Passenger Cars

Okaerinasai! That’s Japanese for ‘Welcome back!’ if I was to trust Google Translate and it’s exactly what it feels like for the tenth-generation Honda Civic. It has only taken about a decade for Honda to wake from its dozy slumber but the Japanese giant is back. You see, Honda used …

The Honda Odyssey was once a cool people mover that didn’t quite look like one. The latest fifth-generation, however, has dropped its predecessor’s low slung lines for a taller van-like styling theme. If you happened to overbreed, this can only mean good news. The Odyssey is available for the first …

The mid-size Mazda6 has always been the better looking and handling car of its segment. The latest generation has taken that to a new level in terms of technology, efficiency, dynamics and design, thanks to Mazda’s clever SkyActiv technology that underpins the 6. To keep it at the pointy end …

The micro-car segment is a micro segment in Australia, with less than a handful of players – chief amongst them, the Mitsubishi Mirage and Suzuki Celerio. Nissan quietly dropped the Micra from its lineup earlier this year. According to Kia, the segment represents less than 1 per cent of the …

Amongst the broad mix of mid-sized passenger cars, the Skoda Superb is often overlooked. Its awkward design isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea and the Skoda brand – one of the world’s oldest car company – just doesn’t spring up in people’s mind when they are thinking of their next car. But that might change …

BMW for sportiness, Mercedes for comfort, Jaguar for style and Lexus for quality. Take those attributes from each marque, trim them down a tiny bit, give it the best interior of the segment, and you get an Audi. It’s the same story for the new Audi A4. The all-rounded appeal …

Australians’ taste in cars has changed dramatically since the new millennia. Fifteen years ago, our favourite mode of transport was large four-door sedans with no fewer than six cylinders. Then came the invasion of the Sports Utility Vehicle or SUVs, which single handedly ended the dominants of our local heroes …

Self-driving cars may still be a few years away, but semi-autonomous driving is well and truly here. One brand that is synonymous with this technology is Tesla. Electric propulsion and ‘Ludicrous’ acceleration aside, the Model S, Tesla’s flagship sedan, has one of the most advanced semi-autonomous driving systems on the …

Three years on from its local introduction, Mitsubishi has given its baby 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage a makeover. The sixth generation Mirage now comes in two variants, with the mid-spec ES Sport dropped from the new lineup. Priced from $11,990 plus on-roads, the new ES is $1,000 cheaper than the superseded model and ships …

Since its introduction back in 1973, the German engineered Volkswagen Passat has been a solid hauler for families and businesses alike. Entering its eighth generation, the 2016 Passat has become the pinnacle of refinement, setting the standard for design, technology and practicality within its segment. Priced from $34,990 plus on-road costs, …

Efficiency. It’s a term that’s been blurred over the years. Many claim their vehicles are efficient and economical, in reality, some can cost as much as a V8 to run. Thankfully, clear as day, the 2016 Toyota Prius shines through with its realistically low and achievable fuel economy, making it a more …

Japanese luxury carmaker, Lexus has expanded their mid-sized sports sedan range with the all new GS 200t. Boasting a more refined interior, plethora of technological upgrades and impressive dynamics, the all-new GS competes head-to-head with the best in the luxury car sector. The GS 200t made its entrance late in 2015 and replaces the …

With the locally made Ford Falcon’s imminent departure, the latest Ford Mondeo is expected to take over the baton from its bigger brother, and the news is encouraging. The fourth-generation Mondeo arrived in Australia mid last year, but only in wagon and hatch body style. The sedan, which is available …

If you’re shopping for a mid-size luxury sedan around the $60-70k mark, you’ll be overwhelmed with options considering the sheer number of cars available in this popular segment. But if comfort and spaciousness are at the top of your priority then there is only one obvious choice – the Lexus …