity; roomy cabin
Mismatched interior plastics; engine noise; numb [...]
2009 Nissan Maxima – First Steer
April 21, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Falcon, First Steer, Ford, Holden, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, Toyota Aurion, Toyota Camry
2009 Nissan Maxima – First Steer
The Nissan Maxima has always seemed a little bit of a mystery to most people.
I mean sure the public was always aware of its presence, but for the man on the street the Maxima was always thought of as just “there”, quietly sitting in a niche all of its own, [...]
2009 Mazda BT-50 review
January 27, 2009 by Karl Peskett
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Mazda
2008 Mazda BT-50 Review and Road Test
It’s the hard worker, perfect for tackling any task
Model Tested:
2009 Mazda BT-50 Freestyle Cab Chassis – $37,820
Options: ABS, EBD, Alloy Bull Bar and Alloy Tray Plus – Ladder rack, Tool Box and Water Tank – $3527
Engine, excellent gearbox, ride quality for leaf springs, space
More expensive than [...]
2009 Mitsubishi Pajero First Steer
December 18, 2008 by David Twomey
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Australian Car Industry News, Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, First Steer, Mitsubishi
The big news in the 2009 Mitsubishi NT Pajero is the heavily revised version of the 3.2-litre diesel engine now fitted to the vehicle and we can set the record straight, it is quieter, but then it would need to be.
- David Twomey
The previous diesel engine sounded more like a chaff cutter than an engine [...]
2009 Mitsubishi Triton GLS Fastback Review
December 15, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Mitsubishi
2009 Mitsubishi Triton GLS Fastback Review & Road Test
A safe, well optioned and gutsy performer
Model Tested:
2009 Mitsubishi Triton GLS Fastback 3.2-litre, turbo-diesel, 4WD, automatic, dual-cab utility: $53,990 (RRP)
Options:
Metallic paint $350 (fitted: Gunmetal)
Capable engine and 4WD system; ample equipment list; unique styling
Noisy engine; reduced load area; long steering ratio; flat seating
CarAdvice Rating:
- [...]
2009 Toyota HiLux SR 4WD Review
November 20, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Toyota
2009 Toyota HiLux SR 4WD Review & Road Test
HiLux SR is one tough unit
Model Tested:
2009 Toyota GGN15R HiLux SR 4.0-litre, petrol, 4WD automatic – $35,190 (RRP)
Options:
Metallic Paint $300 (Fitted – Sterling Silver)
Strong economical engine; capable off-road; robust build
No ABS, ESP or TCS; poor paint quality; rear centre lap seatbelt
CarAdvice Rating:
- by Matt [...]
