CAR ADVICE

Light cars are a strange category in Australia. While sales are on the nose, buyers still flock to this segment in the hunt for a first, or last car. With both models recently benefitting from an update, we lined up two favourites to see which is most worthy of your hard-earned dollar. It’s the Mazda 2 Genki head-to-head against the Toyota Yaris ZR . Cars in this segment boast excellent visibility from the front, rear and sides and nowadays are loaded with the same or similar features as their larger brand counterparts. That’s certainly the case with the Mazda 2 and Yaris models tested here now kitted out with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). While the Mazda 2 and Yaris ranges start at around $15,000 before on-road costs, we’ve gone for the upper-specification Mazda 2 and top-specification Yaris models, priced at $22,690 and $22,490 respectively before on-road costs. We hit the road to find out which of these two Japanese hatches is most worthy of your dollars. Pricing an...

For all its merits, the Skoda brand has never risen above niche status in Australia. But that’s due for a change, and the new Skoda Kodiaq is the vehicle to make it happen. The Czech Kodiaq taps into the booming seven-seat SUV segment that accounted for more than 100,000 sales in Australia last year, about 10 per cent of the entire new vehicle market. Reflecting Australia’s growing importance to Skoda – it sells 5000 vehicles annually but will grow – the Kodiaq launches here only a few months after its European premiere, a brand first. To put this into perspective, Skoda outsells Toyota in Europe, so Australia is generally not the brand’s focus. Not only does the brand-spanking new Kodiaq tap into one of the market’s fastest-growing segments, but it adheres to Skoda’s core strengths of unpretentious practicality and kitschy, clever touches throughout. As you can read in detail here , the all-wheel-drive (AWD) Kodiaq opens at $42,990 plus on-road costs or $46,290 driv...

Local pricing and specifications for the new  2017 Holden Astra sedan have been released this week, ahead of the new model’s arrival at the beginning of July. Starting from $21,990 drive-away, the Astra sedan – known in other markets as the Chevrolet Cruze – is headlined by the standard fitment of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto , along with turbocharged petrol power. Four trim levels are offered; LS, LS+, LT and LTZ, all powered by the same 110kW/245Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine shared with entry versions of the Astra hatch – which rides on similar underpinnings. A six-speed manual is standard on the entry-level LS variant, while a six-speed automatic is standard on all other versions, and optional on the base LS. Standard equipment on the LS (from $20,490 plus on-road costs) includes 16-inch alloy wheels, six airbags, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPl...

The  Lotus Elise Cup 250 has been revealed this week, adding yet another special model to the British sports car company’s line-up. Sitting above the  Elise Sport 220, the Cup 250 is pitched as the “fastest, most focused” four-cylinder  Lotus sports car ever, and is very much a race car for the road. Powering the Elise Cup 250 is the same 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine, though power is bumped up to 181kW (up from 162kW), while torque remains unchanged at 250Nm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Thanks to the boost, the new model can go from 0-60mph (0-96km/h) in just 3.9 seconds – down from 4.1 – though 0-100km/h takes slightly longer at 4.3 seconds. Lotus claims a top speed of 154mph (248km/h) for its latest track weapon. Weighing just 917kg (kerb), the Elise Cup 250 is only 13kg heavier than the Elise Sport 220, and boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 283hp (211kW) per tonne. Headlining additions to the ra...

The pre-facelift  Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV  has been recalled this week, with 1654 units potentially affected by an engine fault which could shut off the petrol motor inadvertently. Mitsubishi reports that improper engine software, electric vehicle (EV) software and spark plug specification are the cause of the issue, which could turn off the plug-in hybrid system’s petrol engine unexpectedly during use, limiting the vehicle to electric power only. If the condition occurs, the battery could go flat – as no charge is coming from the engine – which could leave drivers stranded and at risk of having an accident. The recalled Outlander PHEV SUVs were sold from 19 September 2013 through 2 March 2017 , though the vehicles in question are officially dubbed as MY14 and MY14.5 . Affected models are within the VIN range  JMFXDGG2WEZ000101 ~ JMFXDGG2WEZ002023. Owners of the recalled units will be contacted by Mitsubishi Australia, and are encouraged to visit their local ...

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyiZm4iMN4M The  Toyota Camatte  concept is set to become a reality, with the Japanese automotive giant to open a kid’s driving school at this year’s  International Tokyo Toy Show . Called the Camatte School, kids and parents will be able to experience obtaining a driver’s licence – by learning how to operate the steering wheel, accelerator and brakes, and drive a car around a course. There will also be a range of magnets that can be attached to the Camatte Petta vehicle (top), allowing children to decorate the car to their liking. For younger kids, a separate program has been established using a driving simulator. They will also be able to sit in a Camatte 57 to familiarise themselves with the vehicle. This marks the first year Toyota will be establishing an exhibit at the Tokyo Toy Show where children can actually experience a car. Previously, the company has only displayed Camatte concepts. The 2017 International Tokyo Toy Sho...

The Toyota TJ Cruiser nameplate has been trademarked in the US, hinting at a new model for the company’s already expansive SUV and crossover range. The filing for use on “automobiles and structural parts thereof” with the US Patent and Trademark Office was discovered by AutoGuide . It’s likely the TJ Cruiser badge is being considered for a possible production version of the FT-4X concept , which made its debut at the 2017 New York motor show. As Ian Cartabiano, the Toyota FT-4X chief designer, told CarAdvice , the concept car is 75 per cent production ready, with the company waiting to see what public reaction is like. Mechanically, the FT-4X is based on the version of the Toyota New Generation Architecture that the C-HR uses. Although it has a practical interior and rugged looks, the FT-4X is designed to appeal to a “casual core” crowd interested in a weekend of camping, rather those who want to tackle the Rubicon trail. If Toyota does decide to use the TJ Cruiser name, it wo...

The NEVS 9-3 and NEVS 9-3X concepts have been revealed ahead of their debut later this month. Externally, the NEVS 9-3 models are distinguished from their Saab 9-3 forebears via a new bonnet, grille, slim LED headlights, front and rear bumpers, and tail-light designs. The company hasn’t provided many details about the revived 9-3’s drivetrain, except to say the car will have a driving range of around 300 kilometres. Importantly for a country that suffers from some of the world’s worst air pollution, the NEVS 9-3 will be available with an Always Clean Air Cabin filter, which reduce hazardous particulate matter concentration from 500 to 50 micrograms per cubic metre in under a minute. Other available features include a Wi-Fi hot spot, over-the-air software updates, and a smartphone app, which can act as a key, and allows for remote battery management and vehicle control. It seems the revived 9-3 range will be targeted at Chinese corporations, as the car will also feature a flee...

Uber has fired the Anthony Levandowski , the engineer who formerly headed up the company’s self-driving car development team. Overnight, Uber confirmed to The New York Times that it had fired its star engineer. Levandowski is at the centre of a court case launched earlier this year by Waymo , Google’s autonomous vehicle arm, against Uber . The search giant and its self-driving car subsidiary has accused Levandowski of stealing 9.7 gigabytes of data and around 14,000 files from the company before leaving to start Otto , a company focussed on self-driving vehicle technology. Otto was subsequently bought by Uber in a deal worth around $700 million ($940 million), albeit mainly consisting of stock. Although Uber has denied the allegations, it has launched an internal investigation into the matter. Above: Anthony Levandowski (right) via Transport Topics on Flickr . The Times published an email from Angela Padilla, Uber’s associate general counsel, to the company’s employees: “O...

The unstoppable letters and numbers catalogue of BMW models sees no sign of slowing, as the brand looks to more higher-end models to help stimulate further growth. Speaking at the unveiling of the 2018 BMW 8 Series concept in Italy, the coupe itself part of the premium strategy, BMW AG Management Board Member Ian Robertson noted that the push toward an ever more premium top-end “is about giving a special treatment to the customer”. “There is lots of opportunity for BMW at the upper end.” The expansion of markets in Asia and the Middle East, along with continued growth in Europe and North America, has indicated a high demand for the best the brand can offer. Personalisation is important too, as Robertson noted that some 20 per cent of all 7 Series sales included elements from the BMW Individual catalogue. And despite the early success of the G11 7 Series, the big saloon cannot do all the heavy lifting by itself. The presentation of the new 8 Series coupe is just the star...

Australia’s micro car segment really is microscopic. And it’s rapidly shrinking. Soon, nanoscopic may be the most apt word to describe the segment. Recently, the Nissan Micra and Mitsubishi Mirage sedan became the latest victims of the category, both disappearing from local showrooms. But, hoping to inspire a pocket-rocket revival, the 2017 Kia Picanto  is here to try and re-focus our attention on this long-lost corner of the new car market. With a new-generation comes high expectations. The 2017 Kia Picanto brings a slightly revised exterior design, new technology, more features and updated cabin, but the drivetrain remains unchanged. Available in a single specification called the Picanto S, it has a 1.25-litre four cylinder petrol engine teamed with either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual. Our test car is the automatic variant priced at $15,690 driveway while the manual is $1500 cheaper. It’s a little bit cute, as you w...

A slew of new European SUVs have been awarded five-star safety ratings by independent crash-testing authority  ANCAP this week – including the  Audi Q2 and Q5, Mini Countryman and Skoda Kodiaq. Both the Audi Q2 and Q5 received praise for their autonomous emergency braking ( AEB ) systems, which operate at speeds of up to 85km/h and feature pedestrian detection technology. In terms of points, the Q2 achieved 35.55 out of 38 for adult occupant protection (93 per cent) while the larger Q5 scored slightly higher at 35.67 out of 38 (93 per cent). The Q2’s rating applies to all variants, as does the Q5’s – also extending to the performance-oriented SQ5 – though their scores are carried over from sister organisation Euro NCAP . Meanwhile, the recently-launched Mini Countryman improved on its predecessor’s four-star rating, thanks to improvements to the vehicle’s structure along with standard safety systems like AEB with pedestrian protection and speed sign recognition. A...