Two up: Ahead of its impending facelift, Wheels Media product manager Michael Fisher and analytics master Tim Kenington split custody of a hot Octavia wagon to give us their regular-bloke “I’m no journalist” take.

The car

2023 Skoda Octavia RS

Price

$58,490 drive-away

Pricing for the Skoda Octavia range starts at $42,490 drive-away for the Style 110TSI sedan, up to $58,490 drive-away for the range-topping RS 180TSI Wagon tested here.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Welcome
• Is the Octavia RS Wagon comfortable?
• What technology do I get with the Octavia RS?
• How is the Octavia RS Wagon on the road?
• What safety features does the Octavia have?
• What technology do I get with the Octavia RS?
• Does the Octavia have good fuel economy?
• How is the Octavia for parking?
• Does the Skoda Octavia suit a family?
• Specifications

From its dynamic road presence to its practicality for family needs, the Skoda Octavia RS Wagon looks like the definition of a ‘Dad Weekender’ – a car that blends safety, usability, and driving pleasure.

This top-of-the-range wagon, packing a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with a stout 180kW and 370Nm, promises a fun-filled week of balancing family schedules with spirited driving.

Is the 2023 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon comfortable?

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Absolutely. The designers of the Octavia RS seem to have taken comfort seriously.

Step inside and you’re greeted with seats that are both supportive during spirited drives and cushy enough for long hauls. Its cabin ambience strikes a balance between sporty and luxurious, with quality materials throughout and plenty of legroom for everyone.

Road noise? Barely there. The RS Wagon does a stellar job of insulating you from the tedium of travel.

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What technology do I get with the Octavia RS?

The Octavia RS comes with a bevy of technology aimed at making life easier and journeys more enjoyable.

Serving as a centrepiece is the sleek infotainment system that does a pretty seamless job of connecting wirelessly with your devices, surrounded by a constellation of tech treats, from the digital instrument cluster to ambient lighting.

There’s also a suite of connectivity features and the head-up display enables you to monitor key details such as speed and navigation directions while keeping your eyes on the road; it’s a great complement to the comprehensive information available through the excellent digital instrumentation.

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How is the Octavia RS Wagon on the road?

On the move, the Octavia RS Wagon strikes a fine balance between dynamic fun and everyday usability.

Precise handling and responsive steering give drivers the confidence to tackle twisty roads with gusto, yet the suspension is forgiving enough to absorb bumps and imperfections with aplomb.

The powertrain is a harmonious match of eager acceleration and effortless mid-range punch, culminating in a drive that’s as engaging on a spirited sprint as it is relaxing on a long cruise.

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What safety features does the Octavia have?

A suite of active and passive safety features works silently in the background, keeping an electronic eye on the road and ready to step in when needed.

The blind-spot monitoring lights are cleverly positioned on the inside of each side mirror and are quite large, providing at-a-glance alerts to the driver without being visible from outside the vehicle.

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Does the Octavia have good fuel economy?

Considering its performance credentials, the Octavia RS is surprisingly frugal, so your thrills at the wheel aren’t punished at the pump.

It has a couple of smart features such as idle-stop that help maximise every drop of fuel, making the RS both economical and exciting. The official combined highway and urban fuel-use figure is 6.8L/100km and we managed to get close to that claim with consumption of 7.2L/100km during our week with the car.

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How is the Octavia for parking?

Parking the Octavia RS is a breeze. Its parking assist tech really reduces the stress of squeezing into a tight spot.

The wagon’s reversing camera and sensors give you a clear view of the surroundings, and the steering input required for parallel or bay parking is calculated precisely, making it almost like playing a video game – simple and somewhat enjoyable.

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Does the Skoda Octavia suit a family?

The Skoda Octavia RS Wagon is a family car with an edge. It delivers the practicality needed for everyday family life – spacious boot, ample cabin space, and safety features in spades – while also satisfying those who haven’t forgotten the joy of driving.

Clever little touches can be found everywhere, such as a little light coming on when you open the mirror in the passenger side sun visor. The double-sided mat lining the boot floor means you’ll never need to worry about dirtying the carpet again – carry as much mess around as you like with the vinyl.

It’s a car that caters to the needs of a modern family that appreciates the finer aspects of motoring while keeping the realities of parental logistics front and centre.

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February 2024: Is a Lexus RZ F electric hero heading our way?

Following last year’s reveal of its RZ ‘Sport’ concept at the Monterey car show, Lexus may have just confirmed plans for a performance flagship.

Firstly, though, let’s stem any overly enthusiastic speculation: trademarking a model name is usually described by brands as a common step in protecting its rights to a badge, and not necessarily indicative of actual product plans.

Nonetheless, Lexus has made no secret of its plan to deliver compelling performance models in its future EV line-up.

That plan could kick off with the electric RZ SUV, but given it’s built on a 400V electrical architecture rather than 800V, it isn’t the most ideal candidate for a performance focus.

Context: The former head of Hyundai’s N division, Albert Biermann, has said a number of times that 400V is not suited to EVs that can’t run as efficiently or charge as quickly as those with an 800V system. That’s why the first electric N car is based on the 800V Ioniq 5, and Porsche’s Taycan is likewise an 800V design.

Lexus has confirmed it has an 800V system ready for future models, although it will reportedly keep it exclusively for models with battery packs larger than 100kWh. [↗]

We could, however, see a sporty-enough model come out of Lexus’s new F Performance tier, recently introduced between the F Sport and full F grades.

Beyond that, buyers can likely expect ‘proper’ F models to feature in the anticipated production versions of last year’s LF-ZC and LF-ZL concepts.

When it comes to performance in the Lexus range, that badge often comes with a few asterisks to caveat its plans, intentions and capabilities. So, watch for more on future F*** models to come in the months – or years – ahead.

August 2023: Lexus RZ ‘Sport’ concept bound for Monterey show

Later this week, Lexus will debut a racey new show car dubbed the RZ Sport Concept, based on the newly launched RZ electric SUV.

It appears to be a style-first concept, however, with the existing RZ 450e’s standard 150kW motors on board (one at each axle), and no word of any performance enhancing plugs from the engineering team.

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That more-or-less puts paid to the notion that this concept might hint at a more rapid RZ F hero model, although the company has said it’s planning more ‘F Sport Performance’ variants.

Think of those as the sub-halo BMW M Performance models of the Lexus world. There’s already an RX F Sport Performance model, but it’s not yet clear if we can expect similar enhancements for the electric RZ.

Are you into the RZ Sport Concept, or is it a bit on the ‘boy racer’ side..?

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The Renault Trafic has consistently been a go-to choice for businesses in need of a dependable, efficient, and flexible commercial van.

With its 2024 Long Wheel Base (LWB) Pro model, Renault continues to enhance its reputation, incorporating an updated design and improved safety features in the latest update.

Aimed at fulfilling the varied demands of contemporary professionals, the Trafic LWB Pro offers a blend of extra utility and performance in a neatly packaged design.

However, the question remains: How does it compare to the established contenders within the commercial van market?

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Pricing and features

The Long Wheel Base (LWB) Premium is the top-tier variant of the commercial Trafic range, besides from the Crew versions with additional rear seats which top the line-up.

It is priced at $56,000 before-on road costs, and $2000 lower than its shorter counterpart.

All versions of the Trafic share the same economical 2.0-litre diesel engine outputting 125kW and a torquey 380Nm. On a combined cycle, automatic variants have a claimed fuel economy of 6.5L/100km.

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The exterior of the Trafic LWB Pro merges practicality with a contemporary aesthetic, with its Long Wheel Base design enabling the transport of larger volumes, perfectly suited for bustling urban areas and packed worksites.

Inside, the entire Trafic range comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch display for the driver, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Premium variant adds tyre pressure monitoring, adaptive cruise control, front and side parking sensors, front fog lights, smart key card with keyless entry, electric heated & foldable door mirrors, premium upholstery, glazed side door glass

Highlighting its cargo capacity, the Long Wheel Base (LWB) model offers an impressive load length of up to 4.15 meters, thanks to a load-through hatch situated in the passenger seat’s footwell.

The LWB model provides a substantial cargo volume of 6.7 cubic meters and supports a maximum payload of up to 1243 kilograms. It is equipped with a whopping 16 anchorage points for secure transport of a wide array of freight.

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Safety

The Renault Trafic has not been evaluated by ANCAP, the independent crash testing organisation in Australia. Nevertheless, it is built on the same platform as a model that was awarded three stars by Euro NCAP, the European safety assessment authority.

The vehicle comes standard with safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and airbags for both driver and passenger.

The Premium variant, enhances safety with the inclusion of adaptive cruise control, sensors for parking at both the front and rear, blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition.

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Warranty is a standard five years/200,000lm warranty across the board.

Key rivals

The Renault Trafic LWB Pro faces competition from:

• Toyota HiAce
• Volkswagen Transporter
• Ford Transit
• Renault Master

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

Businesses and professionals seeking a commercial vehicle that is both compact and proficient will find the 2024 Renault Trafic LWB Premium an attractive choice.

Despite being more expensive than its rivals, the Trafic excels in addressing the challenges of urban logistics and more. Available in either manual or automatic transmission, the Trafic LWB Premium is equipped to fulfil your business requirements with dependability and a bit of flair.

February: LDV eDeliver 7 driven

We’ve now driven LDV’s new electric van. Is it worth your attention? To get our assessment, hit the featured story link below.

January: eDeliver 7 pricing announced

The electric LDV eDeliver 7 is now available in Australia with short-wheelbase low-roof, medium-wheelbase low-roof, and medium-wheelbase high-roof forms.

Known as the Maxus V70 in its home market of China, the eDeliver 7 arrives as LDV’s second electric work vehicle, joining the larger eDeliver 9 that launched in late 2022.

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Pricing

ABN-holder pricing for the eDeliver 7 starts at $59,990 for the 77kWh SWB low-roof model and goes up to $66,990 for the 88kWh LWB high roof model.

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Power, battery and range

Available in four variants, the eDeliver 7 comes with either a 77kWh or an 88kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a range of up to 362km (WLTP).

All models are front-wheel drive with 150kW of power and 330Nm of torque.

The four variants vary in size, with the smallest in the form of the short-wheelbase low-roof version and the largest being the long-wheelbase high-roof variant.

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Charging times for the batteries are around 8-9.3 hours on AC power, with DC rapid charging taking approximately 43 minutes.

The eDeliver 7 boasts a load volume ranging from 5.9m³ to 8.7m³, depending on the model, and a payload capacity between 1175kg to 1350kg.

The basics

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Safety & features

Highlights for the eDeliver 7 include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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Warranty

LDV sells the eDeliver 7 with a five-year / 160,000km vehicle warranty and an 8-year / 250,000km battery warranty, along with a five-year / unlimited-kilometres roadside assistance program.

Full specifications

Petrol versions of the Ford Puma compact crossover will be axed in Australia from mid-2024.

Ford Australia has chosen to import only the all-electric version of the newly unveiled facelifted model, which is due in local showrooms in late 2024 or early 2025.

The move will leave the Ranger-based Everest as the only combustion SUV available from local Ford showrooms, with the company also phasing out the Escape midsize SUV in 2023.

The electric Puma, which will be called the ‘Puma Gen-E’, will join the larger Mustang Mach-E as another electric SUV offering.

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The Gen-E wasn’t included in Ford’s reveal of the facelifted Puma in Europe today.

The Puma is hugely popular in Europe and was the best-selling vehicle in the UK last year, yet the crossover based on the Fiesta city car has curiously struggled in Australia – as with many well-praised European-sourced Fords.

Puma sales in Australia peaked at 3218 units in 2021, its first full year in showrooms, which wasn’t sufficient to get the high-riding hatchback into the Top 15 best-selling small SUVs list.

Ford Australia shifted 2408 Pumas in 2022 before sales dropped again, to 2027, last year.

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All Puma models sold locally were powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, with mild-hybrid variants and an ST performance version available elsewhere but excluded for this market.

Widely regarded as one of the best models in its class, the mid-range Puma ST-Line was awarded Wheels Best Small SUV Under $35,000 in 2023.

Ford Australia said its strategy going forward was to focus on its utes, vans, performance models, and increasing range of EVs, including “a renewed emphasis on vehicles that help customers do the things they love”.

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“We have not taken this decision lightly and thank the many loyal customers who have chosen Puma over the years,” said Ford Australia CEO Andrew Birkic.

The company says current Puma customer orders will be fulfilled, with final deliveries due in May.

Ford Australia has yet to confirm when the electric Puma Gen-E will arrive.

The Renault Trafic has long been a staple for businesses requiring a reliable, efficient and versatile commercial van.

The 2024 Short Wheel Base (SWB) Pro variant, available in both manual and automatic transmissions, builds on this legacy with an update last year that brought in a fresh look and additional safety technology.

Designed to meet the diverse needs of modern professionals, the Trafic SWB Pro combines practicality with performance in a compact package.

But how does it fare against the solidified competition in the commercial van sector?

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Pricing and features

The Trafic line-up starts from $49,000 (before on-road costs) for the manual version of the Short Wheel Base Pro option. An extra $2000 moves you into a Long Wheel Base version of the entry-level variant.

Next in line are the Premium grades which add more specification, followed by Crew versions that add three rear seats to the van.

All versions of the Trafic share the same economical 2.0-litre diesel engine outputting 125kW and a torquey 380Nm. On a combined cycle, automatic variants have a claimed fuel economy of 6.5L/100km.

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Its exterior design is both functional and modern, with the SWB configuration making it a perfect fit for tight city streets and crowded job sites.

The interior of the Trafic SWB Pro is designed with the driver in mind, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch driver cluster display, Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Featuring a leading load length of up to 4.15 meters via a load-through bulkhead hatch located in the passenger seat footwell of the Long Wheel Base (LWB) model, and 3.35 meters in the Short Wheel Base (SWB) versions, this vehicle stands out for its capacity.

The SWB offers a total load space of 5.8 cubic meters, supporting a maximum payload of up to 1279 kilograms for the MT variant, which can be secured with the 10 tie-down points to accommodate various types of freight securely.

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Safety

The Renault Trafic is currently not rated by ANCAP, Australia’s independent crash test authority. However the current model shares the same platform which received three stars when assessed by Europe’s safety authority– Euro NCAP.

Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and driver and passenger airbags.

The next variant in the range – Premium – adds adaptive cruise control, front and side parking sensors, blind spot monitors and traffic sign recognition.

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Key rivals

The Renault Trafic SWB Pro faces competition from:

• Toyota HiAce
• Volkswagen Transporter
• Ford Transit
• Renault Master

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

For businesses and professionals in search of a compact yet capable commercial vehicle, the 2024 Renault Trafic SWB Pro presents a compelling option.

Although pricier than competitors, the Trafic is well-suited to meet the demands of urban logistics and beyond. Whether in manual or automatic transmission, the Trafic SWB Pro is ready to support your business needs with reliability and style.

The facelifted 2024 Porsche Taycan electric car has debuted ahead of its Australian launch around June or July.

Prices for the updated model have increased between $7800 and $15,100, with the Taycan now priced between $175,100 and $374,200 before on-road costs.

Porsche claims revisions to the Taycan have improved it in “almost every discipline” with more power, faster charge rates, added battery capacity, and increased driving range.

More than 150,000 examples of the Porsche Taycan electric car have been built in Stuttgart, Germany since it launched in late 2019.

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Every updated Taycan variant is more powerful than before, with the entry-level Taycan sedan up 60kW to 300kW with a 4.8-second 0-100km/h sprint time – a 0.6sec improvement.

At the other end, the flagship Taycan Turbo S is up 140kW with launch control (now 700kW), allowing for a 0-100km/h sprint in 2.4 seconds – a 0.4s improvement – bringing it closer to the 2.1-second Tesla Model S Plaid.

Recent testing of a pre-series Taycan Turbo S at the Nürburgring saw a record lap time of 7:07.55 minutes for an EV, which is 26 seconds faster than the last time of 7:33 set by the previous Taycan Turbo S with performance package in 2022. The Model S Plaid lapped the Nordschleife in 7:30.909 in 2021, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

A new ‘push-to-pass’ function is included in the Sport Chrono package which can provide a 70kW boost, depending on the variant, for up to 10 seconds.

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According to Porsche, more than 3.6 million kilometres of testing has been conducted worldwide for the updated Taycan.

Under the skin, the Taycan is fitted with new rear-axle motor with up to 80kW more power, a modified pulse inverter with optimised software, more-powerful batteries, revised thermal management, and a new heat pump.

All Taycans can now fast charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes at 15 degrees Celsius, thanks to a 50kW faster rate (now 320kW) on an 800-volt charger. Porsche claims this would take 37 minutes under the same conditions in the pre-update Taycan.

It also has an expanded fast-charging window, with 300kW able to be sustained for up to five minutes and “very high charging” being possible more quickly, even at low temperatures.

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The maximum energy recuperation during high-speed deceleration has increased by more than 30 per cent from 290kW to “up to” 400kW.

Taycan variants fitted with the ‘performance battery plus’ have a larger 105kW gross capacity, up from 93kWh – but the updated battery weighs less than the previous model despite the added capacity.

Porsche says it has shaved up to 15 kilograms from all Taycan models.

The rear-wheel-drive Taycan with the ‘performance battery plus’ has a WLTP-rated driving range of 678 kilometres – up 175km – which is more than a Polestar 2, Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model 3.

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Active ride suspension with single-chamber air springs, first introduced in the latest Panamera, is available as an option for all-wheel drive Taycan variants.

It aims to improve comfort and dynamics, and keep the Taycan level “at all times” during dynamic braking, steering and acceleration manoeuvres, absorb bumps “almost completely”, and compensate for pitching and rolling motions to reduce acceleration forces for occupants.

Design revisions include flatter headlights, revised tail-lights, an illuminated rear Porsche logo, and a cleaner front bumper with the vents below the headlights moved lower.

High-resolution matrix headlights with more detailed optics are now standard on the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S.

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All models have new aerodynamically-optimised wheels and reduced-rolling-resistance tyres.

Inside, the latest Taycan features an updated infotainment system first seen in the updated Panamera and Cayenne, which includes deeper integration of Apple CarPlay into the vehicle and the ability to stream videos.

There’s also a new control lever on the left behind the steering wheel to control the driver assistance systems and a steering wheel-mounted drive mode selector for all variants.

Additional standard equipment for the updated Taycan includes adaptive air suspension, interior ambient lighting, an intelligent range monitor, a heat pump with a new cooling system, a wireless phone charge, dual electric charge ports on either side of the vehicle, and aluminium door sill protectors.

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Availability

The updated 2024 Porsche Taycan is due in Australian showrooms mid-year.

The Taycan GTS has been dropped from the launch line-up but will likely be re-introduced later, while the rear-drive Sport Turismo wagon remains off-limits for Australia.

Electric rivals to the Porsche Taycan include its Audi E-Tron GT twin-under-the-skin, the Mercedes-AMG EQE, the BMW i5 M60, and the not-for-Australia Tesla Model S and Lucid Air.

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2024 Porsche Taycan pricing

BMW’s gone and revealed an electric wagon – and it’s coming to Australia.

There are days when it is hard, as a journalist, to keep personal interest out of the reporting. This is one of those days, because the world needs more wagons and this writer, frankly, can’t get enough of them.

Unveiled today alongside the regular petrol 5 Series Touring that won’t come to Australia (officially a “not at this stage” proposition), the new i5 Touring electric wagon is set for a third-quarter Australian launch.

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Buyers will be asked for $219,900 to slip into an i5 wagon, launching exclusively in flagship M60 xDrive form.

That makes it markedly more expensive than the $155,900 i5 eDrive40 sedan, but it’s also a lot more powerful: 442kW/820Nm in the wagon plays 250kW/430Nm in the sedan. The M60’s big numbers are courtesy of a dual-motor setup, giving it the all-paw status hinted at by its xDrive name. Of course, the sedan can also be had in M60 form, which will bring you much closer to the wagon at $215,900 before on-road costs.

2024/5 BMW 5 Series pricing

2024/5 BMW 5 Series specs

The Basics

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Energy in the i5 Touring is provided by an 84kWh battery pack (81.2kWh usable), and BMW says it’ll power to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

Driving range is listed at “up to” 506 kilometres on the WLTP test, although that will fall considerably if you test that 0-100km/h claim a few too many times.

On the plus side, its high-voltage design will allow the i5 Touring to charge at up to 205kW on an ultra-fast DC charger, which should see it go from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes.

Buyers of the i5 Touring also benefit from a complimentary five-year subscription to the Chargefox network.

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Like the sedan, the new 5 Series touring wagon – and thus the i5 Touring as well – is bigger in every dimension than its predecessor, moving into the space left behind by the titanic new 7 Series limousine.

At 5060mm long, 1900mm wide and 1515mm tall, the new 5er wagon is 97mm longer, 32mm wider and 17mm taller than its predecessor.

It also rides on a 20mm-longer wheelbase, at 2995mm – just about matching the Hyundai Ioniq 5, lauded for the exceptional interior space provided by its stretched wheelbase.

In the i5 Touring, that should result in acres of rear legroom, and BMW also promises 570 litres of rear storage with the second row’s seats upright, growing to 1700 litres with those pews flipped down.

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In the front row, the i5 Touring features a 12.3-inch driver display and a 14.9-inch main screen, which means BMW is still resisting the wild full-dash display setups that have started to appear in Mercedes, Porsche and (overseas) Ford models, among others.

The new Google-enhanced iDrive 8.5 operating system brings a fresh look with new QuickSelect features, integrating with the also-standard heads-up display, digital instrument cluster and gesture control.

The high asking price is damped somewhat by the i5 Touring M60 xDrive’s standard equipment list, which also includes such luxuries as BMW Individual Merino leather trim, available in three contrast colourways. There’s also Swarovski-made ‘BMW Crafted Clarity Glass’ on the iDrive controller dial, start/stop button, volume roller and gear selector.

More ‘conventional’ features include a panoramic sunroof and 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound.

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When will the BMW i5 Touring be available in Australia?

Your BMW dealer will likely take an i5 Touring order right now, but deliveries will begin in the third quarter of 2024.

If you want a very small car with a relatively small price, the Kia Picanto is just about the only worthwhile model you should look at.

Sadly, the pared-back 2024 range sees the best version – the GT – axed, but at least the two remaining variants have their own positives.

JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing and features
• Safety
• On the road
• Key rivals
• Should I put it on my shortlist?
• Specifications

Pricing and features

The updated Kia Picanto line-up sees revised naming for the base model Sport (previously S), while the GT-Line is now the top bopper.

Sport grade is 10 per cent dearer than the S was, with pricing from $17,890 plus on-road costs for the five-speed manual and $19,490 plus on-roads for the four-speed auto.

The Picanto Sport makes do with auto halogen headlights (although they do have auto high beam), halogen daytime running lights, halogen tail lights and 14-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there’s cloth upholstery, fake leather trim for the steering wheel and gear shifter, and the carryover 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (respectively wired and wireless), plus there’s a USB-A and USB-C port, new digital instrumentation for the driver with a 4.2-inch trip display, and manual seat adjustment.

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It may not look much fresher inside but the new digital clock-style instrumentation makes a big difference for at-a-glance speed adjustments. Shame the steering wheel adjustment remains tilt only.

The GT-Line steps up by $1950 across manual ($19,690 plus on-roads) and auto ($21,290 plus on-roads) options but the extra spend nets you a heap more gear, including LED headlights, LED daytime running lights (including front light bar), LED tail-lights (but halogen indicators), and you get 16-inch alloy wheels to go with the sporty GT-Line exterior trim.

Inside, the GT-Line adopts synthetic leather upholstery, a different steering wheel, and extra driver’s seat adjustability (six-way manual). Rear-seat occupants get a USB-C charge port, too.

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Honestly, the better lighting, the smarter exterior look and nicer interior trim should be enough to get you to sacrifice an extra takeaway almond latte or two if you’re financing the car. It’d be a worthwhile reallocation of funds.

A big selling point if you’re maybe cross-shopping a Picanto against a small used car is the ownership program.

Kia backs its range with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with up to eight years of roadside assistance, plus seven years of capped-price servicing, with intervals set every 12 months or 15,000km.

Capped-price service pricing for the 2024 Kia Picanto has not yet been published but for reference, intervals for the 2023 version cost between $285 and $511. They average out at a fairly pricey $407 per service, meaning a total of $2850 for all seven in the capped plan.

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Safety

There’s no current applicable ANCAP rating for the Picanto, despite the fact it recently wore a four-star score which expired in December 2023.

Even so, Kia has added a few new items to the mix on top of the existing AEB, including a lane-keep assist function, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

It still has regular cruise control rather than adaptive, and while there’s a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, no grade has front sensors. Airbags? Six; dual front, front side and full-length curtain.

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On the road

What a shame the excellent little engine from the GT is gone, because what’s left to carry the mantle for the Picanto is not the greatest little powerplant.

My time was spent in the GT-Line manual model, and look, the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol is adequate but never goes beyond that. It offers the level of zippiness at lower speeds you’d expect from a little car like this, but you’ll need to rev it to get the best out of it.

If you do rev it hard, it offers some reward. But there’s no denying that this is an engine better suited to low-speed commutes than it is for the Sunday cruise.

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The five-speed manual feels a ratio short, especially at freeway pace where it sits at 3200rpm doing 110km/h in fifth. And the shift action is long, making it feel a bit more old-school than other manuals that remain on the market.

Its throw is light, though, and the clutch is very manageable in terms of weighting – just be aware that anyone with bigger feet (I’ve got size 12s) may find their toes getting a bit tangled up under the dashboard when shifting.

With the 16-inch rims wrapped in Nexen rubber, this little car handles itself pretty well. The GT-Line doesn’t get any changes to suspension or steering calibration, but it still offers those who like to do more than just commute the opportunity to have some fun in the twisties, even if those twisties are just intersections and roundabouts.

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The ride doesn’t suffer too much from the bigger GT-Line wheel package but you can certainly feel the surface being transmitted to the cabin.

It’s not a plush ride, the GT-Line, but it is comfortable and, despite the fact this car has a tiny 2400mm wheelbase it doesn’t get too pitchy over bumps. You get a well-controlled and cosy-enough experience in the city, and it is quite nicely settled at highway pace.

The steering offers a direct and natural feel, and perhaps more importantly, it’s easy to park; despite the fact no model has front parking sensors, it’s a tiny thing so is pretty simple to pilot into a spot, either nose-first or by reverse-parallel.

Road noise is the biggest consideration you might need to keep in mind with this car. If you do a lot of commuting at higher speed, especially on coarse-chip roads, you might find it to be hard work.

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Key rivals

You could put an MG3 on the list, and it’s a bit bigger. But it’s not as refined and has no active safety tech. It is cheaper, though (from $19,990 drive-away).

Otherwise, a Suzuki Ignis (from $22,490 drive-away) could be an interesting option, or the classic but ageing Fiat 500 petrol model (from $27,220 before on-road costs) if you just need something small. Neither of those has active safety tech, either.

Mazda 2, then? It starts at $22,720 plus on-road costs for the Pure hatch with a manual gearbox.

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

If your shortlist is based on “brand-new, small, cheap, long warranty and advanced safety tech”, then yes.

The Picanto is the only remaining choice at the very bottom of the price spectrum.

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The Australian new car market has posted its best-ever start to a year, but industry officials have expressed concerns for future months due to current economic conditions.

According to official new-car sales results from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), 89,782 vehicles were registered in January 2024 – beating the previous record of 88,551 cars set in 2018.

However, the automotive industry has warned that the new-car market is unlikely to beat the record set in 2023 when 1.2 million vehicles were sold, with Toyota predicting around 1.05 to 1.1 million overall sales for 2024.

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the record-breaking start to 2024 was due to existing demand for new vehicles in 2023 that has “continued into 2024 with many businesses and families taking ownership of a new vehicle” in the new year.

Top-selling brand Toyota sold 17,903 vehicles in January – a record start to a year for the Japanese marque – followed by Mazda (8165), Ford (6624), Hyundai (6162) and Mitsubishi (5911)

Australia’s new favourite vehicle, the Ford Ranger ute, remains in first place with 4747 units, followed by the Toyota HiLux (4092) in second place.

In 2023, 63,356 examples of the Ford Ranger were sold in Australia, compared to 61,111 Toyota HiLuxes. The Toyota HiLux was Australia’s top-selling vehicle between 2016 and 2022.

New South Wales registered the most vehicles in January with 26,791 sales, ahead of Victoria and Queensland with 23,770 and 19,786 sales, respectively.

Western Australia (9911), South Australia (5999), Tasmania (1493), the ACT (1290), and the Northern Territory (742) followed.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said Australia’s preference for larger SUVs and utes showcases the challenges facing the Commonwealth Government’s plan to introduce a New Vehicle Emissions Standard from January 1, 2025.

“Industry wants an emissions standard that is ambitious without limiting the choice and increasing the cost of the vehicles Australians need and want,” said Weber.

Battery-electric cars represented 5.4% of the market in January, while all ‘low-emission’ vehicles – including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric – accounted for 17.4%.

Tesla faced a 67% drop in sales – from 3313 in January 2023 to 1107 in January 2024 – with a two-week delivery pause for the facelifted Model 3 due to an ADR compliance issue and a delayed shipload of Model Ys due to stink bug contamination with deliveries pushed back into February.

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China’s BYD was Australia’s top-selling electric vehicle brand for the first time in January, with 1310 sales.

“Even with the current incentives offered by the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, sales of battery electric vehicles appear to have plateaued during recent months,” added Weber.

“For more than a year the industry has been sharing information with the Government about what is happening in the suburbs and regions around the country and the preferences and challenges facing families and businesses.

“Good policy must reflect reality rather than a desktop exercise that makes assumptions about what the world can look like, and we strongly urge the Government to share its modelling with us.”

JUMP AHEAD

• Top 10 models
• Top 10 brands
• Sales by segment
• Sales by fuel type
• Sales by country of origin
• Sales in charts

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? Australia’s top 10 cars for January 2024

Ups and downs ⬆️ + ⬇️

The neck-and-neck race between the Ranger and HiLux continues in 2024, with a 700-car lead for the Ford in January as it looks to again become Australia’s top-selling car.

In first place, the Ford Ranger recorded 4747 sales – down two units from January 2023 – with the Toyota HiLux following in second place with 4092 sales, down 1% from last year.

The Isuzu D-Max took third with 2541 sales, followed by the Toyota RAV4 in fourth place (2211).

The Mitsubishi Outlander placed fifth (2077), followed by the MG ZS (1888), Toyota Corolla (1843), and Toyota LandCruiser Prado (1746)

The Hyundai i30 (1727) placed ninth, while the Mazda CX-5 took 10th place (1720).

In tables: Top 10 cars in January

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? Australia’s top 10 car brands for January 2024

Ups and downs ? + ?

Toyota recorded 17,903 sales (▲ from 13,363 in January 2023).

This is a new January record for the brand, surpassing 2008 when it sold 17,852 vehicles.

Toyota represented 20% of the new-car market for the month.

Mazda finished second with 8165 sales (▼ from 9407), while Ford placed third with 6624 sales (identical to January 2023).

Hyundai, in fourth, recorded 6162 sales in January (▲from 5809), while Mitsubishi placed fifth with 5911 sales (▲ from 5276).

Kia followed in sixth with 5707 sales (▼ from 6006), while MG placed seventh with 4006 sales (▼ from 4015) and Isuzu Ute, in eighth, recorded 3758 sales (▲ from 2671)

GWM-Haval placed ninth with 3124 sales (▲ from 2503), and Subaru, in tenth, sold 3068 vehicles (▼ from 3601).

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In charts ?

January 2024 – Top 20 models

January 2024 – Top 10 brands

January 2024 – Overall segment sales

January 2024 – Category sales

January 2024 – Sales map

January 2024 – Buyer type

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