Subaru Liberty GT Review & Road Test
November 10, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Medium Car, Subaru
Conservative looks, confident performance.
Model Tested:
2010 Subaru Liberty GT Premium; 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo petrol; six-speed manual; sedan – $52,990*
Smooth power delivery; all-wheel drive grip; spacious cabin
Tyre noise; tight & notchy gearshift; pricing against rivals
CarAdvice Rating:
Subaru’s fifth-generation Liberty may have lost the sex appeal so widely revered of its predecessor, but when it comes [...]
Holden Commodore SV6 Review & Road Test
November 9, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Holden, Holden VE Commodore, Large Car
Holden’s SIDI equipped automatic and manual gearboxes are like chalk and cheese.
Model Tested:
2009 Holden Commodore SV6; 3.6-litre, six-cylinder, petrol; six-speed manual; sedan – $42,790*
Options Available:
Metallic Paint $500; Limited Slip Differential $360; Leather Upholstery $2500; Sunroof $1990; DVD Player $1290; Six CD Changer $595; Full Size Spare Wheel $350
Sporty gearbox; fuel economy; interior room
Dated [...]
Range Rover Sport Supercharged Review
November 8, 2009 by Anthony Crawford
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Land Rover, Off Road / 4x4
Location – Scottish Badlands – Photography: Nick Dimbleby
The fast and the furious of the off-road world
It weighs 2,590 kilograms, yet will blast off from a standing start to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds. It’s also sports car tidy through the bends and more luxurious than a suite at the Dorchester.
You’re looking at Land [...]
Toyota Camry Review & Road Test
November 5, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, Medium Car, Medium Car, Toyota, Toyota Camry
The latest iteration of one of Toyota’s best selling appliances.
Model Tested:
2009 Toyota Camry Ateva; 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; five-speed automatic; sedan – $32,490
Interior space; suspension (ride); standard features
Fuel consumption; handling
CarAdvice Rating:
Whitegoods on wheels, uninspiring, old man’s car and boring. These are all terms that have become synonymous with the Toyota Camry.
For years Toyota [...]
Toyota iQ Review
November 4, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Environment, First Steer, Light Car, Toyota
If this is where small cars are headed, consider me a convert.
Model Tested:
2009 Toyota iQ3; 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; CVT automatic; three-door hatch – $21,560*
By Matt Brogan. Tokyo, Japan.
This may be the shortest first steer of the smallest car I’ve yet driven, but my 20 minutes behind the wheel was enough to tell me that if [...]
Jaguar XF-R Review & Road Test
November 4, 2009 by Nadine Armstrong
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Jaguar, Large Car, Luxury Car, Sports
Plenty of reasons to get excited
Model Tested:
2009 Jaguar XF-R; 5.0-litre, supercharged V8, petrol; six-speed automatic; sedan- $208,450*
Brilliant engine; dynamic handling; wicked personality
Fuel economy; interior plastics
CarAdvice Rating:
The Jaguar XF-R is a shameless exhibitionist. Behind the wheel you will be entertained, intrigued and find it near impossible not to warm to its wicked demeanor.
With [...]
Subaru Outback Diesel Review
November 3, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, First Steer, Medium Car, SUV Compact, Subaru
The car that a lot of Subaru fans have been waiting for has finally arrived in Australia, the Outback Diesel represents the first diesel car Subaru has offered in Australia and marks a new era for the Japanese brand as it sets it sights higher for 2010.
Having already driven the new Subaru Outback a [...]
Subaru Liberty Exiga Review
November 3, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, First Steer, People Mover, People Mover, Subaru
The new Subaru Liberty Exiga (pronounced x-e-ga in Australia) has made its way to our shores and is on sale now from a starting price of just $37,490. Subaru’s first people mover has a lot to offer with an impressive feature list the kids would be proud of.
Referred to as the Exiga in Japan, Australia [...]
Renault Laguna Estate Review & Road Test
November 3, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Diesel, Medium Car, Renault
Finally, a French car without the complications.
Model Tested:
2009 Renault Laguna Dynamique Estate; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel; six-speed automatic; wagon – $46,990*
Options:
18-inch Alloy Wheels $1000; Metallic Paint $800; Panoramic Sunroof $2000; Xenon Headlights & Headlight Washers $1950
Value for money; build quality; engine; style
Rear leg room
CarAdvice Rating:
The French have always been a bit quirky. While [...]
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
November 2, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, First Steer, Hyundai, Off Road / 4x4, SUV, SUV Medium
Hyundai’s updated Santa Fe brings the latest in diesel engine technology to the masses at an affordable price. Starting from $37,990 the face-lifted Santa Fe gets an updated interior and exterior plus a whole new engine and transmission system, meaning superior fuel efficiency and drivability.
There was a time when Korean cars were regarded as cheap, [...]
BMW 330d Review & Road Test
November 2, 2009 by Anthony Crawford
Filed under BMW, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Diesel, Environment, Medium Car
BMW’s 330d is an extraordinarily capable car with performance and fuel consumption figures that seem utterly implausible until you drive it.
Model Tested:
BMW E90 330d; 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, turbo-diesel; six-speed automatic; sedan – $87,250*
Options Fitted:
Larger Navigation Screen with added functionality including Television and Voice recognition $4,100; Sunroof $2,290
Awesome performance and refinement
Gearshifts could be [...]
