Month: September 2019

Ford’s ever-popular Ranger ute is getting an official off-road upgrade pack for the 2020 model year, but for now it will only be for the US market. The off-road kit, available to be applied aftermarket to existing 4×4 variants, consists of Fox shocks (as seen on the fully upgraded Raptor) and new front coilover springs,…

The NSW state government will rollout new phone-detecting cameras across the state later this year to crack on drivers using devices while behind the wheel. In total, 45 artificial intelligence-powered cameras will be launched across the state, with some in fixed locations and others designed to be portable. After a six month pilot program of…

Toyota’s new RAV4 has been named 2019 CarsGuide Family Car of the Year. According to CarsGuide’s FamilyGuide segment expert Nedahl Stelio, “The new RAV4 was hard to beat,” “It brings leading safety, everyday practicality and comfort, and a variety of models including a variety of variants with near-seamless hybrid integration in either two or all-wheel…

The Ford Transit Custom has been named 2019 CarsGuide Tradie Car of the Year. Announcing the award, CarsGuide editor Malcolm Flynn said the latest Transit Custom’s combination of benchmark safety, car-like driving comfort, excellent load-carrying ability, clever design features and value for money made it a stand-out in a long list of LCVs that arrived…

Audi has refreshed its Q5 mid-size luxury SUV for the 2020, boosting standard equipment while keeping pricing static across the line-up. Kicking off at $65,900 before on-road costs and $66,900 for the 40 TDI and 45 TFSI ‘design’ grades, the base diesel and petrol Q5s are now equipped with 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, lane-keep assist…

Ride-sharing company DiDi has introduced a new feature for that will keep its drivers safer on the road, voice commands that allow the confirmation of requested trips. Australia is only the second market behind Japan to gain the new feature, which will first rollout to 1000 select drivers before expanding to the rest of DiDi’s…

A new patent unearthed in Japan may be another key indicator Mazda is planning on reviving the iconic RX-7. Japanese publication Motor Magazine has published what it claims is a patent claim for a new vehicle architecture for the brand, which could form the foundation of a new sports car. Referred to as the ‘Vehicle…

There’s a lot of excitement around electric vehicles (EVs) these days as more and more arrive on the scene as diverse as the Tesla Model 3, Porsche Taycan and Hyundai Kona EV. But EVs continue to make up just a fraction of the new car sales market, and while they are trending upwards from a…

Despite having been on the market in one form or another since 2010, the Mitsubishi ASX is due another significant facelift for the 2020 model year. The elongated appeal of Mitsubishi’s small SUV offering is largely down to its price and dependability, but on the eve of yet another overhaul – we investigate what Mitsubishi…

Hyundai in Australia has confirmed that it should have a true Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival in Australia by 2023, giving the brand its first real workhorse – and its first entrant into one of the country’s biggest segments. It’s not just Hyundai, of course. Kia has also confirmed that “work has begun” on…

Mercedes-Benz Australia has revealed pricing for its new GLC mid-size SUV range, which will include a plug-in hybrid option for the first time. Entry to the new model starts with the GLC 200, which is priced from $66,100 plus on-road costs. The electrified GLC 300e will join the line-up in the second quarter of next…

Hyundai’s Kona SUV will get the N go-fast treatment, with the brand’s performance and R&D boss all but confirming the move in Frankfurt. When quizzed on incoming performance models, the former chief of BMW’s M division gave a lightly coded response that points to the Kona getting a go-fast makeover.  But the first to arrive…

Owning a car comes with a sense of pride, so people don’t generally deliberately go out and buy ugly vehicles. There have been thousands of cars designed since the horseless carriage turned up so what are some cheap good looking cars among the sea of second-hand vehicles for sale today? Working out what is defined…

Toyota Australia is retiring the 36 year-old Tarago nameplate and replacing it with the HiAce-based Granvia MPV that seats up to eight people and claims business-class luxury for families and corporates. The Granvia’s main target is the booming global executive and hospitality transit industry and its current players, including the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Volkswagen Multivan and…

The Toyota Tundra looks a step closer to Australia with news the Japanese giant is investing in an upgraded factory in the US. Toyota USA announced it will invest US$391m ($573m) into its San Antonio facility which currently builds the full-size Tundra and mid-size Tacoma pick-ups for North American market. While they may not sound…

Tesla’s most affordable vehicle, the Model 3 mid-size sedan, has been given the top safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a result of strong crash testing results. With full five-star scores in North America, Europe and Australian crash testing, the Model 3 has now been presented with the highest achievement…

Kia’s Sportage mid-size SUV has undergone some minor changes for the 2020 model year, including a new set of nameplates, manual variants and slightly increased standard specification. The new Sportage carries range-wide driveaway price tags spanning from $28,990 for the base S manual to $49,490 for the top-spec GT-Line all-wheel-drive diesel. Meanwhile, Kia has renamed…

Renault’s new Kadjar small crossover will land in Australian showrooms in November priced from $29,990 before on-road costs, just $1000 cheaper than its entry-level Koleos mid-size SUV sibling. With three variants on offer, the Life grade opens the range, the mid-tier Zen is priced at $32,990, while the top-spec Intens wears a $37,990 pricetag. Though…