Motorist

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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The 2023 Ford Ranger set to put the cat among the pigeons....again. UPDATE: Now we've driven them! The big moment is here. 4x4 editor Matt Raudonikis has now put the 2023 Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux through the wringer together. Let's see how they go... hit the link below! The story continues... It’s been a wild ride for fans of dual-cab utes in the past few weeks, with solid information from Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota coming in hot and fast. There’s ...
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Different philosophies. Which works best for you? Here’s a question: does anyone actually stage a pedal-to-the-metal 0-100km/h run? It’s a figure quoted all the time, and taken very seriously in certain circles. If you regard it as the hot-hatch holy grail, then here’s the spoiler: Audi claims a sprint time of 3.8sec for the RS3, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S can do the job in supposedly 3.9sec, while the BMW M240i is another four-tenths behind at 4.3sec. Half a second ...
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VW's performance Polo has lifted, but so has the price 8.3/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like about the Volkswagen Polo GTI Strong engine and transmission Terrific interior Stacked with tech Not so much Service costs Axle tramp in the wet Not as playful as the Fiesta ST It’s not a long bow to draw to suggest that on its arrival in Australia in 2003, the Volkswagen Polo GTI invigorated a niche that th...
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Mazda BT-50: Extended Off-Road Experience Lloyd spends more time exploring remote places in pursuit of the perfect wave than staring at bright city lights - he’s also an avid reader of 4X4 Australia - so he was the perfect choice to saddle up in a top-spec Thunder variant as part of our ‘50 Days with a BT-50’ series. The all-new series will give Lloyd the opportunity to steer a BT-50 for - you guessed it - 50 days, with his off-roading nous and exper...
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Out on the rough and tough stuff - which one for you .... Evan Spence pits Jeep's new-generation Grand Cherokee L against the proven and popular Y62 Nissan Patrol. It has been a long time coming, but Jeep has released the first seven-seat Grand Cherokee, dubbed the ‘L’. It’s not just a longer version of the previous Grand Cherokee, either; this has been redesigned from the ground up, with a long list of ingredients that on paper sound perfect for families wanting the lat...
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Talk about a hard act to follow. Here's what to expect from the new Ranger 8.7/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Silky 3.0 V6 and much improved 2.0-litre biturbo Bigger tray now carries a Euro pallet V6's slick all-wheel drive system Clever towing and off-road assist systems Not so much Styling may take some time to grow on us Some glitches with SYNC4A No petrol or manual versions New? Wasn't...
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   A Step up in More Ways than One The Europeans are in their sights. 8.5/10Score Things we like Quality interior Excellent economy Sheer punch Decent electric range Not so much Ride a little firm Pricing may take some getting used to Quite heavy Needs top Takumi trim to feel really special It doesn't look exceptional. Maybe that's the point, but if you'd never clapped eyes on a Mazd...
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A hybrid model tops the offerings Snapshot Ford's first electrified vehicle finally arrives in Australia Expands Escape's line-up to six variants Prices start at $53,440 before on-road costs UPDATE, May 20, 2022 Ford has confirmed the new Escape plug-in hybrid has arrived on Australian shores, going on sale across the country this month. The Escape PHEV is the first electrified model in Ford's local range, with four more set to join the line-up by 2025. Th...
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The Hybrid Sorento can be ordered with either 2WD or 4WD Snapshot 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid goes on sale in Australia Available in GT-Line guise only, with FWD or optional AWD Front-wheel drive priced from $66,750 before on-road costs, all-wheel-drive incurs $3000 premium UPDATE, April 29: Kia Sorento Hybrid now on sale from $66,750 The 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid is now on sale in Australia, more than a year since the electrified SUV was first intende...
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Is Toyota's top SUV not fancy enough? Lexus has the answer 7.4/10Score SCORE BREAKDOWN Things we like Powerful, silky turbo-petrol Great refinement Almost all the capability of a LandCruiser Not so much No five-seater base model No extra sub-tank on base diesel Sold out for the rest of the year If you’re the cynical type, you might be tempted to dismiss the 2022 Lexus LX as simply being a LandCruiser with a more p...
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Looks great, goes great, and fresh air abounds.... 8.0/10Score Things we like Versatility Ease of speed Confidence-inspiring xDrive Overall cohesion Not so much Very heavy Lazy throttle in Comfort Optional seats The new generation of BMW M3 and M4 represents a radical departure from their long line of esteemed predecessors. M Division’s latest spearhead, the G80-series, is all-new, based upon BMW’s versatile CLAR modula...
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On the face of it there isn’t much to link the Porsche 911 GT3 and Subaru BRZ. Price, power, speed – on all accounts the two are vastly different. However, look a little deeper and some similarities begin to appear. The Porsche is the ultimate evolution of the brand’s ultimate sports car. Honed and refined with decades of development. Over at Subaru, the BRZ hasn’t had the same lengthy time to grow into its bones, but this second-generation model has focused on, you gues...
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Enhancements to performance and practicality have not hurt the value equation. Things we like Amazing engine/transmission/final drive combination Sharp price Practically almost uncompromised Not so much Occasionally lazy transmission Some scratchy cabin plastic HUD is extra Like a spontaneous holiday romance, I’ve spent the six months since I drove the new 2022 Audi S3 in the UK wondering if it really wa...
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LX diesel 500d and petrol 600 on the horizon. Snapshot Lexus to sell diesel LX 500d and petrol LX 600 F Sport and Ultra Luxury variants to join the range First arrivals expected in April Pricing has been confirmed for the 2022 Lexus LX 500d and LX 600, with the range now starting at $148,800 for the former and $152,300 for the latter. The new for 2022 Lexus LX range will be one of the biggest yet when it arrives at the start of the se...
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Plug-in hybrid, driver engagement, and fuel economy. 2022 Lexus NX - Medium SUV Range Topping 450h+ Lexus isn't new to electrification, with hybrids making up about 40 per cent of its Australian business including 56 per cent of UX crossover sales, which now include the UX300e, the brand's first battery-electric vehicle (BEV). Now the Japanese luxury carmaker has entered the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market with the 2022 Lexus NX 450h+...
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Details announced. Snapshot Sportback models offer fresh styling for the Q5 and SQ5 models Prices start at $77,000, range up to $110,900 Deliveries to begin in August Audi Australia is preparing showrooms to take delivery of the new Q5 Sportback range ahead of its August arrival locally, joining the standard Q5 and SQ5 line-up. The Sportback is underpinned by the same platform as the existing Q5 but features a sharper, more aggressive...
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Passat R-Line presents a compelling package. Snapshot Passat R-Line wagon returns after two year hiatus 206kW/350Nm powerplant remains with all-wheel-drive Pricing starts at $63,790 Volkswagen's line of hot wagons continue to roll off its German production line and into Australian showrooms, with this month's offering coming in the form of the new Passat R-Line, featuring Golf R power with wagon space. Returning for the first time since the 2019 model ...
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More of the same enhances the offering Snapshot Local launch expected before the end of 2021 Pricing starts at $59,990 for 220i, $30k extra for M240i xDrive All Australian-delivered 2 Series Coupes will be fitted with BMW M Sport pack UPDATE, July 12: BMW Australia has confirmed pricing of the new 2 Series Coupé, expected to land locally towards the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022. The entry-level 220i will start at $59,900 w...
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The all-new MU-X for Australia Snapshot Heavily redesigned interior Factory offered rear diff lock Advanced safety features, as per the D-MAX It’s been a long time coming, but Australia is set to receive the new-generation Isuzu MU-X in the coming months. Considering the popularity of the current Isuzu D-MAX, it’s a no-brainer for Isuzu to bring in a more modern version of its seven-seat wagon based on the D-MAX platform. While we will still have to wait for ...
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