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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review & Road Test

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 [...]

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