Car Reviews

Nissan’s recent fine run of desirable products continues with the latest-generation X-Trail. Having undergone a complete transformation, the X-Trail has ditched its predecessor’s shoebox design in favour of a more modern and sophisticated styling. The new 2014 model is also packed with technologies that not so long ago, were the bastion …

The Jeep Cherokee has returned to have its share of the cake in one of the most crowded and fastest growing segments in Australia. Pitting against highly established rivals such as the Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota Rav4, the Jeep needs to be more than just good if it …

Toyota has given its iconic four-year old LandCruiser Prado a subtle mid-life facelift, with a nip-tuck that brings a nose job, extra equipment and a moderate price hike. It has also taken the opportunity to scale back the number of variants to eleven, ditching the slow-selling three-door version. What’s unchanged …

When we drove the Chrysler 300 last year, we liked its unorthodox ‘gangster-car’ styling, exceptional value and refinement. Chrysler has now broadened the appeal of its flagship sedan with the introduction of the 300S model. Taking the standard car’s “Imported from Detroit” style a step further, the 300S boasts an array of …

White goods on wheels; Grandma’s taxi; pensioner’s wheels. I could go on and on about how some describe the Toyota Corolla. However, if such sentiments reflect the majority view of the population, the “Rolla” would not have found home in 40 million garages worldwide since its introduction in 1966. A …

Bigger, cheaper, and better is how Toyota described the new 2014 Kluger. And in a rare case, it’s not just a marketing hype. Boasting an all-new styling with an upsized cabin, accompanied by a drop in price, the new Kluger does indeed look promising. The new model is the first …

The Audi Q3 is the premium German brand’s smallest SUV and also one of its most popular. It was one of the first to the fray, beaten only by the niche carving BMW X1, and certainly coming to the party earlier than the fashionably late Mercedes-Benz GLA. Based on the …

The Power to Surprise. That’s Kia’s tag line and they really are all about the power to surprise, especially with their European-sourced and curiously named ‘pro_cee’d GT’. The surprise here is how well it drives! I don’t usually spoil my review by giving my verdict at the start, but I …

The Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander are two of the most popular models in the increasingly competitive SUV segment. For 2014, they have both been revised for their mid-life update. The CR-V range now gains a 4WD only diesel model and the Outlander receives subtle exterior update, extra features and …

The previous generation Honda Odyssey was one of the coolest people movers around. It’s low, stationwagon-like styling was unlike any other frumpy people movers around. The rear doors opened just like those on a conventional car rather than slid across. For it’s fifth-generation however, things have changed, dramatically. The new Odyssey has …

The 2014 Nissan Altima, Nissan’s new mid-sized sedan, made its Australian showroom debut late last year, one year after its V8 Supercar alter ego hit the tracks. While sharing the same name and a largely similar body, the two couldn’t be more different. The road-going Altima is offered with a choice …

The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the Japanese carmaker’s second attempt at the world of electric propulsion, after the introduction of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in 2009. While the five-door electric city car didn’t really take off as Mitsubishi had expected (due to its exuberant price tag), the brand has something to shout …

I still remember vividly the first time I travelled business class. From the moment I set foot in the airport, I knew it was going to be something special. The superstar treatment begins at the check-in counter. Instead of joining the ever-growing queue of weary eyed, t-shirt wearing crowd snaking …

The Lexus ES started out as the company’s mid-size luxury sedan complimenting the LS flagship when Lexus said hello to the world in 1989.  Six generations later, the ES has become Lexus’ best selling model in the brand’s largest and second largest market, the USA and China respectively. The ES …