Car Reviews

This week’s Wheels – Mazda 6 Diesel Sports hatch

The 6 fills a Japanese-branded gap in the diesel passenger market.

May 4, 2009

LAUNCHED: Lexus RX350

RX returns to refine the luxo SUV formula it defined.

May 1, 2009

Second sight – Honda Insight

Gen-two of Honda’s hybrid won’t lure buyers with its driving dynamics, but a $30K price tag and low running costs might have the pull to convert Prius zealots.

April 30, 2009

LAUNCHED: Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Gasp! A Porsche oiler? Relax, it’s actually quite okay.

April 29, 2009

Poles apart – BMW X6M X5M

The latest additions to BMW’s legendary M division forego big revs for serious slugs of turbocharged torque. Our pre-production drive in northern Sweden suggests they’re both seductive and questionable…

April 28, 2009

Catapult – Jaguar XFR

A new supercharged 5.0-litre V8 slingshots Jaguar’s XFR to the pointy end of the Euro sports sedan line-up.

April 28, 2009

2009 Audi R8 V10 Review

Audi’s R8 already shares DNA with Lambo’s Gallardo, and now they’ve added the baby bull’s V10 heart. Porsche’s 911 Turbo should be scared, very scared…

April 24, 2009

Axles of evil – M3 v C63 AMG v IS F

There’s a new threat to the world order of compact sports sedans – a made-in-Japan missile with M Division and AMG in its sights…

April 23, 2009

2009 Volkswagen Golf VI review

Round six, and both performance and economy are above par.

Skoda Roomster Long Termer – December 2008

Of diesel sipped and armchairs swallowed.

Mercedes C200K Estate Long Termer – November 2008

Magic wand makes life cruisy.

Mercedes C200K Estate Long Termer – October 2008

Kiddie conveyance a cargo challenge.

Mercedes-Benz C200K Estate Long Termer – September 2008

Fully loaded in more ways than one.

2008 Ford Focus RS review

A turbo Ford Focus?

Opel Corsa OPC

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but probably not for the Holden faithful. Even the dumb kid in class could’ve predicted that re-tuning and re-branding cheap, crappy Daewoos was a stupid idea. Replacing a soundly-engineered car (the XC Barina) with a blatantly inferior product (the current heap parading under the same name) was a brave move – especially when the logical follow-up, Opel’s Mk4 Corsa, is such a quality effort.

VW Golf 118 TSI

Don’t be misled by VW’s confusing name strategy: there is a GT model hiding in the new Golf Mk VI.

Nissan R35 GT-R Spec-V review

The dark horse…

Mazda MX-5 Review

With 20 years of production creeping dangerously close to one million units (855,000 at last count), and a claimed 178 awards under its belt, the world’s best-selling open-top two-seater has plenty of reasons to smile. But the facelifted third-genner cracks a Botox grin like it’s rocked in the door at 6am after a night of dance-party tomfoolery. Or woken up and found Jennifer Hawkins cooking it breakfast. Or perhaps both.

Lambo LP650-4

If the SV is the Murcielago’s final fling as a coupe, will this garish limited-edition special be its farewell as a roadster? Inside word is: don’t bet on it, because the big Murchey still has two years to run.