Suzuki Alto Review & Road Test

A brand new car for the price of an expensive scooter.

Model Tested:

2009 Suzuki Alto GLX; 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, petrol; four-speed automatic; five-door hatch – $16,490*

Pricing; fuel consumption; feature list
Engine size; rear leg room; boot capacity
CarAdvice Rating:
It’s Australia’s cheapest car and it’s built in India. These two factors alone would send most people to [...]

2010 Hyundai i20

Hyundai Australia has officially confirmed the i20 as the latest in the “i” series of cars to come down under in the first half of 2010.

The i20 will continue the new family look for Hyundai with ‘i’ generation bold chrome-topped front grille flanked by teardrop headlamps.

Although Australian specifications are still unconfirmed, going by European standards [...]

Mazda3 Review & Road Test

You’d be smiling too if you were a 3

Model Tested:

2009 Mazda 3 Maxx; 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; five-speed automatic; sedan – $27,050*

Options:

None Fitted

Build quality; ride & handling; smooth drivetrain
Road noise; strange looks
CarAdvice Rating:
Okay, okay, let’s start with the obvious – the Mazda3 has a big smile. It’s kind of a goofy grin, too, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Mazda3 MPS – First Steer

2009 Mazda3 MPS – First Steer
When you can make your hero car perform better, look more appealing, add extra equipment and potentially sell better but lower the price, even if only by a few hundred dollars, then you are probably on a winner, especially if it’s the Mazda3 MPS.

By David Twomey
We are talking about a [...]

Honda Civic Review & Road Test

2009 Honda Civic Si Review & Road Test

Challenge convention

Model Tested:

2009 Honda Civic Si Limited Edition; 1.8-litre, four-cylinder; five-speed automatic; five-door hatch – $41,290*

Options:

Metallic paint $475 (fitted – Alabaster Silver)

Intelligent design; cockpit layout; handling
Price; engine selection; no rear wiper/washer

CarAdvice Rating:
By Matt Brogan Pics Paul Maric
The eighth-generation Honda Civic caused a flurry of interest [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Toyota Prius – First Steer

Driving the pin-up car of the green motoring movement, the Toyota Prius, has become even more fuel efficient but also a lot more dynamic following our first, although limited, real world experience of the Generation Three vehicle.

By David Twomey
With a price of $39,900 for the base model, that’s $90 less than the original introduction price [...]

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