5reasonreviews.com – Simple Honest Car Reviews

Help me choose which car

January 30, 2013 by Steve Fox

Welcome to the 5reasonreviews.com Car Chooser, which attempts to help you narrow down the search for your next new car Instructions The three main steps are as follows: Choose your desired price range Choose your desired car type Choose the feature that is most important to you Once you have selected all your criteria, you will be directed to a category page listing all the cars that meet your requirements. The cars are listed in the order of date of […]

Categories: Editorial

Volkswagen Passat Wagon (2013 B7)

May 23, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The German built Passat scores strongly in the all important wagon boot space test Decent rear leg room and a well built interior (except for the out of place analogue clock) Fixed price servicing now available from Volkswagen (finally…) Good fuel efficiency from the diesel and great speed from the V6 Standard sat nav, reversing camera and automatic boot 5 Cons The cheapest version is too slow and not fuel efficient enough The Mazda 6 wagon is cheaper and the Volvo V60 is […]

Categories: Family cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Family cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Fun to drive family cars ($50 - 100k), Practical family cars ($30 - 50k), Practical family cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Volkswagen Passat Wagon review

Opel Insignia Sports Tourer (2013)

May 16, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The German built Opel Insignia looks pretty stylish for a family car and has that all important European badge Strong levels of interior space with more headroom than the standard Insignia sedan Well equipped with leather, front and rear parking sensors, auto headlights, auto wipers and 7 speakers Better than expected around corners 5 out of 5 star safety 5 Cons The engines are either slow or inefficient The Mazda 6 and Ford Moneo wagons are over $5k cheaper Not the […]

Categories: Family cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Good looking family cars ($30 - 50k), Practical family cars ($30 - 50k) • Tags: Opel Sports Tourer review

Holden Cruze Sportwagon (2013)

May 15, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Cruze Spoortwagon has more interior space than the Cruze hatch and probably looks better as well Quite a comfortable ride Diesel engine has pretty good fuel efficiency Easy to load flat boot Pretty cheap when compared with a similarly sized mid size wagon such as the Mazda6 Wagon 5 Cons Despite the name, this car is not at all sporty Diesel engine is unrefined and the 1.8L petrol engine is underpowered and inefficient (the Sportwagon misses out on the best choice 1.4L turbo […]

Categories: Family cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Family cars - practical ($20 - 30k) • Tags: Holden Cruze Sportwagon

Hyundai i30 Tourer (2013 Wagon)

May 14, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Tourer still looks pretty good (although the rear is not quite as sharp as the standard i30) Heaps of interior space and class leading boot size turns the i30 into a proper family car 5 year warranty (class leading) and a 5 out of 5 star safety rating Diesel engine available (which in the manual version is one of the most efficient cars available in Australia) Cheaper than the old, Mexican built Volkswagen Golf Wagon and much cheaper than many bigger competitors such […]

Categories: Family cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Family cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Family cars - fuel efficient ($20 - 30k), Family cars - good looking ($20 - 30k), Family cars - practical ($20 - 30k), Fuel efficient family cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking family cars ($30 - 50k), Practical family cars ($30 - 50k) • Tags: Hyundai i30 Tourer car review

Mazda Mazda6 Wagon (2013 Third generation)

May 13, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Terrific looks. Most Mazda’s now look as good as their European counterparts and the Mazda6 is no exception More than enough room for 5 adults with the added practicality offered by the wagon style boot Quality interior that is very well equipped (especially in the more expensive models) Diesel engine is terrific (and all the engine options are impressively fuel efficient) Great to drive and even better than the Mazda6 sedan due to the shorter wheel base 5 Cons Boot is a […]

Categories: Family cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Fuel efficient family cars ($30 - 50k), Fun to drive family cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking family cars ($30 - 50k), Practical family cars ($30 - 50k) • Tags: Mazda6 wagon car review

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo GT (2013)

May 12, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The BMW 5 Series GT provides European brand value with an enormous interior and excellent rear leg room at a price almost $60k cheaper than when it was introduced All the engines are reasonably fast and fuel efficient (the 530d is outstanding at both) Heaps of standard equipment including a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, head up display, panaromic glass sun roof, auto headlights and wipers, electric seats and Sat Nav. This is one of the most exhaustive lists I […]

Categories: Fuel efficient large luxury cars ($100 - 200k), Fuel efficient large luxury cars ($50 - 100k), Large luxury cars ($100 - 200k) - all, Large luxury cars ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: autos, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo car reivew, BMW 5 series GT, Luxury car review, what car is best, which car

Volkswagen Golf Wagon (2013 Mk6)

May 11, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like most Volkswagen Golf’s, the Mexican built Wagon is notably fuel efficient Decent internal and storage space (as you would expect in a wagon) Cheap entry price point when compared with larger rivals (such as the Mazda 6 wagon) Quite good through the corners Volkswagen badge value 5 cons All the engines are pretty slow Based on the outdated Golf Mk5 chassis New model to be introduced soon The rear looks a little frumpy and Volkswagen continues to have ongoing […]

Categories: Family cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Family cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Family cars - fuel efficient ($20 - 30k), Family cars - practical ($20 - 30k), Fuel efficient family cars ($30 - 50k), Practical family cars ($30 - 50k) • Tags: Volkswagen Golf wagon review

Mini Paceman

May 10, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like all Minis, the paceman looks prestigious and goes around corners well. In general this car is a good compromise between the small original Mini’s handling and the Mini Countrman’s practicality Typically strong resale values Decent interior space from all four seats Ok sized boot (but still smaller than many hatch backs) Very fuel efficient (especially in manual form) 5 Cons Suffers from the typical Mini problems of a sometimes harsh ride, expensive options and a patchy reliability record The steering can get a little nervous under […]

Categories: Fuel efficient small luxury cars ($30 - 50k), Fuel efficient SUVs ($30 - 50k), Fun to drive small luxury cars ($30 - 50k), Fun to drive SUVs ($30 - 50k), Good looking small luxury cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking SUVs ($30 - 50k), Small luxury cars ($30 - 50k) - all, SUVs ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: Mini Paceman car review

Dodge Journey (2013)

May 9, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like most Dodge’s, the Mexican built Journey looks pretty macho (for a people mover / SUV) You can have seven seats as an option and interior space is generally pretty good The performance from the engine is ok Some nice interior touches like a built in booster seat and some clever storage spaces 5 out of 5 star safety rating in Europe (it has not been tested in Australia, but with six airbags it should be close) 5 […]

Categories: 7+ seat cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Good looking 7+ seat cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking SUVs ($30 - 50k), SUVs ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: 7-seat car review, Dodge journey car review, SUV car review

Proton Preve (2013)

May 8, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros 5 star safety 5 year warranty (class leading) 5 years free service and roadside assistance Actually looks ok, decent interior space and a big boot One of the cheapest in its class (and very cheap compared to rivals such as the Mazda 6, Suzuki Kizashi or Volkswagen Jetta) 5 Cons Despite being a long term Malaysian brand, most people will think that you have bought one of those new Chinese cars Waiting room slow Poor fuel efficiency unlike most slightly […]

Categories: Family cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Family cars - practical ($20 - 30k), Small cars ($10 - 20k) - all, Small cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Small practical cars ($10 - 20k), Small practical cars ($20 - 30k) • Tags: Proton Preve car review, Small car review

Audi S5 (2013)

May 7, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Audi S5 manages to be sporty and relaxed at the same time. This is one classy car Impressive engine and it is good around corners (and even better with the optional differential) The exhaust sound is pleasing, with a fun (slightly addictive) pop sound when you change gears Very livable day to day and it has a boot bigger than some SUV’s Impressive 7 speed auto gearbox 5 Cons Not quite as hard nosed as its rear […]

Categories: Fun to drive sports cars ($100 - 200k), Good looking sports cars ($100 - 200k), Practical sports cars ($100 - 200k), Sports cars ($100 - 200k) - all • Tags: Audi S5 review, Sports car review

Suzuki Jimny Sierra (2013 third generation)

May 6, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Suzuki Jimny has proper off road ability and a cutesy name… Quite cheap at around $20k Tiny proportions make it easier to drive in town than many SUV’s Looks tough While not outstanding, fuel efficiency is acceptable (especially compared to many other off-road cars) 5 Cons Not really for use on road. It is slow, noisy and harsh No safety rating, but my guess is that it would be far from 5 out of 5 stars (it does not even have traction control so […]

Categories: Fuel efficient off-road cars ($20 – 30k), Off-road cars ($20 – 30k) - all • Tags: Off road car review, Suzuki Jimny car review

Audi S4 (2013 B8)

May 5, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The German built S4 is the largest sedan in this class with excellent interior and boot space. The wagon version will obviously let you carry even more (and it probably looks better as well) Supercharged 6 cylinder engine is a nice unit with a great engine note and more than adequate speed All wheel drive makes this car good around corners (although the differential that makes it even better is an expensive option) $30k cheaper the manic Mercedes […]

Categories: Fun to drive sports cars ($100 - 200k), Practical sports cars ($100 - 200k), Sports cars ($100 - 200k) - all • Tags: Audi S4 review, Sports car review

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2013 facelift)

May 4, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros As usual with these big German cars, the new E Class has excellent fuel efficiency and more than adequate performance The new Diesel Hybrid will be one of the most efficient cars on the market when it is released (astounding for a car of this size) More than enough space for 4 adults and a big boot (although folding rear seats are an option overseas) Reports from overseas are that it is pretty good around corners and bumps (no local models have […]

Categories: Fuel efficient large luxury cars ($100 - 200k), Fuel efficient large luxury cars ($50 - 100k), Large luxury cars ($100 - 200k) - all, Large luxury cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical large luxury cars ($100 - 200k), Practical large luxury cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Luxury car review, Mercedes Benz E Class review

Honda Jazz Hybrid (2013 second generation)

May 3, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Honda Jazz Hybrid is the cheapest hybrid you can buy in Australia Impressive fuel efficiency as you would expect in a hybrid It is a Honda, so it should be reliable (although the standard Jazz is no longer built in Japan) Good rear seat versatility (it can take 18 different positions…) It looks pretty good 5 Cons Much smaller boot than the much cheaper non-hybrid Jazz (the key advantage of the normal Jazz is the impressive practicality) Not as […]

Categories: Small cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Small fuel efficient cars ($20 - 30k) • Tags: Hond Jazz Hybrid car review, Hybrid car reviews

Volkswagen Golf R (2013 Mk6)

May 2, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The primary appeal of the Golf R is its impressive straight line speed Pretty good around corners as well like most of the Golf range (and this model comes with 4 wheel drive) 5 door practicality and a nice interior 5 out of 5 star safety and that all important badge value Easy enough to live with day to day (although the ride can be a little harsh) 5 Cons Hard to justify the extra $10k over the […]

Categories: Fun to drive sports cars ($30 - 50k), Fun to drive sports cars ($50 - 100k), Good looking sports cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking sports cars ($50 - 100k), Sports cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Sports cars ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: Hot hatch car review, Volkswagen Golf R car review

Toyota RAV4 (2013 Fourth generation)

May 1, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like the new Toyota Corolla, the new RAV4 manages to look anything but boring.  Toyota have finally brought a fuel efficient Diesel model to the market and it is cheaper than the one in the excellent Mazda CX-5 Decent boot for this class and enough room for 5 adults Capped priced servicing, a reasonable quality interior and this one is pretty good around corners as well Toyota reliability - it is by no accident that Toyota have sold nearly 200,000 RAV4′s over the last 19 […]

Categories: Fuel efficient SUVs ($30 - 50k), Fun to drive SUVs ($20 - 30k), Fun to drive SUVs ($30 - 50k), Good looking SUVs ($20 - 30k), Good looking SUVs ($30 - 50k), Practical SUVs ($20 - 30k), Practical SUVs ($30 - 50k), SUVs ($20 - 30k) - all, SUVs ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: Compact SUV car review, Toyota Rav4 car review

BMW M135i (2013 F20 fourth generation)

April 30, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The BMW M135i is terrific fun around corners and incredibly fast in a straight line. The key to its fun factor is the rear wheel drive layout which is rare in a hot hatch (most are front wheel drive) Good boot space and enough room in the back for 2 adults (just…) Built in Germany, unlike the South African built BMW 3 Series 5 out of 5 star safety A surprisingly comfortable ride for a sports car 5 […]

Categories: Fuel efficient sports cars ($50 - 100k), Fun to drive small luxury cars ($50 - 100k), Practical sports cars ($50 - 100k), Sports cars ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: BMW M135i car reivew, Sportscar review

Porsche Cayman (2013 Third Generation 981)

April 29, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Superb in almost every way. Corners, straight lines, parking spaces – the Cayamn loves them all Usual high quality Porsche interior and that all important badge Half the price of the big brother, the 911 Decent boot space that is bigger than some small cars (albeit split into 2 compartments) Terrific exhaust sound and a reputation for good reliability 5 Pros The Porsche Boxster is convertible, excellent and cheaper Electronic handbrake will annoy rally stars Electronic steering will annoy […]

Categories: Fuel efficient sports cars ($100 - 200k), Fun to drive sports cars ($100 - 200k), Good looking sports cars ($100 - 200k), Practical sports cars ($100 - 200k), Sports cars ($100 - 200k) - all • Tags: Porsche Cayman car review, Porsche Cayman S car review, Sportscar review

Opel Insignia OPC (2013)

April 28, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Opel Insignia OPC is faster in a straight line than it’s main compeition, the Volkswagen Passat V6 and the Skoda Superb V6 All wheel drive, so it is very good around corners High quality (if fussy) interior and a big boot Sat Nav and Recaro sports seats as standard It actually looks very good and should be made in Germany like the rest of the Insignia range 5 Cons Badge value a bit unknown and probably not […]

Categories: Family cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Fun to drive family cars ($50 - 100k), Good looking family cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Family car review, Opel Insignia OPC car review, Sports car review

Opel Astra OPC (2013 J)

April 27, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Incredible performance around corners. The Opel Astra OPC is pretty much on par with the leading two door coupe/hot hatches the Volkswagen Scirocco R and Renault Megane RS265, but about $5k cheaper Notably quick in a straight line (although a Subaru WRX is faster) Decent boot space, quite good rear seat room and a 5 out of 5 star safety rating A nice comfortable ride in comfort mode… Terrific seats and sat nav as standard 5 Cons The […]

Categories: Fun to drive sports cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking sports cars ($30 - 50k), Practical sports cars ($30 - 50k), Sports cars ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: autos, Opel Astra OPC car reivew, Sports car review, what car is best, which car

Toyota Landcruiser (2013 Series 200)

April 26, 2013 by Steve Fox

Hoodless? 5 Pros Go anywhere ability. This is one of the reasons that the Toyota Landcruiser has been such a popular choice in Australia for so long The ability to seat 8 in comfort if required (although the boot space gets a little small) Extremely comfortable to drive Massive 3.5 tonne towing capacity and a huge 138L tank Very strong resale values, Toyota reliability and a recently updated 5 out of 5 star safety rating (check with our dealer that it […]

Categories: 7+ seat cars ($100 – 200k) – all, 7+ seat cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($100 - 200k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical 7+ seat cars ($100 – 200k), Practical 7+ seat cars ($50 - 100k), Practical off-road cars ($100 - 200k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k), Practical SUVs ($100 - 200k), Practical SUVs ($50 - 100k), SUVs ($100 - 200k) - all, SUVs ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: autos, Off road car review, SUV car review, Toyota Landcruiser car review, what car is best, which car

Mitsubishi Challenger (2013 second generation)

April 25, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like the Holden Colorado 7, the Mitsubishi Challenger offers proper off-road performance (at least in 4×4 form) Class leading 5 year warranty 3 tonne towing capacity (which is very good if you are into that sought of thing) The potential to have seven seats if necessary Decent boot size (which is very big in 5 seat form) 5 Cons 4 out of 5 star safety – not good enough in the SUV class Last in class (almost) fuel efficiency […]

Categories: 7+ seat cars ($30 - 50k) - all, 7+ seat cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical 7+ seat cars ($30 - 50k), Practical 7+ seat cars ($50 - 100k), Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k), Practical SUVs ($30 - 50k), Practical SUVs ($50 - 100k), SUVs ($30 - 50k) - all, SUVs ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: autos, Mitsubishi Challenger car reivew, SUV car review, what car is best, which car

Holden Colorado 7 (2013)

April 24, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Holden Colorado 7 is one of the cheapest 7 seat SUV’s you can buy with real off road capability Very impressive 3 tonne towing capacity Expansive interior room and you can just about seat seven adults in comfort (although at the cost of boot space) 5 out of 5 star safety Rear view camera as standard and capped price servicing 5 Cons Crude commercial grade interior Crude commercial grade on road performance Crude commercial grade fuel consumption Crude commercial grade cabin (which […]

Categories: 7+ seat cars ($30 - 50k) - all, 7+ seat cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical 7+ seat cars ($30 - 50k), Practical 7+ seat cars ($50 - 100k), Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k), Practical SUVs ($30 - 50k), Practical SUVs ($50 - 100k), SUVs ($30 - 50k) - all, SUVs ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: 7-seat car review, autos, Holden Colorado 7 car review, what car is best, which car

Holden Colorado Dual Cab (2013 second generation)

April 23, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Holden Colorado has a 5 out of 5 star safety rating Class leading 3.5 tonne towing capacity Ok fuel efficiency in manual guise Reasonable value in this segment Quite roomy in the rear and pretty decent off road (although not as good as some of its peers) 5 Cons Others in this class are considered better on road (such as the Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger) Some question marks over the build quality of the interior Lack of reach adjustment […]

Categories: 5 Star Safety - Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k), 5 Star Safety - Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k), Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k) – all, Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Dual cab ute review, Holden Colorado car review

Ford Ranger Dual Cab (2013 T6 Double Cab)

April 22, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Ford Ranger offers 5 out of 5 star safety, which is not that common in this market (the single cab only offers 4 stars) Looks great Class leading 3.5 tonne towing capacity for most of the diesel engines Pretty good on road (for this class at least) Lots of interior room and a decent load size in the tray 5 Cons Slightly more expensive than the similar Mazda BT-50 Fuel efficiency in all but the 2.2L Diesel manual is not […]

Categories: 5 Star Safety - Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k), 5 Star Safety - Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k), Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k) – all, Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Dual cab ute review, Ford Ranger car review

Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab (2013 second generation)

April 21, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Mazda BT-50 is one of the few cars in this class to offer a 5 out of 5 star safety rating Class leading towing capacity at 3.5 tonnes Ok fuel efficiency from both the diesel and petrol engines (although still a long way off many SUV’s) Proper off-road capability Not too bad on-road 5 Cons Odd looks that would not be described as macho Not the most comfortable ride Volkswagen Amarok probably beats it for badge value Recently recalled  […]

Categories: 5 Star Safety - Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k), 5 Star Safety - Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k), Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k) – all, Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Dual Cab Utes review, Mazda BT-50 car review

Mitsubishi Triton Dual Cab (2013 fourth generation)

April 20, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros One of the most popular Dual Cab utes mainly because the Triton was one of the first to bring in everyday styling to a utility vehicle 5 year warranty is class leading Good rear seat space and it is ok off road 3 tonne towing capacity is better than the Toyota Hilux (but on par with many competitors) Ok economy in the reasonably powerful diesel (but sill leagues apart from most SUV’s) 5 Cons 4 out of 5 star safety. Not […]

Categories: Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k) – all, Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Dual cab ute review, Mitsubishi Triton car review

Toyota Hilux Dual Cab (2013 7th generation N70 Double Cab)

April 19, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Toyota Hilux has been a regular top five seller in Australia for many years. The main reason for this is the view that it is “unbreakable“ For a pick up, they actually look ok (good macho looks are another reason they have been so popular) Decent rear seat space Quite good off road ability The Diesel engine is pretty fuel efficient (but much worse than most SUV’s) 5 Cons 4 out of 5 star safety – not good enough Lap only […]

Categories: Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k) – all, Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Dual cab ute review, Toyota Hilux car review

Nissan Navara Dual Cab (2013 second generation D40)

April 18, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Nissan Navara is regularly in the top ten cars sold in Australia. Part of this has to do with the macho looks and part of it has to do with the fact that it represents reasonably good value in this class Very capable off-road in the 4×4 version Strong 3 tonne towing capacity and all the engines have more than enough power (the new V6 is apparently very good) Very decent cabin space for five adults Ok […]

Categories: Dual Cab Utes ($30 – 50k) – all, Dual Cab Utes ($50 – 100k) - all, Off-road cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Off-road cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical off-road cars ($30 - 50k), Practical off-road cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: Dual cab ute review, NIssan Navara car review

Honda Insight (2013 second generation)

April 17, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Hybrid fuel efficiency (although a Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion is better) The Insight takes regular unleaded, unlike many other hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius 5 out of 5 star safety and it is built in Japan by Honda so it should be reliable Pretty decent boot Looks are at least not boring 5 Cons The Toyota Prius C is now a much cheaper hybrid Not really for corners (or fun…) Tight rear seat space Reports that it suffers from […]

Categories: Small cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Small fuel efficient cars ($20 - 30k) • Tags: autos, Honda Insight car review, Small car review, what car is best, which car

Honda Civic Sedan (2013 Series 2 FB Ninth Generation)

April 16, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Honda Civic Sedan has a 5 out of 5 star safety rating The hybrid version is very fuel efficient (if expensive) and most of the other models are pretty small drinkers Not too bad around corners (but this is no sports car) Big boot in most versions and the interior space is pretty good (although rear headroom can get a little tight) Honda reliability (although this model is built in Thailand not Japan) 5 Cons The 1.8L engine has […]

Categories: Small cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Small fuel efficient cars ($20 - 30k), Small practical cars ($20 - 30k) • Tags: autos, Honda Civic car review, Small car review, what car is best, which car

Audi A7 (2013)

April 15, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like the more expensive Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, the Audi A7 provides limo space in sleek coupe packaging Big boot and a beautiful interior (as usual with Audi) The Diesel engines are all fast and fuel efficient (the Bi Turbo 3.0 TDI is epic) All wheel drive across the range Audi badge value 5 Cons Not that fun around corners – this is more of an autobahn cruiser than hardcore sports car (the 6 Series Gran Coupe is […]

Categories: Fuel efficient large luxury cars ($100 - 200k), Good looking large luxury cars ($100 - 200k), Large luxury cars ($100 - 200k) - all, Practical large luxury cars ($100 - 200k) • Tags: Audi A7 review, autos, Luxury car review, what car is best, which car

Honda Civic Sedan (2013 fifth generation)

April 14, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Enormous boot and decent rear leg room. The Honda Civic will appeal to families on a budget 5 out of 5 star safety It is a Honda, so should be reliable (although this model is built in Thailand, not Japan) Looks much better than other attempts at a small sedan Ok fuel efficiency (but far from class leading) 5 Cons Quite expensive, it begins to approach the price of the Mazda 3, Hyundai i30, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus The […]

Categories: Small cars ($10 - 20k) - all, Small cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Small fuel efficient cars ($10 - 20k), Small fuel efficient cars ($20 - 30k), Small practical cars ($10 - 20k), Small practical cars ($20 - 30k) • Tags: autos, Honda City car review, what car is best, which car

Audi A5 Sportback (2013)

April 13, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Good looks that make it more interesting than standard 4 doors small luxury cars such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 All the engines are fuel efficient and fast enough Huge boot and decent rear seat room (although headroom can be a bit tight) Quality interior as you would usually expect from Audi That all important badge snob factor 5 Cons Probably not as sharp as offerings from BMW Steering can be a little vague Expensive options such as over […]

Categories: Fuel efficient small luxury cars ($50 - 100k), Good looking small luxury cars ($50 - 100k), Practical small luxury cars ($50 - 100k), Small luxury cars ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: Audi A5 Sportback car review, autos, Luxury family car review, what car is best, which car

Ford Kuga (2013 first generation)

April 12, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Good around corners with an ok engine. The Ford Kuga’s main appeal is that it is pretty fun to drive (for an SUV) 5 out of 5 star safety Made in Germany Looks pretty good (despite the design being designed in 2008) Not that many on the road (the model was only introduced into Australia last year), so it is still a little exclusive 5 Cons Poor rear seat space and one of the smallest boot’s in the […]

Categories: Fun to drive SUVs ($30 - 50k), SUVs ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: autos, Compact SUV car review, Ford Kuga car review, what car is best, which car

Lotus Elise (2013 Series 2)

April 11, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Hardcore and raw – the Lotus Elise is one of the best handling cars on the market  The go fast models offer close to supercar performance in a straight line Despite the speed, the Elise is actually pretty fuel efficient (driven properly…) It looks like a proper sports car and is cheaper than many other offerings from Europe (such as the excellent Porsche Boxster) The ability to turn every drive into an adventure 5 Cons About as practical as owning a cheetah. […]

Categories: Cabriolets ($50 - 100k) - all, Fuel efficient cabriolet ($50 - 100k), Fuel efficient sports cars ($50 - 100k), Fun to drive cabriolet ($50 - 100k), Fun to drive sports cars ($50 - 100k), Good looking cabriolet ($50 - 100k), Good looking sports cars ($50 - 100k), Sports cars ($50 - 100k) - all • Tags: autos, Lotus Elise car review, Sport car review, which car is best

Volvo XC70 (2013 third generation)

April 10, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Volvo XC70 gives you the ability to look like you may occasionally do some very minor off-roading  Nice spacious interior with a huge boot (although the rear middle seat is a little cosy) 5 out of 5 star safety and the impressive Volvo City Safety system as standard (this will brake the car automatically to help you avoid an accident) Some decent standard equipment like rear parking sensors, two in-built child booster seats and a power operated tail gate European badge […]

Categories: Large luxury cars ($50 - 100k) - all, Practical large luxury cars ($50 - 100k) • Tags: autos, Luxury car review, Volvo XC70 car review, what car is best, which car

Toyota Prius (2013 third generation XW30)

April 9, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Prius is a hybrid, so expect almost unbeatable fuel efficiency 5 out of 5 star safety A decent boot and good interior room Fixed priced servicing and Toyota reliability People thinking you are a good person 5 Cons Not for corners Foot operated park brake is out of date Quite expensive (although much cheaper than it used to be and it looks like a bargain compared to the Holden Volt) Rear headroom can be a bit tight Needs premium unleaded […]

Categories: Family cars ($30 - 50k) - all, Fuel efficient family cars ($30 - 50k) • Tags: autos, Hybrid car review, Toyota Prius car review, what car is best, which car

Lexus LS (2013)

April 8, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The LS ticks most of the big limo boxes with an incredibly comfortable ride and an extremely well built interior (as you would expect from a large Lexus) 4 year warranty is class leading Some interesting standard features (depending on which model you get) including a 19 speaker sound system, Blu Ray DVD player, automatic parking and a series of lights to greet you when you enter… Very strong acceleration from all the models (and faster than many sports cars) Incredible […]

Categories: Good looking large luxury cars ($200k+), Large luxury cars ($200k+) - all • Tags: autos, Lexus LS car review, Luxury car review, what car is best, which car

Mini Clubman (2013 Cooper and Cooper S)

April 7, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros Like most of the Mini range, the Clubman has terrific handling which encourages you to drive fast But unlike the smaller Mini, the Clubman has acceptable rear seat and boot space (although still far from class leading) Excellent fuel efficiency and funky interior Rear parking sensors and auto headlights as standard Despite the extra size, it still looks pretty good 5 Cons The single rear door is on the traffic side, otherwise know as the wrong side… The […]

Categories: Fuel efficient small luxury cars ($30 - 50k), Fun to drive small luxury cars ($30 - 50k), Good looking small luxury cars ($30 - 50k), Small luxury cars ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: autos, Mini Clubman car review, Small luxury car review, what car is best, which car

Toyota Prius V (2013)

April 6, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Prius V is a hybrid, so no surprise that it is one of the most efficient vehicles on the market It seats 7 in relative comfort and the middle row is better than some other people mover efforts Some nice standard equipment like a reversing camera and a heads up display Usual Toyota quality in terms of build quality (and hopefully reliability as well) Feeling good about yourself (at least until you see your reflection in it…) […]

Categories: Fuel efficient people movers ($30 - 50k), People movers ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: autos, Hybrid car review, People mover car review, Toyota Prius V car review, what car is best, which car

Subaru Exiga (2013)

April 5, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Subaru Exiga can seat seven in relative comfort (although the centre middle seat is a little narrow and the rear seats can be a little tight) Standard reversing camera and rear DVD entertainment system 5 out of 5 star safety rating Heaps of headroom and some large pleasing windows for rear seat passengers Pricing at least on par with its main competitors (the Honda Odyssey and Hyundai iMax) 5 Cons Not particularly fuel efficient and not particularly fast Does […]

Categories: People movers ($30 - 50k) - all • Tags: 7-seat car review, autos, Family car review, Subaru Exiga car review, what car is best, which car

Fiat 500 (2013)

April 4, 2013 by Steve Fox

5 Pros The Fiat 500 is catwalk fashion at hand me down prices Incredibly fuel efficient (driven properly…) Steering is light and this car is very easier to manoeuvre in town 5 out of 5 star safety Some nice interior touches 5 Cons Not good around corners. The Mini is much better Ride can be a little harsh and in general this car does not inspire confidence at speed Very limited rear seat and boot space. The cheaper Honda Jazz is much more practical Some […]

Categories: Small cars ($10 - 20k) - all, Small fuel efficient cars ($10 - 20k), Small good looking cars ($10 - 20k), Small luxury cars ($20 - 30k) - all, Small luxury cars - fuel efficient ($20 - 30k), Small luxury cars - good looking ($20 - 30k) • Tags: autos, Fiat 500 car review, Small luxury car review, what car is best, which car