Passenger Cars

Photos by: Dario Duno The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the brand’s oldest models. The original was launched in 1938 and has since sold more than 22 million units worldwide. It was “the people’s car” – simple, affordable and dynamically robust. Unlike its humble forebear, the latest generation Volkswagen Beetle …

Every once in awhile, we come across two different variants of the same model which, apart from sharing the name and looks, are two totally different cars. And no, we are not talking about a BMW M3 vs a BMW 320d, but a run of the mill Holden Cruze CD/CDX …

Sometimes as car testers, we seemed to forget that not everyone is as critical as we are when it comes to cars, just like food critics forget that not everyone gets annoyed if the skin on the roast potatoes isn’t the right shade of brown, or the spring onions are …

The small car segment is arguably one of the most hotly contested markets in the car industry and not without good reasons. With almost every major car maker in the game, some offering models starting at just below the $20k mark, buyers are spoilt for choice. The expectations are high …

Electric cars aren’t new. In fact, the first electric vehicle was created around 1890, when an American with the name of William Morrison installed an electric motor into a six-passenger wagon. It had a top speed of 23km/h. But with cheap oil in abundance, the electric vehicle didn’t get much …

Photos by: Dario Duno Australians are spoiled for choice when it comes to affordable performance. There are no less than 10 models to choose from, all costing less than fifty big ones, from the Toyota 86 to the benchmark of the current hot-hatch crop, the Renault Mégane RS265. It also …

The Kia Cerato is one of the Korean brand’s most successful models, selling in excess of 2.5 million worldwide since its debut in 2004. Locally, although the Kia Cerato rarely appears on the top ten sales podium, it is a significant model for the company in the booming C-segment dominated …

The Nissan Pulsar is back, and it couldn’t have arrived soon enough. After seven years of spiralling sales with the unloved Nissan Tiida, the Japanese manufacturer has high hopes and even higher expectations from the reinvigorated small car that used to be one of the best selling cars in the …

The official press release for the Peugeot 208 reads: Re-Generation. It is an apt description, as the previous two-generations of the little Peugeot had been rather forgettable efforts, with each generation getting heavier while at the same time, losing the driveability of their fondly remembered predecessor, the 205. So, like …

When the first generation Chrysler 300C was introduced in 2004, its unorthodox ‘gangster-car’ styling won over a few fans in the luxury car segment, especially those who frequent the notorious party strip of King’s Cross in Sydney. With high shoulder line and small glass house, it cuts a menacing figure …

The Volkswagen Passat is one of the most popular models in the German brand’s line-up. Well over 15 million Passats have found homes in the last four decades. Its enduring quality and wide range of variants has no doubt been the main contributing factor. To increase its appeal further, Volkswagen …

The Mitsubishi Mirage is back in Australia to replace the Colt, and compete in the city car segment with the likes of Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto and the Volkswagen up! . It is a nameplate that should be familiar with Australians, as the last Mirage that sold here in 2004 …

The Astra has been a familiar nameplate in Australia, at least when it was sold under the Holden brand up until 2009 when the Cruze replaced the Astra as Holden’s new small car. So for 2013, Holden’s sister brand under the General Motors umbrella, Opel, returns to Australia with big …

The city car is a relatively new concept in traditionally large car loving Australia. But with increasing pressure from sky-rocketing petrol prices and ever tightening emissions control, the sub-light segment is gradually gaining traction in the local automotive landscape. Design & Comfort The Volkswagen up! is the German brand’s first …