2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review
October 30, 2009 by Anthony Crawford
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, First Steer, Small Car, Volkswagen, Volkswagen
I’m somewhere in the Victorian Alps with about forty-kilometres of clean, windy road ahead and I’m driving the new GTI at eight-tenths with former F1 driver Hans Stuck on my tail. Make that nine-tenths.
I’m carrying an awful lot of speed into these curves, and yet even in the tighter sections, the GTI is seemingly [...]
BMW 120d Review & Road Test
October 28, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under BMW, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Diesel, Small Car
BMW 120d: the economic hot-hatch
Model Tested:
2009 BMW E87 120d; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel; six-speed manual; five-door hatch – $46,790*
Options Available:
See bottom of page.
Strong & frugal engine; intelligent stop-start system; on-road manners
Rear leg room tight for adults; some option pricing a little dear
CarAdvice Rating:
by Matt Brogan & Alborz Fallah
Marrying sharp driving dynamics and strong [...]
Kia Cerato – Long Term Update
October 8, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Kia, Kia Cerato, Long Term Test, Small Car
Since collecting our long-term Kia Cerato SLi back in early May the Santorini Blue sedan has been shoved from pillar to post around the CarAdvice office, with Rose Harris, Nadine Armstrong and Paul Maric all spending considerable time behind the wheel.
Now it’s my turn with the past few weeks seeing the Cerato spend some garage [...]
Mini Cooper D Review & Road Test
September 30, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, Diesel, Fuel News, Mini, Small Car, Small Car
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Kia Cerato Koup Review & Road Test
September 25, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Kia, Small Car
Meet Kia’s cracking take on the common man’s coupe.
Models Tested:
2009 Kia Cerato Koup; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; five-speed manual; coupe – $23,690*
2009 Kia Cerato Koup; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; four-speed automatic; coupe – $25,690*
Options:
Metallic Paint $400 (Fitted – Bright Silver)
Sporty two-door looks; capable performance & handling; competitive pricing; strong feature list
Lifeless four-speed automatic; banal instrument [...]
Toyota Prius Review & Road Test
September 21, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Environment, Hybrid, Small Car, Toyota, Toyota Prius
Like all that is more than skin deep, so are the changes found in new Prius
Model Tested:
2009 Toyota ZVW30 Prius i-Tech; 1.8-litre four-cylinder, petrol-electric hybrid; CVT, five-door hatch – $53,500*
Options:
Metallic Paint $350 (Fitted – Silver Pearl)
Improved dynamics, steering and brakes; intuitive features; better performance
Rear vision through split window; positioning of some [...]
Ford Focus Review & Road Test
September 17, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Car Style, Ford, Small Car, Small Car
2009 Ford Focus LX Hatch Review and Road Test
Ford’s Focus still a rewarding drive
Model Tested:
2009 Ford Focus LX; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; five-speed manual; five-door hatch – $24,290
Options:
Metallic paint – Tango; $230 (Fitted)
Ride and handling; fuel economy; styling.
Misaligned buttons; no rear parking sensors available.
CarAdvice Rating:
Words – Paul Maric
The recent couple of years have [...]
Honda Civic Hybrid Review & Road Test
September 16, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Environment, Honda, Hybrid, Small Car
Discretion is the better part of valour
Model Tested:
2009 Honda Civic Hybrid; 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, petrol-electric hybrid; continuously variable automatic; sedan – $35,990*
Options (As Fitted):
Metallic Paint $475 (Neutron Blue)
Pricing & appearance against rival; smooth drivetrain; comfort & ergonomics
Inconsistent brake feel; light steering at centre; diminished cargo capacity
CarAdvice Rating:
When you drive a hybrid car then [...]
Nissan Dualis – First Steer
August 6, 2009 by David Twomey
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Diesel, First Steer, Nissan, SUV Compact, Small Car
2009 Nissan Dualis Hatch+ 2WD – First Steer
When is a compact SUV not a compact SUV, when it’s a Nissan apparently, at least that’s what the Japanese importer would have us believe when it comes to the Dualis Hatch+, especially in its latest iteration the two-wheel drive.
By David Twomey
As well as launching the European volume-selling [...]
Kia Soul – Long Term Review
July 30, 2009 by David Twomey
Filed under Australian Car Industry News, Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Diesel, Kia, Kia Soul, Long Term Test, Small Car
2009 Kia Soul3 CRDi – Long Term Review
I’m not sure which supermarket Elvis is in this week, but Shrek is definitely in residence at CarAdvice HQ, at least a very green Kia Soul has taken up Long Term Test residence with us for the next few months.
By David Twomey
It you didn’t catch it, Nadine Armstrong [...]
Nissan Tiida Review & Road Test
July 29, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Nissan, Small Car
2009 Nissan Tiida Q Review & Road Test
As good as it’s been Tiida is crying out for an update
Model Tested:
2009 Nissan C11 Tiida Q; 1.8-litre, four-cylinder, six-speed manual, five-door hatch – $23,990*
Options:
Metallic Paint $495
Enthusiastic performance; six-speed manual; steering feel; vision
No ESC; centre lap belt; narrow cabin; cargo space; dated looks
CarAdvice Rating:
By Matt [...]
