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2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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 [...]

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