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The SUV from Isuzu builds on a winning formula 8.0/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Comfortable and quiet . Huge safety package . Heaps of interior space Not so much Engine noisy when cold . Slow steering can be tiring in town . Forward camera would be handy The Isuzu MU-X is a large SUV that is spacious and comfortable for up to seven occupants and is generally smooth and quiet to ride in. This is one ...
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Aussie developed large 4X4 adds more appeal Snapshot Extensive Australian-driven modifications come to V8-powered 4x4 $100K-plus price tag before on-road costs looks good next to LC300 Based on Patrol Ti grade inside Premcar has finally finished its Warrior transformation of the V8-powered Nissan Patrol off-roader. Anticipated since the Australian outlet first announced the Warrior version of Nissan’s Navara ute in 2019, we’ve known of...
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This straight-six X3 is superb 8.5/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Great ride and handling balance Full-bodied straight-six punch Spacious and fully-featured cabin Lots of trim and colour choice Not so much Lofty purchase price Getting close to replacement Oversensitive reverse AEB First unveiled in 2017, the ‘G01’ X3 emerged as a much larger vehicle than its predecessor. More closely aligned with...
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BMW’s small SUV surpasses the competition 7.8/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Generous standard kit Impressive cabin tech and design Lots of space Improved ride and handling Not so much No spare wheel Increased price Electric will have to wait In typically controversial BMW style, the introduction of the X1 in 2009 caused a bit of a splash. Some hated it, others were more admiring but said a premium compact S...
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The latest from Porsche regarding the new Cayenne for Australia UPDATE: Turbo E-Hybrid added as most powerful Cayenne ever Added as the new Cayenne approaches its Australian release, the 2024 Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid becomes Porsche's most powerful large SUV ever. It’s also rather expensive at $288,400 in wagon form, and $297,200 in coupe trim (both before on-road costs). Under the bonnet is a V8-based plug-in hybrid powertrain developing 544kW and 950Nm. Keepin...
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Is this all things to all people - with a large budget? 9.0/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Arguably the ultimate all-round, all-weather family car Excellent dynamics on road and track Impressively comfortable and refined for a focused performance car Better to drive and more efficient than any fast SUV Not so much Approaching $200K on the road, before options… Amplified straight-six soundtrack mightn’t suit everyone ...
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These may be entry-level 4x4 utes but the least-expensive Amaroks don’t feel like base models vehicles Things we like Don’t feel like entry-level models Full list of safety features Performance of bi-turbo engine Not so much No rear cross traffic monitor on Core model High price for entry model Fiddly e-shifter on Life Volkswagen Australia has put the two base models of its 2023 Amarok range on sale, priced from $...
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This could surprise you.... 8.0/10Score Things we like Doesn’t feel like a base model car Bi-turbo engine performance Off-road ability Not so much High price for entry level model No TPMS No LED headlights While we’ve now driven plenty of new Ford Rangers since the launch a year ago, most of them have been higher specification Sport, Wildtrak and XLT variants. So when we spotted the steel wheel-clad Ranger XL in the...
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This large SUV proves Mazda’s on the way up! Things we like Thrusty, growling turbo-petrol straight-six Liberal use of tactile leather and suede Spacious and thoughtful cabin Confidence-inspiring steering feel Not so much Still no touchscreen Adaptive dampers not available Too little too late? We wish it was a low-slung station wagon There’s a grab bag of clichés I could trot out to describe what Mazda’s doing with ...
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The Ranger outsold the HiLux in January 2023. We compare the mid-range models. TOSSING UP BETWEEN THE RANGER AND HILUX UTES? KICK OFF THE DECISION WITH THIS 'ON PAPER' COMPARISON While the HiLux may seem a little long in the tooth compared with the new Ford Ranger and recently updated Isuzu D-Max, it remains in the fight as the three duke it out for top spot on the dual-cab sales ladder. Long in the tooth it may be, the HiLux remains a frontrunner and for goo...
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The RAV4 should see Nissan’s new E-Power hybrid as a valid competitor 8.5/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Quiet, EV-like drive Cosseting ride Practical storage solutions Rolling acceleration Not so much Weight up 250kg Expensive servicing On-paper efficiency The 2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power AWD has two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery under the front seats, a variable compression ratio turbo-petro...
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The Lexus SUV flagship aims for improved driving enjoyment and building on the qualities – and quality – for which it is renowned 8.0/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Step up in steering and dynamics 500h flagship swift and capable Hybrids’ economy/performance split Doubling down on progressive styling pays off Not so much CVT dulls 350h driver experience Ride niggles on non-adaptive suspension Hybrids make 350’s econ...
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Both of these SUV's seat seven people, and are priced around $60K Reading a comparison typically involves a host of rivals from the same class. In the Mitsubishi Outlander’s case, that’s mid-size SUVs; the Pajero Sport, large ute-based off-road wagons. Thing is, both the Pajero Sport and Outlander offer seating for seven, creature comforts and promise a certain amount of off-road capability. Ostensibly, either one would fit into your human-busy life,...
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The new Ranger is being talked up among ute drivers. Let's give it a go! 8.3/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Refinement and performance of the V6 engine Comfort on- and off-road All-wheel drive ability on-road Not so much Lack of ground clearance in stock form Could do with bigger tyres (name a 4x4 that doesn’t) Gear selector annoying to operate On paper, there is so much to like about the new-gener...
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This 2023 Ford Everest has a hard act to follow - let's see how it measures up 8.5/10Score Things we like Passenger comfort On-road dynamics Suspension soaks up bumps Not so much Tyre-pressure monitoring system only on Platinum spec Upgraded 4cyl not quite up to V6's refinement Ford Australia’s 2023 Everest wagon is now on sale and available in four model grades ...
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These types have evolved dramatically, and the demands from buyers have modified. We are a nation of dual-cab ute drivers. That's the inescapable conclusion from poring over Australia's new vehicle sales data. What's more, we are increasingly enamoured of a brawny ute. A decade ago, the Toyota HiLux was pipped by the Mazda 3 in the sales charts but it has been the country's most popular vehicle for the past six years. In 2021, the Isuzu D-Max...
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