Hatchback Advice

You can’t help but feel for the poor folks at Holden. All that obligatory patriotism aside, they produced a genuine world-beater in the VFII Commodore.

Among Australia’s many, many gifts to the world - Rebel Wilson, Tony Abbott, the cork hat, Clive Palmer, Vegemite, Dame Edna - perhaps the most profound, yet sadly unrecognised, is the ute.

Buying cheap second hand cars is a risky business. Buy the right car and you can look forward to many years of affordable, worry-free motoring, but buy the wrong one and your motoring dream could become an expensive nightmare. In buying a cheap used car you're potentially buying someone else's problems, but there's no

The conversion from road to race is far more than just a sticker job and a fancy body kit. Peter Anderson investigates.

If you like your hatches served with a bit of heat, 2018 is shaping up as one hell of a year. Updated models, all-new arrivals, turbocharged chargers and battery-powered bruisers; there’s a genuine buffet of hot metal arriving for you to choose from, with all arriving over the next 12 months or so. And while not all

The rise and rise of the SUV doesn't add up when yousee what's available in the medium car segment. Flashback 2007: the first iPhone goes on sale, the TGV clocks 575km/h, Vladimir Putin is TIME's Person of The Year and medium car sales almost nudge 100,000 as the Australian new car market cracks a million sales.Since then the iPhone has skyrocketed in popularity, the high-speed train swooshes on (at a more sedate 300km/h)- and the medium segment has headed south, retailing just over 77,000 last year despite a growing number of models.European, Korean and Japanese rivals in the medium segment can only dream of the sales tallies racked up by Toyota's all-conquering Camry, abetted by heavy fleet sales. The numbers suggest the segment is full of underdone machinery but the reality is far from that.The forgotten middle child of the passenger car market has spacious and viable family car choices - not just the Camry - for those looking for value and not keen on an SUV. The segment is littered with family-sized choices.KEY PLAYERS The Camry, Mazda6, Ford's Mondeo, Holden's Malibu, Hyundai i40 and its Kia Optima second-cousin, as well as the VW-derived Skoda Octavia are worthwhile contenders and all are at least as big as Holden's first (VB) Commodore. Locally built (for now), the Camry is sedan-only but its 515L boot can take plenty of paraphernalia.Cheap capped-price servicing (although for not as long as some of the opposition, also the case for its warranty) and hybrid variants (that are far too good to be taxis) go in the Camry's favour, as do the four-cylinder petrol engine and conventional six-speed auto.The runner-up in sales is the Mazda6, more aesthetically appealing than the Camry and with sedan and wagon variants. We lament the demise of the pretty hatchback. There's no hybrid but the Mazda has the quickest and smoothest stop-start fuel-saver and energy recovery setup.It also has one of the best turbo diesels this side of a BMW six-cylinder oil-burner. Quiet, smooth and frugal, it has plenty of the shove from 420Nm of torque and, from behind the wheel, enjoyable dynamics.Bootspace is not as big as the Toyota but the Mazda does offer a wagon alternative that isn't offensive to the eye either.More recently arrived, the Octavia from VW-owned Czech brand Skoda has petrol and diesel engines that are hard to resist.Steep capped servicing costs offset the sharp purchase prices. Built on the same modular platform as the new (and impressive) VW Golf, the Octavia delivers a good drive, ample occupant room and a good-sized boot, whether as a wagon or hatch (which masquerades as a sedan until you pop the tailgate).Holden's Korean-built Malibu has been in the shadows of locally built siblings. The almost-large sedan has petrol or diesel options. The latter has the torque you'll need to get anywhere in short order but the petrol engine doesn't suffer the diesel's lag.Space for four average adults and a good boot are among the Malibu's highlights but the styling isn't to all tastes.NEXT ECHELON Also hailing from South Korea is the Hyundai i40, in sedan or wagon form, with petrol and diesel power. There's no manual. Its styling has some appeal.The i40 has one of the longer warranties around and the maker recently brought in lifetime capped price servicing, which puts it well ahead of the pack on maintenance.Kia's Optima sedan is petrol-only but the aesthetic appeal is broader than many in this segment.Cabin and cargo space are up to the task and the drivetrain backs up the sportier styling - it's had plenty of local input in terms of steering and suspension, to good effect.The Ford Mondeo rounds out the favourites list, with a replacement due next year. The current example is spacious, whether in hatch form or wagon - the former (like the Skoda) looking more like a sedan but has a flexible interior and the latter has a cavernous tail.The petrol engines include a worthy EcoBoost turbo and there is a turbodiesel. It can't match the warranties of the Hyundai or Kia but capped-price servicing is among the better-value propositions.SALES IN THE SUNSET The decline in medium sales can be sheeted home to the increasing popularity of SUVs as well as "bracket creep", in which small cars grow in size to give customers more cabin and cargo space but outgrow the segment.Glass's Information Services marketing and sales manager Nick Adamidis believes that trend - or the need for more space pushing people into SUVs - has put the brakes on medium sales volumes."It was never a dominant segment but it was growing at one point. Looking back over the numbers it's dropped right off - quite a bit of that was Honda, Mazda6 was down slightly as well, that whole segment is being squeezed a bit," he says."There are very good cars in that segment ... but small cars have grown in size over the last few years. Mazda3 and Golf are larger inside. (If buyers) want more than a small car, they are going to an SUV." Further causes are the increases in the range of small cars and the relative lack of new models in the medium segment, he says.THE REST There's a solid choice of 18 sedans, hatches and more than a few wagons. Citroen has the C5 sedan and wagon and pseudo-sporty DS5 hatch with underdone diesel.Honda Accord and Euro, once yardsticks for the segment, are still good but somewhat outgunned.Nissan Altima, Thai-built, better than expected but bland styling didn't help. Opel Insignia - there are still plenty in Holden dealers' stocks if you're looking for something different.Renault Latitude is Korean-built, is highly competent and comfortable but is in the upper price bracket and doesn't stack up against segment leaders.Subaru Liberty has lost its way in styling and the use of CVTs instead of a conventional auto. Clever safety gear and solid mechanical package.Suzuki Kizashi, once a Carsguide COTY finalist, is a competent chassis crying out for a drivetrain with grunt.VW Jetta and Passat have peppy engines and plenty of space in the conservative cabins and pricing is (for the Jetta anyway) in the ballpark. THE SALES LEADER - TOYOTA CAMRY PRICE From $30,490 WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km CAPPED SERVICING 5 services , $130 ea, 4 years/75,000km SERVICE INTERVAL 9 months/15,000km RESALE 37 per cent ENGINE 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 133kW/231Nm TRANS 6-spd auto; FWD THIRST 7.8L/100km DIMENSIONS 4.8m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1465kg-1505kg SPARE Full-size  THE CUT-PRICE KING - SKODA OCTAVIA PRICE From $21,690 WARRANTY 3 years/unlimited km CAPPED SERVICING 6 years/90,000km $286-$518 SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/15,000km RESALE 45 per cent ENGINE 1.4-litre 4-cyl turbo, 103kW/250Nm; 1.8-litre 4-cyl turbo, 132kW/250Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 110kW/320Nm TRANS 6-speed man, 6 or 7-speed DSG; FWD THIRST 4.9L-6.1L/100km DIMENSIONS 4.7m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1302kg-1435kg SPARE Full-size  THE "LOCAL" - HOLDEN MALIBU PRICE From $28,890 WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km CAPPED SERVICING 3 years/60,000km, petrol $185, diesel $335 SERVICE INTERVAL 9 months/15, 000km RESALE 37 per cent ENGINE 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 123kW/225Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 117kW/350Nm TRANS 6-spd auto; FWD THIRST 6.4L-8.0L/100km DIMENSIONS 4.9m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1583kg-1684kg SPARE None; puncture repair kit THE UNDERSTUDY MAZDA6 PRICE From $33,460 WARRANTY 3 years/unlimited km CAPPED SERVICING 10 years/160,000km $296-$383 SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/10,000km RESALE 46 per cent ENGINE 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 138kW/250Nm; 2.2-litre 4cyl turbo diesel, 129kW/420Nm TRANS 6-speed auto; FWD THIRST 5.4L-6.6L/100km DIMENSIONS 4.9m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1462kg-1593kg SPARE Spacesaver HYUNDAI i40 PRICE From $31,990 WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km CAPPED SERVICING Lifetime capped servicing, $310-$500 SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/10,000km RESALE 43 per cent ENGINE 130kW/213Nm 2-litre 4-cyl petrol, 100kW/320Nm;1.7-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel TRANS 6-speed auto; FWD THIRST 5.6-7.7L/100kmDIMENSIONS 4.7m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1441kg-1659kg SPARE Full-size  KIA OPTIMA PRICE From $30,990 WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km CAPPED SERVICING 5 years/75,000km capped servicing, $294-$485, SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/15,000km RESALE 43 per cent ENGINE 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 148kW/250Nm TRANS 6-speed auto; FWD THIRST 7.9L/100kmDIMENSIONS 4.8m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1591kg SPARE Full-size  FORD MONDEO PRICE From $31,490 WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km CAPPED SERVICING 7 years/135,000km $290 SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/15,000km RESALE 35 per cent ENGINE 2.3-litre 4-cyl, 118kW/208Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 149kW/300Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 120kW/340NmTRANS 6-speed auto; FWDTHIRST 5.9L-9.5L/100kmDIMENSIONS 4.8m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.5m (H) WEIGHT 1505kg-1649kg SPARE Spacesaver

Looking for something cheap and cheerful to get you from A to B in 2017? Here are the best contenders under $20,000.

I just got a new car. It's a station wagon, bought second hand. I've had three cars in my life now — two wagons and a hatch — and I expect I will go through the rest of my life not owning a sedan.

Industry best six-year, unlimited kilometre warranty now covers all Citroen passenger vehicles.

Dealers are sharpening the pencils for the end of the year — and these are the best buys.December is a great time to buy a new car as dealers try to clear stock before 2016 arrives.Many buyers are away on holidays so the dealers sharpen their pencils to try to get people in the door and cars off the lot. This year is no exception.Before highlighting the best new-car deals, we should clarify what "2016 Model Year" means.That's the car industry's way of describing when the model is planned for sale, even though they're often released in the second half of the previous year.The contrived confusion is aimed at blunting the need for sharp discounting as the new year rolls around.But regardless of what you are told, the only date that matters is not the model year or the compliance date but the build date of the car.If your car is built in November 2015 but it is being marketed as a "2016 Model Year", it will be regarded as a 2015 model at trade-in time, even if it's at the very same dealer trying to convince you it's next year's model.Does it matter? Not really. But you should know. Besides, the discount you're getting now will likely be worth more than the slight dip in resale.One more caveat — be wary of some low interest rate finance deals.Nissan, for example, has 1 per cent finance on most of its model range. Its cheapest model, the Nissan Micra manual, is $49 a week or $15,850 drive-away. But in the fine print you'll find the repayments must be made within three years — and there is a whopping "balloon" payment of $8210 at the end, more than half the car's cost.On the other hand, Toyota's zero finance deal on certain models is spectacularly good. It is over four years, there is no balloon so, as we discovered, they're practically giving money away.Now, let's go shopping...Small CarsSharp deals are customarily hard to find here because the profit margins are so low — the cut to the dealer on one popular small car is $450.The Suzuki Celerio - is the cheapest mainstream model, still at its launch pricing of $13,990 drive- away with automatic transmission. Learn to drive a manual and pay $12,990.Slightly larger, the trusty Suzuki Swift is good buying at $16,490 drive-away with auto.Toyota's Yaris — with seven airbags and reverse camera — is back at $17,990 drive-away with auto and four years' roadside assistance.The Mazda2 initially looks good at $16,990 drive-away for the manual. Auto brings the price to $18,990 drive-away, which is not as sharp.Honda and Mazda say there are "free on-roads" for the Jazz and Mazda3 respectively, dealer delivery is still in the mix and the prices aren't that sharp.Kia's Cerato sedan and hatch are still at an incredible $19,990 drive-away for auto (metallic paint is expensive at $495). They have a seven-year warranty, front and rear parking sensors but no camera.The Hyundai i30 hatch auto is $21,990 drive-away and you can swap December's $1000 Eftpos voucher for $1000 off the car, so at $20,990 it's good buying. The Elantra stablemate is the same price but will be in run-out within a few months.Toyota's Corolla Ascent Sport hatch is fair buying at $23,990 drive-away with auto.For a little more bling and a good drive, the refreshed Ford Focus Trend is $25,490 drive-away after the $500 test drive discount. That includes auto, satnav, rear camera, alloy wheels, cruise control and a super efficient 1.5-litre turbo engine.Family carsThe most metal for the money at the moment, the just-released new Toyota Camry can be had for $28,990 drive-away at zero finance over four years. It has the cheapest servicing in the business and is economical to run and easy to drive. Standard fare includes seven airbags and rear-view camera.The stablemate Aurion V6 is just $1000 more at $29,990 drive-away, also with the same equipment and the same terms. Warning: this car has so much grunt it can lose traction when accelerating in the wet.The Holden Commodore SV6 "Storm" edition is $39,990 drive-away with auto but $2000 bonus from Holden trims the price to $37,990 drive-away. That's the cheapest VF II yet (though the VE II dropped to $34,990 and $35,990 a couple of years ago).SUVsThe city-sized Holden Trax LS is priced so sharply that dealers have almost run out. More stock is coming late this month and early January.The headline price says $22,990 drive-away with a free auto upgrade — for this month, take off a further $1000, bringing it to $21,990 drive-away or about $6000 off the original RRP.The Mitsubishi ASX LS manual is $25,000 drive-away but there is a free auto upgrade this month, about $5000 off. It has seven airbags, five-year warranty, 18-inch alloys, touchscreen, rear camera and sensors. Good deal.Need a seven-seater? The Mazda CX-9 Classic is still super sharp at $39,990 drive-away; the nine-year-old model will be superseded in February.Much newer but about the same price, the Toyota Kluger seven-seater can be had for $42,990 drive-away.Looking to buy a Holden Captiva 7? Be warned, a refreshed model with a new look and Apple CarPlay is just around the corner.Want to go bush? The Holden Colorado 7 LT will get you there and leave more money for camping gear: with $1000 factory bonus it comes down to $42,990 drive-away, or about $5000 off.Mitsubishi Pajero is also really good buying for the Big Trip. At $55,000 drive-away with auto and five-year warranty, it's a solid choice at a sharp price.