Hatchback Advice

Sound has never been a hotter topic in the world of cars than it has been in the past decade. From the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles to even the more muted soundtrack of modern F1 cars, the noise cars make has become a major talking point.

How long would you wait for your dream car - six months? A year? Four years? Never?

It’s often said that if you’re a smart car buyer, you’ll be shopping second hand. That’s because the shine and new car smell of a brand-new car can be fleeting. Especially once you take depreciation into account.

What is the safest car in Australia?

There are plenty of reasons for buying brand-new cars. Fiscal acumen is not always one of them, as a second-hand car which has already done the bulk of its depreciating will often be a wiser financial option, but many people aspire to a new car anyway. That’s because there’s that peace of mind that comes with a car that has a factory warranty for several years, not to mention that a second-hand ca

The most economical car argument is still a valid one, despite the fact that oil prices have stabilised around the world.

Inflation is the economic effect of prices increasing over time, this impacts every item across society. But as I’m a motoring journalist and don’t have a PhD in economics (like my father did), so I’m going to stick to cars.

Electric cars come in all shapes and sizes these days, but arguably the most logical shape is the hatchback. Why? Well, as much as Australians love SUVs and bigger luxury cars, the humble hatch makes the most efficient use of space. And if you’re going to buy an electric car, it makes sense to be concerned about efficiency.Thankfully, in contrast with an overall decline in the small-car market, there is an increasingly diverse range of battery-powered hatchbacks to choose from. The list of hatchback electric cars is getting longer each month with new brands jumping into the fray.And while space and size are key attractions of the electric hatch, there is another element that makes them popular - price. At the time of publication the most affordable electric car you can buy is an EV hatchback, opening up the nascent market for more people.One excellent example is the much-praised MG4, which has emerged not only as one of the better selling EVs in the country but is on track to be one of the most popular small cars over all. In 2023, it out sold the likes of the Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic and is trending upwards in 2024.Yet another reason why electric hatches are gaining popularity in Australia is availability, with those willing to look beyond an SUV discovering a good supply of electric hatchbacks in Australia.This is because of the volume of choice and diversity of models, with at least eight examples already in showrooms and more planned to follow in the near future.The biggest questions are what is the future of electric hatchbacks expected to look like in Australia?The answer to the question is more choice for smaller, more affordable EVs, but there is also likely to be more crossover between a true hatchback and a modern crossover. Models like the Renault Megane E-Tech and Volvo EX30 blur the lines between a hatch and an SUV but that appears to be a future trend.One key element missing from the market is a Tesla hatchback, and that would be a potential game changer. The American brand has repeatedly hinted at adding a hatch, likely to be known as the Model 2, as a cheaper offering to sit beneath the Model 3 sedan.In the shorter-term there are several new EV hatches likely to be hitting Australian roads in the not-too-distant future, including the Volkswagen ID.3, Peugeot e-208 and Renault 5 E-Tech.Not that we need to gaze longingly into a crystal ball to look for the next small EV. Below is a list of the best electric hatchbacks on the Australian market at the time of publication.Ranking the list of available electric hatchbacks by price is no easy task thanks to the highly competitive nature of the market at this moment in time.MG announced its small car would be the cheapest EV at $39,990, only for BYD to undercut it within days, and then GWM joined the party. It only gets more confusing thanks to a series of drive-away deals, such as the one GWM is currently (at time of publication) offering on its (not-at-all-a-Mini-why-do-you-ask) Ora small car.Its original asking price of $39,990 drive-away has been slashed to $35,990, making it the cheapest EV you can buy. For the money, you get up to 310km of driving range on a single charge and 126kW of performance.If you’re looking to Build Your Dreams of an electric car on a budget, then the Dolphin is for you. It arrived with a bang, sporting the lowest sticker price of any EV in Australia by starting at $38,890, which undercut the Ora and MG4 by $100 - at least on paper, at the time. However, the Chinese brand is offering a drive-away price of $41,490, which makes it more expensive than the GWM and MG in this current price war.For that money you get a Dolphin Dynamic, a small car with space for five, a 70kW/180Nm electric motor and a battery good for 340km of driving range. There’s a Dolphin Premium, with a 150kW/310Nm motor and 427km of range (plus bigger wheels, two-tone paint and other extras) but that’s an additional $6000.The price of the MG4 is another moving target in the battle for affordability being fought out amongst the three Chinese carmakers. It has floated up and down, reaching as low as $39,990 drive-away for the run-out sale of 2023 examples, but was sitting at $43,131 drive-away for the 2024 model at the time of publication.It’s a spacious and practical small car, with 350km range from its 51kWh battery and a 125kW motor for the entry-level Excite 51 model that has the sharpest price.There are three more variants in the range, the 64kWh and 77kWh standard models and the MG4 XPower electric hot hatch. The latter boasts impressive performance credentials, with 320kW/600Nm and 400km of range for $63,973 drive-away.The fully electric hatchback that arguably started it all, the Leaf was the first mainstream small EV hatchback that was broadly accepted in the local market (with apologies to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV) way back in 2012, when the Tesla Cybertruck wasn’t even a glint in Elon Musk’s mad eyes.Even though a second-generation model was introduced in 2018 (which was largely a makeover) the Leaf is starting to show its age in terms of both design and technology.The standard model is equipped with a 39kWh battery that’s only enough for 270km of range and it powers a 110kW motor. There’s a more powerful Leaf+ available, which gains a 58kWh battery to boost range to 385km.Its official list price is $50,990, but in a bid to keep up with its newer competition, Nissan Australia is offering it for $39,990 drive-away for the standard model and $49,990 drive-away for the Leaf+.If you’re looking for a truly compact electric car then look no further than this pint-sized city runabout. Fiat has managed to keep the tiny dimensions of the petrol-powered 500 and package up an all-electric powertrain inside a stylish small car.It’s not a cheap proposition at $52,500 plus on-road costs, which makes it a premium EV by many standards, but it is well-equipped for the price and does give you a more upmarket feel than most of the cars on this list.It doesn’t have a particularly powerful motor, just 87kW/220Nm, but it certainly feels zippy on the road. Being so small it can’t fit lots of batteries, so the range is limited to just 311km, which does limit it to being more of an urban EV rather than something for long-distance drives.If you like the Fiat but want something sportier, you can consider the Abarth 500e. The Italian brand’s performance division has wound up the power to 113.7kW/235Nm and added a sound generator for a more exciting driving experience.It carries a price premium, too, starting at $58,990 (plus on-road costs) for the Turismo and $60,500 for the Scorpionissima variant.The British brand may not be thought of in the same sentence as Tesla and Polestar, but it is surprisingly ahead of the curve when it comes to EVs. It has just launched its second-generation electric Cooper hatch with an electric Countryman and Aceman to follow soon.It’s arrived with a sharp $59,830 drive-away price for the Cooper E and $65,040 for the more potent Cooper SE, no doubt helped by the brand’s decision to share development and production with GWM.The Cooper E boasts 135kW and a 305km range, with the Cooper SE boosting those numbers to 160kW and 402km.While Volkswagen awaits its first EVs, its Spanish off-shoot is already leading the way with its electric hot hatch. While it’s significantly more expensive than the first cars on this list, it comes with more features, equipment, performance and range to help justify the extra ask.Key amongst its performance credentials is the fact it’s rear-wheel drive, something few other hatches can claim. It’s powered by a 170kW/310Nm motor to provide hot-hatch levels of speed and has a 82kWh battery that provides an impressive 511km of claimed driving range.

Some households may find that buying a second car is superfluous to their needs, especially if they live close to reliable public transport. However, there is still demand for second cars, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting in 2022 that 55.1 per cent of Aussie households had two or more vehicles.If you’re thinking about purchasing a 2nd car, you need to consider its intended use. Is it going to be a work vehicle and only moonlight occasionally for other purposes? Like picking up the kids or ferrying a spouse around town every other weekend?It may seem obvious, but if it’s a work vehicle, it needs to suit your employment. A tradesperson will get more use out of a ute or van than they would a small sedan. If you have to pick up kids or regular passengers, consider a dual-cab ute or a van with a second row of seats to accommodate.  If you’re searching for a second family car, consider whether your family will fit and what type of safety items are needed. If you still have kids in car seats, look at the width of the rear seat and how many top-tether anchor points it has.The general safety kit, its ANCAP rating and how many airbags the car has will all be important factors. If you need a car with three rows of seats make sure the curtain airbags cover that row (not all of them do).You should also plan on the secondary car occasionally moonlighting as the primary car; like when the primary car is in for servicing. Will it still be suitable for your needs?What type of driving are you doing? Are you doing longer highway stints or mostly short urban trips? Finding a second vehicle that has excellent economy will be very important for keeping down your overall running costs.And on that note, owning a second vehicle will literally double your expenses on items like insurance, fuel and maintenance. Not to mention the actual purchase cost and any associated interest if you don’t buy outright.Spending $20,000 for the second vehicle and based on a personal fixed rate loan of five years at a 15.99 per cent p.a. interest rate, your weekly repayment will be $113.An average comprehensive insurance quote for a 2017 station wagon with low kilometres comes in at around $1243.90 for a 35-year-old female driver living in Sydney, NSW.According to the government website Fuel Check, the average cost of 95 RON unleaded petrol in NSW is 216.6c/L; based on a 67L fuel tank and a weekly fill, that’s an extra $145.12 in fuel costs per week or $7546.34 per year.Let’s average the servicing cost at every 12 months and at $500 per service, which is a fair assumption for a larger vehicle.That’s a weekly expenditure of up to $291.70 for the second car, without any random snafus (prangs anyone?) occurring or factoring in parking fees.On paper, coming up with that sort of extra money every week may seem daunting and you may find yourself wondering if public transport or a ride service would be better suited. Providing you live in an area that provides one (or both) and the service scheduling suits your needs.My friend lives in Matraville, NSW, and works in Double Bay, NSW. An Uber ride one-way costs nearly $50 on a weekday, without tolls. The commute time sits between 25 and 40 minutes, depending on the time of day. If you do a return trip for a five-day work week, that’s $500 in Ubers alone. That is not factoring any other travel, like shopping or social events – just to and from work. A bit pricey.The same journey via the public system route with a combination of buses and trains will cost approximately $8 return but takes well over two hours for a round trip. Far more affordable, but you’re stuck with whatever scheduling Transport NSW has and you can’t choose your cabin-mates. You also add significantly to your daily commute time and let’s face it, time is money.That second car isn’t looking too shabby, especially if you live in an area that doesn’t have a great public transport infrastructure. The best second car to buy will the one that best suits your needs. Make a list of your requirements, the non-negotiables as it were, and start searching from there.Here is a snapshot of some cars that could easily be a second car.Model: SsangYong MussoOverview: The top model has all of the safety gear and it’s worth the upgrade if your transporting kids. With a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, a cavernous cabin space and premium features – this is a hard one to beat.Cost: From $37,700 drive-awayBest option for: families who also need a workhorseModel: Toyota CorollaOverview: Compact, sweet-looking design and easy to drive.Cost: From $33,397 drive-awayBest option for: Those who don’t transport lots of passengers and don’t have a lot of garage space.Model: Toyota Camry HybridCost: From $37,917 plus on-road costsOverview: It’s popular with ride services and taxis for a reason. Hands down one of the best cars to drive, has low ongoing costs and has an efficient hybrid powertrain. In the top SL grade, you get decent tech and features, too.Best option for: Those who need comfort, good people and luggage capacity and something reliable.On another note, if you have young kids and you’re purchasing a second car, go have a look at car seats because you’ll be purchasing those, too. Make sure that the car seat you want will fit in the car - actually take it with you and try fitting it in!The best car seat for a second car has to fit your needs. I’m hauling my monster harnessed booster seat in and out of my car every single week, multiple times a week, due to changing test vehicles and video shoots.I’m obviously on the extreme end, but if you do move your seats around a bit, consider getting a car seat with an in-built locking clip for the seat belt.My personal car seat is the Britax Safe-n-Sound b-grow ClickTight tex because I don’t have to fiddle around with a separate lock buckle or adjust the harness manually. It takes me two minutes to install and even quicker to adjust for my son’s rapidly growing height!

The standard turning circle of a car in Australia is 12m. That figure comes from averaging the turning circles of popular vehicle types spanning the Australian new car market.