Car Reviews

The Kia EV3 Earth is the mid-spec variant in the EV3 line-up, but for its price and features it comes with it’s probably the best pick for anyone looking for a premium small SUV.At $58,600 before on-roads, the Earth is available with just one battery and drivetrain option - an 81.4kWh battery allowing for a driving range of 563km under WLTP testing. The EV3 is two-wheel drive only - with a single motor at the front wheels putting out 150kW and 283Nm for all versions of the car. The EV3 charges (with a 350kW DC fast charger) as quickly as 31 minutes.While the EV3 comes standard with features like dusk-sensing LED headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and partial LED tail-lights, two 12.3-inch screens (one a touchscreen for multimedia) and a 5.0-inch touchscreen for climate controls plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker sound system, a wireless phone charger and USB-C ports in both the front and rear rows, a 12-volt outlet in the front and a household-style power outlet in the second row.The Earth adds onto that 19-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather seats with heating and ventilation, the driver’s side being 10-way electrically adjustable, a heated steering wheel, an electro-chromatic (or glare-dimming) mirror and a power tailgate.There’s no ANCAP score just yet, but plenty of safety equipment is standard across the range including seven airbags (one in the front-centre), smart cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane-keep, rear occupant alert, multi-collision braking, blind-spot and rear-cross traffic alert, driver attention warning and a tyre pressure monitor.The EV3 doesn’t have a surround-view camera, but it does have front and rear sensors and a rear parking camera.Kia’s seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty applies to the EV3, and Kia offers prepaid plans of three ($674), five ($1285) or seven years ($1897) when it comes to servicing.

The $141,950 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport is the entry point to the facelifted pick-up line-up, now that the previous entry level Bighorn is still to be facelifted for Australia.

The Kia EV3 Air is both the cheapest EV the South Korean brand offers, but also one of the most impressive.It comes in two versions, Standard and Long Range, from $47,600 before on-road costs to $53,315 respectively. The main difference between the two is, as you’d expect, battery size and driving range.The 58.3kWh unit for the Air Standard Range allows for a decent 436km, but the  81.4kWh battery in the Long Range brings an impressive driving range of 604km under WLTP testing.The EV3 is two-wheel drive only - with a single motor at the front wheels putting out 150kW and 283Nm for all versions of the car.The EV3 charges (with a 350kW DC fast charger) as quickly as 29 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent in Standard Range, or 31 minutes in Long Range.Both versions of the Air boast the same extensive list of standard features, including 17-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing LED headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and partial LED tail-lights, two 12.3-inch screens (one a touchscreen for multimedia) and a 5.0-inch touchscreen for climate controls plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system.The EV3 also has a wireless phone charger and USB-C ports in both the front and rear rows, a 12-volt outlet in the front and a household-style power outlet in the second row.There’s no ANCAP score just yet, but plenty of safety equipment is standard across the range including seven airbags (one in the front-centre), smart cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane-keep, rear occupant alert, multi-collision braking, blind-spot and rear-cross traffic alert, driver attention warning and a tyre pressure monitor.The EV3 doesn’t have a surround-view camera, but it does have front and rear sensors and a rear parking camera.Kia’s seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty applies to the EV3, and Kia offers prepaid plans of three ($674), five ($1285) or seven years ($1897) when it comes to servicing.

The Ultra Twin Motor acts as the flagship model in the Volvo EX90 range, and lists at $134,990 plus on-road costs.It builds on the entry-level Plus’s equipment list — think four-zone climate control, a 14.5-inch central screen (vertical) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but also Google built-in, giving you access to native maps and apps. Then there's wireless phone charging, a heated leather steering wheel — with niceties like ventilated seats up front, better High Definition Pixel headlights, and a wondrous 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity stereo.Like the Plus, the Ultra is a twin-motor, AWD setup, delivering an impressive 380kW and 910Nm — and a sprint to 100km/h of just 4.9s.It nabs an 111kWh lithium-ion battery, and promises a WLTP driving range of 570km.When it comes time to charge, the EX90 is set up for 250kW DC fast charging, meaning 10-80 percent charged in 35mins. At home, a three-phase wallbox will take more like 10 hours. But if yours is only a 7kW connection, it will be slower still.

Available in two grades from launch, the intriguing Cupra Tavascan comes in base Endurance and a sporty VZ flagship.

The Plus Twin Motor is the entry point to the two-model Volvo EX90 range - and we reckon it’s the pick of the bunch. After all, both models are twin-motor, AWD affairs, with the Plus delivering a total 300kW and 700Nm, while the Ultra dials it up to 380kW and 910Nm. The sprint to 100km/h times for each are 5.9s and 4.9s respectively.I don’t know about you, but the Plus offers all the performance that I’m looking for in a three-row SUV.The Plus Twin Motor starts at $124,990 plus on-road costs and rides on 20-inch alloys. There is a fixed panoramic glass roof with an optional sun shade, and there’s LED lighting outside.Inside, there are leather-like seats made from mostly recycled plastic, which are heated in the first two rows. Then there's four-zone climate control, a 14-speaker Bose stereo that pairs with a 14.5-inch central screen (vertical) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but also Google built-in, giving you access to native maps and apps. There’s also wireless phone charging and a heated leather steering wheel. The driver’s binnacle has been replaced by a 9.0-inch horizontal screen above the steering wheel.Interestingly, both EX90 models share the same 111kWh lithium-ion battery, and both promise the same WLTP driving range of 570km, because both claim the same efficiency of 16.9kWh/100km. Weird, because more power usually means less efficiency and a smaller driving range.When it comes time to charge, the EX90 is set up for 250kW DC fast charging, meaning 10-80 percent charged in 35mins. At home, a three-phase wallbox will take more like 10 hours. But if yours is only a 7kW connection, it will be slower still.

The Cupra Tavascan is available in two grades for Australia – the aptly named Endurance and racier VZ flagship.

Yes, this new 911 is technically a midlife update, but the changes here go beyond skin deep. Leading the charge, so to speak, is the introduction of a hybrid option for first time, with the 911 Carrera GTS debuting a new t-hybrid powertrain that dials up the performance. But it also fundamentally alters everything we’ve come to know, and love, about the 911. But is it a change for the better?

Porsche is set to introduce an all-electric 718 Boxster soon, but before it does it had one last petrol-powered version to build. The 718 Spyder RS is the ultimate iteration of the mid-engine sports convertible, taking every element and winding it up to 11. We get behind the wheel to find out if this is a worthy swansong for the petrol-powered 718 - and if it can compare to Porsche's own 911.

The John Cooper Works version of the Mini Aceman is the flagship model in equipment and performance terms.