Car Reviews

The Inster Cross, which is $45,000, lists at the top of the Inster tree, above the entry-level model, which comes as a Standard Range for $39,000, or an Extended Range for $42,500.The Inster nabs 15- or 17-inch wheels, dual 10.25-inch screens (one for the infotainment, another for driving info, a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth seats, two V2L connectors (one inside the cabin, the other outside), a wireless charging pad and rain-sensing wipers. The equipment list for the Extended Range is the same, but it rides on 17-inch alloys.Stepping up the Inster Cross scores you a unique and off-road-inspired look, but also leather trim inside, a unique design for its 17-inch alloys, heating and ventilation for the front seats and heating for the steering wheel, some extra safety kit and practicality perks, and the option of a sunroof or an exterior roof storage box, the latter of which seriously eats into the driving range.Both the Extended Range and the Cross get a bigger 49kWh battery, increasing the range to 360kms. But, that roof box… It does look cool, but you’re going to really need to carry stuff to choose that option, given it increases energy consumption by 25 per cent, reducing the Cross’s range to just 293km. 

The Elegance is the mid-grade in the third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan range.

The CX-60 Touring is another new version of the largish, medium-sized SUV from Japan.

The Hyundai Inster Extended Range ($42,500) shares mostly the same equipment list with the cheaper Standard Range, but scores a slightly more powerful motor, along with bigger battery, unlocking a better driving range. Standard Range cars get a 42kWh lithium-ion battery, producing a driving range of 327km.The Extended Range gets a bigger 49kWh battery, increasing the range to 360kms. The front-mounted motor’s outputs have been ticked up slightly, too, now producing 84kW and 147Nm.The Inster Extended Range nabs 17-inch wheels, dual 10.25-inch screens (one for the multimedia, another for driving info), a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth seats, two V2L connectors (one inside the cabin, the other outside), a wireless charging pad and rain-sensing wipers. 

The CX-60 Evolve is the mid-spec version of the longitudinal-engined, rear-drive-biased Mazda all-wheel-drive SUV, which is a bit larger than other most mainstream mid-sized SUVs.

For the third-generation Tiguan, the Life is the base variant, which ships exclusively with the base 110TSI engine.

The CX-60 Pure is the entry-level version of the larger-than-normal mid-sized Mazda SUV. It is a new addition to a range that has been upgraded to be more comfortable and smoother to drive thanks to extensive suspension and transmission calibration work.

The GTI is the Golf line-up’s fastest, most sporty variant to use front-wheel drive. It also builds on a rich tradition as the make and model that arguably invented the whole hot-hatch genre decades ago.

At the very top of the 1.4-litre Golf line-up sits the R-Line.

The mid-rung of the non-performance Golf ladder, the Style is most closely aligned with the previous Highline trim level. At $43,690, it’s quite a price step up from the Life entry-level car. But you do get extra gear like the tri-zone climate control, 18-inch alloys and a bigger multimedia screen.