Passenger Cars

2018 Holden Commodore Calais-V V6 AWD Review

 Badge engineering is fraud with danger especially for a model as iconic as the Holden Commodore. History is littered with examples of this failed undertaking including the Nissan Bluebird-based Ford Pintara and Saab’s version of the Subaru Impreza wagon, the 9-2X. Holden of course, is no stranger to this …

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2018 Hyundai Sonata Premium 2.0T Review

 It seems like only yesterday when the new Hyundai Sonata was released but here it is again in 2018, receiving its first major facelift. With traditional sedans fast becoming as fashionable as a blancmange these days as consumer tastes shift to SUVs, there are still a significant number of …

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2018 Lexus CT 200h Review

The Lexus CT hybrid hatch has undergone its most extensive update yet since its debut in 2011. It ought to as the eight-year old model soldiers on as Lexus’ most affordable offering without a new-generation model anywhere in sight. Against a backdrop of booming compact premium car sales, with models …

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2018 Toyota Camry Ascent Review – Boring No More

The eighth-generation Camry represents a new era for Toyota in Australia in more ways than one. For a start, it doesn’t look like your grandmother’s favourite cardigan anymore and is the first fully imported (from Japan) Camry in Australia for nearly 30 years. With the thorough reinvention, the Camry has …

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2018 Renault Megane Wagon GT-Line Review

 You can count with one hand the number of wagons that are on offer from the more than sixty brands in Australia. And if you eliminated the less affordable premium marques, you are left with just the Renault Megane Wagon, Holden Astra Wagon, Volkswagen Golf Wagon and its twin-under-the-skin, …

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2017 Renault Megane Wagon Review

There is a common misconception that if you need space, you buy an SUV. The truth is, quite often you will find more space in the back of a wagon than an SUV. If you don’t need the ground clearance and all-wheel drive (though wagon like the Subaru Levorg is …

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2017 Honda Civic Hatch Review

No, it’s not the Type R. But the new Honda Civic Hatch certainly does look like a hot hatch. It’s been far too long we needed a boldly styled, unrestrained and youthful Honda that the average Joe could buy, a Honda that harks back to its glory days of the …

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2017 Holden Astra Sedan LTZ Review

Almost a decade has passed since we last saw the Holden Astra Sedan name in Australia. Now, the name returns and replaces the locally built Holden Cruze which production ended in October 2016. With such well built and optioned rivals as the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra, …

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2017 Hyundai i30 SR Manual Review

Despite the meteoric rise and our love affair with high-riding SUVs, the humble hatchback is still a significant player in our market with the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 regularly making up the top three models on the overall monthly sales chart. But like almost all other segments, it …

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2017 Kia Rio Review – SLi automatic

The Kia Rio is one of the more popular small cars in Australia and is the Korean manufacturer’s global hit, with annual sales approaching 500,000, accounting for 16% of Kia’s annual sales. However, its profile in Europe is still a little lacking compared to segment leaders such as the Volkswagen …

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2017 Lexus IS 300h Review

As if the outgoing model wasn’t bold enough, Lexus has gone even more courageous with the updated 2017 IS sports sedan. Launching on the backdrop of one million global sales and a teasy advertising campaign celebrating those who dare to step forward, the 3 Series and C-Class rival boasts the strongest …

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2017 Holden Astra Review

The small car segment has never been so tightly contested. It’s the most crowded passenger car market with over 20 models to choose from. Even at the top of the chart there’s at least five “you can’t go wrong with anyone of these” options, namely the ever popular Mazda 3, long dominant …

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2017 Lexus IS 200t Sports Luxury Review

Lexus has, arguably, often been unfairly referred to as a “glorified Toyota”, and while that may be true for certain models in the lineup (I’m looking at you, Lexus LX), the majority of its range are actually proper premium models based on entirely different rear-wheel drive platforms (IS, RC, GS …

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