Australian New Car Buyer

Regular readers will notice a significant change to this issue. We’ve tweaked the title of the magazine to more accurately reflect what’s in it, specifically more SUVs. They actually outsell cars in Australia now, so the time is right for us to recog

In our tests on the following pages and in the Showroom, we have used symbols to give you a quick indication of the strengths of each car, and star ratings to indicate in more detail how each car stacks up in its class. Here’s what the symbols and st

EDITOR Bill McKinnon DESIGNER Katharine McKinnon CONTRIBUTORS John Carey, Joshua Dowling, Phil King, Byron Mathioudakis, Peter McKay ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES (02) 9887 0642 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Martin White CEO/CHAIRMAN Prema Perera PUBLISHER Janice Will

Alfa Romeo’s Giulia is aggressively priced and generously equipped. It deserves to disrupt your Audi A4/BMW 3 Series/Mercedes C Class buying decision. Start money is $60,900 for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol Giulia, with 147kW of power and

Remember when there was no such thing as a beautiful SUV? SUVs were spacious, sure. And capable. Even occasionally sporty. But they were never, ever beautiful. But clearly something has changed, because we defy anyone to gaze upon Alfa Romeo’s new St

Audi’s current A3 range, like its predecessors, shares its architecture and most of its componentry with parent brand Volkswagen’s Golf. Prices for the five-door A3 Sportback start at $36,600 for the 85kW 1.0-litre turbopetrol threecylinder/seven-spe

Audi’s B9 A4 sedan range opens with two front-wheeldrive models. The 1.4TFSi ($56,100) runs the same 110kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol/sevenspeed dual-clutch S-Tronic drivetrain used in the VW Golf. The 140kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol 2.0 TFSi is $61,400 and t

The Audi Q3 range opens with the 110kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol TFSi, with a six-speed twin-clutch S-Tronic transmission and front-wheel drive, priced at $43,400. Quattro all-wheel-drive models start with the 110kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel/seven-speed S-Tr

Today’s Audi Q5 might seem barely changed since the original in 2009, but there’s exciting new stuff underneath its almost the same skin. Kicking off from $66,700 for the 2.0-litre TDI diesel quattro and $67,650 for the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol quattro,

Audi’s second-generation Q7 is a huge improvement over the first. That model’s whalelike scale made it a daunting vehicle to drive in the city and its high weight meant it had the handling agility of a humpback. The 2019 Q7 is only slightly shorter a

BMW’s M badge used to adorn only its elite performance cars, such as the M3 and M5, but M also stands for Money and now BMW is cashing in on its badge cachet. A second tier of M models, called M Performance, now sits below the weaponsgrade hardware.

BMW’S 1 Series is now the only small hatchback in the world that still uses rearwheel drive. If you regard front wheel drive as suitable only for shopping trolley hatchbacks, well, you had better get in quick because, come early 2020, this 1 Series w

BMW’s M division cars have been somewhat hit and miss in recent years — epic on a track, but not so enjoyable in day-to-day driving, where their overreliance on electronics produces a remote, uninvolving driving experience amplified by artificially w

BMW 3 Series prices start at $67,900 for the 320d, which runs a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four, matched with a standard eightspeed automatic. Unlike Audi, BMW obviously believes diesel isn’t dead. Yet. The 330i tested here is $70,900. U

BMW’s iconic M3, now in its fifth generation, is available as a four-door sedan only, based on the recently superseded F30 3 Series model for now. The M3 sedan lands in Oz starting from $129,529 for the Pure. The M4 coupe commands a $10,000 premium.

BMW’s seventh-generation 5 Series range opens with the $89,990 520i, with a 135kW, 2.0-litre turbopetrol four. At $94,900, the 520d runs a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel four, while the $111,900 530i, tested here, has a 185kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo

The second-generation BMW X1 shares much of its core technology, including its basic structure, with the latest versions of the Mini (a brand that is owned by BMW) as well as BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer. The range opens with the sDrive 18i, at $45,9

BMW’s first X5, launched in 2000, immediately became the benchmark against which all other SUVs have since been judged. So the new fourth generation X5, like its predecessors, refines a proven formula rather than reinventing it. We’re testing the xDr

No Ferrari road car can claim a longer line of descent than those with a high-revving V12 engine up front that drives the rear wheels. This was the layout of the very first road cars the company made in 1950 and the Ferrari-badged racers produced fro

Putting “Ferrari” beside “ugly” just isn’t done. So let’s not mention the California, the car the lovelylooking Portofino replaces in Ferrari’s line-up. The newcomer sticks with the same 2+2 seating, folding hardtop and front-engine format, but adds

The days of budget-priced small hatchbacks may soon be behind us. Few brands can get a Toyota Corolla-sized car close to the $20,000 drive-away mark these days, as each new model gains more advanced safety tech. The 2019 Ford Focus, imported from Ger

Ford’s Escape range opens with the 110kW 1.5-litre turbopetrol/six-speed manual/front-wheel-drive Ambiente, priced at $28,990. The six-speed auto is $30,490. All-wheel-drive models begin with the 134kW 1.5-litre turbopetrol Ambiente, with a six-speed

Ford Australia would prefer we didn’t call its new five-seater Endura SUV a Territory replacement. Endura, says Ford Australia, is a much more upmarket SUV, a “premium offering” for those who want something “special and opulent”. Endura is well equip

Holden’s five-seater midsize Equinox SUV starts at $27,990 for the 127kW, 1.5-litre turbopetrol, six-speed manual, front-wheel drive LS; a six-speed auto adds $2000. The 100kW 1.6-litre turbodiesel/six-speed automatic/front-wheel drive LS+ is $35,990

ZB Commodore prices kick off at $33,690 for the 2.0-litre turbopetrol LT Liftback and $35,890 for the LT Sportwagon. We tested the mid-spec RS Sportwagon, priced at $39,490. There’s also a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, priced at $36,690 for the LT Liftback

There was never going to be a ZB Commodore V8, so it was at Holden’s insistence that the 3.6-litre V6, with all-wheel drive, was included in the 2018 Insignia range as an Australiaspecific model, in the belief that many Commodore customers would dema

Kicking off from $14,990 for the VTi, the GK-series Honda Jazz hatch brings fewer variants, lower prices and — bar one backward step — more for your money. For example, you’ll find a reversing camera, emergencybraking indicator flashes, hill-start as

Honda’s HRV, a compact five-door SUV, combines extraordinary interior flexibility with a punchy drivetrain and handsome styling inside and out. The base 1.8-litre petrol/continuously variable automatic (CVT) VTi model costs $24,990. Then it’s the sam

This Civic is the 10th generation since 1973 of Honda’s signature model. We’re testing the 1.8-litre VTi-S sedan which, at $24,590, sits one step above the base 1.8-litre VTi model, priced at $22,390, and below three 1.5-litre turbo variants: the $27

from a sharp $37,610 for the base VTi. The more generously equipped VTi-L is $47,590. Brandishing van-like electric sliding doors and a high roof for ultra-easy entry, the Odyssey’s floor is lower than usual, with an extended wheelbase and wheelsat-e

Hyundai’s first crack at the hot hatch class, the i30 N was hyped to the max prior to its arrival, a dangerous thing to do if the walk don’t match the talk. The first product of Hyundai’s N performance division, the i30 N is the creation of Albert Bi

The Hyundai Santa Fe features seven seats in all models. The lineup opens with the all-wheel-drive 138kW 2.4-litre petrol/six-speed automatic Active, at $43,000. The 147kW 2.2-litre turbodiesel/eight-speed automatic/all-wheel drive Active is $46,000.

Jaguar aimed ambitiously high with its new I-Pace mid-size luxury SUV. “The target was to create the best electric vehicle on the planet,” says Jaguar technical design director, Wolfgang Ziebart. And that is exactly what’s been done. done. I-Pace mat

Kia’s third-generation Carnival people mover starts at $42,490 for the 206kW 3.3-litre V6 petrol/eight-speed automatic S model. Si grade is $47,990, SLi is $52,490 and Platinum is $60,290. The 147kW 2.2-litre fourcylinder turbodiesel/six-speed automa

Kia’s Sportage SUV, which shares architecture with Hyundai’s Tucson and, sizewise, bridges the gap between compact and medium wagons, starts at $29,990 for the Si front-wheel drive. This model is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a modest 114

In this turbocharged age, the new Lexus LC 500 is a rare beast. It has a big, naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 that roars and revs the old-fashioned way. Most other manufacturers these days are forced by regulations to rely on smallercapacity, slower

MAZDA’S fourth-generation MX-5 kicks off at just $34,890 for the base model 1.5-litre/six-speed manual Roadster. A six-speed auto adds $2000. The 2.0-litre GT manual is $42,820; the auto is $44,820. Stowing the lightweight roof opens up an endless sk

Mazda’s mid-size 6 is available as a sedan and wagon. Prices start at $33,490 for the 140kW/250Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol/six-speed automatic Sport sedan. The Touring is $37,690. GT, with a 170kW/420Nm 2.5-litre engine, is $44,990 and the top-

Evolution is the name of the game for Australia’s most popular SUV. Starting from $29,770, the front-wheel drive Mazda CX-5 Maxx via with Subaru’s Forester for safety honours in this class, with autonomous emergency braking front and rear as standard

Mazda’s CX-8 SUV slots between the mid-size CX-5 five-seater and family-sized CX-9 seven-seater. There are three model grades: base Sport front-wheel drive from $43,410, Sport all-wheel drive from $47,410 and the flagship Asaki that pole vaults $15,0

The Mercedes W205 C Class range opens with the $63,700 C200 sedan, with a 135kW/280Nm, 1.5-litre turbopetrol/nine-speed automatic, tested here. The 143kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel C220d is $65,200 and the 190kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol C300 is $

The Eclipse Cross slots into Mitsubishi’s SUV portfolio between the compact ASX and midsize Outlander. A three-model range, powered by a 1.5-litre turbo/continuously variable transmission (CVT), opens with the front-wheel drive ES at $29,990. LS is $

The base front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre petrol/five-speed manual Outlander ES fiveseater is $29,290, while a continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission and two extra seats adds $2000. The all-wheel-drive 2.4-litre petrol CVT ES seven-seater is $

pipes to a Porsche 911 Turbo, a Ferrari 488 or a Lamborghini Huracán — and you also get $200,000–$300,000 change. The GT-R costs $189,000. That’s an absolute bargain in the supercar context, because the GT-R is certainly one of those. Its 3.8-litre t

Just why Nissan chose to name its small SUV after a group of nomadic tribes from Iran is anybody’s guess. The Qashqai traditionally use donkeys to get around. Presumably that’s not the connection Nissan was trying to make… All models run a naturallya

Priced from $26,990, the second-generation 308 shares nothing with what’s come before as a result of an all-new architecture that was unashamedly inspired by Volkswagen’s Golf. Shedding some 140kg, the new 308 is slightly shorter than before, but roo

Most car reviewers head for the driver’s seat when a new model arrives With the seven-seat Peugeot 5008, however, you’re best to start your test drive at the tailgate. You might be wowed by the dealer opening the rear hatch with a deft swing of their

The Porsche 718 Cayman repeated the success of its predecessors by scooping World Performance Car of the Year in 2017, marking a trio of wins since it became the hardtop companion to the Boxster in 2005. As before, it’s thoroughly deserved and comes

Porsche’s Macan range opens with the 185kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol base model at $81,400. The 260kW/480Nm 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbopetrol Macan S is $97,500, the 265kW/500Nm tuned GTS is $113,300 and the 294kW/550Nm 3.6-litre twin-turbo Macan Turbo

Czech brand Skoda’s Karoq mid-size SUV shares its structure, and most hardware, with parent company VW’s Tiguan, but there are significant differences as well. Karoq, which replaces the Yeti, is priced at $32,290 for the 1.5-litre turbopetrol fourcyl

$23,890 for the 110TSi sedan. Based on Golf VII’s modular platform, with a 46mm longer wheelbase, the Octavia also runs Golf drivetrains and other mechanicals. Octavia is available as a sedan or wagon, the latter carrying a $1500 premium in all model

The 2.0-litre boxer BRZ costs $34,520 (manual) and $36,280 for the auto. It’s a twin under the skin with the Toyota 86. Subaru’s 2.0-litre horizontallyopposed, naturally aspirated four-cylinder was significantly overhauled in 2017 and now produces 15

Subaru’s Impreza, available as a hatch or sedan, opens at $23,080 for the 2.0i hatch. The 2.0iL is $25,180, the Premium is $26,980 and the 2.0iS, tested here, is $29,960. Sedans are $200 cheaper. You have only to drive the Impreza for five minutes to