Coupes under $50k

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Whether you’re just starting to drive or heading into a mid-life crisis, coupes appeal to all of us. Luckily, these days you don’t need to spend big money to enjoy the thrills of the swept-back driving experience.

While you are able to buy a Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 for less than $40,000, choices start to expand once you’re shopping under the $50,000 so let’s start there.

Toyota 86

It is getting a little long in the tooth, but the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ combo still offers sports car thrills for an affordable price. Available in manual or automatic with a choice of specification levels, the Toyota 86 has stood the test of time despite external pressure to fill it with extra power.

Mazda MX-5

Mazda MX-5

With the nameplate just celebrating its 30th birthday, there’s small wonder why so many flock to the Mazda MX-5 for an engaging top-down drive. Even if you’re more of a hard-top fan, Mazda now offers the RF version which includes a folding metal roof.

Hyundai i30 Fastback N

A relatively new player to the coupe game, Hyundai’s i30 N was transformed into a four-door coupe following the success of the hatchback. Sleeker styling marries with everything that made Hyundai’s first true hot hatch great

Volvo S60 Polestar
Reviews

First drive: Volvo S60 Polestar

Swedish tuning aces turn a Volvo into a driver’s car

Toyota Kluger
Reviews

First drive: Toyota Kluger

Top-selling seven-seater SUV sharpens up in every respect

Porsche 911 Turbo
Reviews

First drive: Porsche 911 Turbo

Through six generations, the Porsche 911 Turbo has meant one thing above all else – stunning performance

Kia ProCeed GT
Reviews

First drive: Kia ProCeed GT

Shock sub-$30K pricing and Euro engineering underpin Kia’s first driver’s car

Subaru WRX
Reviews

First drive: Subaru WRX

It’s still a WRX, but a more refined, better-handling, more involving iteration

Nissan X-Trail
Reviews

First drive: Nissan X-Trail

Aussie SUV favourite finds refinement and offers seven-seat option

Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Reviews

First drive: Jaguar F-Type Coupe

The rain in Spain made our first taste of Jaguar’s new coupe a challenge

Lexus CT200h
Reviews

First drive: Lexus CT200h

Lexus introduces facelifted version of its smallest hybrid

MINI Cooper S
Reviews

First drive: MINI Cooper

Sharper performance, handling – and price – for new Mini

First drive: Volkswagen Polo
Reviews

First drive: Volkswagen Polo

Former COTY winner undergoes light facelift with new tech

Skoda Yeti
Reviews

First drive: Skoda Yeti

Czech soft-roader returns with a new face and lower prices

Audi A8
Reviews

First drive: Audi A8

Facelifted Audi A8 brings improvements and performance, at a price

Skoda Rapid
Reviews

First drive: Skoda Rapid

Latest Czech small car fails to hit the mark

BMW M3
Reviews

First drive: BMW M3 & M4

Highly anticipated duo will restore M division’s stellar reputation

GM posts second-biggest loss in operating history
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The news does not get better from Detroit… Peter McKay reports on the latest figures and losses.

February vehicle sales down 21.9 percent
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US Mail: The casualties of crisis

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Yaris recall is 45,000-plus cars
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Toyota Australia has confirmed that it’s recalling more than 45,000 Yaris sedans and hatchbacks to rectify a potentially dangerous seat belt pretensioner glitch.

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The fractured – nay, broken – American car market has forced Japan’s big four to turn to its government for financial assistance.

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More signs of belt-tightening in Japan, with Nissan employees given the green light to moonlight while the company is quiet. Peter Nunn reports from Tokyo.

GM passes on billion dollar loan
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Cost reduction and cuts across the board allow GM to hold its debt-ridden head up high.

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When Ford puts the last remaining piece of the Premier Automotive Group pie up for auction, it may find Chery is the flavour of choice.