Car Reviews

Is the cheapest BMW M car still the best? We put the powerhouse M2 to the CarsGuide test to find out.

The seventh-generation Ford Mustang has arrived. Featuring an all-new hero model, more power, more technology and fresh style. Is this the muscle car to take on the best Europe has to offer? We drive the Mustang Dark Horse on the road and track to get a comprehensive understanding of just how good this new pony car is.

As the name implies, the Premium is the flagship grade in Hyundai’s new second-generation  Kona line-up. At just over 4.3m long, 1.8m wide and close to 1.6m tall, the technically 'small' SUV is appreciably bigger on the outside and prices range from $39,500, before on-road costs, for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol model, through $42,500 for an N Line version of the same car and finally $46,500

What's the pinnacle of Toyota performance? Some might think the Supra, but that shares so much with the BMW Z4. Nah, I'd argue the peak of Gazoo Racing is the GR Corolla Morizo Edition, but does this hot hatch have what it takes to hang with the hottest models available?

Prices have risen significantly with the change from XV to Crosstrek, so the entry price to the range is $1800 more than where the XV ended up in December 2022, but is more than $5000 dearer than it was 12 months ago.

The Crosstrek 2.0R is the pinnacle of the range in terms of equipment, but not price. Starting from $41,490 (excluding on-road costs), it’s actually slightly cheaper than its hybrid equivalent.

The Crosstrek 2.0R is priced from $38,490 (plus on-road costs) and comes generously equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, dusk-sensing headlights and black roof rails.Inside you’ll find cloth-trimmed seats, dual-zone climate control, USB-C and USB-A connections, a six-speaker stereo and an 11.6-inch tablet-style multimedia touchscreen with compatible wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a wireless charging pad.It also comes with a two-mode X-Mode off-road settings, front and rear wipers with front de-icer, self-levelling LED headlights with auto off, front cornering lamps, heated door mirrors, front LED fog lights and dark grey roof rails. Inside the 2.0R gets premium cloth trim for the seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift, sports pedals, auto-dimming rear mirror, heated front seats and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat. It also adds USB-A and USB-C charging ports for the rear passengers, but notably no rear air-conditioning vents.The design of the Crosstrek follows the same formula as the XV, so it will be familiar to previous or current owners. That means a real ‘high-riding hatchback’ feel to the cabin, with good space up front and in the second row.The front seats have been redesigned for the Crosstrek and do feel comfortable and supportive, even after a whole day of driving.The space in the rear seats is good, enough to accommodate two adults in relative comfort but the boot is on the small side for this class, at just 291-litres. And the temporary spare tyre doesn’t fit with Subaru’s sales pitch of the Crosstrek being an off-road capable small SUV.Like the rest of the range, it comes with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of active safety features. Just some of the highlights of a comprehensive array of safety features includes Front Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Lane Centring Function, Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Departure Warning, Autonomous Emergency Steering and Speed Sign Recognition. There’s also a driver monitoring system, which brings a distraction warning, drowsiness warning and facial recognition, and Subaru’s Vision Assist safety package.The 2.0L is powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine making 115kW/196Nm, sending its power to the all-wheel drive system through a CVT automatic. Because of the permanent all-wheel drive the fuel economy is behind some of the Crosstrek’s key rivals, rated at 7.2L/100km.

As far as niches go, offering an Australian designed and engineered German-branded dual-cab ute made in South Africa with an American muscle-car heart and glamorous luxury features is quite a unique one.

This is the wildest looking version of the new-generation Amarok, and it's taking aim at the hot-selling Ford Ranger Wildtrak.

The VW Amarok Style kicks off from  $66,990, before on-road costs, and – as with all the new and second-generation Amaroks – is based on the T6.2 Ford Ranger. They share the same platform, body structure and drivetrain.