Tony O'Kane

Contributor

The first book Tony ever read cover-to-cover was the maintenance manual for a Volkswagen Beetle, and he’s been reading and writing about cars ever since.

A journalist by training but a car freak by nature, Tony is fascinated by the technology behind automobiles – whether it’s archaic side valve engines or hydrogen fuel cells. His product knowledge and road-testing expertise have been helping Australian new-car consumers buy smarter for more than a decade.

News

Could car prices be about to come down?

The world’s automakers may be on the cusp of reversing the upwards march of their prices - if these economic stars manage to align, that is.

Advice

Best environmentally-friendly cars in 2023

Australia still lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to electron-powered vehicles but eco-minded Aussies do have options

News

Move over microchips: A lack of ships is the new supply-chain crunch

The car industry can’t catch a break! As semiconductor pressure eases, it’s now a shipping shortage that’s crimping new-car supply.

Reviews

2023 Mazda CX-90 review: Australian debut

Mazda’s new flagship is a massive rig with a mega price, but it stops short of delivering true excellence

News

Mazda says Australian EV adoption is headed for a slowdown

Mazda’s local chief expects EVs won’t achieve dominance before the end of this decade – at the earliest

Best Small SUVs

Best Small SUV Under $45K

Looking for an SUV that offers plenty of features, for less than $45,000? We run the rule over eight contenders, including new-generation versions of the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Qashqai, and Subaru Crosstrek (formerly XV)

Best Small SUVs

Best Family Small SUV: Hyundai Kona Premium

Some small SUVs these days are plenty big enough, practical enough, and safe enough for a family. Find out which is the best family small SUV between the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross.

Best Small SUVs

Best Hybrid Small SUV: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

If slashing your fuel bill is an imperative for your next SUV, you’ve arrived at the right place

News

A hot Mazda CX-60 MPS is possible… at a price

Mazda concedes that a juiced-up plug-in hybrid version of its six-cylinder CX-60 is technically feasible, but it’s not convinced it’ll find a worthwhile audience.

News

Mazda says it's now a premium brand, but it isn't giving up on 'cheaper' segments

Mazda might be hunting down the Germans with its shiny new CX-60 and impending CX-90, but it’s not ignoring the everyman.

Reviews

2023 Mazda CX-60 review: Australian launch

It’s a Mazda unlike any other, but is the CX-60 worthy of the brand's ambitious upmarket foray?

Reviews

2023 Hyundai Kona review: N-Line Premium 1.6T

There's plenty to like about the top-spec version of Hyundai's latest Kona… but it comes at a price

Reviews

2023 Hyundai Kona Premium 2.0L review

Hint: you don’t need a fancy engine to enjoy the Kona’s best features

News

2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid confirmed for Australia

Hyundai will finally have a mid-size SUV that can fight the Toyota RAV4 on even terms

News

Hyundai won’t compete with bargain Chinese EVs

Not only will Hyundai’s incoming Kona EV not rival Chinese electrics on price, the brand isn’t keen on a race to the bottom with its future battery-electric vehicles.

Advice

What are the best baby-friendly cars?

Regardless of budget or size, here are the best cars you should be looking for if you’re expecting or have a young family

Comparisons

2023 Nissan X-Trail vs Mitsubishi Outlander comparison

‘SYNERGY’ is a terrible buzzword, overused and often misused. In a manufacturing sense, though, it’s something carmakers strive for.

Reviews

2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i-S review

Subaru’s quiet achiever is still a segment fave for many good reasons

Reviews

2023 Mitsubishi eK X electric review: Is this the EV Mitsubishi needs in Australia?

Is the time ripe for Mitsubishi to have another crack at an all-electric microcar in Australia?

driving in sandals
Advice

What sort of shoes should I wear while driving?

Many say that driving in heels, thongs or barefoot is no challenge for them, but are they right?

Advice

How bad is electric car depreciation?

Should depreciation really be one of your biggest worries as an electric car buyer?

News

Exclusive: Mitsubishi’s Outlander Ralliart will be an all-terrain monster

Mitsubishi’s Ralliart resurrection will result in an all-conquering, “Almighty” performance SUV with all-terrrain grip, air suspension, and triple-motor electric drive.

Reviews

2023 Nissan X-Trail e-Power review

Nissan’s ePower tech is supposedly the missing link between regular hybrids and electric cars, but is a half measure good enough?

2019 Mazda CX-3
Advice

Best cars for your teenager

So your offspring has entered a new stage in life – these first-car choices should help reduce some of that inevitable parental anxiety