Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review & Road Test
November 17, 2009 by Karl Peskett
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Mercedes-Benz, Upper Large Car
The E-Class is a class act
Model Tested:
2009 Mercedes-Benz E500 Elegance; 5.5-litre V8, petrol; seven-speed automatic; sedan – $178,900*
Quality; space; power; drivetrain smoothness; standard equipment
Ride can be a little choppy
CarAdvice Rating:
It’s funny how the world goes in cycles. Long hair, short hair and back to long hair again. Light colours, dark colours and [...]
Hyundai Santa Fe Long Term Update
October 27, 2009 by Karl Peskett
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Hyundai, Hyundai Santa Fe, Long Term Test, SUV Medium
We’ve just been racking up the kilometres on our long term tester, the Santa Fe Elite CRDi. We’ve passed the 8500km mark, and with no real dramas, there’s not a lot to report.
To be honest, we’d rather it that way, as it means trouble free motoring for any who buys a Santa Fe. The engine [...]
Honda City Review & Road Test
August 24, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Honda, Light Car
2009 Honda City VTi-L Review & Road Test
The name suggests where the car should remain.
Model Tested:
2009 Honda City VTi-L; 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; five-speed automatic, sedan – $25,685*
Options:
None fitted
Interior room, design, fuel consumption
Price, lack of power, features
CarAdvice Rating:
By Paul Maric
Honda has long been yearning for a stop-gap between the Jazz and Civic and [...]
Lexus RX450h Review & Road Test
August 14, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under 4WD, 4x4, Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Environment, Hybrid, Lexus, SUV Luxury
2009 Lexus RX450h Review & Road Test
Is the existence of the hybrid SUV motoring’s greatest oxymoron?
Model Tested:
2009 Lexus RX450h; 3.5-litre V6 hybrid; six-speed variable automatic; wagon – $107,900*
Options:
Full-size spare wheel $1000 (Fitted)
Open road performance; equipment level; passenger comfort
Initial take-off lag; some wind noise; body roll; fuel economy
CarAdvice Rating:
By Matt Brogan
As the only [...]
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 [...]
Ford Mondeo Review and Road Test
July 27, 2009 by Paul Maric
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Diesel, Ford, Medium Car
2009 Ford Mondeo TDCi Review and Road Test
So appealing that it takes the gloss off the already impressive Falcon.
Model Tested:
2009 Ford MA Mondeo TDCi; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder; six-speed automatic; hatch – $39,990 (RRP)
Options:
Leather heated seats
Superb fuel economy and handling; interior room; styling
Pricing point too close to Falcon
CarAdvice Rating:
- by Paul Maric
As humble as [...]
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 [...]
Suzuki Swift Sport Review & Road Test
July 17, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Small Car, Suzuki
2009 Suzuki Swift & Swift Sport Review & Road Test
The little Suzuki is still strong, four years on…
Model Tested:
2009 Suzuki Swift; 1.5-litre, four-cylinder; five-speed; hatch – $18,790
2009 Suzuki Swift Sport; 1.6-litre, four-cylinder; five-speed; hatch – $24,990
Honest A to B car with character, excellent handling (Sport), value for money, good looks
No USB/iPod connectivity, sluggish [...]
Volvo XC60 Review & Road Test
July 15, 2009 by Karl Peskett
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, SUV Luxury, Safety, Volvo
2009 Volvo XC60 Review & Road Test
Safe, sexy and strong – what more could you want?
Model Tested:
2009 Volvo XC60 D5 and T6 – $57,950 (D5), $64,950 (T6)
Options (As fitted to D5):
Drive Assist Pack $5910
Teknic Pack $4990
Premium Sound $2400
Personal Car Communicator $1575
Metallic Paint $1550
Interior Air Quality System $275
Clean Zone Interior Package $275
Stylish, sophisticated, safety, quality, [...]
Holden Cruze vs Ford Focus Diesel
July 13, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car Reviews, Comparisons, Diesel, Ford, Holden, Small Car
Who will win the battle for diesel supremacy?
When it comes to buying a decent small to mid size diesel car, it’s slim pickings at this end of the price scale, but with the recently released Holden Cruze throwing the metaphoric cat – or is that lion – among the pigeons, we thought we’d pair [...]
Mazda3 Review & Road Test
July 10, 2009 by David Twomey
Filed under Behind the Wheel, Car News, Car Reviews, Mazda, Small Car
2009 Mazda 3 SP25 Review & Road Test
Cheerful, sporty and a sales assassin
Model Tested:
2009 Mazda3 SP25; 2.5-litre, DOHC, four-cylinder; six-speed manual; Hatch – $30,690
Options:
Luxury Pack – leather trim, Bose 10-speaker audio and sliding centre armrest $2400; Floor mats $123
Sporty nature, good performance, excellent safety
Steering lightness, bland dash, cluttered steering wheel
CarAdvice Rating:
By David [...]
